I just came across this lovely online shop and had to add a few things to my wish list! I love that caraffe so much.

Double Happiness

This looks like something that could be here in Hackney but unfortunately it's all the way over in Hong Kong! I'd love to have a go on this. You can read more about it here.

For the last couple of weeks I've been working in an office doing some freelance work and therefore haven't had much time for my own work, hence the lack of crafty blog posts, but I've got a few ideas planned for the weekend and next week I can start using my new screen printing studio which I'm very excited about.

Embroidered Wallpaper

I've been researching wallpaper these last days, I think my flat could really use some and it's a good excuse to try and make some myself. I can screen print some or even embroider it like this beautiful wallpaper from CusthomI just need to find a very small wall for it!

My latests new obsession...

Is sewing. I actually can't believe I'm only just discovering how amazing sewing is. It's so quick compared to other crafts, you can choose to use relatively cheap or upcycled materials and there are endless possibilities of things to make.

This pouch (I really hate that word but I couldn't think of another) is the second thing I made and I'm pretty pleased with it. It even has lining and a zip. I always thought it was really difficult to add a zip but it turns out it's pretty straight forward.

I used the fabric that I screen printed two weeks ago. I much prefer this pattern when it's used on smaller objects. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed making this and there are definitely more sewing projects to come - it even gave me an idea for a little venture that I'll post more about later...

I confess...

...that I have a yarn problem. It's an addiction. I just can't ever get enough of it and I must always have more, I tell myself that once I have this certain colour, or type, then that will be it and I'll stop. But I always find another reason to buy more. It's crazy really, as I don't think I'll be able to ever use it all. At least it's quite nice to look at and I've even crocheted a few baskets to store more yarn in!

Crocheting

Last weekend I picked up my crochet hook for the first time since the beginning of the summer, I forgot how much I love it. Once I start I don't want to stop, but I have to be careful because I have a tendency to get RSI from it, so I try to give myself a break after an hour.

I find crocheting, knitting and other crafts, to be almost meditative. My mind just wonders and sometimes it can end up with new ideas or conclusions that I hadn't anticipated. It's a bit like running, well it's nothing like running really, but I think that when your body is busy doing something repetitive (running or knitting), your brain gets some time off and can concentrate on new things.



I'm crocheting wrist warmers at the moment, they're perfect for autumn and pretty easy to make too. I've been using some Icelandic wool that my sister got me on her last trip to Reykjavik. It's really lovely to work with, super warm and I love the colours. You can read about it here.

I Love Baking!

I've really been getting into the Autumn mood and last week I even spent the day baking Danish Cinnamon Rolls. I always struggle baking here in the UK because I've grown up using fresh yeast but it's almost impossible to get over here. I'm not sure why? I find it so much better to use and it somehow feels more authentic and even a bit scientific. These rolls turned out really well though and they were gone in about a day!

New Gelle Frau

Before I went on holiday I printed a new edition of the Gelle Fra. This time in a teal colour.

It's available in my webshop.

East London Crochet Workshop

I secretly love the Autumn, I know I'm supposed to be sad the summer is over, and I do love the sunshine, but I think Autumn is still my favourite season. You get to stay in without feeling guilty, cuddle up under a blanket, watch lots of films, make your home all cosy with candles and home baking and most importantly it's the start of the craft season!

So to mark the start of the new season I'm teaching a crochet for beginners workshop at a very exciting new venue: Chase & Sorensen. It's a new café and shop in Hackney, selling Danish furniture, Nordic treats and great coffee (see image above). I'll post more about it later this week when I have some photos to show you.

Here are the details of the workshop, please pass on the info to anyone you think might be interested.



Learn to crochet surrounded by beautiful 20th century Danish furniture, while enjoying a cup of coffee (and maybe even a Danish pastry), at the new café and furniture shop Chase & Sorensen on 238-B Dalston Lane, E8 1LQ

The Crochet for Beginners workshop takes place on Wednesday the 5th of October from 7pm to 9pm, where you’ll learn how to crochet a coaster, using the basic crochet stitches.

The workshops are small (max 6 people per class) and cost £17 per person or get a 25% reduction when booking two or more places. The price includes your own yarn, crochet needle, worksheets and pattern.

Ask in the shop or email mariegpedersen@gmail.com to book your place and enquire about future workshops.

Read more about the shop and café on www.chaseandsorensen.com

Holiday Snaps

It feels very odd to think that this time, two weeks ago, I was lying on a beach in the South of France, it feels like months have passed! I went there with some friends from Luxembourg, and had an amazing and relaxing week.

This was the back garden!



We got around in a dingy. Every day we would load it with, beach towels, umbrellas etc. and sail the 5 minutes it took to get to the beach.



And sail back to the house as the sun was starting to set.



We were staying quite close to St Tropez, so we went there one morning to look at the yachts and to pay €7 for a cup of coffee.



I loved the colours of the shutters.



On the last night there we went to look at the lightening storm from the beach.



Got caught in the tropical rain and took shelter at the beach bar along with lots of Dutch tourists.

It was hard to leave!

Fabric Screen Printing

Last week I experimented with screen printing repeat patterns on fabric. It was a lot more difficult and messy than I had anticipated, but I learned a lot and managed to get some half decent fabric out of it too.

I started off by designing the pattern and using Illustrator to create a repeat pattern out of it. It involved quite a bit of maths and I had a few near-tantrum-moments, which took me back to when my dad was desperately trying to explain the quadratic equation (I think this is what it's called in English), but I got there in the end.



I then exposed the pattern on to my screen and started printing it on to the fabric. I thought this would be pretty straight forward but it ended up also involving maths! I don't know if I have written about this before, but I really don't like maths at all, my brain just doesn't work in that way. I wont bore you with all the details, but you have to work out the exact distances between the screens and the pattern on your screen to predict where to place the screen, in order to line it up correctly. I was learning this as I went along and made a few mistakes along the way, but after a while I figured out a method, by this time I had nearly run out of fabric though...



I had enough fabric to make a cushion, so I finally got to use my sewing machine and loved it! Will definitely be sewing more things this week. - I might need a break before I attempt to print repeat patterns on fabric again though!