Progress on the blue and white piece

I've only been working on this since Sunday, so a lot has changed from what you could see in my last blog post. I filled in the remaining edge with some white cotton and stitched the remaining edges that were just pinned on. I've also filled in in the last empty spaces with fabric or lace. I've added some beads and lots of stitch. I only need to add a few more details and it'll be finished.

I'll be back on Thursday.

TTFN
Louise

Edges

Both the white on white and blue and white pieces I'm working on started off with a piece of fabric cut from a vintage cotton sheet so they have raw edges (the blue and white one started a lot smaller than it is now and it was extended with another piece of vintage sheet and then topped with a piece from a napkin with it's edge still attached). I could create a hem on each edge but it's more fun to use different bits and pieces instead.

As the top edge is already done, I hemmed the top edge of the broderie anglais, adding some sequins as decoration and the piece of floral fabric on the left.

This blue-stitched edge came from a fragment I got in a scrap pack - it's still waiting to be sewn down.

The bottom edge is a piece from a chair back, with most of its lace cut off and used elsewhere (the flowers I added to my skirt came from it)

This white edge is from the same cloth as the top half of the piece.

This one is a scrap of fabric

This is an edge from a tablecloth.

I often cut pieces from the insides of tablecloths or napkins etc and not need use the edges of the item, so I keep these in a china bowl in my workroom until required. For the blue and white piece in the photos above, I've used a number of different edges, as indicated in the caption for each photo.

The white piece turned out to be just the right size to fit a three-sided edge of a napkin, as you can see in the second photo of the white piece above. I've attached each edge with stab stitches through holes of edge and I'm now in the process of buttonhole stitching around the cut edge of the edge piece. All I need to do now is find something to edge the bottom edge.

I'll be back on Tuesday.

TTFN
Louise

Wips*

More stitching etc has been added to this blue and white collage piece. The printed flower may have some extra stitching added to the image, I'm waiting to see how it fits in with its completely surrounded. I'm currently in the middle of stitching three suffolk puffs onto the blue gingham patch.

This is the start of a cushion cover. I've used an embroidered corner of a vintage napkin that I've stitched onto two panels of fabric (the seam of the third piece has yet to be permanently stitched down) and added some beads too. I'm waiting for some fabric and beads I've ordered before I can continue with this wip.

 
This last one is a skirt that I'm making for myself. It's the first piece of clothing I've made for myself for years, so I've gone for a really simple gathered skirt, made from two rectangles of black and white gingham and it has an elasticated waist. I'm trimming the hem with some vintage broderie anglais and some cotton lace and I'll also be adding some suffolk puff flowers too.

Hopefully, I'll have finished the skirt when I next post on Wednesday.

TTFN
Louise

*wips - works in progress

Blue and white pincushion

The start of this pin pillow was the butterfly fabric that has been designed by Geninne, a fantastic artist who lives in New Mexico, USA. I then chose the other two fabrics to compliment it. I have high-lighted five of the butterflies with beads and embroidery.

The edges where the fabrics are joined are decorated with lace, buttonhole lace, blue cross grain ribbon and stab stitch.

I have also tied on three 1940s buttons, along with some flower lace in the section on the left.

This pin pillow is now available in my Etsy store .

TTFN
Louise

Blue and white gingham lavender sachets.

Blue and white is a classic combination and I found this organic cotton gingham at The Draper's Daughter (they have a fantastic collection of fabrics) and thought that it'd be perfect for making lavender sachets with.

The first ones I made have hangers so you can hang them on a coat hanger or door handle. I decorated each one with a piece of vintage embroidery (from an old tablecloth) and lace daisy's that were originally bought for bridesmaid dresses when I was little (all of the stuff in my staff eventually gets used even if they've been there for over 35 years!). The hanger is blue and white braid and is tied on with a little button.

The second set are sachets for popping in a drawer or placing on your dressing table etc. Each one has a corner from a vintage fine cotton hankie, attached with running stitch and french knots. Once they were sewn up I tied on a tiny mother of pearl button at the point of each hankie piece.

All of the sachets are just filled with dried lavender flowers and are available from the Elsie May and Bertha Etsy store.

Happy Easter.
Louise.