Key Ring Instructions

The following is posted for one of my students - ready to have a go at one of my designs for the first time on her own! I may work out how to do a separate page and include a pricking for others over the summer

Cut 5 passive lengths approx 1 meter, 1 worker (can be metallic) approx 3 meters and wind as pairs.

Using a small gold ring for a Christmas decoration, or a split ring for a key chain, pass the centre of each passive through the ring and then thread the bobbins though the loop, pull down evenly. Ensure threads are in the order you wish your stripes to run.

Pin to picking so that the bottom of the ring is touching the first pin.

Place the 1st pin and hang the worker over it.

Pins 1-2: cross, twist, cross all pairs, extra twist on worker pair, place pin.

Pins 3-6: cross, twist, cross, twist 1st pair,

cross, twist, cross centre 3 pairs,

twist worker pair only, cross, twist, cross, twist 5th pair,

extra twist on worker pair, place the pin.

Pins 7-10: cross, twist, cross, twist 1st pair, extra twist on worker pair,
cross, twist, cross centre 3 pairs,
2 twists worker pair only, cross, twist, cross, twist 5th pair,
extra twist on worker pair, place pin.

Pins 11-32: cross, twist, cross, twist 1st pair, 2 extra twists on worker pair only,
cross, twist, cross centre 3 pairs,
3 twists worker pair only, cross, twist, cross, twist 5th pair,
extra twist on worker pair, place pin.

Pins 33-35: cross, twist, cross, twist 1st pair, extra twist on worker pair,
cross, twist, cross centre 3 pairs,
2 twists on worker pair only, cross, twist, cross, twist 5th pair,
extra twist on worker pair, place pin.

Pins 36-38: cross, twist, cross, twist 1st pair,
cross, twist, cross centre 3 pairs,
twist worker pair only, cross, twist, cross, twist 5th pair,
extra twist on worker pair, place pin.

Pins 39-40: Cross, twist, cross all pairs, extra twist on worker pair, place pin.

Wrap worker around all passives 2 times, and then tie off with a reef knot (like the snake). Leave a fringe and trim all threads.

Good luck :)

A rainbow of possums

It is the last day of the school holidays, and I really don't have much to show for my time!

I have made a length of lace, but cannot share it just yet.

I have almost completed the mounting of my hankie, but again I cannot share.

I have made a test tat of Karin's design motif for the design class, but not sure I should share.

So here is the most recent pic of possums. There is one each for my Joey Scouts as at the end of last term!

Yesterday I handed the reigns over to a new leader and have stepped down to Assistant after 12 years. I am really looking forward to just going along and playing a few games with the children each week, without the planning, paperwork and full responibility!

The next ones will be for the 4 leaders/youth helpers, then I can start on any new Joeys who come along :)

Now I need to go post the motif where it should be and get to work on the drawing program! I am hoping my new Creative Memories Consultants kit will arrive today too!

And I had better do some 4 letter words too :(

Ahhh haaaa! Another short post!! See I can do them ... sometimes :)

Please drop me a line, I love hearing from friends, give someone you love a big hug - just because and stay happy!

Possum magic

This gorgeous Aussie design can be found in the Australian Lace Magazine Summer 2004 edition. It was contributed by Kath Shadbolt, who adapted it from a picture of a lace mouse. Needless to say, I have adapted it yet again, due to not reading the instructions!

One of the junior boys at school picked it from the pile, and has almost completed it.

I was only going to make 1 for my sample book, but I have also fallen in love with it, and decided to make 1 each for my Joey Scouts and team for Christmas. Here are the first 3!

I have managed to wrestle some paperwork done today, and even checked out a bloggy friend or 2 after catching up with emails!

Now, I am off to wind more bobbins, and write out a tatting pattern!

Thanks for stopping by.

A few little bits

Ok ... yes I have been making some lace!

First, my tat design homework! I posted the motif on the right, but with some tweaking, I also like the motif on the left. Now I have to write out the pattern (and do some blocking)!

Next, Porty is ready to play!

Ok, ok, so I had some help here, but it has been a wonderful team effort!

Next stop, a frame.

The Lisbeth doily is moving along! I promise that there is only 3 1/2 rounds left here Diane ... but I am thinking there may be enough thread left to make a couple of matching mats :)

The Bucks length for Grandbaby is growing. The pic is lousy, but the lace is over 50 cms now.

I spent some time sorting through my samples books, and found I needed to replace several things ...

The book that spends lots of time at school has some items adapted from Christine Springett's Lace for Children. The half stitch heart, hairband length and flower (without the bracelet) are popular projects.

This key ring was designed as a starter project ... Ebonee made it to see if it worked for me, and this is my sample ... finally.

The ever popular snakes now reside in my book ... until I give this pair away too...

And finaly, I have remade this little edge from Rosemary Shepherd's Bobbin Lace for Beginners Book (for the 3rd time :)

Nothing exciting, but lots of little projects are in order for this holidays. Keep watching for the next batch!

If you are interested in Scrapbooking ... keep watching this space :)

Cheers for now, but before you go, please don't forget to share a thought or 2 :)

Soooo Civilized

Lots of lace as promised!!

This possum/mouse is the work of one of my Juniors...only the tail to go!!

The other (at school today) has almost finished this angel!
Another senior decided to take the plunge and was impressed by her progress today!

The key ring was completed by a young lass, embarking on a new and exciting time with job prospects on the horizon.

I will be in trouble,for the "rose garden"is upside down, but the end of term marked the end of the length. Now the lass must decide what to do with this piece! Next term, she is going to start this fan!

I will post some of my work next time LOL

Warm regards

6 pins, 3 rings

Greetings Friends,

Last post, I promised some bobbin pics, so here they are!


The bobbin on the left is from Guzziesue in Nottingham. Ebonee picked the spangle beads on her last visit, so the bobbin has been dancing with the rest in the Letter C :) The next pair are from my Arachne Secret Pal in the U.K. I find out who she is in the June exchange, and I can't wait! The black bobbin has Christmas 2008 scripted on the back and the other has a matching needle case - just beautiful! The last pair are made from Purplewood by Eddie Giesaitis. Judy and Eddie visited our lace meeting on their Tasmanian holiday last month. Ebonee also picked a pair of the Purplewood, although she had her eye on the painted bobbins and I was facinated by the diamondwood ones...maybe next time :)

And the C dance is progressing well! I had a couple of unexpected days off last week, and put one of them to good use, along with another solid 8 hours yesterday! I would really like to finish this by next weekend, so that the Guild can use the letters in a lace display in June if they wish.
Ebonee is staying again this weekend and also put her 6 pins in. I moved the hairband up the pricking this morning to give her room to move the bobbins. She has been showing her classmates this site, and will be taking the pillow to school tomorrow so they can see the real thing. Hope you like it class :) At the moment there are 8 repeats done and 5 or 6 to go!

My Lizbeth doily is also growing. The pattern only has 1 more round after this one, but I think I am going to add another repeat of this pattern to make the doily a bit larger. It is an interesting design, and pretty quick to tat. BTW, the pattern can be found in Tatting Doilies & Edgings edited by Rita Weiss. Some terrific patterns - I have made 5 or 6 of the doilies and several edgings from this book.

I have a full week of work ahead, so I doubt I will get time to post before next weekend, but fully intend to get a bit a lace done :) I will take a pic of Porty when I get to school - he is also growing well. As a snake was finished on Friday, there will be some excitement about again, and I am thinking of taking an extra (round) pillow to get one of the 2nd timers going...they are choosing some interesting projects and the round pillow will suit the tape lace pic needs better than a square one I think! Should be lots of fun to get something different happening :)

Don't forget to have your say in the comments section - keep me amused this week my friends :)

Hugs to all, stay safe and happy

Do U C what I C?

Greetings Friends,

Here is the beginning of the end :) Yes, it is the final letter of the set! ... Well a start anyhow. The pattern is from Barbara Underwood - Floral Bedfordshire in 20 lessons. The pattern was scaned, then transfered to Publisher and finally elongated to the required size. This method of adapting a pattern would probably be frowned upon by traditionalists, but it has given me the required dimensions. I am using DMC Perle 12 - not a traditional Beds thread, but will compliment the other letters.
I did take a close up, but blogger does not want to talk now :( so watch this space in my next post :)

Now, let me introduce Porty! The school logo is starting to take shape...tomorrow, I will invite a lace student or 2 to make a contribution ... keep watching to find out who Porty is :)

Finally, here is an example of the key rings my Joey Scouts made last night. It is a simple 4 bobbin plait, made on the pillow. 2 of the boys were not that impressed, but the mum and the other 3 Joeys really enjoyed making this little gift to add to a small collection for their mums. We used a 12 ply multi coloured wool for this project.

Thanks for dropping by, hope you found something of interest here. Please feel free to leave a comment ... I am hoping to have the time to drop in on some bloggy friends in the next day or so, but for now I must get some work done so have fun, and be healthy :)

Cheers

Hairbands, stands and L's

Greetings All,

Yesterday was the April Lace Day meeting for our little group. Unfortunately, I confess to not making 1 twist, crossing or knot :( I did enjoy looking at what other members were up to for a change. Besides, we had a couple of visitors from interstate - DH had some beautiful bobbins and both Ebonee and I helped to lighten the load for the homeward journey - and another visitor from the North West Tassie lace group. As well as helping Ebonee on with her little piece, the chat and friendship was, as usual, full of fun and laughter. Here is the work that Ebonee accomplished.

And up close, you can see the lovely candlelight white glittery thread teamed with a perle 8 verigated pink.

These are her decorated beginner bobbins. The 3 pair on the left are painted, then coated with a clear varnish. The next pair are simply coated with the clear varnish. 2nd from the right have small, torn tissue pieces glued on with the varnish, then a final coat over the top when dry. The right hand pair have the same pink verigated thread as her work wound around the smooth part of the handle, then also finished with a coat of varnish. The pillow, cover cloth, bobbins and spangle beads were part of her birthday present last year.

When she got up this morning, she put in another 6 pins or so. When she is finished, we are going to add a ribbon, a piece of elastic and she will have a pretty hairband to impress her friends with :)Here is the adjustable table DS made for me to make lace on. Well.... actually he made me a cross stitch stand, but when I began making lace, he made a new piece to put in the top so I could put my pillow on. When I want to cross stitch, I can take the table piece out, and put the old cross stitch frame holder back, using the 2 lengths that are folded down here. He even added some stenciled silver roses, coz he knows his mum loves them :) Isn't he a clever lad?!
This is what it looks like with the pillow on top. Everything is adjustable so you can fit it to (almost) any chair/working height and angle. Ok, ok! Yes I have also done a little :) Here is the beginnings of my L.A.C.E. letter L. I am using the leftover Oliver Twist thread from my hankie (isn't it a gorgeous colour) and the pattern is my first ever attempt at design. It is an adaption of a Rosemary Shepherd design from her Introduction to Bobbin Lace book. I needed to widen the insertion, add corners and cut and shut to fit a bubble frame. I added a cross stitch of LOML's 3 children and presented it to their Nanna for her birthday a couple of years ago. This time, I will just make a long and short leg and....bingo - my L!

If you made it this far, thanks for reading :) I really do hope you enjoyed. Don't forget to have your say in the comments section - Ebonee read every single comment earlier - wow there have been lots of new friends made here :)

Have a wonderful day!!

L.A.C.E.

Here is a peek at my next project. I have been thinking about this one for a little while as I was asked to do a display in the foyer at school later in the year. I intend to make each of the letters in the word lace in a different kind of lace. My aim is to make a Torchon L, a tape lace A, a Bedfordshire C and here is the beginning of a tatted E. Each letter will fit on an A4 backing card, labeled with the type of lace. I am hoping that once it is surrounded by children's photos, snakes, hearts and other bookmarks it will look stunning. I can then use the letters when I go to demonstrations too :)
Later on I may even make the letters in "handmade" - there are plenty of kinds of lace left to try :)

For more info on ATCs, have a look at my last comment in that post. Thanks for visiting and have a fun day:)

Key ring inspiration

Hi Guzzisue, and everyone

Yes we threaded the passives through the small ring attached to the keyring by passing the centre loop up through the ring and then threading the bobbins through the loop. The workers started on the first pin, so that they don't pull oddly. You can work the leaf in any stitches you please...I used a smaller size to decorate my Christmas baubles...then gave them to friends as gifts. I put 4 leaves on each ring and worked opposing leaves the same...1 set in half stitch and the other in cloth, cloth and twist. You could also use 3 leaves all the same or all different...so many possibilities :) Once the leaves are complete, bundle the whole lot together under the bauble, wrap a few times with a pair of workers and tie off. Just measure the circumference on your bauble, divide in half then make a leaf shape to suit! Enlage to a suitable size on the photocopier to make the keyring.

A word of warning though...for the Christmas baubles, make sure your metal ring fits snugly under the hanging attachment so that you can replace the hanger to complete your bauble. Also, be very careful of the join in the ring...it will snag the thread very easily or slip off the loops if you do not take care.