Do you know, when I started making things to sell, I had no idea how important it would be that those things should make me laugh. I realise that this sounds like an utterly bonkers way of doing things.
“Does it make me laugh? Yes? Let’s do it!”
Honestly though, that approach has been so important.
I absolutely love a good novelty print, and I also love the thought that something I’ve made will make you smile – not only when it pops through your letterbox, but also every time you see it or wear it. I mean, who doesn’t love a cup of tea and a biscuit, for a start?
I bought these tiny little embroidery hoops based on two facts:
- they make me smile, because I love a miniature version of just about anything, and
- they’re both made and distributed by independent small-businesswomen, and I very much like to encourage that sort of thing.
I also thought that they’d be an excellent way of using up some of the smallest fabric offcuts from my dressmaking. I already use up a fair few scraps with the lavender bags, but I always seem to end up hoarding the tiniest little pieces.
A few years ago I made a similar brooch for my Mum, using a tiny offcut, just a couple of inches square, from one of her handmade childhood dresses. I thought that was a lovely way of elevating a little scrap of fabric hidden away in a box into a really sweet little keepsake that she can still wear.
So, I’ve just made these four brooches, to start with.
I have A LOT (no, really, I mean A LOT) of fabric scraps to use up, so if these are popular you can definitely expect to see a few more of them!