arrangements...

 ..one of my favourite 'things to do' is to make simple arrangements and compositions with the new arrivals to the studio...palettes of plaster pink and grey litter the studio today...

....arms flung back like Julie Andrews....

I always a feel a tad anxious when starting the foundations to a new year.  The studio has been tidied (tidyness is enough to make any creative person feel slightly unnerved-well this one most certainly).  All has been taken down from the patchwork wall and new colours are starting to be added.

New deliveries of antique lace and vintage fabrics are being washed and dyed and before even one simple stitch has been made I am starting to feel inspired-excited-giddy and ready to step into January with arms flung back like Julie Andrews.

While I indulge in creating new stock for The Linen Garden's haberdashery shop there is currently a Winter Sale - with a rather smashing 20% off -  simply type in BAUBLES at checkout....www.thelinengarden.co.uk

the research path to fourteen - page one

 

...the theatre of the seasons...

I don’t know what it is about this time of the year but it brings a wonderful wave of contentment.  I adore closing the curtains and switching on the lamps when evening is really only tea-time and I get a little confused by the time that the clocks display.  The blankets over the chairs have the most amazing ‘to sleep’ effect on me whenever I unwrap them and snuggle down .  Hot water bottles at bedtime.  I am not a fan of milky drinks but come November and I crave retiring for the evening with just that.

At the time of year when you are wanting to get cosy I love nothing more than a brisk crisp walk in the cold, wrapped up in layers.  The gathering of seed heads, brittle bare branches, grasses and berries.  There is something so therapeutic about enjoying this green and auburn land, we are so very lucky to experience the theatre of the seasons changing. 

This is a perfect time for me to define my next working year.  I throw myself into the indulgent path of research, construct lists and allow the ideas to entertain my giddiness.  I dust off my book that is filled with notations and sketches and cuttings.  Notes that have been made at many a time through out the year when I have wished for a spare hour or day to go off track from the working diary and escape into a little experimental bubble.  So the next couple of months I will be pottering in a productive manner which will also allow more time for me to stop by and document my little journey into 2014 and share with you some of my indulgent makings.

Enjoy the approaching warmth and cold of Winter.

...all images credited here...

a penny for your thoughts

  ....when I know I am having a couple of days break from the studio I like to leave myself in the middle of 'thought'...at the moment I am finalising the path for 2014 and use my walls like a sketchbook page - here is a small collection of my thoughts....will I get a penny for them?

I make. You make.

My work is my obsession, my past time, my hobby and secondly my business.  If I chose tomorrow to close my business I would still make something everyday.  It is in the veins you see.  So because I am so passionate about making I love to encourage others to make too.  That is why my business is cut into two paths.  'I MAKE' - is The Vintage Drawer and 'YOU MAKE' is The Linen Garden (see links to the left).

The Linen Garden is always stocked with lots of vintage haberdashery and fabrics for you to purchase gatherings and bundles of to start new projects.  If you are in search for ideas then there are also DIY packs - Decorate It Yourself.  This seasons DIY packs are my 'Love Brooches' - a perfect making project to give to friends as gifts or make for yourself to decorate that cardigan.....  So here is a little glimmer of what is currently folded on the linen shelves and stood to attention in the haberdashery boxes.....You can pop over to The Linen Garden the quick route past the garden shed here