Changing The Tide...

Hello my lovelies!

Gosh what a long time since we last met....

I really must apologize for my quietness of late!

I don't think I'll ever receive 'Blogger Of The Year Award' but be assured I am back in the saddle as they say and ready to face those dark evenings of Autumn & Winter with great gusto...

and lots of my little ramblings to hopefully cheer you all!

So where were we?

Ah yes....

The last time we met I was busily chatting about letting crafts into your life and helping to rest your weary souls from the toil of our busy lifestyles...

It has been so fabulous to catch up with all your gorgeous makes in my weekly

Friday Showcase over on my Facebook page.

Crafting at all levels bring joy to so many people in so many ways...

gifts, treasured heirlooms, designs, small businesses, personalised items etc

It has been a joy to hear you all sharing your thoughts and helping each other to continue with your designs!

For those wanting to join in with our weekly get together simply click here for more details

~~~~~~~~~~

Sadly our summer of sunshine bliss has nearly left us and the golden hues of Autumn are beginning to slowly emerge...

Moving forward to those darker evenings I've already mentioned above, I am going to focus in a little more on some basic tutorials via my YouTube Channel.

You can subscribe here 

I only have a few videos at the moment but watch this space folks for some more inspiration!

I shall be covering a variety of techniques including crochet, sewing, patchwork and much more.

I do hope you will join me...

I know so many of you lovelies would love to visit my workshop and live so far away so 

hopefully this will be the next best thing!

In the meantime you can catch me on Create & Craft TV offering my little ramblings amongst the stash of fabric and yarns....

Do say hello and send in your queries and I will try and help in any way I can!

Well my lovelies, I'm off to enjoy a much needed cuppa now and share a catch up gossip with the delicate butterflies in my garden whilst I still have some sunshine to savour.

Wishing you all a beautiful day...

Keep your comments coming in folks...

Toodle-ooh for now my lovelies!

Tilly

xxx

Keep Calm and Carry On....

Hello my lovelies!

I hope you don't mind but I'm offering something a little different today...

It's taken me a very long time to consider whether to write this post but hopefully you'll understand the reasons to why I have?
Earlier this week I received the best news ever..

Two little words....

"all clear"

*****

A year ago my world turned upside down, inside out and completely off balance when my hubby was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

For a year since, our lives have been on autopilot, both for different reasons... hubby to face all the treatment thrown at him and me because I was the stable one in the equation as often us ladies are...

Every one has their own set of troubles lurking behind the smiles we all offer to each and every one we meet each day...

Some people are very vocal and will tell all and others like myself are very quiet and just get on with things in a stoic true British spirit.

So why am I telling all now?

I want to let everyone know how crafting is so very good for keeping you grounded when all is not stable at sea...

I have crafted since a young child.

It is part of me.

I learnt a long time ago that

I need to dabble each and every day to keep my soul singing...

Up until the diagnosis I had been running my own workshops, craft sessions, offering 1:1 lessons and supporting local schools.

Eventually I have had to put all of that on hold.

My priorities lay elsewhere. 

The same week we found out about my hubby I was contacted by Create & Craft TV to attend a screen test with the view to becoming a Guest Presenter.

Complete pants for timing!

Despite the many pleas from family and friends especially hubby, I put it on hold until eventually I caved in and agreed to give it a go... 

I continued to sit for hours and hours looking at sterile hospital clinic decor whilst accompanying hubby during his chemo sessions and re-designed in my mind each and every corridor Tilly Rose style!

After I had read every crumpled old magazine provided and tackled many books on my Kindle, I decided I needed to take action.

I started to fill my little wicker basket with a riot of colour threads, needles, various fabrics and loads of embellishments. 

I soon began to get a reputation as 'the lady with the basket'!

For every hour spent sitting in hospital armchairs I stitched my little heart away!

I needed to stay in a happy place for part of my day despite the surroundings.

I'm a firm believer in creativity being so good for the soul...

Nurses began to show an interest in my projects, other patients asked questions on how to do something and I even managed to show a young girl how to start embroidering whilst waiting for her Nan!

After hubby's chemo, we faced major surgery, followed by many sudden dashes in ambulances to our local casualty unit never knowing the outcome

Each and every time my little basket accompanied me with some crafty delight nestling inside to keep me busy.

Whilst all of this was carrying on I had started guest presenting..... to say I was a bag of nerves the first time doesn't even hit the mark!

But I persevered, trying to inspire others to 'give it a go' hoping I would eventually work out what to say at the right time and look in the right direction at the right time!

(not sure I'll ever look the professional!!)

Roll on a year...

With the wonderful news that hubby is now 'all clear' we can now look forward....

The reason for this post?

It is simply to say...

"Walk Your Life Towards Well-Being"

Allow creativity in your heart and you will always have a smile

Tilly

xxx

Inspired by Seaside Photographs - FREE TUTORIAL

Hello my lovelies!

At this time of year I know many of you will be like me, returning from your summer holidays with loads of seaside smiles and a host of ideas which hopefully will give you some inspiration for your next sewing or mixed media project...

As a textile artist I am continually being asked how and where do I get my inspiration

for my own designs?

Mother Nature always provides me with such gems and is my greatest source of inspiration.

It doesn't matter where you are visiting or for how long. 

Each region will have it's own special sights, sounds, smells and treats.

For me, Cornwall always delights.

I love visiting and soak up every little jewel I come across.

I carry my camera with me where ever I go and photograph snippets of my day using my lens as my creative eye.

I thought it would be a nice idea to give you all some tips and ideas as to how you too can get started using a photograph as your inspiration source and capture those treasured memories.

Inspired by Seaside Photographs -Tutorial

So where to begin....

First, what project do you have in mind?

Collage

Cushion

Notebook Cover

Special Bunting

Whatever the project, using a favourite pic can always help you to get started...

So, how?

If you are not reproducing an exact copy of a snapshot how can you use it for inspiration?

Here are some tips that hopefully will help to give you some basic ideas....

You may want to draw out your design copying the photo to help with dimensions or scale. To do this simply print off your photograph and use either tracing paper or greaseproof paper to out line the main elements.

Don't be afraid to exaggerate the details. remember it is your design. there are no rules!

Also don't worry if your dimensions don't match exactly... 

Try and create a mood board for your project. I know many of you may say why bother if it is only for a cushion but believe me it is definitely worth it!

I love collating loads of ideas from alsorts of resources...

Attach them to an old picture frame, write them down in a book or simply doodle on scraps of paper that you have to hand.

Believe me when I say they will all come be handy to refer back to.

Use your photographs to help with colour schemes...

They will give you an idea of how to blend colours for backgrounds or individual elements of your overall design.

You may be using various fabrics to build up your design or colouring them in with free motion embroidery, or perhaps you want to make your design to have a 3D effect?

Of course you need to think about adding textures and patterns...

maybe to represent shells, rocks, beach huts, rocks etc

Don't forget to add in those extra special details that will make your designs more individual...

All those little memories you have can be added into your designs...

And talking of textures....

use Mother Natures box of jewels to help you decide what elements you may want to stitch, crochet, embroider or sew on as embellishments...

I hope this quick tutorial has helped to get you inspired to give it a go...

Just remember it really doesn't matter what your design is going to be.... it may be a cushion cover that you want to use applique on or you may decided to have a go at a mixed media collage.

Start small and then run with your ideas...

We are all creative in some way or another.

As so many people have asked about designs and ideas I have decided that I am soon going to be selling my own inspiration kits via my blog.

I will also be offering online tutorials alongside them with ideas for your projects.

I would love to know your thoughts on this, so if you have five mins do please drop me a message at the end of this post or an email to  tillyrose10@gmail.com 

You can also find me via my Facebook page 

In the meantime Happy Stitching my lovelies!

Enjoy your weekend...

Tilly 

xxx 

Vintage Fabric,Threads, & Cowslips...

Hello my lovelies!

Gosh it seems ages since I sat and wrote a little post...

I'm missing our hellos :)

I'm actually away on my hols at the moment and so finally I have some time to sit and doodle, and chill....

It's only been a week since leaving my little studio and Vintage Workshop and yet I feel 

I am getting withdrawal symptoms already from my crafty goodness!

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to visit a fabulous fair full of crafty loveliness that helped me re-connect again.

I wasn't even put off by the Cornish drizzle that continually drips like a tap as I ventured out into the countryside down the meandering lanes. 

The rain came sweeping across in front of me and at one point came lashing down so fast as though someone was throwing buckets of water at my little car like they used to do on Bruce Forsyth's Generation Game!

(You'd think coming from the Fens I would be used to being wet and damp but Cornish weather beats the Fens hands down!)

So, to say I arrived like a drowned rat by the time I had walked into the actual fair was not fair wrong!

I definitely needed cheering up!

I needed colour.

I needed fabrics.

I needed threads.

I needed crafty happiness...

I was met with smiles all round from the stall holders.

I was SO excited to meet up with my lovely friend Donna Flower 

Her stall was as beautiful as ever offering customers a range of gorgeous vintage goodies...

Whilst chatting to Donna, a lovely lady came and also said hello and completely made my day...

She explained how she watches me on Create & Craft TV and loves my way of designing and sewing which was lovely to hear.

but she went on to explain how she had recently lost her dear Mum and wanted to make something that would help preserve some of her precious memories and had been so inspired by my take on things that she was going to make a photo album cover.

I was very touched...

You see sewing really isn't just about necessity with repairs, or creating couture designs. 

It's not even about producing hundreds of cushions or a perfect patchwork quilt...

For me, it is about creating something very personal that means something to you or the person who may be receiving it.

It is always about making something that is designed and then made with a handful of love.

Something that comes from the heart...

If you create with your heart rather than your head, however good or bad your designs or stitching may be, then in my eyes you can never go wrong.

The very first memory album I made was a few years ago now when I was working in school.

I had been supporting a young girl, who I will call 'Mary',who at the time was eleven years of age.

She was a little darling who always had a smile waiting for me every time I saw her.

Sadly, she had a diagnosis of a degenerative condition that would prevent her seeing adulthood.

I worked closely with the family for many years and during that time worked with 'Mary' on many tactile books to help with her sight. 

We collected memories throughout our days together and created her own stories from her experiences each day.

Sadly she passed away and I was asked by Mum to help her put together an album of all Mary's work along with photo's etc

I decided to make a fabric book holding loads of memorabilia that only Mary's family would appreciate.

Of course I added a little Tilly Rose style in the form of fabrics from Mary's favourite clothes and between us we produced a memory album that I know her family will treasure dearly.

I hope the lovely lady I met at the fair has the same pleasure from making her memory album....

I was so touched to hear that she felt inspired simply from watching me ramble on.

How lovely...

I'll be back again soon my lovelies but in the meantime

I'll leave you with these beauties that I saw at the fair...

aren't they a beautiful colour?

I just adore the way the drizzle is clinging onto the petals!

Toodle ooh for now!

Tilly 

xxx