Silky Winter Warmers

I love my old maniquin. It has been decoupaged with old lace patterns that I collected and it stands in my office amongst the ribbon stands. It gives the office a lovely French flair and is ideal for displaying my scarves.

The cool weather is just around the corner so why not wrap up in one of my scarf designs. Made from silk velvet with felt and silk velvet flowers, they are luxurious and soft to wear. There are 4 colours available.

Stitch Me!

My daughters grew this amazing orchid in Brisbane and it flowered this month. I thought I would share these photos with you as an inspiration for embroidery. I think it lends itself to stumpwork. Try long and short stitch with creative needlelace stitches over the top.
I'd love to see what you can do with it!

French Inspired Home

No longer do we have to spend hours looking for vintage fabrics at boot sales and flea markets because The French General has produced a rustic range of beautiful fabrics reminiscent of 19th. Century farmhouses. The large striped fabrics have a 10% linen content which gives an antique feel. I love to cross stitch or embroider monograms and mix them in with the linen stripes and florals for that traditional look. The monograms are great on bags, purses and household items of all kinds. Check out the cross stitch and embroidery linens and also the little Sajou Alphabet Books.The old style reels pictured are in limited supply and each one is wound with 3 to 5mtrs. of ribbon. They were specially selected to match the fabrics so add a little tag or strip of braid to you project and you'll have the perfect French style.

Add Pizzaz to you Embroidery

I've had the most marvelous time finding vintage glass and crystal buttons from Germany - some are clear glass and others have a mirrored back to add sparkle. There's also sew on mirror backed crowns and fancy mother of pearl vintage French feather and shell sequins to inspire.

Imagine a bag or special book cover decorated with the Akoya buttons with English style decals of Roses and Lilies. The shell effect shines through the decal to give a wonderful lustre.

Combine all these gorgeous ellements with our subtle and sublime silk ribbons for a great lift to you heart and creativity.

I wish you a Happy Holiday Season and a warm, loving time shared with family and friends.Thank you for your support during the year and I hope you have had great pleasure from your purchases.

Some Important News for Our Australian Customers -Laraine's on Capri is transferring to a wholly Online Business and we are closing our store at the Isle of Capri on Christmas Eve.

I am looking forward to the New Year with exciting new designs and concepts and I hope you will follow my journey.
Warmly yours,
Laraine

Just arrived in from Yuwa Japan, four beautiful textured linens printed with a collage of roses, stripes and spots or large and small rose bouquets. My favourite is the antique sewing tool print which I think would make great pin cushions, needle cases and sewing bags. See Fabric for more printed linens at www.larainesoncapri.com.au

I have been looking through the Monogram book by Susan O'Connor and some of the
reproduction Alphabet books by Sajou and felt inspired to work some of the designs.

I haven't worked in Cross Stitch for a long time but these little Lavender pouches were too
hard to resist as the braids and rick rack matched the linen beautifully.
There's nothing nicer or more pleasing than working with linen.

Some lovely comments from customers and other shop owners this month.
I am mentioned in Vintage Vogue's latest newsletter from America. They are very keen on Crazy Patchwork and love my projects in the Creative Cross Stitch and Embroidery Magazine.

I received these happy letters this morning from Judy in Pennsylvania - USA and one from Yvonne in Bega NSW

"Dear Laraine,
The parcel arrived in ONE WEEK! It was unbelievable when the postman came to the door with this parcel from Australia. Then, when I opened it up, there it was; wrapped carefully in tissue paper and tied with a lovely bow. Well, I couldn't open it for two days - I just savored it, knowing that I had it. I know, I know, I am weird! When I did open it carefully, I was awestruck. All of the materials were more gorgeous then even shown on the website. I am afraid to start it for fear that I will mess it up somehow. Tomorrow I shall carry on and start. Will be ordering more trim (just because it's pretty) on Wednesday or Thursday, the 17th or 18th.
Thanks a Million for your lovely web site,Judy Boyer "

Comments: I have just received my parcel. The kits and contents look fabulous, I only hope I can do them justice. Many thanks,

Yvonne Flood

It's wonderful to have a parcel arrive in the mail that lives up to your expectations. I'm glad to have such positive feedback.

Divine Pear

Designing blues - I had a great idea! Wouldn't velvet pears with embroidery be just gorgeous - so I set to and drew up a pattern. I didn't really visualise the size it would be and it turned out to be jumbo sized! Back to the drawing board.
The second attempt was just right and I was really excited. I was so please with the results I decided to take my pieces to Brisbane with me on the train to show my daughters.
Settling into my seat, with the train pulling away from the station - Oh! No! The bag with my embroidery is still on the seat at the station. What can I do? Do I go back? This pear is jinxed.
At the next station I jumped out and knocked on the train driver's door and asked if they could find my parcel.
Two stops later the driver came through to tell me they had found my work. What service - I almost cried!
The pear will be ready as a kit in a few days so all is well.

Fleur Romantique

The April edition of Creative Embroidery and Cross Stitch featured my latest Crazy Patchwork project on the front cover.
I had great enjoyment stitching this bag and especially working the hand dyed silk velvet into dimensional flowers. The jewel colours in the velvet set the tone for the shades used in the silk embroidery threads and ruched ribbon.
Tucked into the ribbon folds are blue picot edged ribbon flowers and tiny glass hearts.
Sprigs of Silk Chenille roses and leaves add an interesting texture to the background.
The kits are available with instructions or without if you have the pattern in the magazine. The unusual bag handle with chain is included in either kit or you can buy a bag handle only in your choice of style.

Ribbons with sparkle

There is something gentle and refined about soft pastel colours that gives you a sense of well being. This is how these little picot edged ribbons made me feel. They are a pretty coloured thread woven over a gold or silver metallic thread which softens the colour to a creamy antique tone. The little gold or silver picots along the edge makes them a sparkle. Imagine them nestling into your ribbon work and crazy patchwork.

I made the little samples for my website to demonstrate how pretty the ribbons were. They sat on the counter for sometime needing to be displayed. Inspiration struck and I added some stitched words below the posy and made them into a string of hearts using Hanah silk ribbon for the larger flower and the metallic ribbon for the little gathered flowers and leaves.
I will hang them from my favourite cupboard door.