Knitting

I have just cancelled a day out in London visiting exhibitions and meeting friends. This is seriously boring, but I have too much packing, working and sorting to do before I move in 48 hours time. I now feel like I have a free day in which to make myself something lovely and lounge around with DVDs. Fortunately 99% of my fabric stash is packed into boxes and I have given away the sofa, so I can't do either of those things. I shall have to pack.
One thing I wont have to pack is this blanket which I finally finished and gave to the mum-to-be a couple of days ago. I've been knitting this for months and wanted to get it done to hand over before I move and avoid having to post it back! I'm really pleased with it (and so are the recipients - it matches the buggy, apparently!) The pattern is from Stitch and Bitch and the yarn is a lovely soft cotton.
No more excuses, back to the boxes!

Words (and pictures)

I've been enjoying some good press recently, and sharing the magic where I can.
I wrote my first post for Whip Up last week on my favourite stuff from Origin week one. I'm working on a post for week two and enjoying the excuse to look at some nice websites. My angle is looking at British makers using traditional techniques and unusual materials. I'm looking forward to researching and writing some more when I get a little more time. I used to do a lot of research and writing for my old job, and it's nice to stretch the brain in that direction again, even if it's only short stuff. I have also got a list of magazine articles to write, and the deadlines are starting to loom a bit. They are high up on my list post-move.
So as for me and my press, my Doublet cushions were featured in Greener Living, a new eco-mag that is just starting up. Then the lovely Karin Eriksson, whom I was delighted to meet at Origin, also blogged me on Whip Up! A little bit of googling turned up a snippet in a Brighton local magazine about me, which I didn't even know had been printed. They asked for submissions ages ago, I sent stuff and forgot all about it. Apparently it was in a mid-September issue. (if you want to look, follow this link, find Issue 287 and trawl to p.37, it's a nice feature, I wrote it myself!). It seems a local fashion designer read this, and was interested in talking to me about a collaboration. So it was well worth it! I'm really keen to pursue collaborations with companies who are bigger than me, especially those who are working ethically and sustainably. I hope I'll bring you more on this soon.

Preview (projects and life)

This is a little taster for something that I have just made - this photo shows a work in progress, and all going well, I will show you the whole thing before long. This is a little work project that I have had to squeeze in between packing and sorting and organising my move.

I'm shifting my home and my studio 165 miles north, from the south coast to the midlands. For those of you that live in big countries that probably doesn't sound much, but it is a pretty major move. I've lived in the south east (in or near London) for 9 years and I am going back to where I grew up, which is kind of strange but comforting at the same time.

It's an awful lot of work and stress, but hopefully life will be calmer once it's done. I will have a proper, permanent, heated workspace and a more spacious, comfortable, sociable and affordable homespace. I'll also be nearer my family and some very dear friends (and two fabulous little girls!). I am just not looking forward to getting my worldly goods into a van. It's hard enough getting them into a flat!

I'm looking forward to making new networks in the midlands, and enjoying the proximity to some beautiful countryside, fabulous food, family and friends. And getting started on new work once my studio is set up, with my industrial sewing machine and lots and lots of storage space for the fabric stash which seems to be growing on it's own.

Dragon Cuff

I'm in the midst of house / studio moving but gave myself a little treat time to make this cuff for Whiplash October accessories competition. It is yet another thing in my favourite style, with felted scales in the seams, like the pincushion I did a couple of weeks ago, and an ever-expanding range of accessories that I sell like this, this and this.

This cuff / sleeve is designed to fit on the upper arm. The idea was inspired by the Whiplash info suggesting making an accessory to hide bits you don't like! Having said that, the photo of it is on a lower arm -there simply isn't time at the moment for serious photo styling!

The entry is for the design category.

On to the next project!

Hi all.
I'm back. Last week was a loooong week. Origin was interesting. The three pieces selected looked great, but really I wanted to be showing a lot more of my work to communicate what I am about. It was cool to have been selected and be showing under the Crafts Council banner, but I wanted my own stand so much. I wanted to make my own Ruth space and fill it full of fabulous things.
There was a lot of standing about. Not a seat in sight, which was really tiring. Commuting to London for seven days in a row was hard going, especially when the engineering works made it take three hours each way. But to be positive, I got fantastic feedback and met some great people, and the whole experience was amazing. I wont tell you too much about it all, as I am writing a post for Whip Up all about my favourite makers and their work.

Ooh, my work will be on TV - or it might already have been, on SC4 which is a Welsh-language channel, so I didn't understand a word the presenter said to camera. She was a bit thrown before the shoot when we discussed the work (in English) and I talked about 18th century textiles as my influences for this collection. She couldn't remember the Welsh for 18th century as she doesn't use it often. Clearly her life is very different to mine! A life without mentioning the 18th century on a regular basis? Surely not.

I really enjoyed meeting people and talking about my work. I can talk about my work endlessly. I love my work. Not in a narcissistic way - I don't think it's the best work EVER, just that I have put my heart and soul into it, so I am proud of it and I admire it in a slightly detached and bemused way. Like nieces and nephews maybe (I don't have any, so I am imagining!). So it is great to be standing around draped in your scarf next to your cushions and have total strangers tell you how wonderful it is and how fabulously talented you are. But it would be even better to be sitting down while they tell you this. And for them then to buy stuff.

Two useful things (of many) learned:
1. Buyers need to have a range of work to browse and choose from, because...
2. A stand presents a look, a style, a theme, a lifestyle choice. This is what the buyer wants when they purchase something from you. They want to buy into the style you are showing. That's why a beautiful stand sells lots and an exhibition of three pieces doesn't sell so much.

So, I am working on my stand layout for Farnham Maltings Festival of Crafts this weekend (no I don't stop. Ever.) and planning the others for the rest of this year.

And in between all that, I am sorting out things to go off for exhibition in the next few weeks. I think I've got five on the list, and acquired another one at Origin. I'm hoping to get as much work out of the studio as possible ready to move in a couple of weeks. And that's another story, for another time.
Thanks to everyone who came to see me at Origin, and I'm sorry if I wasn't there. Just had to go and sit down for a bit!

Pincushion

This little cutie (may I say so myself!) is my quick and easy effort for the Pincushion Challenge. I had grander plans, but, funnily enough, I haven't had time to execute them. More exciting pincushions are rattling around in my head, and may well come to light eventually.
The challenge theme was recycling. I thought about using all sorts of materials, including the ring pulls I collect (for reasons yet unknown) and all manner of interesting bits of stuff. I ran out of time completely, despite having 2 months to complete this challenge! So this one is based on my Dragon range, like this bag, this bag and this scarf, and made entirely of recycled fabrics. The main fabric is a scrap of vintage left over from making a skirt (which is now on exhibition) and the scales are felted wool.

Origin set-up day is tomorrow, and I am at last feeling calmer. I have done pretty much all I can do to get ready, and now I just have to let it happen! I have a few pieces to finish off, and some fabric to prepare for more stock, but the vast majority is done. It's been hard to think past Origin for the last few weeks. It's such a major point in the development of my business that it really means a lot that it goes well! When I heard that I had been selected for this showcase - the most important event for new makers - I was overjoyed and full of hope and excitement. The practical stuff of getting ready has almost overshadowed the thrill of it all, but I am at last getting time to simply look forward to seeing my pieces on display in an exhibition of the "new craft talent" and "most exciting emerging makers". I want those statements printed on a t-shirt!
Thanks for all the positive comments over the last few weeks, and I'm really looking forward to meeting some bloggers and readers at Origin.