Frosty mornings are here and all things winter are here too. My latest embroidery pattern is full of winter sparkle and icy charm. I am actually thrilled to bits with how this turned out and perhaps more especially because it was inspired by a vintage piece of Russian embroidery….a real gem, picked up at the arts and crafts market in Moscow called ‘Izmayilova’.
Read MoreAs the colder weather encroaches it is lovely to sit by the fire with the some hand stitching and this little project has been so much fun. I know it has been quite a while since I posted a new pattern and this is in part because I have been thinking hard about what direction to take my work in. I often worry that I have such a mish-mash of stuff going on and perhaps it is time to focus things a little. I have always wanted to make embroidery modern and more fun and perhaps more enticing for young people. My daughter inspired this design with a sketch … new to skiing, she is totally smitten and it seems to me that for youngsters it is really a wonderful holiday. I had already decided to make a ‘skating days’ design (more about that to come) so skiing is a natural partner for a new pair of designs.
Read MoreI love this time of year, thinking about Christmas gifts and planning what to make. I love to put together something small and handmade for all the girls in our family and thought it would be fun to post some ideas up on the journal. Early last year, I did a post about how to make a little fabric box. It can be used for whatever you like really, but in our case it has become a permanent fixture on the kitchen island where it looks after our nail polish and manicure tools. It has been a real hit. Friends and family alike sit around pottering with the pretty colours and painting their nails and for me, often in the early morning hours I like to sit by the Aga, with a candle and a book and do a ‘home manicure’. Our daughter is starting her first proper job in London next week and in packing up and sorting things out, she asked me for a nail box to take away with her. I was quite surprised but realised just how useful it has been. I made her a pretty one with Rifle Paper co. ‘Wonderland’ fabric and bought her a few nice bits and bobs to go in it. She loves it and we both said what a great idea it was for a Christmas gift, so I revisited it, revamped it and wrote a pdf tutorial.
Read More
