Home Inspiration 4

She designed her first Valentine’s heart made of driftwood, when she was managing a designer interiors store in Dartmouth in 2001. And the story goes that within 30 minutes of it going on show, it sold.

In 2007, she was commissioned to make five large sculptures for fashion designer Julien Macdonald.

She now designs some of her work, but because of the rareness of driftwood and the physical work involved, she had to start outsourcing production - her 'deisgned by' range. Karen Miller sells through her website, but I also saw some of her work on not in the highstreet on-line shop.

And still I may not be able to buy it. This time it is not the price that is stopping me, but the theme of our new rooms. If we had a beach house (even small), I would have the whole lot, but in London surbubia... Hmmm not sure... Although since I have set my eyes on this little item, I am sure I could fit that little item for Christmas. What do you think?

{Why} I Make My Own

Rachel who writes the wonderful Stitched in Color blog has asked the all important question why I make my own things... I already have a job, I have an hour and a half commute every day, but still all I want to do in the evening is knit, sew, make the cushion covers for my new home and even my curtains, or new bowls. And I do wonder sometimes: why can't I stop?

Because I love the process of making things. I am interested in the final object to a certain extent but I love knitting, sewing, making it. It may explain why I have started so many projects and finished so few. But I am getting better, I have even picked up a project I started more than 15 years ago! And also I need things to be done for the new house.

Also I love the fact that I do not have to compromise. It can the dimensions I want, the colour scheme I want, the texture I want... Do not get me wrong I buy high street objects, but the ones I really like are out of my price range, because they are one-offs.. which brings me back to do my own...

So why do you make your own? If you publish a post explaining why, link it back to Rachel's blog.

Home inspiration 4

I first fell in love with the so-called ‘Urchin Poufs’ in the Netherlands. They look so soft and cuddly. I knew then and there that they would be the perfect addition to my home.

Netherlands-based designer Christien Meindertsma, who works under the brand name Flocks, created the poufs by knitting on enormous needles, using her own hand-felted wool. The Urchin Poufs exist in different colours and different sizes. Poufs are very versatile as they can be used as extra seating, foot rests or even coffee tables. Imagine all these bright colours scattered around a room. You can also store them in a corner of a room.

I have not yet talked about the price tag... Let’s say it may explain why I don’t have one (yet) in my living room. However if you are a keen knitter, Pickles in Norway offer you the chance to knit your own Puff Daddy pouf with a free pattern. I may have a go at extreme knitting... Has anyone tried?

Project on a smaller scale

Here in England, it was a long weekend and which meant having time for soft furnishing projects around the house, and trying new patterns. I have already talked about my crochet blanket. It is going to turn out great, but many hours will have gone into it.

I also need to change the cushion covers of our sofa. They are dark grey at the moment. The new colour scheme is going to be similar to that of the blanket. I think I found the pattern for the covers. It is called cathedral window and I stumbled across it on the A la Mode blog. How could I not fall in love with it? I did a little bit more research and the other bloggers who used the pattern really inspired me.

Heather from A la Mode tells you she has an 'easy peasy' tutorial.. I needed to check that for myself before choosing the fabric and making a serious commitment. I had some fabric left after my needle case, and decided to make a pin cushion.

Turned out well, didn't it? I love the diamond shape in the middle. I had more of the patterned fabric, but I may have worked better with the pattern in the diamond and the solid as background. Then again I do not like that yellow fabric really, it is a bit old-fashioned, but totally useful for these little projects. Not sure I would do such a big pin cushion in the end, or even for one of the diamond on my cushion cover.

M agreed as well, this is going to be the pattern for the covers, only need to find some nice fabric for it now.

Home Inspiration 3

I have been follwoing this printmaker for a while (signing up to her newsletter, going to her exhibition in London etc). I really like her work, it is a blend of retro chic natural elements. her colours are also stunning.

On her website Angie Lewin says that she is inspired by both the clifftops and saltmarshes of the North Norfolk coast and the Scottish Highlands. She depicts these contrasting environments and their native flora in wood engraving, linocut, silkscreen, lithograph and collage. These landscapes are often glimpsed through intricately detailed plantforms -as you can see below.

I have been asking for a print for a while... Maybe a new house, a new kitchen will prompt M to finally give in and buy me one for Christmas.

When ceramics meet crochet

I am so proud of myself! This turned out so nicely... I go to a ceramics class, not as often as I would like, but I try to go every other week . Katie, my teacher, was happy to go along with my vision of combining crochet with ceramics. I only have pictures of the salad bowl I made, but there are also two bowls and two coasters with the same sort of theme. And yesterday, we did a knitting device... More on this to come soon.

Anyway I am rambling a bit, so let me show you how it all turned out.

On the right is the inside of the bol. I must confess that I did not use a doily I made, but one that Mum gave me ages ago (at the time I was going to make lavender pouches).

Here it is in full!

I cannot stop looking at, feeling this inside of the bowl. I just LOVE it!

Work in progress

I am progressing.. just so slowly!

Here are the two of the projects I take in turn in the evenings after work.

The scarf, nothing fancy as M wants something simple, nothing funny. I added a bit of colour, with the Opal HundertWasser which is combined with some classy grey wool. Will get him to model the finished scarf!

And here is a project that will require a LOT more work, but which I am loving. The tutorial has been written by Attic 24, and the colour scheme was inspired by rosa.p. and my own home colour scheme.

Better get back to it!