New home!

Exciting times have meant (another) quiet spell for my blog, I am super excited to have moved into a beautiful apartment and have been enjoying furnishing, decorating and making for our new home! :)

 

 

 

Here's a couple of snaps, it's not all finished yet but it's getting there! Anyway, I did without my sewing machine for about all of 48 hours before I had to unpack it and start work on pretty things for the home.

 

 

 

 

The first was this patchwork table runner to brighten up the dining corner of the lounge, we're going for a travel/explorer theme in this room which sort of  happened more than being planned with a ginormous world map, light up globe and travel themed art work. So I thought a sea-like combination of greens and blues would work well, with a splash of gold and monochrome chevron to tie it in with the cushions on the sofa. Next projects; map fabric to cover the dining room chairs and matching placemats! Must dash! :)

Retro fabrics and suprising skills!

I've had this wooden storage box for years, my dad made it for me way back and it has had a few different transformations over the years. It started off covered in lilac fur ( there's no accounting for teenage taste right? :P) then it was hot pink, then black and now this great retro fabric which I've also had stashed away for years. I've been clearing and sorting pre house move and being really ruthless on what fabric I get to keep. If I don't have an vague idea of what I might do with it it has to go. This fabric was a bedspread I bought in a charity shop that I always loved but wasn't sure what for, it had been stored in said wooden box for years and so it seemed natural to put the two together! :)

 

I was pleasantly surprised by my skills of upholstering, the last incarnation was decidedly dodgy but I'm really pleased with how this worked out, all neat and professional! Now what else can I re-cover?

A splash of colour

I recently discovered The village haberdashery which stocks the most gorgeous fabrics and delivers super quickly which for someone as impatient for new fabrics as myself is a big deal!

 

I'm collecting together fabrics for a new quilt to go in our new living room. I like the idea of always having something close to hand to snuggle under on the sofa. I'm planning the decor in our new place to be light and bright with lots of splashes of vivid colour so I've chosen these shades of orange, fuschia, and mustard and olive, I'll add to them a deep blue and some black and white.

I'm going to try something different patchwork - wise too. I visited a patchwork exhibition today which was full of gorgeous quilts and plenty of inspiration. I usually stick to squares because they're easy and because I like the simplicity of the design but I want to try a log cabin design as a bit of a challenge. Watch this space...! :)

Ruby Red & Gold

Such exciting times at the minute, my lovely and I are about to embark on renting our first home together, which is a beautiful apartment with gorgeous wood floors, a second bedroom all for me and my sewing, and floor to ceiling windows which will let in so much light! I am far too excited and everyone who knows me is probably sick of hearing me gush about it already, sorry! :)

But it does mean that I finally get to start creating beautiful things for our home, so much to do! I've started with some cushions for the lounge, I wanted grown up and sophisticated but colourful and I found all these scraps of stunning silk dupion for £1 each. £1! A panel of gold adds sophistication and I'm really loving the geometric blocks of colour.

 

The knitted cushion was originally destined to be a scarf but the colour matched so perfectly to the silk that I changed plans and stitched the rectangle to form an envelope. My knitting is never the neatest but I like to think it adds a charming, homespun quality :)

 

 

Lastly, I felt some element of pattern was needed and opted for a striking monochromatic chevron to tie in with the geometric theme, backed and piped with more of the silk for a pop of colour.

 

I love these cushions and can't wait to get them into our new home! :)

Oxford

 

Last week we took a little trip for a few days to the beautiful city of Oxford. I was a great opportunity to relax and unwind a bit. I didn't even take my diary(!) and I wasn't allowed to think about any work. Some stress-free time was just what I needed and the gorgeous architecture of Oxford created the perfect backdrop :)

 

 

 

 

 

Lace wedding dress before and after

I have to admit I thought this dress was pretty horrible before, beautiful lace, but long sleeves and a high neckline, combined with a ginormous gathered skirt were just too much!

 

 

 

But removing the gathers, sleeves and high neck revealed a very chic, simple gown which showcases the gorgeous fabrics perfectly!



It's been a while...

...since I last posted, again. Life just seems to be keeping me so busy recently I haven't had time to even think about the blog! It's been a whirlwind of dress making, crafting, snow, flat hunting(!) a little holiday away and so much else, in other words, life is good :)

 

A few snapshots of recent weeks...

 

 

Wedding dress makeover

Here's another something I've just finished working on. I was given this dress which was something of a blank canvas and instructed to pretty it up a bit. I didn't want to add anything too fussy, just enough to accentuate the simple cut of the dress. 

And so here is the 'After' I added panels of lace to the front of the bodice which I then embellished with sequins and small pearls. I echoed this with more lace around the back dipped neckline which adds elegance and just enough sparkle without being over the top!

Ta da! Midnight Rose at The Emporium!

I am so grateful for the opportunities that are coming my way at the minute! I'm lucky to have so much work on, so many exciting projects, I would never have believed a year ago that things would be working out so well and I am eternally grateful for that. My days are busy busy busy filled with pretty fabrics, gorgeous dresses and always something new and exciting! One down side to this is that I'm neglecting this blog, which makes me a little sad but then you can't have everything in life can you.

 

 

Exciting event of this week was moving to my new bigger space at The Emporium, it's about 3 times the size of my old space so plenty of room for lots of lovely gifts and home wares! :) Here are some photos of the new space, there's still some work to do, there's another wall which needs hooks for tote bags and hanging embroideries but I'm already super pleased with how it's all working out!

 

Just a quick post...

...to share a custom bunting order I sent out last week! I'm always open to commissions, £2 per letter flag and £1 per plain flag + postage! :)