Category Archives: Lace

Work in Progress Wednesday Block 34 done

  By sharonb | May 15, 2013 - 5:42 am | ,
10 Comments

Crazy quilt block 34Life has been busy but at least I have managed to complete this block this week. So I can declare that

I have completed block 34 for my next crazy quilt.

As usual if click on the block you can  see a larger version and I have a few details of the stitching to share as well. I hope readers enjoy seeing what I have done.

Crazy quilt block 34 detail

You will find all the other blocks in this series the Lace Quilt category

Crazy quilt block 34 detailJoin in Work in Progress Wednesdays and leave a comment

If you have made progress on a large project leave a comment with a link to your site. If you include the http bit of your web address in the comment it will become a link and folks can visit and see what you have done.

The idea behind Work in Progress Wednesdays (WIP Wednesdays) is to encourage people to complete large and/or languishing projects. So if you are in the process of working a large project, share your progress via a blog or public photo site like flickr.

The theory is, that if you regularly report publicly on a project you are more likely to pick it up and work it a little. Even if it means the project is out and ‘looking at you’ for most stitchers it means they will work it a little.

If you want to know more about Work in Progress Wednesdays visit the FAQ

All my Work in Progress Wednesday reports are under that category.

Sites worth Exploring: Artist Pierre Fouché

  By sharonb | May 16, 2012 - 6:15 am | , , , ,
2 Comments

A portrait in lace by Pierre FouchéThis morning I thought I would share with you a recent portrait made in lace by artist Pierre Fouché. This page has close up details of the piece. I am sure readers will enjoy seeing his skill. Take some time out and visit Pierre Fouché’s website and investigate his portfolio. I am sure you will enjoy the work of this contemporary textile artist

Lace Study Center at the Powerhouse

  By sharonb | February 7, 2012 - 8:01 pm | ,
2 Comments

I am afraid that there is no work in progress today as there has been no stitching done in this house for a week or so. What caused this very rare thing? 

I was in Sydney for a week. One way I spent my time was to take a trip to the Powerhouse museum and visit the lace study center. They have a wonderful collection manned – or I should say womanned by enthusiastic volunteers. Since they  all make lace and have studied lace for many years it is well worth stopping by their rooms when in Sydney.

This video  is an interview with  Robyn Wienholt who talks about historic lace pieces on view.

These are a few photos I took while in the room. 

The collection is housed in these draws and you are allowed to open and peer as much as you like. People are on hand to answer questions and point you towards other interesting pieces of lace, discuss how lace is made and its social role.

You are also allowed to use a no flash camera. Hence the photos.  

I had a really pleasant morning there but if you cant visit the collection in person visit the study center online as there are some great resources free to download. Included is a document that explains the Lace Classification System and another that is Glossary of general lace and lacemaking terms 

Out Adventuring visiting tapestry and lace exhibits in Brussels

  By sharonb | April 24, 2011 - 7:00 pm | , ,
1 Comment

We have been out adventuring and paid a visit to The City Museum situated on the Grand place. The museum covers all aspects of the Brussel’s history including the production and trade of art and craft objects.

Altar pieces, silver and goldsmith work and some magnificent wall tapestries are held in the collection. Brussels, had the finest quality weavers in the Renaissance and was the undisputed center of tapestry weaving in Europe.

At the time tapestries were considered more valuable than paintings and often given as diplomatic gifts.

Needless to say I appreciated and admired the detailed work on these textiles.


As you can see non-falsh photography is permitted in this museum.

This labour-intensive art is covered in depth in an article on European Tapestry Production and Patronage from 1400–1600 sets the Brussels tapestry industry in context. Make a cuppa and have a read if you are interested.

Of course one of Brussels’s specialities is lace and I could not be here  in Brussels without paying a visit to the Costume and Lace Museum. In 1977 an 18th century warehouse was transformed to a museum space to emphasize the textile heritage of Brussels.

Currently the exhibit “Handmade” aims to provide an insight into the way garments and fashion accessories were made before the invention of sewing machines in 1850.

To my delight, included in the exhibition was both sewing and embroidery band samplers.  Regular readers will see and understand where my band sampler idea came from as these are long school girl band samplers that were on display. Unfortunately this is the only photo I took as photography was not allowed, even with no flash. This rule was enforced but I had taken it before I realised.

Notice the door near the samplers and you will have a sense of the scale of these pieces.

Lace of course makes a good souvenir. There are real lace producers in the city but I also noticed that you do need to be aware of cheap lace produced in China and sold to tourists.