New Patchwork Embroidered Heart Brooches

I've been busy making some new pieces and I'm pleased to say that they are now available in my Etsy Shop! Introducing my new patchwork embroidered heart brooches! Each heart is made up of a patchwork of fabric scraps, hand stitched with gold thread. Along side the fabric scraps I have used pieces of a vintage embroidered tablecloth, overlaid with my own hand embroidery. They are backed with soft felt and a brooch pin.

I came up with the idea when I was experimenting with different ways of using fabric scraps and I have really enjoyed the process of developing these. I'm looking forward to making more of these brooches- each one is unique and one of a kind, so it's a bit like making lots of different fabric collages!

Now I'm off to make one for myself!

New Button Brooches

Just stopping by to share a little shop update with you all today! I'm working really hard to add new pieces to my Etsy Shop at the moment and I'm photographing all the pieces myself, so it's a learning curve, but one that I am enjoying very much. This week I added three new button brooches- two knitted ones in a lilac and a pale blue and a lovely mustard toned Harris Tweed one. They are all handmade by myself and embellished with tiny pieces of upcycled fabric, stitched onto the brooches in gold thread. 

The button brooches look equally lovely worn on their own or as a group to brighten up your favourite cardi or jacket.

Thank you for letting me share these with you today, I hope you have had a fab week!

Louise xx

New Harris Tweed Necklaces!

Over in my Etsy Shop I've just added some new additions! During the cold snap I've been really looking forward to Spring and with that in mind, my latest Harris Tweed mini embroidery hoop necklaces are inspired by Spring gardens. The bright blue, pale pink and lilac Harris Tweed necklaces are embellished with tiny pieces of colourful upcycled fabric, hand stitched onto the tweed in gold thread- they remind me of gardens in bloom! The mini embroidery hoops are strung on a 24" silver plated chain and hang at approx. 12".

As with all of the pieces in my Etsy Shop, these necklaces arrived package in a beautifully hand decorated gift box, so they are ideal for gifting or as a lovely treat for yourself. 

If you'd like to have a closer look, take a peek into my Etsy Shop here. Have a fab day all!

Upcycled Fabric Christmas Gift Tags How To

I don't know about you, but at this time of year I love being surrounded by wrapping paper and ribbons and glitter and sticky tape, watching a Christmas film as I wrap Christmas presents! I like to give my gift wrapped packages a personal touch by adding handmade gift tags. Today I'm sharing my really simple and thrifty How To for fabric scrap gift tags...

1) You will need

Fabric scraps (I used felt, tweed and tartan), gift tags, scraps of ribbon, scissors, double sided tape (not pictured)

2) Cut small squares of fabric for your "presents." You could make a template if you want to, but I cut mine freehand. Add double sided tape to the back of each square and stick onto the bottom of each of your gift tags

3) Cut pieces of ribbon to decorate your fabric present and attach using double sided tape. You can make each tag unique by using different fabrics and differing pieces of ribbon to dress your present design

4) Tie a little bow in contrasting ribbon to decorate the top of each present. Attach using double sided tape

That's all there is to it and you'll soon have a lovely set of unique gift tags... Happy making!

You could also use the fabric present idea to make your own Christmas cards

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas!

New Harris Tweed Mini Embroidery Hoop Necklaces

Just dropping by today to let you know that I've just added three new Harris Tweed mini embroidery hoop necklaces to my Etsy Shop! There's a lovely navy blue, sea green and bright pink and each piece is embellished with upcycled fabric pieces. They would make an ideal gift as they come with a beautifully hand decorated gift box, but would also make a great treat for yourself! I've got a navy blue one and it's my favourite accessory at the moment- they are very versatile and can be worn dressed up or down. Also available in mustard and burgundy Harris Tweed, take a look at them in my Etsy Shop and let me know what you think! I can even make you one as a custom order if you'd like one in a particular colour, just drop me a custom order request on Etsy. 

Have a lovely day all!

Makes Using Felt Flowers

Last week I shared this How To showing you how to make felt flowers and I so was so chuffed to receive such a positive response- it seems that lots of you are in the mood for Spring inspired makes! Today I'd like to share just a few of many many ways you could use your felt/fabric flowers...

Add details to your flowers... 

There's no need to buy anything for this make as chances are you have everything you need already!

This is a really thrifty make, using scraps of felt or other fabrics left over from other projects and you can raid your stash of embroidery thread, beads and buttons to add different centres to the fabric blooms and create your own unique flowers. 

Cut leaf shapes from scraps of green felt and stitch to the back of flowers to create foliage

Crochet a chain (or use ribbon) and either stitch or glue the flowers onto it using small pieces of felt to create a pretty garland

Attach a felt flower to an elastic hairband and wear flowers in your hair!

Glue a flower onto a ring base to create a great statement ring

 There are so many ways you could use the flowers. I'd love to know what you are making with yours- share your makes in the comments!

Happy making!

How To... Handmade Patchwork Mother's Day Card

It's Mother's Day this Sunday 6th March! I always like to make my Mum a handmade card- I love making cards and I think it's so lovely to receive them- I always keep them when I receive one. This Patchwork handmade Mother's Day card idea is a great way to use pretty fabrics from your stash (if you're a regular reader you will know that I love a stash busting How To!) and could even be mounted in a frame after Mother's Day. Here's how to make it!

1) You will need

Blank greetings card, pretty fabric scraps, small piece of paper for making heart template, ruler and pencil, pins, fabric scissors, embroidery thread, small piece of cotton fabric for use as backing, small piece of Bondaweb, double sided tape

2) Cut the piece of cotton fabric to the size you would like for the background

3) Cut strips of fabric the length of the background fabric and to a width of your choosing. I was aiming for a random patchwork effect so the pieces are of different widths and are not cut perfectly straight

4) Heat your iron and cut the piece of Bondaweb to the same size as the backing fabric. The Bondaweb will have a paper on one side and a side that feels rough- this is the glue. Apply the rough side of the Bondaweb face down onto the backing fabric, so the paper side is facing you. Cover with a piece of baking parchment or a thin piece of fabric to protect your iron and iron for 10-20 seconds. If you iron it for too long it will be impossible to peel the paper off (I've learnt the hard way!). Peel off the paper- do this while the Bondaweb is still hot, or the paper may be difficult to remove

5) Decide how you would like you fabric strips to be arranged and place them onto the prepared backing fabric, overlapping them slightly. Cover with a piece of baking parchment or thin fabric and iron for 10-15 seconds to fix the fabric to the background- the fabric strips should now be attached to the backing fabric. Trim the edges of the fabric if necessary

6) Draw a heart shape onto thin paper or card and use this template to cut the fabric heart

7) Pin and then stitch the heart patch to the middle of the background patch. I've simply over sewn the heart but check out more stitch inspiration here. Next, stitch around the edge of the patch to seal the edges- again, I've over sewn the edges but you could use blanket stitch or add a decorative embroidered border

8) Write "mum" in the middle of the heart lightly in pencil, or use a heat dispersing pen and embroider over the top using running stitch

9) Attach the patchwork to the blank card using double sided tape. After Mother's Day the patch could be mounted onto strong card and displayed in a box frame- it's both a card and a gift!

Happy making!