Friday 25 May 2012

Why bother to blog?


This question has been raised in a few of the blogs I read recently. Do people still read blogs when there's Facebook and Twitter for status updates and there's sites like Flickr and Pinterest for pictures?

For myself, the answer would be yes, both as a reader of blogs and a blogger myself. I don't kid myself by thinking that there's a world out there waiting for a missive from me, my viewing stats prove that. But I do like to share what I have been doing or making, and if other people want to read it or not that's fine with me. I used to worry about not blogging regularly, and perhaps I would increase my readership if I did, but I have decided that as I really just blog for myself, I can give myself a little blogging holiday if I wish.

As for other people's blogs, I love reading them. I can read about what other people are up to, what they're making, reading, visiting etc. I am able to get to know people from all over the world, as well as the UK, including America, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Finland, Sweden and Denmark. Through reading this blogs, I can also be pointed to other blogs so the list of blogs I do follow is getting bigger! Having a smart phone has helped with this, I can read them whenever I like without having to go on to a computer. I do have to watch that I don't spend too much time on them as you can become totally absorbed if you're not careful!

In case you're interested, here are a few of the blogs I follow:
TTFN
Louise

Friday 11 May 2012

May-June Elsie May and Bertha newsletter



If you click on the link below you can have a read of the May-June 2012 edition of the Elsie May and Bertha newsletter. The newsletter has news of new products, fairs Elsie May and Bertha will at and a small article on lace.


TTFN
Louise

Tuesday 8 May 2012

Lacey hearts

The other day I was having a wander through some of my sewing and craft books, and in one (Victorian-style Needlecrafts) came across a picture of lavender sachets made out of lace. As luck would have it, I'd come across some of the remnants of lace from my wedding dress. As the dress was made 23 years ago, I think that makes the lace vintage (and me along with it!). So I decided to have a go at making some hearts using the lace. As the lace is used as one of the sides of the heart on its own decided to fill the hearts with rose petals as the holes of the lace may let lavender flowers through.




For the back of the hearts I used some light cream cotton from an old chair back. I cut the hearts out and sewed one lace piece to a cotton piece, by laying one on top of the other, right-sides out, leaving a gap to add the petals through. The raw edges are disguised by the lace sewn all round the heart.


Once the heart had been filled, I closed up the gap and fixed the lace all round the heart. I then added the ribbon loops, via the vintage buttons and added the ribbon rose to the bottom of the heart.








The hearts are now available to buy in the Elsie May and Bertha shop.


TTFN
Louise

Wednesday 2 May 2012

Creative Stitches and Hobby Craft show

Last Thursday, 26th April, me and my Mum went to the Creative Stitches and Hobby Craft show that was being held at Aintree. Neither of us had been to one of these before so we'd been looking ward to it.

There was a mixture of stalls selling everything you could need, stitching and crafting wise anyway, demonstrations and exhibitions. The exhibitions included ones on lace, Downton Abbey costumes, tatting, patchwork and Japanese embroidery.

We had a great day, took lots of pictures (some of which are below), spent a bit too much money and could have spent lots more (there were loads of beautiful things to buy) and came away with loads of ideas.


















We'll definitely be going again of they come back to Liverpool!

TTFN
Louise