My Fantastic Weekend

This beautiful book was the last gift from my greatly missed Mother-in-law.

It has been the soure of the best weekend I've had in a very long time.

Let me explain...

The Australian email ring Gumnuts called for participants to a workshop, in Melbourne, Victoria.

The workshop tutor was to be Yvonne Scheele-Kirkhof - the author of this book!

LOML knows that I love this book and suggested that I find out more about the workshop

- an invitation that was never going to be ignored!!

And so, my Christmas pressie has been attendance at the workshop in Victoria ... yaayyyyyyy!!!!

Let me show you the progress on day 1!

Not much, I hear you say???

Well no...but there was a lot of mind-bending happening and many new techniques learned...I have never made Withof lace before, you see.

Here is the result of the 2 days!

Not perfect, I know, but with practice, this type of lace will become a favorite.

I feel it in my finger bones :)

Travelling to Victoria meant 2 hours on a plane, 20 minutes on a bus, 40 minutes on a train, an evening in a motel room, and several hours hanging around in airpot lounges

- What is a girl to do?!?!?!?

TATTING of course!!!

Bookmarks 15, 16 and 17 for my 25 motif challenge!

(You thought I had forgotten, did'nt you Sharon VBG)

This is one of Lace Lovin' Librarian's favorite patterns at the moment, and I have discovered why!

It is "Stumpy"

I have made them all in perle 8 verigated thread - just odd bits left over from some bobbin lace projects.

Throw in meeting 4 Gumnuts among the 11 Victorian Lacemakers, an entertaining evening with one Gumnut and her husband and watching Yvonne throw the bobbins as she demonstrated various techniques and you may understand why this post is thus titled!!

Happy lace making to all my bloggy friends...hope you are enjoying your lace as much as I do at the moment!

Show time!

Here is a new page I put together in my scrap booking album for FIL.

I will be showing my customers how to do this surprisingly simple page at my end of month workshop...hope they enjoy!

I entered this page in the local Show and Won! such a simple page and the reward very unexpected!
Here is my tatting entry, with it's new ribbon :)

... and my wire lace entry...also with a decoration.

I entered 2 other pieces of lace, but gave 1 away before I could take a pic, and have plans for the other, which means I cannot share here for now.

Although I have been very busy with my lace, there is much I cannot share just yet.

Sending hugs to all my bloggy friends, with hopes that your lace is growing, threads never breaking and pins never bending...

Crafty post

This lap-weaving rug was made by my Great Uncle in 1946-7. He made a pink one and a blue one. My Mum and her cousin were born on the same day, but he found out about Auntie Helen before mum, so she got the pink one. Mum got this blue one. After mum (and probably my uncles) used it, I used it as a dolls cot cover as a child. After a discussion on Gumlace (the Australian Email ring for lace makers) I remembered and unearthed it. As you can see it is showing it's age, but I still can picture my Uncle's active hands, salty tobacco smell and rich warm voice ringing through my childhood memories.

Above is the wrong side of the cot throw and below is the top side.
This is even less lacey, but I was given 2 such kits for my birthday. They are both Mill Hill Tiny Treasure Diamonds - this one titled Holiday Cardinal. It was quick and easy on an evening where I just wanted to chill!

My wire lace project is now completed! I love this design and it was great to make. Now I am going to try designing a couple of my own patterns :) I have also aquired a couple of patterns from another designer - so watch this space :) This one is 'Paduan' by Britt Fairchild of Stitchetty Grub fame...

This is one of my current projects. Not really sure where the pattern came from, but 3 of my lace group are in the process of making this fan. I am using Guttermans quilting thread, but think it should have been a tad finer...non the less, I am happy with the result. Now I have to have it completed in the next 2 weeks so I can scan it and take the pricking and scan to our Lace Retreat to order the sticks from John Beswick of Torchon House.

Despite my highlighting my Barbara Fay catalogue in bright pink highlighter, including the ordering process, then opening the computer to the appropriate page, LOML did not order the lower book for my birthday :(

But, with an extra universal cash voucher from DSIL, when the newsletter arrived, I was able to order both the desired book AND the new Cluny de Brioude book Yay!!!!!!!!!!!

I guess it is no secret that I love Beds/Cluny lace for those who have followed my blog.

I just can't wait to get into these books - but where to start?!?!

Finally, this was the view from our Lace meeting place on Saturday. The snow on Mount Barrow is not as stunning in the picture, but it was rather lovely on Saturday, with the crisp blue sky making a beautiful backdrop. While the snow stays that far away, I am totally happy. Mount Barrow usually only gets a smattering of snow a couple of times a year, usually in early September. Ben Lomond is our "famous" ski mountain, with great views from the other end of the city.

Oooops!

Ever had one of those days where you were sure had done something, only to find you hadn't?

I told my future DIL to look on here for pics of the quilt I am making for her baby!

Unfortunately they were still in my photo program...waiting to be uploaded!

Sorry Kat!

Here is the centre square with embroidery completed!

Last night at Quilting, I actually completed the ditch stitching to join the cover, middle and backing!

I also told Kat that her baby lace was on site :(

So now it is!

This piece will be mounted to make a Christening bonnet/wedding hankie.

I have another heart pattern whick will be made to decorate the christening gown - last worn by "the Peanut's" daddy some 22 years ago.

The pattern is from Lace For 10 Pairs.

Hope you like, don't forget to leave a comment before you go!

Check in soon as tomorrow I begin a 4 day workshop making Bucks Point lace...so back to making prickings and winding bobbins :)

A Mixed Bag

Some crotchet to kick things off!

I made this cot throw for my grandson. The pattern is from an English Friends magazine from around 20 years ago. I love the design and have made it in double bed, single bed size before.

This one is made in Twillies Crotchet Cotton.

Here is a close up!

BTW - I finished another one this week for a friend's daughter, so only 1 more to make for now - for my new Grandbaby due January :)

Some tatting now...

Here are bookmarks 11, 12 and 13 - more crosses for friends, made is Lizbeth thread.

And number 14 is an adaptation of a length from Norma Benopath's Heritage patterns, also using Lizbeth thread.

Time for bobbin lace!

This pricking was sent to me from Guzziesue some time back when we exchanged ATCs.

As my knowledge on Bucks was/is very limited, and there was very few instructions (for me, that is :)) it has taken a while, but I did it!!!

The design is called Summer, an original by Irene Tomlinson.

The coloured gimp did not do as I wanted, but a lesson has been learned :)


This bookmark will be gifted to the lady running the leadership training I am undertaking in my scrapbooking business - despite the mistakes, I am sure she will love it :)

Enough for now, please enjoy!
Warm hugs from cold Tasmania :)

Wonderful wire

I have been busy taking photos and here is a small sampling :)

As wire is the newest inspiration, the following are the result of the workshop I attended recently.

This design was completed on the second 2 days of the workshop and will be mounted on a comb for my hair when I find the right comb. (It is the WIP in the last post :))

Here is the first project!

I love this necklace, and also made the earrings to match.

Now I am on my own!

This is the third and final kit that I purchased at the workshop.

BTW - I got a little further today so watch this space!

Finally for this post, here is bookmark 9 and 10, tatted in no 20 coats cotton for family friends.

They do need blocking properly - as is usual for me!

There are still more pics to share, but if you can't wait, the jigsaw fans can visit www.jigidi.com and look for puzzles on my profile - laura_rose76 Have fun!!

Cheers

Hello again

First things first!

Here is one of the packages I sent as prizes in my previous post.

The Gum flower hankie is just perfect to show off a hand made lace length, the Tassie devil hankie makes for a great cover cloth (as it is a larger hankie), a pair of bobbins, spangled with colours to represent our Island home and the promised bookmark (as requested by each recipient) - messages from both said they were delighted - Thank you ladies!

Here is bookmark number 8 in the 25 motif challenge!

I have actually made quite a few more, but still need to take pics! There are a number of crosses in the mix as my children have had to come to terms with the sad loss of their father at the end of February. I will show you some more next post - soon!

Finally, I had the real pleasure of attending a 4 day wire lace workshop with Stitchetty Grub a couple of weeks ago. I completed 1 set and 1 piece in the 4 days, and am now working on the 3rd kit that I purchased that weekend. This is the 2nd piece in progress. The centre flower is sitting to the top left of the WIP. I intend to mount this piece on a hair comb - when I get organised enough to purchase one! The first set is a necklace and earrings - will share next post as I have still to take the pics :)

Thanks for dropping by, I love visitors :)

Off to take some pics so the next post will be soon!! TTFN