endless summer

It feels like a good old fashioned summer, the days are long and warm, time passes slowly, spent outside in the garden picking herbs and flowers for the house or on long walks in the countryside watching the swifts and swallows gathering high in the sky, circling rooftops. Weekends away visiting new places. All these bring inspiration for making cards with vintage snippets or sewing lengths of stripy bunting for a garden party. 

What's been making your summer?

shop update

Did you have a nice Sunday?  I went to a car boot sale with my mum, no bargains unfortunately but we made up for it by having tea and delicious crumpets from the good and proper tea company who had their little van there. 

I wanted to let you know that I've added a few handmade purses to my Folksy Shop shelves. They are all made from beautiful soft silk and vintage broderie anglaise, which I love to work with.

These purses are ideal for keeping safe all those little treasures; jewellery, love letters, cards & loose change.

Well, I hope you like them....x 

 

Pink silk & white broderie anglaise coin purse 

 

 Midnight blue envelope purse 

 

Coin purse in pretty purple silk 

 
Clutch purse in purple silk 

before the rain

Sorry I haven't been around for a while, I've had family visiting and we've had lots of fun doing all those touristy things I never normally get to do.

 

Here's a little photo shoot with a silk purse I made a while ago, which is for sale here. I love these little purses, they are so useful to keep special trinkets in like my vintage compact mirror.

 

Today I'm busy working on some new orders, so I'm kind of pleased that it's raining and I can stay inside with no temptations to be in the garden.

oh so pretty

 

I'm going to be spending the next few days (and weeks) happily sewing away, as I have loads to do before my open studio exhibition starts on the 18th May. For details of my show click here, It would be lovely if you could make it! There are lots of other artists and craft people exhibiting in Oxfordshire Artweeks throughout the month of May, it's really inspiring to see what other people have been creating and their studio spaces.

 

I'm so pleased that you all liked my little vintage collage pictures, thanks for your lovely comments  x

 

 

stay at home

I've woken up to the sound of pouring rain, but I don't mind too much if the weather is gloomy, as I've got a busy few days of sewing ahead, making pieces for a Christmas exhibition I am taking part in. So the plan is to stay at home and tuck myself away and get making! I've some pretty lace brooches and wintry velvet clutch bags to finish, plus I need to get started on a selection of handmade cards....well I had better get going then ......see you soon.

 

morning

 

Some photos of my desk yesterday ... I made the little pin cushion from a lovely soft grey velvet and vintage lace, a really nice combination of fabrics. I took these photos just before I left to go to work, making the most of the morning sunshine. Today looks like a very different day, cold, windy and grey. Definitely a tea and toast morning, while catching up with all your inspiring blogs.

 

 

september days

September has started well. Last Sunday we were invited to the Oxford Flickr group Picnic by my friend Candy Pop, so I packed my favourite straw basket with homemade pizzas and little cakes to take to Christchurch Meadow. 

The lovely vintage Avon Pomander below, I actually won on a giveaway featured on Candy Pops's blog and it wasn't even a fix! It's now hung up in my bedroom. Thank you Candy Pop!!

Yesterday was very exciting, we went to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London to see 'As you like it.' The performance was amazing and because the theatre is so small you get to see every detail. (Sorry no photos allowed inside.) Afterwards we walked along the Thames in the warm sunshine and through the arches to Monmouth Coffee, I had a delicious ice latte and a chocolate brownie.  What could be better.

 

Well that's what I've been up to, how about you?

 

time out

 Our little garden is coming alive, these tulips I planted ages ago have just opened up, they are so pretty, I check on them every morning, very sad I know. There are also bluebells and forget-me-nots that have appeared, I picked just a few for a little photo shoot. I love how the colours fade in to each other, they are so inspiring.

I've been busy getting ready for my show, it's nice to take a bit of time out for other things... I've wrapped a special birthday present for my niece, made a lamb and squash curry to warm up in this weather and thinking about holidays.... 

pinks and greens

 

Pretty pink presents, beautiful tulips and chocolates for Valentines.

lobster & swan matchbox challenge

When I heard about Jeska's February 'matchbox a day challenge' I couldn't resist joining in. Jeska of the blog 'lobster and swan' is creating a beautifully decorated matchbox a day for the month of February, there is a loose theme for each day, today being 'the pretty one'

Jeska's husband is running the London marathon and to help him raise money for his charity, Jeska will be selling her finished little boxes in her etsy shop.

We are all invited to take part in the challenge.... they are so much fun to make, even slightly addictive. Above is my matchbox for today, which I have decorated and filled with a selection of vintage flower and butterfly stamps . If you need more inspiration, below are some of Jeska's lovely matchboxes or check out the flickr group to see what other people have made....