Kitchen Crafty

New designs slowly evolving this week – from ‘brainwave moments’ in the garden and at the kitchen sink, to brainstorming in my sketchbook.

At the moment I’m calling this project Kitchen Crafty; not because I’m cooking up a storm in the kitchen (I very rarely do that!), but because I have some kitchen fabric things going on in my head.

Here is the beginning of the story…

I was sitting under an apple tree when an apple fell on my head…hee, hee… only kidding! Actually I was mowing the lawn and admiring all this fruit  – we’ve only just finished two months of plums and now there are apples, pears and a bit later on some kiwifruit on the way!

Later, when some of the heavy garden chores were done and the kids had gone to bed, I treated myself to an hour of sketchbook therapy….

The next day, I even got a tiny bit inspired by the washing up!

Ok, that’s enough domestic bliss for a while. I promise to share the ending of this story when I get there. Have a great week!

This Week I’m working on…

…colouring up my new design collection called ‘Gentle Geometry’. The fabrics will be ready in a few weeks but here is a sneak-peep of my desk today.

I’m still undecided whether to make these fabrics be available on Spoonflower for people to order directly or to offer fat quarters and yard pieces myself on Etsy….. What do you think? I’d love your feedback on this. Thank you!

Sock Knitting

I have to say that knitting has never been my big thing. I’ve tried over the years but didn’t get really get hooked…. until recently that is. To be more precise; until I had a go at sock knitting.

I love knitting socks (even if my family smile at me like I’m a bit dotty.) There is something about knitting socks that just challenges my brain at the right level somehow. Some thing about the anatomy of a sock and probably the way I can progress a little at a time here and there, before I know it, I have a sock – and it’s a whole sock – no sewing up of pieces, not much finishing off, just another sock to knit if I want a pair – which I usually do. And yep, a sock is small enough to carry around in my handbag! Perfect!

I love handling little double-sided bamboo needles and sock yarn is pretty interesting too but don’t get me started on that! Ok, I will mention I recently made a tiny pair or newborn socks for a good friend’s recent arrival using some pretty amazing merino/silk/bamboo sock yarn. (I was lucky to meet the gorgeous baby this morning which was very special.)

 

So thank you to the lovely Sally from Quiteahandful who taught me how to cast on my first sock stitches just three years ago!