An impression of an English cottage garden, full of flowers and foliage, this little bowl nestles perfectly in the palm of your hand to view from all angles.

Although amazingly delicate in appearance, and very light weight, the bowl is not as fragile as it looks – it will survive a fall much better than glass or ceramics! It is intended to be decorative rather than functional, but a small trinket or pebble could be placed inside. As it’s round, without a flat base, it won’t always sit up straight – but that just gives you different views of both the outside and inside.

It’s made by free machine embroidering on soluble fabric, which dissolves away to leave just the stitching. This ‘soluble lace’ is then moulded into shape while damp; the stitching is specially designed so that it will form a round bowl without tucks or pleats. When dry it’s sprayed with clear acrylic varnish for extra stiffness and protection.

I’ve made a few of these over the years, but no two bowls of the same theme are identical.

The bowl is approximately 10cm (4”) diameter, and 8cm (3.25”) high.

Packed in a box with a polystyrene ball inside it, to prevent damage in the post.