WEST DEAN BOBBIN LACE COURSE -

booking open.

April 15th-18th 2021 

For more information, click this link.

West Dean Bobbin Lace course

 Well Christmas has arrived!


How did that happen.. thank goodness this terrible year has gone. I'm glad to see the back of it and I'm sure a lot of you are too.

I have managed to finish all my annual family Christmas decorations and you will find the photos here. 





























I used a pricking from Geraldine Stotts book - The Bobbin Lace Manual. I used the bell pricking but adapted it. I removed the 'clapper' and the top of the bell. 






This photo shows the working side of the bell. 

I started at the top right of the photo working in both directions.
















When I reached the centre right of the bell I attached a sequin using a crochet hook to do the sewing. 

I always add the year and the recipients name to my Christmas decorations. I do this by printing the details out on my printer using a very small font. I pritt stick them to each side of the sequin and then cover each side with clear nail varnish. I naturally do this BEFORE I attach it to the decoration!

Once I reached the bottom left hand corner I had to throw out many pairs to turn that corner.






the year 2020
This photo shows the reverse of the bell with the year on the sequin.



Do send me photos of any Christmas lace decorations that you may have made and are happy for to include on this blog.

Do look at the FIMBRIA BLOG.  fimbria-textiles.blogspot.com
I add the Christmas cards to the blog that we exchange each year. I haven't had them all yet, but they will be there soon! Fimbria is a textile group that I have belonged to for many years. We all make one textile card and sent it to one member.

I do hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas and that 2021 brings us all a much safer and normal time. Please keep in touch, I'm always happy to help with any lace or textile queries you may have.





Christmas is coming!

Each year since 2000 I have made individual Christmas tree 
decorations for my close family! Each decoration has the persons
name and the year on it.
Now my three sons are adults the number of decorations to make 
now includes  grandchildren! Consequently the number to be made
 has increased over the years! When grandchildren arrived I told 
my sons they wouldn't get any more individual decorations.. there
 were complaints and we compromised! 
This year I need to make 11. Each year the decoration design is a 
closely guarded secret, however this year my grand daughter has 
requested a bell! I don't think that she has told anybody!!


I do need to start early in the year to get them completed in time.
here are close ups of some of the bobbin lace decorations .





This one is fun to make and it swirls around in a breeze. 2008


I designed this one for 2010 and it was on the cover 
of the Lace Guild publication  Christmas Decorations. 
The other end of the scarf has the name of the family 
member sewn onto it. I have a Bernina sewing machine 
which sews the names beautifully.

So far I have made 5 bells! I will share more photos another time.
Keep safe.