Sunday 5 April 2009

Happy Spring time

Happy Spring time, well for some of us it is and what a magical time of year it is! I personally feel I have come out of a long, dark tunnel into the glimmering light. I do adore Spring, around Easter time is so lovely.
I wanted to tell you about this beautiful papier mache brooch I received from my old friend
tracy of Boboho. Tracy used to Lecture at the College where I now work, she taught me! She now lives in Denmark and has the most wonderful blog and website. Thanks so much Tracy!
I was very happy earlier in the week to purchase this beautiful old Bernina. The machine I have been using for the last few years has never filled it's side of the bargain...looping, puckering, tension a total mystery, very, very aggravating. So I took a chance and purchased this reconditioned Bernina. Oh joy, oh heaven, oh bliss, it is divine. The quality of the machine and the ease in which it purrs along. Mental note : never ever buy a low end machine again. Save, save, save and buy a sewing machine worth owning. Even though this beauty may be a little aged, she still has plenty of 'go' in her and so fresh with excitement of said new/old machine, I have been a makin'......

( By the way, I must say, I have updated my Etsy store, put this post together and will pop a few pics on Flickr and I'm sure I shall have entered old age! Does'nt it take time to do these jobs?)
Anyway, below is a piece I have made using a 1950's magazine advert for Helena Rubinsten. It's a bit odd, as the very attractive lady has a bird house for a hat. Well why not, anything went in the 50's. She is being entertained by a very sweet little birdy, who is just on the page. I managed to print with some beautiful wooden fonts too! The bird and birdhouse are appliqued and I had a little go with my new old machine with the leafy viney thing.


Motoring away with felt and vintage lace for a flowery corsage.


And another....

Really enjoyed revisiting my crochet Pendant designs, below.
The flowers are felt again, with a Liberty Lawn flower backing the middle and the buttony goodness of the crocheted necklace just sets it all off.

I have made this type of pendant before but this one is much larger. Double row of crochet buttons and I have used a crocheted doily and turned it into a heart pendant.


The base for this piece is a 1920's Daily Mirror Insurance Policy. Really enjoyed using the various wooden types and again I have added a 2D handmade bird. Embroidery added here and there. The bird looks like it is just passing through, not at all interested in whats going on.

Well that's me done for now, thank you for all your support and for stopping by.x

34 comments:

Maria-Thérèse ~ www.afiori.com said...

ah! adorableness, wow, the necklaces!

It certainly does take time to update all those sites. I mean, it's part of the job but I can't help thinking it could be SO much easier. Especially on Etsy where you have to click sooo many times to make one single listing. I have 101 listings right now. WHY can't you choose "list similar item" like on Ebay? I wrote to Etsy long ago about this but they just confirmed that yes, you have to click everything manually every single time...

♥ art photography + gorgeous stationery www.afiori.com

Jackie said...

Hooray! You've joined the Bernina
club. I'm happy for you. I wouldn't be without mine. Fabulous well behaved obedient. I love your felt pendants too. I love machine stitched felt. In fact I've been felting like a maniac recently. Been machine stitchibng it this afternoon. We must be psychic.
Happy Spring
x

Fleur de Boheme said...

Your corsages and necklace are fabulous! And aren´t Tracys brooches just gorgeous?

I have an old Bernina too, from the 70ies, canary yellow - I love it! It never lets me down! They´re great sewing machines.

Greedy Nan said...

Sounds as tho my next machine needs to be a Bernina then!

Sue said...

I too am a big Bernina fan. I've had mine since 1985 and it's still going strong with only one major service, despite being dropped on its head as a young machine. I find it less enthusiastic than it used to be about free embroidery but then, I too am less enthusiastic about many things than I used to be 24 years ago.

Clucking about said...

Hi,we used to have Bernina sewing machines at secondry school.Oh how l hated sewing then, we made a apron in the 1st year it took a whole school year, sort of makes you loose the momentum!l had my Frister Rossman for my 21st!well passed its best(like myself)!As lm having another big birthday this year might be lucky to get a new one!love your this weeks work Viv
the flower necklace is beautiful and as always you managed to excel
with the birdhouse picture..x

Gigibird said...

Thank you for introducing me to Boboho...........her home is wonderful............
Glad you have had a sewing machine update....I have a wonderful sewing machine 'man' and pumping him for information he says buy nothing under £200 or you will be wasting your money. Old Berninas are meant to be very good.....if it's heavy it is usually good quality.

Unknown said...

Oh I love it all! Those corsages are just delightful and Birdy Love, oh so cute! I just went to your Etsy shop and they have all disappeared! I've got to be quicker next time :)
Hope you are having a wonderful day.
Sophie x

Katy said...

I use a Bernina that is about 5-10 years older than that one that use to be my grandmothers, and i have 2 other machine that are heaps newer but still prefer to use the Bernina, it is so hardy - no plastic bits! I love it!

Teena Vallerine said...

I could eat that necklace! Just beautiful! t.x

Victoria said...

Your necklaces are super cute, and congrats on the Bernina! (I love mine!)

Onika said...

I just love the Helena Rubinsten print, would look great framed and hung on my wall.

Gina said...

I love the flowers on those pendants... but then I tend to love everything you make! All so beautiful. The brooch you received from Tracy was rather gorgeous

Nicki said...

Oooooh, what a lovely lot of stuff for me to look at!

We used Bernina sewing machines at school....a long time ago!.....and they were great, so reliable, got on with the job. perfect!

I'm sure you'll live happily together!
Nicki x

Margaret said...

I so enjoy to stop by your blog on Monday mornings, I thought I'd miss out altogether today as the Cablecom guy switched the whole town off to do repairs, eek! I think he's having his coffee now so it's on again for a nanosecond! What a fab Bernina find, such a treasure, with a bit of love the old ones seem to go on forever! love your birdy (again) and the flowers are gorgeous! you are such an inspiration Viv. Mx

Julia said...

The pieces you've made on your new machine are wonderful! The flower brooches and pendants are very pretty and distinctively 'yours' and perfect for Spring! It's so good seeing the sun at last - you described exactly how I feel :-)

meplusmolly said...

Gorgeous brooch! and fabulous work from you as always!
I'm part of the 'showing love for the Bernina' club too, we used them at college and I loved them then and had mine for a birthday many years ago now, wouldn't have anything else!
Your work disappears sooo quickly from your etsy shop! which shows just how covetable it is! Oh to produce such work ;0 x

RosesRadishesandRubbish said...

Viv,
You have been a busy girl!:) LOVE the tag from your friend. Every item on your blog is so cheerful. I can tell that you are truly uplifted by the change in season. I DO love the lady in the bird hat. The rest of the pieces are wonderful as well. Congrats on your sewing machine.. and happy stitching.:) hugs, Amy

Linda Vincent said...

So glad I found your blog...you make beautiful art! I went to look in your etsy shop - and everything had gone! Not surprising really....
I will be back.
Linda :-)

A time to dance said...

lovely lovely things as usual...we are still in awe of our beautiful purses and my broach which I am wearing ...thank you soooooooo much...love and hugs H

Swirlyarts said...

Birdy Love is adorable!

mimilove forever said...

Lovely jubbly!!

...so are you actually getting any lunch in the lunchbreaks then...step away from the printroom?!
x;0)

Shabby Chick said...

Oh dear, I'm too late, I went to the Etsy shop and the cupboard was bare!!! Gorgeous pictures though, I loved seeing what you've been up to.

Mel xxx

Anonymous said...

Hi Viv,

I had to stop by your blog too and salute you on the new work - I think I mentioned that on flicr too - that's okay - doesn't hurt to get too many words of encouragement right?
Cathy

Michala Gyetvai (Kayla coo) said...

I love Bernina's!
Beautiful jewellery,all of it.x

Mieke said...

This is all so awesome! LOVE--LOVE--LOVE it!!!

Suzy's Vintage Attic said...

Hello
I have just discovered your blog via Cocoa & Blanket's blog. I admired the purses that obtained through you. Really beautiful!
Will return again
Isabelle x

Brandi said...

just found your blog from a julie arkell search on google .. What a fantasitic blog you have here!! i will be back for sure!!

Lori said...

congratulations on your new sewing machine!!! a good tool makes the work easier...your necklaces are just adorable, you always have the most clever ideas!!!

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Love your Helena Rubenstein collage, especially the little birdie - so adorable!! Have a really happy Easter weekend, very best wishes, Carolyn :o)

Aveen said...

I have almost the same Bernina and I wouldn't part with it for anything - they are so fantastic! And they will sew through anything. Here's a (bad) photo of it:

http://tinyurl.com/cewqwh

I have just discovered your blog and will have to do some catching up on your old posts - your jewellery is absolutely gorgeous.

'fancypicnic' said...

A post full of loveliness (well, it's what I expect from you, Mrs!). It's so great to save myself up and pop over here for an update in one fell swoop.

Many thanks for your compliments, Viv. V much appreciated. Hope you're enjoying a lovely Eastertime xx

Jacky said...

What a treasure your new old Bernina!!! I too have an old Bernina (she is 24 this year). I bought her just before the birth of my first son and she has never let me down... love it to bits! I am sure you will have FUN with your machine.
Loving those gorgeous purses you made in an earlier post and most envious of those wooden fonts you now have access to via work (what a bonus).
Loving the spring feel on your blog.

Natalie said...

I have a Bernina too. It looks the same as the one you have. I was lucky enough to be given mine by a lady who had made a few pairs of school trousers on it for her son and then just kept it in a cupboard for years! Apart from the fact that it weighs an absolute tonne I love it!