Gently sewing up a storm...

After my break away it was kinda hard to get back into the swing of things. I had taken a design pad away with me and had done a little doodling of some ideas I wanted to try out. So to get me back into the swing of sewing I had a little play.To be fair though it was a play with a purpose, a friend of mine runs a little nest of cottages in the most beautiful rural location. We had discussed cushions, doorstops etc... to make the cottages a little more bespoke and that little bit different from the other holiday hide aways. Luxury is the word here and with a country feel. So with this brief in mind I set about a few idea.
Now machine embroidery has become very popular of late and I am a big fan. For some reason though I never thought to have a ago myself, I have worked a lot recently with applique and used bondaweb,it is however time consuming and a little fiddly.
A couple of years ago when I blogged under Suzie Sews I worked on a sampler to learn this skill, mostly for my quilting (click here for post). I loved the weekend I did this and the results are on display in my hallway and it makes me very happy when it catches my eye as I rush out the house. So actually it seemed a natural transition to move on to using this technique with a more structured design.
and these are the results...
I love the shabby chicness of it all, its great to use up all the little bits of fabric I couldn't bare to throw away but too small to actually make anything with. My favourite however, is the stress busting key rings, cute little parcels filled with sweet smelling Yorkshire lavender, so when you feel a little stress coming on, give them a squeeze to release the soothing smell of lavender...

Whilst the lavender was being used I finished of my latest cushion with a little matching lavender heart to pop under the flap of the cushion to give added comfort to this plump, soft, squishy cushion,using one of my favourite vintage Laura Ashley fabric...
With the cup design knitted up using the very talented 'Little Cotton Rabbits' free pattern. To be fair I tried to make my own design as I was away without my computer, but after a few tries, I just could not get the increases right, and why bother when its been done already by such a talented person.

So Dotty Red is back on track and hitting the work room...