oxfordshire crafts guild

I have recently been accepted into the Oxfordshire Crafts Guild , I'm really looking forward to taking part in fairs and exhibitions throughout the year along with other members who specialise in a range of crafts; from wood and ceramics, to jewellery and glass.

summer breeze

 My boyfriend and I have been house sitting for my parents for a few days, we were really lucky as the weather was hot and sunny. We had lazy lunches in the garden, followed by long walks across country tracks down to the river, we passed all kinds of wild flowers, which seem to be a theme in this post.

The shape and colour of flowers are always influencing my work, adding decoration on a clutch bag, shaping a corsage and they can be my colour palette when choosing fabrics.

Sunny Sunday

Looks like it's going to be a beautiful sunny day here today, So I'm up early getting a few jobs done before I head out to enjoy some summer sunshine!

Sunday morning is when our local farmers market is held and where the lovely slice of cheese cake came from, so I may be cycling up there again this week for another slice.

The Vogues are from my large, growing collection, which I have been sorting through. I'm thinking I should get rid of a few, as they are slightly taking over, but I'm still not convinced ?

Have a great Sunday.

perfect backdrops

I sometimes think I should try and use brighter colours in my work, but the muted colours I love so much are the perfect backdrops to layer up with delicate lace. It creates a nostalgic feel, which is what my work is all about.

I bought these lovely postcards for 10p each from a bric a brac shop called 'Bygones' What a great name for a shop.

I also found a few other little things, a small biscuit tin with budgie's on , I think it's 1950's and an old map of Europe, which I might cut up and use for collage. It's funny what you end up buying sometime...have you bought anything random recently?

vintage fashion

 I've been sorting through my books and found one called 'Vintage Fashion' which I must have forgotten about. I'm pleased that I've found it again, It's such a great source of inspiration, it looks at key designers, silhouettes, prints, fabrics and decoration in fashion from the 1900's to the 1980's. I love the original fashion photography of the time, espicially the 1930's and 40's.

Just reading about some of the decorative elements is so inspiring...'pleated lace collars, silk sashes, sparkling buttons and satin ribbons...' 

I feel a trip to the V&A coming on ...

The bits of lace and buttons were given to me recently, some of the lace is handmade and still on their original cards.



fade interiors

I sell my handmade cards in this lovely shop called 'fade' in Woodstock. (click on the link as they have some great images.)

It's a shop I love to visit, as there are so many beautiful things inside, an eclectic mix of furniture, vintage finds, and beautiful accessories.

I dropped off a new selection of my cards which look so nice displayed amongst all the pretty treasures.

I fell in love with the table and chair set outside the shop..if only I had a garden.

trip to paris

I'm back from Paris.... I had a great time away, if only it could have been for a bit longer. My sister's new apartment is lovely with big windows with shutters, very bright and sunny. There were a lot of boxes to unpack, which was hard work, but it was fun arranging rooms from scratch.

We went on a few shopping trips to look for furniture and other bits to make it more homely. My mum bought the beautiful orchid, which looks perfect in the living room.  

I was very hot and humid in Paris, so after a long day of unpacking and moving furniture, we all went for a cold glass of Leffe in a near by cafe. 

I did buy a few little things for myself....

Paris Vogue, novelty key rings, interior magazine, tea and biscuits... just a few euros left.

 

precious purses

I love making these little purses, I only need a small amount of fabric, so I can choose something really special. I like to add an antique button or a vintage piece of lace. There is also something lovely about their size, you can only keep your very precious things inside.

I'm off to Paris tomorrow to visit my sister, who is moving apartments, so I had better get packing. hopefully I will take some nice photos to share with you when I get back.....