Moving on this stunning 72 piece dinner set. This is such a beautiful antique set from the 1920s. I'd picked this up at the end of last year to host my gorgeous newlywed niece and her husband. I loved the deep red and gold which mirrored the intricate work on her amazing bridal outfit. The gold is actually 22ct gold - again like Asian gold. Really sparkly gold. I love the mandala central design and border that looks like henna patterns. With wedding season upon us, I'm hoping someone else will enjoy this beauty!
Heard about @roud_fabrics closing down and having a whopping sale of *everything* at £2 a metre. It was so lovely to hear about the history of the shop. Listening to uncle reminded me so much of my lovely dad. And in true Asian style we found mutual connections 😂😂. Even with double bagging by purchases, one of the bin bags broke under the weight of my buys!
Plenty more bargains to be hard. I'll be returning next week.. obviously just as a favour to take a friend 🫣😅
As Autumn begins to come to a slow and spectacular end, here are some dresses I made to celebrate the changing season. Starting with the reds and oranges and slowing moving to the dark browns. As ever all materials are upcycled or thrifted and gifted. The first two floral are bedding. The gorgeous bright flowers on green capturing the start of autumn is a duvet cover from @asda the bright orange flowers is a duvet cover from @ikeauk The next orange dress has gifted and thrifted fabrics. The yellow and brown is all thrifted fabrics, the shorter brown floral is vintage soft furnishing fabric i picked up in a charity shop - there wasn't enough fabric for long sleeves so I add a bit of thrifted lace to join pieces together! The orange and brown long dress is made from a 1970s throw i bought online. It was new in packaging.. but had an all too familiar "attic smell"! I used the fringing on the neck, border and belt to really honour its vintage vibe fully. The final dress is made from the finest of fine soft pure silk sari. Obviously all dresses have pockets!
Had the family over last week ♥️. We had such a beautiful time making wonderful core memories together. One highlight was definitely the family presentations explaining what we all do! So much fun and everyone got to take part, even little ones. With almost 50 years age difference between our oldest and youngest presenters it really did bring everyone together! Job/uni/school was only a small part - we shared hobbies, favourite things, future hopes, and anything else! We started when it was still light outside and went on till it was very late. 15 presentations in all (some people really didn't want to (and that was fine), some didn't want to and had to anyway 🤣, and some got others to write their presentations for them 😂😂 - The process properly sums up the family!) Everyone received a suggested template but were encouraged to do whatever felt best. We definitely had some repurposed work presentations! And also no slide presentations.
Such a wonderful way to catch up on where everyone is, interests and hobbies, and future goals. Amazing to learn new things about each other even after a lifetime of knowing one another. A brilliant way to bring everyone closer, and give newer family members a better sense of the clan! ♥️ May our beautiful family always be protected, healthy, and successful, and our bonds grow ever stronger Inshallah.x
Some pictures from a little break in Italy. Being in Naples when the home team won a major football tournament was quite something. The enduring love for Maradona was everywhere! The artwork and sculptures were breathtaking
But I was most moved to see the activism and pro-Palestine sentiment across the city. Then a trip down along the Amalfi coast taking in Sorrento, Positano, Ravello, and Furore. It was all every bit as spectacular as it looks in pictures! The food was incredible for the range of fresh produce. Handpicking fresh lemons was a real treat!
Autumnal dresses...these pics were taken in glorious sunshine yesterday before the grey skies of today. A dress like this is a perfect dose of dopamine dressing for the first day of winter.
The fabric for the bodice with its traditional Swiss motifs and the floral fabric for the front panel of skirt were generously gifted to me by the wonderful Beatrice Graf from @boule_rouge_trice in Zurich whose bags are absolutely exquisite 😍😍. The sleeves are a lawn cotton that was languishing in my stash, and the dont-stand-too-close-to-a-naked-flame brown and orange retro 70s fabric making up the sides of the skirt and waistband are from a thrift store.
A riot of autumnal colours clashing with utter disregard for fabric compositions to create this patchy dress. 🍂🍁🍂
The excitement of harvesting potatoes! These were delicious. The potatoes were the next foray after tomatoes! Looking forward to growing more veg.. its all so confusing but all fun 🙂
Our fantastic exhibition space for @brsphotofest is taking shape! We can't wait to see @jessfairbrother@nilupayasmin_ work set up within these frames. The photographics will give a beautiful insight into the journey co-stitch participants have been on in their community stitching groups.
You will be able to view the exhibition in @uobroyalfortgardens from mid October for 2 months.
Our @costitchproject group members are aged from 9 -72 years! Every week there are so many beautiful stories shared. It is such a privilege to hold this joyful space. Today, a member brought in this kantha (light blanket stitched from worn saris) she made over 30 years ago using some of her mum's saris - can you see the printed sari sandwiched in between? She had come with her granddaughter who said she loved her soft and comfortable this blanket was, but didn't know that she was wrapping herself up in her great grandmother's sari when she used it. It has inspired me to get started on a kantha I keep putting off. The very wise advice I got from our member was that if I keep waiting for time I'll never get started ❤ Perhaps I'll make a start over the upcoming Bank Holiday.
Other memories recollected were about how different UK was back in the 1950s for early migrants- I was surprised to hear that people in the North, so unused to rows of terraced houses that all looked the same, did what I had heard my dad who only lived in the South tell me people did - they would arrange bricks in particular configurations outside their homes to be able to recognise which house was theirs.
We were joined by some new members today, it was so lovely getting to know them and hear about their connection with stitch. The threads of connection and conversation in the group are just fabulous.
Thank you to wonderful Kate for joining us and bringing the loveliness of her company and biscuits!
Ramadan Mubarak to all who will be celebrating this holy month. 30 days of increased reflection, prayer and remembrance. Its annual reset that many of us are in much need of. Going without food and water from dawn till dusk is the hard, but this immediately pales when we think of those who have no choice but to go without food or clean water, suddenly the hours don't seem to long after all. The world feels harder than ever, at every level. We are witnessing a genocide that it can feel like no one else has noticed. It can feel exhausting and hopeless, and then there are moments that are so joyful - this canvas was painted for me by one of my students. They were keen to see me before Ramadan, and I was so touched to receive this. It is not easy being a young person in Higher Education today, especially when spaces are not as welcoming to all in the same way. I love the strength of my students.
Recently another student reached out to me to say how they admired how I always "talk with chest", and "make them do the things they say they will but never want to do". It was genuinely moving. The student said I had transformed the space to make is safer and more inclusive for all students. And that has always been the only thing that matters. I've been contemplating my space in Higher Education a lot recently and feeling pretty broken by it all, so these interactions just came at the right time. Much to reflect on this month for me. Wishing everyone a blessed month. ❤
