Wedding Belles

I have noticed in the past few months a real upsurge in the number of my hatchlings that get to attend weddings. I suppose it's that time of the year. Whether they are nestling on a guest's outfit, hitching a ride on a delicate veil or have centre stage on the bride's dress, they are certainly getting more invites than me this Summer.

It all started with a small collection of delicate ivory and gold butterflies; these particular ones also had a layer of applied lace and dinky, micro sequins too. The end result was very classy and they were destined to flutter on a lace veil.

Earlier this year I was delighted to receive a commission, via my Etsy shop, for a complete set of Lepidoptera. These were for a bride who adored moths. Her dress was classic 1950s, with a fabulous, layered underskirt in burgundy. My brief was to create a sash for the dress, to match the bridal flowers, and a collection of smaller moths to hover in the underskirt and hairdo.

I based the design on a Rothschild Silk Moth, very appropriate as the various sizes of moth were all made in differing shades of 100% silk taffeta and satin.

The hair moths.

The sash.

 

Another fun commission was for a group of Liberty Belle Gem butterflies, in jewel colours, that are to be worn as an alternative to flower buttonholes.

I think this is a great idea as it also provides a keepsake for the wedding guests too.
I have also created bespoke hatchlings for wedding outfits, I loved making the moths in the picture below.

The lady had put together a gorgeous lace dress and incredible shoes and wanted a little something to perch on her hat. I love these colours, they somehow remind me of Marie Antoinette.

Other smaller items make perfect bridesmaid gifts, like the little pastel brooch or a scented butterfly heart.

Whatever you ideas, drop me a line, I like a challenge and as you can see my hatchlings just love a wedding.

The Dorset Blues !

Hello everyone, long time no blog! Work has been wonderfully hectic but I really wanted to share with you an exciting collaboration that has been happening since the beginning of May.

I was approached by a very lovely couple who were opening a garden themed shop/gallery in the gorgeous village of Corfe castle in Dorset. I just knew it was going to be something very special so I decide to create an exclusive range of work for them.

Based on the blue butterflies that inhabit the area of the Purbecks, the Dorset Blue collection was born.
I looked at 5 different species, the Adonis, the Chalkhill Blue, Speckled Blue, Holly Blue and Small Blue butterflies.

I started sketching first, creating the patterns and shapes. The next stage was developing them with individual characters, using a little artistic licence to make them suitable different. I made them first in layers of pure silk, with reverse applique, embroidery and beading.

This was closely followed by another collection using different Liberty fabrics in various blue tones.

Holly Blue and Chalkhill Blue- Liberty Collection.

 

The butterflies are available as brooches or as framed collections.

The collections and more loveliness can be found at Seasons Green, 14 West Street, Corfe Castle, Dorset, BH20 5HD. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Seasons-Green/922594654427657
A website is coming very soon.

Liberty Monarchs also available at Seasons Green.

Hatchling Hearts

Hello again, it's been a long time I know but things are very hectic here at Everitt towers. As you may know I combine my personal embroidery with making masonic banners and both sides of my work are demanding my attention. I wouldn't have it any other way and feel so fortunate to be able to make a modest living doing what I love.

Anyway new ideas are always around, sometimes I get an idea and even though I have other things to do I have to have a 'play'. One of these ideas are my hatchling hearts, these started as a gift idea for Mothers' Day. They are a soft padded heart with a ribbon hanger designed to hold your butterfly brooch when it's not being worn. I always feel a bit disappointed that brooches are kept in a drawer.
So the hatchling hanging heart holder was born, catchy name don't you think ?

The first hearts were made in calico, with toning embroidery and lots of hand beading. I had great fun matching them to butterflies. I'm delighted to say they were a great success.

 

After a little more experimentation, I made my first linen heart. I LOVE natural fabrics and I added a different shaped butterfly, the Liberty swallowtail.

Further developments have been adding dried lavender flowers to the cotton wadding, a new Heather Everitt Embroidery woven label for the reverse and special gift boxes.
There are a couple in my Etsy shop at the moment and I am currently working on a big retail order. So pleased when 'an idea' works out !
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/227720549/beautiful-embroidered-heart-with-silk?ref=shop_home_active_12

A new blog for 2015

I've been quite poor at keeping my blog updated, but my New Year resolution is to improve. So here we go, it was a very busy year for me 2014, I created a new range of work, visited Liberty of London and received my first ever retail orders.

I have been thrilled at the response to my new animal collections, many of which started as commissions.
The hedgehog is made in pure wool, backed with silk and has a feature print from either Liberty of London or Kaffe Fassett. I love the way each one has its own character.

 

I have also introduced a red and grey squirrel, made in the same way as the hedgehog but this one has tiny hand sewn 'nut' beads.

I final change for this year is a re-design for my very popular Liberty Belle butterfly brooch, still a delicate 8cm but this time a new shape and an added detail of velvet eyespots.

All these pieces are available in my Etsy store.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Heatheremb?ref=hdr_shop_menu

Autumn Winter Collection 2014

I've been really inspired by the upcoming trend in fashion of 'Folklore', a delightful and whimsical theme featuring woodland creatures and elements of craft.

Using pure wool and cashmere mixes creates a cosy feel to my new hatchlings and the stitching positively sinks into these lovely fabrics.

I continued to use sumptuous velvet for my hatchling's body and for extra colour in the wings. Still very much under the influence of Liberty of London fabrics, this time I chose the lovely prints on a wool and cotton mix.

To add an extra element of craft I added lashings of scrummy embroidery stitches in contrasting and toning colours. The images above show my re worked Art Deco moths in a statement size perfect on a wool coat or cardigan.

I also created the wool Monarch butterfly, larger than it's silk cousin, this one has the addition of beautiful vintage mother of pearl buttons on it's wings.

Other pieces are being added all the time, the latest being the Liberty wool bees, they come in two sizes and have wool and Liberty print bodies and wings with embroidery and beading.

All these pieces are backed in pure silk, making them extra luxurious.

My new collection is available in my Etsy store.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Heatheremb?ref=hdr_shop_menu

New Designs

I've been rather lapse with my blog entries recently but that's because I've been creating new designs.
The first is a new bee brooch, I wanted a bee that was more 3D than my previous design so I set to on the body first. It was made with fabric that was first embroidered with the bee's yellow stripes, hi-lighted with gold threads. The fabric was then gathered, stuffed and sculpted with thread to create a plump little body.

The wings were made from silk organza with tiny sequins added to give the idea of drops of pollen. He has tiny glass beads for eyes and his legs and antennae are made with twisted twine.

 

So the bee was born and then I had a request for a ladybird, this was great fun I love being challenged and this was a great excuse to play. The body was made in a similar way to the bee, the wings were the exciting part. Made in layers of red silk with velvet spots, I covered the wings in shot organza, stitched and did some reverse applique. My signature micro sequins provided little flecks of light. The ladybird also has beaded eyes and cute legs and antennae. I've just been asked to make one as a mini fascinator!

The final new design is a poppy, made using the same techniques as my butterflies I loved getting the petal shapes just right and adding the tiny beads to create the stamens. I have now made them in three colours but I'm thinking of pink, white, purple ......... The possibilities are endless and then there's anemones.

The poppies are in my Etsy store https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Heatheremb at the moment the bees and ladybird are to order only please contact me at mail@heatheremb.co.uk

Masonic Banners.

Many of my Face Book followers may already know I have two sides to my embroidery work. as well as the butterflies, moths and insects a great deal of my working time is taken up with producing Masonic banners.
These banners are used by Freemasons in their ceremonies and can be up to 6ft tall. I have been making banners for 25 years and have a website devoted to them.
www.masonicbanners.co.uk
I started making them after being contacted at my degree show by a gentleman who asked me to recreate a Victorian banner in embroidery. The original banner was painted and had begun to disintegrate. So a new chapter began and over the years I must have made 100's of banners.

Like my Lepidoptera the banners are made in layers of pure silk, with applique and machine embroidery. They are then lined and backed in pure silk, many have fringing or cord trims to define the design.
Sometimes I am asked to design the banner from scratch, I will produce scaled artwork, this is then used to obtain permission from The Grand Lodge or Provincial office.

I love banners with plenty of detail and relish the challenge of new imagery. It is really rewarding to make these items as I feel they have an historic significance too. I have been very fortunate to be invited to several banner dedication services and they are very special indeed.

I also offer a conservation service for old banners, the preservation of these old textiles is very important to me.

 So as you can see quite a contrast to my bug work but the two worlds do collide occasionally. This last picture shows a beautiful heraldic style banner. The money for the banner was donated by the widow of a previous master of the lodge. I thought it fitting that she had a butterfly made in the same fabrics as the banner dedicated to her husband's memory.