Lace Lesson Update

Well i finished one more Honiton sample and graduated on to working some flower shaped samples! I am Sooo happy about that, the first piece is daisy like in shape and following are some pictures taken in the middle of working it, the fun part will be the leaves, as i am to fill them as i see fit!!!

Oh, first is the required picture of Normal, when he gives up on my paying enough attention to playing fetch he'll lay on the boxes of (er...my) books stacked next to the computer area for a snooze. When i'm at the pillow he's either half on my lap or right next to me under my throw.

He doesn't look relaxed at all....does he?

lace and a close up...

So here we are, it feels so lovely to be back on track without my hand giving me fits, i will simply never take the use of my hands for granted again.
I still can't decide what tatting to do for my sister....i should have enough time to get something lovely done for her, but what? Boutonnieres made of little lace roses?....Possibly a simple hankie edging, ah, but to be retired and have the time to see all of these ideas to fruition. Determination, that and dedication will see something accomplished of note(oh, i hope!)
Well, Happy Mothers day out there to all my Mother friends, be your children human or animal(or both!)
Love to all
jen

WooHoo, another new family member!

Here we have the latest addition to my handcrafts family...

and another few shots...

A TREADLE, yes, a treadle, i can sew by the power of my own feet now :-)

The wood work is in fab condition...not mint, but that's okay.

Yet another gorgeous Singer, i've the serial number, so will check on the "birth date" momentarily.

One of the selling points for me, the decals are of delightful Sphinxes, this one is in terrific shape, and i'm pleased that as i looked the machine over, it was once a workhorse for someone. The base of the machine is worn and pitted from use, and i Like that. I want to know that years past another woman (or possibly a man) used this tool(be it sewing or lace) and used it well.
Well....on the bobbin case cover ther is a list of patents for the machine, the one that tickles my fancy is sept. 22 1888 (well...i was born in '74, but that's my birthday!) and according to this site http://www.ismacs.net/Singer/singerdates.html
my machine is Definately pre-1900 as there are no letters in it's serial number.
Hmmm, shouldn't refer to it as an It now,that seems rude. We'll call her Judith. My traditional wheel is now called Madeline, and the Traveller is Myra.
So there we have it(oooh, i need to visit with the featherweight again and see what she's named?!)
I must admit, i paid relativaly little for this machine, considering the condition. The couple that sold her to me inherited it some 26 years ago and never even pushed on the treadle to see if it moved! So she comes with a one family history (having been his mothers and grandmothers)
http://www.ismacs.net/home.html
the link above is where i just spent the last 30 or so minutes, looking around at all sorts of interesting things about antique sewing machines.
I think i will be happy with the machines i have, one from the late 1800s, one from the 30s and one from either the 50s or 60s(it has a cabinet and is currently in storage, otherwise i would know the date:-) All of them are singers.
(just wait, in a few years i will decide i NEED a modern machine with bells and whistles. golly, i hope not! I'm still wanting a Kromski spinning wheel, and after that i'll be back to my looking for antique lace bobbins.
Okay, this was a super long post, so toodles
love to all,
jenn

Tat Chat heart

More lace, well...on a small scale.
Here is the Tat Chat heart i tatted to adorn the card i shall give my friend tomorrow.
The scan is wierd and the colors look strange. Hmm...

I have a lot to do before bed yet, so toodles.
love jen

Wedding Bells

Well, i completed the wedding bell ornament, designed by the delightful Terry McGuffin, a few days back. When my sister visited and checked out the bell, she informed me i'd best get cracking on making her one for her upcoming wedding. Yes, indeed. That is how my baby sister told me she plans to wed. Soon.
I'm a little annoyed, i had wanted the time to make a honiton lace handkerchief for her, at least one motif ladden corner! She'll get her bell, possibly a pair. I'll have to see what i can do for a handkerchief, i could tat one facter than work it in Honiton lace, i could do a simple torchon edging, but i promised Judith i'd only work Honiton until i'm through with the course. Sigh.

Here's Debs bell taken with a flash, poor picture i know, and i should have straightened out all of the lace and not just the front.

Here's a close up, no flash.
The pattern is a bit fiddly to work, but at the same time, a lovely progression of the rounds with hardly any 'cut and tying' I need to find more seed beads with center holes large enough to take a tiny crochet hook and thread through them.

The boys on their favorite box, look at those tails! Night and day those kittens are.
I have another post to put up at my live journal about music and then.....to my Honiton pillow. If i get enough worked, i shall do some spinning today as well as pick out a new tatting piece to work on.
love to all
jen

Spokane Tatting Workshop

The workshop was this weekend, and it was darn near a 7 hour drive in. Saw nothing of the scenery going there(we arrived at 3 am friday) but here is what i saw going home....



As you can imagine, some beautiful scenery on the way home!
I took some pictures at the Workshop of the laces on display, but shall not post them, as i have not asked the makers permission- trust me though....Beautiful work!The wonderful Shuttlebirds Tatting Guild really did an amazing job, between the teachers and classes offered,the vendors, the door prizes and the food- All was fantastic. Two days of frenetic energy as we were able to put faces to internet posts, see old friends and build new friendships. All while learning wonderful new techniques, and new ideas for uses of the standbys. Lace was everywhere, and we were given the most adorable little table decorations(i'll need to photograph mine) little flowerpots with tatted lace flowers inside! I was able to maintain a tight grip on my pocketbook, as i really do have so much already in the way of threads and shuttles...books as well. I indulged myself with a selection of threads made in Romania(i'm a sucker for something new!)Also purchased were two books for the classes i took, and a water buffalo horn shuttle. (was busy lusting after the larger engraved one, with Celtic knotwork, but decided on a smaller plain shuttle as i prefer small shuttles to tat with) Oh, and a dozen glass bell ornaments to cover in tatting and beads. I'm a thrid of the way done with the first ornament, which will be a gift for a friend who is getting married :-) I do hope she likes it!
All i can say is if you have the opportunity to attend Workshops,conferences or lace group/guild meetings- DO IT!!! and do it often. Lacemakers are the most terrific of all communities, there are no tatting police, not one person felt snubbed because they did something the 'wrong' way....it was a weekend filled with smiles and hugs.
I was able to meet my MySpace tatting friend Sherry finally, and after our year of online aquaintance we felt like long lost friends:-) I was So impressed by her work, she is definately Not daunted by large tatting projects!
So i'd best be off, we need fresh veggies and i want to get back home so i can work on that wedding present!
Love to all....
And yes, my boys were Showered with attention when i got in last night, look at the super long fur on Normal. (it explains why Jerry calls him fluffy...)