I am taking part in a Print Exhibition All in the name of Macmillian at design agency Fallon. The theme was families and bicycles, as three lovely gentlemen will be cycling from one end of the country to the other in support of Macmillian Cancer Care, they also wanted to celebrate and raise money by putting on an exhibition. You can find out more about what they are up to on their site A Family Affair. Please support them and/or buy a print!!

I have been practicing Experimental Machine Knitting at Morley College for a while, and now it’s our turn (with the other textile courses’ students) to show off our work in the Morley Gallery. I’m looking forward to the private view to see everyone’s work up! We have a very creative, talented group, and it will also be interesting to see what’s happening in the other textile courses too, I wish I had the time and money to do all of the courses! Made At Morley opens on 15th till 29th March 2012.

A few weeks back I visited to the V&A to look at their display of wrought iron structures for inspiration. I was most drawn to the strong geometric shapes of triangles within circles repeated in multiple forms, and from this I created a fairisle knitting pattern. Around the same time went to Harrogate for a wedding which had a strong gothic influence, and went to a Metal gig, the first band Soror Dolorosa sounded stunning and their artwork styled on klimt caught my attention. All of this influenced my final pieces, to be worn as jewellery, playing with scale and shape, these large pendants with the stitches forming ornate patterns in miniature, evoke a sense of the ironworks and the gothic.

I will be teaching crochet (and knitting) at The Tea Rooms, in Stoke Newington on the 14th February, St Valentines day! So I thought for something a bit special we could make some crochet hearts, you can wear them as a brooch or give to someone you love! I will be there on the Tuesday morning from 10am to 12noon, and then Wednesday 15th from 7pm till 9pm. Please contact The Tea Rooms to book your place.

Yesterday, I was at the V&A with my fellow machine knitters, looking at the iron works for some inspiration for a new up coming project. This must be one of the few times I’ve gone there not to look at fashion or textiles directly, but I can totally see why the iron works were suggested, gates with intricate lattices looked just like knitted lace.

Anyway after photos and sketches done, followed by obligatory tea and scones in the amazing cafe, I stayed in the shop a little longer after the others left, inspired by beautifully designed accessories and spotting a couple of floral wood blocks for printing (I will buy these another time). Finally I went to leave, calling it a day, which was full of inspiration, shapes, pattern and design, when I was handed a free ticket to a fashion show/performance that was just about to begin....

Sat near the back, I still had a great spot to capture the models as they appeared out on the catwalk. “Models at Work” was a performance piece by Paris based museum director, curator and performer Olivier Saillard, featuring five famous french models: Axelle Doue, Claudia Huidobro, Anne Rohart, Violeta sanchez and Amalia Vairelli. The performance was in five parts and rather than showing off clothing, it was more about the models gestures and the idea of dressing and design and the elements involved in clothing shown on the catwalk: Black sheaths, An exercise in style around the white tunic. Catwalk without clothes. Modelled in calico. Shadow garments.
It was really exciting to be sat in the Raphael Gallery along side some very fashion looking people, journalist and dear I say, hipsters. I love this sort of thing and I want to be more a part of it!