"Buttons and patches and the cold wind blowing,
The days pass quickly when I am sewing"
~Author Unknown

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Needlework 12 Days of Christmas - 1st day...

Today is the first day of the 12 Days of Christmas. I thought it would be fun to reflect on the needlework year past and look forward to the year to come in the coming 12 days. I hope you will join me here or perhaps even decide to create your own 12 Days of Christmas.

On the first day of Christmas...


...a renewal of my bobbinlace hobby has taken place just recently. My mother bought me a black pencil pine tree and small candle lights for my lace ornaments. This is larger than the green tree or white branches I used to use. It also shows the lace so much better! The tree is now standing in my quilt studio.

I am currently working on another ornament which is on my lace pillow. These are some of the ornaments I had made in previous years...



In my quilt studio is a schwibbogen from the Erzgebirge area of Germany. On one of my visits, I was able to buy this Christmas light with the 'official' symbols of the area. You see this in some villages as you enter in a very large form. It contains the figures of the three major industries of the area...a wooden toy maker, miners and a lacemaker.

During that same visit, I bought a bobbinlace pattern for in a schwibbogen. It was not easy to puzzle how to work this pattern but I am still proud and a little amazed that I was able to finish it. I want to give you an idea of how it looks at night so I laid it on the floor lit up. Enlarge the photo to see the lace closer. Jos called the man in Germany that makes the wooden frame as one of my lights has burned out as you see and we are not able to replace it here in Holland. He is kindly going to send me a couple of extra lights.

For me, Christmas is complete when I can use my needlework throughout my house to create a festive feeling in our home.

16 comments:

Anneke said...

hi heidi, what a wonderful tree you're showing! I love the lace ornaments, espcially the nativity story-ornament. how great is that! I tried making lace a blue monday by following lessons, but that wasn't a good time in my life to try something like that. but I still love it!

Nancy said...

I am so happy to hear you can get the lights after all. Silly you thinking you wouldn't use it anymore.
Leave it to Jos, he will find them.
So you moved the tree to the quilt studio. Are you going to leave it up all year????? You added a few things since I was there. It sure does look good with the lace ornaments on it.
Very nice.
Love you, Mom

Susan in SC said...

Your tree is beautiful! I love the lace ornaments!

Jackie's Stitches said...

Your lace ornaments are just gorgeous! The tree really does set them off nicely.

Erica said...

Your ornaments are just stunning! Real works of art!

Kathy A. said...

Oh Heidi how beautiful. I have never seen that lacework before. It is stunning and so very delicate.
Merry Christmas.

barbara said...

Heidi you are AMAZING!! How you do it all, and do it with such talent, is a mystery to me!

Wishing you all the joys of the season!

Barbara J said...

Merry Christmas Heidi!

The bobbin lace looks so fragile and lovely. And they looks so demure all displayed like that.

You've inspired me to revive a little tatting next year! There's still so much quilting to do :p

faerieeva said...

oh the lace is so wonderful. I have currently been thinking about lacemaking. I am almost at the end of a crochet lace shawl in laceweight yarn, but it is still different from bobbin lace. I think I need to be a few years further to start on that one.

DonnaTN said...

Your lace is beautiful! You are so talented. Is there any needlework that you can't do? You are my needlework heroine!

Ginny said...

Your tree and the bobbin lace ornaments are lovely. The schwibbogen is amazing!

Hazel said...

Oh wow I lvoe your Schwibbogan esp the one with the lace in it. Aren't you clever? Your tree and home looks so pretty. Merry Christmas to you and yours. xx

Deborah said...

The lace ornaments are beautiful. You are so talented. Beautiful tree.

Annemiek said...

OMG, I always loved your stitching, but these lace ornaments are just wonderful. What a great accomplishment. I would love to see more of your lace making.

angelasweby said...

Heidi,
Looking at these beautiful pieces of lacework is like entering into a magical world. I love their filagree delicacy and their almost ephemeral snowflake like quality. I feel they could almost just melt away :>)

Your Schwibbogan is so pretty but your lace one is spectacular. i love it with those light making it glow. Congratulations for working your way through the complicated design and creating something magical.
Angela xx

Anne said...

Wow! That last lace piece all light up is stunning! You are so multi-talented! One day maybe I'll learn to make lace.