New additions!

Some new additions- cover button Bookmarks! These are a quirky take on the traditional Bookmark, handmade using small cover buttons with a giant paper clip base. They are made using Harris Tweed off-cuts and knitted pieces, embellished with recycled fabric "sequins."

These will be available to buy at Open Studios and I will be adding them to my Etsy shop soon!

New pieces for Open Studios

I'm working outside in the lovely sun today and I'm using some new findings. I'm working on new style rings and also bookmarks, pendant necklaces and bangles. These will all be available to buy during the Open Studios weekend, plus many more unique handmade pieces. Look forward to meeting you there!

Back to my roots

I'm currently looking through images of my work right through from when I graduated nearly five years ago, up to today (can't believe it's been five years!). I want to create a photo timeline with them for the Open Studios weekend to show the journey of my work so far. To be honest it's as much for my own reference as my visitors- I want to look back to my roots and re-affirm the philosophies of my work!

So this is where it all started! For my graduate collection I made three knitted hangings (each about three metres long) based on the theme of Make Do and Mend, combining knit with unexpected recycled materials, including glass, meat hooks, plastic food packaging and household paint, to name just a few. My aim was to utilise these unwanted materials and re-purpose them into something beautiful, and this is a philosophy I still work to now.

Knitted hanging embellished with recycled materials

This may look familiar- I embellished one hanging with strings of knit covered beads
embellished with recycled materials. I took this idea forward and developed my first collection of necklaces!

I collected glass bowls, jugs etc from charity shops and broke them into pieces with a hammer 

(very therapeutic!) I attached washers and wool and then hooked these onto my knitting machine, actually knitting them into the piece 

I'll share more images from my creative journey with you as I continue in my retrospective endeavor! 

Open Studios time!

I'm currently getting ready for Open Studios weekend at Cuckoo Farm Studios on the 7th and 8th September. There will be around thirty of us Opening our doors for the weekend and it's a great opportunity to see how Artists of varying disciplines work and to buy or commission unique pieces of art and craft work. There will also be exhibitions and events taking place in the grounds and the all important tea and cake stall! Find out more here. Hope to see you there!

Cake Therapy!

 Aside from my craft work cooking is my therapy. Just wanted to share a few pics...

Pineapple and Lime cake from Gizzi Erskine's book Kitchen Magic

Fresh cream and Strawberry Victoria Sponge from Jamie Oliver's Cook With Jamie Book. My favourite chef, love Jamie!

Banana and homemade toffee sauce cake from The Great British Bake Off.
Lovely cake but a mistake to make it on a hot day, the sauce wouldn't set!