With her fourth solo book (seventh when you add three collabs), a busy career as fashion-bible designer and a house in transition towards craft wonderland, Christine Leech takes time to talk to Social Nesting about getting fresh, her favourite kit and channeling Snow White, South-London style…

Hi Christine. How are you?
I’m well, thank you.
I’m trying to impress you with the one and only posh salad I can make but failing miserably as I don’t know how to make this salad dressing.

Forget dressing. You are not allowed to be good at everything.
Now, did you ever dream that you would be the reason that people are getting busy with their hands? Not in a rude way, of course, but with glue and scissors and ink…
Not at all! It’s so lovely that I have been able to share my ideas with people. If I wasn’t writing my books I would be making all these things anyway.
It just so nice that they are getting a wider audience and I have a greater reason for doing them.

Your latest book, Fresh Prints, is deceptively not about how Will Smith’s life got flipped (turned upside-down), but about tackling printing at home. Did you purposely set out to fool the public? (I am kidding, of course)
I think that is my most favourite title for
a book yet. It makes me smile (and sing
the Fresh Prince theme tune) every time
I see the cover.

You have done a great job of making contemporary crafting approachable. Who did that for you?
My original inspiration for the Simple Makes books were Japanese craft books and catalogues, especially by homeware/clothing/crafty brand Felissimo. I love their clean and crisp Scandi-Japanese aesthetic.
I wanted to make home made things that didn’t look home made, just simple and stylish.

(Felissimo handicraft products, books and more.)

If you were stuck in a deserted car park in Norwich with only five things from your kit bag, what would they be?
– Bondaweb, for joining two pieces of fabric together;
– Scallop-edged scissors;
– Scapel/10a blades and metal ruler for no-nonsense cutting;
– Glue dots and sheets for no-mess gluing;
– My jar of  bits and bobs – a collection from my mum and my nan’s button boxes, plus sequins, beads, tiny bits of things that-will-come-in-useful-one-day-I’m-sure. (Keep telling yourself that.)(Christine has printed hares on her stairs – just imagine what she would do to a car park.)

Now, what companies/designers/people do you most admire?
Anyone who has made a living from their hobby/blog is an inspiration to me. Oh Joy! now has a party range for Target… How did that happen? I wanna do that!  I also really admire my parents for their ‘just go for it’ attitude to my crafting and career. They are very supportive and encouraging.

(Oh Joy! for Target – if you are lucky enough to be Target-adjascent.)

What hasn’t been designed yet that would make your life easier?
Self-sweeping floors… There are always loose threads, fabric fluff and scattered sequins all over my floor. Maybe I could try and befriend the animals as Snow White does to help me clear up after projects, though living in South London, the wildlife would be a bit more like the ones in Enchanted.

You are so productive. Do you ever just eat peanut-butter out of a jar with your fingers while watching TOWIE?
Er no. But I do eat ice cream from the tub using Kit Kat fingers as spoons whilst watching Nashville. Does that count?
That’s even better! Thanks Christine – you are great.

Fresh Prints, published by Quadrille, is available to order now on Amazon or at bookstores smart enough to have snapped it up. Or, if you want to WIN a copy (wooHOOO!) or just see what Christine is up to on a regular basis, visit her blog, SewYeah.co.uk.