Collar now finished (24.11.10), taking a total of 591.25 hours to complete since the start on 23.1.10. It has taken 6 reels of Finca 60 thread (900 metres each), wound on a total of 3773 pairs of bobbins. I now have all the work completed for my exhibition next year - 23rd April until 7th August at Pickford's House museum, Friargate, Derby. (UK)
I will post a photograph of the finished piece very soon.

Latest Progress and News

30th August 2010

I am now past the half stage on this collar, centre back finished and work starting to narrow again.

There is still a long way to go, but on target for the deadline of early next year.

Exhibition - Pickford's House Museum, Friargate, Derby.

My work will be exhibited between 23rd April and 7th August 2011 in the small gallery at Pickford's House. I will be there demonstrating on a number of days during the exhibition, including on the opening day, between 11am - 3pm. I will also be doing a talk on lace, and my experiences on 27th April, date and times subject to confirmation. Further details to be announced later.

Work in Progress

I started working on this piece on 23rd January and so far it is working well. I have now started on the MA ADAPT course though and expect the progress on this piece to slow down as course progresses. I have 12 months though to get it done, as aiming to have it finished for my solo exhibition next year (2011) in Derby.

New Year and new project

2010 and a new challenge.
Plans are afoot for a solo exhibition next year - 2011 and while I have enough work for it now, need to keep busy!!

I recently came across this wonderful Bedfordshire collar and decided this would be my next big piece. I have drafted the pattern, just need to prick the actual pattern and wind the bobbins now to start it.
I was told this one came from around 1890, and it is a beautiful flowing design, with some interesting features for lacemakers.

I enjoy working these large collars, this will be number 3, they usually take around 12 months to actually make. It may be some time before you see the finished item!

Second Large Bedfordshire Collar

The starting point for this piece of lace was a photocopy of an antique piece from around 1910, in the collection of a friend. It is a large piece of Bedfordshire lace .




















I drafted the pattern from the photocopy and then started the work on it, on 25th December 2007. It was put away for sometime while I completed my BA (for the final year of it) but I finally finished it on 29th December 2009. Just in time for a new year and new project!
I changed the traditional nine pin edge of the original design and tidied up some of the areas, and omitted the gimped areas in the leaves. It was a much more challenging piece of lace than the first big collar I drafted and worked, with overlaid leaves on the half stitch areas - quite tricky in places to keep the number of pairs to fill the space but not to overfill them.
An enjoyable piece, taking around 5 reels of thread. (900 metres on each so a lot of bobbin winding!)