Vintage Crinoline Lady Embroidery

                          I have recently discovered the wonderfully, pretty world of Vintage Crinoline Ladies. Hours of trawling through eBay showed me some wonderful examples of embroidered and tapestry stitched 'ladies' dating back to the 20's and 30's. Time for me to have a try I think!

 I can knit, cross-stitch, crochet, scrapbook and card make but I only ever tried embroidery at about 10 maybe 11 years old. I was trying a simple V monogram for my name (Veronica). Turns out I hadn't been shown how to embroider properly. In fact now I've done some research I think they made it all up!!! LOL. No wonder I couldn't get it to go right...

            SO, after a visit to my local craft shop  (cross-stitches mainly) - 'THE CRAFT CENTRE' in Paignton, I found this printed piece... Purely by chance as they are sadly now discontinued. 

Come on Anchor!!!

We want Crinoline Ladies!!!

Isn't she so pretty?

I took a photo of the un-worked fabric for you.

Lovely clear and narrow lines. Turned out they were pretty easy to cover and the grey print seems to disappear even under white thread.

I choose to sew her in DMC rather than the recommended  Anchor threads.

 

 (I have never worked with Anchor threads...Can you tell me how good they are and how they compare to DMC? ) Notice all the numbers and adjustments I made to the colour guide. I loved doing this piece. I even changed some of the suggested colours , that's real adventurous for me.

Marking off on the skirt as I went.

The early days.
 I'm zipping through it.
 I LOVE embroidery!

I also changed some of the recommended stitches...

And made these flowers into Poppies...

I love embroidering! I cannot believe how well I have taken to it.  And without 'blowing my own trumpet', I think iv'e done a pretty good job for my first time... 

What do you think?  Nice criticisms only please!

eBay was a fabulous place to look into some of the varied vintage transfers and worked and un-worked pieces. The variety was amazing

Different sewing techniques, use of colour, stitches, some women had added crochet or lace.

There are a myriad  of pillowcases (especially in USA, think it was a major thing over there.),

 tablecloths,

 dressing table sets

chair backs/antimacassars (that's a new word to me too)

cushion covers

nightdress cases

teapot cosies

needle pouches

hankerchief cases

sweet tins

biscuit tins

enamel tins 

enameled trinket boxes

and CHINA.

The tea-sets are divine! 

Sadly I have no-where to store them so I will have to wait til the children have left home. They probably be back around a second time by then!

Drum-roll please!!!!!

 Ta Da...

the finished piece.

My pretty Crinoline Lady

Turned into a 'Shabby Chic' cushion

Details...

More details...

And even more details...

A closer look!



I hope you enjoyed today's blog!
Hugs and  Kisses
VEE!

A little different today- My new family...

Our 9 mnth old Lop rabbit Merlieah suprised us Tuesday morning by having built a nest in the hutch, We moved her and the nest indoors away from dad. On Wed she destroyed the nest,pulling it apart and eating most of it. After reading that rabbits will only pull fur once, I became more than a little worried. Was she going to be a bad mum? How was she going to keep them warm? Panic! Panic!

Thursday at 10:30 I came home (after rushing out to get her some emergency soft bedding) to find her building a brand new nest. She spent 4 hours rushing back and forth, first with huge mouthfuls of straw and then equally huge mouthfuls of pulled and plucked fur. Phew!

Within 5 mins of finishing her new nest she had kindled (delivered) 4 kits (babies). Delivery time under 4 mins.

Not normally the friendliest lady, Merlieah was a perfect doll. She allowed me to film her from start to finish, sitting right next to the cage. (I'll put on the link to that once it's on Youtube)
Enjoy the photos of my new family.

 Merlieah starts building the replacement nest, she destroyed the first one.

 

 The beginings of the nest.

 

Collecting HUGE mouthfuls for straw.

 

 Rest!!!

 

Nearly there, need some fur next.

 

Tug, tug. Fur for my babies bed.

 

 Sittting in my nest. Making it all warm and cosy.

                                                                         3+1 = 4

 Katie my 8yr old DD says they look like burnt sausages. 

( Must be Daddie's cooking, not mine,Tee Hee)

  Time for a well earned snack on some Celery.

 Merlieah's  4babies (kits)

Babies born in under 4 minutes. Nest took nearly 4 hours.

Mum and babies are relaxed happy and doing very well.

I will add a link to Youtube with video footage v soon.

She let me record the whole time...

Another tribute to God's wonderful creation.

My Entry for THE SWEET STOP Card Challenge SSS83

Hello, It's been a LONG, LONG time since I blogged properly. It's been a busy year and other things have taken over. So here is my first card challenge in a good while.

  I recently stumbled across this lovely card/scrap challenge site. The Sweet Stop Y not go and have a look.You wont be disappointed!

This is the sketch for this week... Isn't it pretty? The twist? Decorate inside the card.

Here is my entry, my Baby Brother and SIL moved recently so it's for them. Love to U both!

 Inside my card. I will add a personal note too B4 I send it.

I used Magnolia stamps.Tilda stamp and the House stamp.

After colouring with my Promarkers, I cut the images out and the BLACKED the edges...I CANNOT stand seeing all that work and then white edges from the cut-out cardstock. Try it! See the difference it makes? A lovely clean finish. I used foam pads to layer the house, then two foam pads together to make Tilda higher again. The pic doesn't show it too wel but I'm really please how it turned out.

Supplies
Magnolia Stamps.( I stamp all my new stamps, then scan them to PC. This way you can print them out any size you want! GR8 for small or large cards... My Epson ink is fine w Promarker's.)
Promarkers
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Vintage Photo
Papers are K&Co Charlotte (I've had them yrs!)
Polka PP is 7Gypsies- Fernwood (reverse)
Ribbon and
Bassill CS.

Well I hope you enjoyed viewing my card. Please feel free to leave me a comment.

Scrappy Hugs and Kisses

SE-SATIO.co.uk Comp entry

Here is a pic taken with my SATIO phone on macro setting. I've entered it on the SE-SATIO website check out the other entries!

Battle of the Design Teams - Week 1 at The Freeting Farm.

What could be more fun ?

All the many fans of The Greeting Farm (stamps)

 dividing up into teams of 5 or so and competing against each.

Each team must make a card and enter it into the "Battle" in the hopes of being voted for. The teams with the most votes will get to stay in the heat and make a card again the following week. This continues until the final week and a team gets to win a fabulous NEW & UNRELEASED stamp set from TGF...

COOL !

I hope you will join in the fun and go and place some votes over at TGF Gallery  .

The challenge for week 1 is RETRO-ESQUE.

Make a Retro card using this body scrub jar as inspiration for colours etc...

This is my card. 

It was chosen as our teams WK 1 entry.

How fab is that?

Thank You THE STRIKERS !

This is actually Birthday Anya with some altering.

I gave her a New Hat and Rollerboots to give her that RETRO feeling.

I'm pleased at how it came out...

XXX

Now leave some love over at  TGF. 

Thanks People!

xxx

March - A monthly scrapbook challenge from AdornIt.

Who like scrapping???

The photo variety of course!

Well over here AdornIT  is doing a monthly challenge and using Facebook to exhibit the finished articles.

The theme this month (March) is

"What we say...Everyday."

Make a LO including

Challenge requirements:

Quote Strips

Brads 

Striped PP.

What do you say every single day?

"  I love You!"

"Go and Clean your teeth please!"

Here are the pics of my LO.

12 x12 is my choice of LO size, cus I cant seem to do smaller (8x8).

And the rectangle size isnt readily available here in the UK

As u can c my kids have a two track mind...Food and TV!

Paper hugs and Scrappy Kisses.

XXX

My ILP entry. Week 7

Week 7 already ?

I was gona try and keep up but I just havn't. Way too busy, with life, children and scrapping!

The sketch this week is

and must include dots or spots.

Do brads count as dots ? I hope so. The starts on the backing paper cud count too???

Pretty please! x

My card features Cheer Anya from The Greeting Farm.

Gorgeous rubber and digi images, all very cute.

I hope you like her, If so please leave comments.

Paper Hugs and Scrappy Kisses

XXX

Buttons and Bows.

Buttons !

Not something I use very often.

Buttons are something I love but never actually use very often, again its a colour matching thing. I think myb i'm just a little to fussy... a friend said it's not ment to be perfect, it's handmade. Duh? It's even more important that every touch is just right, every line is straight and every colour stays in the lines, NO bits of white edges on your cutting out.

It's a gift, it shud be the best!

In my wierd and wonderful mind anyway!

Do u agree?

Here is my entry for Passion 4 Promarkers.  No 39.

Papers are MME -  Pretty Please Spring Papers.

I used 7 buttons. and ribbon on both front and body of the card.

Sarah Kay Image is a colouring page, pringted, scanned, shrunk  and printed on cardstock.(Google - sarah kay colouring).

XXX

Promarkers used were...

 Skin Tones - Ivory, Vanilla and Oatmeal.

Hair - Vanilla and Tan.

Trousers and Top - Lilac, Lavender and Bluebell.

Pocket was Powder Blue and Rose Pink (spots).

Flowers - Rose Pink and Cerise.

(Not the best combo, I need more pinks that actually look nice 2gthr.)

Leaves - Forest Green and Pear Green.

Hat - Tan and Cinnamon.

Bow on Hat - Lilac and Bluebell.

XXX

I'm off to go and buy the colours for next 4 weeks chal's...

Tulip Yellow

Baby Pink

Bright Green and...

Mango

Thats almost another £8 gone! It's not a cheap hobby this!

Craft Obsessions has them at £1.53 at the mo...P+P = £1.50 under £10.00 spend.

Joanna Sheen £1.69 each w Free  P+P.

Does anyone else know a cheaper place to find them.Links would be appreciated...

 My local store sells them at £1.95 each. and thats 7 miles away...£1.95 pls petrol...Might as well order them!

http://jacqui47.blogspot.com/2010/02/sweet-thank-you.html

Jacquis Candy

More lovely Candy to enter for.

Dont ya just love the generosity of these lovely girls ?

XXX

Rosette's Candy at her lovely Blog.

Yummy Yummy!

I know Y this is called CANDY!

Lots of delicious goodies from Rosette.

Go and have a rest and take a wander thru her blog..Enjoy!

A very Chilly Sat AM in Devon, England... And I'm on my soap box !!!

It's freezin! Ok well 3 OC is freezin to me...I don't do cold. And sitting on my bottom typing this doesn't help keep me warm, but it is fun! And Sat is normally the only chance I get to just SIT and Blog ! The kids are having their turns on the PS2 and Wii, so apart from groans and shouts it's pretty peacefull. NOT! Fortunatly for me I'm pretty good at turning deaf ! And they only get to go on it at the weekend so it's their time to chill too.

Only at the weekends!

 Arn't I mean??? Nope. I don't agree with them spending hours and hours glued to a screen that doesnt provide any company,  LOVE, conversation or support. What IS the point in having children or in being a family if they are constantly shut away in their room or if they withdraw into a world of  make-believe?  How can I possibly KNOW my children if I don't spend time with them?

Can U tell they don't have TV's in their bedrooms either?

I am amazed at the amount of young children that have speach problems... But then I see toddlers and babies in a pram/ buggy and the parent or person pushing it is wearing headphones and listening to music on their MP3 player.

NO CONVERSATION+NO INTERACTION+NO SMILES+NO SONGS = CHILDREN  THAT CAN'T TALK PROPERLY.

I loved spending that time singing nursery rhymes and chatting with my babies...Don't get me wrong, we all have MP3 players, even my 7 yr old but they have a time and a place. Why waste those lovely years when they love the time and attention? It makes me mad!

OK, moan over for now,, time for the fun stuff.....

XXX

I have decided to try and do a few of these chal' over at  I Love Promarkers.

It's gr8 to find a chal' site that exclusively uses Promarkers for the coloring.

Gr8 cus' thats wot I've got!

XXX

Colours used are

Skin - Vanilla, Oatmeal and a dash of Honeycomb around the hairline.

Eyeshadow - Cool Aqua and a dash of Sky Blue.

Cheeks - Rose Pink.

Hairband, Scarf, Belt and Shoes -Rose Pink, Cerise, Magenta and Hotpink.

Top - Cinnamon.

Trousers - Cocoa.

Hair is a motchpotch of colours inc Shale & Walnut. I think!

XXX

XXX

I found this pretty tough cus' I like to have all my papers really matching. I'm not the type of person who can just put papers together and they look fab, sometimes selecting my papers is wot takes me the longest! But I got there in the end.

Papers are mainly DCWV.

Bazzill Cardstock.

Brown flower is coloured using ProM - Walnut.

XXX

Please leave comments, they are much appreciated...

Hugs Vee.

My entry for week 38 Promarker Challenge.

"Agean, Sky blue and Cool Aqua”

That is the challenge this week over at Passion for Promarkers.

I am slowly adding to my Promarker collection so it was great to find a blogsite dedicated to Promarkers .

They do a weekly chal' and also a weekly tutorial to show you new ideas and tricks for using them.

This is my second entry so far and I would love to be a winner.....Prizes are sometimes gift vouchers or even a load Promarkers themselves...A great prize!

This week our selected colours to use are

Agean

Sky Blue

Cool Aqua...

XXX

My entry uses stamps from THE GREETING FARM.

Princess Anya (Rubber) and Prince Ian (Digi).  

Prince Ian is a FREEBIE digi stamp and you can get him here .

I think they came out rather well, although they are a little darker on the actual card.

I hope the guys at Promarker like it!

XXX

I am also entering this as a NON PINK/ RED Love card at Club Anya and Friends.

XXX

Hugs from Vee in England.