Spring Embroidery

 

I love this beautifully embroidered garden picture from The Flower Garden as seen on Folksy. I love the stitching details and lovely use of buttons and fabrics, and the lilacs and greens are very Spring like. I think I am now ready to ditch December and this cold weather and dive head first into the new year and new beginnings.

Happy New Year to All x  

Christmas Cheer

There are some gorgeous Christmassy bits and bobs on Etsy at the moment and these are my favourites. They should get you in the festive spirit or just give you a bit of sparkly inspiration........Is it time for the mulled wine and mince pies?

Delicate Quilled Snowflake Decoration from joanscrafts


Beautiful Handmade Silver Gift Tags from pinkcherrymama


Stunning Handmade Wooden Tree Decs from TimberGreenWoods


Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix in a Jar from megscreations


Beautiful Blue Handstamped Gift Tags from FreshLemonBlossoms

Snow Day

Today has been another snow day. It is always good to have an unexpected day off, and two is even better! However the flat is freezing and i've already doubled up on cardigans and socks, and drunk numerous amounts of hot tea. This morning we had fun throwing snow around and uncovering the car from its snowy camouflage and this afternoon I have been able to do some therapeutic decluttering and sorting. I also thought I would share this with you, which I came across while sorting through some bits at my parents house (who are due to move house in next few days). I did this when I was six years old, but I don't know what the foxes had done to upset me!

MADE 10 Overview

Sorry this has taken so long, but I have been busily turning another year older as well as desperately trying to get rid of a never ending cold. Today I find myself tucked up in the warm, with a hot drink and an extra pair of socks on, hoping to get my brain back in gear!

MADE 10 was full of lovely items, many of which I had to restrain from buying, however I was treated to extra present from my lovely husband. A unique and very beautiful necklace from contemporary jewellery designer Emma Turpin. She creates stunning and unusual pieces of modern jewellery inspired by traditional crafts.

See more at www.emmaturpin.com/index

My butterfly eye fell for these beautifully hand cut paper artworks by Rebecca J Coles. They are so delicately made and extremely interesting to look at, and a particular favourite for a butterfly lover.

View more of her artwork at www.rebeccajcoles.co.uk/

It was nice to see more of Lara Sparks intricate and fun embroidery work. I have spoken about her work before but its worth reiterating because her pieces are gorgeous. Im still loving the cupcake cushions, but she had a lovely selection of brooches for sale at the fair www.larasparks-embroidery.co.uk/index

Martha Mitchell’s fun ceramic tableware and jewellery and framed prints were a favourite of mine. She produces funky cups and bowls decorated with hand drawn designs inspired by food packaging and bottles. Having a (slightly!) sweet tooth I really want to buy the Sweet illustration framed print for my kitchen! Yummy!

Check out more at her website www.marthamdesign.com/index

I am now going to eat warm crumpets with butter and jam, and to hibernate under my blanket. Keep warm x

MADE 10

This weekend sees the return of MADE to Brightons Corn Exchange. The Design and Craft fair is now in its 5th year and features contemporary and beautifully made works from over 100 designers. It runs from 19th - 21st November and is definately worth a visit. For more information visit the website http://www.made10.co.uk/

For those that can't make it, I will be showcasing my favourites next week.



Beautiful Textile Art

Check out some of the beautiful abstract textile art by Sarah Symes....these are my favourites, but see more at www.textileart.sarahsymes.com/

 

Old Fashioned Romance

Venice Pier After the Rain

Vancouver

Sweet Treats

This week I have been inspired by my favourite recipe book, The Cupcake Book, and have been making yummy cakes. These ones however aren't edible, but I think they are just as delicious in paper form, and adorning cards. Of course they always have to be iced with a cherry on top!

My paper cakes

Things I want to make from The Cupcake Book

The Cupcake Book by Susanna Tee is available at Amazon

New Papers and a Few Leaves

Payday is a good day! And made even better by a trip to the Eternal Maker in Chichester. Bless Mr T for being a human shopping trolley and allowing me to go slightly crazy in amongst the hoards of buttons and papers. I was relatively well behaved, but came away with some lovely papers, and inspirational ideas for an afternoon of card making. Also loving the very autumnal looking trees around at the moment, and couldn't resist picking up these leaves. I absolutely love their shape, colour and pattern.

Boats and Butterflies

A recent discovery of mine are these super cute embroidered items from designer Jenny Arnott. Items range from cushions and bags to magnets and buttons and are all beautifully made. These are my faves, but check out more at www.jennyarnott.co.uk

Beach Hut Cushion

 Butterfly Badge

 Sailing Boat Magnet

Cupcake Lavender Bags

Ice Cream Buttons

The Texture of Textiles

My facination with textiles has always centered around both the physical and visual textures that can be created and the movement that they can portray. I think this can be summed up perfectly in these images from textile artist Jo Deeley. See more at  www.jodeeley.com/

My textile work has taken a back seat recently, opting to make cards and have fun with paper and glue instead. However after seeing these im inspired to get back to some experimental stitching and to wind another warp on the loom.

Colours of Autumn

It may be autumn but theres a whole heap of interesting colours and textures out there...all spied on a Sunday morning walk on the Downs.



Hues of Blue

A little look in the materials cupboard reveals an array of beautiful blue....

Flock Paper and Beautiful Buttons

I have been getting very excited about the sparkly flock papers I have recently discovered. They are perfect for Christmas and I have been using them lots on Christmas Cards coupled with some pretty button embellishments.