Update on the blanket

It's been several weeks since the update on Shelby's blanket. In that time I've demonstrated at the Big E and the Milford Historical Society. We have had an NELG meeting and a CT Lace day. Oh yeah - I have been working many hours at my business.

An observation of myself - having a new project, and new projects coming into the pipe line is good for my creative side. Even if it only a half hour a day, it is rewarding to see a project continue to grow.

The second round of the burgandy color is now complete, yes all 154 squares. Round 3 is a dark pink. This round adds some texture with front post double crochet (FPDC)around. It does cover up lots of the burgandy of the 2nd round. That's okay as the hints of the burgandy will become more apparant as the rounds get completed.

Each square doesn't take too long - the first pink was about 1 minute, the 2nd round about 2.5 minutes, and the third round about 2-3 minutes. I hope that in another month from now the 3rd round will be completed and beginning round 4! Stay Tuned.

Gossamer Silk, From Spiders Spun

This is just amazing. Silk made from spider webs - mind you 11 feet long! This article from the NYT today shows a picture and give the account of how this silk cloth got here.

The American Museum of Natural History is the proud sponsor of this amazing Exhibit - click it and see the video about this amazing feat of man and beast.

This pic is from New Guinea. Thank you Tumaren for this picture.

Welcome to You

This blog is set aside for my thoughts and pictures about lace, crochet and those things fiber.

As I organize the information from my original blog, you may come across some duplicate entries and of course other blog keeping chores that will need to be taken care of.

The bobbins pictured here are continental bobbins as they are from the "continent" (Europe). Bobbins are specifically related to where you lived. Since travel was not an option (back in the 1600s and before) each village evolved into their speciality of lace and the tools, like these bobbins.

Stop back again as I get my "english" ready for a picture.

So Welcome to You - I hope you enjoy and learn about these art forms.

Lace Making in Milford

Yesterday was spent demonstrating bobbin lace making at the Milford Historic Society. Barbara, and her daughter Barbara join in for the morning, and Winann and I spent the day there. It was a bit cloudy all day, yet cool, the day was really quite nice. Sitting only a half block off the harbor, it is a good day.

We invited those in to see our wares, (not for sale ) and how to make lace and even sit down and make some lace. Cross, Twist, Cross as we gave instructions to adults and children and we continue to make our snake bookmarks. It is truly wonderful when the visitor looks at the pillows with lots of bobbins on them and finds that it is only two pairs that it begins with. I had a set of twins, a three-some of little brothers, and a group of assorted kids accompanied by with their parents and grandparents.

Of course there were the questions of 'how much can you make' and 'how long' , it's the making of the lace, the process, that is the pleasure. Listening to the clinking of the bobbins as they move across the pillow and the lace unfold as each Cross, Twist, Pin is made is a special music to a lace makers' ears.
It was a great day for lace and a great day to teach lace.

If you are out an about - us Lace Makers will be staffing the Craft Building at the Big E. Yours truly will be there for the morning shift on the 23rd of September.

Bobbin Lace Making this weekend!

If you are looking for us lace makers this weekend - check out the Milford Historical Society . Unfortunately this site is not updated for this Saturday's event. From 10 to 4pm, on their grounds at 34 High Street, Milford, CT, they are having their annual event. There will be tours, bake sale, us Lace Makers!, geneology folks, and lots of other things to do. It's a rain or shine event. Stop by and say hello - try your hand at a cross and a twist!

Shelby's Blanket

If you saw my blog a week or so ago, you saw the blankets for Shelby's older sisters. It's become tradition - and now it is Shelby's time. She picked out her blanket, colors were approved and I'm on my way!

The basics is that the blanket is comprised of 154 squares with 7 rounds each - the 8th round is the joining round. So far this is where we are:

The first round - lite pink is complete! All 154 of them! The second round - adding a burgandy like color is on about 130 of them so far. Progress!