Well I have been plugging away on my Lier Lace sampler.  It's a lot of stitches!!! A whole lot.........
The top row left got a little wonkie so I will have to pull it out.  I decided to take a rest and go onto something else I am working on. 
This has quelled my fears about working on tulle and given me some knowledge about how to mount the tulle on the frame.  So I decided to experiment on regular tulle from my stash.

 The flower I am working on is a carnation ... maybe ... The bottom three layers will be tulle outlined in gold metallic thread.  I have not figured out a good way to transfer the design onto the tulle so I traced the flower and cut it out of heavy paper.  Then I sewed it to the tulle and outlined it in the metallic thread.  Next I will carefully cut them out of the tulle. 

The flower designs I am working on are traced  onto  silk organza.
 I used a new pen to transfer the design (Pilot  FriXion erasable) I purchased at a textile show that disappears when heat is applied... and it does!

The top of the flower will be the gold velvet outlined in tiny size 15 gold steal cut beads I hoard.  The design is Persian and symmetrical.  so I am doing all the fun stuff first before I trace the whole design onto the organza background and add the flowers.

Last Friday I was the featured artist at  the Windowbox Boutique in Stafford Springs CT.  On the  second Friday of each month the main street is alive with people.  The local theater had the doors wide open and had a live jazz band playing.  The shops were open and many featured artists of one type or another and had goodies to munch on.   It was a great time.  I did demo's and had my quilt on display and made some flowers to sell.

Great time!!

My newest adventure!!

 Ever since I found this book on Lier Lace, which is made using a tambour hook, I have been intrigued with it.  I found a website http://www.liersekant.be/lierlace.htm left several messages but got no reply.  

Several weeks ago I got an e-mail from a follower in Germany looking for some information and in our correspondence she mentioned another teacher of  Lier and gave me her website.
The teachers name is Fie van Dyk and has a website
 lierse-kant.com.   I ordered the books with of course the English translation and threads and tulle.

It took me all day Saturday to figure out how to mount the tulle so it was square.  The sampler below is the suggested  piece for the introduction to Lier Lace.

One chain stitch in every "!@#***" hole!

Perhaps my biggest lesson is that all tulle is not created equal.  I have attempted to embroider on Joanne's Fabrics cheep tulle with a little success.  This is cotton tulle....what color can I dye it??? ... and is $80.00 a meter 

I am probably obsessed with everything Lesage but I came across these pictures on the net the other day and I couldn't stop myself from copying them .  I would credit the place I got them but I am sure by the angle they were taken that the person was sitting and took them without permission. 

Professional course for Interior Decorating (150 hours of classroom training):

Level V "Cachemir" working with leather and can be made into an Obi Belt (30 hours of classroom training):

Level VI "Butterflies"working silk with the Luneville (tambour) Hook.  (30 hours of classroom training):

Level VIII "Giveny"  Totally beautiful ... the background is all sequins and chain stitch.  The silk flowers and leaves are sewn on. 
(42 hours of classroom training):

I guess I have to examine every detail or these beauties as I have no plans at this time to take another class.

I love working with Raffia and when I came across these large 25mm cabochon stones at Beads East I loved them and saw flower centers!!  They were expensive ..... happily for me they were on sale, but sadly for me Beads East is going wholesale and will not be open to the public after June 1.  

Anyway I worked up some wacky flowers and now have to mount and frame them.

This is also Brimfield week!!
Had a great time ... starting on Monday with the textile show at the Host Hotel in Sturbridge MA and then onto Brimfield Antique and Flea Mkt. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and only part of Friday as we wimped out with the rain!!  Lots of nail-heads, sequins, buttons and just plain weird stuff!!
The top left is a $2 feathered hat that would make the beginnings of  a fabulous birds nest.  I love looking at the nests that Vicki of two bags full  makes and dream that some day I may make one ... or not....  anyway I have the beginnings of one so some day I may!!

This 3 yard piece of Edwardian trim doesn't look like much and was not in the best shape but it has the sweetest oval nail-heads ranging in size from 3mm to 6mm.

To close just wanted to show you the "selfi" my dauther took of us on Sunday.  Faces and shoes!!  She posted it on Facebook with a lovely note.
Love you Sabrina you touched my heart!!!

Modern Wall Hanging

My son is a modern young man .... you  know sleek leather couches no fru fru modern art etc. so  I am experimenting with a modern art
wall hanging.

I have taken multiple pictures ....  none very good.  Its hard to photograph black and shiny.  I am still working on the background.

A few close ups

Today I will  put my chop on the bottom and finish the black beading background.

Welcome to Day Four of the 

Superpower Blog Hop .

I did not know when I took tambour hook classes that it was going to be an addition.   It has become my passion, my addition and I consider it my  SUPERPOWER!!!

 This is a doodle experimenting with different shades and kinds of metallic machine embroidery threads and sequins.

Medieval she dog

Sequin scales

Flower design for a purse

Rows of chain stitches and rivers of sequins.

2mm tiny sequins

Rows of beads and sequins for the background on my "Ravel" quilt 

 This is a class piece from Lesage. The tambour hook was used to do the gold work.  I wanted to show  the use of  DMC floss.   The flowers in lavender , and the dark and medium pink use 6 strands of DMC.  The light pink and dark purple is raffia, and the leaves are chenille.

  This is the piece I am currently working on.  I am making this wall hanging for my son who is a modern kind of kid.  Sorry to say it is still in progress.  The weather today was rainy and not a good day to take pictures.  

Visit today's other participants to see 

what their SUPERPOWERS are!!

krislovesfabric

My Addition to Quilting

Needle and Hook (you are here)

Sew Incredibly Crazy

Lixie Makes It

Seams To Be Sew

I’d like to thank Madam Samm, DMC and Pauline for organizing and sponsoring another great Blog Hop.

Two projects finished a million to go!!

My Form and Draping class is over.  The dress form is completed and I also learned some very basic draping and pattern adjustment skills.  The class, part of the Master Seamstress program at the University of Rhode Island , was well done and I am really tempted to take additional classes.  It is a 2 hour drive from my house so it will have to be something I am really interested in doing... maybe a Chanel jacket!!

I also finished the purse I was designing.  It turned out to be a real stash buster!! I finished beading the pocket on the front that I received as a gift (see previous post),  the brown leather was from an on-line tambour beader friend that passed away and left me his supplies, and the side panels was a remnant from a finger labyrinth I made for our church fair.
Back view

Shoulder Strap

Side view

Inside pocket ... another left over 

I have been using it for the past week.  The front pocket is made with steel cut beads so I have to be careful and not get it wet. 

It is pretty sturdy but it was not sewn on a professional sewing machine so I have to be gentle.  

Spring is in the air at least I am wishing and hoping it will be and

I will change to another "springier" bag!