Guest Post: Stitches & Lace {Stitched Converse}

OK, who are you, and what are you doing loitering on my blog?

Hi Ella! I’m Liz, and I love Mini Eggs, bright jewel colours, cherryade, and flat shoes.

I’ve always been tall, and somehow just never learned to walk in heels, in case they made me feel even more giraffe-like!). Anyway, I practically live in my Converse or ballet pumps, but for my wedding last year I needed something a bit special… so I embroidered a pair of white Converse with our wedding date, the words ‘I do’, and a tiny heart – all in blue. They were a fab talking point, and the plan was to wear them on our honeymoon in New York too. Unfortunately Hurricane Sandy put paid to that! They’re a great memento of the day though, and put a smile on my face every time I’ve worn them since. I’m lurking round your blog, because (a) you make me laugh, and (b) I want to show you and all your lovely friends what I do!

My wedding day & wedding shoes!

Since my wedding, I’ve embroidered bespoke shoes for lots of other brides, and it feels lovely to be adding something to someone else’s special day too. People can either choose from the styles I stock (including several Converse), or for a smaller fee they can post me their own pumps for me to pimp! More recently, I’ve started embroidering Converse for kids (bridemaids look soooo cute when they pair them with a frothy tutu!), a couple of grooms, and even a pair as an anniversary present for one very creative lady’s husband - the second year is cotton apparently.

Some of my absolute favourites though, are the tiny little soft-soled Converse that I embroider as gifts for newborn babies. I stitch their name onto one shoe, and their date of birth onto the other; they’re a gorgeously quirky keepsake. My first nephew was born at the end of 2013 – guess what he got for his very first present from Auntie Liz! Another super-special order was the pair of Converse I embroidered with the words ‘Proper Brew’ and a tiny picture of a steaming mug, which Yorkshire Tea commissioned for 1D’s Louis Tomlinson’s birthday on Christmas Eve. I’m still reading the gossip mags like a hawk, looking for pictures of him wearing them!

I’m so lucky to be able to do something I love from home, whilst also being able to look after my little son. We’ve recently had our loft converted, so I’ll soon have a special corner to keep all my stitchy stuff! And now I’ve finally let go of the day job, I’m busy thinking up lots of extra ways to add my little touch to those everyday items… maybe coin purses, canvas flip-flops (honeymooners, hello!), ballet pumps, wall art…

Right, thank you so much for having me! If anyone wants to see more, you can visit me either at my website Stitches and Lace or Etsy. You can get in touch using email info@stitchesandlace.co.uk or Twitter @stitchesandlace. Byeee!