pretty projects

A few pretty projects I've been working on lately, which are all looking very summery and fresh.

Some vintage lace brooches that I'm just starting to stitch beads and pearls on to. I love making these, each one is always different depending on what beads and vintage bits I have at the time. 

A vintage plate full of mother of pearl buttons which are looking lovely on my work desk at the moment.

A new batch of handmade business cards. I need to get some others printed too, but I like the fact that these ones are handmade using snippets of fabrics that I've been working with.

When ever I go to London I always visit Liberty, it's compulsory! I spend ages in the haberdashery department looking through patterns and fabrics. I came home with a pattern for this lovely blouse and some Liberty cotton fabric. I can't wait to get started. I might practice on some old cotton first, just in case it all goes wrong.

Finally one of my favourite things about selling my work online is making pretty packages to send them in. 
Here are a couple of my vintage lace brooches wrapped up in pink tissue paper and tied with silver string. 

I hope your week is going well. What have you been up to lately?

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 

my sewing room

What a beautiful Sunday morning it is! I hope it's sunny where you are too. I can't wait to get outside for a run across the park, all the birds are tweeting away...it definitely feels like spring.

Here's a few photos from my sewing room which is now nice and tidy, I want it to be a practical space but also look lovely too. It would be great to have a complete change but as we are only renting our little cottage, it's difficult to change things too much.

These glass jars are perfect for storing bits of vintage lace and trims. The pinking sheers and china lady belonged to my great Aunt Lily who used to be a seamstress in London.



I love working in this room, it gets all the afternoon sun. From my desk window I can see apple & blossom trees, farm buildings, fields of horses and one donkey. It really is lovely!

handmade gifts

 

Over the last few weeks I have been using every spare moment I have to get stitching and sewing, creating new pieces for my Christmas exhibition at The Old Fire Station in Oxford. It's on until the 23rd December and there are lots of other crafts for sale too.

I've made a lovely new range of one of a kind handmade gifts; from lace beaded brooches, velvet pin cushions, sewing cases, purses, lavender bags and festive bunting. So if you are looking for some present buying inspiration, why not pop in and have a browse. I'll be there this Sunday 8th from 11am -1.30pm. 

If you can't make it, have a look in my Etsy shop.



These needle cases have everything you need for a spot of sewing; pins, colourful cottons, needles and safety pins. All are handmade with linen, floral cotton and vintage lace. 

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I'm planning to make a lot more of this festive bunting to string up around the house over Christmas and New Year. Each one is handmade with vintage music sheets, lace, buttons, bells, gold glitter and silk ribbon. They look so pretty hung up in my sewing room, but now they are packaged up for sale in the exhibition.

home sewn style magazine

I'm very excited to tell you that I have a sewing project in this lovely new sewing magazine 'Home Sewn Style' published by Practical Publishing

I was contacted by the editor Vick Guthrie of Crafty Goodness who saw my handmade accessories in my Etsy shop.   
I was asked to create a beaded lace brooch with step by step instructions on how to make it. I really enjoyed designing and making this project especially for 'Home Sewn Style' so I hope you like it too.  

The magazine is packed full of lots of great projects from making an Oxford cushion cover, felted cardigans to a quilted throw which I am planning to make soon.

The magazine is available in W.H.Smith and supermarkets nationwide.

 

blighty bazaar

Last Sunday I met up with the lovely Natasha, Nicola and Hannah in Leamington Spa, where we spent the day looking around bric a brac shops, chatting, drinking hot chocolates and eating cake.  It's what Sundays were made for and I would happily do this every weekend.
All these photos were taken in 'Blighty Bizaar' the most amazing eclectic vintage shop, full to the brim of all sorts of goodies. I managed to resist buying the wonderful yellow 1960's kitchen cupboard; instead I opted for a green Welsh wool purse, which I love.



Here are a few other vintage bits I bought last week. I'm so happy the gold watch, which only cost £5.00 and is still telling the right time.

day trip

A recent trip to London involved plenty of sparkly trims, vintage lace, silk ribbons, braids, velvet and raffia. I bought my stash from Liberty, VV Rouleaux and The Cloth House, should keep me going for while.