A Journal
A personal journal that invites readers to design their own journeys through the world - with travel, dress and taste.
My work is shaped by seasonal rhythms, cultural, sensory and historical awareness, and expressions of independence. Language is my first love.
A loose-fitting tent dress with dagger collar
Working from a 1970’s Style pattern, turning craft cotton to the job of dressmaking - here’s how I got on. Main lesson: oversized is still a fit….
Southern Germany - a 12 night Summer road trip.
A hot summer road trip through Germany’s southern states. Castles, cakes, pretzels, bikes, hikes, lakes and beer all make an appearance. There’s nothing this place doesn’t have.
A cropped jacket in cotton twill from 1980’s New Look 6007 pattern
Using a 1980’s cropped suit jacket pattern as the starting point. Details on total make time, adjustments, seam finishes, and lessons learnt.
Central Cornwall - an active mid-week stay in Spring
Itinerary journal of my springtime holiday in Cornwall. Where we ate, what we saw and how we enjoyed biking around the countryside.
An itinerary for Santa Fe - atomic bomb history, mountain biking and art
10 nights in New Mexico combining art, activity and history.
High-waisted trousers in linen-rayon blend
Working with a 1970’s Vogue Basic Design pattern, sewing a pair of single pleated trousers in loosely-woven rayon.
A drop-waist skirt from 1990’s Style 4987 pattern
Making a drop-waist skirt for a petite frame with high waist-to-hip ratio. Lessons learnt.
Refining what I want from travel accommodation
Thoughts and reflections on how I analyse and select from accommodation options for independent travel itineraries
Hanover and The Harz Mountains - a Spring travel plan for mountain biking and city break
Travelling in spring, departing from Leeds, my imagined itinerary for 7 nights of exploring in Lower Saxony.
Maggie Anne yellow polish, Jessy
Colour scrutiny of bright yellow polish, Jessy, by Maggie Anne
Turin and Monferrato, Piedmont - a twin-centre autumnal trip
An autumn itinerary with Arbarth factory tours, martinis, and day rides in the Monferrato hills.
A wool dress from Givenchy 1970’s Vogue Paris Original 1950 pattern
Main lesson: get more knowledgeable about fabric weights and gsm…..it not enough to know the fibre…
Researching potential destinations
Things to consider when planning an independent travel itinerary - how to sift through all the information and plan a trip that meets my specific interests and desires
Tallinn, Estonia - a long wintry break
My journal and itinerary of a winter city break in the Baltics, departing from Manchester. Where we ate, what we saw and how we enjoyed the young-meets-old cosy capital of Estonia.
Andalusia by Wheel
Travelling in winter, journal and itinerary of our 7 night stay in Andalusia - starting with a Seville city break followed by biking around Vejer de la Frontera in Cadiz province.
Morbihan, Brittany - a twin-centre trip with road biking and city break
Travelling in early summer, my plan for 10-11 nights in Nantes and the Gulf of Morbihan. An itinerary for biking, art trails, a bit of Jules Verne, eating crepes, visiting medieval towns and castles, and admiring the sunset in pretty port towns.
Noto Valley, Sicily - a Spring trip
Travelling in spring, journal and itinerary of my 10 night Sicilian stay in the Noto Valley.