my heart wanders

I love the idea of undertaking a photography project.

I have an idea for one, but haven’t yet got around to carrying it through.

I’m not sure I have much talent for photography. Although, remembering to carry a camera would probably help…

Pia Jane Bijkerk obviously has no such problems.

Her beautiful book, “My Heart Wanders“, emerged from a project to photograph and share subtle hearts found in unexpected places.

These photographs, by Pia and others, come both from her book and from contributors to her “my heart wanders collective” on instagram.

Beauty captured in unexpected places. What could be more heartwarming?

You can find more of these wonderful wandering hearts on instagram and read about Pia and her work here.

napkins no more

These two new cushions were completed yesterday.

They spent the previous forty or so years of their life as table napkins.

Obviously nobody has paid them much attention over the years, since the fabric is as bright and unblemished as the day they were made.

Hopefully they will attract a little more attention in their new, cushioned form, sitting pretty on my stall next month.

swoonflower

I just love Spoonflower.

Imagine: a website that lets anybody turn their design ideas into printed fabric that you and I can buy.

No sponsorship, no publishing deals and no huge financial investment required.

Spoonflower is that site.

How brilliant is that?

My current biggest Spoonflower crush is Snork, otherwise known as Linn Bodur from Stockholm.

These are some of her swoony fabrics.

There are lots more available to order here.

flagging it up

A friend of mine is off to the Olympics with her family this summer.

I had thought that her husband just enjoyed spending lots of time in his man cave garage. It turns out that he has been meticulously renovating a classic 1960s VW camper van.

And it is finished at last – just in time for them to travel to London in style!

I have been commissioned to make a banner to adorn the van when parked up during the trip.

A commemorative patchwork flag, finished in appliqué with the family’s names and “London 2012″.

As you can see it is still a work in progress. The font and fabric for the lettering are still to be decided…

But after some fun fiddling with fonts and a rummage in the fabric cupboard, I’m sure that something suitably and sufficiently celebratory will surface.

pure pattern

As you will know, I am a big fan of pattern.

Florals in particular.

I like to layer pattern upon pattern.

And accompany it with another pattern.

Or two.

But these two quilts inspired me in a different way.

They are certainly patterned.

But their solid colours and geometric designs create a purity of form that adding more pattern would spoil.

Pure gorgeousness.

other people’s pillows

I love seeing how other people combine piles of pillows and collections of cushions.

Big/small; patterned/plain; subtle/bright, matching/clashing – it’s those unexpected juxtapositions and colour combinations that make you look twice that I find so inspiring.

Here are a few of my favourite examples of other people’s pillows spotted recently.

Click on a picture to visit its source.