Making the bag – a look behind the scenes!
This is a post I’ve wanted to share for a while now but have never quite managed to take enough pictures as I worked- it’s the ‘How its made’ post! I love getting a little peek behind the workshop curtains of other designers, makers and artists so I hope you will find it interesting to discover how I go about making a bag from idea to finished piece.
Catch up, Makers 4 Refugees and exciting things to come
Well my good intentions of posting to my blog every week or two at the latest clearly haven’t been working out. I see so many people saying they feel bad about not managing to do it all and I’m the same if I’m honest. I think about how I’m not blogging probably once a day which is ridiculous as I should probably just sit for 10 minutes and share a few thoughts and pictures (I have oh so many). Today is about a quick little catch up with my online pals so let me pour you a virtual cuppa 😉
All natural plant dye fabric and other pink things!
Well Spring has arrived (mostly) and we’ve just had a relaxing and fun week here. Brussels is full of the most beautiful pink blossom trees and the weather was unbelievably warm for a few days. I managed to make a good start on my container garden which I have no experience in but am very excited about nonetheless! As my own mission to live a more environmentally friendly and chemical-free life continues I constantly find new ideas for how I can do things better. So the idea of growing a few salad goodies and some herbs has big appeal… below is my tip for instant garden gratification 😉
Organics and the road to sustainability
Finally GOTS certified organic cotton bags and scarves are coming! I am so excited about this and I hope many of you will be too so this new branch can thrive and grow. I’d like to share some of the process I’ve gone through coming to find just the right fabric.
Re-imagining Hokusai, bags inspired by Japanese print
Best 9 2016
It’s been a bit of a slow start to the year for me especially as I had been so busy up until the very end it’s actually quite an anticlimax. I kind of expected to hit the ground running in 2017 but instead found myself floundering in a sea of ideas and papers. There are so many more things I want for Grey Whale this year, not just for myself but for helping to create something positive in the world and it’s time to get more intentional about this. It doesn’t have to be a huge monumental thing but I truly believe every small step in the direction of good counts. So some exciting things are in the pipeline but more on that in my next post because for now I want to show you a fun little project I just completed!
The life changing magic of keeping a sketchbook.
Why keep a visual diary or sketchbook? Whether or not you call yourself an artist, a maker or creative at all there are huge benefits to keeping one. For anyone who already has a written journal or diary you know how nice it is to look back at where you were in mind and body at a certain time in the past. A visual journal is just the same but without text. There are no limits and bad drawings, messy pages and writing are entirely allowed.
Self-doubt and playing small: who are you serving?
I tend to build my blog posts around what seems to be going on around me and things I’ve been hearing other people talk about. Self doubt is something that seems to rear it’s ugly head as the long dark winter days set in and I too often need to be reminded why I try to do anything at all. We probably all know this quote or poem or have heard parts as it’s often attributed Nelson Mandela but actually it was written by American author Marianne Williamson and here it is in case anyone needs reminding.
Natural plant dye fun!
I’ve been wanting to write this post for ages and am so happy to finally share my excitement for this earth loving creative project. Earlier this summer I spent some time visiting family on the Cork end of the ‘Wild Atlantic Way’. I had been saving this little plant dye project for this trip knowing it would be the perfect excuse for slow rambles across the fields sifting through plants with some quiet time spent picking and sorting.
Going pro and other stories
So recently I haven’t been online as much as usual but sometimes other stuff must take priority despite my insta-addiction. I have been busy pushing forward with my handmade business. Shops have been contacting me, I’ve had some very inspiring custom orders and about 6 weeks ago I got a second hand (very vintage) industrial sewing machine. It took ages to find once I had decided it was the way to go but it was a very exciting ‘going-pro’ turning point!
