Tuesday 21 December 2010

Seasons Greetings

Seasons Greetings to you my friends.
I haven't really been getting out much just lately :-) a combination of feeling crappy and the harsh winter weather. So my blog has become a little samey and rather boring, I feel....apologies, I am hoping to do something about that over the next few weeks but in the meantime, I wanted to show you this week's makes...
Lovely, lovely old envelope dated, I think, 1968. The colour mix and serious portraits of the stamps alongside a 1960's illustrated trumpeting angel is just so pleasing ... I have added lots of ephemera and textured hand embroidery too.

Then onto this little sweetie. It is soooo tiny, 3" across and dated 1952. I have applied a silk picture of one of my vtg doggies and you know the rest.

In the mood for making heart shaped brooches too...just as a matter of interest, the silk flowery background is a copy of a piece of 1930's Liberty silk. I have added vtg map and French floral fabric for lots of textural goodness :-)

Quite honestly, all I want to do at the mo, is make these needlecases ... sad, I know!




Last Sunday, someone played a cruel trick and another birthday came around! The years are whizzing round at what seems to be top speed, scary, really scary.
Anyroadup, the current husband knows me well enough to know that buying me this abbottandellwood brooch would make me happy, and indeed it did. Check out their web site. Desirable, quirky and just damn fabulous work.
Thought I would throw in a few pics of the old decs...







Well, that's me for now... I would like to wish you the happiest of holidays, a beautifully peaceful and joyous Christmas and the best of new years.
Thank you so much to everyone for their support all through the year. Every single comment has been so very much appreciated. Thank you to lurkers for regularly reading and for all Followers too.
All my love
viv xxx

Friday 3 December 2010

Brrrrrrrr

Hello!
Well, back in beautiful October, had anyone suggested that the UK would have snow fall such as the one we are experiencing, we would have had a little snigger!
I took these photos this morning when my two little quadruped friends and I went for a breath of verrrrry fresh air.



All the extremities were pretty frozen within ten minutes, so gorgeous as the sparkling snow and ice, sunshine and blue sky was...I quickly retreated to the warmth of the fireside with a very large cup of caffiene and a mince pie...last thing on earth I should be indulging in, but what the heck!
My Mum has dealt in antiques and bric a brac for 25 years and I have been lucky enough to relieve her of a few lovely things down the years...one of which is this little, old and worn bunny. I love her so much, she is so sweet and friendly, I have spoken about her before. Here she is, on the front of two needlecases...
Front...
Back...
Opened out...
Inside is new Liberty Tana Lawn...

And the other...she wanted a photo of her profile, to show off her cute little tail!Back...
Opened out...
Lots of texture, loose threads etc....
I recently purchased larger purse frames, so these purses are almost clutch bag size...
This beautiful child is taken from a very old French photograph....She has a large silk bow in her hair and is holding full blown roses in the photograph. I have transferred part of the picture onto cream fabric and embellished with old millinery flowers, embroidery and made it into a sweet little brooch.
All in Etsyland.
Well, that's me done for today.
Once again and I know I say it every post, but thank you to everyone for commenting, new Followers and for stopping by. x

Wednesday 1 December 2010

It's a beautiful sight, we're happy tonight...

Well, Billy is lovin' the white stuff! He hasn't seen snow before this week, and it has been a joy to watch him playing in fresh snow! Aww Bill.

A big, huge, gigantic thank you to everyone who has kindly left comments, followed and just been blinkin' great of late. Sorry I have been a miserable so and so. Still having difficulty sewing and struggling with the Fibromyalgia, but anyroadup...
Just a short little post today of 'makes' now on Etsy.
Needlecase...


A little vintage tin...
containing this...
A vtg playing card box...
containing this... A little coin purse...
Pretty handmade bow brooches...made from Liberty and all things old and lovely.





Thanks for stopping by. x

Wednesday 17 November 2010

I met her in a club down in old Soho... Where you drink Champagne and it tastes just like cherry-cola...

Hello!
I am so happy to tell you that I have been fortunate enough to have an article published in the USA's Somerset Life....all about my Keepsake Boxes.

Somerset Life Magazine is absolutely gorgeous! I knew it would be but seeing it in the flesh has been a true thrill. We have nothing like it in the UK. Full of inspirational art and ideas.
The Somerset Life team took the photographs of my Keepsake Boxes. They worked real magic with their creative sensitivity.


Thank you to the Somerset Life team. It has been a real priviledge.
~O~
You may remember in my last post that robryan has an Exhibition at Stafford's Shire Hall Gallery.
All I can say is WOW!!!! It is a jaw droppingly fabulous Exhibition. I can't begin to tell you how many original incredibly intricate papercuts are on display, all sizes.

I can't imagine how hard everyone must have worked behind the scenes and Mr. Ryan too, to put this collection together. A thoroughly enjoyable and inspirational Exhibition.


Ceramics inspired by Staffordshire's pottery industry.
The original illustrations for Carol Ann Duffy's book 'The Gift'.








I hope you have enjoyed seeing these few snaps I took last Monday. The Exhibition runs through to 9th January.

Thanks so much for stopping by. x