Buttons and beads embellishment ................on cashmere sweater

Side view

Buttons and beads on shoulder with trailing buttons and beads down the arm 

I used mother of pearl buttons and beads of various sizes - down to tiny seed beads

The design was dictated by where the moth-holes were! 

I made a fine net lining for the sleeve to support the repairs and added buttons and beads 

Hence the trailing beads snaking up the arm with an epaulette of beads on the shoulder to anchor the design 

Front view

Back and back of sleeve

Well this was picked up this week and she was delighted with it! 

Spiders Web Waistcoat

Latest thing off my hook - a Spiders Web waistcoat destined for Californa USA to Denise
Made in a lovely honey-cream colour in cotton with viscose - giving it a subtle sheen - it has a lovely drape and movement - so swings gently as you wear it !

You can wear it two ways -
1  with a narrower shawl collar with full length at the back - see above
or
2 - you just reverse it (upside down) and you get a much deeper shawl collar and shorter at the back - more like a bolero - see below 

Had a letter back - her comments were that it is beautiful and she is delighted with it - and that makes me very happy .......... I am so pleased!!

House CHAOS! ................... recovering furniture .............

Finally decided had had enough of grotty furniture so started thinking and planning new covers for it all 

As some friends are interested in what I am up to - admittedly not many - I have been asked to post before during and after pics - so bear with me! 

SOFA No.1 The Pink 2 seater Blobby 

Original fabric on 2 seater sofa - pink dyed and faded 

Back cushion feather base cushion foam but base is sprung and all basically sound 

Sourced via Freecycle!! 

Other side with a drift of choices for fabric ....rusts and terracotta's

Has had a cream throw over it  - to disguise the nasty pinkyness 

Pair chairs - covered in pheasants and florals now rather threadbare - again a Freecycle find 

Before 

In progress - trying out ideas ........... 

In sort of progress - well an idea board really. A friend had spilt wine and dark choc late over the cover (and my fav cream throw) - so decided had to recover the beasts  ....as I had just recovered my floor cushions in this heavy duty chenille - to match the Kelim (you can just see the carpet) .thought - see if they fit - which they do - sort-of - do while thinking what do with them and buy time for making new covers 

Thinking cream linens and cottons for summer and warm terracotta's and browns for winter ..........

THE BEAST - a 3 seater sofa vintage with horse hair and springs and ALL the cushions are feather - blissss 

It came with a Sanderson cover in Jacobean linen with print .............took it off and released the cushions (as covers shrunk and made them as hard as nails to sit on) .......and underneath the body of the sofa is in a gorgeous gold brocade (pics to follow) 

So must make covers for the soft squidgy feather cushions and a loose cover for the body of the sofa 

Here we have a mix up - of some of my old floor cushions and odd bit fabric wrapped round one cushion ............ and some various cream cotton and linen fabrics thrown over the sofa 

Plus three new cream cushions in cream cottons - two matching on left and a dusky one to the right in damask 

Ohhh and behind it is a new curtain in hessian with floral print on it - allows light in but privacy at the same time - my stuff for sale hanging on the 'street' side. 

THE BEAST has a Junior - i.e. matching armchair 

Beast's matching chair - now with a calico base cover 

You can see the original Sanderson covers on the cushions - you can see how much they have shrunk and compressed those poor feathers! Bit like a size 16 trying to squeeze into size 8 jeans! 

Piled on top are a selection of cream cottons and linens 

In rummaging through my (admittedly prodigious) fabric stash - found a length of the most wonderful cotton and silk damask with a chenille pattern superimposed on it - not only truly scrumptious but the design runs width ways rather than length of the goods ......so if making curtains you would have to have horizontal seams .........maybe this was purpose woven for furnishings??? Never seen this before with fabric - so a first for me! 

Anyway sun is shining and must get back to preparing for the craft show tomorrow - get DH to take ALL the stuff and pack it in the car for me - and then unpack it all tomorrow for me (and again at the end of the day) - what a sweetie! Lets hope sell something this time! 

Children's Aprons - Crayola, Gardening

Tiny Tot Apron 

Dark green with floral lining and ties with pockets for crayons

Toddler Size Apron 

Navy blue with navy floral lining and ties - with pockets for crayons

Shown with wrap ties around waist 

Navy and floral apron - shown with ties at back 

Small Child Apron 

Green and floral pocket with packet of seeds ready for those  green fingers 

Three aprons - various sizes for either the budding artist or green fingered gardener in the family 

Peninsula Craft Show Saturday 7th JULY 2012

Hi All
Next show is this coming

SATURDAY
7TH JULY
 at
Chelmondiston Village Hall
10AM - 4PM

OXO Picnic Blanket

OXO Picnic Set:

Bag, blanket, 2 cushions and mug-rugs/coasters

Blanket spread out with matching cushions and coasters with its carry bag. 

Made a new picnic blanket - this has a water-resistant cire backing - with patchwork front - 9 squares so deal for playing Noughts and Crosses when the picnic is done - and children/adults needing amusement ................. 

Has matching squares and circles mug-rugs/coasters to play with and/or sue for those wine glasses/mugs 

Also 2 matching cushions for lazing in the sun for that postprandial nap .............

Also a bug bag with lots of pockets (inside and out) for carrying the blanket and pockets for the mug-rugs and other essential picnic supplies. 

I don't know about other countries but I get fed up getting a damp and cold bottom when picnicking with a conventional blanket - so I decided to make a picnic blanket that had a thick wadding and a waterproof backing - so warm and waterproof! From there it grew - 

• oops need a bag for it all 
• plus pockets outside and inside for all your bits and pieces (book/ipad/ireader + suntan lotion + mobile + etc) 
• 2 cushions to rest your head on - for a snooze for you and friend
• 6 coasters/mug-rugs for cushioning that mug of tea/glass wine/Pimm's/cold drink and catching those drips
• coasters can be used to play noughts and crosses - to either amuse the children or adults!  Squares and circles of course! 

Result - something pretty, colourful but really practical! When dirty it can be washed in the washing machine........... perfect for those long sunny summer days and outdoor festivals/concerts 

Cotton Chintz and Silk Damask - Cushions

Two new cushions - either for sale or ...........gifts? Have to see ....

Classic patchwork cushion 

Front is a balanced play on a log cabin - Judges Steps variation,

all in shades of a dusky pink and claret.

The central square dictating the colours used - I didn't add any of the blues, greens or creams - so the central panel would stand out in contrast. I think it worked.....

The patchwork is in chintz, velvet, cotton, cotton sateen, and glazed cotton 

Back is envelope style in a crisp glazed cotton 

Silk damask cushion

A classic acanthus pattern in silk and cotton with a moire silk backing 

I felt the gorgeous gleam of the silk was enough without adding any further patchwork or embellishment.

The damask has a real slubby effect due to the warp being cotton slub threads and the weft in gleaming silk 

A classic small cushion - perfect for the bedroom or on a chair for the small of your back!