Doing things for the first time!

Here are a couple of motifs, which normally I would be ashamed to share. However, today I am showing you them because they each contain six clunies and two split chains. I had watched Elisa carefully, and with a little help from Jane's instruction page I did it. I will need a lot more practice before I can produce them with the speed and accuracy of Elisa, but only by practising will I get to that. These are my first, and already I see some improvement between the first and the second.                

Here we have another first, because I "designed " this square myself. OK, it's nothing to be so pleased about... but I was sitting in a boring meeting at work, doodling in my notebook, and I drew this. I thought "You could tat that..." and so I worked out a stitch count, and here it is. I never thought I would ever make my own design, and now I have! So I am quite pleased. The pattern should fit with repeats to make a larger square, which is something I might try sometime, for now I am off to watch the latest episode of Downton Abbey, (secret sin!)

My Purchases

I thought you might like to see what I bought. Here you can see some Puy bobbins, fifty bobbins made of Olive wood, only 39€! Some DMC speciale dentelles in shades of red/pink. A ball of Venus in green, which was a mistake because it is so tangly, whenever you tighten the rings it all knots up. There are also two balls of a new make of thread.

 I bought this light with a magnifier, and I am really pleased with it. It is battery powered and I can have it on my lap to check the number of stitches on the finest and darkest threads. I bought some key rings and a little pot in order to show case my tatting...it sort of seemed like a good idea. I also bought some finer hooks, as well as special needles for joining, beading and split chains.

 These are special picot pins, slightly thicker than ordinary lacemaking pins, and you can't find them very easily. These were from a German supplier.

Of course I couldn't resist a couple more books for the library!

These are some beads....I know I don't often use beads, but the blue and the black were small enough to go on size 80 thread, the others are to do the eyes on the sea horses. The white thread is size 120 for the Honiton, when I eventually get around to doing it!

And this is some of the work I have been doing, while trying to improve my skills. The Mary Konior cross is done in the new thread, which was sold as an 80, but I felt it tatted up much more like a 100. The green was that darned Venus, but the clunies are in DMC so there are no excuses there for me to blame the thread! You do need to click on this one to see it properly.

Le Couvige, part 2

So, here is Elisadusud, and she was working on a cluny-split chain combination, to show me how. I have since done a few somewhat misshapen clunies, which I am too ashamed to show anyone, but I now understand a little better how to do them. The split chain, however, is still on the to-do list.

 This is a rather poor photo of Elisadusud's work, which is really impressive, but even if you click on it twice, I am not sure if you will really be able to see it clearly.

 This one might be a little bit better.

 And then my camera battery failed, aaggh! I had to take these photos with my phone, and so they are very poor. This is Pascale Provost, whose patterns I have tried several times. She was teaching, and I was really happy to have her constructive criticism. It is difficult to learn without an expert to tell you where you are going wrong, but I hope you will see an improvement in my work from now on! Even if no-one else does, I will, I know.
I have challenged myself to produce a piece from both designers for examination next year. (Elisa sells patterns of her designs, with explanations, for those who fancy a challenge.)

 This is Pascal's last book, which I already have, but a new one is in progress. It was fun to see both of them discussing techniques and designs together. Here in France meeting with other tatters is fairly difficult, so I was really enjoying myself and definitely plan to go again, I hope next year.

This is Petalite, which is a pattern I tried about a month ago, but this one is properly finished.
Pascale showed me how to get from one split ring to another with beads, which does require one shuttle to be unwound and threaded through, however it is still less fuss with ends that cutting and tying.
I have been busy trying my new skills, but I haven't anything impressive to show, as yet. I also spent rather too much money... I will maybe show my purchases next time.

Le Couvige

According to my book "La Dentelle du Puy" Lacemakers don't enjoy working alone, hence the tradition of coming together in groups; un couvige (from the Latin cum vicinis: with the neighbours) In the days when the mothers and daughters throughout the area around Le Puy all were involved in lacemaking these were frequent occaisions, but now they are rare but none the less enjoyable for that. The couvige at Blavozy was my first experience of such a gathering, and I had a wonderful time.
Le Puy is an interesting place for anyone to visit. The long drive through the Massif Central was picturesque.

 When I saw a poster in a window it was reassuring.

 This is the cupola of the Vervaine building. and below is the nightime skyline. You need to click on the photos to see them properly.

 This is how it looked when I entered the hall.

 Here you can see people working on their lace, and showing their best pieces.

This man is doing Tambour work, which is so well shown in the beautiful film Brodeuses . Do watch it if you love French countryside and embroidery.

 He is working from the back of the work, this is what it looks like on the right side.

 This is Mick Fouriscot presenting the conference. She has been working to further the continuation of the many kinds of lace making in France since 1974, based in Le Puy. She is also very funny, quite a character. The conference was interesting, but much more about the history of prostitutes than lace. 

 All kinds of bobbins were available.

 I thought this patchwork a very effective way of displaying the lace.

 There was a stall selling antique and vintage sewing materiels.

 Including a book and a couple of bone shuttles, and I was quite tempted....

 There was also this, someone's amazing work in progress, which was really pretty, and a bit sad that it will probably never be finished.

 And also a hanky, probably made by the same person.

 When Saturday was over I went back to the town, looking for food. I hadn't ordered lunch, and there hadn't been any sandwiches left so all I had eaten all day was a croissant and several cups of coffee! I looked at the local speciality macaroons.

 And these cute cakey things!

However, in the end I settled for this salad with smoked salmon, local Bleu d'Auvergne cheese, and hiding underneath all that some Lentilles du Puy, with a baked potato and creme fraiche. Tomorrow I will tell you about meeting with other tatters, and you will get to see Elisadusud actually working on a point d'espirit!

Motifs from Mme Dilmont

 This weekend I had some quiet time at work, and so I had a go at some of the motifs from the booklet. I really like this one and think it might look good as an earring? If I did it again I would adjust the stitch count as I had to add a few on the last joins to make it meet up. It would also be better with a split ring to climb out as the cut and sewn in ends show on this fine thread.  (Cartier Bresson, fil au fouet, size 70)

Here are two more from the same page, I am especially proud of the needlelace centre on the blue motif, which I did without instructions, just by looking at the photo. Ok it's not perfect, but I did it!
Next weekend I have decided to do the five and a half hour drive to Le Puy for the couvige. I have sent back the papers, and put myself down to do a tatting workshop, and for the lecture "Dentelles et les filles de joie" (Lace and ladies of pleasure) which sounds fun! I ought to be economising, but I rather fear that my good intentions will be as  nothing when I see the stands. I wonder if anyone wants to see photos?

Some pictures of my progress

 This is the Oeillets doily, with all the small motifs. I haven't done anything for a while.

 The gilt frame is finished, ends and all. Now, what to do with it?

 These are my first sea horses, from Jane's lovely pattern. The first one I did, the tail went the wrong way, but the second one is fine. These are made in DMC pearl size 8, which I have never used before, and are for David. His father's regiment had a sea horse motif, and he has asked for more of these. The pattern is quite simple, but the beads make it a little bit fiddly. Still, I don't think it will be too much to make him another three.

I am showing this edging from the booklet, for Tattingrid, who is looking for hanky edgings. This one is in the vintage DMC 70 thread, and I think it would look good on a handkerchief. There isn't a corner in the book, I would think it would be possible to do one, though.