Cross Twist Cross Twist...keep going!

The GPP is well underway.  I've started into the horns and have chosen to do a "decorative" braid.  It isn't really showing up yet, but it is adding lovely texture. 

As you can see in the pictures I've also had to find some creative bobbin management solutions.  There are about 36 pairs on the pillow; 72 bobbins that have to fit and work in a braid that's less than an inch wide.  Yep, that's what you get for using size 100 silk thread.

I'm worrying, however, that it's not going to be done in 4 months.

GPP in Progress - Feb 28

The top of the helmet is done.  Woot.  This, however has helped me to see that a number of the areas I've mapped out will have to be redone.  Things that are too small, eliminating sewings, trying to decide about doing a pattern instead of just a cloth weave.

I'm also STILL working on that altar cloth for the temple, but I've given up on the maze for Convention.  I was having issues with the pattern and I honestly don't think I can get it done by July 1 AND get Loki done by August.  On a bright note I'm now thinking of putting Loki in the fair.  Not that I think I'll win anything, but just for the cool factor. *shrug*

I am Burdened with a Glorious (or crazy) Purpose

I am a lace maker.  I am a geek.  I am a geek lace maker.  Whilst watching Avengers (again) I got a good look at Loki's helm - along with Tom Hiddleston's face, but that's a topic for different blog.  On the side of the helm are a series of holes, ostensibly so that the actor could hear.   This pattern, which I can see on the screen, but can't get a screen shot of to share, caused a series of thoughts to occur in approximately 3 seconds.

"That looks like a Milanese lace braid"
"I could make that Milanese lace pattern"
"I could make the helmet in  lace"
"I could make a lace Loki"
"I could DO that!"
"Dude, I am SO doing that!"

Well, after much time putting together the right angles and working in Illustrator on my *bleeping* PC I have the following.  The flow chart Loki and the Pricking Template Loki.

In order to proced I needed a pillow, some bobbins, and thread.  I had lace on both my pillows and borrowed bobbins.  I have since spangeled all my bobbins . . .

and cleared my pillow of the Milanese moon.

 Which turned out nice for the first time doing this style.

I will do my best to document and share my Loki lace project for I, like the god of mischief, am burdened with a glorious purpose!    Or just a crazy idea.

Curse Is Broken!

I have finally finished one of the Carol Berg books.  Here are photos of the tome I bound for my dear friend Stacy.  This is book one - Flesh and Spirit.  The covers are poplar with only a varnish, the beads are a Hungarian glass with red, green, and gold leaf.  The end papers are a hand made cotton with flecks of flower in them.  I really wanted a kind of natural feel for her copies.  I'm hoping now that I have one of them done the other 4 will not give me fits.

I also designed a tape lace bunny for Easter, but ran out of pins to keep working on it.  The pins got dumped down the air vent a week ago.  *sigh* Ah, well.

Torchon Icicle

This month at Lace Guild we did Torchon icicles. I have never done Torchon Ground before and Shirlene Mayo helped me hobble through the learning stage. It's an interesting form of lace making - LOTS of pins, which you can see at the start and where I'm currently working.  I took most in the middle out to see what it looked like.

My husband took a look at my work and said something along the lines of it looking like 3 wavelengths of varying frequencies interacting with one another - especially the pricking.  It was much more scientific than that, but It made me laugh.  One person's lace is another person's wavelength.

Fist Bobbin Lace

Here is a bad photo of my first bit of bobbin lace ever. I made a few mistakes, but it still turned out, I need to stiffen it somehow and then decide what to do with it. Next on the list is the bat.