The news is out!

Due to our forced 'retirement', I have been able to spend a little time in the shed.

 

This means I have finally launched an online "lace supplies shop".

 

You can check it out at www.lauraslacesupplies.com 

Starts and finishes

Here are the bobbins from Christmas time, finally spangled and ready to use.

The first pair are handmade, with a beaded ring, next are the 10th anniversary Gumnut bobbins, next, my Christmas gift to me from Acorn Bobbins and the final 3 pairs are the last of my bobbin of the month plain bone bobbins from Acorn Bobbins.

 Here is my latest project, coming along very nicely.  The bobbins are all my beginners, some painted, some stained, some with thread wrapping and some are left plain.  the thread is 60/2 linen with a splash of 40/2 linen colour and the pattern is from Torchon Lace by Else Marie Bjerregaard.  It will be a house warming gift for Colin's son and daughter in law when finished.

 Here is my completed hardanger setting...hmmmm just noticed the camera date is still out - I took the pictures today!  Although it has been finished for a while now, just had to get the camera out.

 This is what the table will look like when I find a night without the boarders to have our romantic meal...thinking roast lamb with fresh garden beans, cauliflower and carrots and roasted potatoes, with my self saucing chocolate pudding and ice cream for dessert....All Colin's favourites LOL

Last night I finally got my tatting box out and sorted through the knots, threads, bits of tatting and jumble of shuttles.  I think it is time to get a couple of PHDs out and start tatting again!

 

I hope 2015 is everything you wish it to be, and look forward to hearing from my blogging friends often :)



Strawberry dreams

Just a quick post today :)

 

Some time back, I was given a log of rare strawberry wood for bobbin making.

 

Here is the first pair :)

 

I am going to call them "In the Strawberry Patch"

 

Spangled with my handmade strawberry bug bead set.

 

Hugs to my lacemaking friends :)

Around tuit at last

I have wanted to make an all lace shawl for such a long time...

 

It is finally started!

 I have made the bobbins and most of the beads!  The glass divider pins are also my own work :)

I even spun the wool from an old Corriedale fleece!

The shawl will be made in 3 or 4 panels, and the 1st is now under way.

I will source the pattern for you next time I post about this one...Colin is sleeping and I don't want to move and wake him :) 

Thanks for dropping by, hugs and warmest regards,

Some lace at last!

But first, let's take a peek at what is happening in the shed! 

 

This is what Colin has been playing with over the past few months :)

 

This machine does not like straight driving and I must admit, it is a lot of fun...

 I have finally sorted my new 4 jaw chuck, upped the revs on my lathe (although still a ways to go according to the bobbin experts) and had a play today.

 

I think the wood is Blackwood...lovely and dark!  The smallish blanks were given to me a couple of years ago, but the first piece just turned away to nothing, so I put the rest away.

 

These are traveller sized bobbins and will look great on my travel pillow...another pair to make, then I can get on with some requests!

And I have also been busy with the beads!

 

Some of these ones are spoken for, and I still have 1 more request to play with...it is in the too hard basket at the moment, but over the weekend, I will give it 1 more try!

Once they are fired, some of these beads will become divider pins, some will adorn key rings and a few may even wind up as spangles!

 

 Ok, ok....here is the promised lace :)

 

The pattern was published a few years ago in Australian Lace...

 

The yarn is Misty Alpaca...

 

The lace was started by a retired lace maker, and I "inherited" it at the weekend...it is making some good progress, but I really need to get back to the 'other' piece!

 Thanks for stopping by, warm hugs :)

Updating News, Lace, Spinning

the BIG news is that Colin has come through his operation, and although the recovery process is long and not that easy, he is now through the danger period and adjusting at home ... BIG HAPPY DANCE!!!

The doll lace attracted some admiration once Colin was moved onto a general ward and I could spend some time playing...it now measures just over 1.5 meters...just over half way....Yayyyyyy!!!!

The past couple of days, I have turned my focus to the Beds mat in my spare time.

This morning at breakfast time and 2 flowers down, I was here...now there are only 2 flowers to go :)

 From a little further away, you can see my own handmade bobbins and beads...maybe that is why this piece is taking soooooooooooo long to finish.

 Colin and I escaped to the West Coast for a couple of days just prior to the hospital stay.  In Zeehan,we encounted a couple enjoying the beautiful day outside a local cafe with their spinning wheels.  My interest was sparked (again) when the lady showed me a skein of fibre...1 ply was spun wool and the 2nd ply was Guttermans sewing silk.  I really liked this idea...it makes the possibility of using the fibre for lace making much closer.  Once we came home I dug out my lovely Ashford spinning wheel and discovered that the flyer has flown.  I promptly ordered a new one, but was eagerr to get going.  I found a local contact and obtained some Corridale fleece, asked the 'Oracle' (Gumlace) for advice and found a link to a homemade drop spindle with lessons on how to use it on Interweave. 

With the need of a distraction, I dived in!

The spindle is made from a foot long length of dowel, a brass eyelet, slightly opened, a rubber grommet and 2 old CDs...easy peasy!!

My arm aches so progress is slow.  The flyer (and an Ashford beginners spindle) have arrived so I plan on making more progress in the coming weeks so stay tuned :)

many hugs to all my friends in the lace and bloggy world for your wonderful support...

God bless.

Patience...me?!?!

Not a bone in my body!!!!

I used all the beads I have made for spangles on Sunday by removing the old spangles off some of my own bobbins and replacing them with my handmade beads. So much for waiting to make new bobbins!!

Then I could not wait to see them in action, so I changed the bobbins on my current project!

Next, I just *had* to change the rest of the bobbins for more of my own.

So here they are...the longer threaded bobbins have my own beads.

And close up of some of the bobbins...

Do you want to see the whole picture??

I thought so :)

My daughter made the pin cushion about 10 years ago and it is still one of my most favorites.

Last time I showed this lace, it was just around the corner. It is growing, but I really need to put it away and work on some other projects!!

Oh well, the motivation may come tomorrow

I admit I did another repeat today after taking the pic:)

I was celebrating - today I purchased a skirt - size 14!!

No big deal, you think? This time last year, size 22 was too small!!

Hugs :)

Withof

I posted about a fantastic weekend in Melbourne here.

Now I have attached the lace to fabric and a button so that I can wear it on Christmas Day.

The button measures 1 inch across, so you can see the piece is on the small side.

This is the last of my Christmas lace projects - happy, happy dance :)

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.

Show Time

Wow, can you believe it is October already?!?!

Here are 3 of my 4 lace entries in our local show.

This length of lace was awarded a 1st place. I adapted the design from a Rosemary Shepherd pattern when I first started making lace to fit into a commercial frame.

This coats design took 4 months to tat, and I love it! I am considering making the design again, but continuing to make a circular table cloth for a small occassional table ... one day!

It was awarded 3rd place in the tatting section at the show. At first I was completely surprised by this - given the following piece, but after reading the judges comments, I do agree, especially as I had already said I was disappointed in that area with this piece - lesson learned!
This bookmark designed by Jon was awarded 1st place in the tatting section. I have tat it using Lizbeth thread in Shell (I think that was the name of the thread?) It was very quick to tat and I am now going to use it in my diary!

I was awarded 3rd place for my forth project, but cannot share here for now.

I am very pleased with my results and enjoyed 2 half days of lace demonstrating and several hours experimenting with some scrap booking tools from Creative Memories too!

Now I can focus on baby things, ATCs, 25 motif challenge and finishing my Lizbeth doily!

Hmmmm and Christmas is just around the corner!?!?

Thanks for reading this far, don't forget to say hi before you go.

Bobbins

I was asked this morning about the bobbins that I have made, so here goes. I have heard it said that need breeds invention...well the need to learn to make lace, and therefore the need to increase my bobbin selection was a raging fire that was not satisfied with access to beginner bobbins once a month:) A friend of DB(eloved) owns a lathe, and having a heap of Huon Pine offcuts, I had the timber. My last experience on a lathe was 25 years ago...I made a sugar bowl that was supposed to be a goblet, but never let a little thing like lack of experience stand in the way! DB's mate left the workshop so he did not have to sort out severed fingers and I whittled away...by the end of the afternoon, I had broken 3 hardwood attemps (2 oh so close) and joy of joys - was the proud owner of a fine Huon Pine bobbin! (Not a cut finger in sight!) DB built me a lathe for my birthday :D The first 5 above are all Huon Pine, the 2 outside ones being travellers - well the end broke off, but they are still great to use, right? The next 2 are believed to be Myrtle - scrap timber that fell my way. The next is made from a piece of Cedar...it's life is interesting...tree to church pew, then a scout hall feature, next part prop for hovercraft and this small piece of leftover was made into a bobbin, affectionately known as "the cricket bat's mate". The 4 on the right really were born of desperation! They are 8mm wooden beads, threaded onto skewers...I needed 60 odd bobbins in less than a week at school and these are the result. The kids love them. I have also used some Blackwood, Silky Oak and Tas Oak hardwood. I love working with the Mytle and Silky Oak, and the smell of the Houn Pine is wonderful.

This pic shows the bobbins I made for a birthday gift. All the painted bobbins are made of Tas Oak and depict favorite things of the recipient...pets, occassions, flowers, etc. The wooden look bobbins are Huon Pine, each pair representing a family member or special occassion...birthdays, wedding etc. Each of these has been spangled with beads that represent the person marked on the bobbin...favorite colours and that sort of thing.

I do still collect the odd bobbin made by 'real bobbin makers', but I am somewhat proud of my little collection and continue to slowly add to them. Not counting the 16 pair on this pillow, I have about 40 pair that I have made I think.