Lace, lace, lace everywhere

 Well all the lace is cut, positioned and pinned in place.  All that remains is the sewing it by hand to the bobbinette (cotton tulle) which I figure will take probably most of December....unfortunately this is not a take along project.

Sleeves to the left.  It did make a dent in my supply of laces but not enough for me not to be thinking of other lace projects when I get this done.











I found some cool lace bags that used lace scraps not big
enough for garment construction.



























It's not that this lace obsession is anything new.  My kitchen is lace free but every other room is festooned with lace everywhere and I never tire of it.....  Here are just a few examples.

Lace Garment Construction

I did cut out all parts in freezer paper and how have an approximate idea of where I want to use what laces and how.  This will be the back.  I like using the square piece as I like the straight edges.  I wasn't liking  the look of too many round doilies overlapping.  So far nothing is stitched or even pinned but I hope to get started today....and where to start????

This is one section of the front with a rough layout.  I am not only trying to contrast designs but texture as well..
























On the sleeve I want to use mostly very wide lace edgings because I have so many of those and they were too heavy for CQ work.. The biggest problem is when I get an idea where I want to use a piece and it doesn't fit.. Hard to let go and change directions... No matter how hard I try....if it doesn't fit, it will never fit.









And as I am working I keep thinking about alternatives to the cotton tulle as a ground.  Poked around in the barn this morning and found two possibilities.  The top is from an old wedding dress but is sturdy enough and subtle enough that it might work.  The bottom is from a lace curtain and I have used it often as a ground when making lace journal covers and it worked beautifully.   I have a established route when hitting a thrift store..... office supplies, dishes, aprons, linens, lamps, clothing etc.  but now I'm going to add curtains to the list because I think I will be making more things from recycled lace.

I posted a thing on Facebook the other day on the benefit of walking in the woods and Morris and I are trying to do it as often as possible as long as the weather is so nice.  Even though he was just there the day before, he still has to smell every blade of grass.  I love to remember planting these trees in 1995 and they were only 6" seedlings (all 5247).  I remember how excited I was at each milestone...when they reached my knees, were taller than me, the first pine cone etc.


This year has broken all records for the amount of rain.. Ordinarily this time of year the pine needles crunch under my step but this year they are soft and spongy and mushrooms are everywhere.

My recent bone scan showed more thinning of the bone in my hips and spine so I'm amping up my walking and saw that dancing is a great weight bearing exercise... so I have been putting honky tonk radio on Pandora and dancing all over the house.  I have to put Morris outside as he finds the sight of me dancing very stressful and barks nonstop...

Just a peek ahead!!!

Just so you know that my mind is still churning I have some projects that are fermenting in my brain that are easier for me to handle and still give me the challenge of learning something new.  As you know I have had years to fill bins with wonderful lace that I am obligated to use before I leave this earth... So I am thinking a lace jacket.

 I love this jacket.  It uses old laces but still has some structure .  I am still undecided as to what pattern I'll use, but want to use many kinds of old laces and many different textures.



I know I don't want something like this... great for a street urchin but looks like a hodgepodge. I definitely don't want the "Magnolia Pearl" boho look.  So I'm off on a new adventure as soon as I finish the anniversary quilt.

Already I've learned what bobbinette is and why I need it.  Stay tuned.....

Lace Journal Cover and Change of Plans

Working on this lace journal cover as a Christmas gift.  Giving it a good blocking before I add more lace and final beading.  I use 1/8" elastic to finish it so it can be moved to another journal/planner or address book.

All the CQJP blocks are pieced and on foundation.  Only this one has the guides basted.  The black is the size of the block and the red is a warning to stop beading.  I have ample allowance to make a book and also ample foundation in case I want to use a hoop.  I always like to use a hoop if I'm doing a lot of satin stitching..  We are going to the coast for the holidays and I will take the rest of the blocks and do the basting in the car so I don't have to look at the icy roads.

I decided that I would not like to work on white for a whole year.  Although this looks beige, it is really cream.  So instead of white-on-white....it will be cream -on-cream... 

I'm naming it my "Crème de la Crème" series. 

 

This was a cream-on-cream RR block... the last block of mine worked on by Jo Newsham whom I miss dearly.  I want to include a lot of her seam patterns which I have saved.  She was the very best! This is on my to-do list to block and mount...The intricate diagonal seam near center block is hers.. Cathy Kizeian, Rita Cruz, Cobi Wittekoek were also in this RR...a stellar bunch with a needle.

Have I mentioned I love lace?

Last year one of my dearest friends gifted me some lace she had received as a bride in Italy almost 40 years ago.  I used almost all of it on the corset blocks...  Last week she gave me this box of laces belonging to her late mother-in-law who passed away in 2000 at 81 years of age.  The laces were carefully wrapped in tissue by her mother-in-law Luigia who lived her entire life in Milan... and who I was told wrote lovely poetry.  I just love it when I have a connection to the materials I'm using...  As I am stitching her lace, I will be thinking of Luigia writing her poetry..

And speaking of lace...  I had forgotten our little post office is now closed during the noon hour and of course that is when I arrived..  With about 45 minutes to kill it so happens one of my favorite thrift store (VOA) is just a block away.  It is the one that consistently has a good supply of vintage linens.  I found 2 dresser scarfs with lovely edgings, 5 finely crocheted doilies (one edged with variegated pansies).  The vintage pansy doilies are a very rare find any more.)

And what are my plans for all this lace?..... CQJP2016 of course. This 2008 block was mine when CQI used donated wedding dresses to make blocks for quilts for breast cancer fund raising. I loved doing the white on white and want  to explore it further.  So that is what my focus will be for next year.  Now that I am finishing the CQJP2015 I am eager to start getting ready for next year.  If you are considering participating next year, registration is about over.  This is a completely personal challenge allowing stitchers at any level to hone their skills.  People from all over the world are involved and share their work.

It's a wonderful opportunity to make friends world wide and see work that is truly inspirational.





http://cqjp2016.blogspot.com/

Knitted lace and new cabinet

My big box of knitted lace arrived yesterday from Laurel Farm...... It is all vintage and most were edging on pillow cases at one time...  In addition to lots of knitted laces, there were several unique pieces of tatting, several wide crocheted edgings and the happy unexpected was two sections shown at the bottom.... crocheted  ric rack  edging...  But it was the knitted lace that I specifically had been seeking and delighted with the amount that was included.

And when I had all the drawers filled in my "small drawer units" filled, I found this super rolling unit yesterday at a thrift store and besides that. I had a 30% off coupon which made it only $10..... so it came right home with me. Only one drawer was missing.... found some great silk stash also...

Ready Birds & Lavish Lace

I did have many quiet hours "mother sitting" last night and have the CQ Hanky center ready to add bluebirds.  At this point it can wait until we meet as a group to start the hanky project.

At the request of Diane M.  I did a Block Talk post on being lavish with lace. ..tips and techniques.  If you love lace or would like to use more lace....pop over to see "Being Lavish With Lace."

Special Gift and thread shop news

Every once in awhile I receive a gift so precious that I can't believe my luck.  Today was such a day.

My Italian friend Cristina just returned from Italy and gave me some handmade Italian lace belonging to her grandmother...

There are 12 pieces like the triangle in the center and it is called Pizzo di Cantù
 There are several YOUtube videos showing it being made and they are all in foreign languages... The triangle pieces were made for napkin corners.

The square is an entirely different type of lace and also handmade.  It must be for a handkerchief.....incredibly delicate.  It will have to go on something extra special.  She also gave me some handmade black lace.

My little thread shop where I taught classes this spring is up for sale.  It has only been in business for eight months... I'm so glad I was able to teach there and find the stitchers for our new crazy quilt group... The best case scenario would be for someone to buy it and remain in the same location...

lace flower cart finished - CQJP2013

Rickrack Lace....

My other treasure from the linen pile at the flea market in California was this table runner..  It is lovely linen and about 18" x 24." I loved the look of it before I even realized what it was... I had only seen vintage rickrack lace once before and tried to duplicate it but couldn't make it work with our modern rickrack.  It was a very different pattern from this variety in the way  it was connected.  I'm sure this was a whole art form...
I'll google it when I get time.... not today though.

There is only one section that is in really good shape. I will try to do some repairs in some areas to figure out how to do it.... I will keep it in its entirety because it is so unique and I will take it with me to show when I can.. Has anyone else had experience repairing this kind of lace?

It hard to believe that it's rickrack until you look closely at it..  Gorgeous.

Now for those of you who like to cook and even for those who don't like to cook but like to eat... here's what's on our menu tonight.

I butterflied a leg of lamb and made a stuffing of  spinach, feta cheese, pine nuts, garlic and rosemary.  After rolling it up and browning it well, it went into the slow cooker and now smells heavenly...  It and a green salad will be dinner for a happy husband...  My mother who doesn't like my cooking and lived on fast food,  often tells me that I am so lucky that I have a husband who will eat the stuff I cook....and since I love to cook, she's right...

Favorite Site

One of my favorite sites is  http://parisrags.blogspot.com She is having a giveaway right now.  She does the most the most clever things with old clothes and old lace...  If I were younger and skinnier I would love to wear some of her tops, skirts etc.... but I could manage this hat..

When Madi was here I found a lovely purple crushed velvet jacket for $4.00 at a thrift store... It is at least two sizes too big.  I bought it to cut it up for the velvet but it would be  perfect decked out in old lace...  I rummaged through my lace stash for lace collars and found 3....all of which I had cut out great hunks for other projects... I'm sure I'll find something if I keep digging and even try the lace bins in the barn...  Don't you love the side thingy!!!