Keepsake Bunnies

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Creating Keepsake Bunnies, is something I enjoy doing very much.  I love the whole process from start to finish.

Sisterly Love
Both hold special memories

 Being ask to create something from some outfits and blankets, that hold special memories in the owners heart, is always an honour, and to be trusted with these special garments was just that.

A Flower Girl Dress worn by big sister to mums wedding
A dress big sister bought for little sister
Little sisters Baby Blanket

See how these Little Bunny Keepakes Began

The Process:

A sketch and a plan for layout and design

Next comes the details.  Carefully unpicking the details from the garments, placing and cutting the pattern, then adding the embroidery and appliqué.

Keepsake Bunnies are then born

Nicole's was predominantly made from her beloved Baby Blanket
Details were picked out and appliquéd to the body and ears
A little part of the dress big sister bought her, was used on the ears
Hand embroidered details were added for those finishing touches

True memories wrapped up in a Button Jointed Bunny xx 

Chloe's was created, using her Flower Girl Dress form the '90s
Picking out the details, so it still looked like the dress.
Lace overlay some of the fabric for more interest.
Parts of the dress she bought for her little sister was added for interest, details and of course memories.
A little part of Nicole's blanket was added for the ears, as a special touch.

True memories wrapped up in on Original Keepsake Bunny xx



See how I create another Original Keepsake Bunny here

From every cut and stitch, each one is carefully tailored to suit the client's needs. 

Michelle Corbin Design - Find me on Facebook
Maker of all things to treasure, from Keepsakes to Soft Furnishings

Thank You for reading
Happy Stitching
Michelle xx

*Little Bunny Keepsakes, are 'sit on the shelf' items and are not suitable as toys, due to the fabric and small parts used.  They should not be left with a child under the age of 14.  They are a Collectable, potential Heirloom, which should bring lots of your love and memories to life*

The Wedding Couple

Well it's been a very busy few weeks here at MCD HQ!

The bathroom is now completed (post about that to follow)

See how my bathroom looked for before

So what have I been up to I here you asking??   Well I enrolled on a business course via

The Girls Mean Business

I took this leap mainly because I knew I needed to update some of my format for 

Michelle Corbin Design, as I want to be able to provide my customers with the best service that I possibly can.  It really is giving me food for thought, encouraging me to spend more time on my little Cottage Industry, rather than just in it sewing away!!

By doing the course I am achieving more of my short term targets (daily lists) more efficiently.  Focussing on what I need to do first!

I've completed some lovely bespoke commissions, and continued on with a large Keepsake commission.  Little and often for that job, but it's coming along nicely ;)

One job I have been working on, is updating my website and Etsy Shop.  They are both still work in progress, and probably always will be, but this brings me on to: 

The Wedding Couple

This happy couple are my newest design and make, and I have just listed them as a pair.

£70.00 + £5.00 UK postage

Having received the stunning Vintage Upholstery Fabric from 

FabricCentric, I decided that I must make something really special with it.  The quality is wonderful, and instantly I was inspired.

First I made 2 Keepsake Bunnies: one with fixed arms and legs, and one that was button jointed.

Fixed Bunny - Sold

Button Jointed Bunny - Sold

Then came The Wedding Couple 

Having a sweet little kiss xx

The bears have been button jointed and created with the beautiful vintage fabric.  The boy is wearing a little waistcoat and dicky bow, whilst the girl wears a tulle veil, with ribbon and button detail.  She also carries a small bouquet.

I have to say, that this pair is my favourite keepsake to date, and I actually am tempted to keep them, as I am super proud how they turned out.

 However, I think they would make the perfect Keepsake gift for a Bride and Groom on their Wedding Day.

What have you been making lately?  I'd love to see!

Michelle Corbin Design

 And this is me, maker of all things to treasure, from Keepsake items, to Soft Furnishings

Thank you for reading

Happy Stitching

Michelle xx

Creating a Keepsake Bunny

Bespoke Sewing.......................exquisite hand-finished keepsake gifts and home furnishings

Creating a Keepsake Item, takes care and precision to create something to enable you to treasure those special memories.

Here I am going to break down the process a little, to help you get a better understanding of what exactly goes into making such a special item.

Firstly, the outfits, dresses, trousers or baby gro's are sent, and are laid out for inspiration, which is followed by a sketch of the design.

Each item is then carefully unpicked, trimmed and prepared for the next stage.  Legs, arms, head ears body and tail are all carefully cut out, ready for construction.

Once the arms and legs are stitched, they are then stuffed - To stuff one leg, it takes 20mins!!

They are then stitched onto the body, once the head and ears have been attached.  This process, is quite tricky, and can take a while to get everything precise.

The head is then stuffed and the detailed face is embroidered, adding character and life to the Bunny.

Next it's the body's turn to be stuffed and hand stitched to close.  This is then followed by adding the tail and the finishing special touches.

A beautiful Bunny has now been born.  

Altogether, they take anything from 8 - 12 hours to fully complete, depending on the outfit combinations sent and the details and specifications required.

I think you will agree though, that all of the effort is very much worth it.

For this particular Commission, a Keepsake Journal and Tooth Fairy Cushion were also created to match.  Now Grace has a full collection of Keepsakes, that she can treasure for many years to come, and share her memories with her mum and family.

Little Bunny Keepsake

I hope you like her - the perfect Keepsake

See what else I make at mchellecorbindesign.co.uk


Happy Stitching

Michelle x

Poppy and Ivy

Bespoke Sewing..................exquisite hand-finished keepsake gifts and home-furnishings

Last week, I began showing 'Sneak Peeks' of the Embroidery I was working on, over on my Facebook Page.

Two beautiful Keepsake 'Dinky' Cushions.

Here's how I did it:

After a consultation with the customer, I began to sketch a couple of ideas I had, and when I had a few that I was happy with, it was over to Sue to choose and approve.

Once we were both happy, I began to collate together, the fabrics, threads and accessories I needed to create the unique items.

Sue's brief was, 2 small cushions, measuring approximately 15cm diameter, one with a Poppy Flower and one with an Ivy leaf.  These are the beautiful names of her Twin Grand Daughters.  She then asked for their names to be embroidered onto them, and also requested a small daisy on each too.  The daisy has a very special meaning, it represents Twin to Twin Transfusion, which the girls suffered when they were born.

Next for the Fun!!

I started by layering some red fabrics together, and used a Free Motion Embroidery technique on my Sewing machine, then I added some beads for the the seeds.

The Ivy was next, this time I layered green fabrics.

I then Hand Embroidered the Names and Daisies.

Et Voila!!  

I stitched them together, and stuffed them, then binded the edges by hand to give a beautiful finish.

I hope you like them, the perfect Keepsakes

See what else I make at michellecorbindesign.co.uk


Happy Stitching

Michelle xxx

A Keepsake Competition

Do you have a budding Picasso?  Are they aged between 2 and 8?

Yes?

Then would you like to WIN a Keepsake Canvas, created from your child's drawing?

Ask your child to draw a Simple Picture of Him/Herself and their siblings (if any), onto plain A5 paper.

* If your child has no siblings, parents or flowers may be used to substitute *

Scan the drawing and Email it to me at michelle@michellecorbindesign.co.uk

Please ensure your child's name and age is included in your email, along with your name and contact details

Permission to use the drawing on my Facebook Page will be required, however yours and your child's name will not appear during voting. 

The canvas will be 20 x 20 cm and will be Appliquéd and Hand Embroidered, copying the details that your child has captured.  

I will then post each photo onto my Facebook Page, where I will ask my followers to vote for their favourite drawing. 

The competition will run through until 3rd April 2015 (Good Friday) and I will announce the winner on Monday 6th April.

This competition, is only open to UK residence

Michelle Corbin Design maker of all things to treasure

Thank you for reading and Good Luck

Happy Drawing

Michelle xx

Click here to see the Competition Entries over on my Facebook page

Happy Birthday Little Keepsake Bunny

Little Keepsake Bunny is 1 Today

After being asked by a customer if I would be able to make a Special Commission, I jumped at the challenge and set to designing.

After making a few prototypes, I began to make he real thing.  

I followed the brief and produced this to my customer, who was very pleased with the result.

Whilst I was creating the above bunny, I realised that I had been inspired and drawn in a different direction than I  had been before.

And so Little Miss Keepsake was launched on the 20th June 2013

The first ever bunny I made - for my daughter

The photo I posted that evening on Facebook, proved so popular, that this bunny has grown from strength to strength.

Since that day this bunny has become one of my best sellers, and for that I have JW, (my original commission)
to thank.

She has evolved from her original design, and has been created from New fabrics, Children's Clothes, or a Mix

And her unique Bunny Tail has proven to be the most popular feature she has

 And introducing
the boys
<<<<>>>>

Little Miss and Little Mr Bunnies are available to order via my contact button on my website, or via the message button on my Facebook page

Now lets celebrate, with balloons and streamers

Happy Birthday Keepsake Bunny

MichelleCorbinDesign maker of all things to treasure, from Keepsakes to Soft Furnishings

Thank you for reading

Happy Stitching

Michelle xx