A Bevy of Projects

I was looking at my Yusai Fukuyama book, 100 New Bobbin Lace Patterns, the other night and 4 patterns caught my eye that were in the Bedfordshire style and would give me practice in the elements of that style of lace. 

The first one, done here in yellow linen thread shows a very typical nine-pin edging went very quickly indeed. I just need to tie it off but I'm too tired right now. 

The next one will be the second smaller round pricking that has the center star and the intersecting fans. 

The smaller oval will be third, with the typical running leaf and plait section. 

Finally will be the larger oval with the running tape and fillers. That is not only larger but it has some more fiddly bits with sewing and tape overlaps. 

I really just want to make everything in this book. I've already done 4-5 pieces including my Mom's birds and flowers and Jane's Victorian lady. 

I think it worked

All the pins are out and all the threads are cut and I think I like it. 

Doesn't look like much

Whenever you experiment, there's always that moment when you wonder if it's going to be a rousing success or a crashing failure. 

I'm at that point right now with this little guy. Threads going everywhere, not knowing what it will look like when you get it off the pillow. Working with silk threads was a different experience, as was trying to work in the various colors. 

We'll find out for sure tomorrow...

Systematic Bird Gets the Worm

Dateline: this morning in the porch

It was reported this morning that a very determined female cardinal has devised a new plan for foraging. She was first sighted near the large feeder but instead on partaking, she began a grid search of the back yard. 

Hopping into a corner of the yard, she reportedly carefully searched the surrounding yard moving in a fairly straight line from front to back and then she moved back to front, continueing until she'd covered the whole  yard. 

I don't think you can see it but this is right before she flew away. It appears she did have something in her beak. Witnesses speculate it could indeed have been a worm. While common understanding avows that it's the early bird that gets the worm, it now appears that systematic birds have a foot in that market. 

Reporting live from the back porch.