Monday 19 July 2010

Wear those pretty flowers.

I have really enjoyed making these felt flowers.
I space dyed the felt before before making up the individual flowers, then I made the centres and stitched on the seed beads.
The velvet leaves I have been selling for a couple of years and have used them alot in other flower pieces.
Heres a closer look I made a few different designs in different colours. These are velvet delphinium millinery flowers from my collection combined with felt balls stitched with yellow seed beads, I love this antique blue. This is such a rich shade of purple, I cut out some organza flowers with my soldering iron to give them more texture then added centres made with space dyed cotton velvet.
I learnt this technique to make these fab flowers at a workshop I did a couple of weeks ago, although they are felt they feel like ceramic, I can't stop making them. I've made necklaces bracelets and a brooch.
All this industry has to stop as I am off to London for a few days. My grandson is going to a Street Dance Summer school at Pineapple Studios in Covent Garden. We have booked some economy rooms in University Halls.
He will be dancing for 5 hours a day and I'm going to see loads of Exhibitions and Museums. I'm especially looking forward to seeing Grace Kelly's Clothes at the V&A.
Writng this post has been great as I have a new internet provider, Its so fast, what a treat, I'll be posting more often now I can do it In 30 minutes instead an hour and a half.
Hope you all have a great weekend.

Monday 5 July 2010

Sweet Devon Violets Keepsake Journal.

I just love an afternoon creating. When I'm feeling stressed it's a sure way to move into the calm.
I've been thinking for sometime about using Violets as a theme for a Keepsake Journal. They are so beautiful and smell so lovely. I often see them on my walks in early spring although before I see them I can smell that delicious perfume. I've heard that if you eat a sweet violet,(they are a herb) they taste of those little parma violet sweets

I embroidered over this velvet leaf and flowers sometime ago so decided to put the piece to work as part of the front cover. I made the book cover using heavy vintage french linen which I bought from Lizzie and Linda at CowslipInside the pages have all got a pocket and are trimmed with space dyed Vintage Lace. I have included some little quotes and sayings.
I have also included a tag to go in the green pocket.
This page has a small pocket for a pen and pencil.




and on the last two pages are a needle case for those little emergencies and a jotter for keeping lists.

At last the back cover, a little piece of really pretty vintage lace and all about me.


I'm hoping to open my Etsy shop soon, just need to make a couple more things. I'm going to a workshop on Wednesday making a very pretty flower necklace so watch this space!




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Friday 2 July 2010

Meet Jumble, new to the Mouse House.

Sadly my grandsons hamster 'Jimmy' died recently after 3 long years, very good for a hamster.

We decided to replace him as Joe really missed him. So, meet ' Jumble', a blue rat.

He's a bit camera shy!

I guess its tough being the new kid and the house already has resident guardians, my trusty mice.

He is feeling more at home and starting to explore his 'Home Sweet Home'.

What a handsome chap he is.














In between buying Rats, trying to ignore the football, going to fairs and walking in this lovely weather we're having this summer I have been working on my Crazy Patchwork so I'm giving you a progress report.

I am trying to use the same colours throughout, keeping to the red, cream and faded browns that are in the fabrics.

I've more to do on this block,I'm looking for interesting threads. If you have any ideas on what I should add next please tell me.

Hope you are all enjoying the summer!

Have a great weekend,