Love is....

I recall my Mother enjoying those little comics when i was a child, and i always thought them sweet.
Nothing could define love quite like the way young Normal made me feel yesterday, he jumped onto my lap, then wanted to be cuddled close. After 20 minutes of this, i decided to see if i could photograph this display of affection (which lasted an hour)
And here we are...


And me holding him, looking a little creepy...


No lace images, but i did finish the daisy with pearl edging sample and now get to begin a Poppy sample, once that is done, i'm on to the next unit and Fillings!!! (AARRGGHHH, which means leadworks as well) I still have yet to begin a 'real' project on Maurice, (yarn that is intended for something) as i can't decide. I Have achieved a foot of edging for my sister, which is not nearly enough, i know...but i just need to sit still with the tatting shuttles long enough to add substantial length to that. Well, work comes in the middle of the night tomorrow, so i had better run, i just had to share the sweet kitty pictures.
love jen

Meet Maurice...

Here is Maurice and Normal.
Sharon from www.bubbiesfarm.com is an amazing fiber artisan, and shepard?- She has many fiber animals, sheep,goats and rabbits. She invited me over for the evening to try out all of the Kromski wheels, i tried the ones i had been thinking about purchasing, and the Sonata, which had not crossed my mind to purchase...and guess who came home with me? The Sonata, who informed me that his name is Maurice. He is stained a beautiful Walnut, and my flash washed that tone out in the next pictures, but you get the idea of the shape...which folds into a compact little travel bag so efficiently(it's kind of wierd, really)
Well, it has a poly drive band, which i was suprised to find i really like. I was getting a feel for the tension with the last of my lime green roving. Can't wait for my first big project on this, as the bobbins hold 4 ounces(the ashfords only hold 2)
Here is the other pic- i shall take more later :-), i'm beat, yet need to get things done before crashing!
Love to all...jen

Moving along...

I turned in my little Honiton flower for assessment, it is 1.5inches tall and also 1.5inches from leaf tip to tip cute little guy, but i did make mistakes in the working. I like that Judith lets me know All of the mistakes, even if they are trivial, it gives me something to strive toward, and at least lets me know how to look at the work. I think i ended up with a mild case of eye strain last night, so intent on finishing the little guy was i!
In fact, i completely forgot to tell Sherry i received the mug i purchased from her in the mail yesterday, it's Fabulous, little tatted flowers pressed into the clay all around. So, Thank You Sherry for being a wildly talented lady, i get my pottery And tatting fix all at once! (well i'll get to add to that- my favorite beverage of choice as well!)

Speaking of tatting fixes, here it the edging i began working on at the length of service awards dinner tuesday night. Becky, let me know if you like it!!! It's for your Wedding!!!!( i was thinking lace handkerchief, but if you want to edge something else that's fine as well!)

Here is my dead gerbera daisy one week after picking it.


And that is all for tonight, i'm utterly exhausted and should hit the hay, as work comes Awfully early tomorrow.
Love to all,
jen

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