Pansies

There's pansies, they are for thoughts. (Shakespeare)
Friend sent me the 2 pansy paintings, I thought how well they went with my little Language of flowers book.
Still working on my pansy and butterfly crazy quilt.

vintage folio

I create books and albums and journals and more, from paper and fabric.
One of my passions I must admit.
Here is a glimpse of one I made to celebrate beauty, women and French vintage.
I hand bound it with yarns and beads.
There are some pockets inside, some old lace and lovely pictures.
Here just a couple of the pages.

Take a journey to Provence with some of my photos.

On left are some of the fabrics one can see in an open shop.
Hotter colors than those found in the North.
Lovely rural scene from atop a walled village and a famous cafe for sure.

Plump little book

Small book from a class I taught here.
Stuffed full of ephemera and things. Lots of fun to work on this scale. 3 x 4.5"
Nice to hold in the hand and dream. Remember that trip and the sites we saw?
This helps to keep travel alive in one's mind, I find.

Gone but not forgotten

Decorative French wall cone has gone off to a collector in England.
Will have to make more.

Wall pocket art

Used lots of old lace and an image to create this french ticking pocket.
Now for something quite different, I am off to swim with the mermaids.

Glimpse of our best little shop on the corner.

Antique glass beads, some lace ruffles, Mokuba ribbon and other goodies.
Quaint little shop on the corner.
Creations by You, is their name and they have just about everything.

Glimpse of our best little shop on the corner.

Heavenly lace

I have a bundle of European lace to sell, picture here.
Includes Cluny lace, Reticella, tatting, crochet lace, bobbin lace and needle lace and swiss eyelet lace. Came from a European lady's estate, pre 1940.
I am putting it in a Rural Jardin bag I made to hold it. I have limited space so am letting some go. Oh! my!
10 items. Clean and perfect. Know some of my followers may be interested.
Putting in my shop later today.

French treats

Put together a random collection of 3 little treat bags with assorted goodies inside.
Couple of the contents here. An oiseaux and her nest.
You can see the rest in my shop along with couple other things including a lace journal.

French portrait doll

Just completed the doll I was working on.
She is a Parlor doll from Provence, and showcases some of the fabrics from the region.
14" tall she can hang on the wall or sit on a sofa.

Exciting songbird news

One of my favorite native birds in NZ that was threatened with extinction.
Now is making a great comeback in the city of Hamilton, my birthplace.
See the Mighty River that runs through it on left. The Waikato.
I am so delighted, I grew up listening to the songs of this tui, look at the colors and the white throat.
Ki te aroha toku manu.

I loved this little garment

Now it is gone.
OH! well have to make another.
I am just a big kid, love dolls and their clothes.
Rustic hand stitching make them so perfect in their imperfections.
Look for another of my dresses as art, in the next Sew Somerset.

Love paris banner

I hand embroidered the letters on this banner and used French fabrics to construct it.
Looks great in Rounneries fabric and old ticking.

crochet some buttons

I have jars of buttons so thought I had better use a bunch.
All you need are your fingers, a crochet hook, thread and buttons.
Thread 40 buttons onto the yarn or thread. Leave attached to the ball or skein.
Crochet 3 chain, pull button down and crochet 6 chain, repeat till long as you like.
Or mix it up, sometimes I do 4 chain and then 8 chain. If you do these repeats you do not forget what's next. You may not use all the buttons.
Crochet ends together to complete.
Sometimes I put several together, be careful with metal or heavy buttons, they do start to weigh a bit. Wear in summer, several strands together look nice.

I am hungry when in France

Paul bakery in France. One of the best around.
Grab some Cafe au lait and a pastry or two and enjoy the ambience.
This was in Rouen where the fabrics I often use come from.
Like Rouenneries from French General.
No time to sew, eating is all it is about when I am there.
It is the capital of Normandy, if you wonder where.

Photos from some of my trips

I like to take photos and the South of France is a great subject, every where one points the camera.
Here are a few of my favorites.

Paris Journey

Couple of lace journals, for your journey.
Tabs with French places names along the lace edged pages.
Fun to make these, how to tute is below of course.

French tassel and my curtain banner

While I was working today , snapped these shots of my window and thought the tassel that hangs from my ceiling fan looked good in the view.
No a/c here but it is hot and humid.

And I have a winner.

Sherry Edwards in England.

Well done.
If you are sad you did not get the prize, I have made more and there is one now in my shop.
Thanks for coming by, I always feel a bit sad choosing just one name wish I had a gift for all of you friends.
Aloha Lilla

Home art

my funky kitchen collage with old items from the past.
I add to it from time to time.
Other is my indoor 'garden' on the wall of my Paris attic.

French sap bucket

Made these rough linen, sap buckets to hold seasonal flowers and hang on a door knob.
They make nice gift bags to hold trinkets, sewing stuff or other goodies.

The give away will be drawn next week.
Terri, about the cottage, I cannot find your email to discuss putting it on fabric so let me know
aloha

Lace collage book and cover.

This is the result of the Tutorial below.
I will give the book away this month so leave a hopeful message if you would like it.
It is very nice, I think anyway, with blank pages with lace edges and a French stamp image. Maybe a surprise in there too.