Vintage Sewing Shadow Box

Gypsy Seamstress paper collection embodies all the things we love about sewing in a vintage kind of way.  From the old cutting board and tape measures to the wonderful spools of ribbon and old patterns, the colourful art of old button packages and notions to the neutral and simple backgrounds make up this eclectic assortment that is ideal for dress makers, sewing lovers or for those who are all about nostalgic clothing and things of the past.  

Our Home Decor Guest Designer, Angela Harkness put together her love of sewing and our Gypsy Seamstress collection to make this beautiful vintage sewing shadow box.

Let’s see how she created it…

I love all things sewing – says Angela – and have a vintage sewing basket which is full of original haberdashery items, which I love looking through. I thought that displaying some of these in a shadow box frame would be the perfect idea for a decorative item for my new sewing room. As soon as I saw the Gypsy Seamstress paper collection, which had a vintage feel about it, I knew that the papers would complement the items in my vintage sewing shadowbox perfectly.

Materials used for this project:
7gypsies Photo Shadowbox Tray: Black
7gypsies Gypsy Seamstress: 12×12 Seamstress
7gypsies Gypsy Seamstress: 12×12 Buttons
7gypsies Gypsy Seamstress: 12×12 Spools
Architextures Findings – Old Scissors
Architextures Treasures – Vintage Sewing Machine and Dress Form Model 1954
12×12 Canvas Sheet – Hot Pink
12×12 Burlap Sheet – Pink
12×12 Burlap Sheet – Hot Pink
12×12 Burlap Sheet – Lt Pink
7gypsies Vintage Pin: Antique Silver
7gypsies Charms – Vintage Brass Scissors
7gypsies Lace Trimmings Assorted Pack
Rotary cutter and ruler, scissors
Glue gun and textile glue

Measure the apertures in the box frame and cut to measure your chosen pieces out of the Seamstress range of 12×12 papers. As these papers are double-sided, you can make the most of the reverse side images too!

Measure the apertures in the box frame and cut your chosen pieces out of the range of pink canvas and burlap sheets. This way some of the boxes will be filled with paper and some with fabric.

Measure 8″ and cut a piece of the wide lace from the selection pack. Sew a simple running stitch along the straight top edge, pull the thread and gather to the width of the waist on the dress form, then secure the thread. Using a strong textile glue, run a line along the waist then attach the gathered lace skirt. Secure with mini clamps until the glue has set. Use the glue gun to adhere the dress form into the chosen aperture of the box frame. Embellish with mini ‘handmade’ charms.

Position the ‘Old Scissors Findings’ into the aperture then using a hot glue gun, attach an old thimble to give further dimension to the display.

Attach the ‘Vintage sewing machine’ centrally into an aperture lined with th patchwork effect paper design.

Attach a vintage metal buckle and button card to another aperture lined with paper decorated with buttons.

Position the vintage brass scissors charm in a burlap lined aperture.
Glue a vintage spool of thread into the aperture lined with the findings packaging.

Glue a large vintage needle diagonally across the ’embroidery’ paper element in an aperture.
Glue mini wooden spool charms standing in front of the spools paper lined aperture.

Thread some mini buttons onto the vintage pin then glue onto the burlap lined aperture. Glue a selection of vintage buttons into the aperture for further dimension.
Glue a decorative lace embellishment into the final aperture of the box frame.

Cut lace trim into 5″ and 9 1/2″ pieces as shown. Use a simple running stitch to gather the lace then secure the ends together to make the circle shape for each lace design. Sew each of the lace circles on top of each other as shown.
Glue a flat-backed diamante charm in the centre of the flower then attach to the corner of the shadow box frame as a finishing touch.

That’s it! Your vintage sewing shadowbox if finished!

You can use any embellishments you have to fill in the boxes – I had loads of fun digging into my stash and finding elements I could show off on a display in my new sewing room. I hope you will enjoy making your sewing-inspired home decor.

Please come and say HI on my blog and Instagram! I’d love to hear from you!

– Angela –

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