Two new apron designs were added to In The Makings Aprons in the last couple of months; an updated No10:2 woodwork apron in rich Chestnut Brown or classic Stone canvas, and a beautifully swishy No25:2 in natural washed linen.
The No10:2 apron is actually an updated version of the original No10:1, one of my first custom designs, a collaboration with a furniture maker. This improved No10:2 design is longer for extra protection and has wide adjustable crossback straps for people who don’t like neck straps/ties. But like the original design it still features a fabulous array of specialist pockets and the unique magnetic pocket flap which keeps shavings out of your pockets but flips up for hands-free access to the pockets underneath. I will be adding a version with tie neck & waist in the coming months and considering some more colour options – suggestions welcome!.
The new No25:2 design was made in response to requests for more lightweight aprons suitable for artist painters, makers and bakers. This washed natural linen is absolutely gorgeous and lends itself so well to the pleated skirt. This apron doesn’t have a split front skirt, but I will offer a split leg version in future.
I’ve sadly neglected my blog-journal in the last couple of years, because social media seemed like such a treadmill of repeating myself. Lately though I’ve subscribed to some brilliant thoughtful blogs likeHebTroCowith their fabulous Bothering Magazine, and lucky enough to see the lovelyTom Robinsongive a talk at Brixton Hill Studios ‘Perfect Pitch’ launch a few weeks ago about valuing and connecting with your genuine audience on your mailing list, which made me re-evaluate it all. So here goes.
Today I put away summer clothes and dug out jumpers and warmer trousers, finally giving in to Autumn whilst reflecting on the Summer. My Summer had started with my biggest ever order, 37 lightweight No4:6 potters aprons for a gallery/studio in Majorca, I finished just days before my first major show, Craft Festival, Bovey Tracey 6-8 June 2025. It was HUGE over 200 exhibitors plus talks and workshops, quite a variety of different crafts on show but not surprisingly lots of jewellery and ceramics – the quality of work was extremely high. I was talking to visitors and other exhibitors all day long, which gave me some fascinating insights to their art & crafting lives – think I’ll do it all again in 2026!
Managed to see quite a few brilliant exhibitions during the Summer; Cockpit Open Studios Deptford (June) – Deptford X Festival various venues (July) – Matthew Cutts sculpture New Forest (July) – Printmakers Council 60th Anniversary Exhibition Oxo Gallery (September) – wonderfully colourful Grayson Perry ‘Delusions of Grandeur’ Wallace Collection (September) – APT Deptford 30th Anniversary Annual Show (September) – ‘Materiality’ at The Handbag Factory Jane Bottery’s, piece was absolutely beautiful (September) – Knit & Stitch Show at Alexandra Palace (October), stand outs being Jane Walkley’s extraordinary sculptural woven tapestries with cast Jesmomite artifacts, and an upcycled lab coat piece by Janel Vavrenyuk – the incredible Do Hoh Suh: ‘Walk the House’ at the Tate Modern (October) – The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Festival, at the fabulous Victoria Baths Manchester (October) –
The Do Ho Suh Exhibition ‘Walk the House’ at the Tate Modern London closes on the 26th October 2025 DON’T MISS IT! The show really connected with me as someone who has moved house a lot in my life, 31 times, 16 of those before I was 14 because my Dad was in the Army. The gauze fabric buildings, handles, light switches etc are stitched with the most incredible detail and the rubbings of his family home in Korea and other home details are so beautiful.
Currently I’m designing my stand for The Selvedge Winter Fair on 23rd November at RHS Hall in London, along with prepping stock for the busy Christmas period.
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I chose this beautiful sapphire-cobalt blue canvas for the new No24 studio apron aimed at printers, artists and craftspeople. The woven herringbone tape ties are in a slightly darker royal blue, they knot through loops on the apron corners and you can tie them in a bow or round the front for a secure fit. The three different size and shape pockets can accommodate pens, small tools etc. It took the best part of a year to develop this design, trying to keep it simple but well balanced and very functional.
I’ve been working on this design update to the No4:5 cross back aprons (see photo) for a few months, it offers a more personalised fit. I’ve made the straps adjustable using slider buckles, like the ones you’d find on bags like back packs. Making the straps longer or shorter means you can adjust for taller or shorter height person, or larger or smaller body types… and for extra layers of clothing in a chilly studio!
This fabric is fabulous soft, thick, drapes beautifully – it’s undyed, unbleached canvas with tiny flecks of cotton seeds visible in the weave. The matching strap ties have lines of woven in black dots along the length, I’ve had this tape for quite a few years waiting for the right project to use it. This apron design has been a long time in development, working with different fabric options is very exciting!
An Etsy client asked if I could make an adjustable neck strap with a slider buckle for a No14:3 – this is my experimentaI version. I’ve never used one of these buckles before and I thought the canvas might be too bulky and unwieldy but in fact it works quite well…
The client also wanted an angled split skirt. It looks great, love all the different shapes … but there is less leg coverage than my standard apron skirts.
NEW COLOURWAY! These little drawstring bags are made from woven stripe denim, fabric remnants leftover from making aprons in the In The Making – Aprons range. Its a good size for storing artist materials and craft tools, or use as a phone bag!
Quite regularly I make batches of game pieces/cards to replace lost ones from the Myatt Garden School Storysacks Library – missing pieces stop play! Some years ago I scanned all the Storysack game pieces, so when they are lost I can print them out on paper, glue them to cardboard and seal with more glue – making new pieces so the games and Storysacks can continue to be used!
Occasionally I need to make replacement clothes for character dolls, this week it was a pair of new pj’s for the lazy farmer in the Farmer Duck Storysack – a few weeks ago a tiny shirt for Nelligan from the Pig in the Pond Storysack. Recently all the dinosaurs were ‘lost’ from ‘Harry & the Bucketful of Dinosaurs Storysack, so I did some scanning (from the storybook) and drawing in Photoshop to make ‘lollystick puppets’, then found some great Harry and the Dinosaurs activities online, improving the educational value of the sack too!
I was very keen to try out chalk pen art this Christmas, so bought an Edding 4095 chalk marker (bullet nip) from Amazon (although since then have noticed WH Smith have a few different ones, including colours). I drew out my designs on paper first, taped them to the outside of the window, then ‘traced’ on the inside of the glass with the chalk pen – took the paper off and drew more little branches, baubles and ‘snow’ to balance the design here and there. It was really fun and also inadvertantly provided street entertainment for the people visiting the school fair over the road!! AND – I won a prize from Folksy as part of #12daysoffolksy Instagram challenge ‘Let it snow’ !!!
This year’s door wreath is a bit early – to be part of #12daysoffolksy Instagram challenge – it’s entirely made of cuttings from the garden and some green gardening wire.
Introducing the No19 – a new ‘bib and skirt’ apron design – in the Folksy and Etsy shops today.
No19:2 – A black linen bib apron with a heavy lace trim, inspired by Austrian Tyrol folk dress – we had a wonderful summer holiday there once, when I was 11, on Sunday women passed the hotel in their way to church, dressed in long plum colored skirts, lace and big black hats! Folksy
No19:3 – A royal blue cotton canvas apron, inspired by 1940’s wartime ultility clothing. Etsy
