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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

Another 7 Day's Of Crafting...

Another week as been and gone and much progress has happened now that things are starting to settle down... I did say starting to didn't I. Sigh... no matter, things will get back to normal eventually I guess.

This past week saw me going to the Lacemakers Group for the first time and I must say that I loved every second of it. I took in the sampler piece I just finished...

... and then we did a workshop and I learned how to make Tallys and Leaves...

I had so much fun I came home and did some more and then did some more at the craft group on Tuesday. It has taken me a while to be able to have the chance to learn this old handcraft of making lace, but it was well worth the wait :-)

I have also been busy making stitch markers and charms for knitting and crochet...

... I think I'm a bit addicted to them as I now seem to be collecting them and I have them all hanging off a bangle, including a couple with bells on them so I jingle in true Tinkerbell fashion, Lol! :-)

This is my progress for the week for my "Spin 365 in 2015" Challenge...

... check out the tab above for the gallery of my progress pictures :-)

And the week wouldn't have been complete without some dyeing...

... these braids, along with the stitch markers and charms, will soon be available in my Shop via the tab above.

Happy Crafting!
Liz :)

Days Spinning: 22/365     Days Missed: 0/365
Days Writing: 22/365       Days Missed: 0/365
Projects Completed: 0      Skeins Spun: 4

A Crazy 2 Weeks...

So the new year has well and truly started and already it feels like I got left at the start line in amongst the dust! It has taken till now to finally get out of "holiday mode" and start to get back into "work mode". But despite all this, I've started my Spin 365 In 2015 challenge and already I have 3 skein for the new year :)

Not bad for two weeks of spinning and there is plenty more to come :) The two bigger skeins will be available in my Etsy Shop once they have dried from their bath and I have taken some more photo's. I have a couple more skeins warming up on the sideline and already I'm keen to start another spin on my new wheel :) I don't think I showed you, but who doesn't like seeing spinning wheels ;) Lol! SO this is my new Baby...

She is cute isn't she? And she folds down and is very portabe and light weight, perfect for traveling :) And I have been doing some more Bobbin Lace, this time with a little twist (or two!) Lol! ;)

I'm working on a few other things too, but haven't take the photo's yet, so you will just have to "watch this space" for future progress, or even better, hopefully finished items :)

Until then, back to the crafting and spinning :)
Happy Crafting!
Liz :)

Days Spinning: 14/365     Days Missed: 0/365 
Days Writing: 14/365       Days Missed: 0/365
Projects Completed: 0      Skeins Spun: 3

New Years "Craft" Resolution...

Every New Year marks the start of another year and a clean slate as far as goals go. I know we often look back and go "well that sure didn't happen" or "I still haven't finished that", but really, we get a chance to clean the slate and start again :)

So! My New Years Craft Resolution is to try and stick to and achieve these goals :)

• Spin Every day this year, using my spindles and wheels and try and spin my stash in the process (I will be setting up a page to keep track of this personal challenge)
• Personally, Go "Cold Sheep" for the first 6 months (so no purchasing of fibre or yarn for my personal stash)
• Have a major Stash Down 
• Have NO WIP's at the end of the year, as they are seriously starting to get out of control!
• Master Bobbin and finish a large Lace project
• Learn Card Weaving
• Master Tatting and Finish my large Tatting pieces
• Attempt to finish my Queen Size Crochet Blanket (This one is a huge goal! So I will be happy to get most of it done, if it happens to be the ONLY WIP I have at the end of the year :)
• Finish my big rug Tapestry Weaving :)
• Write everyday :)

I also have a few other things in the pipeline for my online small business Liz Green Arts, so stay tuned for some announcements in the future, as things are starting to grow from the plans I made!

So, these are my goals this year, simple yet massive, but I'm still going to give them a go :) And I have already started with 3 days of spinning and I've been working n my WIP's while I'm on holidays! Yay! So what are your NY's Crafting Resolutions?

Happy Crafting!

Days Spinning: 3/365     Days Missed: 0/365  
Days Writing: 3/365       Days Missed: 0/365
WIP's Completed so far this year: 0

Christmas Madness...

Normally this time of year we are celebrating the end of another year and exchanging and receiving gifts as we celebrate the holiday season. The other thing I have noticed is the time seem to start speeding up in the month before December and once we are in December it is starting to slip between our fingers as we join in the madness that generally surrounds Christmas. This next week will even more chaos as everyone, or at least those who have just realised Christmas is just over a week away, start to panic at the realisation that there are still presents to be made, baked or purchased.

I have unfortunately been joining in on some of the chaos these last two weeks, and I have a feeling that I may still join in the chaos that increases the week before Christmas. But despite this, I have been busy doing a few crafty things on the side. Here is a snap shot...

 Learning a new knitting stitch, Herring Bone stitch, and starting a shawl...

 Spinning up a storm on my new spindles using one of my new Batts...

Adding another round of squares to one of my nephews blankets...

 

And finishing my second sample of Bobbin lace, which I loved and will no doubt do again   :)

So all in all a busy couple of weeks. There were a few other projects that I have been working on, but I didn't want to include too many photo's Lol! And I'm sure there will be many more to come, as I just received some more spindles in a swap package :) And on that note I'm going to go and do some spinning :)

Happy Crafting everyone!
Hugs,
Liz :)

Handmade Christmas...

Well what can I say, other than it's getting closer to that time of the year yet again when Christmas presents need to be organised. I have been trying for the last few year to make many gifts, but often I have realise too late the Christmas is already here, and have run out of time to make them.

So, this year I have been thinking about it for the last few months or so and I have already started to make things nearly a whole two months before Christmas! That surely must be some kind of record! But then time starts to play little tricks on you ;) Where on earth did November go! Suddenly the extra month I had up my sleeve has totally DISAPPEARED! And the next Birthday madness is about to start too! Sigh... no matter, I am still going to have a go at this :)

So I have my list (and I've checked it more than twice!!) and I have somewhere around 30-40 gifts to make up and only about 25 days (give or take) till Christmas... hmmm... Well, in real honesty, there really is no option but to more forward at a fast pace to try and catch some of my time back.

First on my list of things to do is to finish sewing up the reusable gift bags I'm going to start using instead of wrapping everything up in wrapping paper. Each year we spend a ridiculous amount of money, not to mention resources, on sheets of pretty paper that normally get ripped up  in all the excitement and then fill the once empty recycling bin. So, to do my part, and to save some money and the environment at the same time, I'm going to make and decorate a reusable gift bag for everyone I'm making presents for. These bags will also double as Birthday bags, so more money and trees saved :) I know it's not the same as unwrapping a present covered in pretty paper, But each time I use the bags I'm hoping to add another embellishment to it, to make it fun like the wrapping paper in it's own way, and have people guessing what I'm going to put on them next.

So what are you making for Christmas that is crafty? Tree decorations? Table centers? I'd love to know! So please feel free to share or email me links to your favourite handmade Christmas items :)

Happy Crafting!
Liz :)

P.S. I almost forgot! I finished my first lace sample piece! So here is the photo as promised.

A Random Act of Kindness...

Have you ever wondered when you want to learn a new craft, and you really want to learn it, that things seem to happen so you can? Well this little story is about Bobbin lace, a very old handmade lace craft that I tried once when I was a little girl at a craft weekend and have wanted to learn it ever since.

Many years later, my desire to learn this intricate lacework hadn't lessened, so about two years ago I started to hunt around for some bobbins and a pillow so I could finally have a go at making lace. Well I soon discovered that both the bobbins and pillows could be expensive, and at the time I couldn't find anyone who did bobbin lace to ask where I would get these supplies, other than over seas. So I keep looking, hoping I might one day find something that would lead me in the right direction.

Earlier this year, we went away for a couple of weeks around New Year, and we visited a very old heritage town in Northern Victoria which had a fair few antique shops. It was in one of these shops that I found my first pair of bobbins.

So I felt like I might have finally found a bread crumb that would lead me to my next pair. I did some research into home made bobbins and managed to get part way through making some before I had to set them aside. I mentioned that I wanted to learn bobbin lace to one of the ladies at a local craft group, and she said she had some odd bobbins that she had been looking to find a home for. So then I had a few more bobbins to my first pair.

I then participated in a Ravelry swap and received a home made pillow, some pins and another 8 pairs of bobbins! I was almost ready to start :)

And then the lady from craft group gave me these bobbins the last time I went. She said she had mentioned to a friend of hers in Germany, that I was starting to learn bobbin lace and her friend sent all these bobbins over for me :) I nearly had tears in my eyes from the generosity of this completely unexpected gift, A Random Act of Kindness.

So with enough bobbins to have a serious go at starting to learn the basics, I did, I started!

And I have slowly been working through some basics and I now have a couple of inches of handmade lace! Until that moment when I received those last bobbins, I hadn't realised how much I had really wanted to learn to make lace.

I had been told by many that I must be nuts, how could I possibly make such a fine lace when I can't see the thread I'm using! But this only made me want to have a go at it even more. Just because I have limited sight, doesn't meant that I can have a go and enjoy the things I want to have a go at, and if anything, being told I can't do something for that reason, will make  want to do it so that I can show that I ACTUALLY CAN! :) So, Never let anything stop you from wanting and doing the things you love!

I will return with a photo of my finished sampler lace when it is done. Until then, Happy Crafting!