i’m having quite a productive designing period at the moment. i thought you might like to see a work in progress…

here’s the early sketch stage:

… and here’s the design getting stitched up:

that particular project is part of a larger range that i am very much looking forward to showing you soon.

essie xoxox

my project for the last day or two has been to make some pretty bunting…

each of the letters have been hand stitched, using a big and contrasting blanket stitch, adding a bit of texture.

i love the mismatched yet complimentary fabrics - i think they’ve come up looking great together!

bunting with birthday and christmas greetings might be coming next…

essie xoxox

this is just a tiny post. i thought i’d show you one of my most treasured posessions…

it’s a tiny little book, and it lists the meanings of all the flowers you could possibly think of.

someone has hand written them, and done delicate little paintings of different blooms in the borders.

so much prettiness!

essie xoxoxo

today, as i drank my first cup of tea of the morning, the doorbell rang, and a lovely fed-ex lady delivered a very exciting parcel…

inside i found two copies of italian magazine casa chic’s cross stitch special.
now, receiving this magazine would be treat enough in itself, because it contains some genuinely gorgeous embroidery projects, but what made it super-mega-specially great was the fact that i’m featured in it!

i did an interview with a lovely journalist a couple of months ago, and now that interview, a biography, and one of my patterns (the “you’re sweet” card) have been published!

over three pages, no less!

i am honoured to be included in such a wonderful publication, and tickled pink to have my little pattern appreciated in other parts of the world.

essie xoxox

here’s a project that’s very close to my heart.
as many of you know, i collect teacups. i adore my collection - it’s full of intricate designs, beautiful colours, and delicate patterns (if you’re curious, you can see part of the collection here), and it’s been the inspiration for my latest embroidery pattern:

“they retired to their tea and scandal, according to their ancient custom”
- william congreve

i’ve chosen to hang the individual teacups in their own little hoops, but they would also look very cute in little frames, or used to make a set of greeting cards.

this is my favourite of my designs so far! if you like it too, you can buy a copy of it from my etsy shop.

bottoms up!
essie xoxoxo

recently, i bought a wonderful new toy: a kobo (one of the many e-readers currently on the market). i am a bit in love with it. it’s so light, and it can hold over 1000 books in it. it’s making my love of reading that much easier to indulge.

of course, acquiring a new device like this means that i need to craft some sort of home for it…

my kobo cover is completely hand pieced and quilted. the only thing i cracked the machine out for was the button loop (which would have been annoyingly fiddly to stitch by hand!).

as you can see, i have managed to incorporate my love of squirrels into this little creation. they feature on two of the different fabrics i used.

i’m really happy with how it came together. i love the warm colours, and the combination of prints.

as you can see above, i’m now experimenting with altering the pattern, with a view to making kobo covers available in my etsy shop… we’ll see how that goes!

essie xoxoxo

this morning, my honey went out to hunt down some breakfast for us. she came home with delicious pastries, fresh coffee, and this bunch of jonquils.

she knows they’re one of my favourite flowers - so cheerful, generous, and fragrant. they seem to bloom with all their hearts.

we’re having a bit of building work done at our house at the moment, and all our vases are carefully packed away in storage. luckily, a quick rummage through the kitchen cupboards produced an old milo tin, which is playing the role of vase most sufficiently.

have a beautiful sunday!
essie xoxoxox

i am so excited to be making this post - i have been working on the pattern for a sampler for ages, and it’s finally ready to share!

i love samplers. when i’m working on one, i feel part of an ancient tradition. i can picture myself as a character out of a jane austen novel, or an arthurian courtier.

with this pattern, i wanted to draw on traditional motifs, while creating something fresh and a little different.

like the bunnies, and the squirrels, the pattern for this sampler is available in my etsy shop.

i hope you like it!
essie xoxox