Hi Baby Bunting!

It's been a busy few weeks, hence my being MIA for a while. Between job hunting and helping my daughter move house there's been little time for making. So I'm squeezing in little and often bursts of energy at the sewing machine this week and attacking the stash.

Tis the season for celebration and all things outdoors which naturally makes me think of afternoon tea and bountiful bunting strewn across the scaffolds of drafty marquees. What if you want to recreate the look and feel, but have limited space? My mini bunting garland is the answer!

A great way to use of a fabric stash, bunting makes a fantastic finishing touch to a vintage style tea party or wedding.

Here is my retro floral bunting in cream and jam colourway. The background is ivory with a rosebud print in soft red and pink with little touches of yellow and powder blue. Hung on natural cream bias binding. Gorgeous!

And if you're a stickler for the genuine article, my vintage bunting is just the thing.

This mini bunting garland is made from vintage 1960s Burgess Ledward Frome fabric upcycled from curtains. The fabric is a light cotton in white with a fantastic floral print in chartreuse, mint and grey. Hung on crisp white bias binding.

My mini bunting makes a beautiful addition to your home too. As the flags are small, they add a welcome splash of colour and texture without being overbearing.

This luxury  bunting is made from a range of vintage and retro fabrics; Toile de Jouy, linens and florals. Instead of the usual bias binding, this bunting is made with Broderie Anglaise trim making it extra special and perfect for a shabby chic bedroom. My bedroom in fact!

I've teamed it here with a padded screen I made and covered with vintage floral cotton, a chair made by my partner's company Collingwood Sofas, and my favourite French ticking and crochet cushions.

I've also found space in my kitchen diner for a little bit of bunting!

This soft red stripe fabric brightens up my bookcase, adding interest and a touch of softness.

It's a great way to bring a scheme together.


Bunting is available ready made on (you guessed it) the Bunting page or why not have your own bespoke bunting made up? You can send me your fabric scraps or use from my fabric stash. Prices start from only 50p per flag. Click here to email for more details or to place an order.

Meet Peggy, my latest creation...

I felt an urge to do something with the scrap bag as a means of escape from the laptop and here's what I came up with. Meet Peggy, my cute as a button peg bag.

Peggy is made from a mix of vintage and new fabrics left over from cushions I made. I just knew those strips of fabric would come in useful one day. She's practical and strong and holds oodles of pegs. If you'd like a Peggy of your own, I have an abundance of fabrics just waiting to be made up. Peggy is £9.99 including UK postage and packing. Contact me for details.

Spring CRAFTfest closes...and back to work I go

Another week over and another CRAFTfest draws to a close. It's been another brilliant week with festers pooling resources to promote each other in all manner of social networking ways to make our event successful. Over the course of the week we had 3,899 brand new visitors viewing 31,315 pages of fantastic handcrafted goods by our stall holders. As always it's been hard work but a great buzz and most definitely worth it. Read more about CRAFTfest here

So back to the real world for while. What am I up to this week? I've been working on an order for a customer in the US who I have a sneaking suspicion is a bit of a fabric addict. She has provided me with some stunning prints to work with and I've loved working on this order for her as she's given me pretty much free rein to design and make pieces for her that compliment the fabric choices. I particularly love the rucksacks I've been making. Here's one hanging around waiting for the eyelets to finish the drawstring closure.

So well named this fabric "Happy Valley" with its cheerful colouyrway of greens and pinks and scenic print with nods to toile and willow pattern. I'll be finishing these off this week along with a throw, tote bags, cushions and some purses made with lovely vintage brass frames. Phew, such a lot to do!

If you would like to have something special made with your favourite fabric email gill@personal-space-interiors.co.uk with the details.

I'm Back!

Oh my poor neglected blog, how I've missed you...

I've been very busy indeed since before Christmas moving house and having the resulting lack of internet access until Tuesday but now I'm back and raring to go.

Curtains are the order of the day at the moment. I'm in the middle of a lovely order for a customer in New York who has been buying lots of fantastic fabric remnants for me to make closet curtains for her apartment. I love orders like this; make and invent as you go along. So watch out for the finished products and see what I've managed to eek out of the left over pieces. I'm thinking cushions, bags, rucksacks...

Handmade Christmas making progress

How are you all getting on with your handmade Christmas presents? Here is the framed antique housekeeper's key I've made for my sister for her bedroom.

I made this by covering the board with vintage style paper using spraymount for a bubble free finish. The key is attached using galvanised wire fed through tiny holes in the board, tied off at the back and covered with masking tape. Then the passe-partout and board were secured into the frame using the frame's integral clips. 

I have four of these framed keys on my bedroom wall in shades of duck egg - they complement my crochet and ticking cushions perfectly.

CRAFTfest has arrived!

It's Black Friday everyone and there's 10% off purchases over £20 on my website today. Some of our other stall holders are offering discounts too so don't miss out.

So how about some stall previews? Let's start with the homewares category and a look at MinXtures, Perfect Patchwork and of course Personal Space Interiors (me!)

MinXtures

Find more photos like this on Creative Connections

Perfect Patchwork

Find more photos like this on Creative Connections

Personal Space Interiors 

 

Find more photos like this on Creative Connections


Click here for Homewares  at CRAFTfest, the biggest and best online craft fair open 24 hours until Sunday 2nd December

I do like a happy customer...

A lovely pic today from my customer Kate. I made a super soft duck feather boxed cushion and two lovely covers for Kate's gorgeous solid wood settle. She very kindly sent me a photo today of her striped cover in situ.

 

There was a little strip of this fabric left over when I made this cover. And someone appears to have found a very comfortable resting place on it...

 

 

Naughty Lawrence!

 

 

Made to measure bespoke cushion pads, cushion covers and lavender frogs made and dispatched within three working days. Email enquiries@personal-space-interiors.co.uk for details.

 

Click here if you would like to take Lawrence home. I think he's feeling lonely, and he would make a lovely Christmas gift...

 



 

I've gone all Gothic...

Another day, another make. This time a little something for my niece for Christmas. She loves all things Victorian and Gothic which reminded me I had a piece of Victorian fabric from a skirt panel I'd picked up months ago. Beautiful fabric but I didn't have a clue what to do with it. Then it came to me - what do you make for someone who loves Victorian, Gothic and jewellery? A Victorian Gothic jewellery roll of course!



The fabric is difficult to photograph; it doesn't do it justice. It is a rich black satin brocade with an intricate floral design. The inside of the roll is black satin and features two patch pockets, a zipped pocket and a ring holder. The roll is finished with a satin piped edge, black velvet ribbon and diamante hearts. The closed roll measures 21cm x 11cm, so it's the just the right size for carrying in your handbag or light luggage.

I have a limited amount of this antique fabric available. If you'd like a jewellery roll made as a Christmas gift or simply to treat yourself, please email enquiries@personal-space-interiors.co.uk

Retro kitchen envy...

Have I ever told you what I would rescue if the house was on fire? My Kitchen Aid of course - it's true love, always.

Well look what I saw today

 

Now don't you think they make a lovely couple? Trouble is I don't think Nostalgia Electrics are available here in the UK. If someone knows differently, please put me out of my misery.

Vintage joy...

Browsing my favourite blogs has taken the place of reading the Sunday supplement. I always used to look forward to something colourful and glossy amidst the inky newsprint. Now, in this digital age I don't even have to brave the cold to collect the paper. I simply pop the kettle on, make myself comfy (in PJ's and fleecy robe of course), fire up the laptop and away we go!

So what did I find this morning? A fabulous post from one of my favourite blogs: Vintage Living. A gorgeous guide to vintage delights available from Etsy. Here are my favourites.

I'm not normally one for girly and frothy but...

 

 Vintage 1950s Bombshell Strapless Dress

 

 And these stylish beauties couldn't help but catch my eye

 

 The Surya Chairs

 

  

Now, if I could just fit into that dress I could be sat at one of those chairs sipping a violet martini. Bliss!

  

Click here to read the Vintage Living blog