Lace in Italy

Yes, I had promised my lacemaking friends. My appologize for taking so long but it is not easy to whittle the many photos down to a smaller number. Which photos are most relevant? All those beautiful things we saw. 

My husband James and I started our trip on September 14 by flying to Malta. If you want to read about all our adventures in Italy, feel free to CLICK HERE!

Of course being a bobbinlacer I have heard about Maltese lace. I was on the look-out for lace on this trip. And yes, one little shop in Valetta on Malta had bobbinlace (and other) for sale. They claimed it was handmade. One gentleman in our group tried to tease me "oh yes, made in China" but my answer was that if they had been able to teach the Chinese to bobbinlace than they had done well. The shop lady told me that the lace is being made these days in the next little island Gozo but there was no time to go there.

Every so often in the beautiful churches in the beautiful towns we were visiting had lace on the altar. Here examples.

And then our trip ended in Venice. Our guide knew that I kept looking for lace. Was it chance that we went to the island of Burano and not Murano? The famous glass is made in Murano but Burano is famous for lace. Needlelace to be exact. Not bobbinlace. But I had a course on making needlelace so I learned to admire it even more.

And this is the Lace Museum!

We were asked to put our bags into a locker. Good that we didn't have a schlepp our hats and other stuff around.

The exhibition was fantastic. We were both very impressed. James also liked it. 

The display cases were awesome and worked so well. But here only a few of my photos. So much eye candy. 

And then we came to the class room. Somebody was demonstrating. I could get really close and tried to talk with her but she did not speak any English or German.

I had asked and she did not mind for me to take photos. But it was only a brief moment and then the big boss came and put a rope up for me to stay outside. He also did not speak English or German. What a shame. I had plenty of questions. 

In this area next to the demonstrator was a different kind of exhibition. Modern lace in different techniques and from different countries. It looked like it had been a competition of some sort. Here also only a few examples. 

You can only look at so many things like this until you are on overload. And we didn't know how long it would take us to be were we were supposed to be for lunch with the group.

Right across from the museum was the cathedral with the leaning tower. We had a little time left and decided to go in. Yes, of course, more lace.

Do you see the vase with the white flowers in the middle of the altar?

Those are all 3D lace flowers. 

It was so much fun to walk criss-cross around the island. So colorful.

Well, and there was even a lace shop. Do I really need another lace pillow? I refrained. 

At the lunch place James and I sat opposite. He had a view of ....

... a lacemaker behind me.

Every day was a wonderful day but this day was "kinda special" for Christa. 

If you would like to see more about this Italy trip, click on the Main blog tab on the top and there on the Travel Report tab on the top. 

And I appreciate if you leave a comment (or critic).

I promised

Liebe deutsche Freunde, Ihr könnt oben rechts "Translate ... German" wählen und dann alles in Deutsch lesen. Viel Spaß!

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Sigh, no time for blogging lately. Something has happened though and I HAVE TO write about THIS.

I got mail!
Yesterday I received the complimentary issue of the latest book from DEUTSCHER KLÖPPELVERBAND. On the front page is a photo of my quilted Adventcalendar with the 24 Chrismons in bobbinlace.

I wrote about this project several times. It looks like I had started this project in the beginning of 2014 but I had wanted to do it for a long time. I had started designing the pearls and beads Chrismons (Christian Symbols Christmas tree ornaments) in the early 1990s and would have also liked to design bobbinlace patterns ... but decided that this was over my head.
First blog!
Second blog!

It's a long story how it came about but here it is. I like the under-title "the little bit different advent calendar". The letter which came with it moved me because Maria thanked me with the words that without my idea this would not have happened. Oh how I like to emphasize why we celebrate Christmas and that "Jesus is the Reason for the Season!"

To be honest, I can't remember how I made those 24 "disks" to mount the lace ornaments on but I had promised Maria I would blog about it. In the meantime I have made more advent calendars. Those ornaments are square but the technique is the same. I think it is very easy this way and works well. Much less stress and fiddle work.

You need:

Pellon Flex-Foam 1-Sided Fusible Stabilizer (Style # FF78F1)

Double-sided Iron-on (I use Hotfix Adhesive because the raw edges don't unravel)

Fabric for the front and for the back (cotton is best)

I cut the foam circle 4 inches across. I think I made the lace patterns a little smaller.

Tip: I use the rotary circle cutter. I cut a circle from scrap paper first and make a cut from the edge to the middle (so you can pull it away). I use this circle to find where to place the needle for the middle ... to find out whether the piece of fabric is large enough and to go close to the edges to save fabric.

Lay the foam adhesive side up on the ironing surface and lay the front circle face side up over it (so the foam is on the back side). Mist with a little water and press with the iron. (Only press so you don't move the fabric off the foam.)

Make a cut in the middle of the back side and layer front (with foam) and back right sides together.

When I made this sample I forgot that you might also want to add the ribbon or cord into the layering (loop in the middle with ends sticking out the side)

Sew around with the zipper foot.

Turn! You can trim the seam allowance first if you feel that it needs it. 

With your finger or a turning tool make sure the edge looks nice. 

You might want to take the same back fabric to cover the back with the slits. Iron on double-sided adhesive in the size you about need. Cut a circle, pull paper and iron it on. Done ... except for may be adding the number of the day.

I had made another advent calendar for my church to raffle off this year (similar to another one couple years earlier). Still have to write that blog. Here the ornaments are square but done in the same technique. To hide the cuts in the back I had printed the meaning of each ornament on fabric, added the iron-on and used that. Very effective. In this case the numbers 1 to 24 are in the place the ornament is placed. The advantage is that you can select which one you (or somebody who has a turn) choose for that day and each year the calendar is different. Since you have the explanation there might also be a little discussion. So many possibilities!

Enjoy!

Of course, if you want to know more about Chrismons you should look HERE! This blog is only about Chrismons. Remember you can select the German language in the right top corner.

And now I have time to look at the book. There are 31 of Brigitte Bellon's wonderful Christian Symbol patterns with explanations of their meaning. Also included are the patterns for the numbers 0 to 9. I have always appreciated Brigitte's generosity sharing her patterns. I have already treasured my special advent calendar for some time and will for years to come. It is a big part in our Christmas celebration. 

Thank you, Brigitte Bellon! 

Thank you, Maria Steur and Deutscher Klöppelverband for helping to put Christ back into Christmas.