I made this basket/storage container about a week ago. Bit slow at blogging things at times!!. I used a few different types of antique linen and then lined the basket with a natural linen. I did a lovely red cross stitch monogram 'B' for broderie. I was thinking this basket would make for a great sewing container. It would also be lovely in the kitchen, bedroom or living room.
I made these cute softie rattles for an order the other day. They have a little lavender in them so they smell good too. My client asked for 2 owls as well so this is what I came up with!
Christmas is my favourite time of the year. It's all so exciting and pretty with decorations and lights, I have such fond memories of Christmas as a child.
I'm already getting into the Christmas spirit with lots of ideas flying around in my head for stoackings, decorations, wall hangings, advent calenders. Goodness knows when I'll find the time for all of this!
My first stocking of the year is finished! One down and many to go, I have so many different one's I want to make. Four others are in the works.
Whilst I was in the process of making this one I wasn't really convinced about the design. Now it's all together and complete I'm very happy with it. The santa is appliqued on antique Italian hemp linen. I used a miss of cotton and felt for the applique.
I bought quite a lot of fabrics recently to use for Christmas. Many are not Christmas fabrics but I like the colour combinations. I didn't find many Chrissy fabrics which grab me this year!
I made this lovely drawstring bag the other day. It's made with some beautiful antique hemp I have and is lined with a lovely French toile fabric. I completed it with a sweet cross stitch done on antique linen. It could make a lovely gift set with the previous sewing case I made. Great to carry around sewing projects or even just a great gift with beautiful soap in it!
I made this bunny the other day, it was a lot of fun. Lulu loves her! I made her based on Tilda's pattern which is very similar to the bunnies I made with mum and my sister before I could sew(blogged very early on).
I made Molly a few outfits - she has 2 dresses (one made from antique linen), a bag, pants, and a hat. I think I'd like to attempt other clothing as well.
I made these storage containers the other day. They are quite large and great for keeping things tidy like toys, nappies, baby wraps, creams and so on.
I made them with my lovely new antique linen/hemp and Japanese fabrics. I did a little embellishment with embroidery. The dog basket has a little embroidery all the way round.
I have so many projects on the go at the moment! I'm just trying to methodically finish each one off before I move to the next one. It's great because we've really had a stinky hot, humid summer here in Italy. I find it so difficult to work in hot sticky weather so it's been incredibly frustating. We're having our last days of boiling hot weather and then hopefully Monday the temp will drop to the norm! Oh and Lucy starts Elementary school so I'll extra creative time!! Maybe I should out my 2 quilts I have to finish!
Back to my 'Paris' trousse. I've designed a few different ones of these I just love them (others not complete yet). Rather than making just a needlecase this one has a decent sized pocket which can fit a small hoop, trim, scissors and so on. I used some beautiful linen/hemp blend fabric I bought at the antique market. I was going to sell the fabric in my shop but I love the weight and texture so much I decided to use some of it. I do have a three yard piece which is similar which I am selling though. The trim is handmade and antique as well. The other fabrics on the front I bought from this great seller on Etsy 'Homestead treasures', love, love, love her stuff! Inside I used a beautiful wool felt I buy here in Italy for needles and pins, the pocket is a wonderful Japanese linen. Then I embellished with some lovely cross stitch.
Another new cushion complete! The center is a very old handwoven cotton which has been embellished with applique and hand embroidery.
Pretty little girlie patchwork bags completed! The pussycat bag is made with a mix of fabrics whilst I used vintage ones for the fairy bag. Going on Etsy
Well I can't believe we are already at the Christmas end of the year my brain automatically starts thinking about Santa, snowmen, angels and snow!! It feels like yesterday I was preparing to go home to Oz for Christmas. As I was very busy last year with orders I decided to play around with my ideas early this year otherwise they just don't happen!
I made this sweet family of snowmen. They are made with a mix of techniques and fabrics. The large snowman is made with a mix of antique hemp/linens, linen and cotton fabrics. I also appliqued hand dyed felted wool hearts on him. The middle snowman has a patchwork pocket , felted wool holly and a heart. The little guy is made with antique linen, an applique patch and holly.
I think they're so sweet together, they'll have to remain a set!
I tried to make some Japanese x and + blocks from the tutorial by Badskirt Amy. It didn't turn out too bad but don't look too closely as not everything is lined up perfectly. I am still a quilting novice and need more practice. This will be another block for the sampler quilt that I am making for my bed. It's quite fun as I can use lots of my fabrics- some that I have had for years, and I can also use scraps. I have a huge container of scraps.
I haven't been blogging as frequently as usual but I have been busy! In the last 2 weeks I've started so many diffrent projects! I hope to slowly finish them off over the next week or so.
I've designed some new totes which I think will turn out really well. I'm totally inspired by my new fabrics and I'm pleased to say I have more on the way!! So I finished the first tote this morning and just love it. Talk about Japanesi! I've used Japanese linen cotton fabrics and my embroidered hedgehog is definitely inspired by Japanese applique, embroidery and fabric.
Stay tuned for the next tote which will be ready soon. Oh and I'm getting ready for Chistmas and have other cute surpises on their way (begun but not finished!).
Yesterday we went to Viola's birthday, she turned 5. Of I decided at the last minute to make her birthday present so it was a mad rush. I make pretty felt cakes and donuts for her to play with in her toy kitchen. On Saturday I went to the antique market in Gambettola and this gorgous old 'chinoiserie' tin. Perfect for the rest of her gift. I cleaned it up and lined it with pretty check paper. Sunday morning of course I decide she need 2 play placemats so in a mad rush I whipped them up! In the end I was happy with the result! Hope Viola is too!
I bought the templates for a Dresden Star a while ago and have been wanting to make one for a while. I though it would fit perfectly into my sampler quilt. It was a very simple block to make! I am enjoying using some of my new Japanese Fabrics that I bought recently. I especially like the French cheese label in the centre. It comes from some Japanese Yuwa Fabric.
This cushion is so pretty. Inspiration came from some of my Japanese craft books and the book my sister gave me for Christmas 'Embroidery Craft : Stitching through the seasons' by Vicki Haninger. It's a great book with lots of vintage inspired embroideries to do. For this cushion I found many vintage embroideries on the internet which I found to be so cute I just had to start stitching some. Two squares are hand embroidered and two are patchwork. To finish it off I hand quilted it. I used a mix of cotton and Japanese linen blend fabrics and just love the way the colours turned out.
I tried to make some Japanese x and + blocks from the tutorial by Badskirt Amy. It didn't turn out too bad but don't look too closely as not everything is lined up perfectly. I am still a quilting novice and need more practice. This will be another block for the sampler quilt that I am making for my bed. It's quite fun as I can use lots of my fabrics- some that I have had for years, and I can also use scraps. I have a huge container of scraps.
I bought the templates for a Dresden Star a while ago and have been wanting to make one for a while. I though it would fit perfectly into my sampler quilt. It was a very simple block to make! I am enjoying using some of my new Japanese Fabrics that I bought recently. I especially like the French cheese label in the centre. It comes from some Japanese Yuwa Fabric.
