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

Lesson in Laraine's Hanah Silk Ribbon Flowers

You will need - 1mt. x 15mm. of Hanah silk ribbon (makes 3)

                         Small piece of Vilene or fine backing fabric

                         Sewing thread to match ribbon,  a fine needle and pencil.

Hanah Silk Flowers.

Cut 30cm. pieces of the 15mm. wide Hanah silk ribbon. Measure and mark 3cm. intervals along the length of the ribbon with a pencil. Load a matching thread (double) into a fine sewing needle and tie a knot in the end. Fold the ribbon in half length ways with the dots on the outside facing you. 
Draw your knotted thread through the ribbon in the fold, 1.5mm. from the end.  Backstitch over the fold to secure your thread. Always start at the fold. Stitch as shown, with running stitches, rounding the corners and making sure the space on either side of the dot is the same. This ensures that each petal will be the same size.  Always take the thread over the fold to pull the edges in. This forms the petal. Gather gently as you go to prevent the thread from breaking. The stitching on the last petal should return to the folded edge. Don't draw up gathers too tightly as this will make the flower too small. End off.

Sew the petals to the Vilene with small stitches into the gathers. Begin at the outside edge and form a circle, turning and overlapping the petals until you reach the centre. The Vilene is trimmed away at the back, being careful not to cut the couching stitches. Sew a few beads or ribbon French knots to the centre of the flower. Arrange the flowers on your embroidery and stitch in place when you are happy with the look.

Hanah silk petals made from the larger size ribbons are measured as 3 times the measurement of the folded ribbon width. ie 25mm. ribbon folded is 12.5mm. so each petal will be 37.5mm.  This is the mark you will make along the edge.  You can also choose to make 5 petal flowers instead of 10.

Doors - A peek at Life

 

Some of the many doors I had to photograph when on holidays. I love the iron doors on the graves in Paris with just a glimpse of stained glass windows shining through and the blue and white that dazzles the eye on the Greek islands.

A Dose of Colour

After working on the pastel organza ribbon I felt I needed a big dose of amazing colour. These are some of my favourite hand dyed ribbons, felted wool fabric, chunky chenille, French silk threads and Ric Rac.

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.