Re: [lace] survey of storage of lace pillows!!
Well Irene, you asked for it! Three (or four - if a member of the class returns one!) pillows in the boot of the car available for class members to borrow. One travel pillow with a garter in progress. One small travel pillow with the 'Easter Egg' on from one of the German books. One small travel pillow with a (small) Bucks Point motif on it. A large Newnham pillow with a fan on it - not done very much to the fan! A large flat pillow with a mat on it. Pillows not in Use: An unused huge block pillow, flat. A large (24) flat pillow, a hankie just having been finished. A horse-shoe shaped block/roller pillow. A round roller pillow. Several cookie pillows. Most of the pillows are hung on those hangers which fit over a door, and have about four hooks on them. The airing cupboard is in the Lace Place, so the hooks are hung on that, with the pillows over them. (It makes getting out new linen a bit difficult, but I am prepared to live with that...) Most of the ones in use are hanging on hangers on the clothes rail in the wardrobe unit, in their pillow bags - they seem fairly secure, and the bobbins don't come out of the elastic if the bobbins are hanging downwards. But listing them like that does make me think that I will have to curb this urge for more pillows! Carol - in a gloomy Suffolk UK, where we are now having a thunderstorm! Subject: Re: [lace] survey of storage of lace pillows!! - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [lace] survey of storage of lace pillows!!
I'm not really sure how many pillows I have. I think maybe 10 or 12. These are mine. DH has 3 or 4 or his own. I do have many of them on a nice rack with a cover. Bought the rack made the cover to keep the cat kids out of the pillows. Pillows are good sleeping places if mom lets them! :) Work in progress in some lace for a new communion ware cover for church and wedding garters for all three grandchildren. Decided to make garters and put them away as the older gkids are in their 20's already. Will probably also make hankies in the future. Also have a dimensional Christmas angel on the travel pillow and a try pillow with a snake on it. Just finished a baby gift of a fleece snuggle and an afgan. Shower was lovely even if I was so full of pain medication I was spacey. (DH says I always am) Have 2 more chemo treatments and hopefully I'm done then. Mary In overcast southern Michigan where everything is beautifully green and rainy. - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] Re: Pillow Survey
It can be a little sobering to do one of these, and discover how many pillows you really have... Most of my lace pillows live in a small closet in our guest bedroom. Some are on shelves, and some are in their carrying bags, hanging from hooks on a low rod. Two stay on stands in or near the living room. Okay, here's the inventory: 1. Travel pillow with blocks and optional roller 2. 24 Belgian seagrass pillow (which has been my favorite cookie pillow) 3. 20 straw cookie pillow (good, but I'm a little allergic to this one, so it doesn't get much use) 4. Cookie pillow that was designed for metal lacemaking that I haven't yet tried 5. Small ethafoam block pillow from Biggins 67. 2 student pillows (unused, to be sold) 8. Block pillow made by a friend, yet to be tried 9. A Simon Toustou large roller pillow, reserved for lengths, which I don't often make, but it's an excellent pillow, and a beautiful thing to boot 10. 16 Simon Toustou cookie pillow - handy for small motifs 11. Most-used block pillow that I purchased years ago from Holly Van Sciver, that are no longer made (a very sad thing, it is an excellent pillow) - this is the one that I use most, and travels to Brugge with me when I attend classes at the Kantcentrum. It sits in the living room on a handsome lace stand from Cathy Belleville, and has Binche in process at all times. I have extra blocks that have set-aside Binche pieces on them too... 12. A new (and now greatly cherished) Simon Toustou 22 cookie pillow with drawers, which is sitting on my large lacemaking stand, with a butterfly from Manuela Beck's Bright and Flighty in process Whew! And it's humbling to think that I really only use two of them actively. Ah, to have more time to make lace! Clare [demime 1.01d removed an attachment of type application/ms-tnef which had a name of winmail.dat] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] RE: Lace jabot
No Jackie, I aren't - I wish you'd write more! You tell it in such an interesting way! :-) Cheers, Helen, Aussie in steamy Denver - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] Straw vs ethafoam
As a total novice, I notice that many intermediate and experts have a mixture of both ethafoam and straw pillows. I'm wondering which pillows you prefer, and why. I know that the ethafoam can become worn easier after much use with the pins. Is it the same with the straw, or does the straw tend to 'regroup' better after being used over and over with the pins. I hope I'm making sense here. Most novices start with the ethafoam because of it's cheaper cost, but as you progress and become better, do you prefer to move up to straw because it's better to work with? I must say this is the most active I've been on this list, as I'm usually a lurker, who hasn't done any lace in some time, and I'm finding this thread most interesting. Karen Ontario, Canada - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] Straw pillows
I can't help but laugh when I read about getting straw out of a field and making a pillow. I did just that and got alot of straw to make a Honiton pillow. I had not seen or felt a real honiton pillow so when I made mine out of straw I started with the directions in Elsie Luxton's first book. I am a school teacher so I took it to school with me and had my students jump up and down on the straw pillow to make it hard. They loved putting straw in the pillow and then jumping up and down on it. I had heard that someone made one hard by running the car over it so that it mashed together well. I had no idea what a firm or hard honiton pillow felt like so I had no idea when to stop the jumping. The students soon burst the seams and I, not wanting to loose all that hard work, made a larger pillow case and put the old one in it and stuffed straw around the broken one. I then jumped on the pillow until it was done. Now I have a very hard, like wood hard, honiton pillow that weighs in around 15 lbs and is about 50 inches in diamiter and 12 inches high. My dear husband made me a special table to hold it. When I don't use the table to hold it, I put it on the floor and sit there to work on it. That is comfortable for me as I am used to working on the floor teaching 3,4 and 5 year olds. Karisse Killeen, TX - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] Straw vs. ethafoam
Ethafoam (polyethylene foam) pillows aren't available in the UK. Russell Perrin of SMP Lace either tried one or did a survey on ethafoam, and UK lacmakers didn't like it. It's the stuff that pipe lagging is made of, and, now becoming more common here, pool noodles. Here the foam pillows are known as either polystyrene - the white stuff - or Styrofoam - the usually blue, harder stuff with smaller air bubbles. Polystyrene is the most common and cheaper, covered with a layer of felt before being finally covered with cotton or polycotton fabric. They eventually crumble from having the pins put in and out, but not until they've had quite a bit of usage. Straw pillows take much longer to crumble, hold the pins very well, but are much heavier. I've disposed of my straw pillows because they were just to heavy for me - fine for someone younger and not arthritic. Jean in Poole - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] Fw: [lace-chat] Justice Jabots (Supreme Court Justices)
Okay, I've been following this thread with interest just waiting for someone to mention this treasure. I have a small book by The Border Lacemakers in England called Millennium Jabot Patterns. Seems the Border Lacemakers noticed that their Mayors' or Justices' (I'm not sure which or if it was some other office) lace was getting a bit tatty so decided to replace it for the Millennium. The designs are Torchon and lovely! There are edging adaptations with corners and most are around 2.5 wide. As I recall, we had a visit fromJean Johnson who was involved in the project and obtained the books for us. Linda, the string-a-holic in Oregon where we are having a spate of lovely summer weather interspersed with some really hot days. - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] Lace Pillow Survey
I've been enjoying this thread and the one about UFO's. I have one ufo that I got so fed up with that after 5 years I removed it from the pillow with the justification that I could always repin it and finish it (haha) I have four cookie pillows one of which is full of straw I think. It is much heavier that the others I have and has a wooden base. I was having trouble with storage as I live in a flat and don't have much room, so I spoke to a friend of mine who made me a box with several shelves so that I could just slide my pillows in. He even made them high enough so that I could still have my divider pins in. He is a wise man because he made a few extra shelves for me just in case I acquired any more pillows! I have a question and feel free to contact me off list. I would like to have a travel roller pillow and a block pillow but knowing me I won't get round to making them. Does anyone know of any suppliers or private makers in Australia who may be able to do it for me. Thanks Janette Humphrey In Canberra Australia where it snowed all day! - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: [lace] Straw vs ethafoam (long)
Hi Karen and Karisse ! First of all, I wonder if Karisse made a typo, or if your honiton pillow is really 50 in DIAMETER!! Did you mean circumferance? That makes a lot more sense. I have a straw filled honiton pillow which I bought from Holly VanSciver. She has them made to very strict standards, and this one is about 15 inches in diameter, roughly 46 inches in circumferance, and about 7 inches high. It is made so that it can be used on both sides. And yes, it is very, very firm...I can't depress it with my thumb. But the straw is very finely chopped, and so the pins go in fairly easily and hold extremely well. In other words, it is an ideal Honiton pillow. Too bad I don't do Honiton! I bought this before going to a Honiton workshop, and after finishing the project, moved on to other things. One of these days, I'll get back to it... it IS a beautiful lace! As for the question about straw vs. ethafoam... As Jean Nathan has already said, straw pillows definitely weigh a great deal more than foam. If you tote your pillow to classes or to Guild meetings on a regular basis, this consideration is worth noting. If you keep your pillow in place at home and rarely move it, then the characteristics of straw may appeal to you. I find that straw pillows come in a variety of qualities... even among those which have been professionally made. Straw is a catch-all word that is sometimes used to describe a variety of natural fibers found in pillows. I have a wonderful Swedish roller pillow (an ebay find, years ago...) which currently sells for two to three hundred dollars. It is filled - VERY firmly - with sea grass, and will probably last far longer than I will. There are no slubs or knots of grass joints to interfere with the smooth entry of the pins. And the weight of the pillow insures that it doesn't easily scoot around on your work surface - a consideration that I appreciate. But as the original price of this one suggests - good straw pillows take time and a great deal of expertise to make, so the price is usually fairly steep. I also have a straw filled pillow which has an unknown grass, and contains the slubs I've mentioned. Although it looks good (covered with linen, nice size, etc.) it isn't much fun to work on. I have an antique Danish pillow which is covered with dark green serge and is stuffed with straw. This was done very carefully, so there are no slubs, and it would be delightful to work on, but I don't want to risk hurting the wool cover (which already has one tiny hole in it...) This one is a beauty - its twin is pictured in Whiting's Old-time Tools and Toys of Needlework on page 180. If I weren't concerned about the integrity of an antique, this old pillow would still be cranking out lace after all these years!! Now to the man-made substances. They're relatively inexpensive. When you mail-order one, the shipping isn't more expensive than the pillow. They're portable. And, like straw, there is a range of quality among the options... Styrofoam is to be avoided. This is the stuff that comes formed around our computer parts, coffee pots, and most other breakable items when they're packaged for sale. Stick a pin in styrofoam just a few times and it breaks down to crumbs and is a mess. Ethafoam, according to Jean, is not available in the UK, but IS available in the US. Because the UK has a much longer tradition of lacemaking, and quite a few more experienced teachers spread over the country, they seemed to have been quick to discourage the use of ethafoam. It shares the qualities I spelled out above, but it has some negatives... The one I object to the most is that it is not quiet!! Put a pin in, and you hear a tiny squeek... pull it out, another squeek. Not loud, but just enough to be annoying to me. But it is self-healing, meaning that it will hold up to lots of torture by pins. And VERY lightweight. It comes pre-molded to shapes that work for us in the form of pillow kits from Snow Goose, etc. Builder's insulation foam is another foam which has been widely used. It can be purchased at very reasonable prices from building supply stores, and shaped with rasps to whatever shape you want. Easily cut with a simple hack saw, you can make blocks, cookies, whatever you want. Cover your foam with several layers of wool felting, and you have a very serviceable pillow. It doesn't have the singing feature I find in ethafoam, but I don't think it is quite as durable either (but haven't had time to test that suspicion). So that's my opinion, for what it's worth!! Hope you find it helpful! Clay Clay Blackwell [EMAIL PROTECTED] [Original Message] From: nerakmacd [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Clare Settle [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Lace list [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 7/17/2004 1:00:31 PM Subject: [lace] Straw vs ethafoam As a total novice, I notice that many intermediate and experts have a mixture of both ethafoam and straw pillows. I'm wondering which pillows you
Re: [lace] Straw vs ethafoam
My preference between straw and polystyrene, which is the choice here in UK, is for polystyrene. The straw lasts a great deal longer, and is almost impossible to wear out as far as I know, but straw is so heavy, and I just can't carry heavy things any more. Having said that, it is necessary for the polystyrene to have a bit of weight to it or I find I just cannot hold it down enough to make lace on it! Ann in Manchester, UK - Original Message - From: nerakmacd [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Clare Settle [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Lace list [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2004 6:54 PM Subject: [lace] Straw vs ethafoam I'm wondering which pillows you prefer, and why. I know that the ethafoam can become worn easier after much use with the pins. Is it the same with the straw, or does the straw tend to 'regroup' better after being used over and over with the pins. I hope I'm making sense here. Most novices start with the ethafoam because of it's cheaper cost, but as you progress and become better, do you prefer to move up to straw because it's better to work with? Karen Ontario, Canada - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] There's *loads* of time before the wedding.....
In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], Carol Adkinson [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes How long do people think it takes to make lace? She'd been watching me for quite some time, so she must have realised it isn't a speedy occupation. I was demonstrating at Coventry (Myth or Mystery exhibition) today - and the one realistic view of this we had was from a bloke! From what he said, it appears his mother had made lace, and he learnt to (and escaped when he left home) embroider - but still does cross stitch. He brought his son round the exhibition - an approximately 11 yr old - disappointed because the WW1 exhibition had finished, but we talked him into having a go at lace and he got on quite well. While going round the exhibition his dad was asking how long he thought things took to make. The lad did choose and vote for his favourite piece, too. First success of the day was to teach a lady to tat - she got the transfer straight off, and the most humorous comment award must go to the bloke (in his fifties at a guess) who asked why Cash's didn't have anything in the exhibition? Cash's are a famous Coventry firm specialising in woven tapes (particularly the customised ones for naming kid's clothing etc), and they do have pieces in the Godiva Exhibition on the ground floor, but not in the Lace Guild exhibition - my reply was that they hadn't entered the competition! There were a couple of girls (one about 8-9, the other about 10-12) who picked up the bobbin lace stitches straight off, the older of the two trying first, and working the stitches faster than I normally do, even though she had never done so before! She even came back for another go before their other two friends/sisters dragged them off. I'm working a garter at the moment, and I know I could do it in three weeks given the time, but working full time hours at the moment means I don't get as much spare time as I would like. BTW, Sue Babbs' Ring a Ring a Roses has now been put back on it's stand - it had fallen over when we went for the presentation. -- Jane Partridge - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace] Straw vs ethafoam
Hi all, Just had to delurk to correct the impression that Styrofoam is the stuff that comes as packing material. Here in the UK polystyrene is used as packing material and Styrofoam is the building material which is blue. It is manufactured in a completely different way as it is extruded into sheet form so is like bubble bath foam with lots of minute airbubbles in it construction. Polystyrene on the other hand is lots of balls compressed together which is why it comes apart so easily. Try breaking a piece of Styrofoam and it's hard to do. Nearly all my pillows are Styrofoam and I've had some of them (too many to count!) for over 10 years. Straw is beautiful to work on but as everybody else has said - rather heavy. When I started making lace there were no manufactured pillows and we had to make our own with cut straw, barley being the best choice. I've still got the first one I made but, boy, is it heavy as I put a strong chipboard base on it so you need to be a weight lifter to carry it about. The Kantcentrum in Brugge sells beautiful flat, seagrass pillows in a variety of sizes. A dream to use. Back to lurking after I reply about the Border Lace Jabots, Jenny - Original Message - From: Clay Blackwell [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: nerakmacd [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Lace list [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2004 10:15 PM Subject: RE: [lace] Straw vs ethafoam (long) Styrofoam is to be avoided. This is the stuff that comes formed around our computer parts, coffee pots, and most other breakable items when they're packaged for sale. Stick a pin in styrofoam just a few times and it breaks down to crumbs and is a mess. So that's my opinion, for what it's worth!! Hope you find it helpful! Clay Clay Blackwell [EMAIL PROTECTED] [Original Message] From: nerakmacd [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Clare Settle [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Lace list [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 7/17/2004 1:00:31 PM Subject: [lace] Straw vs ethafoam As a total novice, I notice that many intermediate and experts have a mixture of both ethafoam and straw pillows. I'm wondering which pillows you prefer, and why. I know that the ethafoam can become worn easier after much use with the pins. Is it the same with the straw, or does the straw tend to 'regroup' better after being used over and over with the pins. I hope I'm making sense here. Most novices start with the ethafoam because of it's cheaper cost, but as you progress and become better, do you prefer to move up to straw because it's better to work with? I must say this is the most active I've been on this list, as I'm usually a lurker, who hasn't done any lace in some time, and I'm finding this thread most interesting. Karen Ontario, Canada - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace] Fw: [lace-chat] Justice Jabots (Supreme Court Justices)
Hi all, Re. Border Lacemakers jabots. Yes, we made 9 jabots for the local Mayors for the Millennium and sold the pattern books. I designed the patterns for the jabots in Torchon as it meant that more lacemakers in our group could take part. As we had 2 strips of lace for the jabot and 1 each for the cuffs, there were 36 of our members who made the lace. One member made all the jabots and 9 other members attached the lace. Then we had a slap up do to present them. We had the High Sheriff of Monmouthshire, the Lord Mayor of Cardiff and 5 local mayors who came for the presentation which we had at the Lord Lieutenant's house. We had strawberries and wine and a great time was had by all. We occasionally see a picture in the newspapers of one or other of the mayors wearing their jabots with their red robes and chain of office. It was a great collective thing to do and some members of the Border Lacemakers are asking when we're going to do the next one We haven't decided what yet though! Back to lurkdom, Jenny - Original Message - From: Linda [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Arachne lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, July 16, 2004 10:08 PM Subject: [lace] Fw: [lace-chat] Justice Jabots (Supreme Court Justices) Okay, I've been following this thread with interest just waiting for someone to mention this treasure. I have a small book by The Border Lacemakers in England called Millennium Jabot Patterns. Seems the Border Lacemakers noticed that their Mayors' or Justices' (I'm not sure which or if it was some other office) lace was getting a bit tatty so decided to replace it for the Millennium. The designs are Torchon and lovely! There are edging adaptations with corners and most are around 2.5 wide. As I recall, we had a visit fromJean Johnson who was involved in the project and obtained the books for us. Linda, the string-a-holic in Oregon where we are having a spate of lovely summer weather interspersed with some really hot days. - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace] Salute to the Judicial System
on 7/15/04 5:59 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In designing the jabots, perhaps it would be wise to take into account the individual tastes of the justices, since compliance with jabot wearing will be proportional to the amount that the judges likes his or her jabot. I would just like to point out that fine handmade lace lasts at least two or three hundred years, whereas I doubt that any of our currently sitting justices, for better or for worse, will last that long. So the individual tastes of the justices is exactly _not_ the point. We are aiming at the institution, not the individuals. There is a very nice picture on p. 82 of Anne Kraatz's book (Lace: History and Fashion) of George Washington wearing a lace jabot. The jabot I have in mind would be something like the one illustrated in Pam Nottingham's Bucks Point Lacemaking on p. 115, Figure 138. The reason I say something like is because anybody who has ever worked on a group project knows that you can give the same pattern to a dozen very competent people, and you will get back a dozen different pieces similar but not the same. What I thought would be workable would be: we could all make the long narrow center insertion Pam gives the pattern on the next page, and it's so easy even a beginner could follow it and then each jabotmaker could choose her own edging from a collection of Bucks edgings that I can offer. This would not be an endless undertaking; even Pam calls it easily made. Look at what you started, Devon! Aurelia - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] A little grammar for lacemakers
Specifically, it's and its. There's a difference! It's really means it is, but you know how it is when people talk and talk, and go faster and faster; eventually a tiny little syllable gets gobbled up, and it is becomes it's. Abbreviated. Its is an entirely different matter. It's (note that!) a dignified, respectable word, a propertied word, denoting possession. For instance, you might say Lace has its charms. Lacemaking has its devotees. No abbreviations for this sturdy little word! Aurelia - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] Straw pillows
Yes, I did mean circumference not diameter. But I have another question. I have noticed in some of the pictures of people making bucks point lace that is very wide, like more than 4 inches wide, that they are making the lace on very large cylinder pillows. Would that help with the pattern coming up from the pillow? I have a problem with the pattern coming up from the pillow when I do bucks on a cookie pillow. My husband thinks it is the stretching of the pattern when I put the pins in. I know we have discussed this on lace before. I was wondering if spangled midland bobbins were used on those large cylinder pillows or just the bucks bonkers? Karisse Killeen, TX - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] Lace Pillow Survey
I have 2 large Straw-filled cookie pillows - 24inch diameter. (A couple of hours of blood, sweat, and tears to make each one, but they will last forever!). I also have a beaut 18inch Horsehair cookie pillow, a single sided Honiton pillow, a small Travel pillow, a larger roller pillow ( thick felt on a rolling pin, and mounted in a box, with a foam cushion cut to make the rest.), and a 10 inch square pillow, that fits into a polystyrene rest. This pillow is made from 2 thick felt pads, each about an inch deep, so it is a 2 inch deep pillow. The felt pads were from underneath old manual typewriters. - Remember them???!!! They make beaut pillows, and pins sit well in them, as the felt is so dense. My big roller is made from the the same felt. I have a couple of Polystyrene foam squares made into pillows for demonstrations. - Good enough for the bandage in coloured threads, and for folks to have a few minutes trial. They are kept stacked against the wall in the sewing room between the wall and the sewing table. To Helen in Denver - perhaps you should lend your empty pillow to your darling little daughter, and keep her interested in the craft! The pricking could be offset towards the front, if the pillow is a bit big for her. ( I may have to think about buying her a pillow of her own for Xmas!!) And Yes, I Know - one of the Straw pillows was made for you, many years ago! :)) You will have to come and get it, if you want it!! :)) :)) from Liz in Melbourne, Oz, [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
re: [lace] straw. vs. ethafoam
Hi everyone and Karen who asked ;) (I *love* talking about making pillows...) Straw is one of the 'traditional' stuffings for our pillows, because it was commonly available and served the purpose. It still serves the purpose, and I must say a compactly stuffed pillow of straw is a joy to work on - and heavy as others have mentioned. A 'Midlands bolster' that I made from the snatch of directions in the Cassell Lace Dictionary is so heavy it could almost warrant wheels and a transmission - then I could drive it to lace meetings LOL Straw, while not as ubiquitous as it once was, is still around, supposing one is near to a feed store or a farm (the sort for midnight straw-snitching?) - if it isn't cut into v. small lengths it will not stuff solidly enough for our lace purposes, and this, though easy, is a physically tough job - tough on the hands, or the cutting device (but worth it). One bale of straw from the tack and feed store cost me $3.50. I stuffed one honiton pillow, 2 student cookie pillows and the Midlands bolster, and hardly made a dint in the bale - eventually shared some with another lacemaker and composted all the rest. Be careful when buying a bale that you get proper straw - with none of the seed heads - or you might have little plants all throughout the garden if composting the leftovers (but then that might not be a bad thing either). Now, to ethafoam - and by this I meant the ethylene-based plastic foam that is self-healing. Pool noodles are made of it. One pool noodle will last you for years - a short piece will serve as a roller, and when that finally wears out from repeated pinnings after several years of lots of use, cut another piece off the noodle - which, in the meantime, can serve as a core around which a quilt, for instance, can be wrapped, for storage. Just remember where you've stored it. Ethafoam planks are expensive, when you do find a place that sells them retail (ethafoam is used as flotation in sports equipment, for instance) - try a plastics fabricator. In Western Canada, try Industrial Plastics. I was lucky and got an endcut of a 24 wide plank, enough to construct a block pillow. I really like using ethafoam - it is lightweight but the pins go in and hold, so well. I have a layer of wool fabric plus the top layer of cotton broadcloth for the work surface - I haven't noticed any squeaky noises from the pins (they might mutter under their breath a lot from the abuse they get from being crammed in the pincushion...). Generally, the ethafoam is for roller pillows or block pillows - but there are domed/cookie pillows available made of ethafoam - Kenn Van-Dieren has a selection. http://www.bobbinmaker.com/roundpillowkits.html (usual disclaimers) In WalMart recently I thought I saw the surf skimmers for sale - these are like paddle boards for the pool, but they have a tether on them which the user is to tie to the wrist and another bit of plastic machinery that I didn't quite understand - but thought it could easily be cut away if I would buy this device to use as a plastic base for a lace pillow - the skimmers appear to be made of ethafoam but I couldn't be too sure, as they are covered with a fabric, possibly nylon (in a jazzy print, to be sure). The large sign read '$5.00' which would have been a cheap risk - but the skimmers were still tagged at $14.99 - not a clerk in sight to ask, and I had other things to do - with summer stock being cleared might be worth investigating this sort of thing. If you've read this far, you deserve to know the snippet from the lace dictionary from which I made my Midlands bolster: ...a tube of strong material, gathered at both ends and stuffed very firmly with straw. An average size is 43 cm (17 in.) long with a circumference of 80 cm. (32 in.). cheers Bev in Sooke, BC (west coast of Canada) - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Fw: [lace] Lace Pillow Survey
- Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Elizabeth Ligeti [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, July 18, 2004 12:33 AM Subject: Re: [lace] Lace Pillow Survey Ok..that is the second person who mentioned horsehair pillows...will someone explain horse hair pillows to me?? Cearbhael - Original Message - From: Elizabeth Ligeti [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2004 10:04 PM Subject: [lace] Lace Pillow Survey I have 2 large Straw-filled cookie pillows - 24inch diameter. (A couple of hours of blood, sweat, and tears to make each one, but they will last forever!). I also have a beaut 18inch Horsehair cookie pillow, a single sided Honiton pillow, a small Travel pillow, a larger roller pillow ( thick felt on a rolling pin, and mounted in a box, with a foam cushion cut to make the rest.), and a 10 inch square pillow, that fits into a polystyrene rest. This pillow is made from 2 thick felt pads, each about an inch deep, so it is a 2 inch deep pillow. The felt pads were from underneath old manual typewriters. - Remember them???!!! They make beaut pillows, and pins sit well in them, as the felt is so dense. My big roller is made from the the same felt. I have a couple of Polystyrene foam squares made into pillows for demonstrations. - Good enough for the bandage in coloured threads, and for folks to have a few minutes trial. They are kept stacked against the wall in the sewing room between the wall and the sewing table. To Helen in Denver - perhaps you should lend your empty pillow to your darling little daughter, and keep her interested in the craft! The pricking could be offset towards the front, if the pillow is a bit big for her. ( I may have to think about buying her a pillow of her own for Xmas!!) And Yes, I Know - one of the Straw pillows was made for you, many years ago! :)) You will have to come and get it, if you want it!! :)) :)) from Liz in Melbourne, Oz, [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace-chat] I don't know who Maxine is
Thanks Mikki for the Maxine web site. I'm so like her. My favourite on that page is I was especially good this year - at whinin', moanin' and complainin' That's me absolutely. Get worse as I get older. Jean in Poole To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace-chat] Fabric covered boxes
I recently bought a fabric-covered box which, when you take the lid off falls apart to reveal a central tube, four smallish padded leaves, and, under them, four large padded leaves which were the walls of the box. I'm using it as a needlework box. Then I found another box with the walls made of 8 triangles, four with the flat side at the top and four with the flat side at the bottom so the base is diagonal to the top. Does anyone know if the falling-apart boxes have a name, and if there's a book or web site with these and other ideas for boxes made from fabric-covered thick card? Jean in Poole To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace-chat] Fabric covered boxes
Jean Nathan wrote (snip) Does anyone know if the falling-apart boxes have a name Etui - perhaps with some sort of accent on the 'e'. A friend gave me one recently for a birthday present, and explained that the name had some connection with the word for a cell - a little enclosed place. Mine is equipped with some very pretty sewing tools: I'm so delighted with it that I'm thinking of making an attempt to learn some needlelace, just for the joy of using it all. and if there's a book or web site with these and other ideas for boxes made from fabric-covered thick card? Would also be interested to hear if there is such. Also, some suggestions about sources for learning to make needlelace would be a help to me. Is it very difficult to learn without a teacher? Yours sincerely, Linda Walton, (in Goosnargh, Lancashire, U.K., where I'm helping my sister recover from an exhausting school year). To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace-chat] SP THANK YOU!!!
DEAR SP FROM UK Thank you for the several goods you sent me: all marvellous and usefull!!! The thread is very very nice and I am looking forward to using it!!! Happy holiday in the sun! Kisses Alessandra Italy To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace-chat] Bat control
Cearbhael, I sympathise, I really do! I once had a bird caught in my hair - the bird was stuck in between the panes of the sash windows, and when Dad freed it, it flew into the room. I shook my head, and my *very* long hair swirled about, and the dratted bird got caught. Like your experience, the bird had to be cut out of my hair, which of course had to be *evened up* and cut quite short, so I went off birds for quite a while after that - only cured when I was given a budgerigar in a cage about five years later! Carol, in a gloomy Suffolk UK - not the expected July weather at all! - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Jean Nathan [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2004 7:51 PM Subject: Re: [lace-chat] Bat control Well I have to disagree with that last statement since I had one get tangled in my hair as a 4 year old. I remember it well and they had to cut him out (cut my hair) I remember being VERY panicked but I don't hold it against them though I was terrified of them for years afterwards. I don't know why he got into my hair but he may have been pursuing a moth that got into my hair. I just remember being just across the street from our house at dusk and was screaming and rolling on the ground. Had all the neighbors and my family there lol. I had LOTS of hair then too. Used to be able to sit on it. My mother bobbed it after that. I do feel a certain sense of panic if they get in the house but I don't dislike them and they do roost in our old home here. They are in our chimney and keep me up in the morning especially in the spring when they just wake up from hibernation, are probably nesting and nights when it is storming and they are stuck inside. My bedroom wall is next to the chimney and I have very good hearing. Their high pitched squeals hurt my ears big time LOL. (I am the only one who hear those) The audible squeaking is merely irritating at times. Cearbhael - Original Message - From: Jean Nathan [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2004 2:39 AM Subject: [lace-chat] Bat control There's no truth to the old wives tale that they can become entangled inyour hair - their sonar is able to pick up even small objects, so they have no trouble locating and avoiding a human. Jean in Poole To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace-chat] There's *loads* of time before the wedding.....
Hi All, I had a wonderful day yesterday - I abandoned the rest of the family, all of whom were helping our daughter Claire to move all her belongings from our house/garage/lofts/corridors etc to her new home in Bildeston, to honour a lace demonstrating commitment I had made about twelve months ago, at a local village fete. I had a great time - lots of interest, and the 'Have-a-Go' pillows were in use all the time. However, one lady asked me about making beaded lace for her daughter's bridesmaids, the collar and cuffs of the bridal gown, and an edging for all the three layers of a full-length veil. When I asked when the wedding was, she said Oh - there's loads of time - don't worry about that. So - we got down to the nitty-gritty of what sort of lace for the bridesmaids etc., and a few more pertinent questions. It was only when I asked when *exactly* the wedding was that she said again It's ages yet - it's not till October this year. When I'd regained my voice, and picked myself up off the floor, I had to disappoint the poor lady - I'd have had trouble making just the garter in that time-scale. How long do people think it takes to make lace? She'd been watching me for quite some time, so she must have realised it isn't a speedy occupation. Carol - in Suffolk UK where it has been dull and muggy - maybe a really good thunder and lightning storm would clear the air, and freshen us all up. To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace-chat] Fabric covered boxes
Hello All, I purchased one some years ago, at Woolworth's (sniff, sniff), they called it a Victorian needlework box. It was complete with needles, thread, thimble, scissors and such. Everything had a place. Like, the needle case is in the center post and elastic sewn to the inside padding to hold scissors and the like. The fabric covering the box was navy blue floral trimmed in lace. I've seen a pattern for one but I can't remember where just now. Two places you might look are: www.interweavepress.com (piecework magazine) or www.hgtv.com (do a search under the Carol Duval Show) Candida Kilroy in sunny Westport To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace-chat] Fabric covered boxes
Thanks to those of you who posted. Now I've got something to go on I found several sites with examples. Eva sent me the URL for one made by Carol Duval with instructions: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/crafting/article/0,1789,HGTV_3352_1399574,00.html Then the following sells kits for several different shapes ( the two I have are the Square Etui and the Squashy Box), and I saw someone with a Pentagon Pyramid Box which contained all she needed for her tatting. Now I have the shapes, I can work out the patterns. The kits are reasonably priced, but they don't include the fabric: http://www.cottonpatch.co.uk/acatalog/Box_Making_Quilt_Kits_.html There are a couple of nice ones on: http://www.carolannec.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/boxes.htm http://www.berlinembroidery.com/miscellaneousembroideries.htm A six sided one on: http://www.vintagevogue.com/onlinestore/cat85_1.htm Jean in Poole To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace-chat] :-) Show and tell
This also came from Eva. A grammar school teacher from Miami, remembers this Oscar-worthy birth tableau from one of her students... I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second-grade classroom a few years back. When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and experience a little public speaking. And it gives me a break and some guaranteed entertainment.Usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it to school and talk about it, they're welcome. Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater. She holds up a snapshot of an infant. This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm going to tell you about his birthday. First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord. She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not To laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me.The kids are watching her in amazement. Then, about two Saturdays ago, My Mom starts saying and going, Oh,oh, oh!' Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. She walked around the house for, like an hour, 'Oh, oh, oh!' Now the kid's doing this hysterical duck walk, holding her back and groaning. My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn't have a sign on the car like the Domino's man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this. Erica lies down with her back against the wall. And then, pop!My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, And it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew! This kid has her legs spread and with her little hands are miming water flowing away. It was too much! Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push, and breathe, breathe.' They started counting, but never even got past ten. Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff they all said was from Mom's play-center, so there must be a lot of stuff inside there. Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat. I'm sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, if it's show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another Erica comes along. Jean in Poole To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace-chat] Re: [lace] Straw vs ethafoam
Karen, I think most of us have collections of pillows, both styrene and straw! It gets to be a bit of an obsession (like bobbins, divider pins, books, pieces of all sorts of equipment...) I think we like styrene (ethafoam?) because it is light, and easy to cart around. As you say, after a while, the centres do become degraded, and another one has to be acquired, but they really do last quite a time, so the cost of replacing doesn't come round too often. The straw ones are heavier!And if you are demonstrating, or carting pillows to classes, with all the other gear, that does become a consideration. Straw does last longer, as the little bits of straw fill up the pinholes when the pins are removed - unlike styrene - but whichever pillow type one is using, it soon becomes the one which you swear by! Another consideration with straw pillows is that there are sometimes pockets of the pillow which are like cement, and getting pins into it can be hard on the pins and the fingers - but you get used to it, I think! I have a lot of pillows (I teach, as well as make lace for my own enjoyment) several straw, and several styrene, and I think my criteria nowadays is that the pillow is about 24 across, and flat - other than that, I'm not too bothered whether it is straw or styrene! Happy lace-making to you, and may your pins never bend. Carol - in Suffolk UK, where it has turned into a lovely evening, after the rain and thunder storms earlier! Subject: [lace] Straw vs ethafoam I'm wondering which pillows you prefer, and why. To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace-chat] Maxine
Hi everyone Thanks for the link to the Maxine cartoons - I went to a site credited on one of the cartoons: http://www.crabbyroad.com which is a link to the hallmark site. Do a site search for Maxine - there are heaps of fun things ;) bye for now Bev in Sooke BC (west coast of Canada) To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace-chat] Christmas in July
A bit early for the 25th, but here in Cooma we had a really good dump of snow yesterday, and for the first time in the six years we've been here, it's still thick on the ground this morning, and still sitting on the limbs of my cypress trees, like giant Christmas trees! At least when it melts it will be some moisture into the ground - we've almost forgotten what rain is. This is also the first time in six years we've had kangaroos invading our grounds at night, and I've been forced to close my big iron gate to keep them out. Noelene in Cooma [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://members.ozemail.com.au/~nlafferty/ To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace-chat] Re Falling apart boxes
Here in Australia they are called Victorian Embroidery Boxes, I have made several and enjoy doing them. I have a six sided one to do ( have had it about 8 years ) and am still getting up the courage to have a go. Shirley in Corio, Oz. -- To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace-chat] Re: Appalachian bird seed puzzles? (fwd)
Hi everyone Anita had responded by private e-m to my query: (thanks again Anita!) Hello Bev and any other interested Arachniods, Well you know money is something there is a shortage of here in the hills, so over the years if you wanted to entertain yourself, a birdseed puzzle was pretty easy to come up with. You start with a pint or quart size cannin jar, then you gather cracked corn or birdseed (the cracked corn has more chaffe in it-so doesn't work as well), enough to almost fill the jar, then you gather bits and pieces of things: a stray button, a pin, a snipet of ribbon, a marble, a whole handful of little things. These are then placed in the jar with the birdseed, shake it all up. Seal the jar with lid and give it to a friend and they will drive themselves crazy trying to find all the objects. Oh, it's also a good idea to keep a list of all the objects give them a copy, so they know what they should be lookin for. Back to lurkdom here in the hills Anita Busy Bobbins To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
