desperately seeking spring

It's been so dark and gloomy here of late* that I can't help but seek out spring hues and surround myself with cheery colour. The blossom is slowly unfurling on the plum tree outside the kitchen window and yet the air outside is freezing and it makes me gasp in horror as though it is such a surprise that it is still so cold.

Even Miss Tabitha was unwilling to get her paws wet!

A few weekends ago, I picked up this stash of haberdashery delights at the Hammersmith vintage fair. A selection of 1930's buttons in subtle springy shades, a vintage buckle, some coral thread, a pair of 1950's teal flower earrings, a box of celadon green glass beads, some crocheted lace motifs. I also bought a pretty pastel patterned silk scarf and a couple of metres of vintage Liberty fabric { watch this space }.

 

It was quite a haul. It's my second visit to this fair and it is utterly ace. I'm quite addicted to buying vintage haberdashery bits, trimmings and fabric. I get quite carried away discovering old treasures to make new things with.

I am pretty much a seasonal shopper. I can't help but be influenced with the time of year when looking for thrifty treasures even if the weather has other plans.

So despite the lingering cold, frosty mornings, predictable rain and occasional and surprising flurries of snow, I'm utterly smitten, at the moment, with pastels and summer shades of jade, lime, teal, lemon and coral. 

So very optimistic of lighter brighter days to come.

It's no surprise that out of all the unfinished projects, the one thing I was keen to do of an evening was stitch together these candy coloured grannies. So bright and beautiful they are.

They started life as a blanket for the new baby. But new baby is now on the brink of toddlerdom and he has a distinct dislike of anything blankety which may hinder his 'destructive crawl'.

And anyway on the most recent count I worked out I had only enough squares to make a cushion cover. So that is what I thought I'd do.

Although I quite like them now as a seat pad for this newly painted { f&b 'green blue' } ikea stool! So now to decide....hhhmmmm...!!!

* I wrote this a few days ago. Then lo and behold, today has been utter springy perfection in a sunshiny  bright and breezy sort of way. Hooray!

✴ start of the season

I think we can now most definitely say that wedding season is upon us. As someone who works with beautiful brides and spends most days looking lovingly at wedding inspirations I think there can be no better kick off with all things weddingy than with the recent nuptials of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Did you watch? I spent the day with two lovely hat wearing ladies and we supped bubbly and ate breakfast and supped bubbly and ate lunch and then just supped bubbly. 

We gasped and we oohed and we ahhed at the sublime beauty of Miss M in her beautiful gown. 

Imagine how hit-the-roof excited I then was to discover that my dear, and oh so talented friend, had been a special stitcher of that most famous frock. She was one of the embroiderers from The Royal School of Needlework. How gobsmacked was I?? The BEST KEPT SECRET bar none! 

You can read all about it here.

So, buzzing with this knowledge and therefore reckoning that if I spent the weekend congratulating and stroking the arm of said friend and royal stitcher {ok not the whole weekend, that would be weird} then indeed I could conclude that I am only one very petite person away from that most famous frock......that's how it works in my head anyway....

Not surprising then, that my space is of the bridal kind this week. 

With finishing of some pieces and the beginnings of others. Working on new brass pieces with vintage lace and quartz crystal, ideas brewing for these teeny tiny brass lockets, baby blue grosgrain ribbon, cinderella style tulle bows and finding inspiration in delicate forget-me-not flowers.

I feel compelled to doth my feathery fascinator style cap in awe to the brit style front cover of Grazia and the utterly brilliant headline "Arise McQueen Kate". Well done Grazia.

More Creative Spaces at Kootoyoo.

✴ all around me...

China cups of tea on a ribbon strewn desk...

Liberty, lavender, love and luck...

Vintage milk glass earrings...{tick}

Hearts and kisses and little girl summer skirts...."Oo... like dat, mummy..."

Can't help but feel all pinky and peachy on this tropical and sun sparkled day. And all about my space are hints of Summer. I've also become smitten with the world of the podcast. To add to my old lady style I'm rather loving, Desert Island Discs, Gardeners' Question Time and, wait for it {and no, smug, "told you so" laughing, mum and dad...} The Archers!!!! Although I have no idea what on earth is going on I just snuggle in to the west country accents and 'trouble at mill' storylines. 

And really, did David push Nigel off the roof..? Hhhmmmm........

My Creative Space at Kootoyoo.

✴ happy monday

I'm so loving these lighter evenings. And todays sunshine and blustery winds meant that for the first time this year I was able to hang the washing out on the line. Hooray! I do love washing on a line.

Did you have a lovely weekend? I did. I had a day to myself to potter on saturday and a sunday in Windsor by the river, and a lovely dinner, which I didn't have to cook, or clean up after. Brilliant!

I made earrings and necklaces and brooches galore. I made fat quarter skirts {for a small person} and played around with pretty fabrics for dresses {for a big person}. I spun around in circles with Miss Ella in a giant teacup and I watched my beloved Boardwalk Empire, with a lovely glass{es} of red.

I didn't do any paperwork or serious businessy stuff or tidy the house. I'm still very behind with getting in touch with people and am late with some birthdays. 

Oh well, I'm only human...!

Have a good week. x

✴ the tale of the fish and the bird

Once upon a time, in a distant land called 2010, there lived, in a musty old - although surprisingly treasure laden - charity shop, a fish and a bird.

Alone and unloved, there they sat. The fish hidden from view in the large window display, the bird even more so at the back of a dusty shelf, next to a toast rack, behind the shop counter.

And so they waited. In the dead, dark loneliness of night they recounted their past days of glory, the fish as an ashtray, the bird as a sideboard ornament. Would they ever again feel so cherished and worthy.

They feared the worst. And then one day, a rather harassed looking mother pressed her nose to the window of the shop {as she was often inclined to do} and she spotted the fish. Dragging her small child inside she asked to see the fish more closely. The fish could hardly believe his...ermm...ears? 

"Two quid? I'll take it" said the mother. She thought it might make a pretty trinket dish for her 'Nemo' obsessed child. And then on paying she spotted the bird. 

The women of the shop were used to the harassed mother. And her strange ways. They couldn't quite fathom her penchant for kooky old nik naks {not to mention crocheted doilies} for someone so relatively young. Then the harassed, but much happier mother left the shop, with the fish and the bird. And the child, of course.

The bird cried out to be painted, "Oh, cover my chintz and transform my old fashioned-ness...", the mother thought she heard it say. And so she obliged and a new creamy coat with porcelain hues the bird now wears. It occurred to the mother that with his newly painted coat, the bird might just make a perfect mannequin for displaying her handmade jewellery. The bird was delighted, as he had always fancied himself as a bit of a model and had perfected the art of keeping positively still. 

The mother wondered if the fish would like to have a go, but he was more shy than the bird and really couldn't make his mind up whether he should be painted or not......and neither could the mother, she had begun to grow fond of his brassy ways......The end.

{ brass 1950's fish ashtray, £2 :: china bird, £3 :: embroidered linen pillowcase £4 }

Jewellery made by me, yonks ago, forgotten by me, then discovered by me, yesterday!

Flea Market Finds for more tales of treasure.

✴ unfinished embroidery

Quite a while ago I bought a mixed lot of vintage linens and doilies. In amongst them was this embroidered cloth, unfinished by the stitcher and now a faded brown colour from many years of storage. Even several dips in biotex couldn't revive it's former pallor. It was doubtful I was ever going to finish the embroidery, and really, would it even be that pretty if I did? What to do. 

After much deliberation, constant digging it out from my vintage linen stash...and then putting it back again, I eventually decided to take the plunge and just do something, anything with it.

Those with a nervous disposition should turn away now because I went at it brazenly with a pair of scissors and cut it into many tiny circles for covered buttons. There, done, breathe.

I hope the stitcher doesn't mind. I thought it should start a new life as some pretty brooches and finally get to see the light of day and possibly enjoy some small adoration for its embroidered beauty. 

Most people would probably refer to this as a musty bit of old tat, this antique linen, once a treasured pastime and which for some reason was abandoned in its stitchery completeness. 

Maybe now at last, it can be moved to the pile of finished projects.

Erm...when I get round to finishing the brooches.....which I will, I will, I promise.........

{...coughs sheepishly...}

More finished and unfinished loveliness can be seen over at Kootoyoo.

✴ precious metals

{silver card tray, £5}

{pearl knot clip earrings, 50p}

A magpies haul of shiny metals from the local charity shop this week.

The brooch and earrings will be fashioned into new vintage style headdresses and I  had hoped that the silver tarnished card tray might well prove to be a precious metal of sorts. 

I had been practicing my 'pleasantly shocked' face and picked out an Antiques Roadshow appropriate outfit. I think I may have got a bit carried away. 

It clearly isn't real silver. There is a slight copper tone over the pattern which would hint at years of exuberant Brasso scrubbing by an eager maid, I'm guessing that if you owned and used a card tray, that you probably had staff...It's such a piece that depicts a bygone era, don't you think?

The custom of 'calling' in Victorian society and the etiquette of leaving a calling card for the lady of the house. 

Texting just seems so crass in comparison!

{goldtone pearl brooch, 50p}

Here is the method I used for cleaning the tarnish from the silver tray. It should work well for silver, silver plated and EPNS {but not best for gemstones and pearls} although care should always be taken when cleaning antique treasures.

Even though this is an eco cleaning method, there is a slight sulphurous odour during the cleaning process so it's best to do in a ventilated room or even better outside.

• Line a large bowl with aluminum tin foil.
• Sprinkle over 3 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda.
• Place pieces to be cleaned on top.
• Pour over freshly boiled water from the kettle to just cover pieces.
• Leave to soak for 10-15 minutes.
• Remove and buff gently with a dry clean cloth, tea towel or silver polishing cloth.
• See your silvery bits sparkle in the sunshine....or, under a very bright light....

Flea Market Finds here

✴ apples and plums

Last year when I was making a beautiful silver tiara for a lovely bride and then cufflinks for her groom, I gathered lots of different leaves for imprinting into pmc. I practiced with a fair few different varieties to see which ones worked the best and looked the prettiest in all their silver glory. 

My favourites were the young baby leaves from the plum tree. I just recently found a little stash of these 'practice' leaves and so turned one of the better ones into a long necklace, with a faceted amethyst bead and a creamy pearl. 

Today was surprisingly sunny and pleasant {although still bitterly cold, Bbbrrr....} and me and the little one managed to sneak into the garden for the afternoon. We had blustery spring fun on the swings and the slide and I even managed to do a spot of gardening {much needed and long overdue tidying and soil turning} ready for new planting. Whenever I do any garden work I am usually joined by a small chattering assistant {...What you doing,Mummy?}...and two excitable and frisky cats. 

Together we worked as a team {me doing all the hard manual labour...} and we planted the first of the new fruit trees I have planned for the garden. An apple tree. I've wanted an apple tree for so long I don't know if I can cope with the three or more years of waiting for an apple to grow!!

I suppose I'll just have to make do with plums until then.

She looks like a sugar in a plum.... plum, plum...

My Creative Space over at Kootoyoo

✴ at the bench

I've spent the last week or so 'at the bench'. When I say this I mean the jewellery bench but in actual fact I don't have one of those so picture me instead brandishing a soldering torch and cursing slightly slipped soldering on the tiny bit of workspace next to the kitchen sink. By the dying Aloe Vera plant. Next to the tin jug with the cat food forks in. Not very glamorous. But then silversmithing isn't. 

I have rough grated fingers and thumbs blackened and course from so much wire brush cleaning of silver and brass. A manicurists nightmare....or dream, whichever way you look at it.

I've been firing lots of little brass leaves, with a notion to turn these into a beautiful autumn inspired tiara and with several february birthdays I've been making jewellery gifts with silver snowhearts and recently fired copper hearts. 

I always end up with odd little bits of precious metal clay when I roll it out into heart and leaf shapes. Because the clay dries so quickly, these scraps never quite make it back into the pack while still soft and malleable. This time I thought I'd try and make something with these scraps. Something organic, twisted and strange. 

I think they turned out a bit like ferns or seaweed. They may end up in a new life as a botanical style brooch. For me. Because I'm quite attached to my strange little sea ferns!

Some dazzling creative spaces over here

✴ speaking of weddings...

{ jasmine tiara }

Yesterday it was announced we are to have a Royal Wedding. How very exciting. I wonder if we'll all have a day off and celebrate with union jack bunting and street parties like we did when Charles and Diana got married. And yes it gives me palpitations that I can clearly remember that Royal Wedding even though it was 30 years ago.......{sharp intake of breath...}

I wonder what look our Royal Bride to be will go for...

{ rose adagio corsage comb }

A dear friend of mine is also getting hitched next year, and just when you think the levels of excitement that seem to exude from her every pore couldn't get any bigger.....yesterdays news of sharing a wedding year with the Royals....well...you can imagine!!!

{ cherry blossom corsages }

Here are a few images of the headdresses I designed and made this year for two lovely brides, each of them princesses in their own way.

I was quite busy with bridal, bridesmaid, mother of the bride headdresses, not to mention horseshoes and grooms cufflinks. All good fun and such a joy to do. I love the different styles the two brides went for.

{flower fern brooch and comb}

I'm still trying to sort through images for a new website to hopefully get some new commissions next year. I have one booking. With everything getting packed away for next years building extension it will be tricky working from home next year. I doubt I'll be able to take on too much creative making...

... But I'd make an exception for you, Kate.......!

{flora corsage combs}

✴ accessorized

{snowheart silver earrings}

I love making pretty girly things like earrings, bracelets, scarves, bags, belts, etc...Perfectly lovely things to give as gifts or keep and wear over the festive period.

I made these silver earrings for a Canadian friend as a much belated birthday gift. I think I'll be making some more as gifts, the snowflake pattern is obviously just perfect for Christmas!

The stash of Liberty fabrics I recently ordered is now being made into tie belts with vintage buckles.

And some crochet with a notion for making wrist cuffs, which I'm still working out a pattern for.

{I'm finding the Mad Men box set perfect viewing for sewing/knitting/crocheting to}

Some good books for accessory inspiration;

In Stitches

Making Vintage Accessories

Bead Handmade Style

Christmas inspiration over at Knicky Knacks.

✴ my creative space

{ Wild Plum & Sage Leaf Cufflinks }

There has been much of the precious metal in my space for quite some time now.

With bridal commissions creating lovely silver pieces and much experimentation with leaves.

Now the leaves outside are starting to turn brown and wilt or crumble I'm in a race against time to create some new pieces. 

I made a lovely tiara for a lovely september bride with jasmine leaves and am hoping to create some other pieces. It's a long and slow task, painting silver clay slip onto a tiny fragile leaf, layer by layer...

I have some other design ideas for bramble, wisteria, lavender, sage....I'd better get a move on...

Winter's only round the corner...

My Creative Space

✴ my creative space

It's all about the B's in my space this week.

:: Bridal :: Botanical :: Beads :: Bracelets :: Baby :: Bulbs :: Birds :: Bibs :: Bias Binding :: & Blogging! ::

 After my last post I'm now sketching designs for a bridal headdress.

I'm enjoying letting my imagination go and finding inspiration in the RHS books Flora and Orchids, love, love, love those old botanical paintings.

I found a little time to sort through and finish some beaded bracelets made a while back which were boxed away with all things jewellery making when the baba was born....

....finished the binding on the bibs from last week and began some decorative birdy stitching....

.....and during a bumper baba nap this afternoon and with an unexpected brightness to a grey day I did some brisk bulb planting.

{ By the by, I thought an image of some budding blossoms a more beautiful pic than of a mound of black soil with bulbs buried below! }

Byeee.

For more creative spaces boogaloo over to kootoyoo.