Knitting Machine Swatches

playing with some new (to me) techniques on the knitting machine.  will be developing these ideas into pieces for April collection.  

what my work table looks like right now

Collection Ideas

some found images of amazing crochet work that i'm adding to my folder of inspiration for my next collection....

via on Pinterest

via on Pinterest

Where I Get Inspiration!

I often get asked where I gather inspiration so today I thought I'd share a little about that.  The short story is Everywhere.  I think that's true for a lot of creative people.  Of course there are sources that I like to return to as well and that's what I'll be sharing now.

Some of My Pin-Boards on Pinterest

My current favorite is Pinterest (a web-based image cataloguing and sharing space).  I love being able to have and organize my images in one place (including the links from where I got the original image).  I love being able to tap into what other people are finding inspiring, surprising, beautiful or informative.  If you are a visual person i would definitely suggest you check it out.  Click here to see my page of inspiration boards.

Public Library: Sometimes I know what I'm looking for (Macramé, Victorian poetry, a Billie Holiday biography, a travel book, etc) but quite often i just go in and browse until I find something that sparks my interest.  The Cork Public library is not huge, but it's got a quirky and interesting cross section of books and it's certainly saved me money.  Helpful hint if you are Cork-based, use the online catalogue to search and request books, this way you are getting the benefit of searching the other branches of the library as well as what is not on display.  It may take a few days to a week to get your requested book, but they'll email you when it is available for pick up.  

Nature: Put on boots, go for walk.  Pretend you are a puppy but sniff with your eyes.  I don't do this enough, but I'm always glad when I go.  The walk I take most regularly (if you could call it regularly) is the Banks of the Lee walk to Fitzgerald park.  

Techniques:  A lot of my inspiration comes from just diving in and trying new techniques with fabric or yarn (or other materials).  I will check out books from the library,  review my own collection of art/craft books, or look for tutorials on the internet.   Or I might have seen someone else using a technique and ask them to teach me. 

Coming full circle: I often get disenchanted with things and later come back to them with renewed interest, machine knitting is one of those things.  I'll do quite a lot and then I won't touch it for months.

People: This is probably the most important element of inspiration for me.  I find that surrounding myself with creative, independent, and open people motivates me to be making as well.  Furthermore, I find that sharing my work (even in its "in progress" stages) and receiving encouraging feedback is hugely stimulating for me.  I most often share my in progress work through facebook. 

Deadlines and Collaborations:  Deadlines, while stressful, are super motivating for me; they really help me to move from indecision to a mindset of making choices and ACTUALLY DOING.  I'm still not at a point where I'm able to stick to self-imposed deadlines, for me, they must be external.  When I know someone is depending on me, I am much more inclined to get it done.  Similarly, doing collaborative creative projects can have the same kind of inspiring effect.  I prefer to work with someone with a different but complimentary skill set and a flexible and positive attitude.

Related to this is the way that limitations can be useful.  For example, I usually ask a custom dress client to give me images that inspire her and/or to show me her favorite dress(es), and then I work from there with a clearer sense of direction.  When I have the world of inspiration to draw from it is hard to know where to begin.  I have a tendency toward inspiration overwhelm, constantly seeking sources of inspiration instead of APPLYING it, so giving myself (or asking the people for whom I am working to give me) themes, direction, etc. can be useful.

I would love to hear about ways that you find inspiration, or ways that you apply it. 

Last day at the Market, Lovely things on Sale!

Today will be my last day at the Fair Alternative Market on Princes Street!  Headbands & Wristlets will be on sale!  I've also got original Goddess-drawing postcard sets, a few pieces from the Garland series of sterling silver jewelry, some embellished hair pins, and crocheted ornaments!

The market will still be open the week of christmas with lovely goodies by other craftspeople!

XOXO

More Reasons to Visit the Market today!

My latest wristlets; a touch of Chanel, a splash of Tim Burton?  Yes, please.

The Fair Alternative Market, inside the Unitarian Church on Prince's Street.  10am-5pm

Also, the inimitable Beata of Hedgehog Fibres will be sharing a table with me, if you knit or crochet, you must come and take this opportunity to see her yarns in person.

Hope to see you there!

Reasons to Visit the Market this Saturday!

Come stop by the Fair Alternative Market on Prince's Street tomorrow (Saturday Dec 11th, 10am to 5pm) there's a wealth of lovely handmade goodness on show.  There's a cozy little cafe inside and loads of friendly craftspeople to talk to.  Hope to see you there...

I made a lot of slippers...

....and they've all been sent off around the world on a mission to spread warmth and joy. 

......ok, so I kept a pair for myself, too......

Crocheting like Mad!

Spent the weekend mostly making the squares for the slippers, over a hundred made now and still counting.  Back to crocheting!  More soon...

The shop will go into hiding again at the end of the day today.

"Wait, what shop?" you might be asking.  My special secret shop.  That I launched less than two days ago to offer you my Chunky Slippers and Bow Headbands and Wristlets. 

I kind of don't even know how to write this post, I've been so filled with shock and gratitude with the amazingly positive response and totally forgot to mention the whole thing on my blog.  So I'm letting you know now, because after today the shop is going into hiding again for a while; until the end of day you can still get free shipping on the slippers; you can also still get the headbands or wristlets. 

The shop may come out of hiding again in a week or two with new stuff, it depends if I'll have time to make stuff for both the Fair Alternative Market that I'll be participating in December 4, 11, 17-19, 21, and 22, AND make orders for the Secret Shop.  Ah I want to do everything, it's true.....