Tag Archives: vintage

Suffolk Puff Brooch Tutorial

Posted on by Abi

Suffolk Puffs seem to be turning up everywhere these days and they are such a simple and fun thing to make. Of course there are many many ways in which you can use them, you can embellish some clothing or add to a bag, but today I thought I’d show you how to make our Suffolk Puff Brooch. We have used dark fabric but of course the type and colour of fabric would dramatically vary the final look of your badge.

You Will Need

2 Pieces of Fabric

Needle

Thread

Ribbon

Felt or non fraying wool fabric

Trimmings (thinner ribbon, ric rac etc)

 

Step 1

First we need to cut two circles out of your chosen fabrics. Our circles measured approx 10cm and 8.5cm across. To make the puff shape place your fabric down with the wrong side facing up. Then turn over a small hem and stitch a long running stitch through your hem all the way round. When you reach the beginning gently pull your stitches to gather them.  Repeat with your other piece of fabric.

 

Step 2

Now lay your smaller puff on top of the larger and sew through the middle to attach together.  Now cut a piece of felt approx 4cm across. Sew your two puffs to the felt circle, again sewing through the middle.

 

Step 3

Next we used a blanket stitch to firm up the edges of the felt, but this is not absolutely necessary. To the middle of our puffs we attached a lovely old vintage button from Prague.

 

Step 4

Now cut a piece of ribbon approx 16cm long, cutting diagonally along the edges.  Then fold your ribbon in half and attach any trimmings you might like, sewing across at the top to keep in place.

Step 5

Stitch the felt circle to the ribbon and then sew a badge back or safety pin to the back.

 

Ta-Da you have made a beautiful Suffolk Puff Brooch!

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Memories Of A Lifetime Christmas! Book Review

Posted on by Abi

Time for a festive book review! Christmas feels like it’s approaching with alarming speed right now, in fact it feels like that most years. But if you embrace the idea of a homemade Christmas what better than a book to help you along the way. I recently received a copy of Memories Of A Lifetime: Christmas by Nancy Rosin from GMC Publications.

This book has the unusual advantage that you are instructed to cut into it’s pages! The book offers 57 pages of scrapbook prints that you can cut out or photocopy. Or if the idea of cutting up your new book doesn’t sit well with you, all the images are also provided on an enclosed CD so you can print them off at your leisure.

Most of the pictures have a vintage and somewhat Victorian feel to them. There is a gallery at the front of the book with suggested uses of the images. One such use is to make a bookmark. Here I mounted an image of St Nicholas onto card and added a gold tassel.

 

Next I decided to make a present tag. I used a luggage label as the base and a gorgeous snowy scene as the image.

Finally I made a Christmas card using an image of a snowman. I think he looks a very jolly fellow and perfect for the season.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, I would. It isn’t filled with writing or bogged down with ideas so some people might long for a tutorial or two more. But if ideas and images are enough to inspire you then you really can’t go far wrong with this book.

Could it be improved in anyway? Not really. As I said some people may prefer more detailed step by step instructions of projects. But there are plenty of books on the market that already offer this. What this book offers is a no nonsense library of beautiful images ready to be turned into beautiful creations.

Book Details

Title: Memories Of A Lifetime Christmas

Author: Nancy Rosin

ISBN: 9781402723674

RRP: £11.99

Publisher: Sterling

Publication Date: Spring 2006.

 

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The Elegance Of Chandeliers

Posted on by Abi

I absolutely adore Chandeliers, the way they hang from the ceiling, the way they glint as light hits them, the way they can ooze elegance into a room which previously had none. The larger and grander the better, at least that’s true when I see them hanging in country houses etc. Of course most of us aren’t lucky enough to own a home worthy of a handmade or antique beauty, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still appreciate them. One of my favourite places to visit and see Chandeliers is Venice. But I am not talking about the crowded squares of San Marco or the usual tourist routes. To really appreciate Venice you have to walk away from your guide books and explore the hidden areas, the shops that only locals frequent. There are many antique/junk shops hiding down small alleys.

In one shop I saw the largest Chandelier I have ever seen, of course it’s hard to depict scale in a photo, but believe me it was huge!

In another shop stood a large workbench with glass drops set out ready to mend broken chandeliers. The street was very dark, which made it hard to take photos, but the shop plus street was like looking into a past that most of us have forgotten, the real artists Venice.

Of course you can buy chandeliers in any country in the world. Modern ones are usually wired for electric lights, which means they can be used daily. Have any of you purchased a bit of grandure and hung a chandelier in your home?

In London there is a beautiful tea room called Le Chandelier which aside from wonderful food also sells beautiful chandeliers.

Or perhaps scour the antique shops near you and buy up antique chandelier drops, I have seen these made into beautiful Christmas decorations, or pendants to hang in a window, the possibilities are endless. We have made some of our favourites into jewellery here.

LittleYayas

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