The start of a new year has always felt less like a dramatic reset and more like a quiet return.
A return to the studio after time away.
A return to making, creative thinking, refining.
A return to the places and rhythms that continue to shape my work.
Over the festive season I stepped back from Pinch River — not to plan or push forward, but to rest, reflect and spend time enjoying summer. As always, it was the landscape around me that gently brought things back into focus.
This year begins with the continuation of a collection that has been slowly unfolding behind the scenes: The Lakehouse Collection.
Inspired by my time living in east Lake Macquarie some years ago, the designs will feature Australian native plants endemic to the Lake Macquarie region in NSW. This collection is rooted in place, memory and a way of living that values how people living in the area spend time outdoors — sailing, boating, picnics by the water, lovely strolls along the lake's edge.
The designs explore botanical forms found along the lake’s edge, interpreted through mono printed and hand-drawn motifs and considered colour palettes. Over the coming months, these designs will gradually take shape as printed textile yardage, home décor pieces made from the fabrics, and complementary works including photographic prints captured while living in east Lake Macquarie.
Rather than rushing toward a single moment, this collection will be shared slowly — one design at a time — allowing space for the story to unfold naturally.
This pace reflects how I want Pinch River to exist: thoughtfully, intentionally, and with respect for both the making process and the homes these pieces will eventually live in.
As the weeks progress, I’ll be sharing more of the design process, inspiration from the landscape, and the evolution of the Lakehouse Collection here on the blog and on social media.
For now, this is simply a beginning — a quiet one — and an invitation to follow along as the work takes shape.
If you’d like to receive updates as the collection develops, you’re welcome to subscribe to the Pinch River newsletter.