Today I have a special guest on the show, Felicia Semple, founder of The Craft Sessions. I met Felicia a couple of years ago at Squam and since then have been following her blog with great interest and wishing that I could make an excuse to be back in Australia in September to attend her wonderful Craft Sessions which is a weekend of craft workshops. Felicia is a very thoughtful and eloquent writer and her recent blog posts on her project Stash Less have given me lots of ideas for simplify and declutter month so I was thrilled she could join us to have a chat about all of that. Image source: Felicia Semple, The Craft Sessions Felicia mentions an Ira Glass quote in the interview about practising in the gap. Here is a beautiful video of the whole quote made by photographer and visual storyteller Daniel Sax. The Vivienne Westwood quote I mentioned is from her autobiography Vivienne Westwood. "My main point, though, is quality rather than quantity. What I’m always trying to say is: buy less, choose well, make it last." That interview wraps up simplify and declutter month on the podcast. Thank you so much to everyone for the thoughtful, inspiring comments and comraderie here on the blog and on the Curious Handmade Ravelry group. Next Week on the Podcast - Joji Locatelli  Next month the theme will be Sweaters and Garments. Unusually for the podcast, there will be another guest on the show next week. I was very excited to catch Joji Locatelli at her home in Buenos Aries, Argentina for a wonderful chat about knitting, designing and her new collaboration and collection with Veera Välimäki called Interpretations 2. Interpretations 2 is a collection of 12 pieces – 6 by each designer and it is one of the most beautifully designed and produced books and collections I have seen. So have a look at the collection and look out for that episode next week. Craftsy Winter Wonder Sale (Affiliate Link):

  Today I’m talking about what’s in the WIP, and sharing with you a conversation I had this week with Paula Emons-Fuessle of Knitting Pipeline, and and update on some events. What's in the WIP? A little bit of knitting, and a lot of tidying and stalking! Working on a big project this weekend to paint and reorganise my kids bedrooms. Patterns I'm stalking to make use of my newly refreshed stash: Ashburn by Melanie Berg Leftie by Martina Behm Dahlia Cardigan by Heather Zoppetti 54 Rue du Chateau by Mary-Heather Browne, Amy Christoffers, Olga Buraya-Kefelian, Leila Raabe, Michele Wang, Bristol Ivy The Simple Things I talk with Paula of Knitting Pipeline about decluttering and the book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. We also talk about the Knitting Pipeline retreat in Georgia USA on 12-15 April. Thank you to BreadandButter for posting a link to this interesting New York Times article about Marie Kondo's book. Events A Playful Day Design Along Competition Edinburgh Yarn Festival  

Today I’m talking about what I’ve been knitting and an update on the decluttering project for January. This week I’m talking about tackling the stash and craft stuff. I've been very much enjoying watching and listening to some podcasts while I've been decluttering. I mention: Yarnderwoman Little Bobbins Truly Myrtle Announcement If you are interested in designing - check out A Playful Day Design Along What's in the WIP? Making good progress on my Amy Herzog Custom Fit pullover. Twisted cast on. Fixed. Amy Herzog's Knit to Flatter Craftsy course (on sale at the moment!). Custom Fit - "CustomFit makes custom patterns for hand-knit sweaters. It takes your choices, your body, and your hand-knit fabric and produces a pattern perfectly suited to you." The Simple Things My word for the year is "Simplify" and simplify and declutter is the theme for the podcast in January. Today I talk about the KonMari method from Marie Kondo's book below. I apply this method to the stash with surprising results. Some more decluttering resources: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

Today I'm talking about What's in the WIP and some decluttering tips. What's in the WIP? Candlelit Shawl in Skein Australia Merino Cashmere - 60% complete Also reviving the Pebble Beach Shawlette also in Skein Australia - Sea Salt colourway Cast on Amy Herzog Custom Fit pullover. Twisted cast on. Fixed. The Simple Things Word for the year is "Simplify" Some more decluttering resources: Clutterfree by Leo Babouta and Courtney Carver Fly Lady Curious Handmade Simplify and Declutter Ravelry discussion thread

Today I’m talking about what’s in the WIP, planning for the year ahead and my word of the year, "Simplify". Show Sponsor - Meadow Yarn Meadow Yarn is an inviting online retailer selling yarn, needles and notions. It's a small, family business based in rural Suffolk in the UK. Meadow Yarn was born out of a passion for beautiful yarn and knitting accessories and aims to bring you a range of great products. Yarns stocked include madelinetosh, Eden Cottage Yarn, Hazel Knits and many more. What's in the WIP? Candlelit Shawl in Skein Australia Merino Cashmere - 60% complete Husband Christmas Present blanket. About to cast on Amy Herzog Custom Fit pullover. New Year Planning Working my way through the Do What you Love “New Year’s Revolution” workbook. The Simple Things Word for the year is "Simplify" Some decluttering resources: Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste Project 333 Into Mind Be More With Less