This time last year I was in Peru. I went for a month on a mission to turn my knitted homeware collection into reality! My ambitions were high and the trip got off to a rocky start when my yarn was stollen…
Back in 2001 I climbed up a tower in Tabor (Czech Republic) and looked out over the city. I can’t remember which tower, but I do remember the view. These are the sketches and paintings I did following that trip,…
Looking back through one of my old sketchbooks, I’m realising that I had quite an obsession with rooftops! These line drawings were done in the Czech Republic and are just a few of the sketches I found.
Sketches from my trip to Peru last June…
On my way to the yoga retreat in Spain, I stopped off in Sevilla for a night. I spent the day wandering the streets, eating tapas, drinking cerveza and taking photos…
This is a watercolour sketch I did when I was in Lima, sitting underneath palm trees on the cliff tops between Barranco and Miraflores.
…I came across a beautiful collection of chullos, an Andian style hat with earflaps… They were incredibly fine that it was hard to believe they had been hand knitted. The complex geographic patterns used multiple colours and they were beautifully finished with a tiny scalloped edge.
In rural areas of Peru many of the older women still wear elements of traditional clothing, often mixed with something western, like a fleece jacket, that really doesn’t go with the rest of the outfit!
Peruvian textiles are works of art, full of meaning and symbolism. In ancient times they were valued more than gold or silver. Today the tradition of textile production still continues…
This is a painting of a tribesman from New Guinea that I did years ago in my sketchbook looking at tribal body decoration.
Quick sketches done in Paris years ago, looking up at the ceiling in Notre Dame.
Spring is finally here and the sun just makes everything look so pretty…especially these brightly coloured houses in London. I love the combination of colours and patterns created by the shadows.
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York has been looking back 100 years at the invention of abstract art. The exhibition “Inventing Abstraction“, which I managed to see just before it closed on 15th April, showed the work…
“Workt by Hand” showcases rarely seen treasured quilts from the Brooklyn Museum’s Decorative Arts collection. Quilts can be seen as functional objects or artistic creations. They are a demonstration of skill and creative expression, a labour of love often made by…
I’ve just spent 10 days in New York visiting friends and exploring the city I used to call home. I spent a lot of time wandering the streets of Brooklyn and Manhattan, visiting some of my favourite neighbourhoods. The vast…
There seems to be a baby boom…at least in my friendship group! In the last month I’ve become an aunty and two of my close friends in New York have also had their first child. So I decided it was…
After months of preparation The Startup Showcase has been and gone. It was a fantastic experience and I received some great feedback. I have to say a massive thank you to my sister, Anna, who helped me create my…
My cushions aren’t for sale yet, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get your hands on one. I will be giving away one of my cushions in return for a bit of help with market research. At The Startup Showcase…
Here are a few more photos of my “Nuba” collection that will be on display at The Startup Showcase. The event starts with a Press Preview and VIP night on Thursday, then a Buyers Breakfast and Time Out Event on…
My debut collection of knitted cushions and throws is inspired by the body decoration of the Nuba tribe in Sudan. At least this was the starting point, but my designs are rarely that literal, as I like to merge lots of…
The countdown has begun. Only 2 weeks to go until I’ll be setting up for The Startup Showcase. My studio is now a production line and I’m churning out samples that will be on display. If you’d like to…
I’ve always had an interest in interior design, so last year I decided to work on developing a range of knitted home accessories. For me, knitwear is all about creating a beautiful fabric and home ware really allows me to…
I found this clam shell at my Grandparents house. It’s huge and I love the texture of it. They found it when they were living in Kenya. It holds a lot of sentimental value, and I love to hear little…
My Grandparents house is full of interesting bits and bobs that they’ve collected over the years. Many are from their travels and I’ve always been drawn to their collection of things from Kenya. They moved there in the 50’s when…
Last week I was in London for a workshop with School for Creative Startups, learning all about web fuelled business. A very motivational day leaving me with lots to think about…and do! I’ve started with setting up a facebook page….
In my previous post I shared sketches I’d done of arched ceilings. Here are a few more that I did in Krakow and Prague, but these are less detailed and focus just on the abstract shapes and patterns created by…
I find architectural structures very inspiring and have always loved arched ceilings. The curves of the walls and shadows create so many patterns. Here are a few sketches I did years ago when I was in Krakow, Poland. I have…
It’s been a snowy weekend here…
This is another drawing I did years ago of a woman from the Nuba tribe. The decorative patterns on her body are created by scarification.
This is a drawing from one of my sketchbooks looking at tribal body decoration. This woman is from the Nuba tribe in Sudan. The decoration on her chest is scarification; a long and painful process that involves incising the skin…
Inspired by the Indian screens I’ve been sketching at the V&A, I decided to look back through my hundreds, actually thousands, of travel photos I took whilst in India back in 2008. I knew I was going to find a…
I can’t keep myself away from the V&A at the moment. I found myself sketching in the same area of the museum as last weekend. I’m loving the geometric patterns in these Indian screens.
Another Sunday afternoon sketching in the V&A Museum. This time I was drawn to a display of Indian screens carved out of sandstone and marble. They reminded me of my trip to India I did a few years ago. Sure…
I could spend hours sketching in the Victoria and Albert Museum, so I’m making the most of it whilst I’m in London for a few weeks for some freelance work. Today I was looking for all things Art Deco and ended…
A couple of sketches of the glass domed roof in Galleries La Fayette, Paris. Remember to look up!
I just spent a few days in Madrid and was inspired by the colours and patterns of these walls!
Here’s a selection of some of the designs I’m currently working on. Early stages at the moment, so they might evolve into something completely different!
One of my favourite sketchbooks is based on tribal body decoration. This is a painting I did of a Nuba tribesman from Sudan. I love the geometric patterns and soft pastel colours with the dark contrast and hint of ember.
I’ve had to make the hard decision to leave London and move back up north to my parents. It looks like setting up your own business is full of sacrifices! Hopefully it will all be worth it in the end….