Do you remember my January post about turning my scraps into fabric twine?
My first project with it was to make these.
And I continued with the re-use-recycle idea and folded origami boxes out of Vogue magazine pages to gift pack them in.
Trivet or Doily? – What you call it depends on how you use it!
trivet – doily
handmade from textile offcuts
silk – wool – cotton
origami box
folded from old Vogue magazine pages
recycled paper
© Sandra Alcorn 2014
Following my Purse Project last year using my Kaleidoscope Garden photos I decided to make one for myself using some of my Garden Fairy’s Wardrobe designs.
Choosing just which four dresses was the most difficult part!
© Sandra Alcorn 2014
This morning I wandered into the garden to choose some flowers for ‘In a Vase on Monday’.
Some of the things I picked for this arrangement are Kahili Ginger Hedychium gardnerianum, Lion’s Tail Leonotis leonurus, Iris foetiidissima seed pods and Bergenia leaves.
© Sandra Alcorn 2014
The dark chocolaty brown leaves are from a bush that perhaps someone can identify for me – I don’t think it’s a particularly attractive bush – but I must say it is very effective in a vase.
When I was picking the lion’s tail I liked the stems with just the sculptural trio of green ‘balls’ as much as the ones with the burst of orange petals. In writing this post I discovered they are also referred to as ‘minaret flowers’ which is easy to see why.
© Sandra Alcorn 2014
The still life was arranged on my lounge room mantelpiece and includes some of my vintage wooden cotton reels, the petite shoes bought on my last day in Paris and several volumes of the New Harmsworth Self-Educator that belonged to my grandfather.
It was published circa 1913 and there are some interesting and eclectic topics. Since my blog is called Petal & Pins I found something with a ‘pin’ theme to share with you.
‘In A Vase On Monday’ was started by Cathy from Rambling In The Garden – take a look at hers and perhaps one Monday you might like to share yours!
© Sandra Alcorn 2013
© Sandra Alcorn 2014
The results of my bag making project from The Last Days Of Summer using my photos from Kaleidoscope Garden
© Sandra Alcorn 2014
My silk macaron project isn’t complete but it has progressed.
The Ladurée box I brought back from Paris that sparked the idea for the project had a little mishap with a glass of red wine.
By way of explanation, evenings in the winter months are usually when I work on projects like this – free of my work deadlines that fill summer and spring – a bit of fireside stitching and a glass of red are very complementary – as long as you don’t bump your glass!
© Sandra Alcorn 2014
I think La Belle Miette in Melbourne is the closest thing to a Parisian macaron experience I have found in Australia and their boxes are just gorgeous so I’ve swapped to using one of theirs.
It’s a smaller box but I do have a larger one for when my collection – or should that be selection grows.
So when the last of this season’s brides is complete I’ll dive back into my silk scraps and boxes of beads….and be careful where I place my glass.
© Sandra Alcorn 2013
Silk scraps are like treasure to me and even throwing out the tiniest piece is hard to do.
Occasionally I find a moment to create something whimsical with them – no planning just making something spontaneously and seeing what takes shape.
This mermaid is one such result – her face and hair machine embroidered and her tail hand stitched with sequin scales.
It reminds me of the old figureheads on ships as she has no arms. Perhaps she sings a siren song to the other characters in my cabinet of curios.
If you read my previous posts The Beginnings Of A Dress and Embellish And Adorn you will find the story behind the creation of this dress.
These silk organza flowers are handcut and embellished with a Swarovski crystal in the centre.
The dress does up with small silk covered buttons down the back.
I have just made a shirt for Mr Petal & Pins from fabric bought on last years trip to Paris.
He has several shirts made from fabric bought on our travels – they make a great memento and back home when I start cutting the cloth i’m taken back to that place and time.
The ‘Paris’ shirt is in a pure cotton from Tissus Reine in Montmartre
and the print reminds me of the tin paint boxes I had as a child.
The colours remind me of Chagall’s painting on the Palais Garnier ceiling.
I’ll enjoy seeing Mr Petal & Pins wearing the ‘Paris’ shirt and reminiscing about strolling around Montmartre stopping for lunch at Le Gascon and drinks at our (temporary) local – Le Refuge.
I also bought these Eiffel Tower scissors – aren’t they cute!
Petal & Pins 