Coasters, snowflakes...

Coasters

I have been designing and making coasters. The felted knitting has to be sliced quite thinly in order for the coaster to be stable enough to stand a glass or mug on, but because they are made from 100% wool they are still heat-proof and can be washed at 30 degrees if need be.

I have made sets that go together but don't match exactly - like leaves, flowers and snowflakes - similar but not the same.

The next image is of my knitting machine where I have knitted a pocket and stuffed it with wool tops (red) but not yet sealed the pocket up.

Autumn already

Well the formal part of my learning is over and now I'm free to make my own choices about what I design and make.

I made some contacts at New Designers and sold some work to Anthropologie. I was also assessed by the Society of Designer Craftsmen and am now a Licentiate which means that I can get some mentoring, sell items through their exhibition and hopefully get accepted as a full member in a couple of years. I am very proud (unlike Groucho Marx) to be a member of a society that had William Morris as a founder member!

Here are the NUCA (Norwich University College of the Arts) exhibitors at New Designers.

The Degree Show at NUCA  was a successful if manic event, and I sold quite a lot of work. My rug was in the window of the Gallery space, see below.

I have been shortlisted for the Knitted Textile Awards and as a result will be exhibiting at The Knitting and Stitching Shows at Alexandra Palace (where I spent many happy days playing and dog walking when I was a child) and Harrogate. It was really hard to find any accommodation in Harrogate that wasn't booked up but I am sorted now.

I have exhibited at a couple of local events and made some new smaller items for these, shown below.