three wishes...

Three wishes, with little pockets to keep your wishes in.  Inspired by a tiny scrap of quilt, 5 by 3 inches long, hopefully now transformed into something to treasure.

Sew Not Strawberry Jam

I just spent a wonderful weekend teaching workshops at Sew Not Strawberry Jam and thought I'd share with you a glimpse of how magical the place is and give you a peek inside Sam's wonderful studio. Two groups of lovely ladies, sunshine, stitching and lots of tea and cake made for a very special few days. Sam made me so welcome and she also has a vintage shepherds hut and a converted horsebox for 'glampers' which are beautifully renovated and furnished - you can see some pictures of them here.

As usual, I took along some of my work to show, the samples I've been showing you, and lots of vintage materials to be used..

The theme of the workshop was 'keep safe', the idea being to make a fabric home to keep something precious in, whether it’s a family photograph, your favourite buttons, or some special stitched words, but it’s a place to keep them safe. I was inspired by 18th century pockets that were worn under clothing and were often the only place something private or valuable could be kept in. You can read a bit more about them here and see some on my 'keep safe' Pinterest board.

I took along a pocket I had made into a kind of installation with objects that might have been kept inside it and hung it in the studio to provide inspiration for the workshop.

The dress I chose to wear for one of the workshop days was a vintage cream silk dress I'd recently bought from an antique fair. It was a bit fragile, missing buttons and needed quite a bit of mending but I thought I could do something with it and had it in mind to wear for this workshop.

It wasn't until I got it home that I discovered a hidden pocket near the hem of the dress, I was thrilled and added a little label and a button. Sometimes things are just meant to be....

Just now the lilac is in bloom...

I was given this ring by my husband's gran. It isn't valuable but it means a lot to me. I wanted to make a special place to keep it safe and to remember her by.

She had a lilac tree in her garden and if we visited when it was in bloom, she would always cut us some to take home with us.

A place for everything and everything in it's place....

I made this little pocket/purse from the tiniest scrap of embroidered fabric, it was just about the right size to make this - I can't even remember where it came from - I had to mend it in a few places and there's a few little stains but that's what I love about using old and found materials... the story they have to tell. The white embroidery was already there but I added a few more french knots in a creamy colour and some beads in the centre of the flowers.

If you're anything like me and you love to stitch, I'm sure you save precious little scraps of fabric that are left over from other projects or just little pieces you find, I know I do. I wanted to make myself a place to keep the little bits of cloth that I cherish...

This is made from a beautiful piece of worn quilt sent to me by a lovely friend I met through this blog - I've never met her in person, but I hope to one day. Do you want to see inside?

I've added tiny patches of my most treasured scraps so I can always keep them and sewn on some of my most favourite tiny mother of pearl buttons (the really tiny ones are so hard to come by, that I save them for my most special things). I collect quotes about sewing and this is one of the ones I like the most.

First Aid for the Soul

This is another little 'keep safe' I've made as an example for forthcoming workshops.  I made 'First Aid for the Soul' as a tactile little emergency kit for those difficult days - or moments. A place to keep positive reminders as something to turn to. A reminder to be in the moment and to appreciate those moments.  A good friend once suggested I write down three positive things each day. It's something I try to do from time to time but don't always manage, but it can be helpful and certainly makes you start to notice and appreciate things - hence the 'capturing moments' pocket. The embroidered 'be here now' is a reminder to myself to stop and take a moment, especially when my mind gets itself all wrapped up with difficult thoughts. Lastly the little 'words of comfort' pocket is a place to store helpful quotes, words or sayings.

You might be interested to know about the materials I've used?  I found the piece of vintage linen I've used for the outer cover and the pockets of the little wallet in one of the fabric boxes when I did my workshop at Hope and Elvis. It is lovely and soft and worn and a bit stained in places and only just the right size to make this little fabric folder from - I used it all up. I just knew it would be perfect for something.  The circle is cut from the centre of a doyley and has the most beautiful hand stitching round the edge - much neater than I could have done. The leaves on the pockets and the little motifs around the circle are cut from vintage lace and I've added tiny beads and sequins. The flowers on the pockets are cut from a vintage silk handkerchief, very carefully stitched down and embellished with tiny beads. The silk used for the cross on the front is from a vintage kimono and the darker coloured finer linen used on the inside is from an vintage tea cosy cover. The little book fastens with a hook and eye.

Gosh this is quite a long post for me! Thanks for reading and to everyone who comments here or who sends me an email. It is wonderful to know that people connect with and appreciate the work that I do.xx

Nature finds

I made this little fabric wallet to house my nature finds as an example for the next couple of workshops I am doing, the theme of which is 'keep safe'.  I'm always bringing the treasures I find on my walks with Sparky my dog, home with me. Now I have somewhere special to put them.

If you are interested in doing a workshop with me I will be at Sew not Strawberry Jam in July, at Indigo Moon Creative Workshops in September and at The Weavers Gallery in Ledbury in October. Click on the links for details. It would be lovely to see you there.