there has been improvement....

I've been practicing every day and I am becoming more comfortable with that tambour hook. I worked up this design on cloth with a variegated #20 thread and the cloth didn't fight me as much this time round.

click on the images....

I've ordered a larger hook....I think it will be larger....It's hard to tell by the numbers. I really enjoy working with the thicker threads.

Still working on the doll I showed you last time. She's turning out to be about 20" tall. Just finished her dress which needs to be blocked. Hopefully, it will be completed by my next post so I can mail it off.

I started doing a bit of collage work in a book I was about to put in the giveaway pile. It's about 2" thick and gluing or stitching some pages together makes it a great medium for paint or collage work. Need to make a cover for it.

collage work with paper, micron pen, paint pens and stencils.

....and I did pull this wrapping cloth out this morning. I worked on it in Karen Ruane's wrapping cloth class and it is so close to being finished so maybe if it's staring me in the face I'll actually finish it.

It's warmed up a bit. We start out in the 30s (F) in the morning but it gets close to 60 by afternoon and the sun is finally shining again. Have a great weekend.

back to a normal routine....

I have caught up with lots of things during this, somewhat free, time in December and the beginning of the new year. My one great accomplishment was learning tambour embroidery. I will show you my progress but I'm also heavy into knitting projects....even though the Downton Abbey coat is not yet finished. Another doll is in the making....

click on the images...

she will be about 18" tall and her dress will be white with a lacy edge...

A lace friend was wearing a sweater I admired so I decided it would be my next project. I will not start it until the coat is finished....but I am anxious to get it started.

the yarn is wool and bamboo and the color is Jasper...

....and some images on my tambour work. I have ordered more hooks to do some more experimenting. I like working with the thicker threads but the biggest hook I have is not big enough. I don't think tambour work is meant to be done with thicker threads but I will attempt it nevertheless.

some tambour beading in a tic-tac-toe pattern

working with sequins....they need to be closer together....more practice needed

and am attempting a real design with a variegated thread

It is still too cold here for me but there is a promise of warmer days this week.
Wishing you all a good week.

A New Carrier...

for my bobbin lace pillow. I've been using a carrier that I quilted many years ago and it is coming apart in places. Several years ago I purchased three small machine made quilts from a local discount store. I think I paid $10 for each of them. I planned on using them to make a cover for my sofa. Well, that never happened. One of them hangs over my sofa for cold winter evenings. I pulled out the second one and cut some panels to make a pouch big enough to hold my lace pillow. I stitched the lining fabric (from my stash) to the quilted cloth, turned it inside out and did the rest of the stitching by hand.

click on the images for close-ups...

the selvedge of the lining fabric  decorates the strap with a blanket stitched edge and the entire pouch has a crocheted edge.

the ties on the side hold the pillow in place

a gusset on one side to make inserting the pillow easier

it measures about 18" x 18"

I showed you a knitted doll jacket last week and this week, I finished the dress and the hat.

dolls dress and hat

I'm still working on the collar and cuffs made with the lace bits of fabric. Still have a bit more to stitch on the cuffs and then I'll start with the hand embroidery which is my favorite part.

collar and cuffs to be stitched onto a white vintage blouse

I just started reading an interesting book by Pam Grout....E2....more convincing evidence that your thoughts are what create your reality. Thought some of you might find it interesting as well. You can read the description and part of the book on Amazon....HERE.

Hope you are all having a great weekend.

lots of knitting this week...

I've been knitting doll clothing this week. I'm hoping it turns out the right size as it will be a gift and I'm not absolutely sure about the doll size. Nice that the pieces work up quickly. The jacket is finished. I'm working on the dress and there will also be a hat.

click on the images for close-ups.

doll clothes

I'm also working on making a collar and cuffs for a vintage white blouse that I've had for a while....just to dress it up a bit. Lots of bits and pieces stitched together and then there will be hand embellishing.

stitching a lace collar

Some of you might be familiar with The Tentmaker's of Cairo that have been making the rounds at some of the Quilt shows. They do such beautiful work and it's all needle turn applique. Bonnie McCaffrey made a video several years ago showing their procedure. If you've never seen this before, I think you will be amazed at the beautiful quilts they turn out and how it is done. I've watched this video several times and am still amazed and love hearing the history of how it all started so many years ago.

Here is the link to the video. It is about 15 minutes long.

The grass is still green but it's not looking very lush due to the lack of rain and the high temperatures. Autumn is on it's way here in Texas.
UPDATE: we've had a steady rain this evening for about an hour....wonderful.

 

Have a great weekend.