✴ 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.

✴ light & space

I'm still milking this sickness with a hacking cough which is keeping me awake most nights. So not good. Especially now the weather is turning a rosy pink and sunlight blue of springy perfection. Today was glorious, although perhaps less so with a bad nights sleep and a morning meeting to discuss pensions...followed by a meeting to discuss building plans { the trials and tribulations of which are a post in itself which will have to wait for another day - yay! lets talk building regs.......Zzzzzz......}.

Did I mention I have a new desk...? I can't recall........maybe I mentioned it just once.....?!! 

Anyhoo, I'm just loving my new space the light around which is just divine and makes me wonder if BD {before desk} I wasn't just stitching away in a little gloomy cave in the dining room. Like a hobbit.

Note to self~ check quality of stitching in new well lit space on work done BD.

I'm finding in my current state of 'below par' that the simple and quite relaxing task of glueing resin flower cabochons onto hair grips is about all I can muster. But I'm loving in nonetheless.

My Creative Space at Kootoyoo.

✴ a place for everything...

...and everything in it's place.

On saturday I had a much longed for day on my own. I had looked forward to it all week and had many plans and grand ideas of lovely things I would spend the day making, away from yoghurty toddler fingers.

Of course, it didn't quite work out as planned. Once laundry had been sorted, the dishwasher emptied, the table tidied, a quick {ok, not so quick} peruse round t'internet, materials and trimmings fussed over... and so on and so forth.....it was lunch time already!! 

I had that much whirring away in my little head I didn't know where to begin. Don't you hate it when that happens?

I did bits of things. A bit more of the tatty linen brooches. A bit of silky yoyo stitching. A bit of flower stitching. A bit of this and a bit of that. But nothing finished. No ticks on the To Do list.

When the mr and the little one returned home I was feeling a wee bit sorry for myself. In that a whole day had passed and I had achieved very little. And that was that day, gone.

I had a little rant. Yes, I did.

Waaa....it's not fair I don't have any space to call my own....why can't I use your office too, it's not fair.....Waaaaa, woe is me.......me, me, me, me, me.....Waaaa........ etc etc.....

To which mr h replied a calm, Yes, of course. We'll buy you a new desk, we'll get rid of some bits of furniture, I'll clear a space......No problem. 

Gosh don't you just hate it when men respond to your wailing in a positive and productive manner?! 

So  I have a new desk {ok still in it's box but we're getting there..} and a new space to create a mess and not have to eat dinner around...Don't get me wrong, it'll be tight in there, but it'll do until the house is done.

I picked up these little baskets and old utensils tray which has been 'shabby chic-ed' in a rustic painted sort of way, from my local antique market on a quick shop late on sunday. They are just so perfectly pretty for storing all my unfinished bits and pieces and I've spent a few stolen moments today sorting and tidying all my creative mess. I'm going to make little basket inserts out of the spotty fabric which was  a bargain buy from the local charity shop just before christmas. But I think I'll save that for another day!

Apologies for the ridiculous length of this post but I'm a bit poorly with a horrible chest infection and can't be bothered to cut and paste images together in a montage way so just put them all in as are - sorry!

My space has taken on quite vintage vibe of late and so I'm linking this post to both Flea Market Finds and My Creative Space. This week is all about multi-tasking!

I'm off for an early bed, night night {cough...splutter...}x

✴ 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.

✴ 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

✴ feeling delicate

We're feeling very delicate today. My little Tinkerbell has had her fluttery fun filled wings cruelly clipped with a very high temperature, a runny nose and a bit of teething thrown in for good measure.

There has been much Cbeebies watching, with glazed eyes, not much eating and a lot of cuddles and forehead stroking. And a regular dose of Calpol! 

It's most definitely a quiet stay indoors type of day. For me there has been much tea drinking {so what's new?} and monitoring of sick child. It's a horrible feeling of helplessness and inadequacy of not really being able to do that much to ease the misery. But for the cuddles, lots of cuddles and whispers of shhhhhh......it's ok......

I've been finding time, during a welcome break of a proper nap, to do some more twiddling of gold wire and embellishment of crystals, pearls and beads on a new headdress. We have been watching Boardwalk Empire in the evenings, oh my, something new to get my teeth into and I'm just loving those 20's costumes, so very stylish and spangly. I'm thinking of maybe doing some 20's style headbands or some feathery frou frou of sorts. Ooh la la.

Joining in with My Creative Space.

✴ my creative space

I haven't taken part in My Creative Space for ages. Even now I'm joining as the 169th person...sheesh it's popular, but we love it so. I love visiting other peeps and having a bit of a nosy at the wonderful things they have all been up to. It's a great motivator....or a good kick up the crafty bum...

This week I have mainly been skirting around the issue of the unfinished projects and have instead been tackling the task of the unkempt house { brownie points to me } and enjoying evenings with Kirstie and Turn Back Time while stitching a little zip corsage brooch { the reward }.

I've spotted lots of these in high street shops recently but of course decided I'd make one because all it is really,when all's said and done, is a zip, a brooch back and a little bit of stitchery...job's a good'un!

✴ my creative space

My creative space is below par today. With me and the little lady both coughing and sniffling ourselves through this beautifully sunny day there is little energy to get on with any of the numerous unfinished projects and ideas in the making....

As we are meeting to discuss our extension plans tomorrow it seems like a good idea for more sketching and measuring and thinking of what will go where and how...

In true 'me' style though I seem to have leapt straight from work in progress plans and scribblings to picking out colour schemes, fabrics, furniture and all that is pretty...

I'm sipping hot lemon and honey with;

The World of Interiors

Homes and Gardens

Country Living

&

 Shabby Chic Interiors

Recycled Home

Flea Market Style

Bazaar Style

My Creative Space 

✴ my creative space

There was a little girl

Who had a little curl

Right in the middle of her forehead.

And when she was good

She was very, very good

But when she was bad

She was horrid.

There are few things that can ease the misery of a terrible toddler tantrum filled day. For me it's curled up watching a funny film {meet the parents} and a little bit of calming cross-stitch and a LARGE GLASS OF WINE!

{film and cross-stitch negotiable but wine essential}

My Creative Space

✴ 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

Hello my name is Sarah and I am a vintage chinaholic.

It's true. I can not stop buying random (but beautiful) pieces of old crockery from the charity shop.

My parents had a Wedgwood set of the Willow pattern dinner service as a wedding gift. 

Not one piece remains...all of it lost or broken. All of it? What were they doing? Smashing it into the fireplace, Greek style?

Anyhow, I remember it, well I think I do. I'm pretty sure I ate sausage and chips off a willow plate as a nipper. So it's a very nostalgic bit of old china for me. 

I want to hang these on the wall with these adhesive plate hangers as seen a while back on Kirstie's Homemade Home.

I think I might want to do something stitchy too or a print of some sort inspired by the Willow pattern. It's so beautiful, don't you think? As is the little tale...

Whilst we sit around the table, Please allow me to relate, The entrancing ancient fable Of "The Willow Pattern Plate."

Every picture tells a story, Like the Willow Pattern Plate, Where two lovers dwelt in glory, And defied paternal hate.

By elopement from the castle You observe upon the ridge, Where the violent old rascal Chases them across the bridge.

Tries to catch the rogue and whip him, 'Ere he steals the daughter fair; But the loving pair outstrip him, Let him languish in despair.

Thrown upon their own resources, In a junk they emigrate, To a splendid little oasis, Near the margin of the plate.

Dwell in peace, whilst unmolested, In most perfect harmony; Till at length they are arrested, by his Nibs' gendarmerie.

Then the tyrant lord appeals to Law and lucre, with their pow'r; Caught, confined, they have their meals too, In that horrid little tow'r.

When the pair are executed, To appease their lord irate, To a pair of doves transmuted, Still they fly upon the plate.

Every picture tells a story, Like the Willow Pattern blue, And true love will reign in glory, To infinity! Adieu      {B.L. Bowers} 

My Creative Space at Kootoyoo 

{ps. Sorry for the gazillion times this was published but something went awry with spacing....Hhmmmmm}

✴ my creative space

Today, I love that the sun has shone brightly even if just for the morning and for the hour spent on the swings.  I love to see the little one's beaming face as she flies through the air (er.. not literally..) with the wind in her golden hair and and a beautiful blissful smile on her lovely face.

I love that I keep finding treasures for pence in the nearby charity shops and antique fairs, and the promise of more loveliness to be yet discovered...

I love that during baba nap time I made time for a little fabric printing with some lovely bright pink ink and a favourite stamp, inspired by this book, which I love to browse through...

Tonight I loved curling up with a glass of wine while watching Waitress which is a truly lovely film and just loved discovering the kitchen cleaned and tidied by a much loved husband (mine...)

I don't love that, as always, time has flown, it is far too late to still be up and I will especially not love getting up in the morning...in far too soon a time......sigh........

More creative love at kootoyoo ...

✴ my creative space

There is much about the wedding in my space this week. And keeping shh...  

Successful headdress fittings on monday which now, after a little tweaking and finishing off, will be packaged in tissue paper, nestled inside an ivory box and sent to an excited Bride (and bridesmaids!) to be. All to be revealed at a later date...

A new secret commission leads to some more sketching...

And a few new potential clients have instigated a sort through of images...

Sorry for the cloak and dagger but they're a secretive bunch these Brides, and woe betide anybody that spills the beans before the big day!!!

All together now, 'Daaa, da da daaaa...'

Catch the bouquet of creativity (sorry....) at Kootoyoo...

✴ my creative space

Vintage buttons and Liberty fabric binding is all about my space, making pretty button/bow hair grips.

I can't seem to get enough of Liberty fabrics at the moment. They seem to be everywhere and so very much epitomise those very British 'Famous Five' style summer picnics of lashings of ginger beer, bike rides and rain...

Lashings of creative spaces at Kootoyoo...

There is still time to enter my giveaway here...

✴ my creative space

Now that the baba has discovered her legs my time is mainly spent on trying to control the mayhem that often ensues...

Such daily pursuits as; falling in/out of the toy box, climbing over the furniture, chasing fearful cats, pulling the books off the shelves, throwing rice cakes/blueberries/peas into random corners of the house/ironing basket/my pocket, and graffiti style crayoning.

This all requires careful monitoring ignoring and controlling tea supping....

It's futile to try and control a determined toddler who has new legs, and shoes.

Consequently my list of unfinished projects is deficient of triumphant ticks and so I have decided to focus on things I can actually achieve, which has led to picking the wildflowers in the garden.

Bluebells, forget-me-nots and ...er... crushed daisy heads...(thankyou Ella...).

Aren't they pretty though? And so delightfully fragrant. I love that there is at least one tidy, beautiful and, perhaps a little stylish space, on this unreachable mantlepiece, that helps me stay positive and focus on the creative.

My creative space at Kootoyoo.

✴ my creative space

My poor bride-to-be is stuck in L.A thanks to an erupting volcano so had to miss our first headdress fitting on monday.

Which has meant extra time for titivating!

In the meantime, someone much closer to home commissioned me to make them a headdress...

It's years since I've made a daisy chain. What memories of childhood!

If anyone is interested, a daisy chain circlet for a fairytale princess of 15 months takes approximately 14 daisies and 10 minutes make.....And about 20 seconds to rip apart and strew across the garden!

Daisy chain to Kootoyoo for more creative spaces...