My latest project

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

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

 this book is the source of the idea and pattern.

Short and sweet :)

Our Wedding Day

Just thought I would share a few images from our Wedding Day on the 22nd September...not sure what was going on with the camera date thingy...we figure it is Colin's mum saying hi (the date shown was her birthday after all)

 The lace is made from the handspun I showed in an earlier post.
The little Honiton bee was made by Jacqui of Larkholme Lace in the U.K.

The necklace was made by a friend from our local craft group.

 The garter was made by around 15 different local lace makers from a Louise Colgan design.

 The Wedding Party with Dear Son (behind) showering us with bubbles.

 The wedding cake decoration...

A local resident of Tranquillity Gardens, popping in to add his congratulations...

 Colin's Grand daughter enjoying the balloons...

 The Bride and Groom...

 The signing table flowers.

 Looking North over the Tamar Valley 

and South towards Launceston (my Grandson thinks this is a view of "the whole world" lol)

The T Model that transported the bridal party.

A wonderful day was had by all, and we followed up with the most awesome 8 days on the big island.  May share some pics when I download the 3 cameras.

Now back to some lace for me :)

Hugs to all, thanks for visiting...don't forget to drop a line in the comments...

Just a little lace

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

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

This is Louise Colgan's hummingbird.  

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

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

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

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

And last week I added the bodice...

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

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

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

The next project day 2

Well day 2 of the next stage anyhow...

Having spent 12 months making the lace as can be seen in earlier blogs, 3 meters has been attained and the work begins...

Day 1 was spent cleaning up the seam lines, adding the breather holes and generally preparing the skirt mould.  This one is a little different to the first, and I found it a little tricky to attach the lace, particularly the 'petticoat' layer of narrow lace.

Now the pirouette!

 

 I have put a makeup applicator next to the doll here to give some indication to her size...she will shrink to about 1/3 once she has had the 2 hot fires.  The sponge is used to pounce the wet porcelain into the lace.

Finally for today...I love the colours of Autumn...this pic was taken in the park near the Tamar Yacht Basin at Royal Park.  This is a popular place for locals and tourists alike with a 10 km boardwalk from here on the eastern bank to another popular park on the western bank.  There are several branches off the walk into the Gorge and city center and is popular also with the dog owners and sporties with playing fields and parklands and foodies with restaurants and bars in the precinct.

More lace next time...

A day of finishes

Yesterday, I really did make some progress.

A stint in the shed was not successful, but answers have been found (I hope)

The yellow silk scarf is now 6 pins past half way!

And Bella is complete - for my part at least!

 She will be fired today, and  I can bring her home next week...

I must admit if 'first times' all come up like this, there would be even more crafts in my box!!

I have been playing with more cross stitch of an evening...trying to clear my box full of kits, bought many years ago, before lace!

This one was a 2 part deal, but I have no intention of doing the second one.

Maybe I can find someone who would like to work it :)

It is a Dimensions kit, called the Star Gazer.

This is the 2nd wizard I have worked and there are 2 or 3 to go...one day!

My next sewing project is a baby dragon in the garden in stump work!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mums, 

and to everyone else - have a lovely day too :)

Updating...

First of all, 'Bella' fired beautifully!

I could not believe how long it took to add these small amounts of paint...back to the kiln, then the finishing touches...

...highlight the lips, finish the fingernails and eyes and tone the hair...I honestly do NOT spend this much time tizzing me ...Maybe that is the problem?!?!?LOL

 Next week, I may just get to start on the doll with my handmade lace!

At around 4.30 pm on WEDNESDAY afternoon, we had a mother of all hail storms across Launceston.  Colin was lucky...the storm hit while he was shopping, but he did have to drive home in the aftermath!

This picture was taken outside one of our stops at 8.30 AM THURSDAY morning!

The garden in the side street looked gorgeous - as if it had been snowing - but I did not take a photo. 

Then the garden in the area where we worked looked appealing, but alas, I did not take a photo.

As we were leaving, we spied this scene...I had to take a photo!  Note the garden edge too...It has NOT snowed in Launceston for at least 30 years, so this really is a rare sight.  Besides, our 'snow season' (in the nearby mountains) is usually August/September!

 Finally, I am working on a quick little project for our State Lace Guild AGM...the committee has challenged members to make a flower for a display - we are hoping there will be some "spares" to share with past members, giving everyone a pretty, lasting reminder of the event.

I have finally made a start on mine...Miss Sox is overseeing the project!

 "I'm not touching it, honest Mum!"

I think it is time to rejoin Miss Sox...at least it is warm there!!

Hugs and loads of lovely lace making time to you, my bloggy friends :)

WIPs

A quick look at what is happening...

Porcelain doll week 4...

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

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

 The silk scarf...

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

Hugs my friends...

Mediums

My first porcelain doll is progressing nicely.

The skirt layers are finished, and the bodice is in progress.

 From the front...

 This weekend, she will get the lace on her front and some arms, then into the kiln...ohhhhh HELP!!!!

A friend is getting married at the end of the month, so I thought I had better get busy, besides, what better excuse to play with some wire!!

The pattern is from Christine Springett's Lace for Children of All Ages.

All that is left now is to 'doll it up' with some flowers, so I will share again soon.

Love and hugs,

Elementary spinning

I have been putting 2 and two together...

This...

...plus this...

...equals this.

This...

 ...plus this... 



...equals this.

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

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

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

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

Hello Friends

I can't believe my last post was in January and now it is March!?!?

Where has this year gone already???

 These 2 pics are of my silk scarf...a gift for my soon to be sister-in-law. 

The pattern is from Neue Kloppelideen Fur Torchonspitzen...

now 5 reapeats down (2 repeats shown here), only 9 or so to go :)

 These fillet lace mats were worked by a friend.  We intended to travel to the National AGM week together until Colin's health scare.  Sue still went and had the best time.  Now she has finished her 2 pieces of fillet lace, she is gearing up to go to this year's AGM too!!

 In all the excitement this past 8 months, I forgot that Gracie would need a lacey bonnet.  2 weeks before the Christening, the penny dropped.  This pretty but plain edging is from Lace For Ten Pairs.  It made it to the christening on time, but unfortunately there is no photo of the finished bonnet because Gracie did not wear it on the day...

 Finally, I only have 2 inches of lace to make for the doll...I have previously posted about the lace...

It is time to make the practice doll, so at the end of lesson 1...

 And lesson 2...

It will be a few weeks before I can return, but I am really looking forward to the next lesson...final layer of skirt, prepare the bodice and head, then into the kiln she will go!!

It is going to be a year to remember...We are finally getting married in September YAYYYYYYY!!!!!!

(So please forgive my posting tardiness...I will try my best to drop by at every opportunity as I love seeing what my blogging friends are up to too)

hugs, health and happiness to you...