Tatting – a dying art

I remember trying my hand at tatting.  My, what a laborious skill.  The trouble is these days we are all wanting instant satisfaction that often machine worked pieces are preferable to hand worked ones.  If only, because of price!

According to Wikipedia, ‘Tatting with a shuttle is the earliest method of creating tatted lace.’ 

To make the lace, the tatter wraps the thread around one hand and manipulates the shuttle with the other hand. No tools other than the thread, the hands, and the shuttle are used.  Some of the shuttles were made of bone and slipped easily through the loops.  Later, a tatting needle was introduced whereby instead of winding the cotton around the shuttle the needle had to be threaded.  Older designs, especially through the early 1900s, tend to use fine white or ivory thread (50 to 100 widths to the inch) and intricate designs. Newer designs from the 1920s and onward often use thicker thread in one or more colors. The best thread for tatting is a "hard" thread that does not untwist readily.

Well, I did try and still have the instruments for a rainy day!  Meanwhile, I inherited some old, antique lace from my late mother.  She lived into her 90s as did her mother.  So, some of the antique lace which in its day must have sat on lady’s collars etc seems to sit in a box in a cupboard.  As much as I can take out the pieces to ooh and aah over them, they always return to the storage in the cupboard.  This seems such a shame!  So, I am going to list some of these pieces in my Etsy shop and trust some buyer will come along who can fully appreciate the workmanship and beauty of them.

For instance, this tatted triangle is a fine example of the art of tatting and openwork.

PQ

It’s been so long!

I know, I know!  It has been an age since I wrote on this blog.  Well, I did have the best excuse in the world!  My little girl got married at the end of August and it got a little frantic towards the end trying to bring together all those last minute details but eventually we did!  Even though she was really unwell due to the stress of the wedding planning and the enormous stress at work we got through it and had the most wonderful day!

So, after all this time I decided to start selling some of my mother’s vintage items which often border on the antique.  First off is this delightful Japanese paper and bamboo fan.  Ideal for those days when you just want to move some cooler air around you but still stay ladylike!

 Here you see the fan displayed open.  The front shows a pretty bird looking over its shoulder at the flowers whilst the reverse is plain.

In fact when I pulled open the fan initially I did see some Japanese writing.

 

 

I promise not to leave it quite so long until I post again!

Pat

The Wedding

As many of you know, through my numerous postings on the team forum, the month of August is a very important month in our family this year. Our youngest, our daughter, is getting married later this month.

Panic has not quite set in yet! However, the days seem to be passing ever more quickly with only a short time to discuss and implement those last minute details. It is always the small things that seem to take the most energy and organising. Sometimes, you can’t help wondering if anyone would really notice whether the gold butterfly confetti was strewn on the tables or not? But, putting all these little details together does make a magical day even more magical!

In case there are other people out there who are looking for that extra something for their wedding day I thought I would stroll through the BBEST team to see what I could find. You never know, there might be something that we can’t possibly do without!!

Wedding Hoops by Jems by JB and Company

Lovely, white freshwater pearls with sterling silver components dangle from the hoops.

These would look so pretty with the bride’s outfit!

Roses Champagne Flute Glasses by Glitz n Glass

This pair of hand painted Champagne flutes would be just the thing to toast your love with. A single pink rose bud in a modern heart with a matching rose on the base. What could say "I love you" better than that?

White Cake Candle by AJs Country Cottage

Smells just like a moist, delicious white wedding cake! Tantalizing vanilla blends with a yummy almond note for a totally mouthwatering scent!

Positively edible smelling, not to be eaten!!

Ivory Bridal Veil by By The Way

An elegant, versatile bridal headpiece, this item can be worn either traditionally on top of the head, or at the back under an elaborate accent.

Champagne Gift Bag by BBesigns

Next time you need to say good luck say it with a bottle of champagne wrapped in this wine bag with a hand made tag.

The tag is hand painted champagne glass with a rhinestone embellishment. Good luck is printed on the tag and there is room at the bottom or back for your greeting.

Wedding Favour Bags by Fickle Faerie

A wedding favor that can be used over and over again!!! It won't be thrown in the garbage!

For a change, why not fill it with fruit instead of sweets?

Grace by Magdalene Jewels

Such a beautiful piece of jewellery. This graceful and delicate 17" Necklace would add sparkle to anyone who wears it.

Stained Glass Keepsake by Nonnie’s Treasures

Do you have a wedding invitation, or love letter that you want to keep forever? Don't put it into a plastic sleeve! This is a custom-made display, sealed on all sides with clear glass and trimmed with stained glass.

What a talented group we have in the BBEST Team! So many ideas, so much inspiration. I hope that you have enjoyed my journey and that you too have caught a little of the excitement that surrounds our household this month!

A christening!

The term properly refers to the acceptance of the recipient of a christening, or Baptism, into the church of Christ. It means to "bring to Christ."

In this case, our latest grandson is due to be christened this weekend.  As a Church of England tradition the actual ‘christening’ will often be added at the end of the normal Sunday service.  So, hopefully we won’t have to wait too long as for other little ones it can be tiresome!

This ceremony does give the family the excuse to meet, join with friends and neighbours to enjoy and formally recognise the latest addition to the family.  Hopefully, the weather will be kind to allow a barbeque to be held outdoors otherwise it will be a finger buffet style meal indoors.  Either way, I am sure our grandson will be totally oblivious (he is only 6 months old) as it will be his nap time anyway!

Whilst strolling through the realms of this talented team of interior designers I came across some beautiful items that might be perceived for the celebration of a christening.

Stained Glass Manager by Creations in Glass.

A handcut beautiful opalescent iridized stained glass, for the base & foiling the pieces using the copper foil technique, and soldering to a music box base that plays away in a manger there are two wise men & baby Jesus.  Perfect for that Christmas christening!

 

 

Christening gifts can be difficult to source but what about this useful item?

The Owyn Toy Box by Mod Mom Furniture

The Owyn Toy Box is a modern organic-style chest designed for any room in the house!  Use it to store everything from toys to gadgets to blankets. It has two easy lift-off lids that fit the top like a puzzle. Easy for little hands to manipulate!  The Owyn Toy Box is separated into two convenient compartments under individual leaf lids.

Looking for something to keep as a memento of this auspicious occasion?  Why not this item which you will agree is a little diferent?

 

Decorative Silver Giraffe Flower by Yoola

The artist created it as most of their creations using the smallest crochet needle available in the market and a silver colored copper wire.

 

 

 

For a reminder of how we welcome cherish this new child into God’s midst this delightful image would be prefect!

Gift of a Child by DeborahVoizin

This is one of my most favorite images. It shows how tiny and fragile a newborn baby is, in comparison to adult size hands that will be caring and guiding this sweet child through life.

 

 

 

Perfect for that old fashioned style!

Victorian Style Crochet Christening Cape by Precious Quilts aka me, On a Whimsey!

Can you imagine your little one on their special day wearing this romantic Victorian style christening cape?

 

And, so I look forward to our family gathering next weekend!

Yogya Silver

Some of my more regular readers may remember that I spent much of my childhood, well my younger childhood, living on an island called Java in Indonesia.   We used to live in Bandung but what I want to write about is Yoga silver which was worked in the town of Yogyakarta to the east of Bandung.

Silver was not really worked until the early twentieth century.  In fact, the 1930’s.  The art of silverwork or silversmiths had been dying out since it was the aristocracy who bought and used the local silverware.  However, as they lost their power to the colonising nations they lost their wealth to pay for commissions and luxury goods.  So, the native craftsmen lost their ready market and regular income.  Silversmiths became a dying breed since youngsters showed no interest in continuing the craft.

In 1930, the wife of the Governor of Yogyakarta in central Java in the Dutch East Indies took an interest in the revival of the art of the silversmith industry.  Her plan was similar to the one a decade earlier in Cambodia, where local artisans were encouraged to learn their historical aesthetics and to use the inspiration to create silver objects to cater for the European whims.  Although this remarkable lady departed Java when her husband came to the end of his posting, the enthusiasm gained momentum.  Local silversmiths now created the most beautiful artifacts for the local Dutch population as well as the American tourists.

After Indonesia gained its independence in 1949, the Yogya silver trade flourished and continued well into the 1960’s.  Since virtually all the silverware was purchased by foreigners, few examples remain in Indonesia.

Certainly, my parents bought a lot of the silverware which over the years was given away to other family members or sold.  Today, the ornate pieces would need constant cleaning and polishing which really would take up too much time and be so impractial since they were not dishwasher safe!

The silverware was part of my earlier ordinary day to day life.  So much so that it was not until we moved to Europe that I realised one did not use ornate silverware for every day tasks!

We still have a few of these around the house to open our mail. 

A typical letter opener.

 

 

 

 

 

Several of these are gradually finding their way onto Ebay.  In fact, I have one listed there at the moment!

The casing can be slid off the actual lighter.

 

I also remember my mother using a tea service similar to this one, even after we moved to Guernsey.  It was only when friends came to visit that I fully realised that this was not the norm!

 

 

Fruit used to be displayed in a dish similar to this!

 

Can you imagine letting your little one feed themselves with this spoon?

 

 

The table would be laid with cutlery edged with the ‘typical’ Yogya designs.  Even the salt and pepper condiment set would be placed on the table.  We had one exactly like this!

So I think you get the idea of what life could be like.

Born with a silver spoon in the mouth, well not exactly but then it was a totally different world, altogether!

After a long absence… the Cuckoo!

I know I have been absent from this blog for a while but I have kept up my other blogs and thank you to those who read and follow me there!

Today with the advent of very warm weather for the UK I thought I would think about a bird that appears, although secretively, earlier in the year and then departs again at this time of year, the Cuckoo.

The Cuckoo is a dove-sized bird with blue grey upper parts, head and chest with dark barred white under parts. With their sleek body, long tail and pointed wings they are not unlike kestrels.  Sexes are similar and the young are brown.  They are summer visitors and well-known brood parasites, the females laying their eggs in the nests of other birds.    When the Cuckoo nestling hatches, it instinctively pushes the other eggs and nestlings out of the nest and is tended by its ‘foster parents’ until fledging.  

Caterpillars and other insects such as beetles and ants form the major part of the Cuckoo's diet.  Many of the caterpillars are the hairy or brightly coloured poisonous ones, but their digestive system is specially adapted to cope with the hairs and toxins.

The female will also sometimes eat the eggs and nestlings of the host bird.

Cuckoos can be seen throughout UK  but especially in the south and central parts of the country.  The adults usually arrive in late March/April and depart in July/August with the young following about a month later, returning to central and southern Africa.

An old rhyme describes the Cuckoo's time in Britain:

In April I open my bill
In May I sing night and day
In June I change my tune
In July far far I fly
In August away I must

The familiar ‘cuckoo’ sound is made by the male.  The female will tend to issue a rich, bubbling sound.

It seems one too many birds may have flown over the Cuckoo’s nest, as the Cuckoo is now a member of the UK’s red list which contains the birds who are considered close to extinction.  This could be accounted for by other birds being in decline, the nests of which they used for their own young.

It would be interesting to hear how its American counterpart is faring?

Painted Lady

This week it was reported in the UK that we are being invaded by a beautiful butterfly called Painted Lady.

The Painted Lady is a long-distance migrant, which causes the most spectacular butterfly migrations observed in Britain and Ireland.

Each year, it spreads northwards from the desert fringes of North Africa, the Middle East, and central Asia, across mainland Europe and reaching Britain and Ireland. In some years it is an abundant butterfly, frequenting gardens and other flowery places in late summer.  Well, this year, for whatever reason they have decided to come in their droves!  We even had one visit us whilst we were sitting in our conservatory reading the Sunday papers.  Luckily, we were able to release it back into our garden so that it could fly away to join its mates.  Apparently, they thrive on the common Thistle plant which grows in abundance everywhere.

In honour of this beautiful migrant I thought I would search the Design Style Guide team for further examples of butterflies.  Here is what I found!

Butterfly Garden Original Oil Painting

by

Loves2paint

 

 

 

Blue Butterfly on Bevel Suncatcher

by

Sundance Reflections

 

 

Colorful Butterfly Window Cling Suncatcher with Stained Glass Effects

by

Clinging Images

 

 

Butterfly Pillowcases

by

The Closet and Curio Shop

 

Embroidered Clock, Floral Garden and Butterflies

by
Satin Stitchery

 

 

You can tell I like butterflies, can’t you?