I made a stash of botanical-themed gift-tags, like the pine ones from last week, using some more old book pages sent by Dee. These were fun to make and greatly cheered a recent stormy afternoon.. It turns out I have many old botanical illustrations stashed away in drawers and cupboards, so I've been able to…

This pattern was inspired by a page in a 1970's craft book (one of those Golden Hands ones). There was a similar pattern on some wall tiles, probably a background to showcase a crocheted potholder or macrame owl. It stuck in my mind (more than the actual project did), in the way that those retro…

Do you know Lisa's blog The Red Thread? It's very beautiful, and packed full of craft and design inspiration.  Lisa has kindly featured me in her Space to Create series. It's a piece with an interview and photos of my work and home.  You can read it here. Thanks, Lisa!

I found a packet of silver hair snaps in my sewing box, so it seemed like a good time to make some spring clips. I used scraps of wool felt to make pairs of violet or pansy hair clips- I'm not sure which they are. Some for K and some for the etsy shop.  Speaking…

A friend who does a lot of work in the Pacific brought me a gorgeous gift home from a recent trip to Tonga: a bag of giant vanilla pods. Ever since, I've been dreaming of a light, coconutty cake with a milky vanilla topping. I finally baked it (I used a plain cake and added…

Wild onion weed, or Allium triquetrum, is a familiar plant around Wellington. For many years, it was the only thing that adorned the outdoor areas of my student flats. It's still prevalent around the city. I went foraging for plants to embroider the other day, but all I could find was the notorious onion weed.…

I call this pencil-pattern 'drying herbs'. It's inspired by a big bunch of rosemary my friend Emma cut from her garden for me and tied up with string. It's hanging upside down to dry. I made a dish of rosemary potatoes to go with some other dishes last night. Simple and delicious. And speaking of…

It's amazing how greatly my mood can be improved by finding one small, pale yellow freesia growing in a patch of weeds near the letterbox. So, thank you tiny thing, for braving the spring rain and wind. Keira was given a sourdough 'bug' to make Herman the German Friendship Cake. Have you made one of these…

Happy new week, lovelies. It was a beautifully bright weekend here in Wellington, mostly because I got to catch up with many old friends on both Saturday and Sunday. That was pretty nice.  Yesterday I made the trip to Featherston to have lunch with Emma and Helen and also to attend a spring book launch.…

Today's pattern was inspired by all the apple/plum blossom in my neighbourhood until it got blown away in a wild storm this week. Blossom doesn't last long around these parts. But it was very nice while it lasted, like someone had decorated the streets for a wedding. Happy Friday! I am so glad to see…