The Sale Lacemakers...

I have had another amazing day today with the Sale Lacemakers and I am pleased to announce that they have created their new blog! Please go and have a look and show your support to this wonderful little lace group.

Without the support of this amazing group of women, (and encouragement from some of the ravelry lacemakers), I wouldn't have been inspired to take my lacemaking to the level it is now after only a few months of learning to do bobbin lace.

Over the last couple of weeks, my eyes have been opened to the world of possibilities that the simple art of lace (bobbin lace and tatting) as a medium holds. Since the introduction of coloured threads to lacemaking, you can now make 3D coloured flowers, 2D & 3D pictures with textures and colours like a painting, as well as another means to make a free-form woven lace scarf.

Bobbin lace is actually quite simple to learn, with only 2 movements - cross and twist - very similar to the knit and purl of knitting. Like knitting, it is only the complexity of the pattern and combinations and expansion of these two simple movements that make bobbin lace look complicated, as in reality, you only use 2 pairs of bobbins at a time.

Now, I am by no means an expert at bobbin lace, having only been learning how to do it now for nearly 4 months, but even I have started to design my own lace patterns/prickings. I have been known to jump in the deep end when learning and exploring new crafts, and I guess bobbin lace is no exception. But if I can do bobbin lace with limited sight, you can too, and I really do encourage you to try this simple yet very enjoyable and rewarding handcraft that is lacemaking.

Tatting is also quite a simple lace to make too, with again two simple stitches or knots. One of the things that I, and other tatters I've talked to, love about tatting, is that it is very compact and easy to take with you anywhere you go. One of the Ladies at the Sale Lacemakers has recently shown me a new simple yet stunningly beautiful tatting motif, and I shall return in another post to show you how simple and inspiring this tatted motif is.

So much lace and designs going through my mind and hands, I shall leave you here to go and play with my lace bobbins and tatting shuttles some more.

Happy Lacemaking!
Liz :-)

A Lace Weekend...

In my excitement yesterday in finaly being able to write a post, I totally forgot to tell you about the amazing Lace Weekend that the Sale Lacemakers held on the 21st & 22nd of March.

The Sale Lacemakers hold this amazing Lace Weekend every year towards the end of March, and it a weekend not to be missed if you are interested in Bobbin Lace, Tatting or Lacemaking in general. If you are interested about the one next year, email the Sale Lacemakers at salelacemakers@gmail.com to go on the interested emailing list. Trust me, it is well worth going.

It was a truly inspiring weekend, and I spent most of it working on my first lace piece (that isn't a bookmark), a tape lace butterfly in some beautiful multicoloured pearl 8 thread. While I did spend most of the Saturday morning wondering, admiering and chatting to the other Lacemakers, I did managed to get most of the first wing done.

There were also supplies there, (which was very dangerous!), and I managed to pick up a few new bobbins for myself, as well as two new contemporary Lacemaking books and some rather yummy threads and a tatting shuttle. With so many beautiful coloured threads now available to Lacemakers, it was interesting to see that many of the other Lacemakers were still using the traditional white, cream and boney coloured fine threads. There were only a couple though, like myself, who were using these beautiful coloured threads.

The Sale Lacemakers meet Meet at the Gwen Webb Arts Activity Center, 116 Market St. Sale on the 1st, 3rd,(&5th) Mondays of each month, Feb-Nov, 10:00 am – 3:00pm. Visitors and new lacemakers are always Welcome. For directions and more information, please email the group at salelacemakers@gmail.com :)

Happy Lacemaking!
Liz :)

Days Spinning: 93/365     Days Missed: 0/365          Skeins Spun:6
Days Writing: 93/365       Days Missed: 0/365
Projects Completed: 13

• Chunky Crochet Bags x4
• Squares x3
• Face washers x6

Autumn is here already!

Over the last two months life has been a little chaotic and kinda turned up-side-down on me. Many times I have had a moment here and there and I have wanted to write a post, knowing it had been a while since I had last written. Many times I would get as far as the first sentence then something would happen and I would have to come back to it.

So, I have finally, (Yay!) managed to write a post!

I have been spinning my little heart and I have updated my spin 365 in 2015 page. There are still a couple of photo's to come and some other details, but most of it is now there. Sometimes my spindle spinning has been the only thing to keep me sane! Here is a little snap shot of last months spinning...

I have also been making squares for swaps and for a big mixed blanket...

...and some chunky crochet bags I designed for some swaps and also to sell :)

So until the next installment, Happy Crafting!
Liz :)

Days Spinning: 93/365     Days Missed: 0/365          Skeins Spun:6
Days Writing: 93/365       Days Missed: 0/365
Projects Completed: 13

• Chunky Crochet Bags x4
• Squares x3
• Face washers x6