Friday, April 24, 2015

A confectionery of ribbons

Firstly, let me say a warm thank you to everyone, who left such sweet comments concerning Fiona's heirloom quilt. I'm happy to say this pretty has gone home with Fiona to live happily ever after in her glorious 100 year old school house. Oh and I might add Fiona did love it....so much so that she has given me a few more stitching orders for me to fashion.....really, really fun tasks....but more about those another time.

After finishing Fiona's quilt, and having completed a few humdrum orders I hankered after a little more fun stitching. Boring orders punctuated with some pretty stitching always perks me up.

My fingers were itching to fashion oodles and oodles of pretty ribbons into oodles and oodles of floralicious delight!!

So, whilst away on a little road trip last weekend, meandering along the countryside in our faithful ole tin lizzie, in celebration of a BIG birthday of my significant other,  I sat happily in the passenger seat coaxing silken and shiny ribbons into  bloom after bloom, collecting them all together on the dashboard.

My, my......don't pretty ribbon flowers add to the countryside??? Me thinks every dashboard should be bedecked with a ribbon blossom or two!!




Back home again..........high tea anyone??? Tier after tier of French wired confections of pansies, roses, fuchsias.....so, so delectable.......so, so much eye candy!!





We cannot only have a pretty, tiered cake stand of ribbon delight to tempt the eyes, now can we?? A 'must have' is a Royal Albert, fine bone china teapot, overspilling with a pretty palette of blossomy delight!!













Mmmm.....very pretty, I hear you say.....but what is the purpose for all this ribbon delight??

A little over a year ago I fashioned another heirloom quilt for a very dear friend, whose home (which both she and her husband designed and built) and everything she and her family owned was destroyed in a devastating bushfire. I wrote about my friend and the fashioning of her quilt here.


I decided I wanted to stitch a lovely cushion to send to my friend, to perhaps sit alongside the quilt that I had fashioned. My friend and her husband have been very kind and and generous in their friendship to my husband and myself these past couple of months, so I thought I would thank them with this little gift. A cushion is always a fun pretty to stitch. AND......fashioning a basketful of gorgeous, ribbon delight is always the best fun.

I chose a pretty cream bridal damask that I had stored away in one of my armoires. It has climbing roses and leaves rambling their way across the fabric. The basket is a vintage doily which lends itself very nicely as a basket.


So......let the playing begin!

Each blossom was stitched to the basket; pretty, ruffled roses, fancy-faced pansies, dainty fuchsias and scrunchy, green leaves. I added a snippet of a doily and a pretty bow.....and voila......all pretty as a picture. I always find it joyous stitching baskets of overspilling flowers with their pretty, blossomy faces smiling back at me. I never tire of coaxing shimmering and silken ribbons into fanciful bouquets of blooming fantasies.



















In closing my friend and her husband decided not to rebuild as the costs to do so were too exorbitant and prohibitive. So many  building codes, rules and regulations would have the costs go through the proverbial ceiling. They have since bought another home and are slowly beginning to gather and collate treasures. They are slowly continuing their biography, in which new chapters will be written and new memories shaped. My friend perhaps will tuck this bouquet of flowers somewhere near her heirloom quilt in her boudoir adding to the basketful of memories which our friendship of many, many years enjoys.


Wishing you all a lovely weekend.....I don't suppose there will be any fashioning of pretty ribbons for me for a little while, as that bright pink front door has opened once again to those delightful kiddos who visit my humble abode and stitch a little.......toodles!


Linking up to Mary's Sweet Inspiration Linky party.

45 comments:

  1. That is so stunningly beautiful Kim, what a lovely treasure for your friend - I am sure you stitched lots of love into each beautiful bloom. It is just soooo gorgeous. That is a sad tale about losing their home but as you say, they can begin to gather new memories & keepsakes for their new home. I just love the wee butterfly tucked into the flowers too. Have a great weekend x0x0

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  2. Gosh I have just been back & read the post about your friend first losing her home in the bushfire & then the quilt you had made for her. It is honestly beautiful & will look just stunning with the new cushion alongside it. Some people experience such devastating things in their lives but still find a way through. I am sure she treasures her friendship with you Kim. x0x0

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  3. Kim, your heart is as big as the beautiful Australian sky!!! This is just magnificent. Those first few pics are like dream sequences out of a movie! You are one very special friend indeed!!

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  4. A beautiful cushion with the best flowers - ones that don't die. I loved the teapot vignette!

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  5. Another overwhelmingly beautiful post. That cushion goes so well with that quilt. I know she will cherish it, doubly so because it came from your heart! I am happy to hear the young folks are coming back to "school" to create more wonderful projects.

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  6. The pillow is gorgeous. The flowers are all so soft and pretty. The crochet piece makes for a perfect vase to hold all the flowers. You did a wonderful job on this. I am sure the new owner of this gift will be quite happy. I love how you had Tea for us. Say "Happy Birthday" to your special someone!

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  7. Good Day! Such gorgeous photos of your hand-work. The pillow is a real treasure and will be a reminder of your friendship. God bless your weekend.

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  8. How sad for your friend to lose so much but I'm sure her life is brightened when she looks at the pretty things you have made for her. Bless you!

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  9. Hello Kim,

    I was thinking whilst reading this post could you please make some of your photo's into cards.I would certainly buy some. Love the cushion you made your friend. Have a great weekend in the Tassie countryside.

    Happy days.
    Bev.........................................................

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  10. Again you have me drooling over the beautiful work of your hands dear Kim. Just gorgeous!
    That pillow is absolutely divine. I would love to learn how to make those flowers. I must have my daughter teach me.
    The creativity of you ladies amazes me over and over here in this blogging community.
    I love to look and admire.:-)
    You have a real giving heart, Kim.
    God bless you, Debbie

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  11. Oh my dear Kim, how divine! I am swooning over your ribbons and lace. One moment while I catch my breath....

    You create the most beautiful things...truly you do! I simply love the way you displayed the ribbons flowing from the tea pot - so romantic and elegant. And then the way you fashioned the ribbons into delicate flowers - simply exquisite!

    Thank you for making my evening extra beautiful. Hugs to you!

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  12. Your magic ribbons and lace, gorgeous pillow!!
    Happy day.:*

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  13. You make the prettiest roses, Kim! They are displayed so beautifully. I am so sorry to hear about your friends house. We get brushfire in California too, it's devastating. That is lovely gift you made for me which I know we will be treasured.

    -Soma xx

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    1. I am such a dunce!! Obviously, I meant to say - "That is a lovely gift you made for them which I know they will treasure."

      I should never write comments when I am sleepy, so many grammatical mistakes too! I am so sorry, Kim.

      -Soma

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  14. This cushions is to treasure with the sumptuous beautiful and exquisite flowers! It is par excellence! Your friends will sure to love it I do too!

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  15. Gorgeous ribbon flowers and cushion Kim. Your friend is going to love it.

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  16. Gorgeous flowers and the cushion is divine! All the best to your friends as they pretty up their new home. The quilt and cushion are just so lovely. My hubby is a volunteer firefighter here in Victoria and it is devastating when homes are lost.
    That view of the mountains is just gorgeous - I love Tassie!

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  17. This is very beautiful and will sit perfectly with the gorgeous quilt. I'm sure your friend will be delighted to have it brighten her new home :)

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  18. Wow that cushion is absolutely beautiful Kim and I am so envious that you can sit and make in the car, I always get travel sick if I try to do anything like that. Julie x

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    1. A lot of people seem to get travel sick if they read, knit, stitch etc etc. I am one of the lucky ones, I guess. Thank you for your sweet comments, Julie. xx

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  19. One of your armoires?? Ooooh to be able to snoop around your cottage. I'd be drooling and in need of a vintage hanky I'm sure ; )
    Enjoy your week

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  20. Traveling through your blog post, experiencing each and every gorgeous photo, then finding such a lovely reward at the end - has indeed been a treat! Your talents with needle and threat my dear are seemingly endless!

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    1. You are very kind, Cynthia.....thank you!!

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  21. A beautiful quilt and a beautiful cushion. You are very talented.

    Diana

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  22. Your ribbon flowers are so gorgeous, really stunning. Visiting from Stephanie's linky party.

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  23. Those colorful flowers are amazing!! They look so lovely on the pillow. I know your friend will LOVE it!!

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  24. Oh my I am sure that your friend was so pleased to have this treasure you have made her, absolutely Beautiful, you do such a wonderful job with these. I get car sick when I try to do anything in the car while it is moving so I usually drive since my hubby can read and do other things while riding.

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  25. so much colorful, deliciousness!! color, ribbons and lace go together like peanut butter and jelly!!!

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  26. Gorgeous blooms to delight the eye. Such beautiful heirlooms!
    So sorry to hear of that your friends lost their home to a bush fire. But glad to hear that they now have a new home...

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  27. Sweet Kim, I am so happy you shared this beautiful post with Roses of Inspiration. Thank you for joining the party :) Big hugs to you!

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  28. I call your blog "eye candy". So much for the eyes to feast on with your stitching! I loved the ribboned flowers on your dashboard as you traveled along the highways and byways. I am looking forward to having the time to go and peruse your past posts. Lovely work you do.

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    1. Thank you so very much for your sweet comments, Cathy. 'Tis lovely to have you visit.

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  29. Hi! What a lovely work!
    What a cute picture! Made my day;)

    Would you like to follow each other? I'd be so happy! :)

    http://vkusnosbety.blogspot.com/

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  30. What beautiful ribbons and I'm ready for that Tea ;) I so love your pillow! it's beautiful!

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  31. Oh my gosh Kim, You certainly know how to make magic happen. You take ribbon and turn it into pieces of art! I love, love the pillow! What a sweet gift from your friend. I must own something that you have made some day. What beautiful things you create!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  32. I have already commented how gorgeous these are! I am so happy I found your blog through Rainbow Hare!
    I have nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award (hope you don't mind!) You can read about it here on my blog.
    http://www.tinytoadstoolcottage.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/seven-facts-ten-other-bloggers-one.html
    If anyone has a lovely blog, it is you!

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    1. Really?? It is very sweet of you to think of my blog, Jayne....thank you!

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  33. Hi sweet Kim! I just wanted to let you know that this beautiful post has been featured at Roses of Inspiration. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your day! Hugs!

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  34. You are so very creative! This is all very lovely!! I found you via Roses of Inspiration and have enjoyed reading here very much.

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  35. Oh my goodness, Kim...I am visiting for the first time from Roses of Inspiration and I am blown away by these lovely ribbon flowers you create! The pillow that you put together is absolutely breathtaking and the recipent will surely cherish it! Oh, and I cannot forget to tell you how LOVELY those reflections were in the windshield against that gorgeous countryside...awesome photos! I'll be following you now :)

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  36. Kim, I found your blog through Stephanie's linky party. I'm so glad I did! Your blog is a delight. The flowers are gorgeous as is your pillow! I'm your newest follower! So nice to meet you!

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  37. Hi Kim.
    My first comment disappeared so here's a new attempt :) Sorry it took me this long.....
    I enjoyed reading your posts. You have a great way with words ! Makes me smile.
    Especially because I'm Dutch and I sometimes have to read it again to be sure I understand what you mean. So funny !
    Kim, your flower-and stitching art is Sooo beautiful ! I love the pillow with this colorful flowerbasket. I'm sure your friend will love it !
    Thank you again for your visit and sweet comment on my blog.
    Hugs, Wilma.

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    1. Oh dear, I am so sorry you had to read my post twice!! My posts always seem to be a li'l long. I am afraid I can go on and on and on............. :)
      Thank you for visiting and thank you so much for your sweet comments. It is lovely to meet you!!

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  38. You do the most gorgeous ribbon flowers, pefectly placed on a cushion in their simply lovely basket...

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