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Showing posts from 2012

Love to stitch.

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I have always loved hand embroidery, so when I met Leslie from Faeriesinmygarden.com.au I couldn't wait to join her Katys Secrets project of the month programme. I've just completed this pretty sachet to hold some of my embroidery threads.   It has been a wonderful project to work on and has given me a chance to perfect stitches as I sewed. Inside there are flaps to hold my threads each one embellished with a Bullion rose. The next months kit is due at the end of January, I can't wait to see what it will be. I'm just listing this pin cushion in my Etsy shop, it's in a heart shaped wooden tray, painted and decorated with lace. Great to keep by your sewing machine. Only about a week to go until Christmas so I need to shop and clean and wrap and cook. So, not much sewing going on. I've promised myself to relax with some hand quilting though. Have a fun weekend. xox Angela

Vintage angel.

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  Here's ' Betsie' is my latest vintage angel, I made her for my final class of the year at Cowslip. She is a simple soul who sits by the unfinished quilts. Each night she picks up the lost pins, hides loose ends of thread and straightens any crooked stitches. She is always smiling as she goes about her tasks.....  and is never lonely as she has her little wood mouse 'Bertie' with his big ears and long tail. They love all the chores.  Wouldn't you love her to help you. I had a wonderful day with my students who were a joy to work with, we gossiped and laughed, I do so love my job!! This is a quick look at a finished book for a fellow blogger to give to a friend.     I won't reveal inside until it's reached it's destination. have a peaceful Sunday. xox Angela.

Nearly ready!!

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My work area is a shambles, my sewing machine has been running constantly  there's no food in the cupboards but I'm nearly ready for my Christmas Fairs. I bought some small wooden heart shaped trays, painted them with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White. I filled them with a heartshaped pin cushion and decorated each creamy cotton lace.                                                                I used patchwork....                                       a piece of vintage tablecloth...and lots of other pretty fabrics.                   My fabric books always sell well so I've made one for a gardener and a quilter...                                        one for a needlewoman and one just for keepsakes....                                       I love covering boxes so these were a pleasure to make....                                                  Lovely reds from Moda French General....                                                 

Busy, Busy.

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For the last few weeks I have been busy helping my friend Jilly as she opened her new shop                                                   "JILLY TILLY AND BOO" as a lady who is passionate about Annie Sloan Chalk Paint she is delighted to have the chance to work with them full time and sell them in her premises. I'm proud to be able to have some of my stitched textiles for sale too.                                          here's Polly Pumkin with a selection of cushions....                               who wouldn't 'SleepTight'  with this cosy hot water bottle cover                                               and a pretty nightdress case complete with                                               lavender bag to softly scent your nightie.                                 or just sit on the rocker lean against a pretty cushion and                                                        cuddle a' Lost and Found' bear.  It

Just stitch!

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Every Autumn I like to design new gifts for stitcher's ready for my Christmas Fairs. I'm really loving the soft feminine floral fabrics that are in the shops. How about this for your sewing friends. I've hand embroidered the centre panel in pretty shades of thread. The cover has different strips of fabric. Inside are pockets to hold all you need. A pocket for scissors made from a vintage handkerchief which has been hand embroidered A pocket for pens, a needlekeep and a pocket for buttons. Here's space for a little notepad and a pocket for threads. and here's Rosie a little doll who loves to wear pretty clothes, xox Angela.

A sad end but new beginnings

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I have been trading at The Old Salerooms in Wellington since July. Sadly I have now left my booth. Unfortunately the management was totally chaotic and not condusive to running a successful business. However out of all this has come some great friendships and wonderful opportunities. I met Jilly of jillysvintageteaparty she has become a  friend and a business partner. We both love to drink tea from China cups, here's one of my favourites.... and tea for two from Jilly. We both have used Annie Sloan paints for several years my sideboard started like this .....a charity shop find and turned into this painted in Country Grey it now has a French look to it. My duet stool was also transformed with Old White. After a really bad experience at The Old Salerooms it is a joy to meet someone who has a similar work ethic and shares so many ideas and skills. The exciting news is that Jilly is opening a new shop in Wellington,along with another collegue Peter Zur

Polly Pumpkin.

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I've seen pumpkin head dolls all over lots of blogs and wanted one for myself. I spent ages thinking about how she should look....... and here she is  meet Polly.... She's been busy in her pumpkin patch and has just begun to bring in her harvest...   She is going with me when I teach at Cowslip next Friday.   I'm teaching the ladies one of my dolls, "Lavender".   Here she waiting to go...   "Lavender" works in the lavender fields and smells lovely....   I wanted to display my dolls and found a couple of wooden dolls beds in a local junk shop. I painted them with Annie Sloan paints and then waxed with scratch cover polish to age them...   The first one is a rocking cradle with "Abigail 1682"....       and this one holds "Simple Pleasures"...a selection of primitive dolls and a "Lost and Found" bear.       The little quilts I've made a while ago but are just right here.

A Vintage Wedding Teaparty.

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My friend Jilly specialises in beautiful Vintage china which she hires out as Jillys Vintage Teaparty . This Sunday we had a stand at a local Wedding Fair and laid out the tables for tea....   All we needed was a pot of Earl Grey tea and Scones with Clotted Cream and Strawberry jam.     This is the smaller table with it's pretty china with roses.... We made a display with picnic hampers, just right for an English Picnic....... I took along some stitched hearts for Bridesmaids presents.. along with some heart favours and peg name cards.... We had locally grown English flowers supplied by Kate at Windmill Farm Flowers, they smelt divine, roses and herbs... Mmm.....                                           I also took along a pretty cushion ... it on  a Vintage lace handkerchief which has appliqued hearts and hand embroidery.     It looks lovely my "LOVE" garland which has the same fabric appliqued letters..     These are

Back home.

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I've been home for a couple of weeks from my trip to Birmingham and The Festival of Quilts. Every day I think, I'll write a post today, but life takes over and I haven't got round to sorting myself out. So here I am at last..... with a lovely quilt from the show that I loved. The colours are really me....   Another favourite was this gorgeous bag with it's exquisite embroidery.       and I was delighted to see that a group quilt entered by Cowslip Workshops was given a third prize.     love those colours.. I'm inspired.   I,ve made a couple of purchases today a childs wooden rocking cradle and a fabulous 1930's eiderdown.  I'll show you those next time.   Have a great week. xox Angela.      

A Special Day.

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A daughters Wedding day is so special for a Mother. I have been thinking about creating a book for a Mother to keep as a journal of the occasion of her daughters wedding, with pages to fill and lots of pockets to keep mementoes. Here is the front cover with a button heart and machine embroidered flowers. I've used lots of lace and pretty fabrics. I like the idea of showing her early days, writing stories of a childhood and adding pictures along the way. There is lots of space to fill with memories.. A gorgeous hand crocheted background for a bouquet of flowers. Long pockets to keep an invitation, order of service or menu. When the book has been filled it will be a wonderful reminder of a Special Day that can be kept and cherished. I hope to take commissions so will be showing my book at Wedding  Fairs along with some other designs for Vintage brides. I'm off to The Festival of Quilts in Birmingham in a couple of days. I'll tak