3rd CLOTH

I am finished with the 3rd. cloth and have learned a tremendous amount and have really enjoyed myself. A nice change for me from cq and all the colors.

The whole cloth is finished except I have the lace in the upper right corner not sewn down yet. It is a continuation piece of the pretty piece sewn on the cloth. I actually bought this from someone I did not know at the Connecticut retreat last year. It had 2 very pretty ends and then narrowed in to a long piece about 4" across. was a beautiful piece and hated to cut it. You will see in the pics that I showed it going 2 different ways. I have decided to have it go to the corner and then will sew it and the little puff down.

We start our new class next week with Karen Ruane of Contemporary Embroidery. If you are not aware of her blog do yourself a treat and go see her wonderful work. words cannot describe. http://www.karenruane.blogspot.com

ASSORTED PUFFS

The above are puffs that I sat and made yesterday. It was a dull, rainy day and I spent it all working on the puffs. They are a lot of fun. I made two kinds. The one is where you do French knots all around a large circle then draw it in like you would when making yoyos. This way when gathered all the knots are on top.

The other is cutwork done first then a small piece of whatever lace you want is put in the middle then gathered around like above. This time the cutwork and lace appear on top. I also did French Knots around the cutwork and really liked that look.

This class has been wonderful and I can't wait for the next one (Extended Embellishment) to start next week.

LACE COLLARS

We are having company coming for dinner tonight and I have been finally sorting and putting away (into my sewing messy area - will keep the door closed) the lace pieces I bought last Sat. at the flea market.

I mentioned there was a bag marked lace collars but it also had other things in it and I pulled out a few things I knew I wouldn't use and gave them back to the gal so she could sell them to someone else. Still really had no idea until I had soaked, washed and let them dry that there actually were some very pretty collars in there.

I have posted some pics and a closeup pic of the one collar that I just love. It is an heirloom sewing one where all the individual pieces have been joined with entredeux to make the collar. I used to do a lot of that type of sewing when my grandaughter was little. There also was a beautiful circle of Battenburg lace that I am sure I will never cut up. Some things I cannot let myself cut. Also there was a crocheted piece made as a liner for probably a silver bread tray. I show one of the bunch of small coasters and the pile beside it of 11 in all. I have come to the conclsion lately that these were made in such amounbts to be used as coasters rather than doilies. I do not think they would make such an amount of small ones as doilies.

I also recently found 6 more identical ones to the ones I showed awhile back when I was making the centre of the crazy quilt with the Queens on them. Must have been a popular pattern with all the tatters.

EXTRAVAGANZA FLEA MARKET

This was the weekend of the Renninger's Extravaganza flea market. I went on sat. morning and found a few things but what tickled me more then anything was a little vase of flowers made out of shells. They were so unique, hand painted where necessary to define a flower and made by someone with a lot of patience. The flowers were only 5.00 and she said the vase can go with it. I didn't take a good picture of it but it is Czech glass in the pinwheel pattern. The vase alone is worth more then 5.00. I have a large silver compote filled with shells in the sunroom so I put this little vase right with it. I can't stop looking at them.

The booth where I found this I also found another great stash of lace and her prices were very reasonable. Lots of beautiful little pieces and a bagfull of old collars. I spent the last 2 days oxying and bleaching again and have another stash. I will use them in the project I am working on right now. I am working on cloth #3 and will show it to you in a day or two.

I should have added that I was in our Publix supermarket today buying a few things and I picked up a copy of Flea Market Finds and was leafing through it while waiting and what did I see but a huge 5-6 page feature on Renninger's flea market - precisely their Extravaganza weekend. I was going to buy it just to show then looked at the price of 9.99 and thought what has happened to magazines. You can now get a subrscription to many for 10 - 12.00 per year and yet they want 9.99 for one.
i put it back and thought you go there every weekend almost so you don't need the article. Rather spend the $10.00 on more lace - he he. I probably should buy it as a memento as it had a lot of references to Mount Dora in there. Will let you know if I give in.

SECOND CLOTH FINISHED

Here are pics of my second cloth. I am still learning and still trying new things.
Karen is offering a new class starting early March and I think I will sign up. It is an extended class of this one and we will also be working on paper as she shows on her blog. that will be a new one for me.

the last pic, which should have been the first, is stretched on to a couple of pieces of cork then lightly sprayed with water. It dries overnight and you have a very nice smooth look. So far it has not damaged any of the fabrics I have worked with. I still think as a crazy quilter where you would never dream of touching water near your piece.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

This post is a flowery sort. Last Monday I had our garden club circle here for a morning meeting. A young gal who owns a florist shop in downtown Mt. Dora was giving us a demonstration on flower arranging. It was to start at 10 and she would be here at 9.30. Around 10 I heard she was on her way. Around 10.30 I had a call that she was on her way but had run out of gas and had to walk to a gas station. I wondered if we would ever get going. Well she finally arrived and went ahead with the program. She did a lovely small arangement with yellow mums that you could buy as a little pick me up gift for a friend at $8.00. Very reasonable and a good idea to be able to get something that inexpensive. Second she made a large arrangement and it was very pretty. When our meeting time was almost over we started the general meeting and had yet to serve coffee and goodies. Turned ot be a little lunch for us. All was well in the long run. No one reads this from my neighbours or clubs otherwise I wouldn't have mentioned the lateness above but my heavens who runs out of gas on their way to an appt.

I had bought flowers to put around the house and I made a little grouping for the kitchen table in small bottles and vases and filled a kitchen jug with the balance of flowers. It is still looking good a week later. I took a few pictures also of the pansy orchid which is still going strong and the terrarium with its orchids.

I should have mentioned that we put our names into a dish and they drew 2 names. The little one went to one of the gals and the other larger arrangement went to Moi.
Surprise. I think they rigged it so I would get it.

I wish you all a very Happy Valentines Day. FredaB

1ST FABRIC FINISHED

Here are soe pics of the first fabric I finished in Karen Ruane's class. All I have left to do on this one is to sew on the two buttons on the bottom right side once the fabric is backed. I am leaving them off to make the sewing easier. Right now they are just sitting there.

I am working on #2 and #3 simultaneously. I go back and forth. I also showed above a small sample cloth I tried out a few things before doing them on my cloth. I have more cutwork and applique to try plus chinese buttons still to do.

After starting on 2 and 3 I found that I had cut #1 cloth about 1" shorter in width and had already embroidered on the other two so could not cut them down easily. I added extra fabric on the bottom and added the lace trim plus french knots, etc.
I hope it doesn't look too much like an add on.