To Mother With Love

I'm celebrating with flowers and photography and tea and my favourite female today!

Apricot Lace

I found this pretty cotton dress at a thrift store, originally from Forever 21. Though it is contemporary, it has the perfect structure to be transformed into a gloriously Edwardian gown that would fit right into a Downton scene. I love the pale apricot fabric, mesh neckline, low square back, and lace details. It is a costume project in the works for whenever I next discover an outdoor tea or the like to attend! It shall be lengthened and embellished. 

More Tea Towels

Here are some more goodies from my tea towel making rampage! These were ordered as fat quarters of Linen Cotton Canvas Ultra from my shop, and then I finished the edges with mitered corners. The designs pictured are Pantone, Buttons, Greenery Machinery, Maritime Yarn, and Seamstress Fruit. These and several others are now available for sale at The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum!

Tea Towels

I've been on a tea towel making rampage! I ordered a bunch of fat quarters from my shop in Linen Cotton Canvas Ultra and then sewed the edges with mitered corners. The designs pictured are Fresh Berry, Cobalt Craze, Delft Tea, Union, Cabbage, Turkish Tile, and Bubblegum Calico. How perfect with these dishes!

Green Gables Tea Cup

I found this sweet teacup and saucer at a local thrift store for $1. It's the same house and garden illustration as on the dish in the post below, but this one is coloured in!

Victoria

Queen Victoria was one incredible lady. Aside from ruling a country for nearly 64 years, she was a mother of 9, a visual artist, and a prolific journal writer. Her passionate, determined nature is clear in reading her diaries. I've been loving the series Victoria, which brings aspects of her younger life to light...plus the costumes and sets are stunning and lavishly inspiring. Happy Victoria Day!

Blue and White Dishes

You may have noticed that I'm a fan of blue and white dishes...here are some stunners from the collection!

Delft Charms

Much to my delight I found these dainty little charms at Michael's and am turning them into jewellery! 

New Tea Designs in Shop

Here are some fun additions to my surface pattern design shop, available as fabric, wallpaper, gift wrap, cut-and-sew patterns, and homewares: Boston Tea Party

Steep

Delft Tea

Tea Town

The intricate details, colour combinations, and metallic accents on tins thrill my soul, so I decorated my growing collection of tins for Christmas! 

Daintea: GTS 2016

I designed a teacup, saucer, and paper napkin for this year's Global Talent Search. Thanks a bunch to Lilla Rogers and her creative team for this fun design brief and for running such a thrilling opportunity!

Subconscious Shopping Palettes

The other day I went to a couple garage sales wearing a dress of this lovely Liberty print. I bought these 4 teacups, and when I got home I realized how they as a whole strangely coordinated with the dress fabric. 

That was not the first time that has happened to me; every time I shop I seem to have an unintentional colour scheme going with my purchases. So note to self: always be surrounded by beautiful (inspirational) things!

Barbie Tea Pendant

I added jump rings to this pink-flecked Barbie teacup and teapot and slid them onto a long chain with a droplet bead to create a unique necklace. Suddenly kids' toys have fashionable potential! 

Springtime Tea

I found this pretty 1956 photo on myvintagevogue's photostream on Flickr. 

 Spring (although I use that term loosely right now given current local weather patterns!) seems like a great time to have a tea party, so I decorated a tiered shelf in my room accordingly.

My grandma, who taught folk art painting classes, painted these houses.

 I made this satisfyingly thick slice of cake out of paper scraps, topping it off with a fabric flower.

...And of course there needed to be some pretty tea cups involved! The chair was made of wire and a bottle cap and was given to me by my friend Willow, along with the small tea cup. The bunny was also painted by my grandma. Now warmer weather just needs to roll in so that this flowery pastel embellishment doesn't seem so out of place!