Craft Life

Looking back over a year of making always feels a bit like spreading everything out on the kitchen table - sketches, fabric scraps, half‑formed ideas, moments of doubt, and those small, satisfying yes moments when something finally comes together. 2025 has been a year of thoughtful creativity at Parade Handmade. Not rushed. Not noisy. But full of care, new collections, and pieces that have quietly made their way into other people’s lives. This is a gentle round‑up of what was created this year - and a hopeful look towards what’s still unfolding. Thoughtful Making in 2025 Rather than constant launches, this...

It’s almost mid-November as I write to you on a blustery day from a hospital waiting room in Sligo. There’s no emergency - just back-up for someone having a procedural treatment. I rather like these moments, such as they are - suspended moments in a life’s rhythm. It’s not particularly cold in Ireland yet, though the countryside tells another story. The trees are turning - rustic orange still clinging to green, dark trunks showing through, and grey skies stretching across damp fields. It’s not quite winter, but you can feel it waiting in the wings. I’m not in a Christmassy...

It’s late October, and the wholesome soup weather has well and truly arrived. Halloween is almost here - even if officially, it’s still a few days away - and I’m enjoying seeing the autumnal displays popping up in windows and on doorsteps. There’s something so warm and celebratory about pumpkins, fairy lights, and that golden glow. I love when the local children call round, dressed as witches or ghouls for ‘Trick or Treat’. I always keep a few fun treats on hand - it gives me a great kick to see their delight. But truth be told, I keep things...

 As the evenings grow just that bit cooler and that golden autumn light starts to peek through the curtains, I’m so delighted to share something special that’s been quietly knitting away in the background: the latest additions to the *Shoreline Knits* collection. Each piece in this cosy collection is a one-off, delicately hand-knit by a local maker with an eye for texture and tone and a passion for adventures in textile. Yes, some of you know of her well. Lily Ryder of Shoreline.  There are no repeats here – every hat and scarf is designed and made as a standalone...

If you're a fan of art cards depicting nature, you're likely already familiar with the gentle beauty of Nuala Brett-King’s work - a long-time favourite here at Parade Handmade. From her kingfishers and hares to the florals and feline friends, Nuala’s work always brings a lovely balance of colour, feeling and quiet Irish atmosphere. This summer, she’s added some gorgeous new designs to her collection - including two floral watercolour pieces called Wild Fuchsia and Misty Rose, and a lovely series of animal portraits. I asked her to share a few words about how her latest art cards came together,...