Heart cushion

 

A pretty something I've been making today. An appliqued heart cushion in shades of purple on a base of vintage lace. Will be available at the Emporium later in the week, hurry! :)

Colour inspiration; Glamorous gold!

I used to really dislike gold as a colour, I thought it was ostentatious and ugly but the last year or so I have really come to appreciate it and now I lovelovelove it :)

 

 

 

Here are a few golden things that are inspiring me at the moment; a beautiful antique teapot * a lovely glass and gold trinket box * shiny new baubles for next years Christmas tree * glittery gold nails perfect for New Year celebrations!

Christmas presents; Ship applique!

My lovely boyfriend requested I paint him a picture for Christmas, nice idea, slight issue in that I can't paint. At all. :( So instead I went for something I definitely can do, embroidery! Painting with fabric is so much easier! I decided on a ship design as I knew that would be something he'd like and googled a little for inspiration. I found this vintage embroidery pattern and this  gorgeous design created using it which I was much inspired by.

 

 

 

 

I simplified the design by taking out a lot of the intricate details, doing away with all the detail on the hull and instead opting for a silhouette in lovely textural vintage tweed. I then stretched it onto a frame made (with much help, thanks Dad!) of wood and stapled it in place. I'm pleased to say it was received incredibly well and will be hung in pride of place in our home! :)

Home made Christmas presents; lion face cushion and a chicken doorstop :)

 

 

Unlike last year, this year I managed to remember to photograph my home made presents! Here are a couple I made; a happy lion face cushion for my little niece with appliqued and hand stitched face and an orange triangular mane. And a gingham, polka dot and floral chicken doorstop for my mum with beady button eyes :) Now they've been given I felt I can share them with you all! :)

Wedding dress repair!

A super exciting new opportunity has arisen recently which is right up my street. :) St Margarets Hospital charity has opened today a brand new shop specialising in 'New to you' Bridal and evening wear and I have been offered the opportunity to act as in-house seamstress! :) I'll be working with brides on alterations and fittings and also making any repairs that need doing to dresses pre sale.

 

 

 

Here is a gorgeous dress I've started work on today. I'm re-hemming and repairing the front panel. It's beautiful bead embellished lace with a low V neckline and a trim of glass beads around the waistline. Absolutely stunning and I'm certain some lucky bride will look lovely in it! :)

Cinnamony cinnamon roll goodness :)

I've been meaning to make cinnamon rolls for.... oh, about 4 years since I went to Sweden and pretty much lived on them for a fortnight!

 

 

So I finally got round to it yesterday and now I'm kicking myself for having waited so long, they are goood! I love cinnamon with pretty much anything at this time of year and these, drizzled with a sugary glaze and still warm from the oven were wonderful :) I saw some variations using nutella a few weeks ago on A beautiful mess and will definitely be trying that out too sometime soon! :)

DIY beaded baubles!

I'm all about the idea of accumulating a collection of handmade Christmas tree decorations and the past few years I've made some new ones each Christmas, here are last years stitched ones.

 

 

This year I am pretty glitter obsessed and decided to go for something a bit different. So I bought some plain red glass baubles and used PVA glue to stick on glass beads and glitter. I particularly like the glass heart which I added the initials of myself and my boyfriend (yes, a bit cheesy, get over it! :P ) I then added some matching red ribbon to hang them and, voila!

 

 

I'm well aware I could have just bought glitter baubles but then I would have missed out on an afternoon of glitter - filled fun! These were so easy to make and would be a nice craft for children, and you end up with something pretty and unique and lets be honest, at about £5 for three baubles, an absolute bargain! Do it, you know you want to! :)

Chocolate Peppermint cupcakes

A few weeks ago I bought some candy canes for photography props but as they were cheap ones 10 out of the 12 in the box were broken :( .... which gave me the idea to make something I'd seen last year here which involved adding crushed up candy canes to icing...yum! :)

 

 

I used a basic chocolate cake recipe and vanilla butter cream and added the crushed candy canes. I was a little worried there might be too many flavours going on in these but actually they turned out delicious! You get the crunch of candy cane and a hit of peppermint with each bit which is delightfully festive! Definitely a winner! :)



Christmas at The Emporium

 

 

 

Just a quick peek at a few of the things in my Christmas display at the Emporium in Yeovil. Feeling super festive now! :)

Bunting!

 

 

I've been working away on a couple of commissions this week. Two sets of Christmas bunting and a set of name bunting which have now been sent out. I've really enjoyed spending my time sat working away at my sewing machine with a cup of good coffee and a mince pie on hand whilst listening to Christmas music and I consider myself so lucky to be able to have the opportunity to do so! :)

 

Now, onto finishing a few Christmas presents that I started a while ago and should really get round to completing in time for official present wrapping times this weekend! :)

First december weekend

 

*Snuggling under my newly finished Christmas quilt * Beautiful wintry sunrise skies * The smell of cinnamon from a Christmas candle * Writing cards designed by my very lovely and talented friend Rebecca. You can buy her beautiful set of Christmas cards from her Etsy shop *

Christmas Bunting

As commissioned by my Brother as a surprise present for my Sister in Law :) Festive fabric flags, each appliqued with a letter to spell out 'Merry Christmas' stitched around in gold thread and strung together with bright red bias binding.

 

 

 

I love this, so much so that I'm in the process of making one for myself too.

 

 I'm now taking orders for these. £25 for custom made 'Merry Christmas' bunting. Message me for more details or with any queries :)

Christmas gift bags

As promised, the first couple are up on Etsy today in my shop here

 

 

I'm aiming to get some more put up for the end of the week. I'm taking orders for custom sized gift bags too. Message/email me if you're interested :)



Festive spirit

With less than a week to go until the beginning of December I feel I'm fully justified in getting into the Christmas spirit a little (You may disagree but that's up to you really :P )

 

 

 

 

Here are some fabric gift bags I've been stitching today which are a great alternative to throw away wrapping paper (so very much of the stuff gets used and thrown away every year it's absurd!) I've started out making little ones but some bigger ones are on the way. These will be up on Etsy by the end of tomorrow and I'll be open to commissions for custom sized gift bags too :)

Quiet day

Life is (thankfully) super busy and exciting at the minute but sometimes it's nice to just take a day off and relax a bit. Potter about, do some baking and some sewing and just enjoy a quiet day :)

Made Mincemeat from this recipe, which was actually really easy and made the house smell of Christmas :) not the prettiest thing to photograph though! Also did some baking, Raspberry muffins from this cookbook which are delicious :) I sprinkled some muesli on top of them to give a bit of crunch. All in all, a good day!




Autumn seaside walk :)

It's been a while since I went out and did any photography which is a shame. But this weekend was so beautiful with perfect blue skies that I had to capture our coastal walk on Portland.

 

 

 

 I didn't have my camera on me but I think these turned out pretty good for iphone snaps. Sometimes the camera on that thing surprises me with some really lovely photos. And I promise you I haven't photo shopped the colour of that water at all. It's more summer in the Mediterranean than Autumn in England but it really truly was that blue!!

 

 



Pretty weekend things :)

* Beautiful sunset * Kicking Autumn leaves * Gorgeous roses on a trip to the garden centre * Delicious porridge, Norwegian style with cinnamon, brown sugar and butter *

 

 

I hope everyone has been having a lovely (and pretty filled) weekend! :)

I apologise...

...Two Christmas related posts in one day and it's not even December yet... I know I'm a bad person! :)

 

 

 

I spent the afternoon battling with layers of patchwork and wadding and fleece, desperately trying to get all the layers flat and lined up and all that. This is easily, easily the worst part about quilting. I don't know if there's a secret easy way to do it that I've just not been told?! :P but never mind. I got there in the end and now I just have hours of hand stitching around the edge to finish it up. Which I really don't mind doing, only it has to be finished by the beginning of December for the official beginning of Christmas celebrations along with a huge list of other things. Best get started really... :)

Busy as a bee!

Things have been a bit quiet on the blog front recently but I haven't been sat around doing nothing - honest! :)

 

 

 

It's getting to that time of year when all my creativity starts to shift towards christmas and so although I have been busy as a bee working away, pretty much everything I'm working on is a surprise for one person or another so it has to be kept hidden for now! :)

 

 

I have however, added another of my cushions to Etsy HERE. It would make a beautiful Christmas present for someone who likes pretty things. Go have a look! :)

Weekend escape

 

Life has been fairly manic lately (although in a good way) but it was nice to get away for a couple of days to Exeter.

 

 

 

Christmas shopping, relaxing, delicious hot chocolate, wonderful meals in a lovely restaurant, pretty autumn leaves, crocheting on a train journey, and the decadence of a hotel. Bliss! :)

The emporium! (Or my work, in a shop!! :D )

 

 

Super excited that my work is officially now for sale at The Emporium in Yeovil! We spent the afternoon putting up shelving ( huge thankyou to my lovely mister and his DIY skills!) and arranging my stock. I took a few photos but the lighting wasn't great and I only had my Iphone. Better pictures on the way soon! :)

 

 



Gilded teaplates and super exciting news!

Firstly, here are some photos of the first of my new range of cushion designs. I'm super excited about these. The collection will be called 'Gilded teaplates' and is inspired by beautiful vintage and antique ceramics.

 

 

 

They are appliqued and machine embroidered onto vintage table linen, each one is unique incorporating a different detail of the vintage linens including lace, embroidery and cutwork. They are backed with stripes of printed fabrics, vintage linen and lace and further embellished with machine embroidery.

 

 

 

This brings me to my news. I am so excited to announce that my range of cushions, alongside a collection of my other products will be being sold at The Emporium in Yeovil as of next week! It's all happened incredibly fast and I feel like I'm in a bit of a whirlwind but this is an amazing opportunity for me!

 

The Emporium is an 'Antiques and Lifestyle centre' selling all kinds of antiques, vintage clothing and an array of handmade items as well as housing a beauty centre and cafe. It's been a favourite place of mine for a while so I'm so happy to have this opportunity! Photos of my space will follow shortly this week! :)

I actually managed to knit something wearable!

Which for me is actually a huge achievement. I've dabbled in knitting before but never successfully. Like the scarf I once knitted that took about 4 years and which once finished I decided I didn't even like! However, since working in a haberdashery where the majority of sales are of wool and knitting patterns I was inspired to attempt knitting once more :) I've learnt more about knitting in the past few weeks than I have ever known and now know the difference between 3ply and double knit and chunky and I think my new found understanding has helped quite a lot!

 

 

 

The key for me is definitely super chunky wool and large needles. One of my biggest pet knitting hates is that it took me so long to get anywhere but this cowl I whipped up in just a few hours last night and this morning. Result! I love this wool, its so thick and warm yet really soft and the most gorgeous shade of midnight purple. I followed the knitting pattern which came with the wool and although it was slightly more complicated than anything I've ever tried before I had no problems whatsoever. I didn't even drop one stitch! :)

 

 

In fact I enjoyed it so much I had to buy another ball of wool today to make another one which is already in progress, in beautiful soft ruby wool! :)

 



Happy Halloween and Pumpkin pie adventures!

I'm not really that in to Halloween to be honest but this year I did have a craving to bake a seasonal pumpkin pie. I've never tried it before and most of the people I've mentioned it to have given me a slightly odd look. But never mind! I shall win them over with my delicious pie baking skills.

 

 

I do have a confession though, It's actually a butternut squash pie, but that doesn't sound nearly so exciting now does it? I couldn't find an edible pumpkin and the recipe I used, this one here  in fact, said the two were interchangeable. But as far as I'm concerned it's a pumpkin pie! :)

The little flag was inspired by this lovely post here on Made from Scratch. And I did make a couple of changes to the recipe. I added a little cinnamon to the pastry mixture because I personally feel you can't get enough cinnamon at this time of year. I also used half brown sugar and half white as suggested in one of the comments on the recipe  :) It was absolutely wonderful ( kind of reminded me a little of bread and butter pudding but maybe thats just me?) All sweet and cinnamony, Delicious!

Three little bags and exciting plans for the coming months

Here are the first of a series of little tote bags I'm in the process of creating. I made one a few years ago and I was thinking the other day how it would be nice for my niece when she is a bit older. You know how little girls like to play grown ups and so a mini handbag is just the thing! It occurred to me they could have lots of uses besides that, as gift bags or for storing bits and bobs :)

 

 

 

 

These may appear on Etsy at some point, but I'm thinking more and more these days about 'real life' selling as it were. I have been sourcing out a few local places that stock independent makers' work as well as looking into craft fairs in the area. I'm keen in the new year to take things to the next level, It's very exciting and I can't wait but I'll be needing plenty of stock so I need to set myself realistic time schedules and make sure I set aside plenty of time for making and creating. So that's where I'll be between now and January, in my sewing room; music playing, plenty of coffee on hand, happily making away. Doesn't sound too bad for work does it?! :)

Inspiration and pretty things

I've always loved a good mood board, I enjoy collecting images and creating them and I like to be surrounded by pretty, inspirational things.

 

 

 

Here is the inspiration board that has been hung beside my bed this summer, it was inspiration for the decoration of my bedroom itself and has also inspired my most recent designs which will be unveiled very soon! :)

 

I think I'm going to create a new mood board, more fitting to the current season, but I love this one so much I just had to photograph it first! :)

New on etsy!

Created with a combination of applique, machine embroidery and hand embellishment, this piece was inspired by traditional Indian textile designs.

 

 

Shining glass beads, sequins and sparkling jewels have been added to this piece to lend it further textural and visual beauty. It's currently hanging on my bedroom wall and it catches the light beautifully. I may have to make a similar one to keep myself!

 

You can buy it HERE!



Look away now...

...if you're the kind of person who can't bear the mention of Christmas this early on in the year! I'd totally understand that. Even as an avid Christmas lover I tried to ignore it all and restrain myself until December but this project just couldn't wait that long (I'm not even certain it will be finished in time for this Christmas to be honest! :) )

 

 

 

So here's what I've been up to this week. The painstaking cutting of 435 squares and rectangles for a Christmas patchwork quilt. I am far too excited about this. I was like a small child on Christmas Eve whilst shopping for the fabric. Literally bouncing up and down. I'm fairly certain my boyfriend was a little embarrassed at my over enthusiasm. And the lady cutting the fabric was definitely laughing at me. But in a kind way. At least I like to think so! :)

Just imagine it. Curled up on Christmas Eve under a snuggly Christmas quilt, wrapping presents by fairy light with Bing Crosby playing in the background or the Muppet's Christmas carol on TV. The smell of apple strudel wafting from the oven and a glass of mulled wine nearby. That just sums up my perfect evening and the christmas quilt is absolutely integral to the scene. I need to get my skates on. There's no way I can wait for next year to play that scene out! :)

Hand embroidery

Whilst going through a box of fabric the other day I came across this tablecloth. It belonged to my Grandmother and must have been hand embroidered by her, or perhaps by her mother.

 

 

 

 

My point is, and it's one that I so often think, that it seems crazy now, in the 21st century, the things that people in the past would have done as a routine pastime. It would never occur to me to sit and hand embroider a tablecloth, I just wouldn't consider it as an option, just think of the time it would take, the amount of stitches! And I think the same when I'm in a museum looking at hand made lace, of a giant tapestry, or even frankly a hand sewn garment. Things that most people these days wouldn't attempt or even know how to and yet back in the day it was a necessity and women wouldn't think twice about doing it. As someone who is so determinedly attached to her sewing machine, I have an awful lot of admiration for these things and those women!

Unfinished...

It was probably around 10 years ago when my mum first introduced me to hand quilting and I took to it at once. All that cutting out of paper pieces and painstakingly stitching all the shapes together. I went crazy for it for a while and have a whole bag of started but unfinished patchwork pieces to show for it.

 

 

Around 3 years ago, I discovered patch working by machine and haven't looked back since. I have three large finished quilts and another one on the way to show for that! I think a lot of the problem is that once I've decided on making something, I want it done quickly because I just can't wait. And hand quilting, although lovely to do, just isn't fast enough. Perhaps this is why I have never pursued knitting...

 

 

But either way, it's lovely to keep these pieces, I like the way that I didn't care about what fabrics I used, just any offcuts I had; patches of cotton mixed in with silk, damask and even denim which makes these pieces wonderfully tactile, And who knows...perhaps one day I shall have a return of enthusiasm for hand sewing! :)

Autumn love!

 

 I love Autumn, like really really love it. It's.........

 

 

 

*A delicious Pumkin spice latte* The gorgeous vivid colours of Autumn leaves* Blackberry picking and pie- making* Snug nordic knitwear from Accessorize*

 

 

 Autumn reminds me of Norway, although I only visited once it was in the depths of the most beautiful October and for me Autumn will always be cold, crisp mornings sightseeing in beautiful cities, vivid orange leaves set against a picture perfect pale blue sky, the smell of cinnamon porridge served in a heart shaped saucepan and eaten by candlelight... I love you Norway!

 

 



Ivory lace, bridalwear influence and mismatched buttons!

 

 

I have been dreaming of a skirt like this for the past couple weeks. I've seen a lot of ivory lace about recently and there's something I really love about mixing something so floaty and summery with autumn wear; thick black tights and boots, or a warm jumper, tweed jacket and scarf. I just love it!

 

 This is the very same super easy skirt pattern that is my go-to design of the moment. I layered the lace over a crisp taffeta for a bit of volume and gathered it at the top before stitching it into a waistband of gorgeous ivory Duchesse satin.

 

 

 

 

And yes, a lot of what I'm doing at the minute seems to be heavily bridal inspired. And I'm not ashamed of that, I am a firm believer that if you could only wear ivory lace and silk for one day out of your whole entire life it would be a very sad world indeed! :)

 

You may also notice that all my skirts have mismatched buttons, this isn't so much of a style detail but more to do with the fact that I have a huge collection of buttons to use up but I generally only have one or two of each sort so it makes sense to me to go the whole way and have each of them different, besides it also means if I have two types of button, equally lovely, I don't have to choose between them, result! :)

New inspiration and autumnal crafting!

I've been meaning to buy a copy of craft magazine Mollie makes pretty much ever since it was first launched, but for one reason or other I hadn't got round to it, but finally last week I purchased the latest issue and am now, I have to say depressed at the idea of all the beautiful back issues I must have missed!

 

But never mind, I won't dwell on that :) it's a gorgeous publication full of craft projects, inspiration and interviews with wonderful craftspeople and I will be sure to never miss another issue. I also like the fact that it's produced fairly locally.

 

 

So here is my first ever Mollie makes craft project, a lovely Autumny leaf corsage that was super simple to make and looks lovely on my tweed autumn handbag I have to say :)

 

I'm now considering making loads of them and turning them into an autumn garland, how lovely would that be!? :)

 

So yeah, the pattern and instructions are all in the latest issue of Mollie makes and you should go out right now and buy it because it's lovely :) (And I haven't even been paid to say that :P )

New designs

I'm super duperly excited about some new designs I'm currently working on which started out as a personal project but which has developed into pieces to sell on Etsy which hopefully will be ready in the near future...

 

 

 

I find I'm struggling to make definite deadlines on anything at the moment which I think is due mainly to balancing two jobs with personal life, textile design work and recreational sewing. It's all a bit of a juggling act at times but I actually find I enjoy the challenge of it, I like not having a definite routine, I find it allows more room for spontaneity which in turn fuels creativity. A chance meeting in Starbucks on Tuesday morning may lead to an exciting new project, I love things like that. I feel very lucky to be able to live like this at the minute. I'm a very happy girl!

Ribbon hair band DIY

I couldn't wait to use some of my beautiful fabric goodies I recently acquired so yesterday I made this incredibly simple but beautiful hairband that literally took me 20 minutes at most but looks lovely (I think :) )

It was simply the easiest thing to make, all that is needed is a length of wide ribbon (enough to go around your head) a short length of elastic roughly half as wide as the ribbon and some kind of pretty as a decoration (although obviously a plain band could look just as lovely)

  

I firstly measured around my head and cut the ribbon approximately 4 inches shorter than the measurement. I then folded the ribbon in half and stitched down the length creating a tube. Next I turned the tube the other way out and pressed it flat.

I then folded a small hem at each end of the tube to stop it fraying and stitched a length of elastic approximately 3.5 inches into each end of the ribbon tube.

 

Lastly I hand stitched the lace onto the ribbon band (having first tried it on to assess where I wanted it to be placed. And voila! Crazy simple, super pretty, I think I shall make one in every colour! :)

 

 

 

 

Monsieur Lapin

Last week I was amazed to discover I'd won a prize in a draw on facebook courtesy of Little birdy crafts and at the beginning of the week I was very excited to receive my lovely parcel. Inside was Monsieur Lapin, one of little Birdy's gorgeous creations. He really is very lovely with his button eyes and his frilly collar and he now lives very happily in my sewing room and overseas all my creating

 

(He has excellent taste and isn't afraid to give me his honest opinion! :P)

 

 

Thank you again Little Birdy! :)

Celebratory Afternoon tea...

...although I think actually that should be commiseratery. Either way, to mark the last day of my work experience at Sassi Holford my mister and I went for afternoon tea at Mr Miles tea room in Taunton, which is a gorgeously decorated place, (complete with antique mirrors and chandeliers) that serves amazing cake and where you should definitely visit if you ever find yourself in Taunton. We had Earl Grey tea, small sandwiches, quiche, scones with cream and jam and chocolate cake dusted with gold, it was utterly decadent and utterly fabulous way to end my time in Taunton!

Some lovely lovely goodies!

 

 

 

So, I mentioned back along that I've been doing work experience with Sassi Holford (who make the most to-die-for wedding dresses) Well today I was told I could take home some of their scrap fabric (and I have never been one to turn down free fabric) I have some of the most gorgeous silk and lace and ribbon that would just have been thrown away!! Frankly, I would have taken the whole sack had I thought I would have been able to carry it to my car, also I didn't want to look too greedy! So I restrained myself to this, but it is absolutely gorgeous, I have just been sat looking at it in awe :) I have no idea what I'm going to do with it or even if I can bear to take a pair of scissors to it. Probably I shall just continue to sit and look lovingly at the prettiness.

 

 Yes, I know I'm sad but I don't care! :)

New on etsy!

I've finally had time to post new items to my etsy shop!

 

 

 

 

These are a series of four hand and digitally embroidery framed pictures entitled 'connecting the world' featuring envelopes, with each one depicting designs inspired by different traditional textiles from all over the world. mounted onto watercolour card, stitched onto a coloured mount and mounted behind glass in a wooden frame. These embroideries are quirky and colourful and would look lovely hung either as a set or individually.

 

You can find them HERE!

Domestic geekery!

I've been debating whether or not to share this here, I'm a little embarrassed I have to say at my own domestic geekery :P I am a compulsive hoarder of pretty things, some of those pretty things being images I've hoarded over the years from magazines of anything that catches my eye but mostly beautiful interiors.

 

 

 

 

 

My mister and I are saving for a home of our own but it's a slow process so to occupy my interior decorating urges I have been compiling some of my favourite interior images into an inspiration scrapbook for when the time comes and here are a few peeks at some of the pages :) It keeps me happy anyway and I'm sure I can't be the only person to be this geekish! :)

Things I'm loving / inspirational things! :)

I'm not happy at how much I've been neglecting this blog recently :/ I simply haven't had the time to do any making/creating/designing recently which vexes me greatly! I have, however been photographing so I thought I'd share some things that I am loving right now :)

 

 

 

 

*The first of the Autumn leaves*Wellie-clad countryside walks*A beautiful new elephant print by Isabelle Brent found in an antiques bazaar* Atmospheric sunrises*