Second of Three

I've had a vague idea in my head for a while now, about a couple of new lines. It started back when I designed my Dungeness line. I had so much fun with it and enjoyed the creative process so much more than normal, that I decided I wanted to try something else similar.
My childhood involved a lot of moving around and a lot of new places, and for me, the easiest way to remember where I had been, was to remember a feeling rather than a specific place. We almost never returned to the area once we left, and I was pretty young for most of the moves, so specifics just didn't work.
As I've gotten older I've realised that my memories are often colour based rather than geographical. It's something that I spoke about when I posted about Dungeness, but it's not something that I've sat down and thought about too much when it comes to other places of my youth.

Until recently. When I decided to focus on some specific design lines, rather than just randomly crafting/designing, as I usually do.
My first decision was where was the inspiration coming from. I'd obviously already started looking at Dungeness (although there's still more to come), but where else did I want to remember through colour?
It didn't take me too long to decide. Although there's been a lot of houses, there's only really been two homes for me.
And of those, one will always be the most important. It is the only place of my childhood that holds no bad memories. My memories are of the light. Of greens and yellows and deep blues. Of huge oak trees and beautiful silvery birch trees, with their papery skins peeling off. I remember the sunshine and dog walking and drawing the flowers of the huge rhododendron bushes. And I remember the smells of the beach and the country lanes. Sometimes beautiful and sometimes a strange, slightly rotten smell, as the seasons changed.

I have so many good memories of Mudeford that I'm almost overwhelmed when I try and sort them in to definite images in my head. But if I just unfocus my eyes and stare off in to the middle distance of my memories then I can see it. I can feel the colours. The fact that they're golden and pure, and yet still dark and slightly muddy. They're the colours of the nettle bushes that lined all the roads. The colours of the stream covered in grey pond skaters and the colour of the deep, blue sky. They're sunny and sandy combined with the dark, dank greens of the forest.

And they're the colours of my latest line - simply called, Mudeford.

It's a line that includes baby blankets (above), baby clothes, pillows and totes. And as with all the new stuff that I'm working on, the line is aimed at the entire age range, but I'm also really looking at focusing a little more on baby gear. But baby gear that's going to make both baby and parents happy. Baby gear that doesn't look out of place alongside your favourite Eames chair ( I wish!). But that is also soft and comforting and fun.

And all of it will be inspired by my favourite and very best childhood memories. And the colours of Mudeford.

 

Comments

[The Fairy Glade]

Hi Manda, I am new to your blog and have been slowly reading it from the beginning. I have smiled, laughed, cried and rejoiced over the past few days. I thing you have an amazing talent, something that I feel very lacking in myself. It is all about confidence, and I guess I don't have too much of that right now. In particular, I adore your quilts and that fabric stash has more material in it than any shop local to me! I look forward to visiting you often in the future. Devina X

[hazeljoy]

lovely work.

[QALBALLAH]

Manda, your Dungeness work was, by far, my favourite of your work. I can't wait to see what you have come up with this time. It looks tantalizingly rich so far

[QALBALLAH]

Manda, your Dungeness work was, by far, my favourite of your work. I can't wait to see what you have come up with this time. It looks tantalizingly rich so far...

[QALBALLAH]

Uh so good I had to tell you twice *rolls eyes*

[carlene]

That is just stunning. Gorgeous.

[Fiona]

These are beautiful and your memories evocative. I've moved a lot too, though only in my adult life, and each place and it's people and plants and streets visit my thoughts with distinct personalities. I especially remember particular trees that I returned to on my daily walks as if they were friends I had loving times with. I think my passions are showing!
Thanks for your blog which I have been reading these last months. And my Lily thinks your Lily is very cute.

[Kim]

Inspired, and inspiring!

[Creature of Habit]

That description of Mudeford is poetry. Just beautiful. The work reflects those memories.....

[Grainne]

Very moving Manda!

[HomeGrownLife]

Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Thanks for sharing the stories behind the colors!

[leslie]

beautiful. looking forward to seeing piece after piece in these gorgeous tones...

[Lil' d]

I have many happy memories of childhood visits to Dorset - I'm looking forward to seeing what you create.

[Di]

I love the colours and the process you went through to get to the range! I agree that colours and smells are often the most important memories of a place or a moment in time! The smell of summer - cut grass, strawberries warmed by the sun, the salty sea air, seaweed, wild roses, suntan lotion.......

[lazylol]

What a lovely post - and the new range is just stunning.

[caroline]

beautiful. :)

[soph]

it's heartwarming to see you developing creatively manda, and the evident boost it's given you.

[Kristy]

It funny isn't it how having children makes us assess our own childhood in ways we never have before? Things seem to click into place and we learn so much about who we are and why we are.
I love the way this quilt is totally unisex.That is so hard to do as you know.I almost wish I had another baby.I said almost.
P.S. Did you get my email about Lily and Bella's shelves?

[sue]

The new range looks very inspirational. I love the colors you used and I cannot wait to see what other wonderful things you will create for your shop.

[mbutterfudge]

Manda, you've done it again, I just love the design. So exciting.

[Suzanne]

Hello I have just come from Wens blog, what amazing designs you have. They are so peaceful and I love the colours.

[Joan]

Love the quilt, Manda. I have used chenille for the back of cushions, but have not tried it for quilts. Did you encounter any difficulties? And did you use batting?
Love,
Joan

[amanda]

it's beautiful. I loved that alphabet embroidery. just georgeus. I'm curious to see the entire line!

[Elizabeth]

Wow. Thank you for the inspiration. I feel quite random myself in my sewing--mainly because I'm learning. I too have been struggling to find some cohesion in my work. Thank you for the heart felt words.

[Sam]

Fabulous. I love that line of teal fabric (or at least it looks like teal - I think it is Denyse Schmidt). I think I may have to take a break from your blog because every time I read it I find myself thinking "now, if only I had that particular piece of fabric I too would be able to create a masterpiece". Very dangerous!