Gently does it ....

I know many of my followers are really accomplished ladies who can turn their hand to anything & they inspire the rest of us through their fabulous blogs of deeds & new things to try.

Gentlework - the name just rolls so easily off the tongue conjuring up visions of a slower time.

A friend Ellie & I signed up for a Gentlework day course & the closer it got, the more I realised that other than the odd hem or button, I had not done much sewing in years & certainly not much hand sewing.  I had good intentions to find a YouTube update on some stitches but time was not on my side so I thought ' time to wing it girl' ....

Fortunately the lovely Gentlework Christine & Jo of Rustic and White Shrewsbury assured me that nothing more than straight stitch was needed so that was that!

The choice of fabrics was stunning - Christine of Gentlework has the most amazing selection of vintage fabrics, lace, beads, quilted bits, fabrics, backing & even a vintage typewriter & papers to add typed bits for those of us who are not up to speed with embroidering lettering.

She also makes the most amazing vintage papier mache type boxes to use for display. Seeing the beautiful boxes just made me want to reach for my hoard of old books & maps & the pot of PVA glue ….

Fabrics chosen - backing fabrics like vintage quilting, pink edging from a blanket, some aged piped lace edging & two pink lace flowers cut from a doily cloth.

The fabrics had that lovely 'worn' texture, a silky feel that pre-loved, vintage items have that is so lovely to work with.

The vintage flower fabric was not quite right so I looked over & saw a perfect piece with a hint of blue which Ellie fortunately shared with me ... sorted|!

You know that moment when it is all just right …

Sewing time?

No, I actually think better with a cup of tea so luckily the lovely Jo & Christine had tea & a fabulous selection of cakes on hand! Perfect - now time to plan & think.

Once I had selected my bits, I knew they were the right combinations of colour, texture & form - time get them to be pleasing & balanced to the eye too, then thread the needle and get started on the fabrics on the back - securing them with tiny straight stitches ...





Mmmmm the pink flower cut-outs are not right in that corner; the quilting piece looks lost on the left … unpin & move them about again till they looked right.

I had my camera with to do photos so Ellie obliged with lots of needles & bits ... I knew it was a good idea to make her a needlebook for lots of needles!

Christine had a selection of the vintage threads - truly beautiful colours, thicknesses & textures!  Some beads were needed to brighten up the flowers … several needle tries later & I found one thin enough to pull through the beads!

Ellie did a photo of me in the fabulous refurbished room at Rustic & White's shop!

My sewing day was lovely - the 6 hours passed so quickly that it was soon time for sharing our lovely items!  This is mine up close ....

Mine & Ellie's together - can you see the flower fabric she shared with me?

I will share some of the other gorgeous items with you next time. Please visit again.

I am already thinking of various things I want to make & know I will be searching vintage, thrift & charity shops for a selection of fabric from now on. We have all stood in charity shops - fingering some beautiful fabric items & said 'this is so beautiful'; well, I now know I can buy that fabric or item & give it a new lease of life!

Thanks for stopping by. Please leave me a 'hi, I was here' so I can return the visit!
Dee ~♥~