Annabella Designs Petticoats

Vintage Weddings

2011-07-29T12:21:00.000-07:00

Vintage weddings

Alternative wedding seem to be the in thing at the moment and so I am going to take you to some of the places you can get to see some of my beautiful petticoats in action.

Honeypie Boutique

These are a few online places you can see some amazing vintage dresses and of course petticoats

Elizabeth Avey

Once upon a time

Maryrose Mcgrath

Indie Smiles

2010-04-12T12:20:00.000-07:00

So excited I have been in an article on Indie Smiles today written by Amanda at GimmeThatThing it has changed my bad Monday into a great one, Amanda has written a lovely article on Zibbeters who also belong to Folksy, go check it out and also look into Amanda's shop she has some lovely things like these earrings below.

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A Baby Girl

I became a grandmother for the 4 th time, my daughter Zoe gave birth on 16th March to a lovely little girl named Polly Jemima weighing in at a nice 6 Ib 15 oz, it will be lovely having a little girl around again, been knitting and sewing ready for her arrival and buying things from Folksy like these things below.

Bella Bunny

CakesKnitsandCosies

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Sophie Teddy

thepinkfairycake

Whats this all about

2010-04-07T10:12:00.000-07:00

Well its all about another craft related site called Zibbet recommended to me by a friend, I wandered over to have a look and hope you will too, although it is an U.S. site it is well worth a try as it is FREE, I found it very fresh and the whole site easy to use and has a nice feel about it and its FREE for standard account which you are able to list 25 items and upload 4 photo's, there is a premium account which gives you a few more features but as I am only giving it a try so I will stick with the standard account for now. Try It's FREE Zibbet

Bridal season is upon us

2010-02-06T11:35:00.000-08:00

The bridal season is well and truly upon us and because I have been involved in making bridal wear for such a long time and know how hard it is to get known in the bridal designing world I though I would give a mention to a great new blog called Folksy weddings all about hand made bridal related items by designers, as well as being a very good blog it is also a very good way to get some good ideas for your up and coming weddings, please have a look you will not be disappointed.

I have been very busy myself with designing some new bridal petticoats some short to suit the trendy 5o's style weddings and some long to suit the traditional wedding which are available for sale in my shop for those looking for the perfect bridal petticoat and accessories.

While we are on weddings would like you to share a few of my own personal favorites this one is from Lizziejayne on Etsy a beautiful design set off by a lovely contrasting sash, this dress would work well with one of my 50's style petticoat in a colour to match the sash.

What better to grace your wedding table than with these pretty favour boxes for a shabby chic or vintage feel to your day by Eviegeorge

I don't wear jewellery much but if I was to ever do the married bit again I would choose this Swarovski pearl necklace to wear as I love pearl and this is so beautifully made by SJ-Creative

Just a simple and elegant pearl and crystal tiara by Misha BrideIvory delicate soft tulle and gold edged veil by Annabella Designs

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Saturday jumble sale

To day (Sat 6th Feb) has been a very eventful day with an early start rising at 7 o'clock to help my daughter Jackie with a jumble sale she was running to help raise funds for her village (Shorwell on the Isle Of Wight) to get some playground equipment, OH and I arrived at village hall at 8 'clock after picking up another friend to help us, once inside hall there was so much jumble we could hardly get in hall and even more arriving as we set up stalls, I don't think we have worked so hard for a long time getting it arranged for 10 'clock onto tables and looking good to sell, doors were opened and a flood of dealers and buyers descended on us at once scrambling for what they wanted to buy, with teas coffee and cake being served to refresh them so they might just go buy some more, it was hard work but at the end of the day she raised £540.00, well done Jackie and every one who helped.

More white stuff

2010-01-09T11:13:00.000-08:00

More pictures taken on my walk to the local post office this morning as the car is not a good idea at the moment in our village as you can see by the pictures below, there is still no post going in or out of the village or bus, if this goes on any longer I am going to have to walk to the super market which is 3 miles away as our little Post Office/shop is nearly empty of supplies all I could get was milk,toilet rolls,frozen chicken portions and some flour, I don't have a lot either in my freezer or store cupboard, hope this weather improves soon or I might have to eat the OH.

This is a picture taken coming down the 1 in 4 hill to the village the back way into St Lawrence shute

Picture going up St Lawrence shute

View from top of my garden down over our house

View from my balcony out to sea

Because I am shut up indoors today I though I would do some cleaning which just turned into a quick dust a site down the a quick hoover then another site down and a cuppa, nothing much to write so after loading up these pictures I'm just going to have another sit down find a good film and get my knitting out .

THE WHITE STUFF

2010-01-06T10:44:00.000-08:00

The white stuff has been falling in St Lawrence on the Isle of Wight since yesterday tea time and has truly changed this island to Isle Of White, I look out to sea (2 min walk) and it is a beautiful sight at any time and with the snow falling it puts a magical touch to it (see pics below), this has made our Island come to a stand still ferries cancelled buses and trains in chaos, I have lived here 23 years and not seen the like, it took my sons partner from 6 o'clock tea time to 1 o'clock in the morning to travel 5 miles home, she had not taken her mobile phone with her so no news as to where she was till 10 o'clock when she had found a friendly person with a phone to let her phone home all that time she had been helping others on her drive home dig out their cars and give them a push to help them on there way, what a credit to the human race she is.

Exciting week

2009-11-27T11:31:00.000-08:00

This week has been very exciting for me as on Wednesday afternoon when I had just finished all last weeks work I had an e.mail for a new customer with a request for 14 black Rock 'N' Roll petticoats,(this does not happen often) they only problem I had with this they need them by Monday 30 th November and I had no lining for the under slips (sods law) so a trip into town to purchase some which delayed me getting on with the job, I have been head down in my workroom ever since slaving away, just finished the last one ready to pack up tomorrow morning to catch the post and this is what my workroom looks like at the moment, hate working on black it leaves me with a head ache.

What a mess

Another exciting thing happened today (Friday) found out I am on an Etsy treasury with this petticoat below.

Please take a look and leave a comment for this very talented lady Kerrie Slade who has done this treasury, this is one of the most beautiful Treasury I have ever seen on Etsy and worth the front page.

by clicking on the picture below it will take you to this treasury

Poppy Supernova choker
by

Kerrie Slade

Below is a list of my wish list for Christmas

CakesKnitsandCosies

Handmade ~ from the Heart

Henny Penny Designs

More Christmas wishes coming soon

Rainy day job

2009-11-22T09:08:00.000-08:00

Weather here (Isle Of Wight) has been awful so had to do something indoors, decided that its about time I finish waxing the pine kitchen cupboards, been living without the doors for a long time, (18 months) managed to get 5 done (8 and 4 draws to go) and put back, they look lovely but make the frame work look tatty so looks like I will have to do that as well, this is turning into a nightmare job…

Finished cupboards

With that job done and all the mess cleaned up I have made a nice cup of tea to drink while I crawl around Folksy to see if I can find some more busy bees

Bee Hair Slides

With Hugs and Kisses

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Bouncy Stripy Bumble Bee

Woolly Wotnots

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BEAUTIFUL ANTIQUE GOLD AND CREAM BABY BOOTIES WITH CUTE BEES MOTIFS

FunkyShapes

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beez kneez

lej jewellery

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Petticoat talk

2009-11-14T13:34:00.000-08:00

Making petticoats is a very hard and long process as there is so much cutting out before you can even start to make, first the lining, bask and waistband have to be cut then the netting has to be cut into long strips and joined together ready for gathering into tiers, then once gathered into tiers and made into layers its attached to a lining and put onto the bask which either needs elasticating or you make a waistband, you then have to finish the hems with lace or ribbon ,not all petticoats are the same style or fullness but they have yards and yards of netting my largest petticoat being my 7 layer which has 60 mtr in it and takes 3 days to make but its very rewarding at the end of the day to see the finished item and as with all things you make you do wonder at the end of the day if you customer is going to like it or even gives a though to how much work has gone into it, I do get lots of feedback saying how beautiful they are but get very few picture of them being worn and shown off on the day.

Here is just one sent to me over a week ago that I would like to share with you all, this one is a gold and ivory petticoat I made to go under her wedding dress................... a three layer with 3 tiers

Flower make

2009-10-06T14:03:00.000-07:00

How to make a net flower (easy)

You will need

4 pieces of stiff net fabric 5 1/2 in x 5 1/2 in

4 pieces of stiff net fabric 5 x 5 in

Tape measure or ruler
2 Sewing needles

Sewing cotton

Scissors

No1

No 2 No 3

No 4

N0 5

N0 6

No 7Take one of your larger squares and fold in half corner to corner making a triangle shape and then fold again (picture2)
Thread needle with a long piece of thread making sure that its double and matching the colour of your fabric,run small running stitch along open edges (picture3)

Draw up thread ( picture 4) now do the same to the 3 remaining larger square making sure you do all this on the same thread, your flower should be looking like picture 5, 6, and ending looking like no 7 with all petals forming a circle making sure your centre is flat,join up the circle and secure stitches, cut cotton of.
Thread your second needle with thread the same as you did with first needle and do the same with 4 remaining smaller squares,

You should now have 2 circle's of petals, place them one on top of the other making sure they are placed looking like picture No 8 , secure them both together by stitching through centre,decorate your centre with beads or a button, stitch a hair come to back like picture No 10

No 8

No 9

No 10
You now have a lovely large flower hair comb, I use these flowers for decorating all sorts of things, you can reduce the size by cutting squares smaller as long as they are square, you can also do more petals on a single flower, try it now you have the basic idea

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At Last

2009-10-05T02:30:00.000-07:00

At last my commission is finished an Elizabethan Bridal Dress, I made the pattern myself and the brides choice was to have it in 100% pure silk, plain bottom and embroidered top with just a hint of gold on edges, the dress its self is fully boned to keep the lovely neckline in place as it just sits of the shoulders, fully lined in silk with under slip in stiff net.

Front close up

Back close up

Full view

Do hope you enjoyed this viewing

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Now on to some lighter things which give me so much pleasure, quite the opposite to the above and make my hands a bit dirty so I have to leave sewing alone for a while when I am restoring my machines. At long last my latest 221 k singer (American version) sewing machine arrived, I was so excited opening the box and even more surprised to see it was in better condition than what I expected.I will be posting pictures of the finished restoration in the next few days, have shown a few pictures of the uncleaned version below

My sewing machine collection

2009-09-08T11:59:00.000-07:00

My sewing machine collection and restoration started some 20 years ago and now has got to a point where it is so large I no longer have the room so after restoration I try to find good homes for them keeping only the ones that are hard to find.

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This one below is a Vintage Elna #1 (aka Grasshopper)Swiss made sewing machine 1940-1952,this is a beautiful bit of swiss engineeringits, the carrying case is designed like an old ammunition box and acts as a table when fully opened, , even has a knee press to lift the foot, still has all it attachments a lovely machine and still in excellent working condition.

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Next is the Bernina Record It is a beautiful made machine and manufactured in approx 1960-1966 in Switzerland and this really is the Rolls Royce of all sewing machines.This machine is equipped with the 22 built in stitches, 16 of these are decorative and 6 are practical and also features the buttonhole. the best machine ever, if you can get one of these in working order you will not regret it, they a are worth every penny you would pay on the second hand market.This one is in a as new condition with all attachments and its case a must have for any collector.

Bernina Record

Front

Back
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The next one is the Singer 221k white again in lovely restored condition, has its Grey/blue box
and all its attachments very sort after

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The next one will be added soon as in the restoration room
The Singer white 221k American green box version which is not as white as the English model, this one I found in this country after a 10 year search

Coming soon
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This one is the the Singer 221 K black again in a lovely condition and working order even has its little oil can and attachments, a true collectors piece

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Next up is Singer 222k with it's free arm attachment a great little portable model and very hard to find in as good condition as this one, another true collectors piece

Please look in again as I will be adding more of my collection as soon as I have taken pictures of them

Coming up soon treddle sewing machines.
Feel free to ask me any questions about old machines

Destash swap

2009-08-30T05:24:00.000-07:00

This is the first time I have joined in the destash swap on Folksy which was kindly organized by hjdcrafts, I did not have to wait long before my swaps from BlissKnits (Sharon)arrived , what a lot of lovely goodies (see below) as you can see by the picture quite a mixture of fabrics and beads and even some seeds, Poppy's and best of all some Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) will love trying to get these to germinate, will let you know how I get on with these in a later blog,

Now back to my goodies, I have given you a few pictures below so that you can see what I have turned my fabric into.

1st up is the Navy blue voile fabric which I cut into the correct length and width then rolled all hems and her it is turned into a lovely blue evening wrap

2nd was a piece or lilac voile which I cut and rolled the hems again and made a neck scarf

3rd was 3 balls of Green colour wool with slight silver flecks in, this I just done a stocking stitch on a big pair or needles, I think it turned out quite nice seeing as I have not knitted for years because arthritis plays me up if I do knitting for to long, enjoyed doing this

4th was 2 doorstops out of blue check fabric one is a jumbo one for a heavy door and the other is smaller

I must have a think to see what I can come up with on the other fabric and all the beads, thank you again to BlissKnits (Sharon)for all these lovely goodies.......

Charity shop finds

2009-08-16T14:21:00.000-07:00

I just love a bargain and yesterday I spent going around the charity shops in our town of Ventnor and found some little gems, well they are gems to me as I just love old china and can't resist a bargain, I mainly collect Spode old italian and Spode Blue pacific (1970) but if I see a bargain I buy it.

This set below I found in RSPCA shop going for a song at £2.00 the set, there is no makers name under the cups just a number 3835 ,they are a very fine china with a leaf pattern in gold, very pretty and I think coffee cups because of there size

This little set below was also in the RSPCA and was only £1.50 for the 6 cups and saucers, they are marked underneath Crown Staffordshire fine bone china no pattern name but I am sure I will find out soon

This set I found in another charity shop and paid 50 p for the 2 sets,the mark underneath on the cups is Duchess bone china England, pattern Ascot, the saucers are marked Royal Albert bone china made in England, pattern is called Val Dor I don't think they are a set because they are by different makers but they are a good match and will suit what I am going to do with them.

Very bad week

2009-07-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

I don't know if any one gets bad weeks like I have just had and the weeks not ended yet. Its very lonely working by yourself you have to be very disciplined to work 8 to 5 on your own, I don't think I should have got out of bed this week everything I have touched has gone wrong, 1st thing was Sat I went to get my prescription and chemist was shut, big notice on window closed because chemist was off sick,went to collect again Monday and they had lost it so had to go around surgery and get another and take to chemist again, by this time I had lost my Monday working, Tuesday my upholstery materials I ordered last week came with 2 wrong things so had to pack them up and take to post office, had to put upholstering friends chairs on hold, tried to go onto do some sewing but buy then had lost the plot, (Wed)tried to make soap and can't get it to trace, the only thing that worked today was my strawberry cream sponge (made in lunch hour) I think I will just turn over in bed tomorrow and have a good sleep:)

I am now going to look around Folksy to see what nice things I can find to put on here tomorrow

My work space

2009-07-17T13:27:00.000-07:00

Today Friday is my day looking after my grandson (4 years old) and because it was pouring with rain and we could not get into the garden we made some cakes and cleaned up my workroom , it was so much fun sorting through button boxes and draws and finding things I had lost or put in a safe place never to be found till now, he went home with his mum with pockets full of goodies or jewels as he called them, the workroom is today tidy enough to take a picture to share with you, this is as tidy as it will ever get, tomorrow it will be a mess again, its a converted garage and the car now sits in the drive, I spend at least 4 to 8 hours a day here doing what I do best sewing, my industrial overlocker is my best friend and has been my pride and joy for the last 10 years, worked hard to buy this but it has paid for itself over again, before that I had a domestic one, for my flat sewing I have an old industrial brother machine and for my embroidery a Husqvarna Designer 1, this one is a luxury my mother purchased for me for my ** birthday .

Thank you

Xavier

for making nanny's wet rainy day so full of fun.

One nice clean workroom

SPOTS BEFORE THE EYED

2009-07-14T16:30:00.000-07:00

I have a passion for anything spotted at the moment so have been looking around on Folksy to see what lovelies I can find with spots on and here are a few.

Spotted Star Button Thumb tacks / Push Pins

Hollie Lollie

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Amigurumi hand crochet lady bird

CROCHET WITH LOVE 4 YOU

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Spotted Bear

by
AllThingsFabric

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Vintage Button Coin Purse

Natalie Farrell

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A PASSION FOR FASHION

I also have a great passion for the fashions of the past and thought I would share a few of my pictures of fashions and advertizing of the mid 1930s and 1940s, this was a very interesting period for me as I was born around the mid 1940s and just love the fashion then and still do.

1936 Knitted suit

1941 Knitted short sleeved cardigan

Under wear 1940's

Oxo advert from 1941

Just love this on as it is so apt for the times and just think oxo is still around after all these years

Gardening

2009-05-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

Gardening

Today has been a lovely day spent in the garden, its hectic here in my garden, it takes over my life this time of year, have had lots of weeding to do and potting on my seedlings and getting my runner beans going (bit late this year) not sure where I am going to put them yet as hubby has taken the very big pots I usually use and planted his potatoes in them, will have to think about buying some more or its into the ground with them, I hope there are a few of you who are like me and just love gardening, I grow most of my own shrubs and plants and like growing different plants that are quite rare, I get quite excited when I manage to germinate something that is hard, this year its Mandevilla (Diplodenia), Exchorda The Bride, Spider Lily, and Hibiscus, the latter is not that hard but still a challenge, Mandevilla was hard but I managed to get 12 to germinate which was good going, its a rare white one and seeing as the seeds are hard to get off parent plant (mine gave lots last year) I'm over excited, just hope they don't die on me .

My Spider lily

My garden

Finished restoration on old Bradbury sewing machine

Well its good news and a bit of bad news on the restoration of an Old Bradbury sewing machine, I managed to strip it down O.K. only to find that a cog on the side wheel had broken (bad news) so was making wheel slip. had to find someone to make me a new one as they are no longer made, my husbands brother is an engineer so asked him what could be done, he said he would make me one, (good news) all I had to do was send him the broken part to copy, my worry was would it get lost in the post so had to register it but that did not stop me worrying till its return, received part back last week, (clever old thing my brother-in-law) very excited about getting this machine back up and running as i don't have this machine in my collection,another machine (see below) saved from the tip, how could anyone through away such a wonderful piece of engineering.

Uncleaned and in a sorry state

Cleaned and fit for my collection

Crafting

Been very busy these last few weeks in the workroom making a few commission's for customers and cot cover for new addition in family but still found time to make a few fabric flowers out of some lovely high liquid shine organza, have listed them in my shop, thought someone could make use of them by adding them a craft item like hair slides or hat, the uses for them is endless.

This one I would like to share with you all its the finished cot cover I made for my great great grand daughter,(not sure I like the great great bit but I'm sure I will get used to it). I quilted this after I made it to give it a nice finish, made by putting a polyester wadding in between a lining and main Bee printed fabric, then edging with red border,then quilting in flower pattern, very please with the outcome so was my granddaughter.

New restoration project coming up soon Old Bedford chain sewing machine

Found in a barn by my son very dirty and rusty, will take me a long time this one as need to soak all parts in oil, a bit of a waiting game this one, there are no broken parts though and all bits are present, this one is going to be well worth the trouble though as I don't have one of these in my collection.

Holiday

2009-05-04T10:15:00.000-07:00

Holidays

I spent my holiday in my garden, 4 days of weeding and keeping up with the seedlings which are growing at a very fast rate with all this lovely weather, hope every one enjoyed the holiday as much as I did.

I met this little fella in my garden today, he even waited for me to go inside and get my camera, not a very good picture but then they are so quick your lucky to get them at all.

As we progressed down to the garden centre this afternoon to buy plants we met 2 very strange gentlemen, fantastic works of art

Flowerpot men

Pale Pink 6 Layer 50's 60's style petticoat

Have now finished my commision for a 50's 60's style vintage petticoat and have a picture of it above. now on to another commission one which is black and red and will have 4 layers.

My folksy finds

I found this while searching around folksy today a lovely tiara and some very beautiful pieces of jewellery by Jezabel*Charms you can find this item here

http://www.folksy.com/items/27353-Titania-Steampunk-Filigree-Headpiece-Tiara?shop=yes

2009-04-30T03:06:00.000-07:00

This week has been a good week for me I have sold 4 items on Folksy which is a surprise, 2 mobile phone cases 1 stole and a 7 layer petticoat.

I worked on the 7 layer petticoat on Monday, these take me 2 days to make and are very complicated and a lot of gathering to do as every layer has 3 tiers of gathered netting, made in a lovely shade of white with all hems rolled and outer layer with lace on, this has now been posted and hopefully my customer will be opening it shortly, will I get feedback on this item? (see below) hope so.......

7 Layer petticoat

To day I am working on a commission for a designer for 50's style petticoat with 6 layers in a lovely shade of pale pink, this will have 150 yards x 8.8 inches wide of stiff netting and have all rolled hems, will be a very full petticoat when finished, I will post a picture soon of finished item.

Sewing machine restoration progress

2009-04-26T12:46:00.000-07:00

Sewing machine restoration progress

Today I continued with my restoration on an old Zephyr 1950's sewing machine,(a tip rescue) putting all the parts back nice and clean is the most satisfying part, looking at how dirty these sewing hands are now is not so good when I have to sew all day tomorrow, (can't use gloves)below are a few before and after picture's of my now restored sewing machine, this one has not taken me so long as I have been able to spend 2 whole days due to my back problem making me take a nice sitting down job.

Before

My restoration is now complete

Restoration is not about getting a machine back to its original new condition as that would be impossible, it is after all a very old machine that has seen a lot of ware, mechanically I have take her to bits cleaned every nut, bolt, screw,cleaned her body and case,oiled and greased her and put more life back into her and I now know it will go on to help someone make her crafts as it now sew perfectly, my daughter is going to be very pleased with this one.

After

Please check back soon for another restoration job that I am doing

New project

Old Bradbury hand sewing machine one for my collection

I will be restoring this very soon if my crafts let me.

Machine restoration

2009-04-25T15:03:00.000-07:00

This is the machine I am restoring although not that old about 1950's first I will strip it down and clean all rusty parts check electrics and once I put it back together I will get her sewing again.

Sunny Saturday

2009-04-25T14:17:00.000-07:00

Today has been a quite day for me as I could not do much but rest due to a very bad back, just been sitting in sun cleaning up an old sewing machine that someone has asked me to restore for them, below is a picture of it before restoration, will keep you posted on this project.

This afternoon had a friend in for a cup of tea and she suggested I got myself a wheatie bag to put on my back to relieve the pain (like a hot water bottle but with wheat inside that you pop into the microwave and heat up) so off we wet onto the internet to see what we could find and found this little site

http://www.wheatiebags.co.uk/

we also find she sells on our favourite site http://www.folksy.com/shops/wheatiebags