I highly recommend having a simple knitting project on the go, especially when things are… 'not simple' in other areas of life (namely, paid work).  This scarf was exactly that – it was knitted during late-night Netflix sessions and in the car, and those moments while the kettle boiled and piano practice was done. It's a…

I made this skirt recently, from a piece of long-hoarded black linen. My intention was to make something very simple and comfortable for wearing to the office with some of the simple tops I've sewn over the last few years.  I didn't use a pattern, but was thinking about the bottom part of this dress…

What to do when all is grey and cold and there's nothing of note growing in the garden? Buy a bunch of stocks (that scent!) and paint them with watercolours, when you should really be sorting out the washing. Find that pressed flower sun-catcher you made in the summer and hang it beside the kitchen…

Arlo turns thirteen today, and so is officially a teenager.  I made him a hat – he chose the yarn (some dark blue aran-weight merino) and the pattern, which is 'Roku' (Ravelry details here). It actually turned out too big, so is a tad slouchy, but is the perfect size with the brim folded up.…

I haven't found time to get my camera out of its case for a while. The sun's just coming up when I leave the house for work, but gone again by the time I get home. This makes it a tad tricky to update this blog, so here are some pictures from last June. I used…

We went on a trip away to a West Coast surfing beach. It was my first time to the Taranaki region – what a beautiful part of the world, with small towns clustered around the sentinel-mountain. The first photo above was taken just as the sun was setting. There was a field of cows behind…

Hand-sewn in quiet moments lately: a few botanical badges. These feature poppies, tansy and chamomile flowers. I love working in miniature like this. The zinnias were bought by Tom at Next Stop Earth in Newtown. Aren't those colours amazing? Faded pinks and reds, almost tinged with lime green. They've been cheering me up from their windowsill…