florence hope

Linen Market Bag

2011-04-09T08:29:00.000-07:00

A new design at Florence Hope. The perfect linen, summer bag for the market or beach. Commissions can be taken, just get in touch.

Stella

Cover that Kindle

2011-03-29T08:52:00.000-07:00

Practicing my ruffles on this Kindle cover for my lovely neighbour.

And also sewing a straight line which seems to elude me...

Shop Update

2011-03-20T07:26:00.000-07:00

Over the next couple of days I will be stocking up our Folksy shop with some lovely new bags and other goodies...

Stella has been a busy girl making these gorgeous bags which are all reversible!

Upcycling 2011

2011-02-05T08:07:00.000-08:00

We have been 'upcycling' Cath Kidston tea towels and here are the results!
Laura, Florence Hope's resident model, wears hers when making lovely cup cakes:)

A Rare Night Out for Florence Hope

2010-11-26T04:14:00.000-08:00

Last night Florence Hope came out to play – oh yes, we attended a small but very beautiful craft fair.
Our hostess made everyone feel extremely welcome opening up her beautiful home; while people walked around the various stands mulled wine was served and the cutest little mince pies.
We were in the dining room so our table was half of a lovely old oak table and with the wood panelling which surrounded us it seemed the perfect foil to show off Florence Hope at its best.

Apologies for the poor photo….but you can just see Stella doing some last minute arranging.
A big thank you to everyone who came to say hello.

April 2010

2010-04-24T04:50:00.000-07:00

2009-09-01T14:07:00.000-07:00

A rare gem -

2009-08-08T07:46:00.000-07:00

Image: The Reader by Harold Knight (1874-1961)

At Last

2009-03-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

Wouldn’t it be lovely to be woken up by a gentle knock at your bedroom door –a maid enters with a breakfast tray of triangles of buttered toast, a pot of your chosen brew; this is my fantasy so a pot of coffee, boiled egg covered in a pretty little egg cosy…………………..

Photo: Spring Egg cozies

OK we can’t provide the maid or the leisure time to have a lie- in but Florence Hope can offer you a very nice line in egg cozies.

Photo: Looking for a good home

Don’t faint but I am stocking up the Folksy shop this week with Spring goodies

Photo: I am ready for my close-up

Happy St Valentine's Day

2009-02-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

A Happy St Valentine's to you all.

I can't take any credit for this little bundle of loveliness he is all Stella's work.

Like with all Florence Hope bears he is a little naughty but compensates by being a real cutie.

Any suggestions as to what we should call him?

More Lulu's

2009-01-21T07:32:00.000-08:00

It has been rather quiet in the Florence Hope sweat shop of late so I thought I should give you a quick peek of our new batch of Lulu corsages.

As spring is in the air - well in theory at least Stella and I choose what we think are softer brighter colours that will look wonderful with denim jackets and spring clothing....

The last one not quite finished..

Thinking of giving it a pale green back. What do you think?

Like Buses

2008-12-14T03:37:00.000-08:00

As some of you already know Florence Hope has found itself in the Emporium pages of the January issue of Country Living Magazine.

It has been a dream of ours to see Florence Hope on these hallowed pages and as it turns out on the same page as Cath Kidston which made us smile –Stella and I did wonder if she was thinking, wow I’m on the same page as Florence Hope!!

The flurry of interest in us over the last few weeks has been a very welcome change.

A Whole Page!

2008-12-01T07:25:00.000-08:00

Florence Hope has found its way into issue 2 of Sew Hip magazine.

Stella rang me from Boarders in Brighton last week to say we had a whole page but as she can be a bit of a prankster I didn’t believe her so Laura her daughter took the phone to confirm the great news!! I was probably more delighted than Stella as Manda had used one of my photos.

Small but Perfectly Formed

2008-11-24T08:40:00.000-08:00

Could be talking about myself – ha ha ha but no, I’m talking about these cute, gorgeous mini rose corsages Stella has made.

Roses in reflective mood....
Not sure if they will go on Folksy as most have already been ‘nabbed’
I had mucho fun making the card/labels they are attached to - sewing card and paper is so satisfying….

The Post Where I Mention the C word

2008-11-04T06:50:00.000-08:00

You will be pleased to hear that I have been filling up our Folksy shop.

For the time being we plan to close our Etsy shop as we want all our stock together.

However if anyone outside the UK wants anything we can pop it on Etsy - no problem.

Stella even has a few Christmassy items in production. As it's November I feel I can mention Christmas although I don't want to think about it just yet.

Have You Met Lulu?

2008-10-08T06:10:00.000-07:00

Have we shown you Lulu before?

This is Lulu – or a lot of Lulu’s!

Stella and I have had lots of fun making these little beauties.

While the sun was shining this morning I took some photos.

I was waiting for a certain ‘prop’ to arrive but it isn’t quite ready yet so I just piled them up.

They will be going on Etsy and Folksy soon.

Updates

2008-09-10T12:35:00.000-07:00

A Florence Hope Folksy shop is now open.....although it only has one corsage for sale!

Label Me

2008-08-11T06:51:00.000-07:00

Stella and I have been having an awful lot of fun label making.

This wins first prize

Here are some of the others.

We are firm advocates of continuing our attention to detail even on our labels.

Green Team

2008-07-26T02:16:00.000-07:00

I love this little train painted in 'pea' green. Very 'deco' colours aren't they? If 'he who has power tools' can oblige we may be able to take commissions for this 'FlorenceHope train' ;)
Stella x

Don't Faint

2008-07-11T07:57:00.000-07:00

I made a bag!

Modeled by my lovely neighbour - also the new owner
And now I want to make more!!

Do you like the diggy doggy?
Much better behaved than my other one!!!

Flower Power!

2008-06-09T14:10:00.001-07:00

Kitty for Cat

2008-06-04T12:09:00.000-07:00

Stella made this. I can’t take any credit.
The linen came from our recent trip to Ikea and the lining is a vintage find.
I absolutely love it.

Action shot

Detail

Lining

And the Winner is.....

2008-04-01T07:40:00.000-07:00

Time for the draw. We need a hat....
Well done Jessica Daisy....

There's still time

2008-03-26T12:47:00.000-07:00

To leave a comment or send an e-mail to be entered into the first Florence Hope giveaway that is taking place on April 1st. Thanks to everyone who has already left a comment, it is so good to know that people are out there and actually reading the blog:)

Stella x

It's Time

2008-03-17T03:36:00.000-07:00

Florence and Hope have decided it’s about time for our first ever give away……
For this we have made a very special mini needle case made with wool rich felt and appliquéd vintage fabric, perfect for sewing on the go!

All you need to do is leave a comment here on Florence Hope blog or email us if you’re shy. We will post to anywhere in the World.
Thanks for taking part and we would just like to say we appreciate all your comments.

We will conduct the hat picking on April 1st.

Label Love

2008-03-11T07:34:00.000-07:00

Our Florence Hope labels are a labour of love.

Stella and I have just spent the morning making a batch and by no stretch of the imagination they are certainly not cost effective but what they are is an expression of our combined creativity.

We both love detail, we love the small differences that transport the ordinary.

Big is Beautiful

2008-03-04T12:24:00.000-08:00

I've been having lots of fun making this new size corsage today.

More are planned - black and white with a splash of colour.....

Tied to Apron Strings

2008-03-01T12:15:00.000-08:00

Laura, circa 1989, sporting a hair tie.

Gigibird 'working' the same look today....

.....that's better

And myself in a cafe apron considering a little dusting.

And an A line version in the same pretty, vintage fabric.

NB Lynn and I had asked Laura, my daughter who is now 20 and has a svelte figure, to 'model' for us but she declined. Life was so simple 18 years ago when she enjoyed having hair ties put in. Anyway, this is why we had to model the above items ourselves. I decided that Lynn has the pretty face so had to do the hair tie and as I still (just about) have a waist I did the aprons. As it turned out, it wasn't so bad and we had quite a laugh as you can imagine!

Stella x

Hanging Around

2008-02-27T12:51:00.001-08:00

Just hanging around! I am humming The Stranglers as I write!!

More Spring Fripperies

2008-02-26T07:46:00.000-08:00

Two little egg cosies made from wool felt, liberty fabric and vintage notions. These were rather time consuming but we are finding, more and more, that we prefer to make unique little offerings than have to make stuff over and over.

Have you ever wondered why Easter falls at different times? This year I have discovered that it was decided in the year 325 that Easter Sunday should fall on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox. We therefore celebrate Easter sometime between 22 March and 25 April. I hope I am not the only one who didn't know this fact?

Spring Bunch

2008-02-19T09:38:00.000-08:00

Roses are red (plum & grape),

Violets are blue,

Pyjamas in Bed,

Unless, Colin's with you;)

WIP

2007-11-22T13:32:00.000-08:00

The separate components of a little flower corsage lying on a new linen tea towel from Habitat

This has turned out really well - heart shaped brooch with bead details

Fairies

2007-11-11T07:56:00.000-08:00

Florence Hope fairies playing and posing for my camera.

Chatting with the birds

Vintage Button Brooches

2007-10-21T07:39:00.000-07:00

Stella and I had great fun making theses lovely little brooches out of my growing collection of vintage buttons.

Not sure if I am breaking Blogger rules here, but if any of you are interested in buying one email me.
They are £4.50 for UK customers including p&p and anyone overseas I will pop them onto Etsy and let you know about postage costs.

Of course if no one wants them I shall just have to keep playing with them!

Click on the photo and choose your number:)

Felt Allsorts

2007-10-16T09:05:00.000-07:00

Susie Flower has Arrived

2007-10-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

Available on Etsy NOW

More Labels

2007-09-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

A new batch of Florence Hope labels

Apron

2007-09-22T11:48:00.000-07:00

Finished Needle Cases

2007-08-07T12:44:00.001-07:00

All 3 needle cases will be listed on Etsy over the next few days.....

This one had to have a Gigibird label as I had run out of Florence Hope....

but I think the label sits well on this particular needles case.

Experiments with Paper

2007-08-03T13:02:00.000-07:00

More Felt Flower Corsages

2007-07-23T08:36:00.000-07:00

More felt flower corsages ready to go onto Etsy....

New Bag

2007-07-19T03:50:00.000-07:00

Finished!

2007-01-30T05:07:00.000-08:00

We have 3 of these in "production" Stella is using lots of different shades of red and pink to give them a wonderful textural interest.

Egg Cosies

2007-01-22T06:15:00.000-08:00

Stella and I were busy bees over the weekend.

Do you like our new design?

An egg and eggcup on an egg cosy!

Labels

2007-01-09T09:37:00.000-08:00

Here are our beautiful new Florence Hope labels

New Year's Eve

2006-12-31T09:29:00.000-08:00

I was a busy bee this morning, selecting colours and cutting out.

My thoughts then took me to experimenting with labels -
I am just playing with my collection of old embroidery transfers....

and now I think I have a plan.

One

2006-12-30T05:40:00.000-08:00

of the things Stella and I love the most about Florence Hope is sourcing crafting supplies. Whether or not it gets us in touch with some primeval foraging instinct I don't know,although I'd say it's akin to it, knowing where the best berries/felt is to be had....
I treated myself to the whole set of DMC linen threads as I loved the colours so much, and here are some lovely buttons I bought recently, all lying on gingerbread coloured wool felt.

Mini Needle Cases

2006-12-12T08:05:00.000-08:00

Our latest of mini needles cases are all ready to be photographed (on a nice bright day) and put on Etsy.....
Here is just a quick peep at what's to come.

2006-12-03T15:03:00.000-08:00

Florence Hope WIP

2006-11-29T03:21:00.000-08:00

Just a few photos of what is currently work in progress.

Felt flowers on linen. They do look good enough to eat, but only when you've finished all the mince pies first.

Love these little cute flowers -

Gorgeous New Treasures

2006-11-16T05:58:00.000-08:00

Must just share with you my beautiful new bag that Stella made for me.
Although a Florence Hope, this little beauty is staying at home with me, or should I say it will be accompanying me everywhere I go!

She knew how much I loved this linen fabric, but had been waiting until she found the perfect colour to line the bag before she made it for me.

It's so lovely inside I may just turn it inside out from time to time!

Etsy Shop Coming Soon!

2006-11-05T07:23:00.000-08:00

The Etsy Shop is slowly getting there - watch this space!

2006-11-02T14:02:00.000-08:00

Scottie dog egg cosy & new shape flet flower corsage/pin

Hello and Welcome

2006-10-25T05:31:00.000-07:00

Florence Hope design is the creation of best friends Stella Coulter and Lynn Gill.