Tuesday 23 October 2012

COLLECTIONS TO CHARM

It doesn't seem to matter what I'm doing at the moment, I'm always wondering what the next project will be... not necessarily writing, there never seems to be enough time for that, rather I wonder whether I will ever get back to one of my many other passions, in particular, embroidery. I truly enjoy creating and teaching embroidery, and all manner of sewing and craft.

 These are a few examples of what I have done... the three evening bags, the hand sewn memory vest, using scraps of fabric from all manner of things, and a few of my cushions. Snippets of my mother's lace curtains sit alongside some antique handmade lace given to me many years ago by an elderly neighbour, buttons from my collections of button jars and tins and boxes... there are pieces of fabric from my children's clothes, some from mine as a toddler,  various charms that mean something to me, such as tiny scissors and thimbles, hearts, etc. There are small doilies from my grandmother.. her crochet was beautiful. The back of the vest is all hand quilted with bears, another favourite of mine, and small children in old fashioned clothes, also the inevitable butterflies. I adore them...




Of course, then my interest extends to the collecting of sewing paraphernalia... I am fascinated by the accessories of years gone by, everything from pin cushions, handmade or commercial, to the vast array of embroidery scissors, to thimbles and furbelows... all vie for my attention.


I also love to paint ... anything that evokes the feeling of country, though charcoal and watercolours also get my attention ... now and then...All of the embroidery above is mine... as is that and the painting below...





There's a bear down there, wearing an outfit I made for my baby son... without the big red bow.

The heart boxes which hold various sewing bits, were given to me by a much loved Aunt... you can never have too many boxes.

The suitcase belonged to my grandfather and is heavy leather with a solid wooden frame. Papauli scratched his initials on it. It held a change of underwear, a spare shirt and pants, a new collar and the most basic of toiletries... all he brought from Greece in 1904.






What collection would be complete without blue and white?

This is just a small snapshot into the life of a hoarder, I mean collector.





9 comments:

  1. lots of lovely treasures Chris, all with special memories.I love the idea of a memories vest...I wished, ages go, that I'd thought to keep patches of all the dresses I'd sewn for myself or the girls, but too let was the cry. Don't envy you the dusting though;-)

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  2. Thank you, Pauleen..I wish I had more of the pieces of fabric... though there are certainly still a lot in my fabric cupboard. They keep my UFOs company. As for the dusting, I don't envy me either... and I would have to be a collector when I live in a very dusty area!

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  3. A most delightful post ! Where ever do you get the time ! I love your treasures!

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    1. Thank you, Angela... and so glad to see that you have been accepted by this temperamental box at last... ;-)
      there never seems to be enough time does there... we just have to ensure that at least a part of every day belongs to just us and our dreams. We matter, too.. not just those around us.

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  4. In the third photo down, hanging from the first peg, is a shirt sleeve band, that belonged to an Uncle... it 'stretches' though it is metal, as the links expand. The next item, tied with a ribbon, is the key to my beloved Papauli's (grandfather) office... he made that as well as the lock, office, house, etc. ... a very clever, amazing man, whom features a lot in my various posts, including
    http://thebackfenceofgenealogy-crissouli.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/my-grandfather-said_28.html

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  5. I so love to revisit this great post --- I came in search of antique lace edgings and got to enjoy all your 'stuff' all over again!

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    1. Thank you, Angela, and welcome back..there is another on a similar line to come, in a little while...

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  6. I enjoyed this then and enjoy it again now:)

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  7. Thank you, Pauleen.. when I look around my crowded house, I sometimes wonder why... but I can't imagine not having these things around me...They are the links to my past and my pathway to the future.

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