Monday 25 August 2014

Squeezing fun in between the chores

I should really be working, but then I have been working all day so I thought i'd squeeze out 5 minutes of the bank holiday to share something fun I found time for last weekend.


Got off my bum and started something new (and started making a mess!)

This is as close to a mess as I get in my studio, eek! It was tidied away moments after but I just had to document the rare 'creative mess'! Tell me everyone else also uses prized quilts as design walls?!

I took a lovely vintage cloth storybook panel my youngest was gifted for her naming day and turned it into something that I hope will be much treasured.


Working on a sweet little story book quilt for my little Juliette

It was designed and laid out in such a way as to cut up and sewn into a book, very clever. But the poor panel had bee siting untouched in my cupboard for almost 4 years so I made the decision to turn it into a story quilt rather than a cloth book, as I felt she was a little too old now.

A departure from my usual palette of colours, I stuck with the pastels and vintage prints that complimented the story panels, there a pieces of their baby bedding in there along with a little of their toddler clothing, My daughter is delighted and can't wait for it to be finished - success!!

I have also resisted reading the story whilst I've been sewing, I am saving that treat for when we can both snuggle under it and read together when its finished!

Friday 22 August 2014

Holiday Knitting - Pebble Beach Shawlette

With sewing taking an ever increasing place in my day as 'work' I have found I turn to knitting more and more as a form of relaxation. In fact I can't remember a time when I didn't have a knitting project on the needles. As soon as one is finished, I have to cast on the next, ready for those rare 5 minters every now and then that I get to indulge myself. Much like english paper piecing, knitting is a portable handy time passing activity, perfect for picking up when there is a dentist appointment, or a school club to wait for or watching the kids in the park.

My knitting has come on so much in the last year, I am really am in love with this new skill and I am excited to see what I can challenge myself to achieve next!

Recently I took part in my first knit along, much like a quilt along, and it was great fun! Everyone knit the wonderful Pebble Beach shawlette designed by Helen Stewart of Curious Handmade.

I used some lovely silk merino mix yarn from the Natural Dye Studio, aptly called Sea King. So soft and full of lovely hues of the sea, I want everything I knit to have silk in from now on!

Lovely bfl/silk yarn ready for possibilities!

I enjoyed taking the project with me everywhere, working on it a little at a time and it soon grew. I even took pebble beach to a pebble beach! I loved Helen's wonderful way of getting you to work through the pattern in percentages, very motivational to see them flying by.

Spent some time knitting my #pebblebeachkal shawl on a pebble beach today

 I added beads to my shawl, the first time I have tried this and I will be doing it again for sure. I love the very subtle sparkle they give and the weight to the shawl is a bonus, helping it stay in place when worn.

#pebblebeachkal is off the needles! That beaded picot cast off was a b**ch to knit-first time doing picot and first time adding beads. So glad I did though as it's gorgeous! Now to get it dry before going home from the inlaws in the morning  I couldn't wa


I used Soak for the first time for blocking and it was lovely, its on my birthday list now (oh I hope my husband reads this before next week!) The lace pattern came out wonderfully with the blocking and I know that I will knit another in the future, its just so pretty! Actually, I am pretty amazed that I have knit this, I feel incredibly clever and I am still a little shocked that I can create something so complex!

#pebblebeachkal shawlette is blocked, dry and ready to be packed for my holiday!

I need not fear the cool evenings that are drawing in, in fact I welcome them so I can wear my pretty shawl!

Close up detail of beading #pebblebeachkal

Of course, the next project is already on the needles! If you are interested the full details of my project can be found here on my ravelry page.

Monday 18 August 2014

Letting a big kitty out of the bag


I have been waiting months to share this with you all and I am bursting with pride now that I finally can!!



YES!

Since early this year I have been working with publishers FW Media on a set of instructional video kits for their Stitch Craft Create website and they are now live and available to purchase!

The Kits include everything you need to make either a simple gathered skirt or a patchwork cushion, along with access to an instructional video where I take you through every single step of the constriction process.







Months of work went into this and it was torture keeping quiet about it! Filming was crazy, surreal and fun, not to mention all the gorgeous fabrics I got to play with. The girls at FW Media designed such a cool set and were a real pleasure to work with.




I am hoping they will be well received by the public, I know that I am immensely proud of what I have achieved and I am already working on my next project for them!