Wishes and Finishes

A bit late, but I hope all my bloggy friends had a wonderful Christmas, and 2014 brings you all the very best of the things you love most :)

 

Here is my Christmas tree - it actually made it out in 2013, and the collection of lace will almost catch up to the collection of cross stitch next year lol

 

With time on my hands (I have been unable to go to work for 7 weeks), I have been busy getting some things done - this pile of bobbins came off a pillow after 18 months...cannot share the lace at the moment, but suffice it to say it was a PROJECT lol

My latest lace drapped doll was not so successful :(  From the lace up, she is probably the best one so far...this is the view from behind....

 

 

Here is the front...unfortunately the dip and strip (fabric at the bottom) did not go well and the seersucker look was not intended, but lesson learned for both myself and the teacher...also from this angle, you cannot see the crack in her right arm...oh well, she will reside in the cupboard until there is room needed, then she will be evicted...my friend feels she should go live with her...we will see...

 

Time at home has also meant time in the shed...here is a small selection of the 150 odd beads I have managed over the past 3 weeks...

 

Some finished lace I can share...the bohemian scarf...

up in the window, the pattern shows through...

On the table, you can see the gorgeous colour.

I am going to keep this one for myself, just not sure how often I will wear it lol

 

My counted cross stitch photo conversion has reached the half way point, so keep an eye out for that one.

 

The spinning has also been on the agenda...and I will soon have to start making the lace with the last 3 skeins completed...have a feeling I am going to get a request to make my uncle an over vest with some raw handspun in the near future too...that may be interesting...

 

Until next time, may your pins never bend and your threads never break...hugs and smiles



Our Wedding Day

Just thought I would share a few images from our Wedding Day on the 22nd September...not sure what was going on with the camera date thingy...we figure it is Colin's mum saying hi (the date shown was her birthday after all)

 The lace is made from the handspun I showed in an earlier post.
The little Honiton bee was made by Jacqui of Larkholme Lace in the U.K.

The necklace was made by a friend from our local craft group.

 The garter was made by around 15 different local lace makers from a Louise Colgan design.

 The Wedding Party with Dear Son (behind) showering us with bubbles.

 The wedding cake decoration...

A local resident of Tranquillity Gardens, popping in to add his congratulations...

 Colin's Grand daughter enjoying the balloons...

 The Bride and Groom...

 The signing table flowers.

 Looking North over the Tamar Valley 

and South towards Launceston (my Grandson thinks this is a view of "the whole world" lol)

The T Model that transported the bridal party.

A wonderful day was had by all, and we followed up with the most awesome 8 days on the big island.  May share some pics when I download the 3 cameras.

Now back to some lace for me :)

Hugs to all, thanks for visiting...don't forget to drop a line in the comments...

Updating...

First of all, 'Bella' fired beautifully!

I could not believe how long it took to add these small amounts of paint...back to the kiln, then the finishing touches...

...highlight the lips, finish the fingernails and eyes and tone the hair...I honestly do NOT spend this much time tizzing me ...Maybe that is the problem?!?!?LOL

 Next week, I may just get to start on the doll with my handmade lace!

At around 4.30 pm on WEDNESDAY afternoon, we had a mother of all hail storms across Launceston.  Colin was lucky...the storm hit while he was shopping, but he did have to drive home in the aftermath!

This picture was taken outside one of our stops at 8.30 AM THURSDAY morning!

The garden in the side street looked gorgeous - as if it had been snowing - but I did not take a photo. 

Then the garden in the area where we worked looked appealing, but alas, I did not take a photo.

As we were leaving, we spied this scene...I had to take a photo!  Note the garden edge too...It has NOT snowed in Launceston for at least 30 years, so this really is a rare sight.  Besides, our 'snow season' (in the nearby mountains) is usually August/September!

 Finally, I am working on a quick little project for our State Lace Guild AGM...the committee has challenged members to make a flower for a display - we are hoping there will be some "spares" to share with past members, giving everyone a pretty, lasting reminder of the event.

I have finally made a start on mine...Miss Sox is overseeing the project!

 "I'm not touching it, honest Mum!"

I think it is time to rejoin Miss Sox...at least it is warm there!!

Hugs and loads of lovely lace making time to you, my bloggy friends :)

Hello Friends

I can't believe my last post was in January and now it is March!?!?

Where has this year gone already???

 These 2 pics are of my silk scarf...a gift for my soon to be sister-in-law. 

The pattern is from Neue Kloppelideen Fur Torchonspitzen...

now 5 reapeats down (2 repeats shown here), only 9 or so to go :)

 These fillet lace mats were worked by a friend.  We intended to travel to the National AGM week together until Colin's health scare.  Sue still went and had the best time.  Now she has finished her 2 pieces of fillet lace, she is gearing up to go to this year's AGM too!!

 In all the excitement this past 8 months, I forgot that Gracie would need a lacey bonnet.  2 weeks before the Christening, the penny dropped.  This pretty but plain edging is from Lace For Ten Pairs.  It made it to the christening on time, but unfortunately there is no photo of the finished bonnet because Gracie did not wear it on the day...

 Finally, I only have 2 inches of lace to make for the doll...I have previously posted about the lace...

It is time to make the practice doll, so at the end of lesson 1...

 And lesson 2...

It will be a few weeks before I can return, but I am really looking forward to the next lesson...final layer of skirt, prepare the bodice and head, then into the kiln she will go!!

It is going to be a year to remember...We are finally getting married in September YAYYYYYYY!!!!!!

(So please forgive my posting tardiness...I will try my best to drop by at every opportunity as I love seeing what my blogging friends are up to too)

hugs, health and happiness to you...

tatting for a cause

On the 15th of August my world fell apart when my partner was diagnosed with eosophagus cancer.

I have made very little lace, although I have a collar to show when I get around to downloading the camera and the doll length is slowly growing.

In the meantime, while waiting for treatments at the hospital, I tried tatting.  At first I tried to continue a doily I was working on when this all started, but although the pattern was simple enough, the task was just too much.

I dug out this stumpy pattern...I will have to find the link for you as it is not my design. It is quick and simple and I can manage almost a full bookmark at each treatment session.  I have found that each time a patient, carer or staff member smiles in grateful thanks, I feel just that little bit better and can return the smile.  I have already given away a full ball of verigated yellow stumpies.

Tomorrow is the last chemo treatment, but in a little over 3 weeks, Colin has to undergo a major surgery.  I have asked if I can continue to make the bookmarks and the reception ladies will distribute the bookmarks for me.  They think it is a great idea! 

And the winner is...

Hmmmmm...only 4 comments :(

I am glad you enjoy my blog, and the projects I post about Tatting Chic and Vanessa!

But I *Don't* want to cause migraines!! They are soo awful and debilitating!

Let me tell you there are a staggering 133 220 knots in this piece!

(rings x knots per ring + chains x knots per chain x 2 {as there are 2 knots in each ds of course!})

Diane, so glad you jumped in with a stab in the dark, but 927 rings is maybe about where I should have finished the mat!!

Welcome Veronica! Your guess was actually pretty close at 1 550 rings!

There are a grand total of 1 696 rings in the Lizbeth mat!

It took almost 12 months to make and the best part of 2 reels of thread.

The design came from Tatting Doilies and Edgings, edited by Rita Weiss - one of my favorite tatting books :)

As I intended to give away 2 bookmarks, there is one each for Diane and Veronica!

I will sort out the packages and get them ready to go by the end of the week.

Congratulations Ladies :)

Thank you

So.... I hear you all ask ... Just what is it that has made me smile for 2 days straight?? After all, I was just cruising along, minding my own business, checking out some of my favorite blogs when I come across my name :) Well, as there are several Laura's out there in blog land, no excitement just yet! I clicked on the name and found myself on my own site!

I did hit the back button rather quickly to see what it was all about!

Let me show you...

Ta Da!! Many, many thanks Adriana! If you visit her blog you will see why I am smiling :)

Such awesome company!!

I hope this means I get to also pass this on...

Yes or no, I am going to anyways :)

Just let me work out how to do this...

Britt - Thanks for helping me get started!

Singtatter - Such inspiring work!

Diane - Beautiful work and such fun!

Jenny - I just love your ideas!

There are soooo many great blogs out there, and I know I have only just visited a very small handful, but every time I find a new blog, I find new inspiration!

Next time I will show you my travel pillow, but for tonight, I must go do a little decreasing with a hot impliment, then settle down with DB for some R & R... a little tatting maybe ...

Warm hugs to all my blogging friends...