The Excitement Of The Relaunch......

New Fabrics...... A Preview.

Over five weeks have passed since I last posted. Apologies.... I was planning on posting a few simple sewing tutorials, but a rather busy schedule has left me with really not much time for anything but designing, planning and sewing for the relaunch.

The fabrics swatches arrived back this week, and I am delighted. In fact, more than delighted, I am quietly buzzing with excitement and eager to begin transforming them into beautiful homeware and accessories. 

Our first collection (I am saying 'Our' as I now have a small team on board), was designed to reflect the underdogs of British Institution. No Union flags, images of London, large floral sprays; but what we recognise instantly as quintessentially British, and loved by us, and what will in time, become a part of our heritage. 

So I have named the collection 'Home And Country'. And in it you will find pretty vintage houseboats adorned with Roses, Cornish folk hearts, simple landscapes of our beautiful wind farms, a new, fresh take on the classic British favourites; houndstooth, paisley, and damask, recreated in muted country shades... To celebrate the British gala days, a hand-tied spray of British wildflowers.... 

All printed here in the UK on beautiful linens...

Here's a few snaps of the collection.  

The design boards...

The fabrics....

 

I hope you will love them as much as we do. We would love some feedback so please do leave a comment!

L xx

Back On Track With An Inspirational Month.....

 

The Importance of the Simple Things....

Well It's been quite a year so far. I knew it would be a busy 2013, and following on from an earlier post about best intentions and resolutions, I made a colourful 'Always In View' list of the important things that I really wanted to do each day. These weren't work targets and chores but  gentle reminders of small daily to-do's that may seem small and even a bit of a luxury when you're flying about the place, trying to get things done, but actually, these are the things that keep you going...

A quiet coffee in the garden while enjoying the view..

Reading a short poem (I always find this perks me up. I can recommend Now We Are Sixty)

Picking up a craft project for 10 minutes. At the moment, mine is a crochet blanket...

A browse and chat on Instagram or Twitter, and catching up with my daily blog fixes....

A hug. Anything. Anyone. Dog, cat, baby etc...



These little things, I now make sure I do.

I'm a great fan of the Self-Help book, and I'm currently reading a time management book called Do It Tomorrow. I wanted to say a little bit about this, as it gets a little deeper than just simply telling you how to organise your pile of invoices better.

I was thrilled at the fact that, you don't necessarily need to overhaul your life to manage it better. It's all about the way you feel about a task, and having a positive attitude and approach to each day, and what you want to achieve. Brain training, in a sense. If you spend too long in a certain mindset; negativity, procrastination etc, it becomes you.
Yes, it's hard to motivate yourself some mornings with the weather we've been having, but ask yourself, is it really THAT bad? Or just mundane? And if just that, then what can I do to make the mundane more enjoyable? I've always called this the 'Pretty Stationery Effect'.

So I always start the day without the radio, social media, or TV. Just some quiet time, gathering my thoughts for the day ahead, reminding myself what's important, and how lucky I am to be doing what I do. And then I sit and write a list.

I do love a list...

If you're a big fan of the To-Do list, my lovely friend Sapphire of Saffyloves has created a beautiful free download on her facebook page for you to print and use! Just 'like' her page and if you have the time, have a browse of her wonderfully pretty services...

Get it here

Also recently, the wonderful Hayley, known to some as Mrs Scoops, has created a new lifestyle blog with her Friend Shaneen, aptly named Breathe Happiness. Hayley herself, is such an inspiring person, and has so much positivity to give others.
Her blog, Instagram, and twitter feeds, always brighten my day, and Shaneen's photography is fresh, bright and really encapsulates, well, happiness!

It was only a matter of time before she started a blog like this, as this is just her in a nutshell.
An infectiously happy nutshell!
There are posts about everything from getting eyeliner right, features on creative businesses to eye-opening, but simplified pieces on the big philosophicals like 'What is Success?'  

They also provide a social media and photography service. Is there anything they don't know?

It's a daily read I would not be without now. Stylish, informative and full of smiles! Another one of my little daily fixes that keep me going!

Breathe in a bit of happiness HERE

 

 

New Candles And Re-branding The Institutions Collection...

Last month I thought, while I'm waiting for the new fabrics I'd set my mind to giving the existing candle range a new look, and reworking some of the scents. They are only very subtle changes, but I am so pleased with the results. I've enjoyed getting back to the designing part of the business, so much so that I spent an entire day working on some new candles, which I had planned for a while.

All perfumers have favourite scents and quite often Lavender, Jasmine and fresh citrus top notes like Bergamot and Lime are top of the list.
So I've created two new scents. The candles have a rather Victorian apothecary look about them, which I love. I've called them Perfumers' Favourites -  Citrus Grove, and Lavender and Jasmine.

I shall keep them hidden for now until the website re-launches, but here's the new packaging for the Institutions Collection!

 

Trialling scents....

 

 

 

'Hyndland Velvet', one of our best-sellers...

And finally, happy Spring!


It's been a cold one this year, so I've not been sowing any seeds, and the greenhouse is still in tatters from last year. So, instead, as I revealed in my last post, I've been learning to crochet. I'm still very much a beginner and only know a few stitches, but the unintentional increasing and decreasing has stopped, the tension is better, and I've made progress on both the blankets I started.

The first, was with pretty Debbie Bliss Cotton DK, in three pretty shades of Pink, Aqua and Mustard...

 

 



 

 

The second blanket, which is also just rows of double crochet on a 7mm hook, is with Sirdar Juicy Bamboo Cotton, in the most subtle sorbet colours, like Banana, Watermelon, and Grape...

 

 

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also 'made' a little Easter twig tree this year with sprigs of budding Elder, Snowberry, and Hornbeam, and decorated it with pretty painted wooden decorations. The 'Egg' vase is just a little more than a fat quarter of pretty fabric, gathered over an oval glass vase, then tucked in at the top and tied with a ribbon!

 



 

 

 

 

 

One last little example on the pretty stationery/prettying up your day concept. Examples are great, especially if they are metaphorical and literal...

 

I love olives. I haven't always loved olives, I thought they were horrid looking things, that I wouldn't touch, let alone eat. But this is what I like to do with a jar of olives. I will leave you to figure out the metaphorical meaning...

 

 

 

 



 

 

 Thanks for reading!

 

L xx



 

 

A Journey In Crochet And The Joys Of Being A 'Hooky Rookie'...

I tried to ignore it. I REALLY did. As if I haven't got enough to do, I have succumbed to the temptation of learning to crochet...

For those who follow my feed on Instagram (@leannespencer), I have been trying and failing on an on/off basis since before Christmas, and this week I finally believe I have mastered the 'double crochet' stitch.
I've been practicing with acrylic DK yarn, and a 4mm hook, and have made a few test pieces...

To my absolute delight, when I posted my efforts on Instagram the feedback was overwhelming!

''I can crochet!'' I exclaimed, and did a little happy dance on the couch.

So. Trying not to lose my head over such joys of being a Hooky Rookie, I have had a wee yarn and hook purchasing session online, and scoured my favourite craft blogs, of which have the most beautiful visual crocheted loveliness; Pink Milk,  Coco Rose Diaries, Annaboo's House, and Attick 24....

In complete anticipation of my new crochet things arriving, I am undecided about what to make as a first project. I would love to make a blanket, but is this really a good idea for a beginner?

I've decided to document my Journey In Crochet here, as a way for me to look back at progress, and for others thinking of learning to take on the challenge, as I did in fact, nearly give up after flinging my hook at the Christmas tree one evening, in a rather unjustifiable rage.

But SO worth the anxiety.....

L xx

                                                                     

Festive Round-up, And Planning For The Year Ahead.....

First of all, Happy New Year!

The festive season was a special one for us in 2012, as it was my son, Harry's first Christmas; and also because Mr S was home this year. I'm used to spending every other month by myself, but it's always a little harder at Christmas if he's away, so we all had some lovely family time....

I had the added joy of creating a 'Christmas Mantle', as we'd finally had the fireplace and stove fitted in December. I received some beautiful gifts from Nicki, who writes the wonderful blog homebird
including some pretty candles, which were swiftly added to my display!

I also made use of the abundance of holly and ivy in the garden and made a few winter wreaths....

Christmas Box Success!

The Christmas boxes were a huge success, and thanks to everyone who purchased, we raised over £400 for charity.
Here's some snaps of the work in progress.....

Planning With Intent

So the first few days of 2013, I spent clearing away the remnants of last year, wearing some Spring florals to brighten up the drab weather, getting my work in order, and sitting down with my new diary, a cup of tea and a lit candle (this has always helped me concentrate), and turned straight to the back of the book, to the 'notes' section, to write my Plans/Resolutions for 2013.

Like a lot of people, I plan with intent. I enjoy the process and the quiet excitement of thinking about, and writing down wonderful things that I think I could achieve.... but also, like a lot of people, when the page these plans are written on closes, quite often, you forget about it. They are swallowed up by everyday life...

So this year, I'm doing it differently.

One of the things I used to do in my old job, was a form of Life Planning through Graphic Facilitation. This process involves an illustrated chart of your life, who you are, your qualities and also your weaknesses, where you are in life, and where you want to be. Then, you set about, through flow and process diagrams, how you are going to get there. What's more, is that this kind of planning makes you discover more about yourself, and realise that nothing is impossible.
Through everyday small steps, you can achieve almost anything....

So if you've made plans and resolutions for yourself, with intent, please do have a go, and keep it in view every day. As one of the worst things you can do in life, is lose sight of yourself.

Make 2013 about You

L xx

A Charming Little Giveaway......

A chance to win a Scottish Blossom Honey boxed candle....

To celebrate the 'new look' blog, I'm going to have a little giveaway.

Today has been a very busy day, and my Instagram friends will know that as well as progressing with the Christmas Boxes, I've been making a few boxed candles from my Institutions Collection, for a hamper which will be part of the Ecomunky Christmas Boutique this Sunday, at Oran Mor in Glasgow's West End. The money raised will go to Yorkhill Children's Foundation.

So this morning, I made a fresh batch of Scottish Blossom Honey (which will be discontinued on the new website, to make way for a revised version 'Wild Flower Honey') and Hyndland Velvet, an opulent floral of Rose, Gardenia and Patchouli...

To be in with a chance of winning a Scottish Blossom Honey, simply follow Delphi Burling via the blog, Facebook or Instagram, and leave a comment on any post. A winner will be chosen at random next Thursday evening!

Leanne xxx

Scented White Winter Dove Tutorial......

These are my favourite Christmas decorations, and so easy to make.

To make these, you will need:

MATERIALS....

White felted wool 

Velvet ribbon (I use 6mm ribbon)

Small silver bells

Polyfibre or natural Kapok for filling

Small faux diamante

White thread

Christmas fragrance oil or Essential oil

TOOLS....

Sewing machine

Hand sewing needle

Pins

Pencil and card to make a template

Scissors

Pinking Shears (optional)

1. Draw a Template.

When creating templates for anything, I find it easier to draw a picture of what you want to create, and then draw a cm border seam allowance right around the picture. This way, your picture inside will be the finished shape of your creation.
It's too easy to make the mistake of cutting out the picture as you've drawn it, and then finding once its sewn and stuffed, its a completely different shape to what you'd envisaged. 

Using your template, draw and cut out the two sides of your dove.

2. Pin and Sew.

Cut a length of ribbon and place it right side down, with loop end upside down, between the two pieces of felt. Make sure the ends are sticking out of the felt at the top, so you can sew them securely.
Pin, and sew around the edges with a running stitch, taking care to keep the shape of the bird, and leaving a 1.5 inch gap at the neck, to turn out and stuff. 

Once sewn, gently snip round the extra felt with pinking shears, or fabric scissors, to trim excess fabric.

Your dove should look something like this...

3. Turn, Shape, and Fill.

Carefully turn right side out, using a blunt pencil or similar object to get into the narrow parts like the tips of the wings, and beak. Felted wool can be manipulated into shape if your dove looks a little different from your template! It should now look something like this....

With your chosen scent, sprinkle a few drops onto your filling (a large hand full should be enough) and 'fluff' up'. My Kapok is left to cure for a few days to take on the scent, but this isn't necessary if using polyfibre filling.

4. Sew up, and Embellish!

Turn the opening in, and press into shape.

Then, using your white thread, hand sew small slip stitches to close. 

Sew on your bow and bell with a few stitches, and stick on your faux diamante for the eye. Hang up, and enjoy!

Christmas Boxes and November In Pictures.....

Nearly a month has passed since I relaunched the blog, and posted about the Christmas Boxes, and I've had a fantastic response to these. So much so, that tomorrow is the last day to buy from folksy for those wishing to buy one and donate to Save the Children.
As you can imagine, I've been really busy sewing, mixing scents, and hand-printing Christmas fabric to make up the boxes, and I am so pleased with how they've turned out this year. I am aiming to get them all off to their new homes a week tomorrow. I do hope if you've been so kind as to order one, or even two, that you are pleased with what you get.

November in Pictures........


November seems to have flown by for me, and Christmas is fast approaching. It was only a few weeks ago that I gathered the last bundle of Sweet Peas from the garden. We had such a huge amount of flowers this year that I struggled to find vessels to house them, and discovered the beauty of the humble jam jar; not only for garden posies, but for home made hurricane lamps decorated with ribbons, pine cones and twine.....

This month, the renovation of the original fireplace recess in the living room, revealed a lovely large space for the new stove, with exposed red sandstone. The hearth and limestone mantle were fitted, and I couldn't resist  decorating around it with the jam jar hurricanes, vases of beautiful flowers and candles......

Finally this month, all of the fabric colourways were finalised and sent to the printers in England. The candles are awaiting their new packaging, and the beautiful stationery designs are nearly ready.

On the 15th of November, I received the news that my Granddad had passed away while in hospital. Although he had been ill for some time, you can never prepare yourself for loss. I took this picture shortly before we came home from the funeral on the 21st. I thought it rather poignant.

I have a tutorial for the White Winter Doves, which I will post tomorrow, as its rather late now. 

Have a lovely evening, and if you would like to leave a comment please do so, and thanks so much for reading.

Leanne xx