Inspiration - Love For Autumn

Its clear we are moving into Autumn in the UK as the nights are drawing in and the leaves have begun to go crispy and golden. I love this time. Its a time for change in seasons and people and when I begin to think about what is next. New plans. Exciting plans! Its my favourite time of year for seasonal crafts, for collecting and harvesting things we've grown throughout the summer months. For learning a new skill or taking a class. A time for tying cut herbs into big bunches and hanging them in the kitchen. For collecting conkers and pine cones and pressing a rainbow of fallen leaves. Wearing woolly tights and mending holes in that favourite jumper and for getting rid of a summer's worth of clutter ready to cosy down for the long winter months. I think its a brilliant time to take stock and think about our personal achievements. I like to try and revisit old favourite films and books and have already added 4 new audio-books to my library so I can listen along whilst getting stuck in to some exciting project or random cooking experiment. Its also when my Mum and Dad come to visit me in Brighton for my Mum's Birthday which is always a brilliant time! Hopefully by the end of Autumn I will also be a proud yet weary published author which is perhaps by biggest achievement this past year. What A/W traditions do you guys have if any? I'd love to hear about them x

Bits & Bobs - What I'm Listening To

Something Classic and soulful, a current pop mega hit and a remix of an old favourite. Diana Ross & The Supremes, Sia and Mountain Man. The first two you probably know about! But the last is a remix of a song called 'Play It Right' originally written and performed by the folk songstresses Mountain Man but now sung by the bands Amelia Meath and remixed by Sylvan Esso and Charles Spearin from Broken Social Scene (aparently!) into an awesome tune with a brilliant dance filled video to accompany. Take a look and see what you think.

Bits & Bobs - Norfolk Caravan Adventure 2014

If you are a regular reader of M>A>P you may have noticed its been a little quiet here for a couple of weeks... Working as a freelancer and running a small business can often take over every spare hour of your day and its important to occasionally take a step back and some well deserved time away from your usual routine. You may have heard that along with my besty and business partner at Super+SuperHQ Claire over the past year we have been working on a series of craft books which are due for release this coming October! With all our deadlines met for this project we decided to take a well deserved week away at my parents caravan in north Norfolk!

No internet, no email, no meetings or social media... instead we had an amazing week with time for walks, reading, films, naps, lovely food, nail art, British beaches and down time. A huge plus point of your best friend also being your business partner is knowing when you need time to hang out as friends and leave the work chat behind. Heres a snippet of our oh so granny chic week away in pictures.

We will be posting lots more holiday snaps over on our S+S facebook and the M>A>P Instagram!

Inspiration - Pomp De Franc Cake Society

This weekend's Sunday Bake isnt strictly vegan or made by me but a very talented designer/maker/baker who I studied alongside at Brighton University a few years back! Katie Franklin owns the amazing bakery Pomp De Franc Cake Society in East London UK where she makes cupcakes inspired by catwalk collections and giant teared cakes which combine whit, whimsy and design savvy not to mention a celebrity clientele. Each cake big or small is a masterpiece! I'm sure if you asked nicely she'd create a vegan recipe.

 All images from http://www.pompdefranc.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/pompdefranccakesociety

Inspiration - Karen Barbe

For several years I have been following the amazing work of Santiago based weaving, embroidery and textile artists Karen Barbe.  Her imagery and playful lifestyle shoots combine her love of colour, traditional craft and are very on point with trend ... Her homeware items are hand made treasures. Everything about her style and technique inspire me, you must go and take a look at her work I promise if you are a craft enthusiast you will be thrilled.

(Karen Barbe in Santiago by Leela Cyd Ross)

Inspiration - Mexican Texiles

Loom work, ikats, bold embroidery, weaving, tassels, tufting, clashing colours and folk imagery. All things that inspire my love of Mexican and South American textiles.

Bright, clashing and woven. Mexican textiles are a visual feast and totally inspiring. All images are sourced from Pinterest which you can find here. I hope this brightens up your day a little more!

Bits and Bobs - Blog Hop!

Last week I was asked by the brilliant Lucy Davidson of Peas and Needles fame to take part in my first 'blog hop' alongside my besty and business partner She's Called Claire . The idea is to help bloggers and followers alike find new blogs to read and create links between crafters, bloggers and creatives etc. Its a wicked idea!

1// What have been the doings/makings/scribblings at your desk/making table in the last week?Last week was a mixture of secret project work sat up in our lovely kitchen at S+S HQ, thinking it was Thursday for 2 days and feeling very confused about my to do list and also some time spent creating new recipes for my personal blog (which I ate shortly after). There was a lot of crochet and equal amounts of chocolate which is pretty good in my book!

I have also started to make a couple of cotton summer dresses from a lovely dress pattern book a bought for my birthday and have been draughting those to fit my measurements which has been fun so far but a little fiddly! I have pledged to wear only second hand, hand me downs or made from scratch/upcycled clothing over the summer as a way of saving money and adding an insane amount of joy and lots of learning to my wardrobe.

2// Where are you currently finding your inspiration? (influences, heroes/who, sources of inspiration, paths exploring) I am trying to make the most of the sunshine at the moment so am finding lots of inspiration outdoors. Be that sitting in my garden crafting, sowing seeds or just taking nice walks in the near by park soaking up the amazing scents of flowers and bright sunny colours. I am also listening to a lot of Cate Le Bon and the new First Aid Kit album which = singing out loud which for me is always a sign that I am in a good place and am happy and relaxed in my work and life.

3// How important is being creative to you & how do you blend this with your work/life/family balance?Being creative isn't something I chose to be I think its just the way I was brought up. To me it doesn't just mean starting a new craft project but is inherent in the way I look after my garden or invent a thrifty dinner at home. I spent my early years at a Waldorf Steiner School where children are taught to learn and grow at a slower pace of life through 'creative processes' so I learnt to read, write and do math whilst also learning to sing, paint and work on a farm... Yep i'm a true Steiner girl at heart and very thankful for it .

I am no good at doing nothing which can often be to my detriment. Thankfully although I am a freelance creative and small business owner I am also very good at planning and love a good weekly schedule with plenty of colour coded lists and post it notes.

So the next thing I have to do is ask the same questions to 3 of my favourite bloggers....

Little Button Diaries A life of crafting, making and baking ( with little ones)

Tom Of Holland Knitting, mending, spinning and the visible mending programme

Miss Demeanour (is on the make) Living a life of handmade outfits and amazing baking!

Inspiration - Blogs I Love

Lifestyle and Mags

http://www.designsponge.com/

http://bleubirdblog.com/

http://www.frankie.com.au/

http://www.abeautifulmess.com/

http://www.kinfolk.com/

http://hellogiggles.com/

http://clementinedaily.com/

http://www.backyardbill.com/

Foodie and Vegan

http://deliciouslyella.co.uk/

http://veganyumyum.com/

http://havecakewilltravel.com/

http://spadeforkspoon.com/

http://www.gluten-free-vegan-girl.com/

Creative Pals

http://www.whatyousow.co.uk/updates

http://littlebuttondiaries.com/
http://spadeforkspoon.com/

http://www.shescalledclaire.com/

http://supersuperblog.com/

http://peasandneedles.blogspot.co.uk/

http://walalaland.blogspot.fr/#_=_

Specialist and Makers

http://blog.karenbarbe.com/

http://missdemeanourisonthemake.blogspot.co.uk/

http://sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.co.uk/

http://tomofholland.com/

http://brightonetsyteam.wordpress.com/

Inspiration - Darn Those Knits (pt1)

I have put this post in my 'Inspirations' section as its a subject I am passionate about. In fact the whole area of mending, reworking and up-cycling  garments is a topic that very current so I thought id share a few gems from my collection with you.

I came to darning initially whilst studying knitwear at university but sadly as there was sush a huge emphasis on making new garments it was something that was overlooked a little at that time. Then a few years later I had the pleasure of meeting and becoming friends with Tom Van Deijnen a self taught knitter and mender who introduced me to his VMP or visible mending program. It was very inspiring and really changed the way I thought about the clothes I owned and loved.

We all have garments that we wear to death but then do not have the heart to throw out... well don't! Tom of Holland would say 'wear your darn like a badge' and I can't think of a nicer sentiment. Have a look at the Mending board on Pinterest for inspiration and instruction. Start with a small darn and it just might change the whole way you think about fast fashion and your wardrobe. Darning and mending isn't just for knits, you can mend practically everything and there are a huge number of Repair Cafe's starting in the UK at which you can get advice from electricians, seamstresses and carpenters alike. I'd urge you to find your local meet up its hugely fun and very satisfying to!

If you are terrified of all things stitchery then take a look at these lovely intro to mending illustrations from The Guardian and have a go at rescuing that blouse you love before buying something new.