Neutral Buttons

I'm pleased with these buttons. I decided to make more neutral ones as not everyone goes for bright colours as I do. These are subtle stone colours. I've done more squares and even some oval buttons and all sizes of round ones.

Free knitting

I knitted this piece as an example of 'free' knitting and I'm excited by the possibilities. It's fun to do allowing maximum creativity. When I've got more time I'll make it into something.
The bag making workshop on Wednesday went well. Relaxed, friendly, and fun. I was made really welcome by the members of Phoenix Stitchers and I look forward to seeing their finished bags! More on bags next week.
Right now I must focus on making more buttons for tomorrow and Sunday at Unravel at Farnham Maltings.

Favourite piece

I keep thinking about this floaty summer coat by Masai . It's so unusual. Stocked by Tricot Too, Petersfield and Tricot Design, Arundel.

In Arundel

Yesterday I worked in Arundel's Tricot Design shop and I was pleased to see they have one of my felt necklaces in the window! The coat is by Out of Xile.

Felting

This felt background is an experiment to make a sturdy fabric for bags. Love these colours!

Busy busy

I can't believe it's been a week since I last posted. I promise I'll try to do better in future. It's a busy time. I have bags to make because I'm giving a bags workshop next week; hundreds of buttons to make to sell at Unravel at Farnham Maltings on February 27 and 28; summer jewellery to make for Tricot. I should be working, not writing this!
I just gave a talk which I had been worried about. It was on 'Being Creative' and I wrote copious notes on the subject. But then I was too nervous to look at the notes and 'winged it'. It was my first talk and I had to wear a microphone. But now it's over I realise I quite enjoyed it...

Country Living magazine May issue

Last year I made some special pieces for a stylist on Country Living magazine. She wanted a particular look for a spring fashion shoot. She's just told me that her feature will be in the May issue. And three of my pieces succeeded in getting through the 'final edit'!

Colour plus neutrals

This week in Tricot Too, Petersfield. Soft drape clothes by Yerse and Lauren Vidal with colourful textile jewellery by Jenny Stacy.

And the bonus is that all these clothes are in the sale at half the marked price!

Visit the Petersfield store or Tricot Designs in Arundel to see the new spring/summer collections too.

Spring things

River Island windows

Seeing these windows in Southampton yesterday made me realise how much better clothes look if displayed in a restricted, neutral palette. They look more expensive and more desirable.
I followed my younger daughter into store after store and waited while she tried things on. So many cheaper High Street shops have harsh colours - the turquoise and the shocking pink with too much black in the mix, that hard bright blue and blacky orange reds. Who suits those colours? Not many. Yet River Island have gone neutral and these soft greys and flesh tones would look good on almost anyone.

Making Buttons