#52tagshannemade week 10 - suffolk puffs and lace

I really enjoyed this one, Suffolk puffs are one of my favourite embellishments for stitching.  I used a piece of linen for the backing then added scraps from a vintage tablemat, a purple cotton and a purple and cream check. I added one piece of antique lace on top of the check and another piece on the piece of tablemat, where I also added rows of running stitch. On top of the running stitch I added 3 Suffolk puffs made from mid-19th century purple silk. I also put a piece of purple lace to balance the piece. To decorate, I stitched on some pearl beads and six purple beads.

TTFN 

Louise

A lace and flower heart

One of my penpals has a December birthday, so I decided to make her this lavender heart for her.  I used some floral cotton fabric that I decorated with vintage lace, ric rac that I added french knots to, a crocheted heart, some buttons, including a couple of vintage ones and a heart-shaped one.  I filled it with stuffing and a handful of lavender. I used a piece of velvet ribbon that I salvaged from last year's Christmas crackers so that is can be hung up.

I hope everyone's christmas preparations are going well, I'll be back on Saturday.

TTFN
Louise

A Christmas Wish - a vintage Christmas card decoration with beads

I really like old Christmas cards, and love to use images of them on my christmas makes. This one is a 1930s one I think and as been printed onto fabric. I have decorated it with vintage lace and matching beads. I neglected to take a photo the back, but it's a cream fabric with snowflakes.

This decoration has wended it's way into my Etsy store.

I hope you're having a good weekend and I'll be back on Tuesday.

TTFN
Louise

The green and lace needlecase and pincushion set

I love the mottled pattern on the green linen fabric that I used for these two items, it gives it a faded denim look to the fabric. The lace is vintage and formed a couple of corners of a table-mat that had some stains on it (I do try and not cut something up that is in a pristine condition, though I can't guarantee that I won't!).

Taking the advantage of the lace being so lovely, I didn't need to add much more embellishment to either piece - just a line of running stitch following the edge of the lace and a few buttons. The pincushion just has the one wooden button to go with the matching running stitch thread. I've filled it with sheep's wool that I recycle from packaging. It still has some of the natural oils in the wool so it helps to keep your needles rust free.

The needlecase has two wooden buttons and two vintage mother of pearl buttons that both show the wear of their previous life. I have also added a stitched label to the front. Inside there's a couple of felt 'leaves' to hold your needles that has been tied onto the needlecase cover.

You can find this little set in my Etsy store if you're interested.

I'll be back on Monday.

TTFN
Louise

The rusty red needlecase

This was another of the items in my last wip post that I've managed to finish. It's made from a cotton fabric that I've decorated with a bit of tape lace and a crocheted lace.  I stitched 'needles' onto a piece of edging from a vintage linen tablecloth and attached it to the front of the needlecase with  french knots. I made a loop out of vintage cord and it wraps over a vintage plastic button in the shape of a flower.

This little case has wended its way over into my Etsy shop.

I hope your week is going well and I'll be back on Thursday.

TTFN
Louise

A 50th anniversary textile collage

This is the second item that I made for my Aunt and Uncle's 50th wedding anniversary (you can see the other item here). The image was printed onto vintage cotton fabric and then decorated with vintage lace and broderie anglais. 

There's only a bit of embroidery on this , chain stitch around the image and french knots on the headdress and for the flowers. I've also attached some mother of pearl buttons, some worn from years of use and a few beads.

I've backed it with some more vintage cotton,  and sandwiched a piece of wadding in between. It can be hung up using the two brass rings.

See you again on Thursday. 

TTFN 
Louise 

It would have been finished but ...

This would have been finished once I'd added the lace, however, I got an itch to do some chain stitch in a circle. Then I thought that the one circle wasn't enough, so I added six more! Therefore, there wasn't the time to finish the embroidery, which is why you're seeing it like this.

The circles will either be edged in chain stitch or back stitch and then lace or french knots added to the centre of each circle. 

I still have the present to make so I'll be moving between that and this over the next few days.

I'll be back on Tuesday.

TTFN
Louise

A 'My precious things' pouch.

This little pouch (it's 12.5cm x 11cm) is made from two Ian Mankin fabrics and is lined with vintage linen. The three little puffs on the flap are made from fine linen from an old hankie and the three mother of pearl buttons have been well-used as they're worn in places.

A piece from a vintage doily and three more old buttons decorate the rest of the front, along with a large mother of pearl button the closing loop goes over.

The back has vintage lace, some tatting, four suffolk vintage linen puffs and lots of french knots!

This pouch is destined for the Seagrass Gallery.

I'll be back on Tuesday.

TTFN
Louise