Vintage mother of pearl buckles....... project designing.

I become like a magpie when it comes

to mother of pearl.  I just can not help myself

and collect and store all and everything that is shiny!

Nacre  also known as mother of pearl, is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some mollusks as an inner shell layer; it also makes up the outer coating of pearls. It is strong, resilient, and iridescent.  It is also stunning, I think personally.  I adore mother of pearl be it buttons, buckles or carved brooches.  I also have a 1920's mother of pearl mirror compact and this is one of my favourite personal vintage treasures.

I recently bought some beauties at the Cotswold's vintage fair with not really a firm idea as to what to do with them.  Some are now for use in my work and some will be for sale at the Vintage Bazaar in October.

I had a project in mind and had the buckles and I recently bought the perfect fabric my Jenny of Tilly-D fame at the Christchurch vintage and collectables market the other Sunday.  I am sorting through project baskets and my stitching room to have things to work on when I get back and I am going to take some little hand stitching projects with me on the plane as I told you so it is that kind of day.

I love the fabric that I bought with its cream background and pale biscuit colour, blues, reds and green colours in between it is perfect and it is French which in this case was a must.....

It is a good size piece and will do perfectly for this project with quiet a lot left over.

I was able to position the pattern that I drew over certain areas of this fabric and it all looks different as if it is different fabrics used in a way.  I am so thrilled with the results.  I am searching later for the right colour embroidery threads as there will some additional embroidery patterns stitched on it.  This will be raised obviously from the printed pattern and will work really well I believe.

Vintage mother of pearl buttons will be the cherry on top.  I am excited about this one and hope it turns out as I hope it will.

The excitement is building in this house for our holiday and I have to try and keep focused on the day to day things that I must complete before the off!

I have to report I still have not cut my dads shirt yet ..... sigh.  I must because it is better use of this pieces of precious fabric history than just on a hanger unseen.  I think it is because I do not know how to use it yet.  I must sit tonight and doodle a patchwork square that it will work in and the words I would like to use as well as his name and date of birth .. this is what I think is stopping me.  Cutting it, but how and what.

My ear is feeling lots better thank you all for your well wishes .....   I will be fine to fly and it has cleared up well.  I am still putting T Tree in my ear every night ( which is my belief not so much the doctors) and have taken all my tablets.  I do not feel dizzy and sick now so I am mended.

Well I am off now to continue with my day.  I hope you all have a good one and Happy Stitching!