A little bit of beading.....

I have had a particular project on the back burner for some time and was inspired this week to finish it!  The difficulty that had me procrastinating was the fact that I was beading blocked ballet points.  I had appliquéd some lace and beaded a small amount of this.  So far so good. But there I languished! I wanted the shoes to be " very beaded ", not just on the appliqué and this would involve a fair bit of effort.

So in the last couple of days I beaded away. I had to slide needles (yes plural as many broke!" ) between the satin and the block. And then .... Why not add some ribbon embroidery also! So I went to my stash (the one that is never ending - I'm sure most will relate to that) and found some beautiful silk ribbon in just the right colours - peach to pale pink with a touch of  dark pink.

These ballet slippers were purchased from Gumtree months ago with the idea of producing two little ballerina bear babies to sit in them. I had also purchased a Parisienne type case with flowers on the outside and a beautiful piece of lace depicting the Eiffel Tower all of which I had always intended to use in this project. The bears have been made for several months, but the poor things have been naked sitting in an empty case!

Of course,  one thing led to another and I have spent the afternoon with lace, trims, tulle, mod podge, hot glue, and Swarovski crystals until I have dressed bears, decorated case and beaded shoes.  I hope you like them!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Christmas wishes to my followers

Dear All,
Thank you for following my blog in it's infancy.

I hope that 2014 will see regular informative posts.  Have a wonderful Christmas and most importantly keep safe in this festive season.

Here are my tabletop Christmas trees this year. I love them !

Bears and trees and handmade decorations Christmas 2013

The difference mature age students make!

As a retired, very long ago, textiles teacher it is very exciting to be teaching ladies.  The one thing that never ceases to amaze is the creativeness that is exhibited.

I am renown for very detailed, step by step, notes on how to accomplish, with the greatest of ease, any project that is being taught.  I  want my ladies to be able to go home with the confidence that they will have the tools to finish the project. I think this is due to my secondary school teaching, all those years ago when one didn't have time, nor did the curriculum allow, the students to let their creative juices flow.  Teaching in those days was very teacher directed.

It was a beautiful surprise this week when my lovely student Carol tentatively said to me, " I added some pearls to the dress, is that ok?" She then showed me a photo of the beautiful work she had done.  We had been working on a silk print of Maureen Christie's, embellishing it with ribbon and stitchery, which had just about been completed in class with a few bits and pieces to complete at home.

I love that she used her initiative to put her own touch on the class project! Here is her piece for you all to enjoy!