Ruff motif reimagined.

I wondered if needle lace could be remade as bobbin lace. I chose a section of a ruff from a portrait of Queen Elizabeth I by an Unknown English artist circa 1588. 

 

The painting was not that clear, so that helped me to use a little artistic license myself.  I repeated the outer stem stitch loops to make the circle motif into a square.   

I drew on Cluny, Honiton and Muaiga (made up as I go along) laces.  First time for a picoted double leaf tally, think I got away with it.  

 

A Simple Heart

A cute little heart template, work as a simple outline or fill with anything you fancy, even add a frilly edge if you like!    This works at 4 cm tall with a thread like dmc30, or a machine sewing thread in cotton. 

 

Hotch Potch

Hotch Potch, the rare 'Threadendicus Ridikulus' bird likes to play with spangling beads and read lace magazines.

This daft bird started as a quick sketch, destined to disappear in the depths of the photo files until l was looking for something to use up all the odd colours and different size threads left on bobbins which were not being used, but didn't want to waste.  

Himself did point out that Hotch Potch closely resembles the huge, fierce, but now extinct 'Terror' bird which stood taller than a man, and could probably have eaten one!

I like to think that Hotch Potch will show a little more restraint and l don't mind losing an odd spangling bead to him if it stops him nibbling my ankles!