Crafters Corner 2023/2024

Good morning

Is your beautiful lace made with something like this @Sheal ?

 

That's a very old lace cushion with a roller @Coccinella. A roller is used for producing long lengths of lace for edging.

Internet pictures...this is the domed shape of my cushion. The bobbins here are old.


Bobbins can be synthetic or wood. Different types of wood provide different colours and can be produced in different styles. These in both pictures below are modern bobbins, the type I used.



These below have been hand painted and have what are called spangles attached. Beads of different kinds can be used for them but not plastic. The spangles are usually attached to the bobbins with brass wire and they act as a weight to keep the threads taut.



If I can find mine I will take some pictures for you but I suspect they are tucked away in the loft of my house.

 

Thank you @Sheal.

 

A few of my recent drawings….

I’m doing an Animal Alphabet series

 

Wow, I love your drawings @Sian in Belgium .

 

Those drawings are fantastic @Sian in Belgium ! I can’t draw to save my life so am seriously envious

 

Those are excellent as usual @Sian in Belgium !

 

Those drawings are amazing @Sian in Belgium.
The Crocodile is very effective and the Dormouse is my favourite.

 

I’m impressed by all the beautiful artwork posted here. You’re all very talented.
I have done embroidery and knitting in the past, but not for many years. It was my Mum who had the real talent and I have a lot of her embroideries, cross stitch work and tapestries. Hours and hours of work went into them.
I soon get fed up - I’ve an embroidery I bought in France well over 30 years ago, still incomplete. Perhaps one day, I’ll finish it.

 

@Coccinella I too prefer your flowers without your bulbs. beautiful.

@Sian in Belgium your drawings are stunning.

@Blue arbour I started my first ever counted cross stitch after managing to arrange to visit the in-laws over a long weekend which turned out to be the quarter finals of a world cup. They are all football mad. I am not so bought myself something to do. It is surprisingly relaxing - till you make a mistake and have to undo and re-do.

Now I find I can't just sit and watch TV of an evening so always have some embroidery or some finishing of a garment or project to keep my hands busy. It can be very zen.

 

@Blue arbour I had a cross stitch that sat half finished at the back of a wardrobe for 25 years, waiting for my girls to grow up. Covid lockdowns made me get it back out, and I have been loving stitching (of all sorts) ever since !

before…..




After….


…..

 

@Obelix-Vendée I’m exactly the same - love having something on the go for the evenings. I mostly don’t “watch” telly anymore, just listen to it

 

That’s lovely @Chicky. There’s hope for me yet.

 

Too right @Chicky . I mostly listen to TV these days unless a cat or dog lands for a cuddle and then I can't sew very well.

I hasten to add that first cross stitch all those years ago was an almost vertical learning curve. I'd seen my mum doing tent stitch tapestries (not my thing) and assumed the pattern would be printed on the fabric. I did know enough to buy a frame to hold it taught but that's it.

 

I’m not much of a crafter, but I thought you’d like to see our local postbox! I have no idea who does all this work, but a lot of effort and talent involved. It’s also good to see that it has been there for a couple of weeks and hasn’t been damaged or vandalised.