Embroidered Organza Ribbon

This beautiful embroidered organza ribbon has delicate daisy style flowers on metallic thread stems with seed bead ascents in the centre of the flowers. It is ideal for crazy patchwork, embroidered bags, cushions and garments. The ribbon is 5cm. wide. Sold in .5 mtr pieces. See all ribbons in Whats New

Choose a background silk fabric that will match or enhance the ribbon. Decide the size of your project and cut fabric including seam allowances. Use a homespun or fine cloth for a lining. Place work in a large hoop to keep the fabric taught with the silk on top of the lining.
Lay the ribbon down and applique along the selvage of the ribbon with tiny stitches in a matching thread.
Make as many folded roses as you like and also some of the picot edged gathered flowers. I have used the new Vintage Lace hand dyed rayon 15mm. ribbon for the roses.
Arrange them on the ribbon and when you are happy with the placement, stitch down. Nestle the gathered picot flowers close to the roses.
Next I will add some silk ribbon roses to the stems with leaves and more beads. I think I will expand the area with rows of metallic silver braid running alone side the organza ribbon.

Watch for the next instalment.

Laraine

Wooden Bobbins with Paper Twin

The long awaited parcel filled with wonderful vintage reclaimed Braider's bobbins arrived today!

Some are wound with the finest white paper yarn (250 metres) which can be used for all manner of crafts including collage and mixed media. Fine enough to use for stitch or just add beads and couch down.

The bobbins wound with colour are a heavier twine (41 metres) ideal for parcel wrapping and all paper crafts. $18.00 for each Twine and Yarn

All the reclaimed bobbins are unique and look similar but they do vary in size and colour.

They are approximately 10 - 12cm tall and 4.5cm wide.

I am offering a set of three empty bobbins and will try to match the styles. $21.00

Wonderful for displaying your ribbons and laces.

New Sampler Charts

The days between Christmas and back to work can be an oasis of relaxation but they can also feel a little flat after all the festivities. Hopefully our great new cross stitch sampler charts will inspire you to use the time to put some of your craft skills into action, or tempt you to take advantage of our sales.

I really love the Blackbird Sampler designs especially the small pincushion projects. I've just received about twenty new charts to delve into and they are now all available at http://www.larainesoncapri.com.au/.

Look under Embroidery Linens and Wool for cross stitch charts, Sajou alphabets and wonderful linens to work on.



I Spy

I spy with my little eye something beginning with R - everything bright Red.

WDW felted wool - Candy Apple

Hand dyed ribbon - Bright Gypsy

Hanah Silk velvet ribbon - Bougainvillea (coming soon)

Primitive Storklettes Scissors

Thread Gatherers Silk Chenille - In The Red

Cottage Garden Threads - Canna Lily

 Happy little Lady Bug Beads

A wonderful festive colour for a happy season and family holidays.

http://www.larainesoncapri.com.au/

Merry Christmas

A very big Thank You for all your support during 2011. I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a bright New Year.

I always feel December is the beginning of a new year for me as all my work has finished and there's room in my head for all the new ideas to come forward and express themselves. It's quite hard to choose where to start as there are sooo many styles of embroidery that I love. Will I do the wool designs or will I start on the crazy patchwork! Maybe both at once! I hope you have time to stitch too.

It's going to be a great New Year!

Free Christmas Wrapping

We're counting down the days to Christmas - 5 weeks to go!

Don't forget that we have all the little finishing touches for your Christmas giving projects. There's Doctors Flannel for needle cases, Lavender for sachets, Lavender and Walnut shells for pincushions and lots of vintage buttons and trims for those finishing flourishes. Many of my kits, accessories and scissors make wonderful stocking fillers too.
Free gift wrapping will be available with every order until Christmas so just leave a message in the comments box as to which items in your order you would like wrapped.
                                                        http://www.larainesoncapri.com.au/

Scissors for Christmas

I love the imitation Ivory and Mother of Pearl scissors from Sajou ( France) and all the Mother of pearl accessories for your sewing boxes. There is something precious and ladylike about Mother of Pearl that echos a bygone era but is still relevant today.
Scissors make a wonderful gift for a family member or friend. They are an enduring gift that gives joy from the very first snip. If you are like me you can't have too many pairs.

Colour Inspiration

I just thought I'd share with you some of the beautiful colours that arrived in my latest parcels. The Weeks Dye Works felted wools come in the most gorgeous pastel colours and they work so well with the French Scallop braid and the new Hexagonal Mother of Pearl buttons. The Thistle Needle Keep is also new in store. It is nestled on some of Colour Streams 4mm. silk ribbon. Yum!

Hand Dyed Lace Spools

I've just finished dying this lovely lace trim in shades of green, pink and blue. The colour will blend with just about everything and is great for crazy patchwork, trims on pincushions, needlecases and lots more. Combine with Dupion silks, velvets, wool and felt for a wonderful texture and colour play. Why not also add a little sparkle with the Crystal Chantons and Vintage glass buttons.

Each Hand Dyed Lace Spool holds 1.55 mtr. lace. Re-use the wooden spool when the lace is all gone.

Vintage Cabochon Rosebud

When in Paris we visited the Botanical Gardens and I had to take a photo of this little climbing rose as it reminded me of the cabochon roses I used to make. I love ribbons of all kinds and it inspired me to get out my stash again and revisit some of the older works I had stored away.

The cabochon Rose is one of my favourites. I learned this technique from the book "The Artful Ribbon" by Candace Kling.

The rose at the bottom is a piece of mine that was published in The Embroiderers Cookbook in 2001.

I have used Hanah silk ribbon in a 25mm. width because the bias cut enables the petals to fold easier.

Make a loose knot a small length of ribbon and tack it to the fabric. Sometimes I made two knots - one on top of the other.

The petals are cut 50mm. or two ribbon widths each. You may make 3 - 4 or 5 petals. Dampen your fingers and roll the outer edge of the ribbon tightly using up to a third of the ribbon. Pin down the ends to hold the roll in place. Stitch in a half circle beginning in the roll and finishing in the roll. Draw up your stitches softly. Cup the petal around the knot and tack under the edge of the knot on the back. Overlap the petals as you go.



Images of Murano

Design drawings found in a glass blowing factory in Murano, Italy. Murano was wonderfully colourful and exuberant with huge glass flowers, ornaments, jewelery and lights.

Holiday Inspirations

You may be wondering why you haven't heard from me for awhile.

I've just come back from a four week trip which included 9 days in Paris and a Mediterranean Cruise ending in Barcelona.

It was a wonderful time - no cooking or bed making for 4 weeks - heaven.

Every building had motifs and textures in mosaics, tiles and carvings that suggested design ideas. Between my husband and I we took about 700 photos.

I think some of the ones I've posted today will be finding their way into my wool applique. Can't wait to get started.

Hope they inspire you too.