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 :)



I don't make scarves...

...by the singles!

 

These are my most recent...

 

1 Scarf...

Pattern: Tradition into Creation by Jacqui Barber

Thread: Bohemian Autumn

 2 Scarves...

Pattern: Winter 2007 Australian Lace Magazine...cannot find the issue atm, and don't recall the designers name, so sorry.

Thread: Misty Alpaca

 3 Scarves...

Pattern: Torchon Explore by Ulrike Voelcker

Thread: Thai silk from local supplier Fibres and Threads

 Closer view of the latest...

 More!

Although there are more scarves, I have either already posted or given them away before I took a 'completed' pic, so here is 1 setting of the Hardanger work complete.

The table centre is almost finished, so only a placemat, serviette, serviette ring and coaster to go.

 

Back to the stuff I should be doing now...

 

Please enjoy, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts :)

 



Productive times

The scarf is progressing nicely, with some safely rolled away on the roller.

 

 While working this section, I realised that the only bobbins I had never used in my collection are now in use!!  Yay! 

I have a pair of rather heavy brass bobbins, (the one with the coloured thread) that I am alternating with the new thread.  They have always been too heavy to play with the other bobbins, so I had avoided them.  For this project, they work rather well.

There is also a single aluminium bobbin on the left hand side that had not been on a pillow at my place.  Several friends swear by them, but I find it cold to the touch, and had always passed it over.

Also in this shot (just) is the pair of bobbins with a pink ceramic joiner, a gift from a Gumnut.  The bobbins arrived broken from their journey, so I repaired them with the ceramic glue used to put final details on my dolls.  They are working perfectly and remind me of my Australian friends each time they pass my fingers.

 And here is a new batch of beads ready for the kiln.  Dear Step Son is visiting today and will take them to Burnie for me.  I hope to make the trip with Colin in a couple of weeks time to collect them...

The pin toppers (ladybirds, flowers, turtles and hedgehogs and the cotton reel were all made before Colin collapsed.  the rest have been made this week to fill the tin.

 

Thanks for taking the time to read this far, stay safe, happy and healthy.  Hugs,

Some bobbin lace PHD's

 First of all, here is the next lace for a porcelain doll...slow progress, but a little every now and then...have to find/design another piece to complete the doll, so still a long way to go before a doll will be seen.  This is Bucks Point in Finca 80...wide design by Heather Billington, narrow one from Pamela Notingham's Intro to Bucks book I think.

 Here is the 2nd piece from the workshop I was participating in when Colin collapsed.  I completed the 1st repeat at the workshop and most of the rest of this one was done at Colin's hospital bedside during his 2nd stay in Hobart.  The thread is Lizbeth 80...have no idea why I would buy this colour in the first place, but love it in this piece.  The designer is Ethel Zuccolotto.

My 3rd piece was started yesterday.  The pattern is from the Ulrike Voelcker Torchon series, done in Thai silk from a supplier here in Tassie.  The scarf will be for Colin's daughter...maybe for Christmas...

 

up close...

 

Finally, after our recent trip to visit Colin's surgeon, we decided to stay over and visit Mona Museum...I found out about this cement truck from a friend in Estonia on Facebook...now I have seen it for real!!

 

The detail is simply amazing, and it smells much better than one of the artist's other instalments at the museum!!

 Hugs to all, may your pins never bend and your threads never break, so that you can make the most of every moment life has to offer!

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



My latest project

The thread is a mixed bunch, purchased in a single ball - it is called Bohemian in Orange!

I did need to add a few more bobbins, so there are some cream/white in the mix.

 this book is the source of the idea and pattern.

Short and sweet :)

Just a little lace

First I would like to share some bookmarks I have made for the Arachne email ring exchange.  

I love taking part in these exchanges and will take some pics of my received bookmarks for next post.

This is Louise Colgan's hummingbird.  

I intended to take part in her workshop last year, but didn't make it.

I still want to work the workshop piece, but this Milanese tape will do for starters.

I think I will sew it on to a black shirt when I get some time :) 

My next doll is making progress...the week before last I finished the skirt...

And last week I added the bodice...

 Tomorrow I will add the arms and she will be ready for the first firing.

 Meanwhile, my friend has finished the doll she made with the lace I designed and helped her make.

Enough for now...off to read up on Porcelain doll making for ideas for the next doll....

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 :)

WIPs

A quick look at what is happening...

Porcelain doll week 4...

 The horseshoe finished...sorry about the quality of the pic...I might try for a better one tomorrow or the next day...

 My handspun using my own bobbins and beads...the next update for this one will be September :)

 The silk scarf...

Time for bed now...work for next few days...

Hugs my friends...

Elementary spinning

I have been putting 2 and two together...

This...

...plus this...

...equals this.

This...

 ...plus this... 



...equals this.

Put them together, add some bits and bobs and you get this.

Ok...so there is still some work to do...

And sorry, but you will have to wait until September to see the end result :)

But I will drop by before then...may your threads never break...