I finished this project just before we set off for Summer travels and I am just delighted now that autumn is approaching to have it ready and waiting for the cooler days ahead. I’m a little bit in catch up mode with journal postings so you may have seen this on instagram a few weeks ago, but I wanted to document it in a little bit more detail as it is just such a lovely thing.
Read MoreMeanwhile, I have two new patterns up in the Etsy shop. They are part of a series of 4 'hashtag' patterns and I hope you will like them. I love this modern way of organising things in the digital world and hashtags seem to be so much part of life now that I decided to use them for a collection of patterns which reflect different emotions. #Remember and #Explore are the first two patterns.
Read MoreI scattered and layered my stars in little constellations on the fabric, a bit strategically placed for effect, but quite relaxed. I mixed and matched grey and white and used several different sizes of templates. As I started to hand appliqué them on, I had so much fun, making each one different. Using a variety of stitches, beads and sequins, I soon had a stellar array before me.
Read MoreI am rather charmed by this one. I love the soft colours, which is unusual for me as I am one for bright colour pops. Perhaps it is just that I am taken back to another time, when needlework was crafted with precision and used and loved and worn. I love that.
Read MoreHaving had a large box of old linens stashed in my cupboard for a long time, I am finally recycling and repairing and cutting and embroidering and attempting to make a new quilt old of old and very beautifully worked pieces of needlework. After being rather pleased with my first block, this next block is a different challenge. I have no plan for any of this, so I literally just pulled a piece out of box randomly and then thought about what to do. This time, it is a very lovely, very fine cushion cover that has a large tear in the middle of it. I have absolutely no idea where this came from or who might have made it originally, but I think it must have been an enormous amount of work.
Read More'JANUARY IS FULL OF POSSIBILITIES' - at least that is what is says on the opening page of my 'Simple Things' mag this month and I like that idea. I am so excited to begin this project and as I have absolutely no plan at all, it will be winding and colourful journey.
Read MoreSOOOooooo with the new year upon us, I decided that it might be fun to do a month on month project to make a 'revival quilt' out of all these wonderful textiles. It will be a total adventure in needlework and I am already imagining that I will have to find innovative ways to rescue some of these textiles and enhance others. I have a feeling that I when I actually start to look really closely at this handiwork, I will be absolutely in awe of the needlewomen who made these things. They are from a lost time really and I don't want them to be lost anymore.
Read MoreI am not a dressmaker and these projects are massive learning curves and really just a beginning. What is amazing to me, is that so far, both projects have turned out to be wearable and perhaps a little bit more even... amazing. I put this down to the fact that the garments are made in 100% soft cotton jersey. It is more forgiving and yields to your body shape however many curves you have and I do have curves.....
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