The stockings are hung

1st December - the tree is decorated and the stockings are hung - the count down has begun!
I love the old dress form which I renovated with pictures from vintage lace magazines. I've draped it in velvet ribbon and a luxe stocking.

Braiders Bobbins and Mason Jars

 

Wind you lace and ribbons around these wonderful Vintage Braiders bobbins that have arrived in from Austria. Beautiful diamond pressed glass Mason jars are ideal for home made candles and pincushion storage jars. Decorate with your favourite bronze charms.

Crafty Christmas Giving

That Magical time of the year is fast approaching but there is still time to make something beautiful for that special person from my range of kits.  Don't forget to check out the Mother of Pearl and silver chatelaine accessories, needle keeps, thread winders and scissors.  Great Christmas giving ideas from Accessories and Scissors!

Strawberries On Ice

A cone in embroidered silk topped with my Hanah silk ribbon flowers and silk velvet strawberries all dressed for the festive season.  Strawberries On Ice  
I didn't realize in how many of my designs I had used the silk velvet until I was looking at them to share.  I guess it's a love affair!  How about you - what textures do you love?

Divine Pears

Working with hand dyed silk velvet has to be one of my favourite things especially when it is lushly embroidered with Hanah silk ribbon flowers, chenille and ribbon leaves and enhanced with sequins beads and diamonties. The silk has such a beautiful bloom that you often don't see until it is made up.
I've sculpted two different coloured pears because I just love the colour plays.
                                          www.larainesoncapri.com.au

Christmas Kits

There is still time to indulge in some wonderful Christmas stitching.  My kits have everything included for a worry free experience.  There's no running around looking for supplies - just get straight in and start stitching.  www.larainesoncapri.com.au

Beguiling Puffs

I've been making my hand dyed silk velvet puffs for so many years now but I just can't get over them.  I think it is the texture and the way the colours change when they are gathered up. You can add sooo many other gorgeous threads and embellishments to them that they sing.   I've enjoyed making them so much that I haven't been able to put my needle down.  It is the beginning of a needle case and at the rate I'm going it should be finished soon. Now to work on a magic interior!

Bees of Paris

Fat Bubble bees are some of my favourite things. This bee was taken in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris and the bee hives are part of the rejuvenated bee enclosure.  Where we live on the Gold Coast I only see the small bees and the tiny native bee so the lovely fat bees are a treat.  See my Pinterest pages for more Bees and Ladybugs.

All That Glitters

 

All That Glitters

Gorgeous new ornament for Christmas featuring a mix of gold and silver metallic threads, braids, beads, vintage French sequins, rosemontes and Renaissance ribbon flowers on a background of Dupion silk with a vintage button to top it off.  Being released 1st of October for the OPEN DAY!

Storybook Steam Boat

A beautiful spring day at the Southport Yacht Club and a perfect storybook steam boat on the water.

Treasure Purse

Just finished!

A little treasure purse in crazy patchwork to add a gorgeous touch of glamour  to your sewing basket.

I love the combination of the mother of pearl handles, the vintage heirloom buttons and the little seed pearls.  It makes you feel happy to use all the beautiful silks fabrics, threads and sequins.

The kit should be available in about a week - I couldn't wait to show you.

Byron Bay

 

 

A magical weekend was spent at the Byron Bay Lighthouse cottages with a group of stitching friends.

The weather was cold and blowing but the morning light on the sea was silvery with dramatic afternoon sunsets.  We saw some whales, a bride and a marine rescue - plenty of excitement.  Lots of good food, laughter and some stitching - what better way to spend a weekend!  I can highly recommend it.

Wonderful Spring Colours

There's lots of new shapes and colours to choose from in my range of sequins. The tiny 3mm. multi coloured cup sequins above, sit prettily on a square of hand dyed Colour Streams felt with silk ribbons in colours to match. They all work perfectly with the Mokuba flower trim. Yum!

                          
There are wonderful colours available in the hand dyed felts and felted fabrics, silk threads and Hanah ribbons.  My easy to do brooch kits combine all the elements of the felt, silk threads, sequins and wild fibres in a stylish way. A great way to begin stitching for spring.

New Crazy Patchwork

Here is just a sneak peek at my latest crazy patchwork project.  I love the lime green with cherry, purple and gold embellishments.  The silk velvets are so satisfying and lush to use.  I've combined them with silk chenille and variegated ribbons for a very rich effect.  I think it will be an exciting and sumptuous work-bag worthy of a Queen.

Winners of the Ladybug Pattern

Congratulations to Lee Carmichael - QLd, Bev Cooper - WA, Franceann Russell - Texas USA, Yvonne Flood - NSW, Ann Morey - VIC. Your Pattern and threads are on their way. I hope you enjoy making the ladybird as much as I did.
Laraine

Silk Chenille Ladybug

This month I'm promoting the wonderful Thread Gatherer's Silk Chenille with a give away pattern of a cute little ladybug worked in chenille. I will include a sample of the red and black chenille to try. There will be 5 packs available and the lucky winners will be picked randomly.

     Like to participate?

   Send me an email and include

      your postal address.

info@larainesoncapri.com.au

Silk Chenille Thread

$10.50

Food Markets in Japan

When we travel we always love to visit markets where the local people shop for food.  It's fascinating to see the variety and different kinds of foods available. Some of the vegetables in Japan I didn't recognize.

Japan Visit

You may have wondered where I was for 8 days?  Well my husband and I had our first visit to Japan.
We enjoyed it immensely, especially the gardens around the temples and shrines.  Here are some of my favourite photos.

Special Open Day

Laraine's On Capri

Open Day  -  Saturday - June 23rd.

10.00am. to 2.30pm.
Anglican Church
Salerno St., Isle Of Capri
Surfers Paradise

  This is your opportunity to come and see in person all the gorgeous wares we 
  are famous for online.  Lots of goodies on sale to rummage through as well.
Cash Only

Enjoy a spot of cake and coffee with a catch up chat. 
Get set to be inspired.

Workshop at the Open Day

Saturday June 23rd.

"Midnight Magic" - Easy applique techniques on a A5 book cover.

   Laraine's latest style of embroidery using felted wool, wool felts, 
    silk threads, beads and sequins.

  Only 12 places available email me for bookings.
Class - 10.00am. to 2.30pm. $40.00 plus kit $60.00.

Morning and afternoon teas included.
Bookings - Email info@larainesoncapri.com.au

Wool Applique Soft Sculpture

Wool Applique

 I've always loved the hand blown glass perfume bottles especially those by Richard Clements which I collect. After browsing through all the beautiful glass objects on Pinterest I thought why can't  I make something in a soft sculpture that would be my interpretation of the magical perfume bottles.
I'm really taken by the Felted wool, wool felts, beads and gorgeous sequins at the moment so I sat down and drew a few ideas. Initially I drew a set of three but more ideas for all sorts of object started to stir (not to mention all the colour choices) so I began at one.
What I love about this kind of embroidery is that you are free to choose colours, threads, stitches and shapes with no pattern restraints. I call them my happenings! Tell me what you think. I'd enjoy hearing from you.

Autumn Wool Applique Pincushion

The weather was very overcast the last two days and so there was a good excuse to stay indoors and stitch. I had such a great deal of fun playing with the wool and over dyed threads that I've decided to make a kit so you can try it out too.
An easy beginners wool applique pincushion stitched in Cottage Garden 8# perle thread and enhanced with beads and sequins. The background and leaves are hand dyed felted wool fabric. The ric rac is hand dyed and embroidered. I've added one of the new Bronze crown treasures as a special focus.
Autumn Wool Pincushion. 22cm. x 16cm.

Just Arrived, Pimitive Scissors and Bronze Treasures

I would like to introduce you to the wonderful primitive style scissors that have just arrived in stock.

They are great fun for scissor collectors and they are nice and sharp and practical too. Look for them under Accessories and Scissors

I love the new Bronze treasures as they have a lovely warm, smooth, antique feel to them. Plus I have a thing about keys - you can't have too many! They are great for crazy patchwork, tassels, collage and jewelry making. Find them in Buttons and Treasures. 
Strawberries are another one of my favourite things!

Latest News

These gorgeous French net laces are embroidered with linen thread in classic pinks and greens. The wider more open net lace is 75mm. wide and sold in pieces of 5 motifs or 380mm lengths. I don't cut the 5 motif pieces if you require more.
The more heavily embroidered lace is 56mm. wide and sold in 380mm. lengths.

I feel in a pretty pink mood as Easter approaches so I've photographed some of the beautiful trims and ribbons as a reminder of the beautiful temptations tucked away on my website.

 I'm still finding lovely bits and pieces in my stash that I really must put out for sale. Here is an American sued cotton velvet in the softest pastel lavender, blue and lime green sold in a bundle  of 3(33cm). Normally $27.00 - now $15.00!
The ribbon is a delicate vintage Swiss grosgrain in the palest pink 36mm. wide.
Normally $12.00 mt - now $6.00!
Subtle shades of pink and green wash over this pretty lace 35mm. wide and sold in half mt. pieces. Normally $8.00 - now $5.00