Crafts

[Daisy]

Lizzie, that looks very intricate, you clever lady.

Gem, there you are - hidden talents. Winter's a good time to do something like needlework, when you don't have any gardening to do, and there's not much incentive to go out unless you have to.

Oma, I'm sure you'd enjoy having another go at embroidery or cross stitch again. Do you use one of those needle threader thingies? I find they're not much help with very small eyed needles but work well with bigger ones. Do you think your DD will get back to her art, perhaps when life is a bit less busy for her? It's such a shame to think of a talented artist not painting or drawing. You're right - finishing something like that is very satisfying.

Some years ago I did a day's quilting course and I made a cushion cover. I had no idea what I was doing - I just blindly followed instructions - but I was so delighted with the finished article I wanted to show it to everyone!

I've never done cross stitch and I couldn't cope with having to count those little squares, but my auntie taught me to embroider when I was about 12 or 13. She used to do beautiful embroidery - things like intricate altar cloths for her church, and dainty table cloths. I always remember her embroidering a very colourful peacock on a black background and making it into a fire screen.

[Oma]

Daisy
my DD has a degree in Art and has done some amazing work , I think her life is so busy now she just doesn't have the time.
Maybe when her life slows down she will, I hope she does.
That fire screen must have looked spectacular, the vibrant colours of a peacock especially on a black background must have popped.
I have tried those needle threaders , I can't manage them on sewing needles but they may work on embroidery needles.

[Lizzie48]

It is sad really when I think about it, embroidery was very popular in the 70/80's, ladies were always embroidering, a friend of mine had a craft shop and her DH had the framing side of it. I now walk around charity shops and see all those beautiful pieces all framed etc the ladies will have passed on and no one in the family will want them. That is what will happen to mine.

[Gemini]

WhatsApp Image 2025-01-11 at 08.09.16_b8f2704c.jpg


This is the cross stitch I did for my youngest daughter when she was a baby.

[Oma]

How sweet Gem
Sadly as Lizzie said they end up no one wanting , I know my DD kept the one for GS1 but not sure what happened to all the others ,
I have a photograph of one somewhere I must rake it out .

[Plantaholic]

I made birth samplers for my two granddaughters and several for friends and made a lot of cards.

[Oma]

These are not good as they are pictures of pictures but you get the idea,
Not a clear one of DDs wedding cake I'm afraid , the cross stitch I did for Bs sisters twins,
While I was looking I realised I had also made my DDs long veil and headpiece ,
It was a long two tier veil with crystal drops,
I remember sitting on the floor in the spare room for quite a few nights gluing these crystals on all the way around the edges and over the veil

[Daisy]

Oma, the cake is stunning, and I love the colours against the white icing. The cross stitch is so cute, but looks very complicated to do.

You must have endless patience to have done all those crystals, but I bet it was worth it. DD must have been delighted. Does she still have her veil?

Plant, how lovely. I think everyone treasures hand-mades whether they are samplers, cards or any other craft.

[Daisy]

It is sad really when I think about it, embroidery was very popular in the 70/80's, ladies were always embroidering, a friend of mine had a craft shop and her DH had the framing side of it. I now walk around charity shops and see all those beautiful pieces all framed etc the ladies will have passed on and no one in the family will want them. That is what will happen to mine.

I agree, it is sad. Perhaps there ought to be a national collection of items like these. I remember some years ago photographing a collection of exquisitely made and embellished corsets for a lady who must have spent her life creating them. They were going to a needlework guild, and the guild would only accept photos on medium format images, which nobody used even then. The corsets were quite tiny, even for the wasp waists of bygone fashions. I wish I'd scanned the photos to keep them on file, but I didn't think about it at the time!

[Oma]

Hard to see the veil but this is it , I made the halo also, I wish I had a photo from the back .

[Daisy]

Oma, how beautiful - both your DD and her veil. xx

[Oma]

Thank you Daisy , it's not the most flattering one I have ,
I also forgot I had glued little rose buds on the drops too and pearls .
Apart from going grey she looks no different , she's a Dorian Grey 🤣🤣
The colour theme from her bouquet went on the cake .

[Daisy]

Oma, I've seen other photos of your DD and she never looks a day older.

By the way, if anyone can't see the photo, please let us know. I think Gem has solved the invisitble photo problem, but we want to check. On this photo, if you want to go to the larger version, click on the blue square on the right.

[Clover]

As one of the unlucky ones who couldn’t see some photos I’m pleased to say I can see this one of the beautiful bride and the lovely headdress and veil 😀

[Plantaholic]

Same here , cushion covers, fire screen, many pictures, birth samplers for Granddaughters and friends. Dance costumes for granddaughters. I used to make quite a few clothes for myself. I am reduced to making a needle case for myself. Beautiful needle craft and needle work on the veil Oma.