Tuesday, 22 January 2013

Looking for Lace......

I am in the middle of making corsages for an order to be completed by the end of January.  I decided that I needed to find some of my more precious pieces of lace to dye.  Easier said than done, and thereby hangs a tale!  Looking through my various boxes, hampers and suitcases led me to waffle away an afternoon.  However, sorting through my stash of gorgeous crochet trims, doilleys, traycloths, lace etc etc.. I came across many unexpected treasures that I had forgotten about.  Sorting does have an upside, although there is always that moment when surrounded by all the debris that you wished you have never started!  I knew I had a few pieces of very fragmented exquisite lace and boy were they elusive!  Why is it always the last box you look in?  The upside I suppose is that you organise (try to) while you search hence this very, very smart box of trims....

a little box of beauty

Whilst sorting I came across my degree show pieces which I sorted into a lovely old suitcase given to me by my friend Elaine's mother...

a lovely tattered and battered case

gorgeous interior paper design

I found a beautiful vintage collar which I had temporarily misplaced (along with another dozen things!)  I bought this in The Kasbah (no not in Morocco) a local furniture emporium.  I found this in the bottom of a banana box amongst crochet doilleys and tablecloths.  My heart skipped a beat when I found this little gem and it was purchased along with a few little other pieces and I knew immediately that I would never part with it.  I am thinking of keeping it the natural colour but maybe dip-dyeing it a little darker on the edges to give it a more time worn appearance.  Apologies for the quality of the images, the light is so poor at the moment.

Betty volunteered to wear the collar

I think I will just make some simple ties to fasten the collar

my favourite detail - the little circles

Better get back to the dye pot, my lovely treasured fragments are soaking.....  until next time Jayne x




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27 comments:

  1. suziqu's thread works22 January 2013 at 14:04

    Oh Jayne I am so familiar with that scenario of searching and re-organizing and tidying up etc.
    Love your show design piece and have to say that Victorian collar is simply stunning and a treasure to keep safe and sound and perhaps living permanently on Betty!
    So much beauty here!
    Sending hugs,

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    1. Jayne25 January 2013 at 01:31

      Thank you Suzy, I am so thrilled with that collar but feel I should wear it. It was just in the bottom of a box of bits and bobs, I think it was waiting for me! Jayne x

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  2. The Cloth Shed22 January 2013 at 23:32

    Have some bits of lace for you Jayne if you can get to Hexham on the 12th Feb
    Julie x

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  3. lettice leaf23 January 2013 at 01:55

    Jayne, you should be wearing that wondrous degree show piece, not just using it as a header for your blog, and leaving it forlorn and unloved in a manky old suitcase. If you've got it... flaming well flaunt it!

    LLX

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    1. Jayne25 January 2013 at 01:34

      I agree Linda, it took me nearly a year to work on that piece so I keep it as an example of my more intricate work. Betty likes to wear it over her french nightgown! jx

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  4. humphreycumfycushion23 January 2013 at 02:03

    I can certianly relate to the hours whiled away sorting through treasures and being reunited with forgotten or lost pieces. Adore your own work and the lace collar is stunning though not sure I would dare put it near the dye pot!

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    1. Jayne25 January 2013 at 01:36

      thank you for your lovely comments. Pity there isn't a job sorting through treasures - my ideal! The lace collar is so incredible in the flesh so to speak. I would wear it higher up on my neck. Plucking up the courage to put it in a dye pot - maybe tea may do. jayne x

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  5. Dorthe23 January 2013 at 06:16

    OH Jayne, I can see you have a huge and amazing collection of laces and trims,-how wonderful!!
    THE BEAUTIFUL COLLAR IS SO SPECIAL ,never saw such a big one before,-yuo surely have to keep that one.
    The degree show piece, is stunning ,and so gorgeous.
    Hugs,Dorthe

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    1. Jayne25 January 2013 at 01:38

      Thank you Dorthe, that piece is just a one-off. I love it and it is so beautiful up close! I do have a lovely collection of trims and laces but like us all, we use a lot in our work and it is harder and harder to find such treasures. Hope you are feeling better. Jayne x

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  6. nilly24 January 2013 at 15:40

    I love the collar with the little cobweb circles - now what was that shop? The Kasbah...I'll remember that.

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    1. Jayne25 January 2013 at 01:39

      It is a stunning piece, will drop you an e.mail. jaynex

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  7. Unknown24 January 2013 at 16:03

    Jayne, you put me to shame, this is what I should be doing, I haven't even got my Christmas decorations put away yet. There's nothing to beat that feeling of being SORTED is there? We must have a trip to that Kasbah though but. xx

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    1. Jayne25 January 2013 at 01:40

      The tip of the iceberg Gill, as you know, the tip of the iceberg!!!! Kasbah here we come! jayne x

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  8. claire a baker27 January 2013 at 13:46

    Nice post Jayne! Watch out you won't know where anything is now... when you want something you'll go to the old unorganised place! Or is that just me?!!!
    gorgeous stuff! :-)

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    1. Jayne28 January 2013 at 09:41

      Thanks Claire but just sorted the tip of the iceberg! Little bedroom still a tip and needs a day or two to sort. a friend is coming to help and I am going to go sort her crafty room out. I can never find anything even when I am organised!

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  9. Jenny 28 January 2013 at 04:24

    heehee, you capture that moment so perfectly..when "sorting" turns into demolititon site! But what beauties you have unearthed. That vintage collar has made my heart skip a beat too....absolutely exquisite. I'm so inspired to try crocheting one myself (not in any way as exquisite I might add) but then am left wondering where the heck I would wear it.....a grand grocery shop at tesco's perhaps?:) I absolutely adore your degree piece too, equally as stunning. Just wish I could see it in real life and explore all its textural bounties :)x

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  10. Jayne28 January 2013 at 09:44

    Thanks Jenny that collar is a keeper for sure. It was in an old tatty box of crochet trims, I couldn't believe my eyes. I will wear it one day, as you say where I do not know! Thank you, I took nearly a year to make my grey neckpiece, it does have a lot of work in it. One day we may meet at a fair or show perhaps?! Glad yours went well.Jayne x

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  11. jackie29 January 2013 at 02:22

    Lovely pieces, I think I would just get them out and stroke them.Busy,busy as you say!

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    1. Jayne30 January 2013 at 01:35

      I know Jackie, sometimes I just sort through what I call my special lace pieces and just wonder at how amazing they are, who made them, and how they became to be discarded.

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  12. Susan McShannon-Monteith29 January 2013 at 14:51

    Your work is exquisite...
    Susan

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    1. Jayne30 January 2013 at 01:36

      Thank you for your lovely comment Susan, just popping over to look at your blogs. Jayne x

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  13. ted and bunny30 January 2013 at 10:02

    hiya- just came over to say thanks for your sweet comment, and I've had a lovely time reading through your past posts.
    The label on your Victorian undergarment, it looks like the original dressmaker's label to me- is it black satin with gold lettering?
    I love the work you're doing...oh to be soooo talented!
    x

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    1. Jayne30 January 2013 at 11:10

      Ah thank you so much. I think you are right about the label, nilly found the details of the dressmaker, the coincidence was that I used to manage a shop in the very same street, the next door in fact! Only a hundred years later! How strangex jayne x

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  14. found and sewn6 February 2013 at 05:33

    lots of lovely, lovely lace!

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  15. Julia @ Vintage with Laces10 February 2013 at 01:44

    Good morning, dear Jayne! Isn't it always fun to find beautiful things you've totally forgotten about? It happens to me from time to time and then I wonder how I ever could have forgotten that I have them, lol. Your box is full of wonderful lace treasures and you degree show piece is just exquisite with all the amazing embroidery. The collar is very pretty and had been a great find.
    Have a wonderful Sunday!
    Hugs to you,
    Julia

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    1. Jayne10 February 2013 at 12:02

      Thank you for your very kind comments Julia. It is so great to come across forgotten treasures. Jayne x

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Thank you for your lovely comments, I really do appreciate them.

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