i like brooches...

i like really brooches. 

you just feel that little bit more happy going about your day when you wear them... don't you think?

they bring back those nostalgic dress-up memories too... and remember all those hours spent tinkering in your mums jewellery box and wardrobe? i do!

i spent a bit of time on  madeit this week... here are four of my favourites i hand-picked. nice hey?

do take a look at these shops...cause there other really sweet things in them too!

1. each to own 

2. little viking girl

3. and o design

4. radish and ruth

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here are the beginnings of the BIRCHseed brooch collection...

poppies...

a little birdie told me...

coriander seeds....

retro flower...

florence...

alyssum in the garden...

oh and there will be rings....

and lots of sweet little buttons too...

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these will come in more colours - like a nice turmeric yellow, tangerine orange and sky blue.

printed on gorgeous organic hemp fabric and made with the best quality stainless metal casings. you can even pop these through your washing machine!

not in my shops yet... but expect them there very soon!

:: are there any other colours that you would love to see the BIRCHseed brooches printed in?

oh yeh.... more over at our creative spaces today

other things i make -- handmade flower girl dresses

you may be wondering what i got up to during my 2 week holiday.... 

some sewing of course!

... a few months back, my lovely neighbour (who also has a wonderful blog you can view here) kindly asked if i would make 3 flower girl dresses for her late august wedding. 

i jumped at the chance to do this girly project, as i up until now, most of the things i make are for the boys in my life. with some spare time during my holiday, i was able to sew to my hearts content, add the finishing touches and hand the dresses over to my very excited neighbour. 

... it was nice to be surrounded and immersed in ribbons, frills, flowers and tulle for a while.

... it was also nice to have a project that required such attention to detail. i especially enjoyed the days when i sat quietly in my sunroom (with many cups of tea) and hand-stitched the finer detailing on the dresses.

2 inch gross grain ribbon was gently hand stitched around each waistband

handmade tulle petticoats to add fullness and pop!

i have never used so many pins ever. 3 layers of tulle
stacked under each other that go round & round & round...

the beautiful toile fabric used for the bodice and contrast trims

fold upon fold... very full skirts with contrast hem

and trim was added to the base of the waistband ribbons

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thank you kind neighbour... for allowing me this indulgence in some girly sewing pleasure. 

:: may your wedding day be perfectly beautiful xx

my creative 'garden' space

as many of you would know the past week and a half have been a bit sad at no.4 baker st with the passing of my beloved 13 year old chocolate brown kelpie -- jackie brown

she spent most of her final days laying in the sun in the backyard, so the past week i've had a little bit of garden therapy... spending lots of time poking and pondering and just 'being' in my kitchen garden instead of in the printing shed.

so today i thought i might share this space with you

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no captions, no words just visuals...

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ok, some words now...

this is JB's new resting place in our garden...

river rock placed in the sun... her ashes scattered around.... native australian daisy's in flower

xx

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more from 'our creative spaces' here

how long does it take to make a fabric covered button?

i love fabric covered buttons... they have that vintage charm from the 70s don't you think? 

... do you remember that little flower stamp on those tiny shipping tags that was featured in last weeks post? well it was actually designed with the aim of making fabric buttons.... BUT i just have not had the spare time till now to finish making them.

you see i am one of those people who really like to finish something they start... & preferably in one or two sittings. being a new mum, i have had to simply let go of this concept and learn to grab hold of mini snippets of time and 'make'. 

anyway, i am blabbering. so, a few months on since idea conception... here they are!

in blue.

in red.

in orange.

and a leaf print in green.

so there you have it... a simple product that does not look like its got much work in it hey?

...well it really does take a lot more time, thought and love than using mass-produced printed fabric to cover buttons.

:: hoping to expand this range soon with some brooches and mini buttons...would love to hear your opinion :)

ps:  each set is available in my shop now. happy days!

--  more great stuff at our creative spaces over here