It's a start!

For my Woolmark commission (for their London showroom piece) I've recently been knitting lots of stripy blobs.....it's a glamourous life.....Anyway I have finally started sewing them on so here's a quick snap of the centre of what now seems like an absolutely enormous canvas. 

On the downside I definitely need a lot more blobs (possibly fuelled by a box set or two), on the upside my eternally picky husband likes it so much that he wants one for the house! Now this is important as generally we have a surprising lack of my work at home (despite me sneaking in bits every now and again)- so to actually ask for one from the pickiest man/ man with the best taste ever is really a big deal! I must be doing something right....

Flattering?

The never ending question for all us little designers is- 'How close is close when it comes to design similarity and is (possible) copying the sincerest form of flattery or basically a bit annoying'.......

For instance...

 

Above and below are images of one of three stag heads that I designed 18 months ago and were in stock a year ago (not to mention up online)...... 

 

Now- I know there are a lot of hand knitted covered things for the home out there- I've been doing it since 2005 after all, but I did feel like I'd seen the below version (cast complete with embossed knitting pattern) somewhere before when I spotted it in a well known high street store on Saturday- 

 

Luckily I've been around the block a few times and know chances are it's probably not a direct copy and not to let it bother me- but really it would be good for the whole of the craft and design world if the hours we put into original ideas were recognised rather than just 'flattered'.......I'll leave it to you to decide which you prefer!

Thankyou Good Homes...!

.......and lovely Seek and Adore and Dote! Yet more cosies in the press so thankyou everyone! The tea cosy and mug cosy are mine, made in conjunction with lovely Linda Bloomfield

You can buy just the cosy on it's own direct from my website here they make lovely gifts for awkward/ tea obsessed people!

What I Need Vs What I've Got...

So, for my latest project for Woolmark (an installation piece for their new London showroom) they have chosen this design.... it's 1m x 1m so actually has a lot more 'blobs' than is shown in the sketch.... I think they'll vary between about 4cm and 8 cm across each..

 This is a 'blob' prototype, knitted on four needles using Rowans DK- I'll make up the sizes and colour layout as I go, but I think I need between 350 and 450 of these to cover the piece....

 So that's what I need- what I actually have is 48 balls of yarn and about 2 weeks...better get knitting! (still- don't the colours look lovely)

And again! This time it's Good Housekeeping!

Yet more fans of the cosy mug.......

Buy your mug cosy here! perfect gifts for people who have everything!

Country Homes and Interiors Love Cosy Mugs..!

.....on a day like today surely hot chocolate and a cosy mug is the only way forwards?

To order your own cosy which will fit almost any mug click here or if you'd like some with Linda Bloomfield's Ceramics (as shown here) then she'll happily send some direct from her site!!!

Woolmark strike again!

I am so excited to have been commissioned to make a 1m square knitted piece for the shiny new Woolmark London showroom! Just think of all those woolly people who'll get to enjoy it! These are the rough sketches I submitted and the colourway will be off white, greys and dirty lime.......watch this space for progress updates and to see which one they chose......!