Forthcoming book launch

Great news - the launch of the 'Handmade in Britain' book is less than a month away. I am one of the designers featured in the book!

Published by Vivays Publishing Ltd, the book is written by Piyush Suri, textile designer and founder of 'Handmade in Britain', an organization devoted to promioting Briish  designer-makers, both nationally and internationally.  Further information here www.handmadeinbritain.co.uk

The book will be launched to coincide with the 'Handmade in Britain' show at Chelsea Old Town Hall, King's Road, London. This Contemporary Craft & Design Fair takes place at the end of October:

Thursday 27th Oct, 5.30pm-9pm - Private View evening
Friday 28th Oct, 11am-6pm
Saturday 29th Oct, 11am-6pm
Sunday 30th Oct, 11am-6pm

Tickets can be purchased online from www.handmadeinbritain.co.uk, or on the door.

Hope to see you there!

Choosing colours

I'm often asked how I choose the colours for a collection, or where my designs come from - so I thought I'd show you how my  designs develop!

I'm always collecting inspiring images, taking photographs and collecting bits and bobs.  I've got some pinboards in my studio where I start putting ideas together.  My current collection, 'Buttonbox' based on the button box that used to belong to my Nanna - so there's lots of memories and nostalgia in there too!

Next I put together a mood board.  This often has colours on, but sometimes I also make a colour board to help with choosing yarns.

Once I've ordered my yarn I work on patterns, and then when the yarn arrives the sampling begins!

My 'mix and mis-match' style brings together different patterns in colours in a unique way - it's certainly great fun putting pieces together!

I now have a core selection in each collection, but continue with some 'one-off's' too!