Mesmerising Anthems.....

Or more accurately 'mesembryanthemums' are such a welcome hit of colour in winter. Short, bright and colourful (like me) and nestled into the hardiest landscapes. I've been re-drawn to these photo's I took in Lerwick on the Shetland Islands, for their acid tones and positive cheer. In a background of greys and khaki I am developing pattern and colour ideas for new pieces based on these. Watch this space. 

Harmonious Clash

My most favourite things to spot when I'm hunting for colour and pattern are these splashes of colour that stand out in the landscape and have either a natural or functional reason for being, safety, nature, these signs of life make the world look better. The rocks I found near Ullapool in Scotland and the images from the harbour are in Lerwick Shetland. It has been interesting for me, as a born colour addict, to notice colour where I believe there is none. Grey stones, bleak landscapes and industrial sites now hold an interesting combination of slates and acid brights.

God save the King, Fu*k Hitler!

I'm not the only one who has used Morse-code within textiles to communicate secret messages, though this piece of cross stitch has an infinitely more heroic, historic and patriotic story; created in 1941 by Major Alexis Casdagli whilst he was a prisoner of war, being held by the Nazi's in the second world war. Pinching and scavenging various scraps of canvas and bits of yarn from fellow inmates' old jumpers and tattered pyjama's, Casdagli slowly started to create this embroidery with it's subversive coded message that was never understood by his captors, despite it being show throughout the castle in which hi was being held in Germany. Major Casdagli also created an embroidered map of his cell, as well as a fully stitched letter to his son, saying; 

‘It is 1,581 days since I saw you last but it will not be long now. Do you remember when I fell down the well? Look after Mummy till I get home again,’

Casdagli continued to stitch well into his old age, and passed the skill on to his son, who has now made a book called 'a stitch in time' about his father's experience during the war. His father believed that stitching could transport him from his worries, allowing him to become fully absorbed in his activity, whilst pouring sentiment, memory and story into his patterned textiles. This is something I aim to share with this extremely inspiring and talented hero!

Tony Casdagli, , holding his father’s work depicting his PoW cell.

A Stitch in Time: God Save The King, Fu*k Hitler' by Captain A Casdagli, is available from lulu.

Colour & Pattern, SE London style

I am infinitely more productive and creative after a cold early morning walk around London, and every day I try to hunt for new colours and patterns that may one day feed into my work and tell a story of my many walks and memories.... here's some from this morning: bars, gates and tiling in porches.. seeing pattern everywhere, and good smoggy London colours too.

Pattern hunting Saturday

Maltby St Market, Hoxton and Brick Lane, turned out some pattern treats for me yesterday. Reclaimed tiles and radiators, African plastic floor mats, wholesale kitchen shops and stacks of plates, all make my life a bit more full of colour and in turn, my head full of weave plans and patterns. I remember times and places in pattern, so of I trap that in weaving I can record a story, memory or trip in textiles. Where will i go next?

Window spot at 123

Morse coded blankets spotted in the delightful 123 shop window on the corner of Brick Lane and Bethnal Green Road, nice jazzy January display, thanks guys.

the Heart Part

It has nothing to do with weaving, but allot to do with love, life, creativity, community and enjoyment, and it is the concept and creation of my lovely and very clever friend Fatima. Watch the film, upload your hearts onto her site HERE and get sharing, loving, hearting and eating in a brand new super fun and superbly coloured manner!

www.iheart-this.com

World full of pattern and colour....

Favourite thing to do is walk looking whilst hunting for patterns and colours. London, Budapest, Scotland and Portugal, walls, tiles, buildings, pavements and signs.... all for the interpretation of the eyes that see. 

Beautiful site Lin Morris now stocking LOVE blanket

I'm delighted to have met one half of Lin Morris this morning to deliver my blankets for their on-line shop. Lin Morris is a beautiful site and blog that actively hunt for and dream of a world where design - and the products with which we choose to surround ourselves, are as thoughtfully considered as the people, places and experiences that we allow into our everyday lives. Their site is a joy to browse and I'm proud to be among their featured makers. Have a little browse here.

http://shop.lin-morris.com/

Handwoven Cushions

Brand new hand woven cushions, in Autumn and Rainbow. 16" by 16" with duck feather inserts. A dash of colour for dark nights on the sofa with hot chocolate and cuddles. One sided with a calico envelope back. Woven in pairs, and soon available from my online shop.

Lego Loom

Oh yes, I'm so happy I've just found this robotic lego loom weaving a scarf! Technology, Toys and Tradition, ticks all the right boxes and actually works, what genius is at work here! Playful weaving is as it should be. My own first weaving tasks of 2012 are to spend the rest of a cashmere rainbow warp playing with structure and experimenting with new block work, more subtle and irregular than normal, and just seeing how things turn out with a few looming experiments. Will post results. Happy New Year.