Pink Rose

I had to quickly share this gorgeous pink rose that I picked from my Mum's garden, it is the most beautiful shade of delicate pink and has a wonderful scent. It looks lovely here too in my new dusky pink glass vase :)

Getting started...

...on my commission work. I spent the last two days working on it and I'm so pleased with how it's coming on. It's working mainly with applique which I haven't done extensively before and I wondered whether that was a bit of a brave (foolish?) decision on my part, but as soon as I got going the little experience I did have of it came flooding back.

 

I started off with the background, and appliqued overlapping rectangles of voile onto the base fabric and then began to embellish by machine over the top. I'm really pleased with how it's shaping up and actually, it's coming together much quicker than I thought, the two week deadline I set for myself may well be more realistic than I'd first imagined! :)

(More) Fabric buying....

...these are for a very special project though! My designs for my first ever commission have been approved and I will start work on the making of it this week, I'm so excited about this. I'll wait until it's finished to post pictures on here but in the mean time I'm sure these rich shades of gold, raspberry and sapphire will give you an idea of the feel of the piece!

Handbag number 3!

Ever since I made this bag for my Sister in Law back in February my Mum has been asking me to make one for her - sorry it's taken this long Mum! :)

In a beautiful Moda quilting fabric of amethyst blossoms with a contrasting band and handles and a dark fuchsia lining, one day I'm sure I'll get round to making one of these for myself! :)

Garden photography

Today it actually managed to stop raining here for more than thirty seconds (I know, shocking!)

So I took it as a prime opportunity to prove my commitment to my new found everyday photography resolution and ventured out into the garden to photograph flowers and other garden-y related prettiness :)



Sewing day

Having spent the morning sewing boy things I decided I should get back to something that's a little more my style. I'm in the process of restyling/organising/trying to fit the whole contents of my flat back into my one room at my parents house which is a challenge I can tell you! However my room was redecorated recently and is now a very feminine haven of soft pink, flowery wallpaper (the sort of thing that would make some people throw up but I just can't get enough of ;P) and I'm working towards getting the finishing touches...finished :) I'll photograph it properly when it's done.

So anyway, today I sewed up these three cushion covers as the old ones didn't match my new room. The top one is pleated polka dot tulle with a silk ribbon embellishment, the middle is of beautiful Laura Ashley fabric (I honestly can't explain how gorgeous this fabric is in real life; the weight, the varied texture and the soft ballerina colour. I love this fabric if you didn't guess! Thank you mum for donating your curtain left-overs!) The bottom cushion is broderie anglaise with a vintage lace trim.

I intended for them to go on my bed but I actually really like the way they look piled up here on my ottoman. They can stay there for now at least :)

Something different

Today I have been working on something entirely different for me, camouflage fabric not usually being in my repertoire! I've been helping out my boyfriend with sewing some bags. I've really enjoyed it though. I find stitching to be so therepeutic :)

I miss university!!

I've been sorting through some of my old work this morning, predominantly digital stitch pieces. I fear that the lack of digital stitch capabilities is going to be the worst thing about being a graduate. Obviously a digital embroidery machine is on my ultimate wishlist but I think it may be a while down the line until I own one. Still, I have some options that i'm considering in the mean time :)

I found these pieces from a project before christmas. I really want to do something with them but have yet to decide what, like my other designs, I don't want to rush to cut or sew them and then regret it, they are after all the only copies of each design that exist so I shall continue to consider :)

Pink explosion!

I felt like I hadn't done any baking for ages and ages (probably because I haven't what with moving house and all) so I more than made up for it this morning with this explosion of pink, glittery, sprinkley, sugary, strawberry cupcake girlyness! And why not I figure :)

(I'm pretty certain I was subliminally influenced by these gorgeous cerise roses. Sigh!)



Framed

After a very long time deliberating what to do with my final designs from my degree show I have finally found a solution, I didn't really want to cut or sew them at all but it seems a shame for them to be put away in a box in the attic never to see the light of day.

So I now have three of my favourite designs framed and hung on my bedroom wall where they match beautifully the soft Blossom Pink walls and Laura Ashley wallpaper. It's nice to be able to look at them everyday and feel pride in my work.

I'm contemplating framing a few more and putting them up for sale in my Etsy shop. I'm not quite sure how I'd feel about parting with them but on the other hand, I'd much rather someone else have them on their own wall and enjoy them, I don't have room for all 30 of them myself!

Photography

We've just spent a lovely (if rather rainy) weekend camping in the New Forest. I always find that when I'm on holiday I get a renewed enthusiasm for photography that sadly rarely seems to last once I arrive home. The documenting of lovely things I suppose is more exciting in strange surroundings. But I am at least now determined to learn to use my camera properly. I have a pretty good camera but only ever use the automatic settings, there are a whole load of settings on it that I have no idea at all what they do, which seems ridiculous. So, new resolution = photograph more and learn to photograph properly!