Chair of the Underground

I am starting another course tomorrow, and have purchased this little (rather dirty and dusty) Edwardian chair to refurbish and design the cover for. I have an idea to create a tube seat like our everyday edwardian London Underground, and I need your help to choose which design I will be embroidering in wool! I have done plenty of research and sifled it down to two ideas (as in the link).

At the moment this is the current favourite design.... but let's see!

William Morris footstool

This was a belated birthday present for my Nan (her birthday was in March) but I had trouble finishing it in time alongside working on the chair, and I also thought it was nicer to give it to her face-to-face when I went to Yorkshire for Easter. She absolutely loved it. My Nan has inspired me from a very young age to take up needlework, as well as more recently - upholstery. She has made so many things that we still have today - sewing boxes, piano chair, dressing table pouffe.... as well as clothing (my mother's wedding dress, my old dance dresses - all my Dad's clothing growing up!- see post here) It was nice to finally give something back to her as she was always making things for others. Now she is unable to sew because of her eyesight and fingers from diabetes, but she gets very excited to talk about her sewing days.

The bird was a William Morris design and the footstool itself is Victorian. It had a horrible cover from the 80s on it and underneath the original upholstery had been removed. One of my (not too distant) future projects is to re-upholster the sewing box she made my Mum in 70s - which was used as a scratching post by my cat (RIP) when I was growing up, and definitely needs re-covering!!

Edwardian chair

So happy to have finished this, this week! My little Edwardian chair was refurbished with a Jacobean hand embroidered cover (by me) and stuffed with fine horse hair. I used a beautiful blue and green trimming from VV Rouleaux to frame it nicely on the seat.
I've enjoyed this course so so much, I'll be sad to finish it!

Nan and Grandad

My Nan and Grandad married during World War II. They had very little, my Nan borrowed all the clothes and flowers for the day, which she had to give back at the end of the day. They spent the rest of their lives together, until my Grandad's passing.

Sew and so

I've been a bit rubbish updating my blog recently! But doesn't mean I haven't been hard at work with some sewing pieces... here are a few pieces I have been working on over the past 6 months:

 

Gällnö

Here are a few special memories from our week on the Swedish island of Gällnö, one of the central-archipelago islands off the coast of Stockholm. Truly a very unique place, full of outstanding beauty and tranquility - no cars were allowed on the island, but as it was only 500 hectares big, it was pretty easy to get around on foot.

One of the most beautiful islands I have been to in Europe, I am so jealous that the Swedes have all this beauty on their doorstep!

 

To get to the next island over, Kalko, there were little rowing boats waiting for you.

Our favourite cafe on the island (the only cafe on the island!) which was right by the harbour.

I would love to go back again - especially to eat up all the wild blueberries we found on our lengthy sunny walks!

We're off to Herräng!

For a whole week of solid dancing in Sweden, with incredible international teachers! I am so excited as this is supposed to be one of the best dance camps in the world... just watch this trailer below to see why!



After our intensive dance camp, we're heading off to the islands for a bit of R n' R.... not sure which ones yet but looking for somewhere not touristy and very natural.