The World of WildCat Designs

Woolly Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 09:30:00 +0000

So, the blog's been a little quiet of late... well I'm hoping to remedy that with a little roundup post about the Knitting & Stitching Show!

Last month I was fortunate enough to attend the first ever Edinburgh edition of the Knitting & Stitching Show. I've attended the Harrogate show a few times and enjoyed it, so I was intrigued when I saw the announcement that there was to be a Scottish one. Needless to say, this needed to be investigated!

The show was held at the Royal Highland Centre within the Highland Hall and I attended on the Sunday (the last day, but the show started on Thursday of the same week). My friends and I got wind of a free shuttle bus, which we took full advantage of.

One of my favourite parts of the show was the "knitted feast" - a competition for which creative folks submitted all manner of fibre foods. Some very inventive crafting! See below for some highlights...

Woolly Wednesday is back!

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 10:30:00 +0000

Hello! Happy new year to you all.

January seems like a natural time to reasess things and figure out your goals for the coming year. One of my goals this year is to have a *massive* destash, declutter and general life detox.

With that in mind, I have signed up to take part in the Edinburgh Yarn Festival's Big January De-stash! I have a rather humungous stash of yarn, more than I will ever be able to use within this lifetime, so I'm going on a bit of a "yarn diet."

I'm joining other fellow crafty types at the Columcille Centre in Morningside this Saturday (16th January) to sell, swap and socialise. If you live in or near Edinburgh and fancy coming along, it's only £2 entry per person - EYF are asking folks interested in attending to pre-register so they can gauge numbers on the day. The event is being run by Edinburgh Yarn Festival as not for profit, in support of and to raise awareness of its nominated charity, the Teapot Trust who provide art therapy for children who suffer from chronic illness (all proceeds from the day go to the charity).

I'll be there for the afternoon session which runs 1-4pm but there will be yarny goings-on from 10am onwards.

Goodies I plan to sell on Saturday include:
- Rowan pattern books
- Knitting/craft magazines
- Rowan and other hand knitting yarn
- Knitting & crochet tools
- Lace trim and other notions
- Fibre for felting or spinning

I might also have a few hand knitted items for sale on the day too :) Hope to see you there!

Find out more about the Big January De-stash event here.

Christmas at WildCat Designs

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 08:50:00 +0000

Where there's cold weather, there's knitwear. If you're looking for something cosy to give as a gift for a loved one, or even just a little handmade treat for yourself, look no further!

WildCat Designs has lots of colourful scarves and other woolly warm things for winter. You'll find more information on my website: www.wildcat-designs.co.uk or visit one of my online shops here: wildcatdesigns.etsy.com & wildcatdesigns.folksy.com.

Below are my order deadlines for Christmas:

Last order dates for December 2015

Africa & Middle East - Thurs 3rd
Asia, Eastern Europe & Cyprus - Sun 6th
Central & South America, Caribbean - Mon 7th
Australia, New Zealand & Greece - Tues 8th
Germany, Italy & Poland - Sun 13th
USA, Canada, Sweden & Finland - Mon 14th
Austria, Iceland, Ireland, Portugal, Spain - Tues 15th
France - Wed 16th
Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway, Slovakia & Switzerland - Thurs 17th
UK - Sun 20th

Please note that custom and made to order items will usually take a minimum of a week to be completed and so may not be ready in time for Christmas.

Woolly Wovember

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 11:30:00 +0000

Have you heard of Wovember?

Well, as you might have guessed, it takes place in November and it's a collaborative celebration of my favourite fleece, wool!

There are retailers out there who use a pitiful quantity of wool in a garment (say 5%) and somehow feel they can still justify calling it woollen or misleadingly marketing it as "wool". Wovember hopes to reconnect consumers with *real* wool, its beauty and rather marvellous properties, as well as educating them on the process behind creating different woollen yarns and fabrics, from fleece to finished product.

Image via Wikimedia

How can we support Wovember? It's really simple, actually! You can wear woolly things - and believe me, I have been... there's a definite chill in the air and what better way to stay cosy really. Also by spreading the word and generally helping to raise awareness of the wonders of wool.

If you've read my blog before, you will probably know just how passionate I am about wool. As a knitter, consumer and textile designer, I would definitely feel cheated if a piece of clothing (or yarn, for that matter!) was sold to me as wool but had little to none of the real deal off of an actual sheep's back in it.

Almost everything I make for my WildCat Designs label is made from wool. The majority of my accessories are handmade by me from gorgeous 100% bona fide Merino wool, which I carefully sourced from a UK woollen mill. One thing I wasn't willing to comprimise on was quality.

One of the reasons I love wool, as I'm sure I've probably said many times before, is its versatility. The folks at Wovember are celebrating wool in all its glory and variety by hosting an Instagram competition this year - you can join in the fun and submit your woolly pics using the #WOVEMBER2015 hashtag. You could even win a wool-themed prize if you're lucky!

Find out more about Wovember and how to support the campaign on the wovember.com website.

Happy Knitting Week!

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 10:30:00 +0000

Wishing all my readers a happy Knitting Week! Perfect timing for starting on a cosy autumn project, don't you think?!

Doesn't that little mouse just look so cosy! It certainly made me smile at the Edinburgh Yarn Festival earlier this year :)

I didn't have the chance to share these pictures at the time, but it was a really great day out in March with some fellow fibre enthusiasts. Below are a few of my highlights.

I also have a few woolly links up my sleeve...

As it's also Wool Week, I recommend checking out the Campaign for Wool website - lots of lovely events going on all over the UK this week!

"How wool got cool" - a Guardian article on the weird and wonderful things us crafters get up to these days.

The UK Hand Knitting Association's website has had a bit of a makeover - well worth a look, it has plenty of ideas to help you get started or find out more about the world of knitting.

A new routine

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 11:05:00 +0000

Hello, dear reader!

You might have noticed things being a little quiet around here lately... I've been moving house, changed jobs and started working in another city! So needless to say, things have been a little chaotic at times.

I recently returned from a rather lovely holiday to Florida with my partner - quite a change of scenery and climate, and just what the doctor ordered in fact! We stayed in Orlando at the StaySky Suites just off International Drive and used it as a base for exploring several of the theme parks in the area. So we had a lot of fun, as you can imagine! (more on that later)

I'm back at work and settling into what's still a relatively new routine, now that I've moved in with my boyfriend of many years (in Edinburgh) and am doing a daily commute by train to Glasgow. This is not too bad, as I can easily get to the train station, pick up a weekly copy of the Stylist or read a book and listen to some music. Much better than driving on the motorway twice a day and ending up exhausted. It's quite nice to have access to the best of both cities too - Edinburgh will always feel more like home but I did enjoy living in Glasgow last year.

Fabric Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 15:28:00 +0000

#FabricFriday is back!

My first/last Fabric Friday post was back in January, so I thought it's about time I did another.

As is often the case, one afternoon I was looking for some stitchy inspiration (it may even have been initially for my still-ongoing possible-quilt/quilting project) and had a gander at what Pinterest had to offer. As usual, it did not disappoint.

I love the idea of using something entirely non-traditional as a "canvas" or "fabric" to stich on or embellish a project with and found this really gorgeous mixed media piece (below) by Claudia Orengo, aka Stitch the World. It's such a beautiful way of using a lovely vintage postcard whilst simultaneously breathing new life into it.

During the same search for fabric and textile-related ideas, I also came across the work of Hella van 't Hof. She operates at a fascinating intersection between traditional sampler-style embroidery and old photographs imbued with wistful memories.

Her works have an added tactile element as the images have been printed onto canvas, providing the ideal surface to stitch onto.

I like the way these embellishments add a three dimensional aspect and often take an organic form, complementing the original photograph and giving the evoked memories a feeling of tangibility.

Colour Lovers

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 14:46:00 +0000

Do you love colour? Then you just might like this blog post!

I promised a while ago (back in May!) that I would blog about the rest of my visit to the floral heaven that is Keukenhof, because I just couldn't quite cram all that gorgeous colour into one post... well here you go - enjoy!

Possibly the cutest dog ever - it was almost as if it was posing for the picture!

We saw a stunning variety of different types of tulip (as well as other flowers) and a staggering spectrum of colours. It truly was a feast for the eyes!

Of course, you can't expect to visit Holland without seeing a few clogs...

...and we also saw the beautiful flower fields too!

I was really blown away by the sheer intensity

of the red tulips as they were incredibly striking.

From the edges of the Keukenhof boundary you could even see groups of tourists on little boat trips along the canals running around the borders of the flower fields.

Day Four: Bags of Fun - 6KCBWDAY4

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Thu, 14 May 2015 21:17:00 +0000

I've been knitting since about 2001, and by anyone's measure, that's a lot of time to accrue (read: hoard!) quite a collection of crafty bits and pieces. So it's really no surprise that I have rather a lot of yarn, bits of knitting and notions.

In this post from the second Knitting & Crochet Blog Week, I talked in a general way about how my collection was "organised" - this time I've decided to focus on my two favourites which have served me well over the years.

First up is my knitting bag - it's black and white, features polka dots (always a good thing in my book!) and a pretty printed design with dressmaker's dummy silouette illustrations. It kind of "winked" at me in the shop I was working in at the time (I was the Rowan Design Consultant for the Coats Crafts concession in Edinburgh's well-known and historic department store, Jenners) and I knew I had to have it. I love the detailing, measuring tape print along the top and its sturdy wooden handles.

It's perfect for carrying any work-in-progress pieces of knitting around - there's ample space for two or three projects, and it is currently home to my snowflake cardi WIP (in hibernation...!), one of my knitting needle rolls, some twinkly teal yarn and a bag full of 4ply in assorted colours which is a lovely blend of merino wool, microfibre and a touch of cashmere.

The other crafting companion I'm very fond of is this little number:

I constructed it much like a large pencil case, so it's really just a large, lined zippered pouch. First time I'd made something like it so I was pretty pleased and it has served me well ever since as a perfect place for storing my smaller tools and notions.

Here's what's inside it at the moment:

Essentially it's anything I might need while working on a project. I think the only thing missing there really is my measuring tape and/or a ruler of some sort. This oversized purse style bag is sometimes unceremoniously tipped out and the contents can be replaced with a smallish work in progress - ideal as a wee project bag for travel!

[Please note, I'm a bit behind schedule, so the post for Day 3 is coming later!]

Day Two: It’s All About You - KCBWDAY2

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Tue, 12 May 2015 09:30:00 +0000

Well, today I'm writing about myself - which for some reason always feels a bit strange. I can't tell you how long it took me to compose and publish the "Bio" page on my blog, for example!

When I'm not crafting, I can often be found doing other creative things. I have been working as a Web and Graphic Designer for a few years now - you can even take a look at my online portfolio at www.catcodes.co.uk if you like. I also love drawing and painting in one of my sketchbooks or writing letters when I have time - yep, good old snail mail. I suppose you could say I like being creative in the kitchen too, as I do like to cook and bake if I have the energy and ingredients handy!

Some of my readers may already be familiar with WildCat Designs, the knitwear accessories label I started after finishing my degree in Textile Design - I run an Etsy shop under that name and a "sister" label, WildKittens, too.

When I'm out and about (I like to walk or cycle around Edinburgh, the city I live in - it's good excercise, especially as it's not at all flat!), I enjoy taking my camera or my cameraphone and recording things which catch my eye. I confess to being somewhat addicted to Instagram!

I'm a big fan of traditional old-school "analogue" film-based photography too, and have been known to mess about in darkrooms, not to mention experiment with my vintage Cosina or Diana F+ toy camera (hello, double exposures!).

When I was younger I spent some time living in Europe so I got to see lots of wonderful places as a child, something which has fuelled my love of travel and learning about different cultures. I even learned to speak fluent German, pretty good French and even a wee bit of Flemish!

To see more posts on today's theme, just search for #6KCBWDAY2 on twitter or google 6KCBWDAY2.

Knitting & Crochet Blog Week 2015 is here!

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Mon, 11 May 2015 20:45:00 +0000

Welcome to this year's Knitting & Crocket Blog Week!
Year 6, can you believe it?! If you haven't come across the event before, and want to find out more (or even take part!), read this blog post.

Day One (Monday 11th May): If You Were Yarn.

I've been musing over this topic for a few days now and it's quite difficult to choose! If I had to choose a yarn to represent my personality, there would definitely have to be some wool in there though.

I love being cosy and it's one of my absolute favourite fibres to work with because of its versatility, the fact it's natural and takes colour incredibly well if you dye it. My boyfriend sometimes jokingly refers to my head as being "full of wool" so it seems fitting that I'd go for a woolly yarn!

I think the texture of it would have to be a good balance of having enough twist that it didn't split easily or look like roving but not so much that the handle of the yarn was compromised. It's go to be nice and soft! ...I'm a big softie at heart ♥

Finally, I reckon if I was a yarn, it'd have to be a colourful one - maybe a nice variegated style with rich jewel tones of deep purple, teal, blue and turquoise blending into each other. Oh and as for weight... probably a useful DK!

Search for #6KCBWDAY1 on twitter or google 6KCBWDAY1 to find more blogs taking part in Knitting and Crochet Blog Week 2015.

Tulip Time!

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:00:00 +0000

I recently returned from a trip to Keukenhof in Lisse, a town which lies southwest of the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. It's a place I have wanted to visit ever since hearing about it - in case you haven't, it's a world-reknowned spring garden featuring a staggering variety of flowers.

It features over 7 million flowers but is best known for its beautiful displays of tulips, Holland's national flower. The gardens showcase a whopping 800 varieties of tulip!

If I actually had a "bucket list" this would most definitely have been on it! As someone who adores tulips and loves colour, it was just such a marvellous feast for the eyes - not to mention the beautiful perfume of delicately scented hyacinth and narcissi flowers.

I really loved this vibrant stripe effect that was created with rows of different colours of tulips and hyacinths.

There were so many lovely things to see around every corner and I must have taken over a hundred pictures...

This year Keukenhof had special displays in tribute to Vincent van Gogh, one of the most famous Dutch painters.

The artist inspired some interesting displays in one of the Keukenhof flower shows.

If you ever get the chance to visit, I cannot recommend it enough, especially if you are a flower fan. Find out more on the website: www.keukenhof.nl.

Stay tuned for more floral loveliness, including pictures of the stunning commercial flower fields!

Happy Stationery Week!

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Sat, 02 May 2015 19:58:00 +0000

This week is National Stationery Week! (Stationery geeks rejoice!)

I hardly need an excuse to get excited about stationery - it's something I've loved ever since I was a little girl. I think it was the colours and the infinite possibilities that appealed to me and fired up my imagination. Still does.

...After all, sometimes there is nothing better than the promise of a brand new pen or a fresh notebook, ripe with creative potential. A simple pleasure in life which is generally pretty affordable too!

I love to record things and plan my adventures in a diary and this year I was inspired by The Daily Roe on Instagram to adorn and embellish it, after seeing her diary/sketchbook hybrid approach to keeping a journal.

Cue washi tape and deco stickers for my Moleskine 2015 diary! Not forgetting a batch of my favourite pens for scribbling ideas, sketching and making notes with, the Pilot V-ball 05, which has a fine tip and lovely liquid ink with a nice fluidity.

Find out more about National Stationery Week on

the official website: www.nationalstationeryweek.com

Woolly Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 11:30:00 +0000

Great news - Edinburgh Yarn Festival is back for 2015! Some of you may remember the first one back in 2013 (was it really that long ago?!), which was held at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Leith.

The return of the EYF sees the event evolve a bit - they have expanded to a larger venue and the festival now spans across two days, Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th March at the Corn Exchange.

This rather curious creature greeted visitors in 2013!

The last one was well-attended and had plenty of things for the fibre fiend in you but this year the exibitor list boasts over 100 different companies ranging from local yarn stores to independent yarn producers. How exciting!

I dare anyone to try and come away empty-handed. If the last one was anything to go by it will be a serious challenge! It wasn't just yarny delights at the festival, there were also some fab indie designers selling their patterns and there were a few stalls with some lovely notions - all in all a great way to get some inspiration for your next/latest crafty project.

There are individual day tickets (£8 each) or weekend passes (£12) available, or you can go the whole hog and sign up for the evening events (knitty pub quiz, anyone?) or alternatively take part in one of the workshops and classes on during the day!

For more information about the Edinburgh Yarn Festival,

visit their website: www.edinyarnfest.com.

Advance tickets and class bookings are available online.

To read more #WoollyWednesday posts, click here.

Cute Clay Creatures

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 15:00:00 +0000

I found this rather wonderful little film about the work of Designer Camila Prada.

It provides an interesting insight into her process and materials
- as well as a lot of cute ceramics!

Find out more about the pandas and more of Camila's cute ceramic creatures here.

All you need is Love!

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 14:36:00 +0000

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you're doing something nice with your loved ones today.

I thought this year I'd have a go at baking some mini Red Velvet cakes with these cute heart-shaped silicone baking cases and they worked a treat! Turns out to be pretty tasty too - I used a Nigella Lawson recipe, since she knows a thing or two about yummy bakes.

I also spotted this rather topical knit over at Mochimochi Land - it's a free pattern to knit a tiny rose! So adorable and a lovely idea for a last-minute gift. Read this blog post to find out more and to download a copy :)

Image via Mochimochi Land

If you're looking for nice ways to gift wrap something for your Valentine, I also have a few ideas to give you some inspiration in this Valentine's themed post.

It's Fabric Friday!

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 10:30:00 +0000

I spotted a hashtag on Twitter that caught my attention a little while ago - #FabricFriday! It kind of hit me right between the eyes as a simple but effective idea.

I can't quite remember if it was a trending topic or if I just saw it because it popped up in my feed of "textiley twitterers" - in any case, I thought it would make a good theme for a (semi-) regular post on my blog.

If you read this post back in November, you might recall the mention of a quilt challenge... I was aiming to have something finished by the end of this month, but alas, it would seem that I was overly optimistic! I have made a little progress on my ideas and inspiration board for the quilt I'd like to make but hadn't quite anticipated how completely manic December and parts of January would be.

Image via Pinterest

I did a little bit of sewing, it's still in a slightly experimental stage, since I've been kind of making it up as I go - this is what happens when I get an idea in my head about how I'd like to use a certain piece of fabric...

So I suppose what I'm saying is that one of my new year's resolutions is to actually make a proper plan for my quilt, which will hopefully bring it one step closer to completion! (Wish me luck!!)

Image via Pinterest

What are your crafty new year's resolutions? Drop me a comment!

Season's Greetings!

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Autumnal Events

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 23:40:00 +0000

So, it's November! How did that happen? ...Come to think of it, where has this year gone?! It's certainly been an eventful one for me, in any case.

I am enjoying the autumn show of colours and the crisp scent of bonfires in the air. It always makes me glad when this time of year rolls around, because however much the dark days are a little, well, dark, it's comforting to think of bringing all my cosy knits out of hibernation - and maybe finishing a few too. (Though lately that has eluded me somewhat as due to a bout of tendonitis I havent't been able to touch my knitting for a few weeks now - woe!!)

I'm consoling myself by living vicariously through the craft of others and gathering inspiration for wintery projects in the meantime. Cue a Pinterest frenzy! If you want to see what I've been pinning lately, you can find my boards here: http://www.pinterest.com/wildcatdesigns.

One of the projects I'm hoping to work on is my first foray into quilting. I've been fascinated by the industrious creators of patchwork quilts for many years and this year myself and two friends are challenging ourselves to have a go, with the aim of completing a quilt each by January. So I started to collect ideas and ponder designs, as well as having a rummage through my fabric stash. Despite not being an avid sewer, I have still managed to acquire (hoard) plenty of pretty fabrics. I think my degree in textiles might have *something* to do with that...

Photographs featured in this post are of some of the rather wonderful pieces as seen in my copy of Contemporary American Quilts published by the Crafts Council.

Do you have any tips for me, as a novice quilter? I'd love to know your thoughts, and please feel free to post links! :)

Wondrous Wool

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 10:30:00 +0000

This is a special edition of Woolly Wednesday - it's Wool Week!

(This is a kitty commission I made

from Merino lambswool a few years ago)

...What's Wool Week, I hear you ask. 2014 is the 5th year of the Campaign for Wool's week dedicated to wool, that most wondrous of natural fibres. This year's edition runs from the 5th - 12th of October and features a whole host of activities and events promoting wool. Want to organise your own? Check out Picknit for some LoveWool resources.

I love the idea of the Wool Ride, a brand new woolly cycle ride held in London on the first day of Wool Week. It appears to have a similar feel to the annual Harris Tweed Ride in Glasgow, albeit perhaps a little more light-hearted and rough (fluff?!) around the edges.

My latest knitting project is a pair of stripy mittens (shown above) in a lovely pure wool yarn. Seemed like the perfect time of year to start something like this, now that the air is crisper, the leaves are turning and it's starting to get dark sooner in the evenings.

One of the reasons I love making things with wool is its versatility. It can be incredibly useful in its many different forms - the elasticity of the fibre lends itself well to clothing which will keep its shape well, but not only that, it has a natural tendency towards repelling water, due to the waxy lanolin of a sheep's coat, even more so if you felt the fabric as the water will simply bead on the surface and roll off.

You can achieve a great stitch definition in a yarn

with a high wool content such as this one (80% wool)

As many of you will know, wool is a rather wonderful natural fibre, meaning of course that it's biodegradable, unlike many manmade fibres. One which is renewable (thanks to the sheep growing a new fleece every year!), breathable and happens to be pretty great at absorbing a vast rainbow of dyes, as well as coming in a beautiful range of natural hues. Did you know wool can even be used as an insulation material? It's also naturally flame-retardant, believe it or not!

If you're interested in reading further woolly witterings, click here for more #WoollyWednesday posts.

All the Pretty Things

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 21:40:00 +0000

Image via Flickr

Life has been somewhat of a whirlwind lately, so I'm taking a much-needed moment to slow down and contemplate the things that inspire me. Pretty patterned tiles and ceramics have been a feature in recent weeks so here are some of my favourites.

Image found on Pinterest

Image via Flickr

Image via Decor8

Pretty cups via Tumblr

I do hope you liked these pretties and wish you a happy Friday - enjoy your weekend!

Woolly Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 16:00:00 +0000

Here it is! Another Woolly Wednesday :)

I intend to make these themed posts fortnightly for the time being, which hopefully gives me plenty of time to track down some new woolly things to shout about.

Image via Selvedge

The first of these this week is the recent KNIT issue of Selvedge magazine (issue 60). If you're not familiar with it, the magazine is a rather wonderful publication and provides articles covering the world of textiles, via its many applications in art, craft, fashion, design and interiors. The title is published bi-monthly and is one of my favourites (and has been for a number of years), as it features beautiful photography, insightful pieces on the history of textiles and it showcases some really beautiful art and craft. A highly recommended read. I also *love* the giant chunky cable knit scarf on the cover

Image via Selvedge

Issue 60 features knitting in its many forms and some absolutely stunning photography from Ian Lawson's book, "From the Land Comes the Cloth" - a breathtaking visual journey telling the story of Harris Tweed, showcasing the natural beauty of the Hebrides, the woollen raw materials, the painstaking traditional production process and the world-famous finished product. Needless to say, the book is on this girl's wishlist! If you want to have a look at a little preview of the book, click here.

Image via The Catskill Kiwi on Instagram

Continuing with the woven cloth theme... in my Instagram wanderings, I discovered The Catskill Kiwi's feed which piqued my interest because as someone who dabbled with weaving but realised it wasn't for me, I can live vicariously through the lovely textured tapestries of Toni Brogan.

IT'S Woolly Wednesday!

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 10:30:00 +0000

One thing you should know about me... I love a bit of alliteration, so when I was dreaming up ideas for blog posts recently, I thought, how about having a Woolly Wednesday! (Why not?!)

...I very much doubt I'm the first person ever to have come up with that but I do hope you like it anyway :)

Here are some woolly things that have tickled my fancy this week:

Image via Etsy

I love this Lambswool Birdie by Sally Nencini, discovered while having a look at a few things that popped up on my feed whilst using the Etsy app. Not just because I adore birds, and think lambswool is pretty awesome, either! I particularly like the way she has used different patterns and muted colours to create an overall kind of folkloric effect. Plus, who wouldn't want one of these cheery birdies sitting on their mantlepiece?

I quite enjoy using the "your feed" tab as a way of browsing actually, and it's a great way to find new things or stumble across pretty treasuries. Do check out Sally Nencini's Etsy shop, it's packed with lots of fun (woolly) designs including an elephant cushion or one featuring a fleet of red London double-decker buses, not to mention her quirky knitted toys!

Image via Ohhdeer

How about some woolly jumpers? This "Cool Sweaters" greeting card with sheep sporting knitted designs made me smile. It's the work of illustrator Jacques Maes, and I very much like the nostalgic feel of this print of his.

...and finally, here's a little bit of sporting yarnbombery: Commonwealth Games nations knitted flags for Glasgow 2014

Fear not, dear reader, more wool-related action coming soon!

In the meantime, you can check out all of my blog posts related to this rather fabulous fibre here.

Free Shipping at WildCat Designs!

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Sun, 25 May 2014 15:14:00 +0000

A little something, just for the bank holiday weekend...

Get free worldwide shipping on everything at http://wildcatdesigns.etsy.com until the end of Monday 26th May. Just quote "FREESHIPYAY" during checkout to claim this offer.

All Quiet on the Blogging Front

noreply@blogger.com (Cat McLaughlin) — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:30:00 +0000

...yes, there's been virtual tumbleweed blowing around here lately, I confess! Things have been a little crazy but I have lots of inspiring things to share with you in the coming weeks.

I recently started a new job which has got me walking down familiar paths but seeing things in a new light. I'm revisiting many things I used to be so involved with as a textile student - it's hard to believe it was almost a decade ago that I completed my degree in that field!

The wonderful thing is that I still find this area so inspiring even after all these years. I thought I'd give you a visual tour of what's got my creative juices flowing of late:

This is a gorgeous fabric I recently received in the post, as part of the Hillarys Blinds Country Craft Competition. The fabric is called Bird Parade and it's from their Country Retreat range. I have yet to make something with it, at this point I'm thinking my limited sewing skills might stretch to a bag but I love the idea of a skirt, should I have enough material! If you want to find out more about the comp, check out this post on the UK Craft Blog.

Image via Pinterest

The colours of spring emerging from the garden always have an impact on me at this time of year. I love that first sign of delicate snowdrops, heralding new life and fresh growth, which is soon followed by crocus, daffodils and tulips (one of my favourite flowers).

Image via Designers Guild