Showing posts with label Irish Lace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Irish Lace. Show all posts

Monday, October 8, 2012

weekend thrifting

It's been awhile since I've found anything on the thrift shop circuit. Lately, a lot of the things that I want have been over-priced or dirty, which isn't always a bad thing, as there is character to be found in some marks left behind on cloth, but there hasn't been anything that has made me wander the shop and come back full circle because I just had to pick the piece up again. 

This weekend though, I did find a few bits.


This generous bit of tatted lace. It appeared to have been a collar at one point, cut away from whatever it was decorating and laying in a crumpled pile in the "craft" section. 


And a handful of buttons. Old, marvelous, buttons. Wooden and bakelite, worn metal and the big one in the center? It is heavy. Glass. This one I think needs to become something for me. It just really fascinates me and I don't know why just yet.  I don't think it is vintage, maybe? No special markings. I just picked it up and held it and then tucked it into my basket when it said 'take me home, please?'


The blocks for the Irish Quilting Magazine piece were finished last night, a couple of appliques to do on the traditional block and I hope to be finishing that up this week.  

This morning I've set the needle aside (fingertips are shouting 'thank you!') and I'm charting new designs. 
It looks to be a productive week!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

done!

Finished this morning...finally!...The Dryad Tree.  I stitched my piece on 14ct. hand dyed jobelan aida, Sandcastle, from Wichlet Imports.  The piece uses DMC six strand flosses and one Kreinik #4 braid for the tree trunk and branches.


I have also been researching and experimenting with Irish lace, something that is a departure for me as I have always struggled with small crochet hooks!  But I decided to give it another go around as I have a lot of  crochet thread and perle cottons.  Here is my first attempt!  I worked this flower off the top of my head.


I still need to work a little bit on my tension, but overall I'm happy with the feel of this and am going to make more. This one started as a doily, but as I started working around, it wasn't laying flat, so I just went with the organic feel of it, let it curl where it would.

Next up?  I need to sketch.  Yes, believe it or not, I am out of designs to stitch!  I went to the list of "suggestions" from those who follow my work, and I think I'm going to work on some cute little chubby birds, probably bluebirds and cardinals.  (Thanks, Jackie!)