Things are good, life is grand! I think I've managed to get things up and running for this project reasonably well now. This blog is well under way and while exploring the benefits of social networking I've also managed to set up a Facebook page - please pop over and have a look, add Sepia as a friend to network with me! Go to
http://www.facebook.com/sepia.moods
I have a few items listed for sale in my online shop
http://folksy.com/shops/SepiaMoods
I bought the domain name www.sepiamoods.co.uk for just a few pounds and was able to set up a one page web site free of charge while I consider whether or not to buy a full web hosting package. Here is the website link:
http://www.sepiamoods.co.uk/
Moo.com are offering a free sample of business cards in a pack of 10, they arrived this week and I'm really pleased with them. My logo and contact details are on one side and a photo on the other. Very nice! It's easy to upload your photos and the instructions are simple ~ I'll definitely be buying cards from them in the future.
Tuesday 26 March 2013
Saturday 23 March 2013
Vintage wooden cotton reels
Who remembers when threads came wound onto lovely chunky wooden reels?
They're very hard to find these days but here I confess to yet another collection! I've been adding these lovely cotton reels to my Victorian Closet for quite a few years now. I like to re-purpose them and have been making little treasures like this:
The little one is only 2cm tall and is wrapped with printed tape that says "Faith Hope and Love". Sometimes I like to leave the original labels on and this one is a J & P Coats 80 yards of Super Sheen machine twist 40 weight. Who knew! But it had a nice shade of purple thread on it which I wound onto a couple of bobbins and will use in other projects. Sometimes the labels are falling off - if so, I carefully slice them off with a scalpel and save them to use another time. Complete recycling!
This larger reel is wrapped in tape and lace and contains a wee message:
This reel had no label so was topped with a vintage crochet flower and shell button. I will be listing these and others like it in my online Folksy shop - http://folksy.com/shops/SepiaMoods . They come packaged in their own little organza bag and make lovely little keepsakes or thankyou gifts.
They're very hard to find these days but here I confess to yet another collection! I've been adding these lovely cotton reels to my Victorian Closet for quite a few years now. I like to re-purpose them and have been making little treasures like this:
The little one is only 2cm tall and is wrapped with printed tape that says "Faith Hope and Love". Sometimes I like to leave the original labels on and this one is a J & P Coats 80 yards of Super Sheen machine twist 40 weight. Who knew! But it had a nice shade of purple thread on it which I wound onto a couple of bobbins and will use in other projects. Sometimes the labels are falling off - if so, I carefully slice them off with a scalpel and save them to use another time. Complete recycling!
This larger reel is wrapped in tape and lace and contains a wee message:
This reel had no label so was topped with a vintage crochet flower and shell button. I will be listing these and others like it in my online Folksy shop - http://folksy.com/shops/SepiaMoods . They come packaged in their own little organza bag and make lovely little keepsakes or thankyou gifts.
Saturday 16 March 2013
The Closet Victorian ~ and you may wonder why .....
...... well, as I've said, I am the closet Victorian ~ who seems to have now come out. My alter ego is revealed!! But I wonder, how did this happen....
When I was very young my grandmother often used to show me the things she kept in her personal treasure chest. She was a very practical and down to earth person so it was always a real treat to look through her collections of photos and souvenirs and hear her memories and stories of times past. She was a young girl during the first World War and her sweetheart sent her the most beautiful embroidered silk postcards from France and a Valentines card too, so delicate and pretty ~ I loved them. Have you ever seen any of these?
Her photos were all in sepia tones of course and they always seemed to have a bit of warm soft glow about them. Thinking of these, my blog name ~ Sepia Moods ~ seemed quite appropriate for this style of work.
She also had bits of lace and silks, jewellery, ribbons and buttons. One of my favourite things was a walnut shell which had been lined with white padded silk and on it rested a tiny red elephant perfectly carved from coral. The walnut shell was opened by a tiny gold hinge and clasp.
Maybe this was the start of my love of all things pretty and lacy. I'm also a collector and a hoarder and have all sorts of things stashed away ...... coins and stamp collections, old Victorian newspapers and magazines, beer mats, and many other things including every letter that anyone has ever sent me and lots of special cards.
Thinking of days gone by and times past, here is a little box panel I made using an old suspender (no, not one of mine!!!) and other bits and pieces. It stands on a wooden easel for display:
I do love making things like this! Hope you like it!
When I was very young my grandmother often used to show me the things she kept in her personal treasure chest. She was a very practical and down to earth person so it was always a real treat to look through her collections of photos and souvenirs and hear her memories and stories of times past. She was a young girl during the first World War and her sweetheart sent her the most beautiful embroidered silk postcards from France and a Valentines card too, so delicate and pretty ~ I loved them. Have you ever seen any of these?
Her photos were all in sepia tones of course and they always seemed to have a bit of warm soft glow about them. Thinking of these, my blog name ~ Sepia Moods ~ seemed quite appropriate for this style of work.
She also had bits of lace and silks, jewellery, ribbons and buttons. One of my favourite things was a walnut shell which had been lined with white padded silk and on it rested a tiny red elephant perfectly carved from coral. The walnut shell was opened by a tiny gold hinge and clasp.
Maybe this was the start of my love of all things pretty and lacy. I'm also a collector and a hoarder and have all sorts of things stashed away ...... coins and stamp collections, old Victorian newspapers and magazines, beer mats, and many other things including every letter that anyone has ever sent me and lots of special cards.
Thinking of days gone by and times past, here is a little box panel I made using an old suspender (no, not one of mine!!!) and other bits and pieces. It stands on a wooden easel for display:
I do love making things like this! Hope you like it!
Wednesday 13 March 2013
From my Victoriana box
Here a few bits and pieces from my 'Victoriana' box. The little green treasure chest I made from a matchbox, and the vintage cotton wooden reel I covered with printed tape and lace:
Next I wondered how a lacy photo would look in soft focus so I added a couple of feathers and softened the photo:
And softer:
I'm thinking of producing these as a range of cards or postcards and perhaps using them as sticky labels as well ~ I always send purchases in beautiful wrapping as I think it all adds to the enjoyment of buying.
Next I wondered how a lacy photo would look in soft focus so I added a couple of feathers and softened the photo:
And softer:
I'm thinking of producing these as a range of cards or postcards and perhaps using them as sticky labels as well ~ I always send purchases in beautiful wrapping as I think it all adds to the enjoyment of buying.
Monday 4 March 2013
Vintage Needlecases
Over the years I've collected lots of vintage linens, doilies, lace, silks, ribbons, buttons and beads. I love to make new things out of the old, recycling and remaking to create textile arts with a vintage look.
Here is a needle case made from an upcycled crocheted vintage cotton table centre.
The cover is softly padded and inside are 'pages' of soft felt to act as needle keepers. The case has been machine stitched and hand embroidered, then embellished with lace, ribbons, beads and pearl buttons, fastened by ribbon.
My vintage style needle cases are available to buy directly from my online store at http://folksy.com/shops/SepiaMoods. There are several available at the moment and although similar in design each will be slightly different. They make lovely gifts ~ perfect for Mother's Day coming up on March 10th! And don't forget Gran!
Here is a needle case made from an upcycled crocheted vintage cotton table centre.
The cover is softly padded and inside are 'pages' of soft felt to act as needle keepers. The case has been machine stitched and hand embroidered, then embellished with lace, ribbons, beads and pearl buttons, fastened by ribbon.
My vintage style needle cases are available to buy directly from my online store at http://folksy.com/shops/SepiaMoods. There are several available at the moment and although similar in design each will be slightly different. They make lovely gifts ~ perfect for Mother's Day coming up on March 10th! And don't forget Gran!
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