A walk in the valley

Just a quick post today as I’ve got a mountain of fabric and handbags to pattern up and pin. Everything is slightly behind as I’ve been waiting for a delivery of cottons. As I’m probably the most indecisive person in the world it was too much to choose a small palette of colours. I just went with thirty or so! I know that they won’t last long as there’s only a metre length of each but it’s great to have a rainbow of choice. All of the accessories are limited edition for a reason!

I walked through the valley towards Stogumber yesterday, just managing to avoid the thundery showers. The fields are a magnificent shade of yellow at the moment. An increasing number of farmers are growing rapeseed. The oil is becoming more of a lucrative business. It’s a pretty good alternative to olive oil and from the UK so that’s a bonus. There do seem to be loads of yellow fields dotted around this year and I’m not going to complain about that!

We’ve got a small apple tree in the garden which is basically a branch that the previous owner has planted against the wall and given a bit of support. Although it’s a modest little thing, the blossom is beautiful and promises a fair few apples. I am so inspired to make some garlands and hair bands that echo the gorgeousness of these pink and white buds.

And this was the view from the bedroom window last night. I like how the church spires just reach over the horizon. There was something special about the light which made everything look vivid and clear. If only everyday was like that.

Pattern prints

I hope Easter was as relaxing for you as it was for me this year. For the past few years I have always been rushed off my feet at Easter being the busiest time of year at work. So this time I had time to enjoy the break and enjoy my Guylian egg!

I was reminded this week of the fabulous Scandinavian fabric design house Marimekko. I had a love affair with them during my design degree and would always include a little accent of their bright prints in my interior projects! They translate so well to furnishings and clothing it’s hard to resist the cheerful lure of their psychedelic prints.

It was when Jackie Kennedy popped in and bought seven dresses in the 1960’s that the company was springboarded onto the international arena. Check out their website for a great timeline of their colourful past and evolution. Still as relevent today as they were 50 years ago we still see other designers paying homage to the style. SJP sports a colourful number as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex in the city.

Dolce & Gobbana styled this red flower print dress in 2010 in almost identical fabric to Marimekko’s stand out prints. They settled the dispute in the end but it does highlight how coveted these designs are globally.

 I used some fabric from a market in Holland to create this fun bedside lamp. It’s just a simple little plain shade which I attached the cotton. It looks great at night when the colours really pop with the light illuminating the pattern from behind.

I will be making more of these as it’s always been hard trying to match lights with a particular vintage piece of fabric or DIY upholstery.

At a loose end over the Easter break I fancied making something with Marimekko in mind. The bright fabrics translate well to children’s products and I had a little scandinavian cross-stitch print cotton to use. My little girl isn’t quite at the colouring in stage jet but I saw a tutorial on the Pleated Poppy for a Crayon roll so thought it was worth a go.

I love the folksy print and how cute the crayons look all wrapped up. What a great idea for children’s gifts. Isn’t there something comforting about having an emergency stash of crayons in the car or on the go just in case the little darlings need entertainment… I’m going to make a few more for gifts and will pop one in the shop if anyone would like to buy one.

Hannah x

Hand stitched treasure

I am a compulsive hoarder and avid collector of antique lace and hand embroidered linen. Every time I find a new piece it feels unique and different. The fact that someone has devoted hours to quietly stitching the tiny threads gives the material such value in my eyes. For some reason hand-stiched linen has been seriously undervalued in the past few decades. It’s been rejected in favour of punchier, brighter prints. I don’t know of anyone who still hand-stiches fabric with the intricacy and detail that we see in 19th and 20h century pieces. We obviously are all too busy doing important things to have time to hand stitch floral bouquets onto a table-cloth. I don’t use my best pieces as I would be terrified of getting tea stains on them. They’re treasured as pretty pieces of history that I can lovingly protect in a draw, getting them out from time to time. Don’t get me wrong, I know that there is a time and a place for delicate chintz and I prefer to use modern free-style machine applique embroidered linens for everyday fun. Poppy Treffry has a great book for ideas and projects.   

I did attempt some machine embroidery myself but wasn’t very successful. You really do need the correct free motion darning foot and a decent enough machine to keep the tension right. I really enjoyed the speed of it and the quick satisfaction of pulling together little scraps of colour to create shapes and mini pictures.

 

I think I will stick to letters and names however as I find these simple and easy to hand stitch while watching Coronation Street! Names and words look sweet in little frames and make personalised presents.

I bought a table-cloth from my local charity (I like to call them vintage) shop which had  holes that were unrepairable. I cut out the embroidered sections and stuck them in frames so at least some little lady’s work has been preserved to see another day! I think they look cute in the nursery too. Tha Bahoma black vanilla candles give a lovely background sweet scent for upatairs.

I found some beautiful pieces of Devon lace which I think were made for use as tableware. I recon they could be upcycled and turned into dainty hair accessories  with some extra embellishments. It will be my next project.

I picked up this edging from a market in Amsterdam. I have used material like this before to make folksy style belts. If you double back the fabric and add some wooden  curtain rings you have an instant belt! I will post more photos when I find my stash of belts which have gone walk about in the wardrobe.

 If you have any projects you wish to share please do so with a comment.

Hannah x

Instafriday

As this entire week has been dedicated to being outdoors I thought I’d just post a few little snaps of lazy and hazy days. I have loads of work lined up for the next few weeks so thought it would be good to kick back and do as little as possible this week.

There is something satisfying about embracing idleness. We spend every waking minute employed in all kinds of activities but it’s wonderful to step away and appreciate the minutes and hours drifting by. I refuse to feel guilty about all the things I should have been doing. It’s March and someone said it is going to snow next week… I found out some retro red sunnys and caught a few rays.

Tiny had a treat this week and was given a walker with a dazzling light display. Shame that it may just drive me to distraction if she presses the puppy song button to many times. We got a coffee and walnut cake for our efforts and I made some tropical ice cream in honour of the heat. I have to say that pulverizing passion fruits gets tedious after a while and I will probably use ready-made juice next time. Although the fresh tanginess of fresh citrus fruits with a little meringue is great.

I got a few fabric roses made as I set up a little outdoor studio on Wednesday. I’ve been excited about using some BEAUTIFUL peacock feather print silk I received a couple of weeks ago. I don’t have much of it and so want to make something special. Watch this space.

Alfresco Easter table

I have neglected my blog for the last week only because the sun is out and too irresistable to stay indoors. So the clocks went back and all of a sudden we are plunged into summer. The bbq has been lit and we have sat out eating until 8pm when the sun sets over the Quantocks. It’s still too cold to stay out in the dark.

I have been catching up with some sewing in the garden and re-reading The God of Small Things. I remembered it being a bit controversial, but it’s incredibly evocative and beautifully written. Set in Kerala, the heat of India doesn’t seem too distant a notion this week! Having sat on the bookshelf for ten years it deserved another outing.

As Easter is fast approaching I set out a blue and yellow themed table in readiness for the holiday. Easter is one of my favourite celebrations at it doesn’t have the weight of expectation Christmas does and everyone is more relaxed. The spring flowers are out and of course the chocolate is abundant. I resisted the urge to decorate the table with eggs just yet but they will be there on the day!

These daffodils are everywhere at the moment and I love them with blue table linen and crockery. Sometimes I think simple things look the best.

The crystal vase is antique as is the mini mustard pot and wine glasses. I added these cobalt Bristol blue water glasses to match the china.

The vintage crockery is Royal Doulton and the cutlery is a mixture of new finds and vintage Harrods knives.

These stags head salt and pepper pots were a gift and they add a little humour!

I just need to go and find some matching eggs now. I’m sure Milly, Matilda and Betty will oblige me!

I managed to get a few fabric roses done too.

Wall flowers

I have to tell you about one of the most beautiful gardens in Devon. Knightshayes Court is a Victorian gothic manor with a 55 acre estate including a formal garden, woodlands and an amazing walled kitchen garden. It looks best in late spring so there’s still a lot of colour to come, but I wanted to catch the magnificent magnolias. They flower for such a short time it makes it all the more special to see them. I have enjoyed watching them burst into colour for the last four years and it is never disappointing.

They are still only just coming out of their fuzzy buds. I couldn’t resist a few snaps!

Love this one! Little shop of horrors springs to mind.

I tend to use lots of tiny, ditsy floral prints for accessories but magnolias and other architectural flowers like lilies and orchids provide great large prints. Wallpaper and curtains are the perfect showcase. Nobody does traditional chintz better than Sanderson and their fabrics are great used carefully with neutrals.

Persian Poppy indigo linen by Sanderson.

Birdy iPad case

It’s time I introduced the chickens as they are a constant feature of my day. Two blacks and a white they’re called Milly, Matilda & Betty. We’ve never had such productive hens and the number of eggs is to much to keep up with. I have to say I am pretty tired of eggs for breakfast everyday. There are only so many ways to cook an egg!

Having said that, I saw ‘The Little Paris Kitchen’ last night and was inspired by Rachael Khoo’s oeufs en cocotte. I think it’s more of a Parisian lunch than breakfast but I will be giving it a go for brunch.  I like her easy style of cooking and she makes French food look accessible. I also admire the honesty about the reality of cooking in a tiny kitchen. Although it appears rather cluttered, she has a place for everything including the essential cocktail shaker. That’s pretty similar to my set up although I am always intending to regiment the cutlery draw…

In homage to my feathery friends I made a case for my iPad. There are loads of boring polypropylene cases on the market and I wanted a quirky homemade one. I had some of this fun birdy cotton hanging around. I lined the sleeve with linen and added a cream button on the front. If you’re making one at home I would advise against zips or poppers as they might damage the screen. I will be making a kindle version too so that all my little gadgets are cosy!

Bad hair days

I think we all have the odd bad hair day from time to time. For the last few months my grooming regime has become limited to say the least. I was having one of my usual ‘casual’ days on Thursday when I decided enough was enough. Looking in the mirror at my ripped jeans, baggy sweater and tousled hair I tried to remember the last time I styled myself in the morning. Truth be told it had been way too long.

At the vintage fair I saw a copy of this 1943 Elizabeth Arden Christmas advert.

The wording goes…

“Beauty is Eternal. It shines like a light through the ages…it survives every trial…it gives men courage and women hope. This then, of all years, is the year to give a gift of beauty to a woman you love…for there is gallantry in the blaze of a lipstick…ardour on the whiff of a perfume… solace in things to make her lovelier.”

Is there really gallantry is the blaze of a lipstick? Is that why I never get a seat on the bus? I was lucky enough to be given a wonderful complete set of Elizabeth Arden make up last Christmas. The rouge is still waiting to be used and perhaps inspire a little courage and hope… The perfect gold compacts are so luxurious I’m almost afraid of getting fingermarks on them! Anyway, after half an hour of playing with the eyeshadow pallete and blushers we were getting there. I decided to also make a hairband to brighten up my face. Needless to say I ended up making three as I couldn’t decide which colour silk to match the liberty fabric bands.

I think the gold number is the one for me but I’m looking forward to wearing the turquoise roses with a yellow dress in the Summer.

 I had a mini model for the bronze roses!

 

There is something to be said for making an effort and styling up in the morning. Even if I am having a day at home, I will be brushing my hair and putting on a slick of mascara just for my own sense of worthiness. Rolling up at the supermarket in pyjamas surely isn’t good for the soul, even if it is comfortable. I think we all need to wear something a little bit special everyday, be it a flower hairband or some red lipstick. It only took me half an hour to feel more in control and it was a welcome distraction from the mundane everyday chores!

Crikey it’s vintage!

We had a fantabulous trip to the vintage & handmade fair in Exeter on Saturday. Crikey it’s Vintage are in their third year and proving increasingly popular! It was incredibly busy and there was a huge array of beautiful things to look at. The entertainment had a 1940’s theme with the Three Belles singing and a burlesque stocking removal workshop… Many visitors had also taken the time to doll up vintage style and it was lovely to see pin curls, quiffs, prom dresses, lace and stockings. Even Laurel & Hardy put in an appearance.

There were over 50 stalls with vintage clothes, textiles, china, homewares, decor, kitchenalia and collectables as well as some amazing handmade lovelies.

If I had been looking to buy my vintage wedding dress  it would have been difficult to pin down my favourite as they were all so magnificent! Days of Grace sell authentic antique lace and silk dresses as well as new designer gowns with a vintage feel. I had my eye on a Jenny Packham ivory number.

Crown and Glory was one of the most popular stalls with a mass of fun headwear. You could choose from boho floral crowns, spunky star creations and whimsical bobby pins. It has to be said my absolute favourite was a headband incorporating a tiny birds nest and pastel coloured eggs for Easter. Yummy!

In my opinion the best interior products at the fair were from Quincy Lampshades. What a lovely change from all the neutrals in the shops at the moment. The fabrics used are bright, eclectic and fun. They come in an array of colours to match various schemes and themes.

Despite being overwhelmed by the products on offer I managed to restrain myself and bought only two items. I found a silver filigree brooch from a lovely lady selling random antique pieces of glass, porcelain and jewellery. Small vintage brooches are handy for adding interest and I attached mine to one of the petal posy pins. A brooch within a brooch. I also bought a pin cushion that I had mistaken for a cupcake. Goes without saying really!

Rivka Jacobs Millinery had some innovative hats and fascinators, perfect for a trip to the races. I won’t be going to Ascot this year but I was tempted to get a hat just in case. Here is a question. Do you buy the hat first or the outfit? I have always gone for the hat as it’s easier to match up clothes rather than endlessly searching for a hat in the perfect colour. This method has obviously resulted in a cupboard full of unworn hats as I buy before I need one and then forget what I’ve got. A girl can never have too many hats?

Of course after all that shopping it was impossible to resist a bit of a make over. Lucy Milton the hair stylist did a fantastic job in turning many ladies into vintage beauties! I opted for a Rita Heyworth style with curls around the crown and looser length at the back. It was a luxury to escape the crowds for an hour and get pampered. Our make up was done by Jane who did a 50’s feline flick and rouge lippy to give us a bit more glamour. In the 40’s they couldn’t get hold of much mascara let alone eyeliner. Jennie Hill was the photographer on hand to take some stills of anyone who stepped into the studio. Check out her website if you’re interested in a period portrait.

All in all a great experience and well done to everyone involved!

Green Day

Everywhere is starting to look lush again and the fields are turning from the dull brown of winter into the gorgeous limes of spring. With green on the brain I finished a couple of new handbags and have put them up in the shop. Everything I make is either a one-off or a limited edition so I can’t guarantee how long they will be available!

The Julia bag is so named in homage to Julie Andrews as the material reminds me of the clothes Maria makes for those noisy kids in the Sound of Music! It’s lined with a green/pink striped cotton and the bow at the front is just for decoration. It measures about 14″ by 8″ although the amount of material used is about three-fold the width! I made the strap long enough to go on the shoulder. I think it’s pretty and would go with nude heels or an outfit with green accents.

This green rose bag is made with Cath Kidston cotton twill and I really love this one. The colours pop and are so fresh for the summer. With this being Jubilee year and all that I am predicting all things retro to be worth investing in. Kidston has a range of Diamond Jubilee products out now which I recon will be a collectable for the future.

I have never been one for buying things to stay in the box but I do think her Pearly Queen bag is one to hang on to.