Introducing Madrigals . . .

'Madrigals' are unaccompanied vocal composition popular during the Renaissance ; a piece for several voices set to a short poem, usually about love. They express the emotion contained in each line, and sometimes individual words.

I have wanted for a long time now to try making a series of collections -  pieces, linked by style and ideas, even though they were often quite individual. This collections of cuffs, art pendants, brooches, earrings and amulets will be grown and named Madrigals. I picked the name ‘Madrigal’ for my collection of Renaissance art cuffs and jewellery because it represents the individual elements that combine to celebrate that richly elaborate era.

My Renaissance ladies will be adorned with rustic ceramic beads and delicious Czech picasso glass, a little Victorian lace, a little embroidery and lots and lots of love.

Here are some ladies in waiting . . . .

I have picked Renaissance portraits as they are so deliciously dark and moody.  A celebration of deep colours and use of light. I have tried something new this time to add to my fabric jewellery- lovely wooden beads and some decoupage. I printed and sealed the images onto wood and then played with adding antique lace and acrylic paint sheen to the mix. I have to admit I am indulging myself in picking mixtures of gorgeous rustic dark ceramic beads and Czech picasso glass beads - such amazing beauty - so hard to resist.

Here is the style of cuff I have started with. I just added some to my etsy shop today.

Other pieces are in the form of textile amulets.

Some pieces of teased out vintage cotton fabric combined with deep purple felt. I knitted some yarn and then felt embellished and finally cut and embroidered - trapping silk fibers of deep rich shades. All of the pieces are bound together with threads and make a light sturdy pendant. 

I thought immediately of an amulet - worn for luck and protection. The beads added were chosen to reflect the Renaissance style where rich dark beaded jewellery was seen in portraits of the era.

The pendants also echo the style with portraits on wood and selections of wired stacked beads.

I hope to be adding brooches and earrings soon to my Madrigals.

Two Whimsical Pendants

Two Whimsical Pendants

I have added two  ‘old/new’ pendants to my etsy shop.

The focal point for the first pendent is love of antique buttons!!

I wanted to have a pendant celebrating the beauty of Victorian buttons - each one special.

I choose a wonderful round Victorian brass button from c1870.

Then hanging from that I put a most unusual late Victorian c1900 button.
It is a drop shape - it could have been opened but I have sewn it shut.

It is so distinctive - anyone know the reason or history for this type of button - I would love to know?

I added two apple green wood beads, some moss green seed beads and some metal beads to hand the button.

They sit on platted green silk ribbon that is attached to a divided 18inch bronze plated metal chain.

For both of these pieces I cut the chain and extended with ribbon - just wanted to try a less formal look. Whimsical with a historic Victorian twist !

One of a kind.

The second pendant is called - Fly Birdie

Another  ‘old/new’ piece - just like memories are.

A blue distressed platted silk ribbon is again attached to a divided 18inch bronze plated metal chain with blue seed beads twisted around the tie knots.

A little collection hangs from the ribbon.

A bronze bead cap (lovely open work) holds some more ribbon, some Victorian lace and a small bird charm. 

On more blue seen beads hangs more Victorian lace and an antique watch key. (on one side a flower, on the other number 7). A nice pretty key - small enough to be delicate.

See them both on etsy

https://www.etsy.com/listing/116908530/antique-button-love-pendant

https://www.etsy.com/listing/116910316/fly-birdie-pendant

Embroidered Buttons

I have been having fun making more buttons !!

I blogged in July about my first buttons for my etsy shop.

I have since made some more and now I don’t want to stop!

Buttons really are little mini embroideries and can be added to so many things,

tops, dresses, bags, scarfs, slippers, art . . . . 

For these I have used cotton thread embroidery, mostly on linen as it is so nice to work with. I added some lace, antique Victorian + 1910, vintage 1920’s + 1930’s to add the history. I am in a  ‘French Knot’  phase at the moment - so they appear everywhere !

I first give myself the button size guidelines - drawn with a fabric marker (that is invisible in a day). Then I embroider that outline (because I don’t always finish before the ink disappears!)                            

I set up the Linen in an embroidery frame and picked my lace and threads.

Here are some photos taken as I worked.

Then I carefully cut to the edges and made the buttons onto metal backings.

I found it best to have a layer of interface backing so that the shine of metal does not show through. So this is my latest little batch.

I have put them onto cards in two and threes for etsy.

Such fun - a capsule collection.

More styles soon - I am hooked !

Making a Fabric Flower Bouquet

My First Fabric Flower Bouquet !
A very special couple just had a wonderful celebration - namely a 60th wedding anniversary - a truly great occasion. . . wow. !!

I wanted to make a personal anniversary gift and decided on a mini bouquet.    

As I was travelling to the event I was not sure how fresh the flowers would be on arrival so decided I would try my very first fabric bouquet.

Here is how it went !!

I looked at some complex and some simple styles on web and then there was lots of making it up as I went along.

I can tell you it does take a bit of preparation and some time but it is such a fun thing to do.

(1) Cut and singe

I bought some chiffon in white and some in pale pink and cut lots of circles - approx  6 inches diameter. You don’t have to be too careful with exact shape of circles.

But patience is needed for next stage - carefully singeing all around each circle - just heating enough to seal but not burn - not so easy. If you do burn a little - just cut off that piece of black and singe again. I found the easiest way to do this is over a candle.

(2) Making the flowers.

I folded and gathered a circle -  loosely sewing at the end  - four of these together made the flower size I wanted.

(3) Stem

I used hobby/florist wires for the stems.

I bent the wire and sewed on the flower and then to soften the stem and give a little body I used padding - just wrapping thread around to hold.  I finished off by wrapping with green florist tape. At tops I added some dyed silk petals - looks pretty and also helps secure the flower neatly.

(4)

For centers of flowers I picked nice white / pink fabric sewn around padding into little balls. The detail is made by embroidering knots with white cotton yarn and then lots of seed beads. ( I find it hard to make anything without adding seed beads !! )

(5) Wrap

I wrapped the bouquet with 1940’s white open work lace and at top added 1920’s thin lace. I printed the wedding date on cotton as a final touch.

The individual flowers can then be adjusted  - fluffed up - tweeked until it looks done !!

There are so many amazing fabric bouquets to be seen on the web - I am in awe at the detail and beauty of them. There are many ways to make one - mine is just my idea of how to go about it. 

It turned out a light bouquet to hold  - just what I wanted to make - and I learnt a lot making it !!

Drum roll !

The winner of my little antique lace wrist wrap is .  .  .  .
.  .  .  new-girl-on-the-blog -  from beautiful Greece
Her comment (number 6) was picked by the random number picker.
The wrist wrap will be packed up and sent on it’s way.

Many thanks to all who looked in and to those who took part - it was fun fun fun to do !!

September Giveaway !!

Introducing 'Edwardian Flower' a cream wrist wrap.
I am thrilled to have one of my pieces as the 'September Giveaway' for Handmade Europe (the European Street Team of Etsy). The giveaway is not here but on that site and starts 5th September so head over then to blog .  .  .   http://handmade-europe.com/

I thought I would write a little about making this piece and hope that whoever wins it will like it and enjoy the history.


I wanted to make something simple yet dressy, historic yet fresh .  .  .                                                                    
I choose some lovely pale cream lace from the 1930’s for this little cuff. It is a sturdy lace but is still light and has a delicate pattern.
To compliment it I picked a beautiful handmade applique flower that was made c1910. A fantastic example of Edwardian craft and so very very Downton Abbey !
I like to think that whoever made both of these pieces would be pleased to know they will have a second life.

To add some texture and detail I added tiny seed beads in matt cream at the cuff edges in little flower circles. A shimmer bead in the centers.

Then more beads around the flower in spikes and circles both matt and shimmer.

Then to add a bit of whimsy it closes with a cream shimmer ribbon.

A romantic and delicate little wrist wear - with lace from two historic eras.

For a chance to win this for yourself just go to -  http://handmade-europe.com/ 

Looking forward to wrapping up and posting off to you !!

Truly Gifted Mallow !

Just a short note about a fun day yesterday in Mallow Co. Cork.
Queen of Cuffs is now on the shelves there !!

Set off on early train with hubby - crosswords and sandwiches on the way.
I  brought a selection of cuffs / wrist wraps / fabric pendants and fabric rings.
Heading for the lovely craft gallery shop ‘Truly Gifted’ which is situated in the Hibernian Way, just off main street Mallow. This lovely gem of a shop belongs to Majella and Bart and is a fun place to visit and a perfect one to find a unique gift.
The concept is that artists and crafts people rent space there and as no commission is charged -prices for buyers can be kept at very tempting levels !
Majella is also a glass artist and offers glass fusing workshops -  see their website for more info and a list of artists  http://trulygifted.ie/site/

I spent a very indulgent and totally compulsive time ‘arranging and re arranging’ my pieces on shelves!!

My only regret was that I forgot to bring my camera .  .  .  next time.

Bart kindly took a phone pic of my shelves for me. 

But no pics of the great bar that hubby found while I was shelf arranging - or the lovely place we had a well earned meal. Leaving all my creations displayed and shelved we headed for train and snoozed our way back to Dublin.

So if near Mallow - call in and have a look.

Next stock drop - more photos.