Purple tag

Where has the time gone again this week? Once more I am only just in time with my tag- the theme is purple.  The background is a piece of scrapbooking paper. I added the butterfly image, some velvet ribbon and a ribbon rose. The background fabric is net embossed with a flower design.

Grace's Christening and a late tag!

This weekend we have been to Hampshire for my great niece Grace's Christening. It was a lovely day even though she screamed loudly during the service. She was quiet enough for me to have my picture taken with her wearing the Christening gown I had made her. It fitted really well considering I hadn't seen her and didn't  know what size she was and I was really flattered by the compliments I received from people.

My cuddle with Grace

 Home tonight with enough time to make my tag for this week's Tag Tuesday. The theme is Spring cleaning. I used a vintage advertisement for soap and finished it off with lace and a feather.

A Late Tag Tuesday Post

Life has been so busy over the last two weeks that I have failed to make my tags for Tag Tuesday. I have finally managed to make this week's tag- the theme is Easter. I have used a vintage image of a pretty little girl in her Easter bonnet.

One of the reasons I have been busy is because I have been making my great niece's Christening gown. I haven't done any dress making for ages! The lace on the bodice came from her mother's wedding dress.

 The dress has little puff sleeves and the bottom has pin tucks around the edge. It is finished off with some vintage pearl buttons that were in my mother's button tin.

 I have also knitted this little jacket to match in case it's cold next Sunday- the Christening day.

It's Monday so........

once again I'm playing catch-up!!!! First I finished my Tag for Tag Tuesday. This week's theme is "birds" so I adapted a pattern by Bronwyn Hayes and stitched it in red on a cream background.

Next I used another of Bronwyn's patterns to make this cute little purse. Bronwyn has kindly allowed me to use her patterns to make items to sell for charity. You may see more of them posted here!

I then managed to finsh making my Japanese doll. I bought this kit at one of the craft shows several years ago but she got put away in the cupboard and forgotten about as I was ill. I remembered her when we started talking about our quilt show which is being held in October. We have decided to have a Japanese themed area so she can go with the other Japanese items!

Finally I made these two little bunny bags to hold Easter eggs. Just the right size to hold one small egg or a few creme eggs.

Tomorrow will be another busy stitching day. We are having a day making items to sell at our exhibition.

Tag Tuesday -catch up.

I have two tags to show this week as I posted last week's one late! The theme from last week was poetry and I illustrated "The sun has set" by Emily Bronte. The background was coloured with inks and I then stamped grasses and plants with black ink to create a sunset effect. The poem is printed on the back of the tag.

This week's theme is books and I knew I had to choose my all time favourite book fom childhood-Cicely Mary Barker's Flower Fairies. The books bring back so many happy memories for me- times spent looking at the pictures with my mother and grandmother. I still love the illustrations and I have kept my books which have been shared with younger members of the family.

Textiles in Focus

This weekend it was the Textiles in Focus Exhibition at Cottenham in Cambridge and once again Pauline Verrinder did a wonderful job organising the Exhibition.  Yesterday I taught two workshops making Victorian style cuffs with two lovely groups of ladies. Here they all are working hard!

This is a finished cuff being modelled by the young lady who made it.

Back home last night to make my tag for this week. The theme was "Valentines" I just managed to post before tonight's deadline

Tonight it was Chelmsford Embroiderers' Guild monthly meeting and Annette Morgan came along to show her inspiring work. It was a very enjoyable evening.!

Textiles in Focus

This weekend it is the Textiles In Focus Exhibition at Cottenham in Cambridge. It's a really great weekend with exhibitions, stalls, demos and workshops. It finishes tomorrow so there is still time to visit if you live near enough. I am teaching two workshops tomorrow- making antique style cuffs so I have spent the last few days getting ready. I am there now and the packs of materials are pictured below. I just need to pack the car with the equipment I need and I will be ready for an early start in the morning.

I have also managed to finish making this little quilt which was featured in the latest edition of Magic Patch magazine. I have altered it slightly and I am really pleased with the result. I love the combination of patchwork, applique and embroidery. 

I now need to catch up with making my tags for Tag Tuesday