My very latest drawing, Mānuka, had its very first outing at Eat, Drink & Be Crafty 2017 yesterday. This drawing was inspired by my interest in Rongoā Māori (Traditional Māori healing), and will be the first in that series. 

​We're getting the hang of the whole craft market scene again - it's a bit like riding a bicycle, as they say. It's great market research, too, pun intended. I've missed that general sense of inspiration that you get by osmosis, simply from being surrounded by creative people and their wares all day.
We've had great feedback on the first batch of designs. I've been drawing and working away whenever I can to make some more designs out of those drawings, and I have several new collections on the way. 

 Are you interested in providing research inputs for Copper Catkin? Would you like to see your shape used to develop garments that will actually fit and flatter you?
If you answered 'yes', then please send me through a set of 3 'technical' photos (these are for the garment development) and 5-10 'dynamic' photos (these are to help visualise how the garments and the fabrics might perform 'in the wild').

Your original photos will never be displayed publicly, and you will only be credited if you want to be. ​

Ok, so here's where it gets real. In order to complete my design brief for the pattern maker, Liz, I had to be absolutely accurate in my drawings of my garments. Liz also requested photos of me in clothes that were similar to what I wanted, with notes, as references. My initial sketches were useful as guides, but the only way I knew how to do it was to draw them on my own shape - so, as well as the reference photos, I had my husband take photos of me in fitted clothing, and then I used them to trace my actual shape. This was a difficult experience, because it's hard to face yourself at any time, but as a big girl who has lost the weight twice before, and regained it again, it's even harder, because I was acknowledging my failure to keep the weight off head-on. Still, I persevered, and came up with these.

Wow, there was a really huge response to our first competition post!
To keep track of it all, let's sort it into categories - animal, vegetable, mineral.

I have been designing fabrics casually for years, under the banner of Phersu Dancing. These are some of my old collections, that will be rebooted and updated for sale if people are interested.

My poppy designs were some of my most popular sellers ever. I made them into designs for my packaging, and also as a fabric design, aimed for tablecloths for my market displays, and dresses. 

This collection came about as I started doodling ideas for some fun and quirky fabric. I decided to inspire myself with recipes. I started by looking up curries, spice mixes (hence the name, 'masala'), and chutneys, then moved on to look for ingredients in South-East Asian and Polynesian cooking.

Well then, it's only been a wee while since my last post, but so much has happened!
To help with my sanity, I will focus this post on the WRR fundraiser, and the next one on Copper Catkin itself.
So the first big news is that I have finished all three panels for the WRR fundraiser!

​So here we are then, I have finally got a name and a concept to start working with. I've been playing with some ideas for a while now, waiting for the tanks to refill after the huge creative burst that was our wedding. 
One of my biggest drivers has been trying to get back into the workforce after a really short break, only to find that there just isn't anything out there in my size that doesn't evoke the term 'sack' and a sad, resigned expression.