A Little Bit of Lace

Christmas craft number one is 50% finished. Once I get going, it goes together quite quickly. It's that initial inertia to get started. I found that I do appreciate the background noise of the TV as I work so there was football on all afternoon yesterday.

I'm also trying to make the item a bit distinctive. In Aunt Adele's trim box, there was this bit of lace. I have no idea from what it came. It's just a small triangle. I'm sure it has to be "old" in a sense that perhaps it was lovingly cut from a dress or maybe an antimacassar that had seen better days. I have no story other than it once belonged to Aunt Adele.

When I was thinking about this piece, which is going to Carole, I knew the lace would be perfect to grace the pocket. I'm very happy with the effect. I won't put lace on David's piece, although that would be kind of funny.

This is the week to finish these up so they can be shipped next week. Then, I am officially done with shopping. Sometimes I regret wanting to be done so soon. There can be some really good deals later in the month as merchants try to woo you into the store. But, I rather like being able to sit back and relax during this time, to wander about because I want to, not because I have to get something for my brother because I got his name in the family drawing. Once these are done, I can look ahead to next year and what projects I might like to actually finish.

What a concept!

Beverage:  Earl Grey tea

Deb

No Clue on the Age

I finished pinning all the ornaments last night. I just have to sew back to front, turn and stuff and sew up the opening and I'm done. It's been a great fun project. I can elevate my feet and knees while doing it, or multi-task or watch TV or a movie. I ran out of the braid I was using to make the hangers so I rummaged in the box (the contents of which are mostly on the table in the office since Pilchard sleeps in the box) for something else. I found this rickrack.

This is old. This was from Great Aunt Adele's collection. I looked on the back of the wrapper for a copyright date and there isn't one. It's the right color so I used it to finish up the hangers for the ornaments left.

A brief internet search didn't turn up any comparable labels to get an idea of how long this rickrack has been around. I'm guessing at least the 1960's. It is in exceptionally good  condition, too.

Now that this project is done, I can negotiate with the cat for the use of the box. I got her a new box but she wants to be near me when I'm in the office so I may have to look for another box for the office. The things we do for the comfort of the cats.

Beverage:  Scottish Blend tea

Deb

A Weekend Spent Crafting

I felt like crafting this weekend. It's always interesting to see what comes of a weekend where I want to create. I did have things in mind, however.

Back in July, I cut apart those Santa blocks from that material I bought a couple years ago. The stack has been sitting on top of the sewing basket so this weekend, I decided to do something with the stack. Step 1 was to match a front and a back. I paired them up and pinned the pieces together.

When that was done, the next step was to cut the ribbon which would be the hanger. These are going to be ornaments. I hope the amount I cut is just long enough to go on a tree without it dangling too far.

What's great about this project is that, other than polyester fiberfill, I haven't bought anything new for it. The hanging ribbons were in a drawer of accessories. I've had some of the ribbons in this drawer for a long time. The bigger lace or ribbon won't be appropriate and I have some colors or designs that won't work with the Santa theme either, but I have a lot of ribbon and lace that will. I'll be using it up, which is a bonus, too.

When the drawer has been exhausted, I have the box of trims. Some of these are very old. My ex-husband's great-aunt was a seamstress and a crafter. When Aunt Adele moved from her house to an apartment, she gave me boxes of stuff; thread, trim, patterns and sewing equipment. As I had a lot of different trims myself, I consolidated most of the items into the box she gave me. Once the trims in the drawer are exhausted, I shall begin rooting through this box to see what I have that will work.

Not every ornament is getting the trim treatment. The first ornament in every style is plain. I know some of those for whom these are destined as Christmas gifts don't want ruffles or lace or ribbon around their ornament. They prefer simple. That's a quick pin around the outside, making sure the hanger is tucked inside. Then it's sewn with a small seam and a spot is left to turn it.

When it's turned, I stuff it. It's very easy to get it overfull.

Once it's stuffed, I hand sew shut the opening at the bottom. Here is the finished product hanging on the door knob. This is the very first one off the "assembly line". It came out rather well.

For trims, I sew the trim on first, then pin the hanger with the other half and sew the whole thing together. I wasn't leaving enough of an opening at the bottom and found it hard to turn and stuff. Having figured that out, I leave over half of the bottom open as these aren't very big and I need room to get them turned, particularly with some of the more rigid trims around the outside.

Here is the product of the weekend. I have gone through 4 different trims, and three different Santa poses. At one point, I had the crazy idea I'd add beads or sequins but, seeing these completed, I think that borders on gaudy. These are nice as they are. 

Yes, you now know what you're getting for Christmas, but you don't know which one. 

Beverage:  English Breakfast tea

Deb