At last my new blogshop and my First Giveaway.

At Last! My new blog shop is here. Pop across to the English Romantic for my first Giveaway.

I've had lots of help from Karen Valentine who has come up with a fantastic design.

You will be able to buy some really pretty things if only I could work a little faster. I have a few more things to do before I open for business,so I thought I'd give something away first.

Just click on the English romantic button on the sidebar and join the fun, good luck.

Stitching and shopping.

I started last weekend at a workshop with Stef Francis. She is a talented lady who hand dyes beautiful threads and fabrics. You can find her online just by googling in her name.

This little bag is made with silk rods which are dyed the most beautiful colours, I chose this pretty pink. Each rod is peeled into layers then stitched to a felt base with different stitches and threads.

The flowers were made with silk cocoons,again hand dyed then cut to fit together and embellished with beads and sequins.

I've just finished some little inspiration needle cases, each one has a felt square for needles and pins and some little pocket for keeping sewing treasures. I love this quote, it somes me up!

I have several of these copies of 'Needlewoman', I love to read them but also I will be using them as pages in my needlework' Keepsake Journals' this autumn

I been on a junk shop fest for the last two days and have found some great bits and pieces.

I loved this old trunk belonging to' MJ Lloyd' it's leather handles are both intact although the inside looks a bit sad. I've left it at my workshop to dry out then it will be cleaned and I am going to re-line it with some great fabric. It will make good storage and a coffee table too.

I also found these three bits, the frame has already had a coat of paint and I'm waiting for it to dry, the metal door plate I just liked the shape and will find a use for it I'm sure and the wooden rolling pin just followed me home.

Isn't this a pretty bedspread it's cotton and you may not like that I'm going to cut it up eeek!. The lady in the charity shop was horrified, but its going to be great!!

Last is this pretty pillowslip, It's been made by hand and in lovely white cotton and no, I'm not cutting this one , it will be washed and starched and ironed for me to use.

Enjoy your day.

Pictures to inspire.

I have been busy finishing the Quilt for Grace, it's been such a pleasure to work on. The fabric is so pretty and has such lovely soft colours. The flowers and butterflies are some silk pieces that I had in my stash just waiting for this fabric, the colours blend so well. I used free machine embroidery as quilting then finished with some hand embroidery. The quilt has a label on the back giving all her birth details.

I wanted to have a nice way of presenting this quilt so I made a 'carrier bag' in matching fabric then copied a image that was a present from a fellow blogger. I stamped the babies name , painted it with acrylic wax then stitched it on to the bag and gave it a 'Welcome' tag.

Finally I made a little birth keepsake just right for a little girl named Grace Alice.

After all that work I had a day off yesterday and went out for a walk around Ashburton, a small village on the edge of Dartmoor. It never fails to please. I spent a while browsing around the antique and vintage shops and had a delicious lunch. These old photos were a must have, those three little boys dressed as girls and a pretty little girl too.

My next find were these initial post cards, I bought a letter 'A' for myself and a 'F' for my lovely grandaughter. I can see something special being made with these.

Finally,

I opened my piano stool the other day and saw another of my Grandads pencil drawings, I must do something with this beautiful lady, she should not be hidden away in the dark.

Have a great day,

xox Angela.

My poor little car.

Just look what happened to my poor little car!

I just left it a little while and came back to THIS !!

And a note of profuse apology from the culprit.

Seems he was reversing his van in a hurry and

felt a bump and heard the breaking glass.

Must have been a shock but thankfully he must be a

nice honest chap and didn't just drive away.

My car will be home tomorrow fit and well just in time

for me to drive to Birmingham to the Festival of Quilts.

And finally here's a sneek preview of 'Graces' Quilt.

She was born in Dublin on August 8th to my daughter in law's friends

so this has been ordered for her.

I love these soft colours and it's nearly finished.

Watch this space!

Flowers flowers everywhere

I've been busy sorting out my Velvet flowers to put in my Esty shop.

I had forgotten how pretty they are.

These Hydrangeas are one of my favourites as they are so versatile. They look pretty just as they are laying on a vintage shelf or next to a mirror. They can be separated and made into brooches or hair accessories but I love to take out the centre of the flower, iron them gently then stitch them into my crazy patchwork or embroidery.

They come in really gorgeous colours all really vintage looking.

These are a couple of the Headbands that I make for bridesmaids. The band is covered in silk to match the dress then decorated with flowers and beads. Little girls just love them!

I'll show you more next time.

Got to go as the 'teen taxi' has been summoned!!( yes,thats my role in life,) .

Back soon.

xox Angela.

Sharing my Vintage Flowers.

I love everything that is old and vintage and have worked with these pretty flowers and bead fringing since 2006. I had a very bad experience with my Australian supplier who charged me 100% over the actual price and blamed the shipping. All this left a sour taste and left me very stressed, However they are so beautiful that I am letting you see them and also starting to use my Etsy shop to sell them The bead fringe looks amazing around an old lampshade. I found this one in a skip, my grandson ran and hid as I asked the builders if I could take it away. It had water marks on the fabric so I covered them with lace motifs, then glued the bead fringes around the bottom, finally I added the Velvet pansies and leaves, I found the base at our local recycling centre and put a new bulb holder in then I had light!!

This is a mirror topper easily made by just twisting together two rose sprigs and adding a cabbage rose in the centre. It sits on this pretty mirror in my bedroom. You can see a flower pin below it, These pins look great on a plain jacket or scarf. I wear mine on the lovely cashmere pashmina that my son and daughter in law bought me last Christmas.

I love this Victorian Teacup and Saucer. The soft shades of these flowers are so nice with the pale green of the china don't you think!

Some of my best sellers when I go to fairs are these Viola Hairclips and Pins. They sell just as fast as I can make them. They can be worn in your hair or clipped to a scarf of tee shirt.

If you like these flowers and trims visit my Etsy shop and browse. I will be showing you more soon but now the sun is shining and I'm off to have a long walk by the sea!

xox Angela.

Lazy and busy.

Hi everyone,

I've been so busy enjoying myself that I have become a lazy blogger. I have so many good intentions to blog more often and then fall by the wayside,

I'm back from a fabulous few days in London with a new haircut and some new goodies from the Mac shop to make me feel good.

The Grace Kelly exhibition at the V&A was so lovely and then I expl0red the rest of the museum looking at some amazing things that will inspire me as I work.

I must have walked millons of miles round shops and galleries, along the South Bank, around Hyde Park and in lots of markets, (ok, maybe not quite so many miles but my feet ached) now I'm home and recovered but still out and about.

I had a visit to Cowslip to see the Charlotte Yde Exhibition with was amazing but what I loved the most was seeing the Rounneries Quilts made by the Cowslips students.

I'm sure you'll agree this work is great and Jo is so clever at staging it just makes you want to go home and start stitching.
Hope you all have a great weekend.

XOX Angela.