Great idea!

I just recently finished this order for a customer. Large drawstring bags to hold diapers, a piant brush holder and pencil roll with zipper pouch at one end. I love the way they turned out and such a great idea. Lulu has altready put her order in for a pencil roll ( oh and a kantha duffle bag)!

 Large drawstring bags to hold toddler nappies

 Paint brush and pencil rolls

 Paint brush roll

 Pencil roll

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Kantha bags and pillows

I've been busy making so many goodies, new and old. Here are some recent kantha bags and pillows I recently made.

Kantha bags

Kantha pillows

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Pretty journal covers

In August more journal covers went to new homes. I used antique hemp, linen, trims, buttons and hand embroidery to create these

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Dream catching

I love the dream catchers! My sister Sas brought them to my attention when she started pinning them on Pinterest. I decided recently I would like to make some with a twist - rather than round I made them with wire hearts. Of course I looked up their significance on the internet and just love what they represent.

I didn't add the feathers as with tradition just many pretty trims hanging down.

I made one for every occassion 

and one for Christmas (in my shop)!

What a wonderful thing for a wedding too!

Pretty hearts

I love to pull out my favourite things and create! Gorgeous textures with buttons, jute cord, antique hemps, linens and trims. The muslin or cheese close I hand dyed in tea. Add a few random stitches and the project is ready to be made up!

I loved making these so much I made 11! A few are in my shop but not all as I will have a month of Christmas markets in San Marino starting end of November! So excited!!! I will have one of those gorgeous little wooden shops like you see in the North of Italy, Germany and Austria at Christmas time. The atmosphere will be wonderful!

Here are a few othe hearts completed.

Vintage style lampshade

Ever since completing Marna's lampshade course I've been experimenting with diffrent styles. I recently finished this lampshae using vintage doilies and embroideries. It's super pretty and will be going in my shop.

Pretty lanterns

Not only did I make a lampshade but also lanterns. I love these and have order more supplies to make more. How pretty would they be for a wedding or christening??!!!!

Lampshade love

I'm so excited I did a lampshade making online course with Marna Lunt and here is my first shade. I made it for my daughter Lulu and she loves it. it's made with antique Italian linen, machine applique and is hand embtoidered. I can't wait to make my next one!

With the light off!

With the light on!

Fabric journal

I finally have been able to work on a fabic journal. I've been wanting to make one for some time now. It was so much fun and I just loved making it. It has several pages and pockets, each page has been embellished. It comes with a small covered notebook for writing notes or doing small drawings. I think it would be a great gift for a bridal shower as the bride could use it as an organiser or as a keepsake for wedding memorabilia. Another great use would be for sewing!

To make the book there was a lot of collaging different textured fabrics, hand embroidery and stitching, applique and machine sewing. I used some new fabrics but also a lot of antique handwoven hemp and trims. Oh and of course old and new buttons!

Front and back covers of the fabric journal and small notebook

Some of the internal pages

Gifts for the teachers

This year I was asked to make the end of year gifts for Lulu’s teacher. It was such an honour and pleasure to do this. The other mummies chose fabric storage baskets. I decided to keep them quite neutral (linens) so that way they could fit in most homes. 

To make the baskets I took my linen and antique hemp scraps ( I have a lot of these!) and I sewed them together using the ‘quilt as you go method’. I then I appliqued a vintage doily to each and made up the baskets. 

For their teacher who retired but still comes to school to do creative workshops I made these gorgeous lavender sachets.

To complete the gift I made personalised gift tags with appliqued bits and pieces and embroidery. On the reverse side I embroidered each teacher’s name and ‘class 4A 2015’ so they will always remember our kids!

Re-purposing vintage linen

I love some many different styles. I love my Kanthas, I love vintage, I love French style, I love kid’s style! So many I know it can be very confusing!

The result is I go through phases, one day I’m inspired by one style and the next something totally different so I just have to go with the flow. Keeps things interesting!

When I went to the antique market I found a gorgeous vintage hand embroidered linen tablecloth. About 10 days ago I pulled it out and proceeded to make a series of items with different parts of it. I love them!

Pillow slips with the larger embroidery. Available in my shop here

Sweet pouches. Available in my shop here

Gorgeous lavender sachets filled with wonderful lavender bought in Aix en Provence last time I was there. Very special!

Available in my shop here

Market bag made with antique handwoven hemp and vintage applique Available in my shop here

Kantha love continues!

My love of vintage kantha quilts grows and grows. I think they are wonderful full of history and love, pain stakingly hand quilted! I have many quilts and some of them I love to use to create new useful items. I recently made these bags which I’m thrilled about.

The first is a shoulder bag, great to use as a market bag, book bag, tote, sewing bag and so on. It’s completely reversible with no exposed seams. Both sides are shown here. Available in my shop here.

The second is a shoulder bag with zipper closure. Great to use as a handbags, knottin bag, sewing bag, diaper bag or even as a small overnight bag. Available in my shop here.

 I also recently made some reversible cushion slips with zipper closures. Both sides are photographed. I need some for my couch, they are so comfy! Available in my shop here and here.