Month: May 2017

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Sewing Box – What’s on my work desk today!

It’s time for a makeover for this vintage sewing box!
Thought I’d join in the WOYWW gang today, for ‘What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday’.
This yummy, vintage sewingbox has been languishing under my sewing table for some time, feeling a bit neglected and waiting for a little TLC. The legs are wonkey, screws are missing and this Little Lady needs a bit of spit and polish.

Our journey together started when I visited a local charity warehouse for my weekly rummage.I discovered the adjoining unit had been taken over by a house clearance company who’d piled lots of rubbish outside just waiting for a skip – or me!

I couldn’t resist a look. First I spotted the handle of a sewing box!  I popped inside and asked if I could have it – “yes, it’s waiting to be skipped”, so I picked it up.  My heart was racing because it was so heavy – always a good sign of treasure.  When I got home, the bottom tray was full of vintage knitting needles and the rest were lined with buttons! Happy me.
Since then, the sewing box has been waiting for a makeover, so I took out my trusty screwdriver.

Continue reading “Sewing Box – What’s on my work desk today!”

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Cotton Mills by the Irwell

Even though I’ve been wet-felting for years, it still amazes me what can be created with some wool roving and a bit of soapy water.
At the weekend I had another brilliant day with the Feltmakers, this time with the very talented Valerie Wartelle. Her landscape work is stunning.
I started with a blank piece of pre-felt and started imagining a landscape of my own.
Slowly the picture developed.
A bit of rolling later.
And a bit of fulling and rinsing later.
The felt was drying.
My Cotton Mills by the Irwell.
It needs a good press, a little bit of embroidery and then framing.
I’m chuffed to bits with it.
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Corsets, Bustles and Lace – Vintage Fashion in Bath

Whatever the weather, there’s plenty to do in Bath.
Me and my chum had been planning a day out in Bath for ages and we’d hoped for some glorious sunshine. On the day we visited it was cold and raining, but that didn’t curb our enthusiasm for a fabulous day out. After lunch in Cafe Lucca we went rummaging around the streets looking some for vintage shops and found the most wonderful Vintage to Vogue, tucked away down an alley, and very close to the Fashion Museum. 
After another cup of tea (we like our tea), we popped into the Fashion Museum for some more vintage treats. Lucky us! There were two exhibitions on – the History of Fashion in 100 
Objects and Lace in Fashion. Here’s a browse through some of the treats we spotted on our visit. 
Gorgeous garments dating from the early 1600’s onwards.
All hand embroidered and hand stitched.  The workmanship’s breathtaking. 

Dresses from the Georgia Period in the 1700’s.

These Muslin dresses of the 1800’s.
 

A beautiful printed cotton day dress dated around 1860.
   
An embroidered Dolman – part coat, part cape, dated 1870.
 
A gorgeous, embroidered silk bodice and skirt dated 1865. 
 
Fabulous vintage ‘fashion on a ration’ 1940’s pieces.

The Lace exhibition was a smaller curated selection of the most exquisite pieces, ranging from historical to contemporary catwalk couture. 
 
Examples of bobbin lace, tatting, crochet and many other forms of lace are on display. 
I never knew there was so many forms of it!
  And to finish. 
I fell in love with this little number from Alexandra McQueen.
 
 If you’ve enjoyed my edited highlights, then pop along to see the other beauties on offer – vintage embroidered gloves, tiny shoes and there’s also some lovely outfits you can dress up in too!