Mantua Maker

Fun stuff at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

2010-01-05T13:06:00.008Z

Way way back in late November I ran a workshop for teachers, in the depths of Yorkshire Sculpture Park. This is the kind of work I don't really mind doing. It rained almost all the time but I enjoyed it nonetheless. And I got to stay with my best mate for the long weekend as well, so really it was spot on.

The teachers got to play with fabric manipulation techniques all weekend. Pleating, gathering, stuffing, quilting and Suffolk Puffs. All my favourite stuff.

And in the lunchbreaks I got to enjoy two fabulous exhibitions:

Rob Ryan

Peter Randall-Page

Also got a nosey around the National Arts Education Archive too which had some fun stuff including some old costume accessories

Beaded hat

Beaded trim

And loads of kids artwork including an amazing appliqued wall hanging

And some work from books from the 20s, 30s and 40s. Amazing stuff.

And totally unrelated some nice painted patterned steps

and some peely birch bark

Further updates on the dress(es)

2010-01-04T21:37:00.006Z

as promised a somewhat better picture of the purple zebra dress. I perhaps should have ironed it a little. Oh well.

Details of the binding. This worked really well on the medium-weight linen-y fabric.

And finally a mention of my little black dress that I made almost a year ago for a February party. Full info here.

I have the sleeve-y bits cut out but have never got round to adding them. Though I do like the option of being able to wear a jacket or cardigan over it. I think I might have to make them detachable or something.

I know. Terrible photo. Sorry.

A couple of random event shots of the dress in action!

The overexposed shot shows the construction a bit better - though admittedly not that well. Basically I grafted the bodice and skirt sections together and eliminating the waist seam. Me and waist seams are not friends. I think what I then did was join the skirt and bodice darts to make one long dart down the front of the dress. So basically I made the dress and made the actually figure fitting dart to suit me, by pinning it inside out while I was wearing it. I've got a small back and large bust (as you can see, ahem, it's not exactly a modest frock!) and not much of a waist. So in effect I made the cut more Empire line and fitted under the bust than the original design is made for. I think I might have increased the side bust dart as well, and probably cut the upper bodice a size bigger for the front and maybe even a size smaller on the back. It looks like I cut it bigger in the skirt than it is really designed to be. A bit more a-line. I hadn't even realised I had done that until I started analysing these photos!

Really it would have been sensible to blog this with the adapted pattern in front of me. And indeed it would have been useful to make notes on how I changed the pattern as well. But you can't have it all!

Detail of the back opening. I used an invisible zip and left the top 6 inches or so open with a vintage glass button at the top. Much sexier than a zip up to the back of the neck!

I also lined it throughout, although the pattern just calls for bodice lining. I used silk for the bodice and poly satin for the skirt because that is what I had and it makes sense for the bodice to be in silk. It does feel fabulous.

I had trouble getting the shoulder panels to fit and indeed sit correctly. I used some kind of fabric as interfacing rather than iron-on. I think it was canvas; something solid anyway. One side worked perfectly and the other side is a bit wrinkly. Which you can see very clearly in the over-exposed photo. No idea what went wrong there.

Anyway, it's a fabulous dress and a nice pattern. The shoulder bits make it interesting to make and with a bit of know-how, it was easy to adapt. I do fancy making another version in velvet or cord or wool maybe. With sleeves. And maybe a easier-fitting cotton version. But it isn't on my sewing resolution list so it may never happen!

Quilt it with Wool

2010-01-02T14:44:00.000Z

Now here is a book title designed for just this very moment. Wool. Quilts. Wood fires. Hibernating. Mmmmm.

Quilt it with Wool by Lark Book is about to come out in the US and in the UK in March and among the many excellent projects, there is one by me. Although having said all that about wool and winter, mine is decidedly spring-like in mid-pink lambswool. There are a lot more snuggly-type things in there as well.

I designed a large purse / zipped bag made from a recycled lambswool jumper - the fine-knit M&S type that don't felt. The stretchyness of the knit is perfect for trapunto quilting. Trapunto is a favourite technique of mine where you stitch the design through two layers then cut the backing to stuff the outline shapes. The stretch in the wool makes it take the stuffing really well and create a strong, raised textured surface. I tend to use hand stitching rather than machine because I'm a craft Luddite and I love the effect of hand stitching.

The design I used is a very simplified leaf wreath with the shape echoed in the little wool tag on the zip. Love doing fun things with zip tags.

I've got several projects in books coming out in 2010 so am eagerly awaiting copies appearing in my post box.

Birdie bag

2010-01-01T14:54:00.000Z

Pattern and instructions for this bag available now in the January issue of Popular Patchwork

I've got a spare copy of the magazine to give away. Leave a comment to be in with a chance.

The bag itself will be in my January sale, which will be online sometime in January..... once the tax return is in, and stuff....

New Year sewing resolutions

2009-12-31T15:21:00.000Z

I have decided to set myself a sewing challenge this year. Work is (at present) looking less manic than last year - hurrah! - so I want to make the most of it and get some sewing done for myself.
So this is the plan: At the start of each month I decide on a project and then endeavour to make it by the end of that month. Some clothes, some bags, some curtains, some other stuff too no doubt. All from my frighteningly extensive fabric stash too. No new fabric, as far as possible.
Anyone else want to play?

So a random list of the challenges I am setting myself:

New dress same as one I made a couple of years ago. I have some fabulous pinky-brown (?Liberty) print lawn with shoes on it. Can't find a photo.
Design and cut pattern for a new dress or maybe some other garment from scratch and make the thing too of course
Finish the tailored tweed trousers I started yesterday, while it is still winter (boring but half-way there)

Make my bedroom curtains (fabric has been waiting for 2 years or so, it was bought and used as the sample curtain in my book, and needs reconstructing to fit my windows)
New Spring jacket from the luscious pea green velvet I have waiting. Bought about a year ago.
And maybe another one from the equally luscious red cord I have had in mind, which I have had for years and years. Used to make cushions from it.
Summer dress in time for summer with this pretty pretty Liberty print. Normally my summer dress is ready in about September.

New tweed handbag from the trouser left overs (so I suppose this ought to be in winter too)

Make a dress from this skirt I bought last summer

Summer handbag, as yet unplanned
And thinking of the autumn, I will try and get a winter party dress made in time for Christmas too.
Summer trousers??? Maybe too boring.
A few customising projects
New tops from nice fabrics. I always feel like I don't have enough nice tops to go with all my fancy skirts. I'll try and do a few from bought patterns and one or two from self-designed patterns.
Learn to make some basic underwear*
More knitting needle rolls - my new dpn roll is almost done! And a knitting bag.
Re-make this flipping jacket so I can actually wear it.
New bedlinen. I realised recently I am still using the stuff I got when I went off to university. 16 years ago. Time to change...

Oh and a quilt. A full-size one for my bed. Easy peasy.

I could go on, but I think it might be wise to stop at this point, having already got well over 12-months worth of projects. The knitting might suffer if I do this much sewing!

And I will say it again, I wish someone would design a Ravelry for sewing projects. I like lists!!

*for this I need to get over my jersey sewing phobia and get to grips with my overlocker (not taken it out of the box (I was given it)). So that might well be my main challenge!

So what are your sewing plans for 2010?

Some knitting

2009-12-30T20:23:00.004Z

When life is lacking in sewing time, I rejoice that I learned to knit a few years ago. It gives me just enough of a creative kick without needing all that set-up, tidy-away, table, good light business that dressmaking requires. In the last couple of years I have mostly knit to patterns, lacking the skill or indeed desire to invent my own. There are so many wonderful patterns out there, designed by people who actually understand knit, that I see no reason to attempt to design my own. Knitting is a pleasure, not work, not a task, not a thing I have to teach or explain to anyone. I just do it because I love making stuff. Once upon a time I played with knitting as part of my work and designed a few really simple things (like this scarf) but I know fabric is where I belong, designing-wise, so I stick with what I am good at. And Ravelry has made knit-scheming so much easier and more obsessive. And last, but by no means least, my local knit club has been my social saviour having moved to a new(ish) town and has produced more brilliant friends than I could have possibly imagined.

So as per usual, I made quite a few knitted Christmas and winter birthday or baby presents and mostly failed to take photographs of them. Curses. But here's a couple. LOADS more on the needles; I cast on 3 projects on Monday which makes 4 on the go at once, with another gift jumper lined up, a cardigan gift in planning stage and more babies on the way left right and centre to knit for. Excellent!

I have also been very lucky and been given some wonderful knits recently: got alpaca socks for me this Christmas and also have a crocheted alpaca scarf that was made for me earlier this year as well as a Noro neckwarmer! Truly appreciated as only another knitter can.

Socks by Sarah, worn by me. Yarn purchasing enabled by me. I must have gone on soooo much about how lovely it was!

New year knitting resolutions: learn to knit from charts, try some more simple lace, DO NOT BUY MORE YARN (except maybe for specific gifts).

Best thing about Christmas holidays: knitting, port, DVDs. I'm off.

Dresses

2009-12-29T21:24:00.005Z

Don't faint with shock. I am still alive. December has been almost as strange as November, but Christmas is over and I am back in the studio and there is stuff happening!

Although admittedly, these here happened before Christmas. Neither photo was taken with the aim of showing off the dresses at their best advantage, and indeed in both I may have partaken a little wine. But to prove that I do still sew now and again, I give you two dresses (well actually I give you the photos, I'm not giving away either of them, no no no). You also get to see glamorous corners of the kitchen and my two very lovely cats.

So first up is red linen. Me posing in mad hat with cat flap and cat bed in shot and fabulous red shoes out of shot.

It goes to show how slow I am at blogging these things. I made this dress in about May, before work got really really manic. A summer dress actually ready in time for summer!?! But then something went wrong right at the end, there was a stain on the fabric I think. So I washed it. And it shrank. And yes, I should have thought of that. And yes, I thought I had pre-washed the fabric. I don't know. Maybe I didn't. It's been in the stash for years and years and years. But fortunately it only shrank lengthways. Which made it rather too short for summer so back in the to-sew pile it went, ready for a ruffle along the bottom. Which never got done. Then suddenly it was winter and I could wear it with tights (aubergine in fact although they look black).
So hurrah! Teeny red dress. Which is waaaaay too big on the shoulders which the toile was not. I really can't remember what went so wrong with this but as you can see I don't care and am wearing it anyway. I think the linen stretched after I cut it. Linen is like that. The back bodice piece has a pleat in it too, I guess that stretched as well. Stay stitching. Remember. Stay stitching. Despite that, the pattern (McCalls Crafty 5576) was nice and easy to sew. I didn't bother with a zip as it is loose-fitting anyway. I interfaced the yoke with silk organza (which in retrospect won't have helped with the stretching, like an iron-on would). I also made lingerie straps on the shoulders in the hope that it attaching the dress to my bra would stop it falling off my shoulders. It doesn't. So if I was to make it again (not feeling too enthusiastic), I would make the neckline smaller or make sure the fabric doesn't stretch and i would cut it with a little more ease in the hipline. And a bit longer. And not use lined for poofy sleeves as they are IMPOSSIBLE to iron. So the poofy sleeves are kind of flat. That all makes it sound like an unmitigated disaster, but I've worn it to 2 parties so it isn't that bad.

But for Christmas I wanted something easier to wear. And I wanted the zebra-print fabric which is Echino Kokka fabric from Japan, although I bought it from the lovely Kay at Clothkits, when I saw them at the Knitting and Stitching show a few months ago. I could not resist. It is too wonderful. I bought 1.5m on total impulse, thinking I would make a skirt. But I wanted a dress really. So I made one. Super simple smock/pinafore type thing, pattern made up very rapidly from my fitted-to-me basic bodice pattern with two bust darts and pleats centre front and centre back (because I cut it too wide (see a theme?). Side seam pockets. Neck and armholes faced with bias binding cut from this. I managed to cut it too short (again??) so had to piece bits from the upper part of the fabric onto the hem which then made it longer than I intended, so I may re-hem it tomorrow. There's also a patched bit on the back to make enough for the extended hem. I'll get a proper photo of it on a mannequin so you can see it without me kneeling down. Suffice to say, I love it. It has zebras. It has turquoise spotty trees. It has pockets. It has ample space for Christmas dinner.

And had precisely this much fabric left from my 1.5m. Close call.

Today I re-commenced the battle of the tweed trousers. Fabric bought in September. Started copying a pair of existing trousers in October or maybe November and never finished making the pattern. Today got as far as finishing the toile and cutting the wool. eeek. Really really had to force myself to press on with them although all I really wanted to do was make another new dress in time for New Years Eve. Yes, another. In the space of a week. I might still have a go tomorrow. If I get out of bed early enough. The holiday is working wonders. Yesterday I cast on 3 new knitting projects. Madness. But good madness, I'm sure you will agree. Stashbusting. Although I did order 600g of yarn this morning which is not going to do much to reduce the yarn stash. Yarn diet commences 1st Jan. Honest.

Food

2009-12-05T20:22:00.002Z

Despite the fact that I've written two sewing books in the last two years, in years gone by I always imagined myself writing a cookery book. Instead I cook myself interesting, mostly invented meals, read cookery books & food writing (although not as much as I would like to) and write a very occasional food blog. Good food has been at the forefront of my mind recently as I am more regularly eating with (and cooking for) chef-friend, which means I am paying a lot more attention. Hence I went a bit beserk in a wonderful deli today in York. Which I have burbled about on the food blog. I ought to read more food blogs, any recommendations? Not recipe sites but stuff about food. You know?

The Sewing Bible

2009-12-03T16:41:00.003Z

My book came out in the US & Canada last month! Sew It Up has been retitled The Sewing Bible and has a lovely new red cover, which I absolutely love! It's exactly the same book just with American terms and imperial measurements.

I'm delighted to say that it's going down really well and has had lovely reviews from all sorts of places like (woohoo!) A Dress A Day. Thanks Erin!

And here - best quote "Then, gorgeous woman that she is, she provides projects (about 20 in all and none of them suck - no, I'm serious, they really don't suck) to put into practice some of the different techniques."

And here - "So stick it on the old Christmas list and prepare to spend the holidays curled up in a chair with buttered rum and a wealth of crafty knowledge."

Second book is about to go off to print and 3rd book is a twinkle in my eye!

November Blues

2009-11-30T19:21:00.006Z

November is hardly my favourite month of the year and this November has been a funny one indeed, resulting in a creative black (or blue) hole while I work out what to do next. I don't usually do blues, literal or metaphorical, so I've been surprised by the way I've been drawn into blue the last few days.

I spent the weekend working for NSEAD teaching art / textiles teachers. I do love teaching teachers, they are so enthusiastic. I was showing them lots of hand-sewn fabric manipulation so while they were quietly stitching away, I got some stitching done too. Kind of interactive sample-making.

I do love working with velvet. This is a silk/ viscose mix - a remnant I bought from Cloth House years ago. Not my usual vintage/recycled/organic fabric, but so utterly lovely that I had to do something with it. This is a small sample piece probably destined to be a bag. I have ideas for a small range of very luxurious bags floating around in my mind, so this is the first stage.

I'm also doing a bit of just playing around, fiddling with materials and seeing where it takes me. I've done a few applications for projects recently that are more conceptual than my work has every previously been. So even though I haven't got the commissions, I'm playing with the ideas now and again. So this one is another November blue, a sort of collaboration, almost. A piece of lapis, cut, polished and given me by a friend, incorporated into a pincushion. It's not finished, this is just a first draft. There is a lot more I want to do with this, but I'm not sure what yet.

I've got another piece on the go which is a longer-term project - burying fabric underground over the winter and digging it up in the Spring, following on from a project proposal a friend and I did for work based around archaeology. I've got the piece cut up ready, just haven't yet mooted the idea to my landlord about burying stuff under his winter cabbages!

So I guess I'm stitching my way out of the November blues and starting the new year early full of new ideas and exciting things for 2010.

Japanese Craft Exhibition

2009-11-05T22:25:00.003Z

Just a quick note to say - Londoners should go and see this, it looks great!
I used to occasionally work with Japanese traditional craftspeople and British makers inspired by Japanese techniques. *Passing moment of wistfulness for my old job*

Basketry by Joanna Gilmour.

Via @Rosiejam

The chair has a new dress!

2009-11-04T22:13:00.002Z

Or at least the chair has a new cover, let us not get too surreal.

And I made a new set of pictures on Flickr of the felt pebble fixation which has lead to this chair being decorated thus.

It got loads of compliments at the Eco Design Show in Liverpool over the weekend. A pound for every enthusiastic comment would have made me a rich woman! I do love to make people happy simply at the sight of some fabric sewn to some other fabric. Hopefully it will one day make someone SO happy that they have to buy it. Or at least commission their own. In the meantime it will make my studio happier and brighter and bring joy to all the work experience students who will be coming to work for me over the next few months*. And you guys too, I hope. The chair of happiness.

* they will need it, poor loves mostly get to do ironing and cutting out circles. Sometimes pebbles, but mostly circles.

Staring blankly into the distance.

2009-10-29T21:03:00.004Z

I have:

taught a workshop in Birmingham
had a rather pointless trip to West Bromwich
driven to Wales & had dinner & wine & walked the dog (not all the same time)
driven to Ormskirk to deliver work to the Chapel Gallery
seen the Gormleys
set up my stand for the Eco Design Show, Liverpool
been delighted that my hosts have wifi
collapsed on the sofa but sans wine and chocolate. A mistake.

Not bad for 2 days. I am a little tired. Now I shall sleep.

More on scissors

2009-10-29T17:21:00.000Z

As I hoped, Scrapiana came up trumps with scissor-related question from the other day. I thought I would copy it here for all to enjoy! Thanks!

"I don't think there's an official collective noun for scissors (a startling oversight) though "a snip of scissors" can't really be bettered. Well done. I'd offer "an indecision of scissors" to cover those of us who experience cutting-anxiety over precious items from our stash. Hopefully none of us will experience the inferior grouping of "a bluntness of scissors", or "a shred of scissors". An obvious scissor subset might be "a zigzag of pinking shears".

A couple of dictionary factlets, c/o the Shorter OED. The word seems to come from the late Latin word for a cutting instrument: cisorium, which sounds to me like a great name for a scissor shop. In C19th slang, "Scissors!" was an interjection expressing disgust or impatience. You may also wish to revive a late C19th adverb: scissorwise, meaning in the form or manner of a pair of scissors."

Liverpool Design Festival, Eco Show.

2009-10-27T23:00:00.000Z

One of the reasons (among a list so long and frankly tedious, I won't bore you with it (which is something coming from the woman who just a few days ago posted a long blog about putting up shelves)) I am so unbloggy and otherwise occupied is that I am preparing to exhibit at Liverpool Design Festival's Eco Design Show. Anyone around that way who wants to get in free in exchange for helping me out should get in touch. I will be running a hands-on session making Suffolk Puffs and working on a giant one of these.

Please come and play!

I've been working like mad getting ready for this show, and also to preparing workshops for Craftspace which start tomorrow, and I'm delivering work to Chapel Gallery while I'm up in the North West. Plus keeping the day job ticking over and working on some exciting new things. Phew. I hope I'll get some time to blog about the exhibitions I've seen and a few other bits and pieces while I'm away, wifi willing. If not, I apologise and I will be back as soon as I have something to say.

Here's all the details about the whole Design Festival:

Liverpool Design Festival 30 October – 8 November

A celebration of design and fashion that confirms Liverpool as a hub of creative talent. There truly is something for everyone – come along and shop for a unique design gem, walk the Design Trail around the city, pimp your own clothes or bags with the help of top fashion professionals, learn how to make your own fashion business work or enter a schools competition to start your design career off on the right foot.

Eco Design Show
Sat 31 Oct & Sun 1 Nov – Crypt Hall at The Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
In keeping with the City’s Year of the Environment the Eco Design Show will feature tables, chairs, ceramics, furniture, lighting, jewellery, bags and fashion accessories that prove there is no need to compromise beautiful and stylish design when recycling, reusing or reducing consumption of resources.

As Sarah Elderkin, Liverpool Design Festival director explained; “The Eco Design Show is all about showing off the best in high quality design to challenge the common misconceptions that exist about eco design. All our exhibitors have placed eco-design practices at the heart of their work and visitors to the show will be amazed to see what can be recycled and reused.

“The show also gives a unique shopping opportunity for everyone who loves to be fashionable by bringing together the work of over 30 British based designers in one place.”

Visitors to the show can also meet Liverpool designer Ilsa Parry winner of BBC2’s Design For Life. Ilsa was chosen by design guru Phillipe Starck to join his Paris team for 6 months. Come and find out what life as part of his ‘tribe’ was like and see some of Ilsa’s own designs like the Kaspa lamp that glows in the dark after the power has been switched off.

There will also be workshops at the show run by garment illustrator Emily Lansley and bag-makers to the stars Nook and Willow. Bring your old handbags, belts and clothes with you and leave with unique creations made by you!

1.Eco Design and Fashion Show
Opening Hours: (Fri 30 Oct 12-6pm Trade Only) Sat 31 Oct & Sun 1 Nov 10am to 6 pm
Tickets from £5 online contact www.liverpooldesignfestival.com £7 on the door, under 16’s free with adults
Venue - The Crypt is the only fully realised section of the original Sir Edward Lutyens design for the Catholic Cathedral. The entrance to the crypt is on Brownlow Hill.

Finishing School
Monday 2 – Friday 6 November

A comprehensive programme of fashion masterclasses designed for recent graduates and more experienced professionals alike. Your opportunity to get advice from successful professionals such as Joanne Watkinson from MyWardrobe.com and Justine Mills from Liverpool’s very own fashion store, Cricket. If you want to work in the world of fashion these are for you with topics including; Presentation to Buyers, Intellectual Property, Styling, Pricing, Fashion Marketing and Brand Image.

Design Stars – launching at the Eco Design and Fashion Show

To encourage the next generation of designers this competition will get 11 to 16 year olds competing to win either a graphic design, fashion or video games brief. There are workshops available from professional designers for the first schools to sign up and the winners get a masterclass from designers in the field they chose from locally based nonconform, Nook and Willow or Sony. Supported by Echo in the Community and in association with the Bluecoat’s Shine project.

Liverpool Design Symposium
Wednesday 4th November 10am-9pm

Following last year’s inaugural success the Symposium will once again present an insightful and inspirational programme based on the theme of ‘Branding the City’. With speeches, presentations, workshops and exhibition all at JMU’s new Art and Design academy.

Design Trail – throughout the festival

The whole city’s gone design crazy! Follow the map or go on the website and visit any or all of the 12 venues across Liverpool city centre that are celebrating design, from HOST on Hope Street to Coffee Union on Bold Street, from the Met Quarter to the Empire.

Liverpool Design Festival is run by industry support body Design Initiative with the support of the City of Liverpool and the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

A snip of scissors

2009-10-23T22:44:00.003+01:00

Hmmm. I'm not sure what the collective noun is (or ought to be) for scissors. I throw this question open to you readers (and hope dearly for an answer from Scrapiana & her dictionary of everything).

I went to the haberdashery wholesalers this afternoon, which I realised was a mere 15 minutes walk from the studio, mainly along the canal. The canal is charming in the sun and pretty grim the rest of the time. Today was sunny which always helps to catch the sparkle of the shopping trolleys lurking at the bottom of the water. Ahh. City living at it's finest.

Anyway, I was talking of another type of metal ware, that of scissors. The 24 pairs of scissors I bought (14 large, 9 small/medium, one pinking) are not very interesting at all, they merely allow me to run textile classes without having to risk my own sharps in the fray.

So instead I show you printed scissors, from the studio of my friend Teresa of Teresa Green, just a few miles further up that same stretch of canal.

This could easily be the epitome of the sewing themed accessories. Although I could do with scissors on a skirt. Hmm. I sense a Clothkits collaboration... could I persuade them?

Oh, they aren't on the website. I bought it at Origin the other week. Must be new. Never fear, she is at shows all over the place in the next few weeks, have a look at the list here, including the Great Northern this weekend and Lustre in a couple of weeks. Hurrah!

In which I give a long list of things and promises

2009-10-22T22:20:00.003+01:00

Firstly the list of things, most of which happened some time ago and I am majorly tardy in sharing them:

1. I was featured in the September issue of Get Creative magazine which is a very charming Australian magazine about, well, crafts. The feature is about my work and about Sew It Up. Despite having a book published and another one in the pipeline, I'm still really excited about having an article published about me, in Australia. Wow.

2. Talking of books, I mentioned that Sew It Up is being published in the US under the title of The Sewing Bible. Well, it's available for pre-order now! Out November 10th. Woo hoo! Just in time for Christmas people! That version is also available in Canada, but the rest of the world has the English version with all those centimetres. Save of course the Finnish who have their own version, called Kotiompelijan Kasikirja. Whatever that means.... (excuse lack of accent there, I can't muster the energy to find accents as well as remembering all the stuff I haven't yet told you).

3. My new book is still in proof-reading stage (expecting to have a fun weekend in with it) but it is already on Amazon for pre-order, although it's not out for quite a while (July next year, fingers crossed!). And the text needs a spot of updating... new info will be supplied shortly!

4. What was 4? Oh yes. I've had work featured in a couple of Etsy Treasuries recently. Always nice to be in these alongside some really amazing stuff.

5. I'm getting ready to exhibit at Liverpool Design Festival's Eco Design Show. More anon

6. I have some work going on display at the Chapel Gallery in a couple of weeks too.

Plus some links to stuff which has been entertaining and enthusing me recently:

International Wear A Dress Day, which I wholeheartedly support. If you are inclined to wear dresses at all. If not then clearly it is a bad idea and I do not suggest it. Terrible things may happen. However, if you are a fan of swooshing about with skirts then go dressy next Thursday. I have to set up at Liverpool that day which is not the best dress-wearing activity so I am pondering how to deal with this one. But I will do my best. Maybe wearing an apron in public will do instead? Why don't I start a wearing an apron in public day too? I wore one last Friday and got even more funny looks in the pub than I would normally get. Interesting....

This is a great article about sewing, feminism and the 18th Century. Three of my favourite things.

I am reading The Culture of Knitting by Joanne Turney. It's good. More of this anon too.

Got all fired up about Craft Club the other week, having been reading up about crafts and education. Kids need to do crafts at school. It does matter.

And I'm just starting some work for Craftspace which is really exciting, even though it will involve getting up at 6am for several days and going to Birmingham. Oh well.

and finally, the list of promises (as much to remind myself as to tantalize you. Perhaps rather more to remind myself, although feel free to be tantalized if you wish).

1. I have been sewing and I have even got the odd photo here and there.
2. I have TWO exhibitions to review AND a catch up on TWO weeks' worth of Origin AND the Knitting and Stitching Show. Phew.
3. I will not blog about shelves for a long time.

There were probably more but it's now well past my bedtime and having been up a bit too early to run a rather manic workshop this morning, I'm off.

Shelving the studio

2009-10-20T23:07:00.001+01:00

Three years. Three years I've been in this studio. [And the same house. That's more than twice as long as I've lived anywhere in the last 16 years.]
But the studio - really this is my second studio, but the first was only a 6-month sublet so I never really got to fill it to the ceiling with fabric and sewing machines and fluff of all kinds. I didn't quite expect to be here 3+ years [life tends to be like that] so I didn't do a lot of work when I moved in, save for some vital extra shelves.

But just lately I have been a tad less busy and my mind has turned to the mess that is my studio. It's almost a kind of procrastination. Having had a real job for most of this year, I've not actually made much at all. Which is awful and I am remedying it forthwith, do no fear. But I have got a bit of creative drought. Or an impetus shortage. Or something. But with me, a little sorting out, shuffling fabrics around, making new workspaces where there was mess, really helps my creativity. So I am sorting. A kind of Autumn-cleaning. Hibernation nesting maybe? I fully intend to spend winter buried in fabric in my studio!
So anyway, the shelves. About a year ago I had a major shelf collapse - the rubbish wobbly shelves that were there when I moved in. I've put up a lot of shelves in my time and believe me, I can put up solid shelves. I come from a family of book owners. Serious book owners. And because of this shelf-training, I have only ever had one collapse. And that wasn't my fault. Stupid crumbly walls.

In contrast the studio has incredibly solid walls that are sooooooo hard that even my entire weight behind the hammer drill is not always quite enough to get the screw holes deep enough. Which is presumably why the previous tenant left shelves that were kind of stuck on the wall with paint and willpower.

So off the came, taking a fair chunk of the wall with them.
They certainly weren't designed to take this.

I dread to think of the weight of fabric I have. The two guys who loaded the van when i moved might hazard a guess at about 15 gazillion tonnes. This is only the stuff on the inherited shelves - the newer shelves I put up a couple of years ago are still fully dressed in their array of textiley goodness.

Look. All tidy. It's like that all the time, you know. Really.

So anyway, much drilling and swearing later I got the shelves up on the right hand side of that wall and with much less swearing I got the left hand side up. I've no idea why the second lot was easier, but it was. Phew.

So here they are. Looking oh so stylish huh, with the old holes and unpainted bits where the brackets came off. Never mind. Soon covered with fabric.

That was taken on Saturday and things have since been re-arranged again. A lot more sorting needs to be done, but it's a whole lot easier to sort when you have somewhere to put it.

I'm now planning an ENTIRE redesign of my whole studio (except this wall of course) to make the place more useable and efficient. I haven't done it before because I didn't think I was going to stay. But I am. Try getting me out of there now. Not a good plan.

So yeah, I've written a blog about putting up shelves. I will do some sewing again. Soon. Honest.

Books and magazines

2009-10-19T11:09:00.000+01:00

Part of this weekend's work to do list was to read some nice books. I like to do lists that involve nice things. I'm playing around with ideas for a new book which is supremely exciting and so much more fun than a lot of the other work I have to do. One aspect of book-conceiving is making sure someone else hasn't done the same thing already. So I have a perfect excuse to buy all the new, interesting sewing books that come out. Not that Digital Textile Design has anything to do with what I might write about, I just fancied reading it anyway. And I will, eventually.

I love Alabama Stitch Book. I'm behind the times with this, I know. Likewise with Handmade Home, there are great reviews on blogs all over the place - but these things take a little longer to get over here and even longer for me to get round to buying, reading, let alone blogging. I've also got Weekend Sewing knocking around somewhere. I like the idea of some weekend sewing rather than weekend report-writing & shelf-building which is how I spent my exciting Saturday at the studio.

In other book news, I'm finally reading Toast by Lord Nigel of Slater.
A few days ago I finished Notes from Walnut Tree Farm, which I have been savouring slowly. Sigh. I love his books so much, it's so sad that there won't be any more.

Earlier this year I had to buy a load of fashion magazines for my exhibition, and have been enjoying reading them myself now the show is over. I really like non-Western fashion mags as they are so much more exciting and colourful. My two favourites were Libas, a British/ Pakistani magazine with great fashion shoots and lots of arts and culture articles. I would link to their website but Google tells me it's a bit dodgy, so who knows.... I also really liked Arise which is African-centric, or at least this issue is. The website is a bit enigmatic. I bought them in my local Borders, but I have seen Libas in a normal local newsagent which is of course where I recommend you go and look!

I'm also reading The Culture of Knitting. It's a very academic book, presumably a version of a PhD thesis, but so far it's readable and enjoyable - but I'm only 30-odd pages in. It's quite dense. It's not telling me anything new yet, but I think it's going to be really good. I will keep you posted!

That's quite a lot really. Best get back to it.

Reasons to go to the shops

2009-10-07T22:45:00.006+01:00

To spy interesting displays and vignettes, even if I don't buy anything.

Never thought I would see knitting being used to sell expensive clothes. Fabulous. Giant balls of wool is definitely the thing though. (oh and those balls of wool have had another life, but that's another story).

Displays and windows in Cloth House, London.

I had an inspiring day out at Loop, Cloth House & Liberty with friends a couple of weeks ago. Came home almost empty handed but was happy to have introduced my friends to the delights of textiley London.

Lincoln, autumn and scrumping

2009-10-18T13:12:00.004+01:00

Thanks for your postcard thoughts - I went for just one in the end, the green one in the middle. I decided to save money and only have the one. I have 2 others already but they are both grey, so a green was a good plan.

On Monday I had a lovely day off (sort of) going to Lincoln to deliver some work for Harding House Gallery's Mellow Yellow autumn exhibition. It was a perfect autumn day too, sunny, mild and gorgeous. Lincoln is a beautiful little city and it was great to have an excuse for a day out there.

The exhibition opened yesterday and is on until 14th November, so get up there quick!

I made this huge, framed piece last year for Origin and was more than happy to see it go out to a gallery again.

This one is a few years old now but I still love it - the colours of the silk are quite amazing.

I also delivered a good little stash of brooches and purses in warm autumny colours. It was a good excuse to play with a particular colour palette which I really enjoyed.

I also came home with a new book on British Folk Art to add to my collection. Even the cover of this one matches the orange-theme! I do love folk art. And I bought some delicious tea.
I have to go back and collect my work - such a shame! And this time I am planning to go when Tasty Vintage is open. I decided it didn't matter so much that it was shut on Monday as I do have *quite* a lot of clothes already.... but it did look good through the window.

I also picked amazing mulberries, although I best not say exactly where from.... They were just by the path....

Choosing new postcards

2009-10-13T14:04:00.002+01:00

These are some of the options. Any preferences? Leave me a comment or email me, thanks!

A whole lot of knitting

2009-10-06T23:07:00.006+01:00

I was really pleased a few weeks back to finally meet Amy of Keep and Share, the fabulous, sustainable knitwear company. We met at a seminar and have since cooked up a plan to work together, if things go our way. So keep your fingers crossed and watch this space. In the mean time, go and enjoy looking at her amazing knitwear. She was also at the Knitting and Stitching Show at Ally Pally the last few days so I went for a gossip and bought some of her great offcuts yarn, made from her own waste yarn with a little bit of sparkle added in.

Nice, huh? Like damson jam with glitter in it. Not that damson jam needs or wants glitter in it.

I also came home with some Noro Silk Garden Sock (for a man-sock-gift)

but then saw this instead so the silk garden will have to be mine. Shame eh?

(Colinette Jitterbug)

Can't have too many Noro socks I reckon.

(My freshly-finished Jaywalkers. So happy. So warm. I have included the image with the massive mistake so you don't mistake me for a person who is actually all that good at following knitting patterns.)

There can never be too much Noro.

(Noro Iro for a scarf-gift version 2.0)

Although sometimes a good plain, sheepy-scented English Blue-Faced Leicester wool is just what is required for warm mittens for that matter.

Quilts, quilts and more quilts

2009-10-06T19:15:00.000+01:00

Oh poor abandoned blog, blah blah. I'm Twittering too much, that's the trouble.
But let's skip the regret and cut to the chase.

What's new?

Big news - my own super-duper quilt shopping success! For years I've been looking out for a lovely old quilt, preferably quite tatty and definitely quite cheap. I spent the best part of a year visiting one in a vintage shop in Brighton when I lived there, but was unable to find the £100 required to take it home. That was a classy one - white, indigo and dark reds. Probably 19th century. So I kept looking, saw boring but expensive ones occasionally, but never fell in love. Until all that changed....

A couple of weeks ago when I was on my boating holiday we passed a sign saying (something along the lines of)

Canalside Farm Shop

Fruit
Veg
Chutney
Books
Boaty bric-a-brac
LED lighting design

Eh? So we had to go and see. My brother for the LEDs, my mum for the veg and me, somewhat reluctantly, for the bric-a-brac, boaty or otherwise. I didn't have very high hopes. Boaty bric-a-brac being not quite my thing. I browsed old boat headlights, bits of metal, ropes, courgettes, apples and feathery eggs and then spotted some doilies and old linen. Meh, got a lot of old doilies already... loads of embroidered tablecloths filling up my studio... but, errrr, wassat under the doilies? That looks like patchwork....a cushion, probably....... Keep calm, don't get excited..... OH MY GOD IT'S A QUILT....... FOR £30!!!!

Obviously I didn't say that out loud. I nonchalantly picked it up and had a little stroke. Victorian it is not (which the label said) but who cares. It's pretty, it's old, tatty and well loved, and now, it's mine! I actually skipped back along the towpath to the boat and bounced around all day clutching my slightly musty collection of old rags stitched together into something wonderful. The shop owner looked astonished. I think I made her day. It certainly made my day!

So, I'm no quilt scholar but I do know a bit about fabrics and it looks 1930s-50s to me. It's not filled so it's a super-thin quilt, so eventually I plan to unpick the backing and give it some filling. I need a quilt to be useful, not just decorative! It needs quite a bit of repair as well, so maybe in about 100 years when I retire, I can fix it.

Talking of quilts, I hope you know all about the V&A Quilts exhibition coming up next year. Now, many of you know this, but those who don't, I used to work at the V&A until 4 and a bit years ago, in their adult education team. Talk of this quilt exhibition was almost enough to make me want to stay, just so I could be near it, go to it everyday, maybe even go to a meeting about it. I know. A meeting. I doubt very much I would have been allowed to have anything much official to do with it, but I would have tried, believe me. But hey ho, I left nonetheless, and here I am some years later doing things with fabric myself instead. And happy with it. But I am still beside myself with excitement about seeing this show, put together by the lovely Sue Prichard, who was (and no doubt still is) one of the nicest people I ever was lucky enough to work with at the V&A.
*Sigh*

If that's not enough quilt-talk: Someone (on Twitter I expect) pointed me at this - quilts made from recycled menswear.

And one final quilt-note:
Advance notice of a couple of books I contributed to:
Pretty Little Mini Quilts, Lark Books. I designed a doll quilt in silk dupion with trapunto details. For the poshest doll in your life... & a leaf-design baby quilt in organic cotton. It's not out til March, though....
However - Quilting with Wool is out in January! I made a trapunto quilted purse from a recycled lambswool jumper. It's pretty, if I say so myself. Just got it back from photography.
I also designed something for a still-top-secret quilty kind of book also coming out next year. I've seen the proofs of this and it's AMAZING. Impatient!!! Want to talk about it now!
Hey ho. Will be worth the wait.

Reversing and starting again

2009-09-27T16:06:00.003+01:00

I'm emerging from the thick fog of full-time and not-terribly-fulfilling work and slowly working my way back into a world of textiles and textiles and more textiles. I promise!

One step on the way towards this was a trip to London yesterday with two local crafty friends to visit the hallowed ground of Loop, Cloth House & Liberty. One of them had hardly ever been to London and had one of those all-too-familiar theories of London being noise, dirt and general unpleasantness. Don't even get me started. I lived there for seven years and LOVED it. I didn't love the rent prices which is why I am no longer there, but London, I still love you. Having said that, Loop didn't exist when I lived there and Liberty had a bigger and better haberdashery department - it seems to have shrunk more every time I visit. I thought crafts were on the up?

Photo taken in Liberty in May, before the department was re-arranged and made smaller.

I can't complain too much about Liberty as they do stock my book, and for that, I adore them anew. Plus they have fabric with dominoes. And now, so do I. At least I have 0.5m.

Anyway, my point here was merely to tell you about a new knitting book I spied in Loop, not to ramble on at length and anything and everything else - although I am procrastinating book proofing which might explain it.

Reversible Knitting: 50 Brand-new, Groundbreaking Stitch Patterns

On my Christmas list now!

Ok, getting back to my own book now.