The Method...

After my whirlwind visit to Sydney, I have come back to a more settled approach to my Store and the realisation that I want it to go back to the roots I intended it to be from the beginning.

Always thinking I had to create new, amazing pieces I had got to the point where I was doubting my abilities and did for a while think of stepping away from the whole shop/blogging scene for good.

After a slap in the face from myself and a rummage through my original sketch books I began sewing the other day like I used to...by holding fabric in my hand and going from there. I always find for me this is the best way. Each piece I have made this way has been a best seller. So, at least I know it works.

The cover above is a new one made from this method and I love this. A mixture of beautiful linen, screen printed and paired with white madder stripe in grey, also screen printed.

My love of jewelry has stayed and these wood Ampersands (my all time fave typography) have become brooches and have been getting great responses from people who have purchased saying they get loads of compliments - which is lovely.


I did make this little terracotta bunny brooch too. With his textured tail and heart 'birthmark' he is sooo cute.

This new ring is made of clay and wood and has been hand drawn on in black with a Peony flower.

I have been wearing my own one alot lately.Finally, another new cushion made from the above mentioned technique.

This one sold immediately and I have since added another.

It actually fits a standard pillow insert if it is soft, or a lumbar insert.

The blue ticking on this is heavenly.

If you wish to see more click HERE

So what do you think about my method and the results?

What have you made lately?

Ness xx

Lock Down Results...

Hi!

As promised the results of the 'Lock down' I had recently.

I did mention it wasn't as productive as I had hoped, but I did get a few new things made. Some for the shop, some for me and some things that have nothing to do with being creative

...stuff that just needed doing.

As I was taking shots for some of the Christmas items, I thought I would snip some little pieces of one of our pines and tie it with this gorgeous French ribbon I have. It looked so good against our fireplace in the kitchen that I will have to do a larger one when the time comes.

Anyway.....

I have made 2 of these stockings to start with. The star on them is made with my 100 + year old Belgian linen. I love these and may make some for our own home this year if I get time.

Next up are these clay tags.
Now, these are much larger than the other ones. They measure 6.5cm across and I have used my French text stamp as a background with JOY over the top.
These have not been listed yet...soon though.
They are also available in red. The letters have been hand painted by me.


There is also NOEL.
Now, I did have these and the JOY (in red) listed, but 11 minutes after they went onto the SHOP, they sold...all of them!!!
So now I have to make more.
There will be LOVE as well and they all come in a set of 2. Oh and some Scandinavian ones too!
This is reason I didn't get as much done as I had hoped. I hand embroidered all of this panel...freehand too! No patterns involved here, just made it up as I went along.
As you can see it is a longer lumbar type cover and the ends are in the softest blue linen. It is gorgeous and this shot does not do it justice. I just used a squishy pillow to fill it and it worked well.
Will be listed shortly.

Another made-it-up-as-I-went cover!
And another reason I didn't get as much done that day. This one is also hand embroidered by me. Will be listed shortly too.

I think it looks wonderful in my favourite chair too.

The rest of this cover is a wonderful blue ticking.

So, you see not as much done as I had planned but I was happy with what was achieved. I did make some of my regular covers as well and there is still a new cover which I am almost finished and will show you soon.

I would love to hear what you think as this is a slightly new direction for me and The Shop and it is always great to hear what you all think.

Now I need to attend to my severely sun burnt back/shoulders!!!

Ness xx

What Do You Think?

While I was having time off, I did do something new...some new covers.

I made up these Swiss Cross covers with a grey cross for the lovely Suzanne at Cocoon in Launceston, which is an amazing mecca for all that is funky and handmade and also another store where you can find Marley & Lockyer products! I made some extras for the Shop too. I love this one on our ticking covered chaise.

It looks great paired with this new Bus Roll cover which is bigger than my previous bus roll cover. I like that the print is all vintage looking as well and ensures that each cover is totally unique.
Then for something a little different for my store I tried screen printing on burlap/hessian. At first I wasn't sure how it would print seeing the weave is quite open, but it turned out great.
What do you think of these new covers? If you like them I will add them to my permanent collection for this year.
They can be found HERE.

I also wanted to mention that two sweet blogging friends are having giveaways!

Maria from the stunning blog Dreamy Whites is holding one where you can win a n Annette Tatum queen size duvet!! The other is from Tina at Rubie's Place where you can win some gorgeous little cup warmers which have been made by sweet Tina and also some beautiful jewelry from Lona De Anna...wonderful.

Ness xx

Doctors Orders = New Covers!

I have returned after a few days off to recharge my batteries. I thank you all for your concern and well wishes. It was very lovely of you all. Originally it looked like I was having a mini stroke, but it is looking like a really, really bad neurological migraine..as if my tension migraines aren't bad enough! The Doctors orders are to slow down, so...

This is how I done it...by making some new items for the store! Naughty I know.

I have added some lumbar sized covers to the store like this one above. Based on my hand dyed cushion covers I have made some on white with a linen coloured ink. The good thing about these covers is that you don't need a lumbar insert, you can use a large pillow which I have done here to show you how it looks. It fills it nicely.

The light is different here this morning as you can see and there is a sudden nip in the air...Autumn has arrived. It seems over the weekend that our Sycamore tree lost a lot of leaves...anyway...

...back to the new covers.

I also made one in the hand dyed cotton with my little signature bird and flourish in white. I really like this one and am thinking of others to do. I have been sketching like mad!

I always find that when I have time away from the blog with the extra time I seem to have, I get really creative...I miss that. So, after the health scare I am vowing to take some time here and there for me. I hope you all don't mind. My posts may be a little sporadic at the moment while I try and find the balance.

This is something I really need to live for!

Another cover to the store which is an image of an original print. It even has the folds etc from the print and I love that it is not blue, pink and the like.

This is beautiful.

A French advertisement which I am thinking of making some for me, well for our sofa! It does look lovely sitting on our chaise up the hallway.

And then there is this.

For those of you who loved my long French Love Letter pillows. I have found an alternative that wont cost the earth to post. The filled ones were nearly US$20.00 to send!!! I know. So here is a 40cm x 40cm (standard size) cover, unfilled which will be posted as a large letter...much more economical for everyone. It is in white with the same script. It will come in different colours soon. I hope you like it.

All of these covers can be found at my Etsy Store.

Thank you again for all of your thoughts, Ness xx

OK, after loads of emails I have finally put these linen pillows onto my Etsy Shop!

They are filled, so are just like you see it here with it's beautiful French love letter printed in the middle.
You might remember when I first showed it to you on my bed in the master bedroom makeover post. It was this post that started all of the emails.

..and I recently showed it to you again on our sofa while I was playing around with some ideas for Autumn.

I love them and think they go so well with all of the other covers I have in The Shop.

I would love to hear what you think.

Ness xx

Cushion Comfort...

Love this shot!

not only does it incorporate all of the elements I like in an interior, white, nickle hardware, wicker, greenery and layering fabrics and textures, but it has LOADS of cushions...and I am a huge fan of the cushion as you may have realised.

Since I was young I have had this 'thing' where I can't sit comfortably on a sofa, bench, bed...actually on my backside, without a cushion on my lap to put my arms around. It is like a security blanket that has never gone away. Mic and my Sister-in-law have caught the 'thing' from me. There is nothing better than a squishy, well filled cushion on your lap.

Which brings me to this....

NEW CUSHIONS IN MY STORE!!!
This one is a poste inspired cover in greys and is lovely against the white. I thought it looked lovely next to Mics old war trunk and my old suitcase in our bedroom this morning.


...and this ruched one that I have had quite a few enquiries about. Well, here it is.

I did notice that I am finally getting The Store to look how I wanted it, the colour palette and the style of covers I mean...anyway, as soon as I have finished this post, I will be loading these new covers on. Visit my Etsy Store to see them.

Thank you for all the lovely comments on our living room. It was so nice to share it with you all.

Ness xx

Some More New Etsy Items & A Surprise!

I have just added these new items to my Etsy Store and thought I would share them with you.

In the spirit of valentines and all things love, I have added some more love inspired tags. This one is my favourite because of the type writer font.
I am going away from my usual luggage tags in clay that I do to these little round tags. I will still have some of the luggage size, but only a few designs. everything you could get on the bigger tags will now be on this size....like my bees!

This is a new one however and I love how the little birds look with the circles. All of these tags come in either sets of 3 for US$3.00 or sets of 4 for US$4.00...cheap! Pardon the pun. =0)
there are some new ones I have never had before to, so be sure to head over to My Etsy Store and have a look....

OH! and I have added this new cover as well. It has been made with my hand dyed cotton, which has been dyed in organic green tea for 4 days and I love that there are variations in the colour throughout the cover. It is only a very subtle variation, like a feed sack.

Now to the surprise...A GIVEAWAY!!!

I will be announcing a giveaway tomorrow which will feature some of the new items I have been adding to My Store over the last few months.

I hope you will join in...see you tomorrow.

Ness xx

all images Marley & Lockyer

Home makes me smile...

One of those days!

Mason, our 3 year old swallowed dish washing liquid on the way back from the grocery store. I panicked and felt really teary while talking to the Poisons Center. He is OK, but I think he regretted it!

So, I took some photos of things that make me smile and feel calm...basically home.

This one is of the mirror Dad made us that's in the dining area, looking into the living room. The afternoon sun was just starting to come over the top of our house to fill the living room with light.

My $50 Chaise. How can that not make me smile and it is filled with the ticking, tufted base I made and a heap of cushions/pillows that I have made. It is in the hallway, right outside of our bedroom door and I love seeing it.

3 gorgeous little bottles I bought in Oatlands on a trip with my Mum and the boys and an old picture frame, picked up at the markets.
And finally, a new cover for my Etsy Store called La balloon (I really like this one and have made something else with it that I will show you soon) which is on a stack of books all about white interiors....ah smile =0)
The day has ended well with a nice 3km run to get rid of the stress.
Lets hope tomorrow goes smoothly!
Ness xx

Flour Sack Reinvented!!!

I have finally reinvented my Flour Sack pillows!! I have made 4 to put onto my Etsy Shoppe to see how they go, then I will make more.


This is the White and Wheat one. The text has changed and the year, incorporating the year our home was built...and the little bee has been added. These new ones will have different styles of ladder stitch ribbon, as I find it so they won't always be with this one.

I am still selling them filled and ready to go...no inserts needed!
This one is the Wheat and Caramel pillow. It is lovely and warm and goes great with the white.
I really like this new interpretation of my old favourite...what do you think?
Click HERE to see the shop.
Ness xx

New Items

It is raining here again, so I thought I would show you some new items from M&L. This Hotel Royale cover above I made on the weekend and I am in love. Very warm and a perfect suitor to white. There will be a partner to this soon.

My grainy Ampersand covers are very, very new and this one was a custom order. I love the navy against the white.

I have listed this beautiful sea green/aqua one at the shoppe and it is in the grainy style also. It gives the print a vintage, worn look...and I am totally into it.

Check out My Shoppe HERE for these items (except the navy one..it's gone!). I would love to hear what you all think. Ness xx

Savour The Sun...

After a week of horrible, wet and cold weather, today we had a sunny day. I have thrown open the French doors and windows to give our home a good airing which has been lovely. These photos are to keep some sun and colour in my day. Source

This one above is beautiful. I adore those cushions on the couch and the hint of green in the cupboard. It all looks so fresh with the white and those pink Peonies.
Source
This space is begging for some of those pillows in the top photo, a sisal rug and some muted Hydrangeas on the little table.


Source

Vincent Wolf always puts together wonderful spaces like this living room. I love the used of old wicker baskets and plates along with chippy painted pieces to give texture to a room. It looks so inviting.

Source (I Think)
Another pretty room to brighten up your day. The view outside is so lovely and the drama of beams and beaded walls brings warmth to this space.

Source

Ah, and where would a sunny day be without a vase of fresh flowers picked from the garden? The idea of cherry blossoms in the bell jar is perfect. Lets hope the sun continues for a few more days.

Ness xx

just for me...

I had a lovely weekend with the Boy's on Saturday. It was SO cold and Mic was away watching the V8's all day, so we watched movies and played some games and it was really lovely. I did get to create on Sunday as well......and finally, create for myself as well as The Shop. I made some of these ruffled burlap linen hand towels, which are listed in my Etsy Shoppe. I think I will use them as hand towels over tea towels though. They are so thick and soft...too nice to use for dishes!
I finally was able to make my Amy Butler cushion for the Chaise.
The back is made with the reverse side of blue and white ticking. I like the soft, aged appearance it takes on. The little button is the same as the one on the other side and I used some of the cover material for this. The little beaded cushion to the left is one I made while Pregnant with Mason...I had a craving for beading and crewel work!!!
I decided the little cushion looked better on our bed, and I am loving these new European covers I made for my Etsy Shoppe. The blue has a shimmery effect to it. and it looks so fresh against the white.
This little lovely was a 'decide what to do while I am sewing' thing. I love it, and it now sits happily on my office chair.
And finally, this little ruffled cover for The Shoppe that has my new design on it. You can see some of these pieces HERE.
So, I am all inspired again and spent Sunday night printing some new panels for the shop, which I will somehow have to try and sew this week. As always, I would love to know what you think.
Ness xx