Caramel and Lilac Flowers

Flower brooch/hair clip in caramel and lilac with hints of brown.

I love the mix of colours in these and I love the different textures of the petals as well as the fiber filament centre. It's the very first time I've tried a centre of this type and I'm quite taken with the result.

In the photo above you can see the dual backing of the flower that is both a brooch and an alligator clip, which makes it possible to wear the flower in a number of ways.

 They're not all quite the same size. The bigger ones measure about 8 cm or 3 inches across and the smaller one about 7 cm or 2.5 inches.
They are a limited edition. Only six made. 

Of which I've kept one for myself......and given one to a friend...

So now there's just four.

Linked to:
Claire Justin, Annemarie's Haakblog, The Silly Pearl

Sugar & Cloth Fall Wish List!

I was thrilled to find my pink and red Lavender Loveheart Brooches in Sugar and Cloth the other day!

This is Ashley's fall wish list and here is the blog post were you can find the links to the rest of these fabulous items.

Be sure to check out Ashley's blog. It's colourful and fun and filled with lots of diy goodness!

If you want to see some more Lovehearts, just click Lavender-filled Loveheart Brooch.

Favourite Autumn Reds And Browns

This is a headband-sash I made for a friend lately.

I was itching to make something in a riot of fall reds and russets and caramels 

and this was the outcome.

I was pretty happy with it

and it was well received -accompanied by a rusted orange lavender loveheart brooch, in a girly cotton pouch.

Linked to:

My Creative Space, Eat Make Grow, Aloha Friday Blog Hop,Create Craft Love, Annemarie's Crochet Blog

Monday Moodboard - Lavender's Blue

1. TheUnbirthdayParty

2.WISHsupplies

3.FlowersByKara

4. Silvia66

Monday Mooodboard is a game played by the members of the European Etsy Team every Monday. The moodboard is a selection of items from the team that reflect your mood on that particular day. Anyone in the team can join in. Just link your very own moodboard to the host of the game StarOfTheEast.

Tickle Me Tuesday - Lilac Romance

It's been a while since I got to take part in the Tickle Me Tuesday link up over at Yes, Teacher, and I've missed it a lot.

So here are  the things that have been capturing my imagination lately.

1. This perfect fairytale picture in my Pinterest favourites.

I'm afraid I can't find the link to the original source. (I'd better read up on that .....)

2. Cloud pictures in general make me dream I'm lying in a meadow watching clouds drift by.

Now, this one here by LupenGrainne gives the whole fantasy a vintage vibe.

3. I just discovered that the super talented lady behind the amazing StrangeWood Art of etsy has a blog. Called StrangeWood Art, funnily enough. 

This is were I found her 'cloud woman' which I just can't get enough of.

4. Lilacs are one of my favourite flowers and this picture by Alekaki is one of my favourite lilac pictures. 

Isn't that the perfect hue?

5. I promise I'll make a post on Lavender one of these days. It's astounding how beneficial it can be and its uses are so varied.

This post by Revitalise Your Health gives you 13 ways to use it in scrubs, salves, lotions, masks and more.

New Reversible Fabric Box with Heart

I've recently discovered that you can never have too many of these little fabric boxes.

I use them to store make-up, supplies, socks, toys, and just about anything that needs storing really.

This one is reversible -as most of my fabric boxes are.

The heart is one of my lavender lovehearts and it's a detachable brooch that I just couldn't resist attaching to it.

   I like hearts regardless of whether it's Valentine's Day or not, so it's going to be sitting on my desk even after the 14th.

Linked to:

Homework, Gingerbread, Today's Creative Blog

DIY - Easy Lavender-filled Christmas Tree Brooch Tutorial

I remember seeing my first little Christmas Tree Brooch on the internet a couple of years ago. To someone who adores Christmas the way I do it was the prettiest little thing imaginable....

Here's my version of it. A very simple version for even an absolute beginner to ace.

Here goes:

1. Play around with the shape you want your tree to have. When you're happy with it cut out a stencil that you will use if making more than one.

 Trace as many little trees as you want onto your fabric. I'm using a very thick velour-like material that doesn't fray but felt would also be great. Basicaly any material that doesn't fray can be used for the top of the trees.

2. Then cut your trees out.

3. Put them onto the backing fabric -I chose a thick, dark denim- and sew the trees on it with some space in-between.

4. Then cut them out.

In the picture you can see I've left some denim edges peek out. The idea was to have them fray gently and work as an extra pop, to emphasize the shape of the tree. However, this didn't go according to plan as the denim had other ideas and frayed terribly, so after step 6 you will not see it any more as I cut all the denim edges of and I'm much happier with the original tree shape, unadorned and uncluttered.

If you decide you like the edges keep them, if not cut the two sides clean (and perhaps leave some extra fabric at the bottom to make step 6 easier).

5. Stuff them with lavender -or even stuffing if you don't like lavender or you just don't have any close at hand.

Use the best, freshest lavender you can find so that the revitalizing smell and all it's therapeutic properties follow you around all day.

6. Sew the bottom closed.

Make sure you start your stitching about an inch on the one side and take it all the way to the other side and about another inch up that side. You don't want the stitches to come undone and have all that lovely lavender spill out.

This is what the tree looks like after I cut of the denim edges.

7. Attach pin back of your choice.

The Lavender-filled Christmas Tree Brooch is now ready to wear!

Or to give.

I've made quite a few of these that I plan to give out as little Christmas gifts this year.

I've also put a couple in the shop.

Linked to:

Homework, Today's Creative Blog, Grossgrain Handmade Gift Guide

Lavender Loveheart Brooches

Maybe you've seen the making of these little hearts in a previous post, maybe not.

This is the finished product, modelled and shot and in the shop!

Silky to the touch, sweet-smelling, girlie, lavender-filled lovehearts that you can carry with you all day long, pinned to your top, jacket or even your bag .

The colours: dusty rose pink, bright red, mellow burgundy, rusty orange and caramel brown.

I'm a big fan of lavender as well as lavender sachets.

 I think I was hooked when reading about  the long list of healing and therapeutic properties of the herb.

I've been meaning to make a special post about it for some time -and one of these days I will...

Until then, here's the skinny:

Lavender is well known for it's calming, soothing properties but it's actualy also a tonic and a stimulant and is used against exhaustion .

Anti-stress and anti-depressant, it relieves anxiety and can even help balance mood swings.

There's so many uses that the list seems endless......

......I'll have to make that post soon.

Linked to:

Annemarie'sCrochetBlog, Petite Hermine,Tatertots and Jello, Homework, Today's Creative Blog

Tickle Me Tuesdays - That Vintage Feeling

Yes, I've been in a vintage mood lately, and these are some of my beautiful vintage-inspired finds:

1.Postcard From France Cushion by Rosie'sArmoire

2.Lavender Sachets-Organic Purple by Gardenmis

3.Travel Sewing Kit by APlaceToLayMyThread

3.Iphone Case by LisaWineStudios

5.Love Letters by SkippyDesigns

For more Tickle me Tueday posts or for a chance to play along visit Yes,Teacher!

My Creative Space - Red Lavender Heart Brooch

My workspace is full of little hearts in red, pink and caramel tones these days.

The puffy red heart in the picture is my own little brooch and it is filled with a bit of fragrant lavender and spices.

It came about once I was making lavender sachets -which is, I think, a bit more than is normal.

I was trying to make a little red heart brooch but I just wasn't happy with the results. It resisted all my attempts of improvement and completion and persisted in looking somehow flat and lacking.

Untill I plumped it up with some of the lavender mix from my near-by sachets that is.

I love how it swells and dips and looks three-dimensional and I sure love how it smells!

I've been getting requests for it, so I'm making a batch with this pretty fabric in rich, warm autumn tones.

This is how big it is and how it looks worn.

Linked to:

Our Creative Spaces, Homework, Tea Rose Home, Fabric Fascination, Today's Cretive Blog, Petite Hermine