Fiona Bailey Designs

New Kits on Notonthehighstreet.com

2011-10-31T08:08:00.000-07:00

After knitting away for most of the year I've extended my range of knitting kits and they are now up on www.notonthehighstreet.com/fionabaileydesigns.

Homeworks and Artisan

2010-09-29T03:18:00.000-07:00

The Homeworks team are coming together to open a pop up shop at Artisan to get you started on some very early Christmas shopping!!!!

I will also be running a knitting workshop/surgery on Wednesday afternoons. More information to follow on the my blog and at Artisan.

Please come and have a look during the day or join us for a drink and late night shopping on Thursday evenings.

Homemade London

2010-09-29T02:52:00.000-07:00

Things have been happening for me and my knitting over the summer. I have been asked to run some knitting workshops at a new craft salon called Homemade London.

Homemade London opened in August 2010 with a mission to celebrate the best of London's craft designers in beautiful, relaxed and comfortable surrounding. Drinks and light supper are also part of deal, which makes for a very different course experience.

The classes are small to ensure that you get personal tuition, and you don’t need to be an expert to sign up, all are welcome.

My first workshop starts on November 4th and then the following week on the 18th from 7pm - 9.30pm.

"Create your own A/W10 woolly must-haves with the help of designer Fiona Bailey.

Pick from a choice of two specially-designed knitting kits worth £65 each - either a slouchy knit hat or a scarf - both using gorgeous fairly-traded Peruvian wool; 50% alpaca, 50% merino for guaranteed luxury.

Over 2 sessions, Fiona will guide you the process of creating your fabulous new knitwear. This mini-course is suitable for complete beginners and those with knitting experience."

I am planning more workshops with Homemade London on children's wear and interior knits.

Half Term Trip!

2010-06-10T08:01:00.000-07:00

I know half term was a week ago; but as I haven't blogged for a while or done any knitting/general creating, I thought I'd put up some pics of a really sweet trip we did on the East Somerset Railway.

It was short and sweet and the kids loved it. A competition to find bear pictures along the trip kept them busy and the possibility of winning a prize was enough of an incentive to make it even more exciting!

Exhibition - Artisan 80

2010-05-11T00:23:00.000-07:00

I have been a bit neglectful of my blog for the last month or so. My other work, picture researching, suddenly got very busy, so by day I was trying to find images on the computer and by night covering buttons and preparing for a 3 week exhibition at our local gallery, Artisan80. I am one of 6 exhibitors from our road including jewellery, glass, paintings and typographic art (check out the Artisan80 website for the other exhibitors). We had the private view last Saturday and the gallery was packed. I think we all did well.

Next project is getting my new garden studio up and running! Very excited!!!!

My rug!!!

2010-03-25T05:48:00.001-07:00

I've been knitting this rug for what seems like ages; but I'm on the 13th ball of wool and should finish it this week.

Quite pleased!!

The first.....

2010-03-16T06:30:00.001-07:00

.... signs of summer appeared last week end, I felt the sun on my face and made the first of many daisy chains. Glorious!!

My wonderful Billie-Jo!

2010-03-05T04:38:00.000-08:00

I have recently been following this wonderful and thought provoking blog (Enjoying the small things). Not only is it an amazing read; but it has brought back some real, difficult, wonderful, emotional memories for me. My eldest daughter, Billie-Jo has Down's Syndrome and at the time of her birth I felt I should put pen to paper and write down my feelings..... it just didn't happen. Every time I tried to write, the words just seemed to come out wrong, I think maybe I was afraid of being too honest. Now I have been inspired to tell our story not through words; but pictures. Billie- Jo is a truly amazing child and has inspired and shaped my life more positively than I could have ever imagined. She's growing up so quickly... (she starts secondary school (mainstream) in September) and I really don't know where the time has gone. I'm going to try and put into pictures what I failed to do in words ten years ago. I want to capture her growing up, the changes in her physically as well as emotionally and hopefully giving an honest insight into her and the lives of the rest of our family.

My husband, Richard, is a photographer and each year he curates (and takes photographs for) the 'Shifting Perspectives' Exhibition held at the Oxo Tower on the South Bank in London. It will be the sixth year that they have been at thegallery@oxo. The work he has done over the years to change peoples perceptions of children and adults with DS is truly amazing. This year's exhibition starts on the 17th March at the Oxo Tower and will undoubtedly be as inspirational as previous ones. Have a look at his and the other photographers work for Shifting Perspectives at www.ds2008.co.uk or www.richardbaileyphotography.co.uk.

It is my intention to take photographs of Billie-Jo over the next year and hopefully be part of the Shifting Perspectives exhibition in 2011.

It's time to make a difference!

108 Fortune Green

2010-03-04T12:34:00.000-08:00

You can now find a small range of my bracelets at the trendy little shop in West Hampstead, 108 Fortune Green. As well as my stuff there's some great retro furniture and accessories. I've got my eye on quite a few things!!!!

My Creative Space

2010-03-04T11:25:00.000-08:00

For the past few months I have been going to a jewellery course and learning lots of new techniques; but if I'm be honest I haven't produced anything that I'm really pleased with. However, today, I think, might be the start of the next phase of fabric/textile jewellery. It's always nice when you know that something is working and has lots of potential to grow..... perhaps it's the lovely sunshine bringing more inspiration!!!!

February Project for Valentines!!

2010-02-09T04:14:00.000-08:00

For those of you wanting to knit up a bit of love, here is a quick project.

LOVE LETTERS - PATTERN

Material:
I used balls of wool I already had and they varied from 4ply to dk.

Needles:
3.25mm (I used small needles to keep the stitches tight and squares small)

Method:
For each letter cast on 23 stitches and work as the charts bellow.

Stop Press!!

2010-01-29T03:03:00.000-08:00

Check out a couple of magazines!! Knit Today and Making Gifts!! You'll be able to read a bit about me and knit one of my scarf patterns.

Enjoy!!!

New Etsy Shop!!

2010-01-25T04:24:00.000-08:00

I've decided to get myself a bit more out there and have opened an Etsy shop.
You can find me on www.fionabaileydesigns.etsy.com. I've listed all the knitting kits plus some button jewellery. Please have a look and send me your feedback.

Marketing and promotion is what I plan to concentrate on this year, as well as some new home designs, so hopefully you will be seeing more of my stuff around.

Keep looking at the blog also, as I will be posting new ideas and projects each month!

On to the next thing!

2009-10-13T08:25:00.000-07:00

Here's a glimpse of a button bracelet and my long term project of a rug made of literally hundreds of crochet flowers.

Now that the Knitting and Stitching show is over, there's time to start working on other projects leading up to the next sale at the Homeworks Christmas Show at 20th Century Theatre on Westbourne Grove in November.

The show was a success and as well as sales of kits, buttons and the long awaited button jewellery,
lots of contacts were made. You might be seeing Knit and Kaboodle kits in the shops soon!

Queens Park Day

2009-09-15T05:13:00.000-07:00

Then Queens Park day! We were promised wall to wall sunshine on Sunday; but that didn't arrive. However, it didn't stop people coming, it was a packed day with loads of budding knitters visiting my stall. The Homeworks crowd made it out in force and we all had a good catch up after the holidays! There really was plenty to feast you eyes on.

A busy weekend

2009-09-15T04:28:00.000-07:00

It was a very busy weekend with the iknit weekender and Queens Park Day!

Iknit was a great success with lots of people coming to browse and buy all manner of knitting products, from wool to works of art and kits to corsages. There were workshops, talks and plenty of fashion shows to feast your eyes on.

A great week end was had by all!!

You can buy felt covered buttons from my website!!

2009-08-20T08:46:00.000-07:00

Some lovely bright coloured felt covered buttons are now available to buy from my website.
They are great for adding a bit of colour to coats, waistcoats, hats and much more.

I'll also be taking them to the iknit weekender on the 11th and 12th September. PLEASE come and have a look!!

Buttons Buttons Buttons!!

2009-07-29T13:14:00.001-07:00

I now have a new super duper button machine that can cover buttons in seconds. My plan is to design a range of covered button jewellery which will hopefully be on sale through my website in a month or so. Keep checking in to see how I'm getting on!

New kits.... available now!

2009-07-15T06:48:00.000-07:00

My new range of knitting kits for beginners and intermediate knitters is now available on my website. They are simple designs and available in some lovely colours. You get all you need to make the designs, including knitting needles, patterns and any embellishments including buttons or beads.

I'll be at the iknit weekender on the 11th and 12th September at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London, so please come along and have a look.

Here is a taste of what you can create.

New kits coming soon!

2009-04-28T12:25:00.000-07:00

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for new Knit and Kaboodle kits.
More soon.