Design Fingers

Perfect Prada Prints

2011-04-12T09:42:00.000-07:00

Weeks later I am still in love with Prada's Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear collection. Those colours and those block prints! A feast for the eyes. It's wonderful to see current references to Saint Laurent's Mondrain dress walking down the runway.

There were garments in the collection that I didn't connect with whatsoever- snakeskin coats with fur lapels and faux fur jackets. But the strength of the other garments balanced this out.

I still remain torn over the 'scale' or 'mermaid' garments. However with royal wedding bells in the air for the entire month of April, and Vogue's wedding devoted issue I did find myself thinking that these would be superbly fun wedding dresses. With a kick of colour from those python boots.

Photos from the ever dependable style.com and the fabulous tailoress blog.

This March I Liked

2011-03-29T06:01:00.000-07:00

It's nearly April! Bring on Spring please:)
Some favorite images this last month have been-

My new favorite dress, from kuukukka

I have decided one day, in the not so distance future, I will most definitely color code my books.

Gold bangle from Irish jewellery designer Clare Grennan. I have just invested in one of her rings from this range. Lucky me.

A wonderful cafe somewhere in Poland. Photographed by my friend Johnny McMillan.

My first dog was a Schnauzer.

Currently planning a boat trip down the River Shannon in April. Style inspiration for the trip? Goldie Hawn's yachting wardrobe in Overboard.

Fendi Fall 2011. Loving this color palette.

Acne Fall 2011. I love mustard. Both courtesy of the clever tailoress blog.

Recently purchased favorite fabrics.

Very frame-able tea towel.

Very keen on the paint job on that wall.

In love with this clever and pretty necklace from Michi.

Proenza Schouler's Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear collection. Delicious patterns.

Illustration by Dublin based Gaetan Billault.

From Japan With Love

2011-01-31T09:20:00.001-08:00

Quirky presents from Japan..

The most beautiful tape. Taking my packaging to a whole new level.

Sweets far too pretty to eat.

Quite possibly the most amazing erasers I have owned to date.

I will no longer be satisfied with normal post-its!

Felt specifically for shortcake creations.

Betty Holmes

2011-01-17T07:03:00.000-08:00

Before I am lost to the Spring 2011 catwalk reports, I want to to celebrate a fantastic style of Winter 2010/2011. Betty Draper meet Sherlock Holmes.

Louis Vuitton.

For me it began last July when American Vogue featured the fashion story 'Magnificent Obsession'. Peter Lindbergh photographed Natalia Vodianova and Ewan McGregor- Fall collections via a 1950s domestic love story. Stunning.

On the left Prada wool and silk dress and Prada handbag. On the right Dries Van Noten wool dress.

Marc Jacobs strapless silk ball dress.

Oh Betty Draper where would we be without your style influences and attitude. Thank you January Jones and Janie Bryant costume designer extraordinaire.

Add a touch of Sherlock Holmes..

... and you have the Louis Vuitton Fall 2010 show. Delicious.

...add some stunning prints and you also have Prada's Fall 2010 Collection.

It's been a beautiful winter.

This January I Rather Like..

2011-01-05T02:52:00.000-08:00

My New Fashion Crush

2010-11-11T08:13:00.000-08:00

My new fashion crush is Whistles. Their photographs don't do their clothes justice. Their winter collection is just lovely- elegant but with that essential edge, and with great fabrics that will last. Delicious.

In 2008 Jane Shepherdson came on board as the chief executive of Whistles, previously she was the head of Topshop- and key to its success. Whistles was formerly owned by Baugur, the Icelandic investment group, but when Baugur went into administration earlier this year it became an independent company.

A major plus point is Shepherdson's ethical principles- much manufacturing is done in Europe and that which is done in China is carefully scrutinized. She has stated that Whistles knows where the fabric comes from and what factories they use, and they realise how important this is to their customers.

This winter they feature a collection by Serbian-born designer Roksanda Ilincic, who is a relative newcomer to the fashion scene.

She also created a Spring/Summer collection for them this year. Which was feminine, but very playful- the embellishments nod to the late 60s/early 70s.

It reminded me of a favourite Spring collection in 2007 by Chloe, it didn't receive many positive reviews but I loved it. The embellished dresses were fantastic- daring colours, combining print with heavy embellishment.

It was actually a 'filler collection' as Chloe waited for their new designer to arrive, Paulo Melim then coming from Marni. Who is now at Diane von Furstenberg. People do move around!

So this collection was overseen by Yvan Mispelaere, who had been the design director of Phoebe Philo- a seminal designer for Chloe.

colours for autumn and winter 2010/2011

2010-09-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

I loved creating these. They are up on my studio wall reminding me to be inspired by COLOUR and colour combinations!

rewarding
homespun, quietly rustic, warm, textiles are subtle, folk style prints
visuals: baskets, coloured glass, type, handwriting, milk bottles, jars, wood, industrial, plaid and check

imaginative
bright, quirky, illustrative, humorous, block colours, hand drawn, make-do-and mend aesthetic, mix of patterns, innovative, bold, optimism
visuals: bold graphics and vivid palette, combinations, functional ceramics, playful and bright human aesthetic, conversational and graffiti inspired prints

harmonious
emotional connection, timeless, craft and elegance combined, all over patterns and placement prints, atmospheric and decorative, vintage and antique elements, abundance of contrasting textiles
visuals: degas, floral, lace, japanese antiques, gilt frames, venice

One Day in San Francisco

2010-08-27T07:06:00.000-07:00

It's wonderful when you come across lots of exciting people and places in one day. Which is what holidays in creative locations are all about!

Firstly I met lovely Canadian Illustrator Emma SanCartier, who is now based in San Francisco. Her work is both playful and heartful.

She showed me the lovely shop Paxton Gate's Curiosites for kids. The shop has a gorgeous design and layout. My favorite had to be the mounted soft toy heads. Then there is the sister shop down the road for grown ups. With real animals. Here the crazy mice where a favourite.

Later I stumbled upon Mission Bicycle Company where you build your own bikes. Your own gorgeous bikes that is. Be sure to park them against complimentary backgrounds such as these to do them justice.

Pastel coloured homes and crisscross tram wires.

Cold ears on the bridge, and a lovely view at the end of the day.

Charming Colours

2010-08-08T07:16:00.000-07:00

A lovely collection of images to illustrate a current colour story...

A motorbike from San Fran, a beautifully laid table featured on Flickr, a car from Italy and bridesmaid dresses from Etsy!

The Wonderful World of Sanna Annukka

2010-05-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

I'm going to share with you one of my all time favorite print designers and illustrator, as delicious design food for thought over the weekend and coming week. The striking designs of the Brighton based Finnish illustrator and print maker Sanna Annukka. Her work is inspired by nature and folklore, combined with her own unique and wonderful style. Enjoy!!
A few of my favorites...

Designs for iTunes gift cards

Lovely huge screen prints in production!

And if you fancy an interior design treat, visit her beautiful home- courtesy of DesignSponge!

Current V&A Delights

2010-05-13T09:13:00.000-07:00

What wonderful exhibitions are on at the Victoria and Albert museum in London at the moment! Till the end of June there is their first Quilt exhibition and till the end of September Grace Kelly is their featured style icon. Libertys has even released a limited edition of printed fabrics for quilting in conjunction with the V&A. So in summary- visit!

My first introduction to textile art was Tracey Emin's quilts. Which made me look at my Grandma's beautiful traditional American quilts in a whole new light! What is exciting about this exhibition is that it summarizes transitions such as these as the quilts displayed are from 1700 to the present day.

The Grace Kelly, Style Icon exhibition showcases her wardrobe during her film career and also as Princess of Monaco. Thus spanning the 50s, 60s and 70s. I'm guessing the gowns and outfits from the 50s might be my favorites.

Fashion Favorites

2010-05-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Summer is on it's way and I'm dreaming of a new wardrobe..
So I thought I'd share my FAVORITE fashion companies with you.

Cotélac is a French brand. Beautiful shapes and fabrics. I have a lovely skirt I bought from one of their Paris stores, and I've had it for 4 years now! I still wear it regularly and get many a compliment.

Wunderkind is based in Germany. One day my wardrobe will stock a Wunderkind dress! Or two. Absolutely gorgeous prints and daring shapes. They are always right on trend.. but in their own unique way.

And to end on an local note-
A very recent find is the lovely Irish company Charlotte & Jane. Their playful dresses are inspired by the 1950s, a wonderful mix of quirky and classic. You choose the print and style and send them your measurements. Now I know where I'll be getting a new dress to celebrate the arrival of summer from! I just have to make the tricky decision of which one..

Designer Interview starring Angela Cuthill of ArtySmarty (with rather fabulous giveaway!)

2010-04-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

Angela is originally from Tasmania (!)and has lived in Dublin (with some long visits home in between) for the last ten years. She studied ceramics and fine art, followed by an MA in art curation. Her husband is Irish and they live in a pretty house on Primrose Avenue. She set up her lovely company ArtySmarty in the last year- creating jewelery, bags and other quirky items.

As a giveaway there is one of Angela's latest necklaces..
Be sure to leave a comment and you just might receive it in the post!

What are you working away on at the moment?
I have been going through a major bag and ‘pocket’ making moment recently. There are some beautiful fabrics available and I want to make useful items so people can enjoy beautiful pattern, design and colour in their everyday life. Things like i-phone covers, business covers, sunglasses cases and tiny tote bags can brighten up dull objects. 

Who are your favourite designers and artists?
I have a strong visual art background so my favourites would be more traditional fine arts, say, painting and sculpture. Three big ones for me are;
Michael Morris
Richard Wastell
Ricky Swallows

What are your secret resource websites or blogs!?
Well, my most useful website resource for supplies would have to be Etsy they have all sorts of bits and bobs to buy and I love seeing all of the amazing work that other people are producing and selling on the site. I also spend a lot of time checking out blogs, Etsy Ireland, which is a collective of Irish crafters who sell on Etsy and meet up and discuss ideas have a super blog. They post really user friendly info on how to take great photos of your stuff, how-to’s and any other number of subjects.

What do you love most about what you do?
Flexibility would have to be the big one and of course the creativity. If one day I feel like making bags then I can, if I am working elsewhere I can take my laptop and work on some marketing or new designs. I guess we all want variety in our jobs and a sense of satisfaction when we complete something, I think you get that, especially so, when you have something tangible at the end of your working day.   

What's the first thing you remember making?
When I was very small I was bought an air-dry clay kit by my parents that had all of the materials to make some kind of animal figure that you could paint when it dried. I can remember exactly what the figure looked like, some kind of cat, but I loved it so much I went into full production and they were all over the house! 

Is the contrast of your subject matter intentional, for example robots and ladies in their undergarments?
I have kind of a wide interest area and I think this is reflected in the work that I produce, while it’s not really intentional. Some days I think I should narrow down the scope of what I do and specialize more but I seem to be getting more ideas as I progress rather than finding one I want to concentrate on.

Your future dreams and plans?
Business wise, I’d like to stock my work in shops all over Ireland and perhaps begin to think about the U.K. and Australia as well. I’d be pretty happy if I could carry on in the future with the same amount of creative freedom that I have now.  

Your thoughts on the design scene in Ireland? Positives and negatives!
There is some amazing contemporary design work being produced in Ireland and it would be great to see them valued more highly. And Ireland is relatively small, which makes it all pretty competitive. I think an outsiders view of Irish design would be more traditional crafts like pottery but there is so much more out there and it’s a shame it’s not better represented.
 
Where can your work be purchased?
There is a few different options, you can buy direct from my e-commerce site www.artysmartyshop.com

Or if you don’t trust the modern wonders of the internet I am stocked in a few shops;
MayFly 64 Pleasants Place (next to the Cake Café off Camden Street)
The Irish Design Shop Bow Lane East
Se Si in Temple Bar
Om Diva in the Georges Street Arcade
And if you happen to be in Waterford, Ardmore Pottery and Craft Shop.

I also go to the Dublin Flea Market which happens on the last Sunday of the month in New Market Square, off Cork Street, Dublin 8 each month. 

And last of all could you draw an interpretation of 'DesignFingers'!?

Many thanks Angela!

Create your very own inspiration

2010-04-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

It's vital to feel excited when you are starting a new project- to be eager to start work on it. Be that due to what you envisage the final work will look like, or what you are using for a starting point or inspiration.

Creating your own inspiration can be very rewarding indeed. A couple summers ago I was commissioned to do a group of designs that involved farm animals. I was finding it very tough to get into the project and realized I needed to create some inspiration for myself. So I organized a trip and visited an lovely organic farm and photographed some obligingly photogenic animals! You can only imagine how easy the project was after that. Its often worth taking the time to create great starting points.. plus it can be hugely enjoyable!

Slightly wary..

Much more at ease, preparing for the photo.

Perfect for lazy Sunday mornings

2010-04-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

I'm loving getting up to brighter (and often sunnier!) mornings. But as I still relish a sleep in on the weekend a sleeping mask can be very handy, so I decided to create a prettier one-, modeled here by my kind boyfriend. Once you try these you will be completely won over and it's a very simple project indeed!

So you need thread, elastic, fabrics for the back and front of your mask (so it's reversible), thin padding for the middle ( I used thin wool fabric) and your shape cut out on paper. Baking paper is a handy substitute for pattern paper.
To draw out your sleeping mask shape make sure its symmetrical by folding it down the center and cutting it out that way. You can find further shapes on google images- 'sleeping mask pattern'.

Lay down your fabrics and elastic-
Firstly your 2 fabrics with the print/correct sides facing in on themselves.
Inside your patterned fabrics is your elastic. For the length place it around the back of your head, reaching from one temple to the other and add a couple cms. You want it snug but not tight. So it's inside your fabrics with the ends poking out each side
Then on the bottom the wool fabric/padding.

Now trace around your mask shape. You can do this in pencil as you won't see it.
Keep in mind that if the printed fabrics are stripes or a geometric design that you have them laid out correctly.

Now a simple running stitch on the machine along the pencil line, taking the pins out before you reach them. Go nice and slowly around the curves, and leave a gap at the top or side of about 4 cm/3 finger width.

Now trim around your sewn shape, leaving about a cm of fabric remaining.

This is the back of the mask, with the wool fabric/padding. In case the fabric buckles a little later make some cuts ,through all the layers, at the tight curve where the nose will be. But don't get too close to the stitches!

Now turn your mask inside out! Little fiddly. Then iron it, also neatly ironing the unstitched edges in preparation for hand stitching.

Choose thread that blends in with your fabric, knot the end and insert it up under the fabric so the knot is hidden. You are now going to stitch neat diagonal tacking stitches the whole way along the gap. This is the same hand stitch as used in the make bunting project.

Keep the stitches nice and small! And try to hide the knot at the end. You can always push it between the fabrics with the head of a pin. Remember you can also leave your gap along one of the sides.

One of the fabrics I used was a print of my own, and this was fabric left over from altering a skirt. Enjoy your Sunday sleep ins and naps!

Taking work all the way..

2010-04-04T14:28:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the belated post! I'm sure you'll forgive me when you feast your eyes on the following-
Recently I've happened upon these two artist's and their amazing and inspirational work. Maren Esdar and AJ Fosik. Though their work is completely and utterly different, there is a common thread between them- they have taken their own unique style and way of working and explored it to its extremes. By staying with it and seeing where it will take them, they have created a amazing body of work. So wherever your design or art work leads you- stick with it!
In the case of Maren Esdar her work graced many a page in my notebooks in college. There is a sense of ephemeral, fleeting beauty in her illustrations, combined with the playful and bizarre.
A student of mine had recently created some collages that brought Esdars work to mind and thus I found her site and rediscovered her work. She currently resides in Hamburg and you can find many a beautiful illustration on her website, MarenEsdar.com

AJ Fosik's creatures need their very own film to star to in. I'm truly blown away by these creations. I'm inclined to call them 'pretend monsters', or 'pretty monsters', as there really is something pretty and secretly charming about them. The combination of playful colors and rows of teeth/eyes/ jagged edges is brilliant . These sculptures are so satisfying to the eye- the colors, the perfect symmetry, the detailed layered. Delicious. He is currently is based in Philadelphia and had a solo show in San Francisco last year. Maybe London could be his next stop as it's slightly closer to home?

Extraordinarily Easy Bunting

2010-03-24T04:02:00.000-07:00

I have fallen for bunting totally and utterly. It just has so many uses! Outdoors, indoors, celebrations, brightening a room.. We use some lovely bunting when we run our textile workshops, but I decided to do a very very easy make post for bunting for those of you who are, so far, sewing machine less. And I can use it to brighten up my lovely studio!

This is when you get to reward yourself for keeping (hoarding!) all those scraps of fabric. Using them up is so satisfying! Your fabrics don't need to match, just make sure you like how they all look together. You can use plain fabrics, printed or a mixture of both. If you are using only plain fabrics be sure to use a playful mix of colors.

Using bias binding is the first great tip. You can get it in any good haberdashery. Wonderful word 'haberdashery'. Be sure to buy a color that works with your fabrics and the right length that you want. I bought 2 and half metres for this project.Now you need to fold the width in half while ironing it, keeping all the edges on the inside. The binding I bought happened to have some linen in it so I could fold it by hand first before ironing. This isn't a must.

Make a template out of paper or card as a guide for your fabric triangles. Be sure that when you fold it in half the 2 sides are the same. Make the most of your fabric and make one tip longer, this will be the end that hangs down.

Once you have drawn around your bunting, with a light pencil or tailors chalk its time for tip number 2. Crimping scissors! They create a lovely zigzag edge that is very pretty and doesn't fray. They are more expensive than normal scissors but they are well worth it.
However cut the top of your triangles with a straight edge, as they will be inside the binding and a straight edge will be easier to catch when stitching.

At this point place your first triangle inside your folded binding to check that your triangle is a size you like, a good check before you cut out the rest of your triangles.

Remember to make the most of your fabric, place your triangles side by side and as close to each other as possible.

Very satisfying cutting with crimping scissors.

Lots of lovely triangles. I got slightly excited and cut too many, but these can be used for my next strand of bunting!

Decide on the order of your fabric triangles and how much space you would like between them. Be sure that it is the same between each one. Place each triangle right up inside the binding and pin it down with a couple of pins. It's lovely deciding on the order of your fabrics. I loved using this bicycle print of mine, next to fabric left over from Laura Ashley curtains.

Now for the hand stitching if you are sewing machineless. Choose thread that matches your binding, knot the end and insert it up into the binding so the knot is hidden.

You are now going to stitch neat diagonal tacking stitches the whole way along the binding, (it's up to whether to do the strands at the beginning and end of the binding) . This stage you need to do while chatting or watching a film so it doesn't become tedious. You can relax but still be productive. And you will have some fabulous bunting as a result! Do use it for a celebration of any kind!

Pretty Edge

2010-03-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

It had been years since I had learned crochet and produced a rather awful scarf. Recently one of my students asked me to show her some crochet skills and once I had reminded myself of them it opened up a whole world of tasteful crochet possibilities! This is edging or border is a lovely simple project, that shows you how just a few crochet stitches can be effective, and tasteful!

This is your pattern for this edging-
Foundation chain of the required length-count your stitches, and make sure the chain is a multiple of 6 stitches +1
Row 1-1 chain,1 double double crochet in each stitch, turn
Row 2-1 chain *miss 2 stitches, 5 treble crochet in next double crochet, miss 2 stitches, 1 double crochet in next stitch, rep from * to end.
Fasten off.

I know that sounds complicated, but I promise its very simple! There's only 3 crochet stitches involved-chain, double crochet and triple crochet. Use your pattern as a reference. Before you undertake a project make a small sample piece, for practice and to make sure it looks as you expected.

These are 2 versions of how to do a slip knot- the very first stitch on your hook!

How to hold your yarn and hook! Tension is important- not to tight and not too loose. This will take practice.

To create your foundation chain you catch the yarn and bring it all the way through the loop on your hook. Pass your hook under and around the yarn to catch it. The hook comes towards you at the start of the movement.

This is your foundation chain. Don't forget to keep count! The first slip knot doesn't count as a stitch.

If you haven't done so already be sure to measure the area you want to trim. I'm going to edge the empire line of this linen dress. There are a host of possibilities- cuffs, hems even creating very impressive ribbons for wrapping gifts.

This the double crochet stitch. Once you have created a foundation chain of the required length (multiple of 6 +1). Turn at the end, add one chain stitch (your turning stitch) and go back along it working the double crochet into each stitch.

Working the double crochet along..

Finished row 1!

Now for the treble crochet! Be sure to practice this one a bit first.

Follow the pattern guide for row 2- 1 chain *miss 2 stitches, 5 treble crochet in next double crochet, miss 2 stitches, 1 double crochet in next stitch, rep from * to end.

Coming along nicely!

To finish cut your yarn and pull it through the last loop! Now it just needs to be sewn on. I attached it to the garment with small diagonal tacking stitches the same color as the yarn. All very simple and immensely satisfying! Now I just have to finish that dress..

A rather lovely file

2010-03-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

A lovely way of starting new work is to research online for specific images that evoke the style and mood you want to create in a design. You just have to remind yourself to stop! It's a great reference for when you are working away on your design and you begin to forget the feelings you wanted to evoke. This lovely jumble is some of my style/mood images for a print I'm working on..

All thanks to ffffound, etsy, notcot, style.com and my very own camera.

Spring Time Embroidered Cushion Cover

2010-03-08T10:00:00.000-08:00

This Make project is featured in the latest issue of Image Interiors, but I wanted to also share it with your lovely selves!

Changing the cushion covers in your home for spring is a lovely, simple way to rejuvenate your house. You will need: A medium sized embroidery hoop, embroidery needles, threads and yarns, tailors chalk, scissors, pencil, paper and some relaxing time for production.

The first step is to learn a few embroidery stitches. This is the only tricky part. It will be worth it I promise, as you will have these stitches under your belt for all your future projects! These are the stitches I used.

Decide on your design and draw it out. Use any patterns or shapes you like as inspiration! Do remember to keep your final design shapes simple and strong to make them effective and easy. Planning out the whole placement of the design on paper first is a good idea as it saves from making mistakes later.

Cutting up your drawings and making a stencil is a great guide to keep to your design. Draw your design with tailors chalk (or pencil) onto the fabric. Tailors chalk is very safe to start designing with as it rubs off! Break it up to get a sharp edge.

Plan what colors and threads you are going to use and have them to hand. Try using a mix of sewing threads, embroidery threads and thin to medium yarns.
Keep your fabric uppermost in your hoop. Secure and slightly taut. Sit down, relax and start stitching! (Optional glass of wine)

Remember to keep everything at the back of your fabric neat and secure. No long trailing threads. This way it will last longer with wear and tear.
By choosing colors that all work together, you can relax while your stitching and simply reach for closest yarn!

Working on outlines can be very successful if you want a quick project. And running stitch is a great effective stitch and not too simple to use for your cushion cover! Mix up your stitches and threads to keep it contemporary and try overlapping your designs.

Above all enjoy relaxing and switching off!

St Patrick's Personal Etsy Choices

2010-03-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

I'm a guest blogger on the Etsy Ireland Blog today for their Fabulous Friday finds, so I thought I would share it with your lovely selves!

If St. Patrick was around today what would his Fab 5 be?
Possibly...
Very lovely cuff links from Faerytopia, for important occasions

Surely he would love this hand printed book from BridgetFarmerBooks.

No doubt he would give a loved one some of these quirky ginger bread love hearts from GingerBreadStreet.

I think he would no choice to buy that same loved one this very fabulous head piece from By A Thread. He would have liked animals. And appreciated craftsmanship!

And I think he would just have to buy this wonderful crocheted ring from Treasure Online for someone too! He was quite keen on green.

I hope this post makes you smile and that you all have a great weekend! X

Tea Time Centerpiece

2010-03-02T11:00:00.000-08:00

Nearly all my 'Make' posts to date have been centered around the kitchen and food! And here is another kitchen themed 'Make' post, a small centerpiece to rest your favorite tea pot on. When I have friends over for a cup of tea or 2 (or more), I try to make it slightly special. Be that using my favorite teacups and teapot, nice teas or even some flowers! With some felt, threads and your trusty needle this centerpiece can be whipped up for all such occasions. It's made with felt so its very simple and feasible- no hemming or fraying involved!

Felt has a tendency to mainly be available in quite bright colors so I toned this down a little by using more subdued threads and yarns. Pin together 2 layers of felt so its nice and sturdy, you could have a different color for the underside. Draw out your simple shape on one side. I wanted mine to be a flower shape so I used a hoop to trace around for a circle and then drew the petals around that. Using pencil is the easiest option on felt, just keep it light and accurate as you are going to stitch directly on top of it. Then cut out your shape, keeping the 2 layers pinned together.

Try using a mixture of embroidery threads, sewing threads and thin yarns to give it a rich and varied texture. As well as running stitch why not try some other stitches to add to your center piece. These are nice and easy and you can use them for all sorts of projects. Running stitch alone can very effective also!
Even though you won't have the underneath showing it's nice not to have any knots on that side so carefully begin your line of stitches between the layers, near the edge- but not too near! Remember to keep an eye on the underneath/back at all times as tangles can creep up on you.

Give yourself enough thread to reach from one side of the piece to another, a good guide of how much thread should be on your needle is to measure it from the tips of your nicely manicured nails to your elbow. A lot more than this will end in disastrous tangles on the back of your piece. Not fun.

Once you have sewn to the middle of your piece you can then change your stitch. Below is fly stitch with a sewing thread.
If you want to start a line of stitching from the center of the piece you would pass the needle between the layers and work it up to the center, passing though the top fabric at that point. If you are doing this in a tight space, you can place a pencil in between the layers and work the needle up next to it.

Buttonhole stitch. One of my favorites.

For the final step, stitch around the edge of your piece or close to, to prevent the 2 layers of felt being frayed separately and to make the piece more sturdy. I emphasized the 'petals' of my piece around the edges. Use a slightly stronger thread than sewing thread for this final stage.

Now for the best part- tea time.

Apparel Resource

2010-02-25T11:00:00.000-08:00

For printing onto garments American Apparel is the answer. Plenty of 100% cotton basics in lovely shapes; t-shirts, tank tops and even skirts, to satisfy all your garment printing wants! I just picked up a few t-shirts and tank tops for a new batch of screen printing:) Using stencils (see 'LiveLaughLove tea towel' post) and stamps (the creation of which I promise to cover in a future post) with fabric paint, you can just as easily create your own bespoke prints for garments. Remember to resist the lovely ribbed garments though- you need flat fabrics for printing.

American apparel garments are produced in LA, so no 'made very far away and unfairly labels' in sight. The higher the percentage of cotton, the longer the happy life ahead of the garment, so aim for 100% cotton, unless the garment is completely irresistible! Depending where in the world you are buying, online can be cheaper. I wouldn't shy away from checking out garments in a shop and then purchasing it online if the difference is considerable. Definitely the way to go if you are buying quite a few items, as the shipping charge will be less.

But be warned! Their modeling shots can be rather cheeky, and much too much so on some pages. You could be looking at dresses and suddenly it turns very risque. Just so you know! The garments are great but the site can be scary! The t shirts and tank tops are fairly safe.

Creative Cake Stand for that rainy day

2010-02-23T13:00:00.000-08:00

This is a lovely easy project, all you need is a day at home as each layer of the cake stand needs a couple hours to set. I've wanted to make a cake stand with a mixture of plates for some time. And it was an adventure for me as it didn't involve stitching or printing!
The push to finally make a cake stand was thanks to the lovely publication 'ReMake it Home' by Henrietta Thompson , where they suggest using tea cups as the stands between plates. Genius! I tweaked it a bit and used 3 egg cups for the base as I want it to be nice and sturdy. Prepared to be weighed down with lovely edibles!

Have your surface covered very safely with plenty of newspaper. I recommend the sports section! Have everything you need to hand- crockery, ceramic glue (or some kind of heavy duty, waterproof glue that drys transparent), sandpaper, nail varnish remover, cloth/paper towels. I decided to feature one of my plates, 'Inquistive Birds', so I kept the other plates plain so as to draw attention to it as the main feature.

Sandpaper the surfaces you're going to glue- the base of the biggest plate and the tops of the egg cups. I bought a fine sandpaper and a medium one, but I was just fine with the medium grain.

In my excitement I sandpapered (and glued!) the bottom of the egg cups, so they are actually upside down. Never forget that even a simple project can so easily go astray! Often when you get very excited. But its never the end of the world. I think the upside down egg cups are a feature!

First make sure your egg cups are spaced out in the right positions for being glued to the plate. Roughly an equal distance between them. Wipe away any dust from the sandpapering before you apply a nice, neat, thin line of glue. Place your plate carefully on top, making sure the egg cups don't move. It's absolutely fine only applying the glue to one side and not to the plate also.

Magical nail varnish remover- it very neatly cleans away any stray glue that has snuck over the edges. Hold the plate steady while you do this. Now leave to set for 2 to 3 hours. It will be worth the wait!

My upside down egg cups! It was only at this point that I noticed!!

Now the middle layer. Sandpaper the top (not much to sandpaper there) and bottom of the teacup and the base of the middle sized plate.

You could use a measuring tape at this point to make sure you will place the teacup in the middle of the plate. Line first the top of the teacup with glue, place upside down, then the top and place the middle plate on top.

Now that there are a couple layers I placed a coffee table book neatly on top to help it all set very securely. Leave for 2 to 3 hours.

Time for the final layer. Repeat the same steps again, sandpaper both ends of the teacup and the bottom of the top plate.. I changed my mind and decided to use a saucer as my top plate, to give it a more staggered effect. My pretty spotted plate will just have to wait until my next cake stand.

There is a third plate under there!

Now it just needs to be filled! You can use your sturdy stand for all sorts of things as well as edibles- jewelery, sewing supplies or even by the door for keys and post. And it makes a lovely gift! Start hoarding those plates. My next one is going to be floral themed:)

Childhood Favourites

2010-02-18T09:40:00.000-08:00

We tend to look around us for inspiration, but a great starting point can be our past. What designs do we remember from childhood? A favorite curtain pattern or tablecloth, favorite artists and illustrators?

Back in the summer I had a deadline to create a piece and was feeling rather uninspired. Like writer's block for designers? I had sorted through some of my childhood books a few weeks previously and had come across 'Thorn Rose' (The original name for the tale of Sleeping Beauty) by The Brothers Grimm illustrated by Errol Le Cain. How much I remembered this book! It was one of my favorites.

I love that it is a crab that informs the queen that she will have a daughter. Not forgetting the charming rabbits.

All the fairies are invited to the ball to celebrate the birth of the new princess. But one certain fairy was forgotten!

I love the prints on their garments. Not one decorative opportunity missed!

Le Cain was a British animator and children's book illustrator. He grew up in India, before settling in the UK after World War 2. Drawn to film he made his first animation with an 8 mm camera when he was 11! That must have been delightful fun. He was awarded the Kate Greenway Medal 3 times (for outstanding works of illustration in children's literature) for Thorn Rose and other publications.

Le Cain's illustrations jogged my memory in many different ways. I love the flat perspective he uses in his foregrounds. How he invites you into the illustration, this rich world with so many detailed happenings in every part of the page. And the vital element that it all relates to a story...

So don't forget about your childhood favorites, you never know where they made lead you. It might just be somewhere lovely:)

Valentine Stitches

2010-02-14T09:30:00.000-08:00

It's Valentines morning! Just enough time to whip up a quick card for a loved one;)
This embroidered card honestly won't take long at all and there is something immensely satisfying about stitching through card, it feels so purposeful!
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I chose a nice bright red and decided on a square shape because it suited my design. Practice some ideas on paper first, try a good few as then you can choose your favorite!
You can look to so many sources for inspiration- design sites or blogs you like, images or cards you've kept. Patterns start popping up everywhere once you look for them. You can make the simplest of designs very effective. The design for this card is so simple- it's the stitches that make it.
Draw your design with pencil lightly onto your card- this will be your guide. I've drawn mine so lightly that it's hard to spot!

I used four embroidery stitches- your everyday running stitch, buttonhole stitch, feather stitch and seeding stitch. If this seems very daunting you could solely use running stitch and it will still be very effective. Or even set yourself the challenge of just learning 1 new stitch?
Go slowly as you're stitching through card, you don't want to make lots of unnecessary holes. As it's sometimes hard to tell if your needle is going to come out where you are hoping it will, before you pass it through the card lookout for the pressure point. So if its in the wrong place don't push the needle through!

After using running stitch around the edge of my design I used buttonhole stitch for the next square. Buttonhole stitch is one of my favorites as it's so adaptable for different designs and projects. You'll be seeing it popping up again soon in future posts! Because this stitch is trickier than running stitch remember to take your time.
Then fly stitch next around the inner square. Similarly to the buttonhole stitch take your time. I used an embroidery thread that was dip dyed- so it changes color from one end to the other. But you can easily achieve this by using a mixture of threads!
Remember to keep the back of your card neat and secure, this way you won't have to cover it- which can look bumpy. The back of whatever project you are stitching can often be very interesting and give you future ideas!

Keep all the threads and yarns you've chosen to use to hand. Try using a mixture of embroidery threads, sewing threads and thin yarns (wool or similar). The embroidery threads you can split it half, like so, so they won't be so thick.

Seeding stitch for texture for the middle of the heart. Seeding stitch is phenomenally relaxing- yes it's very easy! Short stitches of the same length in different directions. Make sure you work within your shape so when you rub out the pencil it will be easily recognizable.

Keep the seeding stitches side by side so there so no long loose pieces of thread at the back- maintaining it's neatness:)

Your lovely handmade card is finished! Your embroidered cards can be used for any occasions. So these skills will stand to you! Have a most lovely Valentines. X

The Fashion World is the Less

2010-02-12T08:37:00.000-08:00

I had a 'make' post all prepared for today. But what is overwhelmingly on my mind is the sad passing of Lee McQueen. I did an internship in the menswear department of his fashion house last year. Among my time there I worked for his nephew in printed textiles. He was an incredibly nice and down to earth man, a trait that must run in their family. So many people are holding Lee McQueen's family in their hearts today. My small self among them.

A few of my inspiring favorites..

Inspirational Day

2010-02-09T07:40:00.000-08:00

I think that when you are drawn repeatedly to certain designs, it's lovely to learn some background about them. And now and then it might just happen to be very informative and rather historic! For me there are the textile prints of Lucienne Day-

As one of an iconic designer couple of postwar Britain, there is quite a lot indeed about this talented lady all over blogs. However I think there deserves to be! Just imagine, these were produced in the 50s after World War 2 was over! How daring! It must have been the case that you either adored her prints or didn't know what to think. I like to think that I would have been totally on board:) She loved modern art, her favorites being Joan Miró and Paul Klee, and her prints have strong echoes of these inspirations. They must have brightened up homes no end. Her prints were featured on tea towels, table linens, wallpaper and ceramics...

Her husband Robin Day was an iconic furniture designer. Think minimal (but not that painful minimal), functional and hard wearing. He designed the reassuring angular wooden benches you still see at some London tube stops. They belonged to the belief system that good design must be pleasing to the eye but also functional, durable and affordable for the masses such as ourselves:) Hear hear.

Both attended the RCA and meet at a dance there. (cue girly sigh) But apparently they were very good at criticizing each others work. Glad to hear it! Here's to talented couples, no matter what their passions are, support (and criticism!) is essential.

'Calyx' would be her most iconic print, featured here as a book cover.
The Day's furniture and textiles in a display at a Milan trade show.

LiveLaughLove Tea Towel

2010-02-08T05:45:00.001-08:00

I've been preparing cards for Textile Workshop Dublin's Valentine's Craft Night the last few days and I'm become very excited about Valentines! Heart shaped cookies, pink cards..all that lovely carry on.
So I'm going to make something that is fun and functional (and pretty of course) that could be given as a gift, but be used after the event! Valentine's isn't only for couples, this would be a lovely gift for a Mum, sister or lovely friend!
I love bold graphics and I've seen this lovely phrase popping up, so since it's stayed with me I've decided to use it.

Measure out your tea towel (cotton, linen or both) first so you know what measurements you are working with. Decide what height you would like your letters, and what height you would like in the space between each word. Draw the lines out neatly with a ruler so you have a guide before you draw in your letters.
I drew my letters out by hand as I want the design to have a homely feel. You could always print out letters, cut them out and trace around them if you prefer.

Remember not to make your letters too narrow, as this will be more fiddly to cut out and less nice printed color! The area you cut out is going to be the area you print.
Take a piece of acetate that generously fits over your text and tape down first your paper, and then your acetate on top. So it's nice and stable. Using a permanent market trace over your letters.
Take your time and outline your letters neatly. Unlike my wobbly O!

Then using a blade (trusty craft knives are good) cut out the letters.
Do this slowly and carefully, making sure everything is stable and never cut towards your other hand.
I've used a cutting mat, but some cardboard or a chopping board will serve you well also.

Why not keep your cut out letters for future design projects. You'll be so pleased if they come in handy! I taped mine onto my notice board to keep them from getting lost in a drawer.

Now have your workspace all prepared- newspaper laid out, fabric paint mixed,sponge at the ready.(I cut up some sponge that I got from packing boxes).Have a cloth to hand for emergency spills. It's a good idea to always wear an apron when doing any printing and you can have that emergency cloth tucked neatly in the front pocket.
So this is a test run on paper first, if there are any mistakes in the stencil you can correct them before printing on your tea towel.
Now spray spraymount (a wonderful invention) onto the back of your stencil and fix it to your paper. I've used masking tape a swell, but this is a bit OTT of me. Don't forget to stick the middle of the A and O down.
Once you've done your test run wash your stencil carefully but thoroughly, before you print on your fabric. Better to be safe than sorry!

Have your tea towel ironed and laid down on clean newspaper. Don't forget about your A and O!
Now tab your first layer of paint over the stencil. You don't want it applying too thick, as it can leak under the stencil. So keep the amount of paint on the sponge light and tab from above. I would do one layer like this first and then the second layer usually finishes it.

Peel off your stencil carefully and Voila! How satisfying:)
Once it's dried naturally you just need to steam iron it on high for a good five minutes on the front and back to set the print. Now you can wash it in the machine in the future-though I'd wash it on 30 degrees so it can have a nice long life.

Choose a ribbon that compliments or nicely contrasts the color(s) in your tea towel.
Make a loop with ribbon, so that it's easy to hang up, in the centre of the top of the tea towel. Tacking the ends of the ribbon onto the back.

Last step!
Serve up some lovely tea using your charming tea towel and thoroughly enjoy the process:)