tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88538434119283296662024-03-18T23:51:12.886-05:00knitnmoreKnitting and more...spinning, beading, crochet, tatting, bobbin lace, tambour, watercolor....Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger624125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-45652191295175060472021-12-11T19:03:00.001-06:002021-12-11T19:03:03.825-06:00Adventures in HardangerI have a couple of Hardanger books in my library. Just 2 because I didn’t think I’d ever get past the intimidation of cutting the threads. Then along came my favorite embroidery YouTuber, Sarah Homfray, with her introduction to <a href="https://youtu.be/mcP6Si9aKqk" id="id_3ee0_71fa_25fe_382d">Hardanger</a> video which has completely changed things. She completely de-mystified it for me. <div><br></div><div>Step 1 - Kloster blocks. These are the little 5-stitch blocks that provide stability where threads will later be cut. </div><div><br></div><div>Step 2 - Cutting of threads. (aka the scary part) Sarah’s advice to cut a thread in the middle of the block made me feel so much better than the thought of cutting immediately next to the stitching. With the short threads, I used a tweezer to hold the thread while I cut. I couldn’t really grab the thread with my fingers so the tweezers were a great solution. The first motif was a little rough but I got better with practice and use of the tweezers!. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_4db2_6ccb_9b60_a10c" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/T8SsBuatPtFEwnH8D6dD0Ns_fWxLZujbiU0JLOFv7MJzii1WD5mNiNjSKDQk3BGOxmw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br>Once all the threads were cut, it was time for step 3. </div><div><br></div><div>Step 3 - Decorative stitches. Woven bars and dove’s eye. </div><div><img id="id_47df_2535_98d2_5f38" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/QypPFXNiR2Qi0GJajySSyK3XhYdXF5dufbhh9YWchxWgWLsC1lQ2epcvukR0q0M9qT8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_f8ae_db00_8e6d_4845" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/SlJGaznAU6JLO5xZboZuMDLOpcLZ2Nojj4ZYwceOUdEIrKWeeFr2ZNrJnpGHaPYCuKI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br>I wanted to learn to do Hardanger because I wanted to use it on the macramé table runner I did a while back. Now I can plan my next one and this time I can use the Hardanger Luke I originally planned. It will be a good post-move project. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-90141617450097875452021-11-13T21:01:00.001-06:002021-11-13T21:01:07.326-06:00Pockets<p>I think we can all agree that the fashion industry has long been missing the mark and letting us down in relation to pockets in women's garments. I hate carrying a purse but pockets in dress trousers, and now even jeans, are either absent or absurdly small. I figured out how to add some space in trouser pockets but I also wanted to create an external pocket that would play off the shape and functionality of a <a href="https://pieceworkmagazine.com/the-fascinating-miser-bag/" target="_blank">Miser's Purse</a>. This ingenuous little purse often had a rounded end and a flat end. </p><p>For my purse, I wanted it to hold my phone in the flat end, which would be carried inside the waistband, and my keys in the rounded end which would hang on the outside of the waistband.</p><p>My first attempt:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPThsVtzFz0MJN9okSlTp6S8nJUUdDjXz6mO6JiAZQ1ClEcx-ccmxg304vBJKs7dMsuWAKN4ea4Eu6iD-rukfNVI8FXey7451aDiC9etvwtt_K5IgBJij9p4PaqJLhrl9FxzeSvdx_WW-b/s2048/pocket1st_attempt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPThsVtzFz0MJN9okSlTp6S8nJUUdDjXz6mO6JiAZQ1ClEcx-ccmxg304vBJKs7dMsuWAKN4ea4Eu6iD-rukfNVI8FXey7451aDiC9etvwtt_K5IgBJij9p4PaqJLhrl9FxzeSvdx_WW-b/s320/pocket1st_attempt.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My first attempt was purposely made with a light cotton that was left over from another project. It was too flimsy but I expected that. I just wanted to make sure it would work practically and it did. For this version, I sewed the foundation front and back together and did the same for each of the pockets before sewing the pockets onto the top of the foundation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The pattern is absurdly simple.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6PddyRczSehH8dCw9Eq0_jQfxbJfmsqIqwXA4i6VXx9T_onpWyt0m9vsiIOhKlmQTnKadsJScW_aPvZ12CfbgQfIVuFTypS2-p9rx99PGrSNhK5NviwbhyIS0iuBI2dLrIivtX33SNDF/s2048/pocket_pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1976" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6PddyRczSehH8dCw9Eq0_jQfxbJfmsqIqwXA4i6VXx9T_onpWyt0m9vsiIOhKlmQTnKadsJScW_aPvZ12CfbgQfIVuFTypS2-p9rx99PGrSNhK5NviwbhyIS0iuBI2dLrIivtX33SNDF/s320/pocket_pattern.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The foundation section is 5 x 14 inches. Mine has one square end and one rounded end. For the second attempt, I cut 2 pieces, one of a heavier fabric and one of a quilting cotton.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The phone pocket is 5 x 7 inches. I cut 2 pieces of the lighter fabric.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The key pocket is 5 x 4 1/2 inches. I cut 2 pieces of the lighter fabric.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The flap is 5 x 3 1/4 inches. I cut 4 pieces, 2 of each flap.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To make the proper version, I cut according to the instructions above. If you want to just hem the top of each pocket, you would need to cut only 1 piece each. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first thing I did was sew the 2 pieces for each pocket together then turned and pressed them to give me a finished edge at the top. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZi58dxwLcSPbodM21QjmJxM4KZgA1jBBQ1bgU0DZtFa899Ybs3JO6woTjy3aOy8zYempduvMMfgE9UuNf5-FT87yIi8uPzlIFYzPOZqVmb_Vqbgv7Soa40iQORJftKvPc07tlB6sFE1CK/s2048/pocket2nd_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZi58dxwLcSPbodM21QjmJxM4KZgA1jBBQ1bgU0DZtFa899Ybs3JO6woTjy3aOy8zYempduvMMfgE9UuNf5-FT87yIi8uPzlIFYzPOZqVmb_Vqbgv7Soa40iQORJftKvPc07tlB6sFE1CK/s320/pocket2nd_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I then put together a sandwich of one foundation piece, right side up, each of the pockets in their place and then the second foundation piece, right side down. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWxDh5sdtpxiXV4sLKTpfk7SAAhVf3p9-Bu8oC8WOFrJtIaOBDS64vcrh6WR1DeDXTFqsvJgdOR-VXCqeXevfQxgl3gRzWhSLu3jZYESRI_rMdovMP2BdtDthBI8PJ6GXJWgc6R3ivYZt/s2048/pocket2nd_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1582" data-original-width="2048" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWxDh5sdtpxiXV4sLKTpfk7SAAhVf3p9-Bu8oC8WOFrJtIaOBDS64vcrh6WR1DeDXTFqsvJgdOR-VXCqeXevfQxgl3gRzWhSLu3jZYESRI_rMdovMP2BdtDthBI8PJ6GXJWgc6R3ivYZt/s320/pocket2nd_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMy5PE4BccyeiO9VNEXpbHhAYcjzXF9ZyDwR1yB1KOilJutiR_1kKVDHkRu78hwDE3kWXwfxF8Q8Ga3pJHkzUrGh8-eMyyY1JiiTo5Kx4QPgd6iXp8H8ezEHSPkBr8GhWm9PM7ZtcKy7ix/s2048/pocket2nd_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMy5PE4BccyeiO9VNEXpbHhAYcjzXF9ZyDwR1yB1KOilJutiR_1kKVDHkRu78hwDE3kWXwfxF8Q8Ga3pJHkzUrGh8-eMyyY1JiiTo5Kx4QPgd6iXp8H8ezEHSPkBr8GhWm9PM7ZtcKy7ix/s320/pocket2nd_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I sewed around the sides and rounded end but left the square end open so I could turn the sandwiched fabrics right side out. I actually went back and sewed a second time around the rounded edge to give it added strength then trimmed the seam close to the stitching.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAxJo6ff3gWJVzqWyJQgbMMnGtTWttJoxb4mWUYytOFpXXizmV-45PQCD38asbGB2CqP2iG8y7P8dzltZKSVonMak1JBOsQc7xW7rJHJc8ePNvpRYbaqIWXgbzCWLpHVQHH0T8hRYd9Ey/s2048/pocket2nd_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAxJo6ff3gWJVzqWyJQgbMMnGtTWttJoxb4mWUYytOFpXXizmV-45PQCD38asbGB2CqP2iG8y7P8dzltZKSVonMak1JBOsQc7xW7rJHJc8ePNvpRYbaqIWXgbzCWLpHVQHH0T8hRYd9Ey/s320/pocket2nd_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>After turning out, I gave it a good press, being careful with the seams since I've got a heavier and thinner fabric.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKZwF9hWQagJYrBaTV1ZPCQMCKWWB3P3sFhQw0Fh4arBR14WKFmRlkNE8W5-MZMSj_CKg4R_yCWNVyHQjd95ykbmHPDiqVlCqdF9R4WEc3-C47NYgbVoAGVCHKIBfO2kZxKwzzRhTg8b0/s2048/pocket2nd_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1796" data-original-width="2048" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKZwF9hWQagJYrBaTV1ZPCQMCKWWB3P3sFhQw0Fh4arBR14WKFmRlkNE8W5-MZMSj_CKg4R_yCWNVyHQjd95ykbmHPDiqVlCqdF9R4WEc3-C47NYgbVoAGVCHKIBfO2kZxKwzzRhTg8b0/s320/pocket2nd_5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>For the flaps, I sewed them around the sides and rounded edge, leaving the flat edge open so I could turn it out. To attach them, I turned the flat edges in ever so slightly and sewed it to the foundation through the turned in edge. I then pressed it so it folds over the key pocket.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51vxYKHR-Q6_3EPxRBY3QrZ4DRF9UxRk8mHoAsrp05Rgc0s3Go8bJIumr-msoXQo3_WKn8IhD2vEYz9Va15ninV2Zj9hBaXDu7F7SUKyqBvfd4LBIRlPQqsBskrDmFBPSzkEVZKJhLEBr/s2048/pocket2nd_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1986" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51vxYKHR-Q6_3EPxRBY3QrZ4DRF9UxRk8mHoAsrp05Rgc0s3Go8bJIumr-msoXQo3_WKn8IhD2vEYz9Va15ninV2Zj9hBaXDu7F7SUKyqBvfd4LBIRlPQqsBskrDmFBPSzkEVZKJhLEBr/s320/pocket2nd_6.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnC7No9aTIxwTv31ODN25XbV5R_9QTyQ98zvEdziGALlX3SDtvmPG7OUhSH3YWLhkmhtLKegkV7SC3LHdrM3entDj9iBKRpjLcwsMbpxpQs61QDzmJe7fvpssSQA7phXfxoMzoLmFQ-8dJ/s2048/pocket2nd_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1954" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnC7No9aTIxwTv31ODN25XbV5R_9QTyQ98zvEdziGALlX3SDtvmPG7OUhSH3YWLhkmhtLKegkV7SC3LHdrM3entDj9iBKRpjLcwsMbpxpQs61QDzmJe7fvpssSQA7phXfxoMzoLmFQ-8dJ/s320/pocket2nd_7.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><div><br /></div>For the bottom edge, you could turn it in and sew but I had a little strip of the foundation fabric left over so I used it as an accent to bind the bottom section.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORL0g6CMxmWf9AxRpy__Et6MrDXKHqfKg4RWgjFchadq6q23-LSM-obBZlSyp0sH6LQWAhasug8BfUFyMOrVJskCvXDhG1Xw2KuhSL0ds4B2aIZ7csblWbQHA8WUEa0H8bH2b23weDRFP/s2048/pocket2nd_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1645" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORL0g6CMxmWf9AxRpy__Et6MrDXKHqfKg4RWgjFchadq6q23-LSM-obBZlSyp0sH6LQWAhasug8BfUFyMOrVJskCvXDhG1Xw2KuhSL0ds4B2aIZ7csblWbQHA8WUEa0H8bH2b23weDRFP/s320/pocket2nd_8.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><div><br /></div>And that did it! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbns7fAC4NYUY2nyjvCEaOTZnVjunlv0LLwgxQpz5YQKEkeb0YaA0c-5yPR6fZ_cw94YQ5nZ5EDFqQ0LGarWwbLDvsNW2voG9a8KnbBpWf5vrYw27t97Zv3qxKSKmlCGaKeLkXJXIFk5G/s2048/pocket2nd_fnl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1546" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbns7fAC4NYUY2nyjvCEaOTZnVjunlv0LLwgxQpz5YQKEkeb0YaA0c-5yPR6fZ_cw94YQ5nZ5EDFqQ0LGarWwbLDvsNW2voG9a8KnbBpWf5vrYw27t97Zv3qxKSKmlCGaKeLkXJXIFk5G/s320/pocket2nd_fnl.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Now that I have the pattern tested, I want to make one with embroidery on the key pocket and flap. I'm thinking maybe my initial on the flap and a spray of flowers on the pocket. There are so may possibilities!<br /><p><br /></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-51801367406836967232021-09-17T21:15:00.007-05:002021-09-17T21:31:08.277-05:00Sometimes progress is slow<p>Sometimes I feel like I'm finishing things all over the place and sometimes I feel like projects take FOREVER!! I'm there right now.</p><p>I have projects laying all over the place and this weekend I'm hoping to bring a little order to the chaos. I may not get many projects significantly forwarded but at least things will be a little more clear and I'll have a plan. I hope. </p><p>A while back I spun a pound of beautiful Blue-faced Leicester (BFL) and silk. I was trying to go for a DK sort of weight, which I mostly did, although it really wanted to be spun more finely than that and the beginning of all 3 bobbins I filled were significantly finer than the rest of the bobbin. As a matter of fact, this sort of worked in my favor but more of that in a minute.</p><p>Just before spinning the BFL/silk, I'd finished spinning a lace weight plum silk roving that spun up beautifully. Both yarns needed to be washed and I flaked out and washed them in the same tub. Fortunately the water wasn't agitated but still some of the purple leeched onto the white yarn. As soon as I realized what I'd done, I separated them and rinsed the white yarn. There were only a few very light splotches of purple but it wasn't good. As usual, I moved into "make it work" mode and decided to tea-dye the white yarn. I figured that would cover up any remaining purple splotches and give it a nice warm feeling. And it did.</p><p>The other "mistake" I made with the white yarn was that I put entirely too much twist into both the singles and the plying. Or so I thought. I was afraid that I'd ruined this beautiful fiber and made it tight and tough and that there would be no softness to it. The plying helped some of the overtwist of the singles and I think the washing/dying process helped a little bit of the overtwisted ply. By some happy accident, the yarn turned out perfect for the <a href="https://lifebeyondthekitchen.com/introduction-to-pi-shawls/" target="_blank">Elizabeth Zimmerman Pi Shawl</a> I decided to make with it. </p><p>Normally I would use a much lighter weight yarn to make this shawl but I wanted this one to be a cozy up on the couch while it's cold outside (and it does get cold in Texas - for at least 2-3 days of the year). If this yarn had been spun at this same weight but with less twist, it wouldn't have taken much wear and tear. But with it as it is, it should be much heartier and keep its lacy integrity better. I started using the heavier end of the skein and the yarn got slightly thinner as I got to the outside edge. Funnily enough it also helped to transition into the lighter yarn for the border. The yarn always knows. </p><p>I did have another problem to solve here. The color of the yarn is pretty but pretty bland, too. I didn't want to just make the whole thing in this one color. It probably could have taken it had it been lace weight but I just didn't think the color could carry the chunkier texture alone. As you can see in one of my catch-up posts, I recently experimented with doing a macramé fringe on a piece of linen fabric, the way they do in Italy. The linen was a similar color to this yarn and I loved the effect of some black tatted lace to pull that design together (also precipitated by a "mistake" LOL). So I wondered if I could make a similar design element work on this shawl.</p><p>I decided to use a black lace section around each of the increase rounds as a sort of transitional element. I knew that I couldn't just use a lace-weight yarn because it wouldn't hold up to the weight of the main yarn. On the first section, I used 2 strands of black lace-weight yarn, both for strength and to make the yarn just a little bit thicker. But one of the skeins of yarn was extremely weak and kept breaking on me. Not a good sign. What to do... Aha! I said to myself, I said, Self. Why don't you use the ball of black tatting cotton you made the tatted lace border with? Yep, that would work great. Much more strength and the weight fitted in. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RB8-2V1vwlhmM2HsIa9_OUw-qN1-tGgzfVn1aOFVvzQq10IyUA2ASa04T5yxnul0L3xv3_XEVHLGGFP_yhieY8YTuEQ-9abzqVUUIcBDTfjyqkClKb9VDwDNdwvI7Dse_sCiQuHh_CMM/s2016/bfl+silk+pi+shawl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RB8-2V1vwlhmM2HsIa9_OUw-qN1-tGgzfVn1aOFVvzQq10IyUA2ASa04T5yxnul0L3xv3_XEVHLGGFP_yhieY8YTuEQ-9abzqVUUIcBDTfjyqkClKb9VDwDNdwvI7Dse_sCiQuHh_CMM/s320/bfl+silk+pi+shawl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />But it didn't go very far. So for the 3rd black lace section and following, I used 1 strand of lace-weight wool and 1 strand of black bedspread-weight crochet cotton (10/2). Perfect. I've progressed to the lace edging, which is knitted 2 rows to each stitch of the shawl. Since there are about 600 stitches, I will be here for a while. When you add to that how difficult it is to knit this 2 stranded yarn with the Addi turbos needles I'm using, I think I'm going to be here for a very long time indeed. But it will all be worth it in the end.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhti9HFs3JrhwFuXu82rt0m1EJpcEy5STkvGeVL0lxmryLTbRt-tHxIbqjY5hDVkX3KH8UUe33dDEbhFKOKtITARUiUqE7pTHH9WXl5oYNe52dUU1A9CI83w9j5psQfQoIycpoqeHW5HcNm/s2016/bfl+silk+pi+shawl2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhti9HFs3JrhwFuXu82rt0m1EJpcEy5STkvGeVL0lxmryLTbRt-tHxIbqjY5hDVkX3KH8UUe33dDEbhFKOKtITARUiUqE7pTHH9WXl5oYNe52dUU1A9CI83w9j5psQfQoIycpoqeHW5HcNm/s320/bfl+silk+pi+shawl2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-37004954313604578992021-09-11T15:11:00.005-05:002021-09-11T15:12:39.050-05:00Miscellaneous Projects<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love weaving but I'm not much of a weaver. This project came from the book, Next Steps in Weaving by Patti Graver. It's a pattern called Scarf of Lucky Colors. It was the most complex pattern I've ever done and I made a lot of mistakes but the yarn was heavenly (2/18 Jaggerspun Zephyr) and I did well enough for government work. The secret is I don't tell anyone how many mistakes are there and no one's ever mentioned them so I figure I'm good!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRWWkxuFpjrUuCFR-sUCR0vYmlJF8qcPLOKPuKT_vFcwDHXoVjnvow-Lar61mXVx92y3HGdmOgsy3Rf6h3wa-x17-sAy84Xddg50A231lLYilhzghLTby1WfLYkjZhHvD7M5uRzn87X4E/s1613/10-woven_scarf-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1613" data-original-width="1210" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRWWkxuFpjrUuCFR-sUCR0vYmlJF8qcPLOKPuKT_vFcwDHXoVjnvow-Lar61mXVx92y3HGdmOgsy3Rf6h3wa-x17-sAy84Xddg50A231lLYilhzghLTby1WfLYkjZhHvD7M5uRzn87X4E/s320/10-woven_scarf-sm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>I love using a tahkli spindle to spin cotton but hadn't really used it for silk before. This was an experiment using some undyed silk hankies given me by a friend. It resulted in an ultra-fine silk yarn that some day I will use for a shawl, or at least the edging of a shawl. So decadent!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKyA0YM-lGBdfLGf5bdZW1j-f1PZRHDgg6qnA0LQd04DjLsM2snvBU__RQSRMiBlWtTIZZB91XQYYBFwxhERJmxWftQbm3Qw9S94mZTCCGKcthlpmBFrzHJB7NaZd8baI1NGf_6HeAwKY/s1372/10-tahkli_silk_spinning-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="1029" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKyA0YM-lGBdfLGf5bdZW1j-f1PZRHDgg6qnA0LQd04DjLsM2snvBU__RQSRMiBlWtTIZZB91XQYYBFwxhERJmxWftQbm3Qw9S94mZTCCGKcthlpmBFrzHJB7NaZd8baI1NGf_6HeAwKY/s320/10-tahkli_silk_spinning-sm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another cover I came up with for a tablet. This one has a pocket for peripherals on the outside and a little slip for the pen stylus inside the lid. I'm not really sure how I came up with this pattern. I'd used this fabric for a gift project for a friend of mine and had quite a bit left over. of each pattern. It had just the beachy feel I wanted for the project. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnb-mPY_b-Rahev7WhZJWMyji5BCm5qBStKEcT0pEA_wH8R0L0XRuokgcyTakCEVNh5BKvEsy3JOrMzPs6mrUsCFboofb98F_lZo4RJzJFTospY4oJTrXD6Fd2GVFs7JrQXByKnJT0V3e/s1440/10-tablet_cover-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnb-mPY_b-Rahev7WhZJWMyji5BCm5qBStKEcT0pEA_wH8R0L0XRuokgcyTakCEVNh5BKvEsy3JOrMzPs6mrUsCFboofb98F_lZo4RJzJFTospY4oJTrXD6Fd2GVFs7JrQXByKnJT0V3e/s320/10-tablet_cover-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>The tablet doesn't need a lot of protection but I added some padding just the same and it has worked a charm when I've needed to carry it around.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHPvsYEMzqGrLFxxR0Yb-uGpCXzh3Goa6cgBhvnRIFQB3YbGVdoOOMYRIsdH5Fu9zZ_HCKkBiCGc8O2tpQyWqeWMM3K5ADE3jJGmhgDYzujpmhTdSjiSoK7am7mP60PKlv5rhQ46qJ2CN/s1008/10-tablet_cover_inside-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="1008" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHPvsYEMzqGrLFxxR0Yb-uGpCXzh3Goa6cgBhvnRIFQB3YbGVdoOOMYRIsdH5Fu9zZ_HCKkBiCGc8O2tpQyWqeWMM3K5ADE3jJGmhgDYzujpmhTdSjiSoK7am7mP60PKlv5rhQ46qJ2CN/s320/10-tablet_cover_inside-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I spent about a year watching all the Fashion School videos put out my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/NickVerreosFashionSchool" target="_blank">Nick Verreos</a> on draping patterns on a mannikin and then making the garment. He is a wonderful teacher and I learned a ton from him. I'm a seamstress like I'm a weaver. I've done it but it's not my forte. He made me think about things differently and gave me a lot of skills I didn't know I needed! This was a jacket that came of my practice of the skills from his videos. This isn't the best photo but I can assure you that the fit was perfect and was just what I wanted for a jacket.<p></p><p>My point with sharing this project is to say, be curious about the world around you. Take in lessons anywhere you can find them because you never know when they're going to inform your own particular craft. You might even find something new you never knew you'd love doing.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxScrlFEm_jZ7Cm1DJ7qz0tUDfIoyhFVdn09TZVEJD_S4nh8xjuBw3rnP0G9q8WSHESutD6RepFlpPPEtfvh4nwgb886YuMNNKR1YAjKlD2VloZ-1wiIqk-A10NcvpeEmSZrgLR2FCvD2/s1210/10-jacket_pattern-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="908" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxScrlFEm_jZ7Cm1DJ7qz0tUDfIoyhFVdn09TZVEJD_S4nh8xjuBw3rnP0G9q8WSHESutD6RepFlpPPEtfvh4nwgb886YuMNNKR1YAjKlD2VloZ-1wiIqk-A10NcvpeEmSZrgLR2FCvD2/s320/10-jacket_pattern-sm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>A quick photo of my mascot, a knitted version of <a href="https://youtu.be/-6U5-M5ibbg" target="_blank">Shawn the Sheep</a>. He's watched over me these past 18 months through some personal challenges. He's really good at making me smile. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdA2co6sV-brzClPWh6NqzHmonDDz4XlxERVOgpXPciiR096078sr-bjb8_zhnl8RnWPBcdty__yTcS3tJJs7PuuMKSdM4Mkorst3XrVumM23A9ChscdaAl3JEJbgd25hEpaz6c5YTLwhS/s1008/10-cool_shawn-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdA2co6sV-brzClPWh6NqzHmonDDz4XlxERVOgpXPciiR096078sr-bjb8_zhnl8RnWPBcdty__yTcS3tJJs7PuuMKSdM4Mkorst3XrVumM23A9ChscdaAl3JEJbgd25hEpaz6c5YTLwhS/s320/10-cool_shawn-sm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>And finally, a little beaded box. It started as a little doodle but using the book, Little Bead Boxes by Julia S Pretl, helped me make it into a proper little box. I didn't go fully along with the pattern but it was enough to keep me out trouble for an afternoon. And that's got to count for something, right?!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7o6380Qi6DXEW6vdJ8FUWrNcYvg4kc4t4gJHi1NsbBeEfRhNFTyqC6Z6cnpFliS4n9LunEfM6iR4MrOUVDIgFe7FOHjQJ9k8P9pyh4YYLcosgCQ7tPeup31rc9cKH4TJPbjU_Y47surp/s1613/10-beaded_box-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="1613" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7o6380Qi6DXEW6vdJ8FUWrNcYvg4kc4t4gJHi1NsbBeEfRhNFTyqC6Z6cnpFliS4n9LunEfM6iR4MrOUVDIgFe7FOHjQJ9k8P9pyh4YYLcosgCQ7tPeup31rc9cKH4TJPbjU_Y47surp/s320/10-beaded_box-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-48477257010448422402021-09-11T14:40:00.003-05:002021-09-11T15:12:33.190-05:00Bobbin and Needlelace<p> </p><p>Lace can be made with myriad techniques and variations of techniques. It's one of the things that hooked me with bobbin lace. You could spend the whole of your life exploring those techniques and never reach the ends. That only expands when you begin looking at other types of lace. I mentioned before the book, The Art of Lacemaking by Ann Collier. That book has allowed me to try techniques I never would have even known about and this is one of those projects - my first foray into needlelace. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXqlAbeTUw97NjgrZcjT7jJP9mVJx6rssyMLOrauBLV7dJFUKY2EcC7koceoz0CNMecVZAVKSYJBXeNSnVHtohVXg3BhClHARBBpKPxBW184flpK6LRu1Ui28iZ986cVLz2_V-SjcU7r3/s1088/09-needlelace_butterfly-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1088" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXqlAbeTUw97NjgrZcjT7jJP9mVJx6rssyMLOrauBLV7dJFUKY2EcC7koceoz0CNMecVZAVKSYJBXeNSnVHtohVXg3BhClHARBBpKPxBW184flpK6LRu1Ui28iZ986cVLz2_V-SjcU7r3/s320/09-needlelace_butterfly-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Crochet is also a type of lacemaking and this is my multi-year project - a garden in crochet. When I was living in my house, I loved working in the garden. One day, in one of my vintage needlework magazines, I found the pattern that became the center panel of this project. It was a pattern for a tea tray but, since the thread I used was larger than the pattern called for, it was too large for a tea tray. I got the idea of making a garden to cover my bed. I found a variety of filet crochet patterns in an online copy of French crochet books from the 1920s, when there was a passion for filet crochet. In my garden, I have flowers and walkways and, of course, birds and bees! It took about 8 years to finish the crochet but I felt it needed a structure to hold it - a quilt. Now, I'm not remotely a quilter but I've dabbled in small things like the tea cosies I'd been making. How hard could it be?!! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3LF_oySCola3fw3VrMTf8VlEQIhfKs3kzFs9ZaiWIA3TCzp-bdPVEu7Z_EgKqx1o51aLVPb0z1HP0KBRrRjOhS-MCxa_lDAdNX4oPTVGv6l4e50D7dsmgzdOFl5Lp2oVGmUYL6I5dWjn/s807/garden+quilt-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="807" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3LF_oySCola3fw3VrMTf8VlEQIhfKs3kzFs9ZaiWIA3TCzp-bdPVEu7Z_EgKqx1o51aLVPb0z1HP0KBRrRjOhS-MCxa_lDAdNX4oPTVGv6l4e50D7dsmgzdOFl5Lp2oVGmUYL6I5dWjn/s320/garden+quilt-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I decided I needed some way to finish off the edges of crochet so, of course, I turned to bobbin lace. I'd been working on this edging from my practice of projects from Ulrike Voelcker's Discover Explore Master Torchon book. With the samples (which I'll add in another post), I worked them for as long as I was enjoying them. I really loved this pattern so I'd already worked about 60 inches. I ended up needing about 220 inches but at least I was part of the way there. Soooooooo,,,,on I went. Fortunately the pattern worked up relatively quickly and before too long, I had enough to go around. But it needed one more thing. I found some tear drop beads with a hint of pink that matched the backing and border fabric. With those at the tip of each peak of the lace, it was all tied together and finished.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3j3zvndgMY1_GCioR4nWLzdBCVAJjrpc9AQxr47hvRZl4TwS7ONOy11o1VfSc3PGg5Mc7RPPKjwhJCNkRZ30ogEuTuBISBzhC7nlSBbSWtHbvufb2k8CEzvr8Pi0vCYEAnnB4GDVBfLQ/s1111/garden_quilt2-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1111" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3j3zvndgMY1_GCioR4nWLzdBCVAJjrpc9AQxr47hvRZl4TwS7ONOy11o1VfSc3PGg5Mc7RPPKjwhJCNkRZ30ogEuTuBISBzhC7nlSBbSWtHbvufb2k8CEzvr8Pi0vCYEAnnB4GDVBfLQ/s320/garden_quilt2-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wk3hRmthggzwPZf987pBtMjtlDNH1ccWCcN6Ms7lzXJJCUd0QPMoOgoEXdrCPXf2Cn56VIUJlkwaMJjqmV57Z8BUWxQ00tgXslHCc__jVcEAfjvdQuxcIoIXrUp-XHv8TvtynI8uxjHK/s1210/08-garden_quilt_detail-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wk3hRmthggzwPZf987pBtMjtlDNH1ccWCcN6Ms7lzXJJCUd0QPMoOgoEXdrCPXf2Cn56VIUJlkwaMJjqmV57Z8BUWxQ00tgXslHCc__jVcEAfjvdQuxcIoIXrUp-XHv8TvtynI8uxjHK/s320/08-garden_quilt_detail-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another project from Ann Collier's book. Needlelace motif made with silk threads. This took FOREVER! I made a lot of mistakes and, then, learned a lot with with project that doesn't yet have a place to live. For now, it's displayed in my studio just waiting for the right project for display.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gYoQvc45aWZ34hQtJgqNlE1puDa6bsk4xH-oNvHgcRyI48849CRdD5PAmo1LWxTNlV7ws7lPctJG0se_PdcBBs5vtsFChItR09PDAPaEhY4e1C8ZsuCskNKfZnEo-ET1MJAk6Ev6vVNa/s1613/08-garden_quilt-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="1613" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gYoQvc45aWZ34hQtJgqNlE1puDa6bsk4xH-oNvHgcRyI48849CRdD5PAmo1LWxTNlV7ws7lPctJG0se_PdcBBs5vtsFChItR09PDAPaEhY4e1C8ZsuCskNKfZnEo-ET1MJAk6Ev6vVNa/s320/08-garden_quilt-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Ever since I first learned to work bobbin lace, I've wanted to make a fan. It took me a long time before I felt I had the skills to work it properly. I found this kit (pattern and fan sticks) in <a href="http://vansciverbobbinlace.com/Patterns.html#ItalianLaceFans" target="_blank">Holly VanSciver's online store</a>. It's about 8 inches across and was very challenging to work but totally worth the effort. Here it's sitting on a table covered by a doily made by my Grannie many, many years ago. I like that juxtaposition. She would have been so interested in the lacework.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUmMtF7Fb4KUGeBGK8eFSxmveNMccSSpHhsrDif7QJ4AJEJ99CSTfq3v9PlVjQP34gK6uGk_7lnEeCVrt45ueRFBD6qlo-C9yMK2quruljQ0PWAYQLXhRmWqAaGGLBvCdaYSewxyPvud1/s902/07-bobbinlace_fan-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="902" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUmMtF7Fb4KUGeBGK8eFSxmveNMccSSpHhsrDif7QJ4AJEJ99CSTfq3v9PlVjQP34gK6uGk_7lnEeCVrt45ueRFBD6qlo-C9yMK2quruljQ0PWAYQLXhRmWqAaGGLBvCdaYSewxyPvud1/s320/07-bobbinlace_fan-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p>And finally, another long-term project I finished this year. This project actually started when I found this antique frame in a little antique shop outside of Decatur, IL. I loved the shape and the convex glass. I had been wanting to do a pictorial bobbin lace piece so I decided to design it to fit this frame. I've been working on it from time to time over the past 5-6 years, partly because I didn't have all the skills I needed to complete the piece. I would work a bit and then stop and practice certain techniques for the next section. The design was meant to reflect life on the prairie. It's another example of not being perfect but being perfect for documenting the growth of my skills in the technique. But it was putting it on the backing of this heathered green felt and into the frame that made it come alive.<p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBY4McJFUqDdPJvRM7Br5ab-9vrIRHgeFk5hlBpmzjhak25JFIWUblFPBpOsNZ7m85uIlNjxrpLOtrxGfDgh_Hzy_ahdLB_9xSiFb36eAdyK5wh-QfEw_hLw6j4-V9sL2d8HIw8g4PVOcX/s1210/07-bobbin-lace_prairie-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="1210" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBY4McJFUqDdPJvRM7Br5ab-9vrIRHgeFk5hlBpmzjhak25JFIWUblFPBpOsNZ7m85uIlNjxrpLOtrxGfDgh_Hzy_ahdLB_9xSiFb36eAdyK5wh-QfEw_hLw6j4-V9sL2d8HIw8g4PVOcX/s320/07-bobbin-lace_prairie-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While these are not by any means all the projects I've worked on or completed over the past few years, they're representative enough of the projects that meant something to me and that I enjoyed completing.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-17759953554523678162021-09-11T13:31:00.000-05:002021-09-11T15:12:12.809-05:00HIghlights<p>The last few years have been challenging for sure and that has resulted in no posts to the blog. Although it's been a challenging time, it's also been productive in a textile sense. Posting to Instagram has been my shortcut to sharing projects which has been helpful with the other things going on in life but it doesn't allow me to provide as much context as blog posts do. I'm now feeling a desire to return to posting so I thought the most fitting return would be a sort of highlight reel of the last few years. </p><p>So I'll do a short series of projects in the posts following:</p><p>Tambour projects: Tambour beading and embroidery has been one of the joys of my creative life and the purse has been the most magical palette. </p><p>Embroidery: Who knew there were so many techniques in embroidery? I had no idea until I started delving into it. I've been trying as many of them as I could find instructions for. My favorites? Hard to say really. </p><p>Bobbin and needlelace: Yet another world of creativity, with so many rabbit holes to disappear down.</p><p>Miscellaneous projects: As a confirmed dabbler, there's always something new to try.</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-2261855914861848652021-09-11T13:29:00.000-05:002021-09-11T15:12:26.751-05:00Embroidery Projects<p>While I've done embroidery in the past, in fact it's the first craft I ever did. I can remember as a 9-year old stitching butterflies all over a denim shirt. There was also the Christmas that I decided to make both of my Grandmothers a calendar tea towel. In the spirit of start as you mean to go on, I had my little epiphany in late October and had to design and stitch the picture at the top of each of them and I made the fateful decision to stitch every single month name and date on the whole thing. All 12+365 little characters.... I was stitching way into Christmas Eve but got them both done and both were loved and used and treasured. As you can see, nothing has changed for me. I'm still deciding at the last minute that I can make elaborate thing at the last minute or adding on elaborate detail upon elaborate detail! It's just always been in me and there's no point in trying to change now!!!</p><p>This first project embodies this concept. This was just a basic butterfly in a frame. But then I decided that I needed beads and details on the frame and just kept going. I would show you a better picture of this project but there's a bit of a mystery. When I moved, it got packed. I even saw it during the unpacking when I arrived but somehow, it has disappeared. It's still in a box somewhere and I will find it again someday. </p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEmqgR5L9vXexjjh6CccUG_GNQrmW4TQAjL4zNpNiyl8JTLm19N8GbClvW3M18z3hworgdnRpb8_Up_bmdnFaRLr64zW5tT9WUgO7feXLd3GgT9toA7SRT9YqjoMPxeDSTEx6wv9UCxbN/s1099/03-butterfly_embroidery-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="825" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEmqgR5L9vXexjjh6CccUG_GNQrmW4TQAjL4zNpNiyl8JTLm19N8GbClvW3M18z3hworgdnRpb8_Up_bmdnFaRLr64zW5tT9WUgO7feXLd3GgT9toA7SRT9YqjoMPxeDSTEx6wv9UCxbN/s320/03-butterfly_embroidery-sm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The second project here was born out of my love for the city of Glasgow. The coat of arms of the city, as described <a href="http://www.rampantscotland.com/know/blknow_flourish.htm" target="_blank">here</a>, is framed around a little poem.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">There's the tree that never grew,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">There's the bird that never flew,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">There's the fish that never swam,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">There's the bell that never rang.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">The image has been adapted into light pole headers, which is where I took the pattern for this project from. Using a variety of embroidery techniques, including stem stitch, satin stitch, silk shading, needlelace and couching, I tried to replicate the design. It's not great, it was done in the early days of my return to embroidery but it makes me happy because it reminds me of Glasgow, my favorite city in the world.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6j-v3lWr-PqMSlrlDI6WFXyKccmlK1fJfJ7XgFIo8MEHrTygY5oBRI96ONBvOGLgkkRyT4B3frFFPxqfI85TQe-TmzH5fG0W8dOHHbNABcbUxJhDGmkuFJiyLV_F5jzfjKv6lzjaftgSZ/s908/03-embroidery_glasgow-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="908" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6j-v3lWr-PqMSlrlDI6WFXyKccmlK1fJfJ7XgFIo8MEHrTygY5oBRI96ONBvOGLgkkRyT4B3frFFPxqfI85TQe-TmzH5fG0W8dOHHbNABcbUxJhDGmkuFJiyLV_F5jzfjKv6lzjaftgSZ/s320/03-embroidery_glasgow-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div>As I was first practicing various embroidery techniques, the challenge was, do I just keep them as samples or make them into something useful. I happened to come across a pattern for a quilted tea cosy and these samples worked perfectly to spruce up the tea cosies and they made great gifts for some special friends.</div><div><br /></div><div>The blue version was made for a friend of mine who is blind. I wanted something really textural that she could enjoy. Mission accomplished. The fall-themed one didn't start out to be anything other than my attempt at a stumpwork project I found on YouTube. </div><div><br /></div><div>The channel of Malina GM is amazing and is my #1 recommendation for anyone who wants to learn to embroider or who wants to experiment with various techniques. She has an amazing selection of instructional videos. Here's the video for the <a href="https://youtu.be/S4yzjzTLDJY" target="_blank">stumpwork pumpkin</a>. Quite a few of my projects come from her channel so I'll link them as I go along. Stumpwork, by the way, is an embroidery technique that gives a very textured, 3D effect to embroidery. It's definitely something to explore if you've never seen it. Have a quick look <a href="https://www.needlework-tips-and-techniques.com/stumpwork-embroidery.html" target="_blank">here </a>and <a href="https://www.craftsy.com/post/stumpwork-tutorial/#" target="_blank">here </a>for some ideas of how it can be used.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6do4sUNkgIQpbZEp-wzwKdBhrdK4BJZNPXN9YfVIfhJ4a5nauuALr0PNNjd0gMLUnaFaikybDerTOssJ9uENRSLuwfjTj7qqks7zPXrYlYAQJsSc-GDH8ockG082VEX3_vaW1uxQlC7U/s1476/03-embroidery_teacosy-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1476" data-original-width="1476" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6do4sUNkgIQpbZEp-wzwKdBhrdK4BJZNPXN9YfVIfhJ4a5nauuALr0PNNjd0gMLUnaFaikybDerTOssJ9uENRSLuwfjTj7qqks7zPXrYlYAQJsSc-GDH8ockG082VEX3_vaW1uxQlC7U/w273-h273/03-embroidery_teacosy-sm.jpg" width="273" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4X3J5jXek8jTSWS2WwQtZsDL3lEW-zR0VUQxUjYhE3IGI9TOLW81EwQjkuLiu2ZKey1LL8tgRd7QmuDVC-sevmLMwi43KsH-FFIfVRJ6Uf-pGWvONAOxmlxufjI33UjNdbEXFK6Xs58iM/s1440/03-stumpwork_teacosy-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4X3J5jXek8jTSWS2WwQtZsDL3lEW-zR0VUQxUjYhE3IGI9TOLW81EwQjkuLiu2ZKey1LL8tgRd7QmuDVC-sevmLMwi43KsH-FFIfVRJ6Uf-pGWvONAOxmlxufjI33UjNdbEXFK6Xs58iM/w265-h265/03-stumpwork_teacosy-sm.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>I found this little embroidered pincushion that you wear around your neck in an issue of Godey's Lady's Work from around the 1860's, I believe. I loved the pattern and the uniqueness of being able to wear it around the neck so I just had to do it. It was a really sweet pattern and it hangs in pride of place in my living room. I haven't used it yet for sewing but I will do someday. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDmESfXpPLyAVfHP2FdTQhFi0kveLZ0KgnXNGm6sVFTZitptTAkBF6LpdF7stuu9zfvd6jbyNcuJSEVDSX0d81ccuj2XpImjkbIoQPsEg_zD-2VBiiCqVHMjXnkHNIEUb9qIyepkgPo7y/s1152/04-petersons_pincushion_pattern-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1152" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDmESfXpPLyAVfHP2FdTQhFi0kveLZ0KgnXNGm6sVFTZitptTAkBF6LpdF7stuu9zfvd6jbyNcuJSEVDSX0d81ccuj2XpImjkbIoQPsEg_zD-2VBiiCqVHMjXnkHNIEUb9qIyepkgPo7y/w244-h244/04-petersons_pincushion_pattern-sm.jpg" width="244" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6fSnUPUOjI_w3kfVUYV8uE9dNTnZsUDcASTJvtpQHpUke-Ca55OhwCUn2_hkl9B-EwXUBKCrc2qB4Q0cLvsqOeAZf1rFepWgsKkKsmza7nNLPHIkxwyBJqFLy9BuuVRQdc9-7fthPaup/s1440/04-petersons_pincushion-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6fSnUPUOjI_w3kfVUYV8uE9dNTnZsUDcASTJvtpQHpUke-Ca55OhwCUn2_hkl9B-EwXUBKCrc2qB4Q0cLvsqOeAZf1rFepWgsKkKsmza7nNLPHIkxwyBJqFLy9BuuVRQdc9-7fthPaup/s320/04-petersons_pincushion-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Blackwork is one of the oldest forms of embroidery, said to have been taught to her ladies in waiting by Katherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII, which introduced it into England from her native Spain. I've always loved the graphic look of it but had never really done any. I had an instructional book in my library found during some of my travels just waiting for the day when I could experiment with it. I definitely want to do more of it but this was my plunge into the pool. The design was from that book, Beginner's Guide to Blackwork by Lesley Wilkins. It's the perfect book to get started from.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGhG1WX-DEEvct0nrSPcyCO6qEP8SaN2KE08xwJ7J7mFFohaz0seEX5GT51Eh0aPPPzubJNBmeopCVbdMOg95QQiEJnDUs-xGR9Bghv52O0fcIRC1K2qvmY2HgY4mEkjK95ooQTmTOX9d/s818/03-blackwork-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="818" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGhG1WX-DEEvct0nrSPcyCO6qEP8SaN2KE08xwJ7J7mFFohaz0seEX5GT51Eh0aPPPzubJNBmeopCVbdMOg95QQiEJnDUs-xGR9Bghv52O0fcIRC1K2qvmY2HgY4mEkjK95ooQTmTOX9d/s320/03-blackwork-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love a good monogram. When I first moved back, I had a temp job that was only occasionally busy. I spent down time doodling out some designs for monograms and these are a few of the samples. I loved the way the L came out so decided to make it into a sweet little pincushion as a present for a friend. It just goes to show that you can practice these things and make use of the ones that work!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJgykPi1RJ58OCAe-CABiTTuzTibknSuIHesxyw2_jsU2ZPij72r2R21gIOBm7U6UgkMUqhumvuEwt0I5GbzzvqWV-mZGYShFz9E8wsGEHRNPh0IDGei_U8b7fYHcBnDo6Txtr6m-YZnH/s1024/03-monogram_practice-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJgykPi1RJ58OCAe-CABiTTuzTibknSuIHesxyw2_jsU2ZPij72r2R21gIOBm7U6UgkMUqhumvuEwt0I5GbzzvqWV-mZGYShFz9E8wsGEHRNPh0IDGei_U8b7fYHcBnDo6Txtr6m-YZnH/w274-h274/03-monogram_practice-sm.jpg" width="274" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7Dk51MG3ElpXeEfpUmPpNVghUt6yH2cWUPUKBw3X3NKVhXEbkcG5ySpB45u0Hucg-W4IGm3qNcTNKtgO4aOs7kTh3nIWABsLSjABGvKYG-O2PfWL07Jf2cbsxKH4lBuv80EBqAio0wHE/s1210/04-monogram_pincushion-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="908" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7Dk51MG3ElpXeEfpUmPpNVghUt6yH2cWUPUKBw3X3NKVhXEbkcG5ySpB45u0Hucg-W4IGm3qNcTNKtgO4aOs7kTh3nIWABsLSjABGvKYG-O2PfWL07Jf2cbsxKH4lBuv80EBqAio0wHE/s320/04-monogram_pincushion-sm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />This project came from another of Malina GM's YouTube channel. It was great practice for a number of stitches and so worth a try. The only thing I regret is that I did it on a practice piece of material that isn't easily used for a project. But still, it was a fun project and definitely big bang for the buck. The video is <a href="https://youtu.be/iF_LmHvIMvg" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK20RZX49x5NorStmiWoNKNjqVrVFRZuvSNgPT6Ne3AkgEFUKspWhnhCTSqQakbBc0z_s65nZKrVeYyxp3d-V7EL7kWuO7HDdJt_6oKrXxti-tZIgeDJIIAwhxxPtC_5BXouofoTwOB1D8/s1512/03-malina_peacock-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1210" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK20RZX49x5NorStmiWoNKNjqVrVFRZuvSNgPT6Ne3AkgEFUKspWhnhCTSqQakbBc0z_s65nZKrVeYyxp3d-V7EL7kWuO7HDdJt_6oKrXxti-tZIgeDJIIAwhxxPtC_5BXouofoTwOB1D8/s320/03-malina_peacock-sm.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For me, pincushions are like purses. They make a great palette for embroidery projects. One book I've used for numerous projects, including this pincushion and the Kindle cover following is Diana Lampe's Embroidery for all Seasons. This is the Kardinal Rose Garden pattern. I knew I wanted to use it for a pincushion but it wasn't until I finished it that the design suggested the shape. It just naturally wanted to be this 6-sided shape. I covered the seams with a beaded border and added the little tassels at each corner. I never could have planned the shape and finishing before I started so I just went with it as I progressed. It is so charming, don't you think?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv626iausKVMPDMmNyOVRezq9P0bsyitAwEhnj4FTzEYj0IQ3lj_YRkJZCciKRjjscqyefyIb_DTgler-_4Y4oL5ZnsQD6hiYa7GhtvNCVVmGQAkV1v2jZRQZFEuXB5Tt1q_IluEtaIhOA/s1210/04-embroidery_piincushion-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv626iausKVMPDMmNyOVRezq9P0bsyitAwEhnj4FTzEYj0IQ3lj_YRkJZCciKRjjscqyefyIb_DTgler-_4Y4oL5ZnsQD6hiYa7GhtvNCVVmGQAkV1v2jZRQZFEuXB5Tt1q_IluEtaIhOA/s320/04-embroidery_piincushion-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />When I got my Kindle Paperwhite, I decided, instead of buying a case, to make my own. Using, patterns from the book mentioned above (and the flower basket from Malina GM's channel), I made this cover. For the back, I took the Wisteria pattern from the Spring Garden and added a matching tatted bottom border and a piece of bobbin lace for the top. I thought the clear drop beads looked like a spring shower to finish it off. I added pieces of cut plastic between the case and the lining just to add a bit of added protection for the device. The flower basket ended up not being very well centered on the flap but I had some restrictions with the size of the embroidery fabric. A little bobbin lace edging for the flap just set it off. I love being able to incorporate my bobbin lace into other projects and this was a great example.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2GBUjnGUxZ1oXc_OwD1IyJt9sEMKVJg9IQF-LpoYM7QMZd9K0hQq3_jh-TCVXNduOIYdziwnLuJyuxEcCdGj-GR1F2mfD8pMwGHVvtjTsN2uPsD1vpa00CqIHDalXlkKWJR3KKeNdlSD/s1210/03-embroidery_kindle_cover-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="908" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2GBUjnGUxZ1oXc_OwD1IyJt9sEMKVJg9IQF-LpoYM7QMZd9K0hQq3_jh-TCVXNduOIYdziwnLuJyuxEcCdGj-GR1F2mfD8pMwGHVvtjTsN2uPsD1vpa00CqIHDalXlkKWJR3KKeNdlSD/s320/03-embroidery_kindle_cover-sm.jpg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-wn9CI-cwbeCzz16Mx49qZOp15YZJM8P77Y_f5R8BqAqV91VSigCnJkOkazYgHHP4uit_QsBbXQSJIlXxvZegGk12_wukbZ9pY8bbHnRi75qBWJMsUR12ZItcmri9LZjXL6jIpfQtWIg/s1210/embroidery_kindle_back-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="908" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-wn9CI-cwbeCzz16Mx49qZOp15YZJM8P77Y_f5R8BqAqV91VSigCnJkOkazYgHHP4uit_QsBbXQSJIlXxvZegGk12_wukbZ9pY8bbHnRi75qBWJMsUR12ZItcmri9LZjXL6jIpfQtWIg/s320/embroidery_kindle_back-sm.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-HDHDrxSwqgSuYQYCcG_HeZJpb1Wit46c0QDr11v7shev1gWypMuwlctTp_e5mNfO6EAMtfVun1YhqEB1SVCraWRDMJz6ChI05i3IQtPbBSYTdPFD_hLlEOzY4mAHYCIgTmdp83X5BVQ/s1210/03-embroidery_kindle_inside-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="908" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-HDHDrxSwqgSuYQYCcG_HeZJpb1Wit46c0QDr11v7shev1gWypMuwlctTp_e5mNfO6EAMtfVun1YhqEB1SVCraWRDMJz6ChI05i3IQtPbBSYTdPFD_hLlEOzY4mAHYCIgTmdp83X5BVQ/s320/03-embroidery_kindle_inside-sm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />I have a friend who plays the harp. I'm always on the lookout for harp-related things to stitch for her and for a long time, I've wanted to embroider a harp to match hers. I finally found a picture that would work and felt my skills were up to completing it with long and short stitch pattern. It's only about 3 inches tall but it came out just like I'd hoped and she loved it!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0yZ90QDQ6faDmGkDH-_0EdzpwnVS8x88M8Sx7RTwVeXHJLQiEv2-1jSrFUkO3F8DF-SW5YU6EbrIFiAsQGth8vQfOU7shleQ896tggz7Hm70qNz0kcPyy-yEg7RdMi3gnB7Jwow6D7Dg/s908/03-embroidery_harp-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="908" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0yZ90QDQ6faDmGkDH-_0EdzpwnVS8x88M8Sx7RTwVeXHJLQiEv2-1jSrFUkO3F8DF-SW5YU6EbrIFiAsQGth8vQfOU7shleQ896tggz7Hm70qNz0kcPyy-yEg7RdMi3gnB7Jwow6D7Dg/s320/03-embroidery_harp-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />This was another experiment to try a new style of embroidery. If you want a book that will help you explore a wide variety of lacemaking techniques, my go-to book is Ann Collier's book, The Art of Lacemaking. I've done 5-6 projects from this book, including this one using Richelieu or Italian Cutwork. I found this process so interesting and really so much easier than it looks. If you've never tried it, I encourage you to get hold of this book and give it a go. I used a batik fabric for the backing because it reminded me of a tropical night sky with the bird sitting in the tree. It's now a tea cosy used often in my kitchen. I have another Richelieu project from a 1956 magazine on standby. Can't wait to get it started.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTAxhZbzTWN3ZOVnXMdgqJ8Xlmg1etEvBolWnJVThzEfRdgkIE5B-tCJsjRtHWKTsaX0y4xag-ULdOuEduZEPQZY5iyAr0M5dBO_4hngVKZVAvewdgw9caHy7rLorX0_SklJqViT_MKyG/s1008/03-cutwork_teacosy-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTAxhZbzTWN3ZOVnXMdgqJ8Xlmg1etEvBolWnJVThzEfRdgkIE5B-tCJsjRtHWKTsaX0y4xag-ULdOuEduZEPQZY5iyAr0M5dBO_4hngVKZVAvewdgw9caHy7rLorX0_SklJqViT_MKyG/s320/03-cutwork_teacosy-sm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the most thrilling new skills I've gained the past year is goldwork embroidery. I didn't know anything about it until I took the London Embroidery School class. From there I just couldn't stop! This charming beetle was my favorite project using goldwork and stumpwork techniques. It's not for the beginner but having taken the <a href="https://www.londonembroideryschool.com/product/goldwork-online-class/" target="_blank">LES class</a>, I felt able to handle it. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9nRZJzQ37e8Rb2oUyxSQaibdI5vB4ywd_AACMwa9M1qMNUogb8-h9kS01-roxnSEXd_J6c3q5sucXfrqEn7z5j7745FJdzyJTqbvnvq-bS0CZ-t9nMwxux6pECEZxyZEPnbcRMm3zLpl/s1013/03-beetle_framed-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="923" data-original-width="1013" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9nRZJzQ37e8Rb2oUyxSQaibdI5vB4ywd_AACMwa9M1qMNUogb8-h9kS01-roxnSEXd_J6c3q5sucXfrqEn7z5j7745FJdzyJTqbvnvq-bS0CZ-t9nMwxux6pECEZxyZEPnbcRMm3zLpl/s320/03-beetle_framed-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I finished the beetle and decided to frame it, I decided to add a stitched border instead of using a cardboard matting. I started with the corner motifs using the leftover blue leather and gold pearl purl. Then I beaded panels using seed beads that matched the colors of the beetle. It took several tries to get the pattern right. Once I had these elements, I mounted them on gold fabric that I could stitch to the backing material. I absolutely love how it came out, although I could never get a picture that really shows it off well enough. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRI0eaTWzsOFGFSbZt4fM44QYlODShdhhHteQN72oIznjmaYcG3jKLQltVwXf678fTs6uIh9JJ72ng-uHCNW6JgfKB8Gulu5hKlsH1d45DUC1avRoAVLrtsmduJE-UzAa8505rbVskP0w/s1152/03-beetle-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRI0eaTWzsOFGFSbZt4fM44QYlODShdhhHteQN72oIznjmaYcG3jKLQltVwXf678fTs6uIh9JJ72ng-uHCNW6JgfKB8Gulu5hKlsH1d45DUC1avRoAVLrtsmduJE-UzAa8505rbVskP0w/s320/03-beetle-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nW8hOSTTqsQ37CEOppvW9Dd9ufh0UMlTaXPU22zICS09uYFleTDv7fFwFRNERp7te_hP-8d4yq08PUl78jgZfnSTkPQoHMoHGezfuat6oLmQlfzS_y7hq95Hx6v9HSy-sHwxATSGfuLR/s1152/03-beetle2-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nW8hOSTTqsQ37CEOppvW9Dd9ufh0UMlTaXPU22zICS09uYFleTDv7fFwFRNERp7te_hP-8d4yq08PUl78jgZfnSTkPQoHMoHGezfuat6oLmQlfzS_y7hq95Hx6v9HSy-sHwxATSGfuLR/s320/03-beetle2-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was a fun little project to make a needle case. I embroidered the outside and then used sheets of cut felt for the pages. I really need to go back and mark the pages as to the type of needle held there but I haven't done it yet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHP-iVJjO0oCNckNkcPOSO39KKH7akkqWPQlRGrPbw5T1nTUO0urXfhLI0-X-9e6nUD33sa5x28XIrkH3CTOYTn7i1swyp6eFEtlOE0hEg5eFGR_H3XbB61pYblA9ATi_vPxS2vbg5kBXE/s1024/03-embroidery_needlecase-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHP-iVJjO0oCNckNkcPOSO39KKH7akkqWPQlRGrPbw5T1nTUO0urXfhLI0-X-9e6nUD33sa5x28XIrkH3CTOYTn7i1swyp6eFEtlOE0hEg5eFGR_H3XbB61pYblA9ATi_vPxS2vbg5kBXE/s320/03-embroidery_needlecase-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>My mother loves birds. She's a wonderful artist and draws and paints all kinds of birds in various media. I wanted to try my hand at embroidering a little hummer using black silk organza for the stumpwork wings. I just used a photo online for the pattern and then worked it out myself. It's only about 2 inches long but it makes a lovely pin for her to wear. It's another thing I need to work more on and try with different birds or other animals.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7ppFLICfT_epQxgOFir8fMW-ttu6HlIlixw85-8OZHxny2yl0z7RYQJv2yUBx1lhAxUlYbmgl7WqxvcelOnw6NA5uwwCDihtWzlfA4_oBgfj2vk1YYa7OF6kvGEcsdxJ3HLkgz6E10SB/s1291/03-hummer_pin_embroider-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="1291" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7ppFLICfT_epQxgOFir8fMW-ttu6HlIlixw85-8OZHxny2yl0z7RYQJv2yUBx1lhAxUlYbmgl7WqxvcelOnw6NA5uwwCDihtWzlfA4_oBgfj2vk1YYa7OF6kvGEcsdxJ3HLkgz6E10SB/w275-h172/03-hummer_pin_embroider-sm.jpg" width="275" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXr14bHjRORsK1ATyMK-FuqnqOfYhKRTQoRh8BX44hNwgW3Lkndl5c6BWxFjmTn8qYKvTgzNsb9ExByaJyn4CTp9qMKjHNRsEmSoKtltvujH4K2mhzYtGnKOd7zg_ieNyRIrvADcIC1E7/s871/03-hummer_pin-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="871" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXr14bHjRORsK1ATyMK-FuqnqOfYhKRTQoRh8BX44hNwgW3Lkndl5c6BWxFjmTn8qYKvTgzNsb9ExByaJyn4CTp9qMKjHNRsEmSoKtltvujH4K2mhzYtGnKOd7zg_ieNyRIrvADcIC1E7/s320/03-hummer_pin-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>So that's a little wind up of the embroidery journey I've been on the past 18 months and so much more ahead!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-89352920445523548792021-09-11T10:30:00.001-05:002021-09-11T15:12:18.571-05:00Tambour Projects<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I was first learning how to tambour with beads, I started several test patterns - doodles, really. Some of them were just that doodles but some of them became things. This is one of those projects. I initially laid the large glass pearls. Then I started thinking of sand swirling around the pearls so I started swirling the seed beads around. I really liked the look of it so I decided to use the sample as a project and marked out the outside border and marked another piece of silk organza for the back and worked it in a circular pattern. The handle was just a beaded tube. It needed to be sturdy enough to handle the weight of the body of the purse and this worked a treat. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Z83MxuYuPhSBrw2TeIoO4m5TOzalO1RvJNvKGC_iOPs7mtXG1w6f9BKax9d9sZB9E41er2vBw3u71x2mbQnECx2gauctVUZeIa4kmqvJFNID6eCKlKFN6Ne4x-H0rZ1L0c6sQpRM1UHf/s1512/01-tambour_bead_oval_purse1-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1324" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Z83MxuYuPhSBrw2TeIoO4m5TOzalO1RvJNvKGC_iOPs7mtXG1w6f9BKax9d9sZB9E41er2vBw3u71x2mbQnECx2gauctVUZeIa4kmqvJFNID6eCKlKFN6Ne4x-H0rZ1L0c6sQpRM1UHf/w149-h170/01-tambour_bead_oval_purse1-sm.jpg" width="149" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj658AOkoRLUkF5hkWpvHV72jExEnj9tLtr5wwvxFbyjS1ZgVyQEvnbbQwuS3mWDO0Aie-aNNPFjg5-m4JjoeNuqhAG_b4Eteu65bxIgVNODc5RcufsYYfCgxTGZk_Ba6rtXp6y9IPezwaG/s1358/01-tambour_bead_oval_purse-back-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="1166" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj658AOkoRLUkF5hkWpvHV72jExEnj9tLtr5wwvxFbyjS1ZgVyQEvnbbQwuS3mWDO0Aie-aNNPFjg5-m4JjoeNuqhAG_b4Eteu65bxIgVNODc5RcufsYYfCgxTGZk_Ba6rtXp6y9IPezwaG/w144-h167/01-tambour_bead_oval_purse-back-sm.jpg" width="144" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">About 2017, I took a trip to the Cleveland, OH, area. It was only a long weekend but I specifically wanted to get away to work on designing some projects. A visit to the art museum there was hugely inspiring. By the end of the trip, I had 2 purse designs I was happy with. One, an art deco-inspired design, is still waiting to come to life but this one, art nouveau-inspired came together just like I'd envisioned it. The back is black velvet and it has a pretty turquoise-colored lining. The part that took the longest, oddly, is the beaded fringe! It was completely hand-beaded by a beader that had no idea how long it would take. But it was the only way to get the gradation I needed to look right with the curves of the design. So worth the time and effort, I have to say (although I haven't jumped into doing another one since!!). </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KgJBXfzplwuvKm0E8I0iJOl5W8YkvKoUX5WUUpWPN8Dhlfqoz4cwkkGzPgSYtHLL8lnhnquhrLU9RQCc6cI8aBUEUEXZ94s-CWFKAypMSHM7lDYYlPBBTdvtlLtV9NJMPO1asFCH-UgO/s1372/01-tambour_bead_purse_nouveau-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="1029" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KgJBXfzplwuvKm0E8I0iJOl5W8YkvKoUX5WUUpWPN8Dhlfqoz4cwkkGzPgSYtHLL8lnhnquhrLU9RQCc6cI8aBUEUEXZ94s-CWFKAypMSHM7lDYYlPBBTdvtlLtV9NJMPO1asFCH-UgO/s320/01-tambour_bead_purse_nouveau-sm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">See what I mean about purses being the perfect palette? Here's another one that came together bit by bit. This one has a bit of tambour on the top section but I was also able to incorporate some bobbin lace that I was working for another project. The bottom section is laid embroidery thread held by little fresh-water pearls. The tone on tone was so interesting. This final project is actually my second effort. The original effort worked fine for most of it but I had cut the bottom to have scallops but they didn't really work in practice. So I redid the whole thing and used the lace to create the scallops. Much better!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAofDEHSQEw4hnqWJBMaOQrev5cfPnNWDLHVCTompvPHlUxKn8v1FCdoAupfugzahSeQmoED8lB5DDyr4mYT6rRlqdY0F17bcjxpjd2VaUlftFnSscHpmCJIBWG-lDWC-k4S8XClXy3zjT/s1210/01-elegant_purse1-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="908" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAofDEHSQEw4hnqWJBMaOQrev5cfPnNWDLHVCTompvPHlUxKn8v1FCdoAupfugzahSeQmoED8lB5DDyr4mYT6rRlqdY0F17bcjxpjd2VaUlftFnSscHpmCJIBWG-lDWC-k4S8XClXy3zjT/s320/01-elegant_purse1-sm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><p>My BIG tambour project was a purse that I envisioned to have 8 narrow sides, each with a different pattern. I put together 4 different patterns with the thought that I would repeat them in order. Straight line, curly line, straight, curly, etc. The initial inspiration for this project was some Victorian/Edwardian-era beads that I recovered from a disintegrating mourning vest. I've had them for a couple of years but never found the right project for them. Until now. This was truly a process of discovery as I developed the pattern and it became my favorite thing I've ever made. Ever. Nothing compares to this little purse. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6v4aaOkXbX8PF5uIQw8FWgetGMVMJuOEE9bQ9snEPqSMaY8lxGl8DRAgxqIiSjQ9iXZNXDD7tH5BdA2mmKRMWQZtYoE46f6Ck_c7pIWhiwNJke2BQ-9w6xyqWNiNSy2_6xqXCXOpw3jxe/s1000/01-tambour_black_purse2-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6v4aaOkXbX8PF5uIQw8FWgetGMVMJuOEE9bQ9snEPqSMaY8lxGl8DRAgxqIiSjQ9iXZNXDD7tH5BdA2mmKRMWQZtYoE46f6Ck_c7pIWhiwNJke2BQ-9w6xyqWNiNSy2_6xqXCXOpw3jxe/w216-h144/01-tambour_black_purse2-sm.jpg" width="216" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vjxMP7wYTOuhmx0Cu-7XWhhvUiB3Fu88bYTysNVDlF-k_71CpF6oQ5vXXwePplPkO9HPx61BuGpibFufdH8gQ94RlfVSUdXHGML6WdUuRkCkEbzkS3FxwUMRLONLavltYmtAh_Rq0toE/s1000/01-tambour_black_purse3-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vjxMP7wYTOuhmx0Cu-7XWhhvUiB3Fu88bYTysNVDlF-k_71CpF6oQ5vXXwePplPkO9HPx61BuGpibFufdH8gQ94RlfVSUdXHGML6WdUuRkCkEbzkS3FxwUMRLONLavltYmtAh_Rq0toE/w166-h166/01-tambour_black_purse3-sm.jpg" width="166" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxyHkPG0rmkaRCeXNBsKr5d2PKAjfqW4sK33GFh2JN1tESxz_ZItvH6tcQw4b2mfJzFto4htF1eZVNw-uWV472pTphGHeFMtJd1QgCZtn4PX7MW_LSHiDq3OGdfE0RGvhgxmPSKbPHhMV/s1150/01-tambour_black_purse_detail2-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="967" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxyHkPG0rmkaRCeXNBsKr5d2PKAjfqW4sK33GFh2JN1tESxz_ZItvH6tcQw4b2mfJzFto4htF1eZVNw-uWV472pTphGHeFMtJd1QgCZtn4PX7MW_LSHiDq3OGdfE0RGvhgxmPSKbPHhMV/w146-h174/01-tambour_black_purse_detail2-sm.jpg" width="146" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SOSawHgPhIeprIj5iqhjaOPZ9lq_3vlBRf_T-75pGWrCbT8HSrY4a6sppirggq_mcsv9cSYSKRNGpCzUSr5-pHCy_P6lwRWcxz7srYZvkelmuC9VnILRHM8n2FwkRlaXsaMuEUP0Uus2/s1471/01-tambour_black_purse-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="936" data-original-width="1471" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SOSawHgPhIeprIj5iqhjaOPZ9lq_3vlBRf_T-75pGWrCbT8HSrY4a6sppirggq_mcsv9cSYSKRNGpCzUSr5-pHCy_P6lwRWcxz7srYZvkelmuC9VnILRHM8n2FwkRlaXsaMuEUP0Uus2/w204-h130/01-tambour_black_purse-sm.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBM2BLZEO0ft0lRe2XVaaCUoV1z0mV95aVyxifSxNalfuWY3TpmMQqxzW3Z4-Zz44f1ty50rQzT7fgKjAMvykEdUoaFPbg5baclAi639pGlVBBaT4x-o6vGfDgyKBt6vXJZsW3ZpKMRjk/s1243/01-tambour_black_purse_detail3-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1243" data-original-width="691" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBM2BLZEO0ft0lRe2XVaaCUoV1z0mV95aVyxifSxNalfuWY3TpmMQqxzW3Z4-Zz44f1ty50rQzT7fgKjAMvykEdUoaFPbg5baclAi639pGlVBBaT4x-o6vGfDgyKBt6vXJZsW3ZpKMRjk/w152-h273/01-tambour_black_purse_detail3-sm.jpg" width="152" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was a classic example of designing it then tweaking the design as I went, then filling in the missing pieces as I went along. How to do the lining, how to finish the top and bottom edge (I ended up making some black bobbin lace edging for this purpose). When I finished, it still didn't look quite finished. I needed some sort of fringe at the bottom and it needed a way to hold the handle at the top. I didn't really want to go full fringe at the bottom (reference the trauma of full fringe mentioned above :-)) but this toned down version worked very well and fitted the look. For the handle, I beaded 8 straps, one for each section of the purse, a did it that way. I could have done a better job with them but it worked so I was basically happy. The purse became a gift for my lovely niece, which made me happy. Every maker will tell you, there's no better feeling that something you've made going to someone who will appreciate and treasure it.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7eGCYiSPalN54u0cznRGCupWlQrnXmES_3WCsK97BSpHZwLiRC6mD3eIFrRjvGBMLc5Hspg9wKc3NyyaipnPOzKOoKLd91h9RmVG846qpHzKSFR7DtDWXoIFWBDBHabQPNyNC68q8pe4/s1367/01-tambour_black_purse_full-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="971" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7eGCYiSPalN54u0cznRGCupWlQrnXmES_3WCsK97BSpHZwLiRC6mD3eIFrRjvGBMLc5Hspg9wKc3NyyaipnPOzKOoKLd91h9RmVG846qpHzKSFR7DtDWXoIFWBDBHabQPNyNC68q8pe4/s320/01-tambour_black_purse_full-sm.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>And finally, a project that didn't quite come off, despite all the effort. I think I know where it fell down and I'll go into that later. This project had its roots in the purchase of about 20 times more drop beads than I needed for my garden quilt project. I ended up with all of these clear glass beads with a touch of color at the end. What to do? What to do? The beads reminded me of droplets of water on a flower bud so I started thinking along those lines. Tulips are my favorite flower so why not make a tulip purse? <div><br /></div><div>I designed the petals, made sure the inside and outside petals would fit together then started stitching. I loved how they looked on the frame and how the beads were working. I knew the purse was going to be heavy with all the drop beads I was using and, I have to say, I wasn't wrong!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DbXlkRGYEwikgbbnftOGBEvfZ7uOOI9QSnfthvTY_Wp38Tq4CWOre5yIMNdYVxXKG1tWSZNb9YPFKTQvQ0DyAkAsWDONhVEAL2HFUAeYKcWNRNAunOx7VjIN41M7yKl17ZP_cI4Viehg/s1257/01-tulip_purse2-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1257" data-original-width="839" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DbXlkRGYEwikgbbnftOGBEvfZ7uOOI9QSnfthvTY_Wp38Tq4CWOre5yIMNdYVxXKG1tWSZNb9YPFKTQvQ0DyAkAsWDONhVEAL2HFUAeYKcWNRNAunOx7VjIN41M7yKl17ZP_cI4Viehg/w193-h288/01-tulip_purse2-sm.jpg" width="193" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Once I had all the petals done, I had to figure out how to get them all put together with the internal support that would help them keep their shape under the weight of the beads. It took a while but with some medium-weight interfacing, I was finally happy(ish) with the shape. It was at this point that I realized the circumference of the purse was larger than I'd expected, which makes it just a bit more chunky than I'm happy with. If I were to make it again, and I suspect I will, I will cut down the width of the petals by about 30% and I will make the darts that shape the petals just a wee bit wider to give a little better shape. I think those 2 things will make it work much better.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreI5rUbwG01OhfVXcluBskfiLysC3asYdtF4IDd12a5rpnuDgJhH0WC9aUHulV3I1UbGtDD9CwDk9p4V6jC1KRwWmvNAMetJwrhzKT2UOmi9xj53UPNc8E8bZ8HsnCb7EN7OJ5VbKxYOL/s1210/01-tulip_purse_inside-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="908" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreI5rUbwG01OhfVXcluBskfiLysC3asYdtF4IDd12a5rpnuDgJhH0WC9aUHulV3I1UbGtDD9CwDk9p4V6jC1KRwWmvNAMetJwrhzKT2UOmi9xj53UPNc8E8bZ8HsnCb7EN7OJ5VbKxYOL/w159-h211/01-tulip_purse_inside-sm.jpg" width="159" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I knew from the beginning that I wanted a ruched lining and I was super happy with how it came out. I was reading a book at the time called "The Art of Manipulating Fabric" by Colette Wolff (an excellent book that I highly recommend), so I used her instructions for it with great results.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The other part I had to figure out is the stem. I'll be honest, I didn't completely finish the bottom. The plan was to have the green beads at the bottom and the fringe as the stem, which all worked, but I was also going to do a beaded section that came up onto the petals, like flowers usually have. I just didn't have the heart to do that final piece when I knew I wasn't happy with the piece. Next time...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCjNO-QBHnOKo56v_JpdVeLD0Lm-nKkfseAybkazdeR_1ux9rZGz4wbpzO2cw5caR2OZ4p7jCzDYlfcoS2K3Pzo8B6-vQTIp3lHyoEn9xvJ-tcS8DatII8qVyKlMPDvNOmCkNX0hhgez2/s1210/01-tulip_purse_fringe-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="908" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCjNO-QBHnOKo56v_JpdVeLD0Lm-nKkfseAybkazdeR_1ux9rZGz4wbpzO2cw5caR2OZ4p7jCzDYlfcoS2K3Pzo8B6-vQTIp3lHyoEn9xvJ-tcS8DatII8qVyKlMPDvNOmCkNX0hhgez2/w158-h210/01-tulip_purse_fringe-sm.jpg" width="158" /></a></div>So there are other tambour projects in process that I'll show in their own posts but these are the big projects from the break time that I wanted to share.</div><div><br /></div><div>I will also mention that I did a tambour class from the <a href="https://www.londonembroideryschool.com/" target="_blank">London School of Embroidery</a> that I highly recommend. I knew how to tambour but was completely self taught and there were several things I'd never tried before. I love the format of their classes. You can purchase kits and then you have perpetual access to the teaching videos. I could do them at my own pace and rewatch the videos as often as I needed to so them became a great resource. I also did their goldwork pear, monogramming, whitework embroidery and silk shading classes. Highly recommend.<br /> <p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-90573343830454576642021-09-04T20:31:00.001-05:002021-09-04T20:31:39.918-05:00Chaos groundI recently saw a presentation by Kim Lieberman, a most wonderful South African artist who, while talking about her journey with lace, mentioned chaos lace, or wild lace. Her lace was so beautiful (<a href="https://www.kimlieberman.com/">https://www.kimlieberman.com/</a>) and I was so intrigued that I decided to do a little research. That research was stunningly short because I found next to nothing about it. <div><br></div><div>I did find a small mention on Jean Leader’s website (definitely worth a peruse). <a href="https://www.jeanleader.net/mylace/3x3x3.html">https://www.jeanleader.net/mylace/3x3x3.html</a> Her website was the first place I saw a description of chaos ground and the fascinating way she’d used it. </div><div><br></div><div>One other place I found information was Janis Savage’s blog post on a chaos ground scarf. <a href="http://janis.savage.org.za/2011/07/hasty-chaotic-scarf.html?m=1">http://janis.savage.org.za/2011/07/hasty-chaotic-scarf.html?m=1</a> </div><div><br></div><div>The final piece of information I found was a brief discussion on an old IOLI group discussion which mentioned that this type of work was used quite a lot at one time within the German lacemaking community. One poster mentioned a book that had a lot of chaos ground patterns called Klöppeln Am Laufenden Band. Amazingly, I was able to find it and it has dozens of variations. Now to go to sampling. While I don’t read German, I can read a chart and , who knows, maybe I’ll learn a few words along the way!!</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_19b3_fbe4_f0a1_53d0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/X2GOxogLmp1wqEygcxrUTHQ4T3EeubqnuOyUFFbAirCSZaE05AW0_qZbG03ZrdDEH04" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_726d_ca7f_dfea_7b0d" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Swx94B0D74M6fL713dUWCyhxepYxudc6T4oQo12HQhrJ8aekuayPYgtVYPqAFx-7EU0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div>Even though I didn’t know much about it, I ended up designing a piece using it. Actually the piece was designed before I bounced down the rabbit hole but it will be, I hope, a good place to explore the technique. So after sampling will come the doing!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-12306332518134133582018-08-07T21:12:00.001-05:002018-08-07T21:12:34.438-05:00My own drummer<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I’ve been thinking about something recently. Whenever I finish a project (usually a big project), I get the same questions from people. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. What are you going to do with it?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. Are you going to sell it?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I never quite know how to answer them in a way that will satisfy them. I usually end up mumbling something about not planning to sell it or “do” anything with it. Inside I’m thinking, I did it because it didn’t exist before. It wanted to be made so I made it. Sometimes I make something that starts out as a doodle or a learning piece - I want to learn a new technique and you learn new techniques by doing the new technique until it becomes yours, a tool in your toolbox. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I don’t see them as my “baby” that I can’t be parted from. If I could make a living from it, I’d be all over that. I don’t have that luxury or issue. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I display them in different ways, I enjoy them and I don’t see a need to ask more of a project than that. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I sometimes find our culture a bit weird and muddling, feeling like we have to monetize everything. Everything has to pay for itself. I guess that’s just the sound of my own drummer that I seemed to have marched to all my life. And I’m okay with that. </span></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-71517454699024177862017-09-09T23:41:00.001-05:002017-09-09T23:41:36.663-05:00SamplerLast Christmas I pulled out a book I'd picked up on my travels called, "Handbook of Stitches" by Grete Petersen and Elsie Svennas. It has instructions/illustrations for families of embroidery stitches along with a project that can be used to practice the stitches. <div><img id="id_93a1_84eb_84cc_68b8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O0R96TJLps8/WbTCDuXbDNI/AAAAAAAADkI/wCStHApHJ3w25io94zc_-Y4Wuq1YCt3SgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><div>I haven't done much embroidery since I was about 12 years old but this book peaked my interest again. I had a large cotton tea towel and I thought that would be the perfect practice canvas. </div></div><div><img id="id_5418_748a_b175_c4b0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Oxx0hLPytuc/WbTB-_F79oI/AAAAAAAADkE/i0w_7LmavB0YFQgrjP6pQetP92wOwCtxACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div><img id="id_719f_ba3b_da68_1947" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gF1kLAepmDo/WbTBhScwDKI/AAAAAAAADj0/Z43TDxa2ElQC3-NhiA6_Rg3g24PM1_UhwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><img id="id_314f_ae61_8088_3e40" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YpANXt37T6Q/WbTBogbZABI/AAAAAAAADj4/ebCW-rH-3sw_ZtYUbGEUzs_etT44QLo8wCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><img id="id_8e6e_44f4_5593_a231" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YW1O7oZa65U/WbTBsYsUzoI/AAAAAAAADj8/AN7R_ra3BYY97uoRLUZW08sm45l6SW8IgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><img id="id_fbb3_f42c_bd55_b518" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R8ZMBkuG1lo/WbTCfq9tx_I/AAAAAAAADkU/yLs5W8gpm4MMI1kyvKOatIkn8TnNpT9awCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><img id="id_5fe8_cff1_3fa7_21fc" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xZd6dZ4RKDQ/WbTB4zJeDII/AAAAAAAADkA/V0Vk0F2DqdUKpaBn-fJfZbwqbfHFTiwUQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><img id="id_b63e_3c03_ba54_65ca" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0XOuUn5ywFk/WbTCckAzE-I/AAAAAAAADkQ/RIzjh3bOys0bYtH1MwtmYmcx-LRlE113ACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div>It's been fun and relaxing and challenging all at the same time. There are a couple more techniques to practice but I still have room. </div><div><br></div><div>Oh, yeah, I also practiced some color work from another book. </div><div><img id="id_6b85_10b5_fff2_c1f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YeYA6Fy--PQ/WbTCTjrfcTI/AAAAAAAADkM/WXKNDY1mGk4FVe8Xxj2f26VBU7ectAP2QCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div>Definitely more to come on that. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-72592882824400192632017-06-30T23:18:00.001-05:002017-06-30T23:18:01.111-05:00And so it goes Anyone who knows me knows I love the connection my work makes with all the crafter las who came before. I love the continuity it gives. When I found an article in a 1931 magazine giving an old pattern from Godeys, it made me feel even more connected to the ancestors who were also suckers for an old pattern. <div><br></div><div>I've been wanting a crochet project for quite a while, so when I came across this pattern I knew it was meant to be. It's been such a joy to work (even if I actually made enough stitches for 2 projects, with all the ripping out I had to do). Keeping your eye on the prize over 110 blocks across was quite the challenge. Ha!</div><div><img id="id_cd14_48ee_56cb_c49" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7PFVX8K2Ndw/WVcidyVd1rI/AAAAAAAADjY/vAh4-4StH7oHNKGk-EDDd0cYHDeHlgSVACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 215px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div>Although it's now called filet crochet, when this pattern was first published, it was referred to as "block" or "block and space," or so says the accompanying text. 110 blocks by 110 blocks is daunting but, as you can see, very worth it. </div><div><img id="id_fc3d_aba8_4cd9_ca70" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O3HKW4Vv1Co/WVciYE9RiEI/AAAAAAAADjU/uLkxqCDfzqkhhXNH7XKkDA_sUdSG_NvAgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div>I was just going to do a couple of rounds with single crochets and be done with it but now it's done, I realize it should be a centerpiece for a larger project. It will be very easy to surround it with panels of floral designs that could eventually be a bed topper or something similar. </div><div><br></div><div>But for now I'm quite happy about how it came out and can feel the same pleasure of those ladies in 1865 who completed it back then. For that matter, I can feel the pleasure my Grannie would have felt had she attempted this pattern. And so it goes. </div><div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-40668694037699282017-06-27T08:38:00.001-05:002017-06-27T08:38:58.854-05:00Years in the makingMany years ago in what seems now to have been another life, I made feeble attempts to learn to do tambour embroidery. I did okay with my size 14 crochet hook and open weave linen. But then I had an ambition. <div><br></div><div>The book had a pattern that I think was supposed to be a doily where the pattern would be mirror imaged for a long rectangle. But I saw it as a purse. I got the fabric, drew out the pattern and then realized the crochet hook wasn't really working with the material. I got frustrated and distracted onto something else. </div><div><br></div><div>But I never took the material out of the frame. I packed it away because someday I was going to work it. Someday. </div><div><br></div><div>In 2017, the technique caught my eye again when I found some YouTube videos by Robert Haven demonstrating tambour beading. I had to find that piece. </div><div><br></div><div>Do you know how happy I am that I got frustrated and distracted that decade ago? At that time I didn't have the skills or know how to do what I've now done. It was waiting for just the right time, just the right motivation to do this. </div><div><img id="id_3408_41fa_c037_8bf4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d1Li_zyf60U/WVJf7uPgT4I/AAAAAAAADi4/10RirZKYc1UIZ_P9fZhTj0IUsjm1ahbngCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div><img id="id_f1a6_910b_15ba_8f97" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z1HtAN9Rssg/WVJf7T-62MI/AAAAAAAADi0/DTRkuSDnx1oDqwjMiwSBS3iRxQFcTLuygCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <div>As I was finishing the tambour embroidery section at my Mom's a few weeks ago, I started trying to see what the purse might look like. During a trip to the local Joann's where the staff and customers were so lovely and helpful in helping me decide colors and materials, I envisioned…well, this!</div><div><br></div><div>It's not often that a design happens exactly as I see it in my mind, but in this case it absolutely did. There are a couple of things I would tweak if I could but this is what I saw in my mind. </div><div><br></div><div>I didn't like the purse handle to begin with but it was the only one I had or could find that was wide enough to fit and now I love how it works. It's not competing with the pattern, it's just fulfilling its function and staying out of the way. Perfect. </div><div><br></div><div>The easiest thing to do with a purse is to ruin the look by how you sew the material into the frame. Again, I decided on subtle. I used the silver glass beads to hide the stitches and carry on the bead scheme and I think it works. So much tidier that visible stitches would have been. It's all hand stitched using silk thread (initially because that's what I had handy) and I couldn't be happier really. </div><div><img id="id_640f_1f2a_388d_6a6d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Zqc_JtJMWWo/WVJf7pBGgiI/AAAAAAAADi8/_NVM7SwjfmQLL4hPHB63-BKBr1qHMZpNQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div><br></div><div>So there you have it. A decade in the making and from my point of view, worth the wait. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-46905066108682586152017-04-29T11:04:00.001-05:002017-04-29T11:04:47.912-05:00Old becomes newSeveral years ago I started teaching myself Tambour embroidery/beading. I did a few projects and started on a more elaborate design that was going to be a purse. I didn't make much progress on it so I put it away. <div><br></div><div>Forward to the present and I've gotten re-energized on Tambour work and what did I find in my sewing stuff but this project. The material I was using was completely inappropriate to my skill level but I still had the paper pattern so I decided to use a material that was more my speed. </div><div><img id="id_35e9_6979_7316_b201" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZpB3eXIKG7Y/WQS5nZZZo7I/AAAAAAAADic/FTcigGzgQpIhQDyqMJqIk4YGXKwhnxm9gCHM/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div>You can sort of see the pattern laid out here as well as the working side of the seed and bugle beads I'm using for part of it. </div><img id="id_19cd_c8b6_7884_b24d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hatDCWokmnU/WQS5nqGv8XI/AAAAAAAADig/lfr0u_uj7eIkSqnwYK3M6V7tWTmfR3C9ACHM/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <div>And a close up of the front side of the beads. In this style, the work is done from the back side of the material, which is why having a sheer fabric makes life so much easier for the beginner!</div><div><img id="id_615_288_b725_1447" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p6Whe9JIYgM/WQS5jMoFXbI/AAAAAAAADiY/pTrQE4_k1fkNJR-d8hwLjF6O9o-jgz2bgCHM/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> </div><div>You can see the pattern a little better from the paper master. Some of it will be worked with beads and sequins and some with thread. Might take a while, though! </div><div><br></div><div>The pattern was taken, I believe from this standard book, now sadly out of print. </div><div><img id="id_7e90_c140_7623_5f71" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ovQHubvuwRg/WQS5iGSQXTI/AAAAAAAADiU/HJ-O1C-TTIkBufA4KA0q_dR9t-ulAUkrwCHM/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> </div><div>Unfortunately with these more obscure techniques, there aren't a lot of printed materials. We treasure the little we can get. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-42108879639967799742017-04-19T12:17:00.001-05:002017-04-19T12:17:48.423-05:00WeavingNow that I finally feel more confident about warping, I can't get enough of weaving. <div><br></div><div>I finished my warping class project made from linen. </div><div><img id="id_c69b_8a8_215a_ebc7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c6DGxjbY0vg/WPebtmEJXhI/AAAAAAAADhw/TaF1ffHN_hk/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div><img id="id_528b_eb7f_d2c9_513b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S5Ufj9MBUD8/WPebt4jYzVI/AAAAAAAADh8/Lue8mN8xFMk/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <div>It's washed and and put away now. I have a plan for it but I'm not ready to start. </div><div><br></div><div>Then I did a project with tencil and some hand spun. </div><div><img id="id_38d8_9f3_33db_dd9b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o8whEkaS6Z8/WPebt5hvyjI/AAAAAAAADh4/RtFXH-qXB6U/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div>Again, finished, washed and put away. </div><div><br></div><div>Now I've just finished warping for a scarf, which if I can get the hang of the beat, will be beautiful. Merino wool and silk yarn. Soooo soft. </div><div><img id="id_aa56_d638_1e41_5f21" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Zf34jk0THz4/WPebt3PRqzI/AAAAAAAADh0/KNOuDl4X0Rg/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div>The warp will be the dark blue shown here as dividers between the color strips. God willing and the creek don't rise, it will be this. </div><div><img id="id_cf6b_dc8c_4580_f1e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c3ZV993uzuM/WPebudiO7bI/AAAAAAAADiA/-LAie_qgbvo/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div><br></div><div>From the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1620336278/ref=sxts1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492620828&sr=1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65" id="id_5bf2_e8d8_87f3_945f" target="_blank">Next Steps in Weaving by Pattie Graver. </a> </div><div><br></div><div>I managed to warp the loom with 3 colors and very few tears. Good start!</div><div><br></div><div>I've also started playing again with Tambour Embroidery again. I first saw it practiced at Lincoln's New Salem but I've put it away for quite a few years. Now I've come across a <a href="https://youtu.be/BoDqdrQ8qUU" id="id_9881_29d3_71e4_79b4">YouTube Channel by Robert Haven</a> that has me excited about it again. </div><div><br></div><div>First steps: </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_f524_b73f_fa3e_53af" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wm9VDxIftRY/WPebunnU2WI/AAAAAAAADiE/jNtcIADqEcI/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div>It's on a sheer piece of material so I can see what my hands are doing. </div><div><br></div><div>This <a href="https://tambourbeadembroidery.com/" id="id_759d_f04a_634a_a7a8">site</a> gives a little history and some photos. You actually work from the back and it can include beads and sequins but it can also be just thread. It's a beautiful technique most often used in haute couture design. It's kind of like me - a bit different but nice!! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-51012147083257092852017-04-11T22:11:00.001-05:002017-04-11T22:11:16.107-05:00An Error and a Home RunAs I continue the section called, Decorations in Half Stitch, I've hit a sample that I just couldn't figure out and could not find any additional information on. <div><br></div><div>It's referred to as Gravenmoersche appears to be a half stitch ground that has a little different orientation than a regular half stitch ground. Honestly the variation seemed almost indistinguishable but I gave it a go. And then took it out and gave it another go. And so on. I finally admitted defeat and finished the piece with the old standard. </div><div><img id="id_1df7_aa8a_71e6_91c9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UEwFYcfYVFY/WO2avyn4w2I/AAAAAAAADhY/Qj4EHCsu5UE/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div>Even if I couldn't do the proper stitch, that would have looked like this</div><div><img id="id_fa51_f5a9_c0d5_e52a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-80mwgPiBhn8/WO2apP2r6SI/AAAAAAAADhU/1iTKvU0CczE/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div>It's still a lovely pattern. </div><div><br></div><div>Fortunately, that miss was followed by a lesson on something I've long wanted to learn - how to start and end a piece with a border that runs all the way round. There's a fan I'm going to do one day that needs to start like this. </div><div><br></div><div>On this technique the diagrams were very clear indeed and I'm so happy to have this reference point for the day I begin The Fan. </div><div><img id="id_674f_c160_ecef_fff7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lAT-5z_3lMM/WO2a0rofaGI/AAAAAAAADhc/_DVURqKwTIA/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div><br></div><div>This lesson had a whole array of variations for the ground sections that could so easily be substituted for basic rose ground and add a little bit of fancy to any pattern. Trails, border, grounds. This one had a bit of everything!</div><div><br></div><div>And what does tomorrow hold? Perhaps the warping of a loom? Perhaps the start of a new lace? Time, as they say, will tell.</div><div><br></div><div>For now I'm happy with whatever comes. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-37433378900367309622017-03-18T20:06:00.001-05:002017-03-18T20:06:59.365-05:00Sample, sample, sampleI know people are probably getting sick of me talking about it but I'm still loving the patterns in the Torchon Workbook. I'm on the 9th chapter, Decorations in half stitch. <div><br></div><div>I've just finished a group she has labeled Escalator. The name comes from a section made up of a row of half stitches that are worked uphill. </div><div><img id="id_3154_4d36_a558_3193" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j6EetSqpeyU/WM3ZlZNeVlI/AAAAAAAADg8/fc_bwsrGxq0/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 139px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div>In this example, you work the section above the line all the way to the end and then use the pair at the base of the line to work half stitch to the point at the top of the line. Now you're ready to work the section below the line. And you get this one in the middle. </div><div><img id="id_d2a_4530_95_e49" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VdXVgIDSALY/WM3ZsrKl5AI/AAAAAAAADhA/x_qSBisIVY4/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div>Each of these samples uses this escalator technique, although in different ways. </div><div><br></div><div>My absolute favorite of this trio is the edging at the right. It has some of my favorite techniques like the spider ground and the Scotch broom trails. I would have carried on with it but I'm anxious to get moving on. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-7151963811142219272017-03-16T13:42:00.001-05:002017-03-16T13:42:50.206-05:00Two experimentsMy sample warp is finally finished, off the loom, and washed. My main objective was to get a feel for the materials (the tencel yarn) but it ended up becoming a wider learning experience. <div><ol><li>I learned how to beat the weft to give the balanced look I'm going to want when I make my tartan-patterned scarf. I tested how an ultra light beat made it look messy. Maybe if I had fewer ends per inch (I warped at 24 epi) the lighter beat would have seemed more airy but not so much with this. I knew I didn't want a weft-faced fabric (which would have happened with a heavy beat. So a light squished of the beater seemed to produce the best way forward. </li><li>I learned that I may want a slightly less dense fabric so I'll warp to 20 epi instead of 24. I think that will make a nicer scarf fabric. <img id="id_3d0_98d7_f083_78b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LdW7ecvzh1I/WMrcpeL_7nI/AAAAAAAADgU/HNHNGLMeTek/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> </li><li>I am working on a table loom which means you don't have to go far until you have to advance the warp. The mistake I was making was advancing it too far so that I got weird wiggly bits in my fabric. Once I figured that out and started leaving a couple of inches in front of the front beam, hey, presto, I got a much more even fabric. <img id="id_1d53_94d0_6448_b6f1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UM4y0autp-Q/WMrcphdjbeI/AAAAAAAADgY/BCMq81tNc0c/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> </li><li>I learned that it all feels different after a good wash. I guess that's why teachers are always talking about washing your samples. Good call, teach! </li><li>I learned that using a spare variegated skein of hand spun works fabulously with the base color of the warp. <img id="id_ae1a_6882_a392_6ecd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--mJcsdG8rec/WMrcqVFfXNI/AAAAAAAADgg/AHhdU9mPVwc/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> </li></ol><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I'm going to use some of this strip to make a coin purse and part of it is going to be used to make phone holders. Here's the type I mean. </span></div></div><div> </div><img id="id_ccfe_8904_881d_9815" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5GN280Vsf50/WMrcpKur7XI/AAAAAAAADgQ/rE8vGvANuyE/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br><div>I was given a similar holder that has microfiber on the bottom to clean the screen. In trying to work it out, I tried all sorts of gyrations. That is until I realized that a simple tube of fabric seamed on one end and the closed at the other end in the opposite direction would do the same thing. </div><img id="id_e2e1_491_3a9d_f3b8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zPqJ7MeeieU/WMrcqKvSOJI/AAAAAAAADgc/XVE6l6nwQWw/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br><div> <br></div><div>Now I'm experimenting with filler so that it has enough weight to be steady without going nuts. I'm thinking that it could double as a pin cushion depending on the filler used. </div><div><br></div><div>Again with the pin cushions?!?</div><div><br></div><img id="id_aefa_4cf2_c3e1_8701" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8XYuCQYJ1fM/WMrcqUGbAtI/AAAAAAAADgk/NVYFFiqXHRc/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-57378074289114907462017-03-11T12:37:00.001-06:002017-03-11T12:37:52.445-06:00Appearances can be deceivingI started a new sample this week. There was a section that even the text said was tricky so I worked to that point and left it that night. I decided I needed to wait until I was rested to attempt it. I had already worked the whole left side and then the right side. Then I completely undid the right side because I'd made a mistake at the beginning then I'd worked the whole right side again. <div><img id="id_7421_9616_5210_f6fa" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GHVFOOFr40w/WMRD4t5ujWI/AAAAAAAADf4/4HWMUlSE1hs/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br><div><br></div><div>The "complicated" section involved working a pair half-stitch through six other pair. Not so bad except that it had to go backwards through the pairs before heading into the 8-leg spider. </div></div><div><br></div><div>When I sat for a minute to look at it the next morning, the light bulb went on and I worked it with no problems at all. </div><div><br></div><div>You can never tell. </div><div><br></div><div>Last night I got involved in watching a couple of fascinating shows on YouTube and actually finished the whole dang thing. </div><div><img id="id_ad8d_3131_a1a3_dba4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fRCzTa9TeIM/WMRD__5bacI/AAAAAAAADf8/xjp8U-CeDX8/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div>I never realized working in whole stitch was so fiddly to keep the tension right. </div><div><br></div><div>Everyone should see these films. I couldn't stop watching. </div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://youtu.be/vpijOSSlZCI" id="id_a649_2040_2a41_9615" target="_blank">Edwardians in Colour</a> (First of 4 episodes)</div><div><a href="https://youtu.be/ywg03b574oQ" id="id_dc26_9d5_fcc8_a5d6" target="_blank">How the Edwardians Spoke</a></div><div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-22415156669305151592017-03-07T09:26:00.001-06:002017-03-07T09:31:18.852-06:00Weaving on<div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I have been working on a little side weaving project. Since take #HopewellWeaving's warping class, I've been inspired to tackle a project I've had in the back of my mind for a while now. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Several years ago, I bought these cones of tencel yarn but I hadn't done anything with them yet because I wanted to make sure I could handle them properly. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img id="id_dd58_3cc7_5e03_bc9a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0qgRm3beZ1Y/WL7RE5cwI9I/AAAAAAAADfk/xyc5mgyUo78/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Lovely, shiny, softee yarn. Thread. Whatever. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I've decided on a simple Bruce tartan pattern from the book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0668061898/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488897188&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=tartan+weaving&dpPl=1&dpID=41JZYMLc17L&ref=plSrch" id="id_c284_96e2_efef_f878">Tartans - Their Art and History</a>. It uses two main colors with the third color making the occasional thin stripe. I'm going to use the purple and tan as the main colors with the green as the accent. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Before I dove in head first with it, I wanted to make sure I understood how to handle the materials and be clear on the sett. So I wound a small warp with the green (since I knew I wouldn't need as much of that for the final piece) and I've been playing. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img id="id_8599_39ad_5e84_522" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PGHljXIS8AQ/WL7RE0N4LEI/AAAAAAAADfo/wCjruxTVAAw/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'm using a 2/2 twill, since that's what you use for the tartan (over 2 threads/under 2 threads). Here I've done a 2/2 twill and then a reverse 2/2 twill to give the herringbone sort of pattern. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'm so glad I did this for a couple of reasons. First of all, I understand better now how to handle the warp with this thread. Second of all, I've got all sorts of ideas about what I want to make from this 5 inch or so strip. Coin purse, glasses case, etc. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'm also playing with how the colors play. Here it is with the green warp and tan weft. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img id="id_6646_a7c_6b62_a092" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HOXjR28DgWs/WL7REyBGiJI/AAAAAAAADfg/p6MDE3kZny4/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You don't see it here but in person it has more of a <a href="https://youtu.be/Y44waVWAu08" id="id_3829_70b6_ff0c_3a26" target="_blank">pinkish hue</a>. (Is there a pinkish hue? - George Constanza)</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-65098082484741868352017-03-07T09:23:00.001-06:002017-03-07T09:30:40.793-06:00Scotch Brooming<div>Sometimes you like something okay but you just don't LOVE it. It's all very nice and you wouldn't mind having a coffee every once in a while but it's never going to be a grand romance. </div><div><br></div><div>That's what this edging does for me. It was kind of fun to work and went along very easily but I'm done with it. I still have thread on the bobbins so I may work until I start to run out of thread but it's not one I'm going to make yards of. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_bbc8_82b_a9e6_e6f4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5WEV3Wkqhig/WL7QilRuTkI/AAAAAAAADfc/SIb_ShEa3DM/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div><br></div><div>The thing it did do is make much more sense out of the Scotch Broom stitch. There's a definite rhythm to it and once you get that logic, it's no trouble at all. </div><div><br></div><div>A few more inches and then, I think, it will be time to move along. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-85525569557497917292017-03-04T11:58:00.003-06:002017-03-04T11:58:41.752-06:00Too much of a good thingI've been trying my whole life to learn that details matter and that if a little is good, it doesn't necessarily mean that more is better. <div><br></div><div>The lastest project from the Ulrike Torchon Workbook is a case in point. </div><div><img id="id_f8a3_f956_66a7_a7ba" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KQUQDsI4WO0/WLr_7Q9mh3I/AAAAAAAADe0/CMVzeKfCzCs/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> I really love it and think it's pretty. I also think I almost have a handle on the Scotch Broom stitch (the part that forms the diamonds). But you'll notice that it's quite a long piece for a sample. The reason?<br></div><div><br></div><div>Instead of pinning up the 2 pieces of the pattern like this…</div><div><img id="id_32e9_e970_b27f_216f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BYwgrLT3K-8/WLsATJ9kkNI/AAAAAAAADfA/OOuZxW1hSUI/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div>Like it was supposed to be, I pinned it up like this…</div><div><img id="id_8b68_9400_a3e2_bbad" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZQ0aOMn-N5g/WLsARAOTVSI/AAAAAAAADe8/ExAUPaWFDMY/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div>It make a minor difference not only to the length but to how long it takes to work it. </div><div><br></div><div>I kept peeking under my cover cloth thinking, "Is this some sort of magically growing pattern?" Come to find out, no. It's me being a silly beggar and not paying attention to what I was doing. </div><div><br></div><div>So, while I ended up with a lovely piece, I shall be paying much more attention from now on. Really, I will. Really. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-67732801793266610932017-03-04T11:58:00.001-06:002017-03-04T11:58:26.236-06:00Too much of a good thingI've been trying my whole life to learn that details matter and that if a little is good, it doesn't necessarily mean that more is better. <div><br></div><div>The lastest project from the Ulrike Torchon Workbook is a case in point. </div><div><img id="id_f8a3_f956_66a7_a7ba" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xa17T3lbhDg/WLr_wXq_vAI/AAAAAAAADes/xhzK7841LT8/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> I really love it and think it's pretty. I also think I almost have a handle on the Scotch Broom stitch (the part that forms the diamonds). But you'll notice that it's quite a long piece for a sample. The reason?<br></div><div><br></div><div>Instead of pinning up the 2 pieces of the pattern like this…</div><div><img id="id_32e9_e970_b27f_216f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cXsQJrwrH7A/WLr_3OE8E3I/AAAAAAAADew/z7mQBWL8Hsw/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div>Like it was supposed to be, I pinned it up like this…</div><div><img id="id_8b68_9400_a3e2_bbad" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xI9mneVIh7Y/WLsAOoS445I/AAAAAAAADe4/enml-OF-rQo/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div>It make a minor difference not only to the length but to how long it takes to work it. </div><div><br></div><div>I kept peeking under my cover cloth thinking, "Is this some sort of magically growing pattern?" Come to find out, no. It's me being a silly beggar and not paying attention to what I was doing. </div><div><br></div><div>So, while I ended up with a lovely piece, I shall be paying much more attention from now on. Really, I will. Really. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-37550378200819128892017-02-26T21:08:00.001-06:002017-02-26T21:08:59.518-06:00Sweet experimentI never thought I would become a pin cushion whore but I was wrong. Now that I've had some time to think about the cute pin cushion my friend Jennie gave me, I thought I'd try my hand. <div><br></div><div>At the craft store I found this little box. Now when I travel with my bobbin lace stuff, one of the things I have issues with is the pin cushion and keeping it from getting caught on things. What about if I could close it up?<br><div><br></div><div><img id="id_f48d_c19e_119b_1475" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-15e2zMAZ9P0/WLOYSpxAaFI/AAAAAAAADeI/81sAUZS6dUU/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div>A few weeks ago I found some pin cushion filler made from crushed walnuts with lavender. So I did this. </div><div><img id="id_5ddb_4df_70aa_8592" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Qro1o_Lt2qU/WLOYF7R81VI/AAAAAAAADeA/rbysnKHsn4A/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div>Now I have a pin cushion that can be attached to my pillow but then be closed up when traveling. I need to finish the box itself but I'm happy. </div><div><br></div><div>Since I still had walnut shells, I decided to do another type of pin cushion - just a plain old square. It smells like heaven (if heaven smelt like lavender - and I'm pretty sure it does). </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_2dcc_f8f6_581d_fe9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fyTUpynS-Ts/WLOYPibLHSI/AAAAAAAADeE/Xi7w7S4ryZE/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div></div><div>It's a good thing I have enough pins for all these cushions. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8853843411928329666.post-31154648516929720212017-02-23T09:28:00.001-06:002017-02-23T09:28:29.761-06:00Peaceful breezesSome patterns are sent to try us and some are sent to soothe us. It's not that the trying ones are bad. They challenge us and teach us and victory is oh so sweet. <div><br></div><div>But the ones that soothe us bring a whole different level of sweetness and accomplishment as they take us by the hand to wander through fields of lavender, on to beaches with just the right amount of heat and a cool breeze, then to the mountain's clean, crisp air and clear view across the horizon. </div><div><br></div><div>The thing is, when you start a pattern, you never know which it's going to be. My current project from the Voelker Torchon Workbook says that the Scotch broom stitch is challenging so I was ready to have to do and undo and redo and repeat. </div><div><br></div><div>It hasn't been that at all, in the end. I felt the cool ocean breeze starting up this morning as I worked a couple of little sections to this…</div><div><img id="id_c158_4ab7_d8ce_a19d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YMQv_IAego8/WK7_nI9hkII/AAAAAAAADdw/xhvkY8370VA/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0