A Tiny Felt Brooch

Little blanket stitches frame a sweet snippet of embroidered flowers, attaching an ever-so-small piece of long-ago stitching to a scrap of soft, woollen felt. Pinned on to a dress or a blouse, with a small pin, and it becomes a tiny brooch.

A tiny handmade brooch.

Tiny brooches like these, made by the talented Jude Van Heel,  featured in a recent issue of Grass Roots magazine (No. 248 Aug/Sept 2018). I set my copy aside, the instructions flagged for when a little window of time opened up for making one. Just such a time presented itself on Saturday evening and I so enjoyed the quiet time I spent stitching the little circle of flowers to the felt backing. Even with very careful stitches, so as not to fray the edge of the old linen, this project took less than an hour.  

A little safety pin for the back.

I didn't have a brooch pin for the back but a little safety pin works just fine. It's only tiny and very light so it doesn't pull on the fabric that it's pinned to. 

Perfect for a dress or a blouse.

I love that a project like this makes use of old embroidered linens, perhaps those stained or forever unfinished or floundering in op-shop piles. I always think the stitching too beautiful not to find a use for and this is one tiny, sweet way to make something from such linens.  I'm sure I'll make a few more soon. 

Meg

Here & Now 18

The Summer seems to be stretching on, another wave of very hot days is here. Now, the heat keeps me from the garden but for the early morning hours when I wander, hose in hand, under the blue-ing sky. I am especially besotted with the yarrow that is blooming in the garden;  its tiny flowers daisy-like with their little white petals and yellow centres. An ancient plant, said to stand for health and inspiration, I'd love to capture its simple beauty somehow before its flowers fade.

Tightly closed buds in a yarrow flowerhead.

Little buds just beginning to open.

Tiny & sweet yarrow flowers.

Loving //   The tiny, daisy-like flowers of ancient yarrow.

Eating //   Jam drops with sticky, golden centres of apricot jam.

Drinking //  ... in the quietness of home on Summer's weekend mornings.

Feeling //  A little Summer weary.

Making //  Sailor tops and chocolate cakes (a perfect combination!)

Thinking // ... of stitching a cluster of tiny yarrow flowers on the wide hem of my sailor top.

Dreaming //  ... of the gorgeous handmade projects in this lovely magazine.

Lazing in the garden in late afternoon shade.

To look at all the creativity and loveliness that is in other people's photographs, gardens, crafts, baking and projects, you can visit Sarah, of Say Little Hen, who hosts the Here & Now link up. Join in too if you want to, then we can see what is happening in your own here and now.

Meg