stitched & sewn

I hope you all enjoyed Easter, I had a lovely break away with family near Bath.

So now I'm back, I need to get busy sewing again. It's always helpful to look back at some of my previous designs to get into the swing of things....

Here is a little selection of bags I've already stitched and sewn.

Which one is your favourite?

spring cleaning

 Last weekend I spent some lovely sunny days at my parents house. Here are some photo's of their garden. I've been making the most of the weather, spring cleaning the summer house ready for my open studio exhibition which is coming up in May.

The little 'beach hut' as we call it, is the perfect place to have a cup of tea and read a book.

The garden seems to be in full bloom at the moment.

Have a great Easter....I'm away, but will catch up when I get back.

beads, buttons & berries

It was a beautiful sunny morning (and my boyfriends birthday) so I thought I would make a special birthday breakfast, berries with yoghurt and local honey and fresh croissants. yum!

 A few sprigs of blossom and lilac on the table.

I've just started adding some buttons and beads to this lovely fabric, which will eventually become a clutch purse.
Have a great Sunday whatever you are up to.

old and new

I now have a selection of my work at Waterperry Gardens gallery near Oxford. This is one of the bags that will be for sale along with a selection of my corsages and purses.  

I normally use vintage lace, but these little daisy chains were so nice I bought them new. I have just stained them in some tea to add the faded, worn look I love.

The top little bird was £5 from the local Thursday market. It's now pinned on to a jacket. I can't believe I spotted it on a stall full to the brim with jewellery. The stall holder said it was a 1930's brooch.

this week ....

I haven't just been drinking tea and eating cakes ( I love the packaging on these teacakes) I have also been making cards and I've just finished a new drawstring bag plus an envelope purse to match. The vintage silk fabric is beautiful. I've just enough left for a little purse.

We've also been busy down on the allotment planting potatoes, carrots and salad. So all in all a productive week, plus the sun has been shining!

A collection of fabric pieces, old stamps, vintage french letters, lace and  botanical prints that I used for making cards.

Buttons from a flea market

A sneak peak at a new bag - This vintage silk has a lovely pattern. I have lined the inside with a dark grey.

my stockman

 Here's my lovely stockman tailors dummy. I away use it in my open studio exhibitions, as it looks great with corsages pinned to it. I may have mentioned how much I treasure it before, but I love it's faded tea stained colour and worn edges. It makes the perfect prop.

Two new corsages finished with vintage broken necklaces, buttons and beads.