One Of A Kind

  Just thought I'd share my newest creation with you all.

 

It's made from a beautiful screen-printed floral furnishing fabric and is lined is silk duchesse satin. I think it's the most luxurious thing I've ever made!
I've only made one bag with this sort or large frame before, and I wasn't 100% happy with it, but this one has turned out exactly how I wanted.

I love the shape of the bag, and the way the metal complements the colours in the flowers. I had a little of the fabric left too so I made a coin purse to match!

 Both the bag and the purse are available at the Made Here Pop Up shop in Liverpool One, opposite Topshop.

Bunny Bosworth: Treasure Hunter

Every few months or so Decorative Fairs put on a big Vintage fashion and textiles fair in Liverpool and it is always worth a rummage, even more so today as it was in the beautiful St Georges Hall.

Although I was on a fairly strict budget, and was absolutely not allowed to buy anything for myself, I still picked up a few pieces that will find their way into my work soon.

Hand embroidered table linens.

 A large piece of Sanderson furnishing fabric, fantastic blousey flowers!

 

Beautiful, old, cream lace, a crisp white lace insert doily and some wooden spools of cotton. (Frivolous Pink!) 

But best of all...

A pair of Liberty of London curtains for a mere £15! There's plenty of bags to be made with that, so watch this space.

Go Wild in the (west) Country

Had myself a little holiday this week! My good friend Jo moved down to Bristol last summer and terrible friend that I am I hadn't visited yet, so while I had a little time and a little money I booked my trains (excellent opportunity for uninterrupted knitting) and off I went!

While I was down there we took a day trip to Bath, first stop was Wool, a fabulous little knitting shop tucked away on a side street and brimming with beautiful yarns and handmade items. Another crafty pilgrimage we made was to The Makery, full to the brim with fabrics, ribbons, stamps, buttons...Took us a while to find it, but on our wanderings we found a fantastic bakery so all was not lost.

Another gastronomic feature was Gillards of Bath, a tea and coffee merchants in the Guildhall Market, perfect for presents.

A trip to see the Royal Crescent is a must, I was looking forward to some Jane Austen fantasising and architectural splendour and I wasn't disappointed.

 But I wasn't expecting all the personal touches, like rambling roses;

 ..and idyllic courtyard gardens.

 I did feel a touch bad as we peered through the railings, snapping away with our cameras at peoples homes and gardens, but if you live in one of the most famous Georgian wonders in Britain I expect you get used to it!

No guilt at The Assembly Rooms though, a really wonderful destination if you find yourself in Bath, particularly for Austen fans. The ultimate hangout for regency Ladies and Gentlemen, its Ballroom and Tea Room were the centre of Bath society in it's heyday. When I was there it had been festooned with colourful knitted bunting, ready for the jubilee celebrations.

 Inside the building is much as it was, sadly the ballroom and tea room were being used for functions, but the Great Octagon gave a little taste of the luxury enjoyed by fashionable society.

 

And in the basement is somewhere I have been meaning to visit for a while.

 

 The Fashion Museum houses an incredible collection of historic and modern clothing, presented beautifully and full of fascinating information. The collection of sportswear was a real treat; 1920's tennis dresses, Victorian riding habits and edwardian swimwear plus much else. The best part though...

...getting to dress up!