What Can I Do Next.....?

Where have I been and what have I been doing?  Pondering many things, dear ones.  Seems I need to reorganize the "stash", which is currently hole up in numerous cupboards, drawers, chests and boxes.  Lord, how did I acquire so much?

My sister and I share tales of our respective stashes and find frequent review of our holdings, just to make sure nothing gets overlooked or lost, is necessary.  This practice has a delightful fringe benefit....inspiration for something new.  Case in point, last year, she and I took two road trips in which we visited many delightful shops and made multiple purchases each.  I uncovered one such purchase of threads that was surely destined for something spectacular but somehow this packet of threads has gotten separated from the original project.  Ah, well, they'll find their way into something at sometime, right?

What's New?

Its been a very long time since I have successfully sewn a garment that turned out as planned.  That, Dear Reader, was my sister's wedding dress in 1989!!  The pattern she chose was just right for her.  That she actually found the exact fabric shown on the pattern envelope's photo was serendipitous to say the least.  Princess-style bodice with an organza over blouse embroidered in three dimensional flowers with seed pearls and a background of embroidered leaves.  One selvage edge was scalloped, the other a drape of emboidered leaves - the latter made a perfect finished edge for the full  sleeves that were gathered just above the elbow.  Covered buttons with closely spaced loop closures at the top and along the the under-bodice opening were encased by a row of paired embroidered leaves that bordered the opening and terminated in the center of the front boat neckline with a spray of embroidered leaves.  A full skirt, in a matching creamy peau de soie,  had motifs of the embroidered flowers and leaves just above the skirt hem.

Probably the most fun I've had making anything.   To have it turn out so well and the bride be so happy with it was more than I could ask for.

What's Up Next...?

Well, boys and girls, I've been looking into restringing a knotted Jade necklace inherited from my mother that is in several lengths due to damaged silk cord.  Have had this piece salted away until I could master the  knotting of silk cord that separates each bead.  The knots are used to prevent loss of expensive cultured pearls or other precious/semi-precious beads.  The test project came courtesy of my local Embroiderers Guild of America Chapter [EGA] using fine silk cord knotted between fresh water pearls. The pearls are copper with a corresponding cord.  The technique is rather simple and the tools are few - my kind of craft - your fingers and a pair of needle nose tweezers.   I found the work can be tedious for the beginner but diligence will produce a rhythm much like any needlework where the motions are repeated over and over again.   With a bit more practice on inexpensive supplies, I should soon be ready to attempt restringing the lovely Jade necklace above.  Especially since I've found a supplier for the silk cord.



Decided to cut to the chase and ordered a drawing plate for finishing the Viking knit from my last post from an Etsy vendor - great site that.  Lots of brilliant artists doing all sorts of stuff.  Displaying, selling, etc.  If I ever get to the point that I finish ANY of this stuff I'm working on, maybe.....

The drawing plate arrived in short order and was put to work compressing and lengthening the bit of "knitted" wire I'd completed.  Used 28 gauge wire which was finer than the 24 gauge recommended in the tutorial I was following but as the results were for the most part

favorable, I found the whole process rewarding.  I'll try using the recommend gauge wire next time along with the 20 gauge wire for the connecting rings and clasp.  The bracelet picture at right has no commercially manufactured parts.  Not bad for a first effort, if I do say so myself.  I intend to get much fancier with the clasps in future.