Needles and Pins and Fine Old Laces

In yesterday's post, I shared the end product. Today I thought I'd share some of the shots I took throughout the creative process.
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To the right is the pin cushion that I designed [earlier this year] to fit my old, but very faithful, Singer sewing machine. I found it rather tiresome having to either look for where I last laid my little scissors, or pick them up from the floor after having brushed them off the table top.
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I used sticky-backed hook and loop tape to secure the removable cushion to the small ledge at the front of the machine. It's quite handy and I always know where those particular scissors are!
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After auditioning several laces from my hatbox stash, to make the pin cushion for my Husqvarna Viking, I settled on this scrumptuous piece of vintage lace.
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My father came home after one of his many long weekends of scouting antiques [many years ago now], and gave me several pieces of old lace that he sorted out from a lumped together, boxed up purchase.
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I have another one of those finds that I'm going to work into an art quilt. But, I'll be working from the same piece of forest green organza as the background. More on that later.
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I read somewhere that if you wanted a permanent ink, use coffee. I took that to hold true with hand-dying as well, so-- I fired up the studio coffee pot and dropped the smallest piece into a coffee dye bath.
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It drank in the dye and the coloring is quite beautiful. And, do they even make lace like this these days?
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In the meantime [while waiting for the laces to dry], I finished the construction of the body of the pin cushion. Of which is made entirely of tightly rolled strips of wool. I then covered it with the above-mentioned organza.
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At this point, though, I'm still auditioning the skirting lace. Once I decided on the floral edging, I ran a gathering cord, not only to see how it would look, but how much bulk it would add to the bottom edge of the vintage lace.
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As I worked with it, I wondered how it would look after bathed in java. No sooner was it thought--- and I had a fresh pot of coffee abrewin'.
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When I pulled it out, to transfer to the bowl with a vinegar rinse, I wasn't so sure I'd made the right decision. It looked mottled. And all too quick, I hated thinking I'd made a mistake, having just ruined a very nice piece of lace. But as it dried, I could see that it merely took the dye differently; front to back. Meaning-- the right side of the lace looks richer than the back side. So all was good.
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While this piece of lace dried, I still had to determine where and how best to affix the corresponding pieces of hook and loop tape.
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Plus, there was still a matter of which coloration of the vintage top lace to use. Dyed or un-dyed. I hadn't made a firm choice.
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I really, really liked the muted and the more subtle contrast of the dyed swatch. But, as I shared yesterday, I opted to use the untouched lace.
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That will definitely change, though, when I tackle the free-standing design. I fully intend to use the coffee dyed lace; which-- is hanging to dry [along with several others] as I write!
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Before I made any cuts, I worked with said virgin lace, molding, stretching, and pinning it to form, in order to determine the least possible amount of waste.
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I should also state, at some point, this pin cushion was made entirely by hand. No machine sewing whatsoever. I used both straight and curved upholstery needles.
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The finished cushion has a felted bottom [for that I used a piece of double-sided adhesive webbing], and the corresponding strip of tape secured to the back side.
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Yes. This is the Cliff Notes version of the process, and I'm trusting right now, that it's not too confusing.
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I need to take a break from this chair. It's taken me the better part of ALL DAY to write this piece, and my back is screaming!
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[Added 9-30-09] As I stated above, this short little piece took me all day to put together. Reloading the pictures from CDs, resizing them, drafting, editing, etc. ... I should also indicate that prior to my ending up on LTD, this project would have been completed in a weekend's time. Instead, it took a couple of weeks from start to finish. I need many breaks in between sewing sessions. Not only from sitting in a wrong position, but from the carpal tunnel in both hands, and FM in the shoulders. And then there's times when my concentration is challenged! It gets very frustrating, but-- I am pleased with the final result; even though some of my stitches aren't as perfect as they used to be.
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Blessings
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~If you have any questions about this project, please do not hesitate to ask!

Interweave's Cloth, Paper, Scissors Open Studios Event

Okaaay! So- I found the following Twitter post from @InterweaveNews:

Attn all crafters/artists w/blogs: You're invited to participate in Studios mag virtual Open Studio Event Sat Oct. 3! http://bit.ly/pexRa

I've shared only a few images of my studio office, so look for a few more on Saturday, October 3rd. It may get a bit messy in here, at times, but it's my favorite room.
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I'll shoot a video, but I'm not quite sure about getting it embedded here; or anywhere else for that matter. BUT, this is the perfect opportunity to give it a good go.
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Check back on Saturday, this coming weekend, for stills [at very least] or a video! [Not making any promises there!]
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This should be fun. .[Click on magazine cover for event details.]
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In the meantime, here's a look and my latest project. This is my hand-dyed [coffee-dyed] vintage lace pin cushion.
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There's a strip of hook and loop tape that afixes it to the base of my Viking sewing machine.
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I have a little bit more of the same vintage lace to do a free-standing cushion. The coffee-dyed swatch came out quite lovely! I simply opted to stay with the ecru for mine.
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Blessings

Monday the 28th's Quatrain

The Sun shines bright, the new morn’s air is crisp,
and a blustery wind rustles throughout the trees.
And while I make ready to harvest more White Sage
the transplanted lettuces Bibb thrive.

Exercising Quatrains

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Yes! It's been way too long since my last post. And I regret having to admit to being overwhelmed by the whole social media networking scene. Trying to keep up with my blog, blogs of friends, Twitter, and Facebook, etc., -- it all just got to be too much. I don't multi-task as well as I used to, and I've needed to learn my limits. More on that later.
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For now, I want to use this opportunity to share my recent poetic observations. I wanted to collect a few of my Facebook postings, and share them here; in one place. They began merely as a way of encapsulating the high points of a given morning or afternoon. And knowing my penchant for cadance, it's now become a true exercise in quatrains.
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Seeing as how I've reproduced them in the order they appear on my Wall, they may read better from the bottom up. You can see how they began to evolve. Enjoy!
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Sept. 27 ~ Summer gave way to yet another Autumn. And while the Tree Clans begin to loosen their seasonal growth, we celebrate and welcome the Moons of the Harvest and the Falling of Leaves.
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Sept. 20 ~ The Morning Star faded, giving way to yet another day, as the great Day Star rose in the East. And while the Tree Clans hint at the color to come, dark and ominous shadows traverse the sky in the West.
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Sept. 19 ~ Cassiopeia showed bright in the pre-Dawn sky, and Clan Sparrow now delights in the newly filled thistle feeder. And while I still recover from my outing to the market, SOMEone dug up ANOTHER patch of freshly sprouted seedlings!
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Sept. 15 ~ The newest Fall seedlings are asprout in the garden, and Clan Daddy Long Legs has taken up the Guard in the lettuce Bibb. The girls are bathing in a patch of morning Sun, and there's still more tech stuff to tackle.
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Sept. 13 ~ The Winged Ones are afeasting, and Pearl is basking is a patch of morning Sun. Lucy is napping on a chair tucked up under my beading worktable [I don't know how she even gets there], and I MUST tackle the c:drive!
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Sept. 11 ~ The Great Day Star radiates and blankets this little corner of the Earth in a gentle warmth. And while the day is still begun, may All face their choices, certain to follow, with Patience and Wisdom and lots of Love.
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Sept. 10 ~ Fog continues to blanket the Dawns, and a front now shadows the Sun. And while the Winged Ones are noticeably elsewhere, I make ready to don a thimble to play with needles, pins, and laces.
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Sept. 5 ~ The gorgeous full Moon is long set, and the great Day Star shines now in its stead. The Between Ones are achirp at the feeders, and I long for a French Vanilla Cappuccino.
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Sept. 2 ~ Dawn's Touch upon the new day wanes as the Sun takes its place in the sky. And as the Winged Ones gather to break their fast, the Waste Management tanks clamor about the neighborhood.
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Aug. 26 ~ The Fall berries are forming, and the morning dew sparkles across a Sun-lit lawn. And while the gentle remains of fog slowly dissipate, the Winged Ones are happy with seed.
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Aug. 25 ~ The cicadas are singing, while Clan Starling gathers and chatters in the trees. The Ruby Red Lettuce sprouts are juuust turning red. And the Sun is ashine in the sky.
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Aug. 20 ~ The Sun now rises behind the tree across the street. Its march to the South and the Autumnal Equinox has begun.