How my cushions are born...

I've been asked to write a blog about the processes used in making my cushions, by the lovely Anne from Martisanne on Etsy. You should definitely go over and check out her work. Lovely Items on there!

So here it is, I'm gonna go over how I create my cushions from start to finish, hoping not to bore you too much along the way :)

Inspiration

My Little Lime Green Bible...

This can come at any point so I always keep my trusty little Lime green notebook with me where ever I go, to scribble down sayings or advice that I hear that I think would work great on a piece. It always gets pictures stuck into it of great colourways or anything I like generally.

Design Pages

  

Design Illustrations and samples...

For commissions especially I create a design sheet which has a drawing of the piece along with fabric samples and a 'winding'card of the threads I will be using. The more of each colour I put on the card the bigger amount I'll be using of it in my making - I hope that makes sense :) Once I've got all this right and I'm happy with the colour combinations e.t.c. I'll move onto my favourite bits, going crazy on a sewing machine! hehe

Making

All my pieces are Hand Printed using individual letters which are printing blocks, I picked up a while back now. I tend to not bother with making sure the lines of my sayings are straight as I like the way they turn out without all the measuring rubbish.. hehe... When dried, I set up my sewing machine in my chosen colours and go mad for a bit. This design of my stitchwork is NEVER planned as it's meant to look free-flowing and thats how I like it... again it would make it too formal, if it were designed :)

These finished pieces are then made up in cushions, tea cosies or whatever takes my fancy!

Designs being born...

Each cushion takes me about 2-3 days from designing to finished cushion to complete... obviously I create a few pieces at a time, otherwise that would be silly don't you think? :P

Right well now you've seen the love and amount of work that goes into my creations, why not check out my Etsy shop and see the pieces in action!

'Laugh Until Your Sides Hurt' Cushion...

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to come back for more ramblings of a creative mind...

Love Victoria x

Make a list...

I think in everyone's life there comes a point when you stand back a bit and go over what you've achieved to date and what you still would like to accomplish. For a while now this has been the big question hanging over me as I feel I'm at a turning point in my life and as those who know me know...I can be a little impatient at times and want things to happen overnight but as everyone knows this is not the case...Grrr!

About 2 years I started a 50 things to do before you kick the bucket list.. no this isn't going to be a 

depressing blog.. I hear you all sigh.. but in fact the complete opposite as with my designs

I want this blog to inspire people and make people leave with a big ol' grin on their face :)

Anywhoo I'm rambling again.. so 50 things to do list.. yes that's where I was.. well 

I've got things on there such as visiting New York, finally master speaking fluent German,

watching the sunset/rise, it includes a few silly ones like reading a whole book in a day(-nearly done with 

50 shades of grey but fell asleep haha), staying in bed all day, cooking a full christmas 

dinner (DONE-go me!),get in my car and drive until the fuel runs out, kissing under mistletoe 

and well... you get the picture of the kind of stuff on there. There's nothing on there like create world peace as this would be too much for me to comprehend for my tiny creative brain. I've chosen them as I want to do them and know that some day I'll tick them off and it'll feel good to do so.

Some of which have already been ticked off but I won't bore you with all of them.

'Life is too short for regrets' Handmade Cushion by VMalinHomeware

My advice and my point of this whole first rambling is that if there is something you really want to do with your life and just haven't got round to do it, well what are you waiting for..? Why don't you sit down 

with a cuppa and make your own list of things you really want to do and get cracking on doing them... doesn't matter whether they are huge or silly little things that you've always wanted to try, it's your list.. have fun with it! :)

Afterall a quirky homeware designer once said 'Life is too short for regrets' ;) Yeah I know blantent plug, but hey ;)

I'd love to hear what you're all going to put on your list of things to do...

Thanks for reading and come back soon for more ramblings,

Love Victoria x

Check out my etsy shop!

Welcome to my blog...

Hello and Welcome to the ramblings of a creative mind... Those of you who don't know me, let me introduce myself...

I'm Victoria Malin, a British Home-ware Designer/Maker specialising in beautiful cushions and accessories. 

Each of my designs utilises bright, contrasting colours rich in embroidery and hand printed techniques. The sayings and wording used in my creations are intended to inspire, educate and generally make people smile or change their mind.

You can see my work on my website or in my Etsy Shop!

This blog is all about me, my work and general creativity that pops up in my life.

So why not pop back to see what it's all about :)

Thanks,

Victoria x