It’s got to be colourful…

September 17, 2012February 8, 2025 Julie Gardner2 Comments

I visited Top Drawer at Olympia for the first time today and was supposed to be all set to write a blog post about it when I got back… However, (you knew there was going to be a however didn’t you?!) I went with the lovely Interior Designer Kate Lovejoy, and spent too much time chatting, plus it was more gift ideas than interior products, but it was fun anyway. We finished the morning off with a trip to Goldhawk Road and lots of great fabric shops (all called ‘Fabric something or other’), followed by a delicious (but very messy!) felafel wrap from the market, yum.

Back to Top Drawer anyway… I did spot a couple of designers that I was very drawn to – so you see I am writing a blog post after all, just can’t help it now I’ve sat down and started tapping away! I’m very into Scandinavian and 1950s designs at the moment, even more so than usual. I think it’s the bright colours and clean lines that do it. A nice one for home-wares was New House Textiles – I would love one of their simple chopping boards to brighten up my kitchen.

Another company I’ve never heard of is Littlephant, a Swedish brand created by designer and illustrator Camilla Lundsten. Again, I must get my hands on one of their mugs, which are lovely and colourful, just what you need for a nice cuppa when it feels like the summer is slipping away…

It must be nearly time for a new handbag too, I would love one of these Littlephant bags! But would I need to co-ordinate my outfit? Hmm not sure I can manage that every day…

Poppy Treffry had a stall too – I still really like her designs and it makes me want to do some machine embroidery again soon (I asked and they do actually use old Singer machines for all their work and Poppy’s sister even recognised her stitching on Kate’s Poppy Treffry bag – wow!) Check out one of their videos on You Tube, it’s very inspiring!

So perhaps you can tell from this blog post, I like colourful patterns at the moment and I really think it’s the change in the weather, it just makes me happier – when can I get my hands on one of those handbags?!…

Sewing projects

All nice and cosy…

December 1, 2011February 8, 2025 Julie Gardner1 Comment

I know not many people use egg cosies these days but my six year old wanted me to make him one and how could I refuse? It gave me a chance to have more of a practice at machine embroidery and was pretty simple to make, thanks to my lovely Poppy Treffry book. I look forward to seeing him use it when he has a boiled egg for breakfast this weekend! 🙂 It’s not as big as it looks in the photo by the way and just fits an egg nicely.

Oh yes, I asked his friend if he would like me to make him one and he said “Yes please, can I have a lego brick on mine?!” Now there’s a challenge!

Sewing projects

I’m so excited!…

November 23, 2011February 8, 2025 Julie Gardner2 Comments

The joys of machine embroidery! — Machine embroidery book and a lovely picture by Lucy Anne Harding

It’s funny what makes me happy these days, you wouldn’t believe… Last Sunday was my birthday and I opened a small package from my husband containing an embroidery foot for my sewing machine, then proceeded to cry with joy. Mad I know, but that’s how much I love what I’m doing right now and want to learn more. I was so excited I ordered a book by Poppy Treffry straight away and thanks to good old Amazon it arrived today, yippee! I’m hoping to develop my personalised house portraits by designing a machine embroidered sky for the background. Hopefully I’ll be able to get one done before my stall at Norden Farm on Saturday 3rd December, no pressure then!

I must say too that I was inspired last weekend when we visited a craft fair at South Hill Park in Bracknell where I met a young artist called Lucy Anne Harding. She works with her Dad on his milk round and sketches him and the doors they see on their way. Then she puts her drawings onto ceramics and machine embroiders them onto fabric to make the most gorgeous pictures. I love her style and the colours she uses; there’s a lot of talented people out there… better start reading that book!