Fabric Makes Me Smile

1/30/2012

Hmmm, snow...and general coldness....hmmmm.

I am not a fan of winter, its cold, dark and generally depressing (in England at least) come on spring, hurry up!!

So at this time of year I need as much cheering up as possible, at the moment I'm indulging my need for brightness with gorgeous fabric...

Aren't these just amazing! They are saris that where all given to me (yes...I know!!!) by an incredible generous lady I work with who knows I love fabric and making stuff! I'm thinking of attempting some sort of patchwork door curtain using some, others where just to beautiful to cut so I've let my sister run off with a few choice numbers to decorate the walls for her room with (possible even wear, she's got the legs for this sort of thing, I look like a sack of spuds in most of them!)

However I kept the dress above, I'm going to shorten it and possibly take the sleeves off, the pattern on the front just blows my mind its so pretty...

And while I'm on the subject of sewing and patchwork, I've made a few alteration to the blanket I finished just before Christmas, heres a little remind of how it looked...

and here it is now...!

I've added rows of parallel running stitches across the blanket, you would not believe who long this is taking me!Its known as Kantha quilting from Bangladesh (although I didn't know that when I started!) all I know is it gives me an excuse to go out and buy lots of fab coloured embroidery thread! I'm pretty pleased with how its coming out.

And last but not least my latest eBay purchase (for £8), a granny blanket for our office!

Thats enough to make anyone smile, even in the snow!

4 Comments

Diane H K

2/5/2012 12:22:28 am

Kat, I just spotted a very positive, albeit short, review of One Little Blueberry in the new March edition of Martha Stewart Living magazine. Page 4, in the Must-Reads column. Congratulations. OLB was one of the very last books I art-directed and designed for TT, before Lisa P sought fit to fire me. I don't know if MSL is available in the UK, and perhaps has different content, but this is a pretty major mention.

Kat

2/5/2012 12:44:38 am

Hi Diane, (I hope you read this!) thanks so much for the heads up, so exciting, will try to find a copy in the UK. So sorry to hear about your job (been there, bought the t-shirt, twice in fact!). I really hope you find something else, I'm sure you will your a great designer, I really enjoyed working together. Keep in touch ok.

x

Diane H K

2/5/2012 04:38:24 am

Hello Kat,

If you can't find a copy, I can scan the page and email it to you. Let me know.

Getting canned with no warning after 10 years as AD at TT left such a bad taste in my mouth, that I've stayed away from book design since June 2010. I finally found a job in radio which, although a serious pay cut from what I used to make, makes up for its pay shortcomings in sanity and fair treatment. We nearly lost our small farm, but have held on somehow. I've been following your blog(s) since 2010.

Maybe some day I'll go back to book design, but it's hard to break back in once you've stepped out of it. And at my age, a career change is kind of a relief.

Let me know about the scan.

Kat

2/14/2012 09:45:35 pm

Hi Diane

Have hunted to no avail for Mary Stewart Living, if you could send me a scan that would be amazing! You can email me via the 'contact me' section on katwhelan.com.

So glad to hear you found another job (and kept your farm!), working for large companies is a crazy, mind boggling world all of its own. I must admit I was quite glad to step off that particular treadmill!

Glad to hear from you! xx

Fabric Makes Me Smile

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