Bobbin Lace Workshop

Last Saturday I attended a Bobbin Lace workshop. I must say that there are a lot of tutorials about lacemaking, for example on www.youtube.com, but none of them revealed little tips and secrets that I've learnt from alive Bobbin Lace workshop.

I've been waiting for this day for a long time and was so excited that 2 hours of driving went fast. At the workshop we've been giving all necessary supplies, including a pillow, bobbins, pins, charts, thread and some other essential little things.

Did you know that the idea of Bobbin lace started from the nets that fishermen used?

Did you know that hundreds of years ago you had to go to the school to learn Bobbin Lace?

We have learnt how to work out 3 main stitches in Bobbin Lace. Here is my work in progress,

and here is the result of my work, just a piece to practice the main stitches with a couple of mistakes. Practice, practice, practice! To make this little piece of 4" took me 3 hours. I hope later I will be able to do it faster.

So, what I've learnt so far? First of all, as we say in Russian "Не так страшен чёрт, как его малюют". I can do it, I liked it and I will keep working on mastering my skills in Bobbin Lace. First, I am planning to finish a couple of projects in real size for a practice and then I will try my hands in miniature. To work Bobbin Lace in miniature I purchased special size of miniature pins and very fine cotton thread. I hope later I will be able to make a little tutorial, or at least to show how it works. I am not planning to buy fancy bobbins yet, I purchased the cheapest in a case if I will be bored with it too fast. As for a pillow, there is a way to make a pillow by yourself, but I will tell you how to make it later. Did you know that people used sticks and bones for bobbin lace? Did you know that the poem "One, two, buckle my shoe" is about a bobbin lace? Did you know that John Heathcoat invented a machine that can make bobbin lace? No? Me either. Live and learn! more on Bobbin Lace later...

Bread, please...

I am back to the normal life. I must say I missed all of you, your comments and the Blogger Land. The first thing that came up into my mind was why not to play with a polymer clay. You know, it is not my specialty, but why not to try. Something different, true? So, Nataly and I went to the local Artist's Supplies store and bought some Fimo, Artist's pastels and some other supplies. At home each of us was busy with our own projects: Nataly started making flowers, I decided to make some bread. This is the result of my first attempt in working with Fimo.

Silk Ribbon Romance. Part 7.

Last but not least. My inspiration is almost over. I think it will be a final project with silk ribbon for now. One more wall picture.

Silk Ribbon Romance. Part 6.

One more try with working silk ribbon on a button footstool. Can you see a butterfly there?

Silk Ribbon Romance. Part 5.

Today I wanted to experiment a little bit with applying silk ribbon on the mini furniture. I can't say I am very satisfied with what I've got. I weaved silk ribbon (2mm) and made a seat cover for a footstool

and another cover for a button footstool

WORK IN PROGRESS: Vera Rug, 1/12th scale

I worked a little bit on my rug that is named after my Mom, "Vera" that means "Faith" in English, and measures 5" x 8" and is working on 49 count silk gauze.

The design of this rug is very, I mean it, very detailed, and I am having really hard time to keep up with it. I worked with white color thread and finished background in left upper corner.

I will be so happy when I finish it...

Silk Ribbon Romance. Part 4.

More wall pictures in 1/12th scale and again in silk ribbon. I decided to add a butterfly this time.

Royal Treasure Box

I keep experimenting with silk ribbon in 1/12th scale and today I started a new project - another wall picture with flowers and a butterfly. Today I want to show you what I've been working on recently. It is not a miniature, it is a gift for my little daughter. She will be 6 on the 3rd of March and I want her to have this Treasure/Jewelry Box that I embroidered for her. The top was done in Goldwork. At the bottom of it I wrote in Russian "Maмa", but I am sure whatever language you speak, you understand it, true?

I hope you wouldn't mind tons of images of the process. I just wanted to share my excitement with you, and don't be too strict to me - this is my first time working with Gold Metallic threads. This is how the project looked like when I started.

First, I cut out the felt and gold fabric shapes for the flower and the bud, then placed the felt pieces on each design shape and couched all around the edges. After that I placed the gold fabric over the felt and couched all around the edges as well.

The cup of the flower and 3 small teadrop shapes above the Iris petals are outlined with back stitches and satin stitch

and 3 mm gold beads are added in each teadrop.

After that I worked on the Centre of Iris Flower. I couched stretched Gold Pearl Sadi with 1 strand of Gold Handsew thread. In the middle I stitched a 3 mm gold bead in the centre and 4 Bronze Iris Miyauki square beads around this. In between them I added Fushia Delica beads.

The Cup of Flower is done with Gold Rajcord in trellis stitched over the purple satin stitch. The cup is outlined with stretched Gold Pearl Sadi, couched with Gold Handsew thread.

Iris petals are outlined with stretched Gold Pearl Sadi

The Bud is outlined with stretched Gold Pearl Sadi with 1 strand of Gold handsew thread and purple Delica and fushia beads are added to the bud and petals.

Then I made a little break and finished the whole project yesterday couching trailing vine, curved leaves and Iris stem.

After that I finished the top, attached it to the Treasure Box (size 7 x 4 x 2.75")

... and it is ready

Now Nataly will keep all her jewelry in this Royal Treasure Box, designed by Irene Junkuhn, stitched by me.

Silk Ribbon Romance. Part 3.

I am in silk ribbon right now, can't you tell? Today I finished a new wall picture and it is my design. I've been in that kind of color mood all day today.

Silk Ribbon Romance. Part 2.

This is another design of mine worked with silk ribbon 2 mm wide, decorated with french knots and green and yellow beads 22 size.

Silk Ribbon Romance. Part 1.

I wanted to play with silk ribbon in 1/12th scale for a long time. Here comes my first project: wall picture that depicts a bouquet of flowers made with silk ribbon 2mm wide, decorated with 3 yellow beads 22 size.

Stitchery-Witchery Project

Last Saturday I got my late Christmas gift from one of the members of our local dollhouse club. This is a shelf with some witchery stuff for my Stitchery-Witchery project.

In my opinion, it looks great, isn't it? There are 3 shelves. On the top a little mouse is sitting. I tried to make a close-up pictures of the mouse but it didn't work for me at all.

Anyway, for my Stitchery-Witchery project I will add more details later and I want to add a little bit of aging to the shelf itself.

I also finished braiding a rug today for the same project. The most annoying and boring part of making a braided rug for me is braiding itself and fun part is to make the rug. The colors that I picked up were bright and variegated,

but mixed together they gave me exactly that look that I've been looking for this project

The furniture has been done by me. The cupboard was put together from the McQueenie's kit and crackled. If you noticed there is a little gap between the back and the right side of the self. It has been done in purpose. You will see later why.

I cut the pieces of the rocking chair on scroll saw and aged it after putting it together.

I am still collecting the accessories for my Stitchery-Witchery project. I need to make a witch, Vanessa, but I am not good at making dolls. Anyway, I will try.