Wednesday 29 July 2015

My Finished Lace Book

Greetings At last I've finished the Lace book I began with Suzy of http://suziqusthreadworks.blogspot.com.au/.

Here's the cover as I left Suzy's place....

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Well, I knew it wasn't finished and I kept playing and experimenting with different ideas. I like both, ideas, but this is the finished front cover:


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I experimented with different lighting when I photographed it. Here it is in the afternoon filtered sun:


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A couple of close-ups...


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The embellishment is a piece of lace from a wedding dress, with some metal mesh from an old soap holder I found. It was malleable and scruffy. The bottom piece of lace was from a baby's dress that had been made into a bag. It was pale pink, but I dyed it in parisian essence and it became this mushroomy shade, and the ribbon kept its pale blue tinge.

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The colour looks different in various light. I love its old-world charm. The flower at the top left is one I made using a candle to melt the fabric petals to make them curl, with a tatted doiley, some yarn fibres and found florist berries which i spray-painted gold.

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Here's the first pages - a lace doiley pocket with a vintage postcard featuring roses in a salmon tone, and the right-hand page which was done with Suzy - I later added the word and the last open weave white lace doiley because i wanted the niddle spread to be a similar length, but forgot it would also show longer on the preceding page (this one)!

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Here is the middle spread...


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And on another day, in different light...

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A close-up - I cut roses from a strip of curtain material that I rescued from an op-shop. It was attached to a pelmet. These pages had more pinkish tones because the old photos were slightly pink in tone. I love the white leaf, which was cut from a vintage doiley. A while ago I had a day where I dyed fabrics and doileys using boiled avocado skin and seeds. It made a beautiful dusky pink, and I used some in these pages. (I will do a post on the avocado dyeing soon, too.)


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 Close -ups, in a different light - afternoon sun indoors.


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Here's the last page spread, including another pocket page I made with Suzy.
I had made this 'fairy' from paper and she just seemed to belong in the pocket...

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Thanks to Suzy, I have now overcome my paralysing fears of cutting into a gorgeous vintage doiley, not knowing where to start, or making a mistake! 

I realise it's all a learning experience, and you just have to dive in and have a go, and look at what you might have done differently and try that next time... 


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So, thank you Suzy for sharing your talent as an artist. I am absolutely in awe of how much beautiful work you produce!!! But it's lovely that even busy mums can achieve something in small sessions of stolen time, once you get started.



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Here's a picture I took on the way home from Suzy's place near Bega, Australia. The trip was full of beautiful views; I had to make myself concentrate on driving!

Since this book I've also made some extra pages which I'll put in my next book, and a couple of wall hangings. I'll post those soon, too.

Now, I'm off to polish some silver flute keys for my partner, Terry McGee to complete his next order. He's at http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/ if you like flutes...

Jesse Rowan

12 comments:

  1. Hi Jesse
    Well look at all of this amazing talent you have been hiding away for so long! You lacebook is simply divine and you should be totally thrilled with the result! Your compositions for each page are so graceful and each page flows so well into the next. Each page is a favourite Jesse!

    You also have a wonderful collection to choose from and I know now that you won't be able to pass up any vintage laces on your travels now!
    Your photography is really interesting as well as beautiful as the different colours, shadings, vignettes and tones give such different results.
    All in all you should be totally proud of your first book and you can now look forward to many more with nothing standing in your way - not even the scissors LOL!
    Thank you so very much for your videoing expertise, patience and perseverence in bringing my first on-line class to fruition !!!
    A big warm hug for all,
    Suzy

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  2. Thank you so much, Suzy, your detailed feedback is much appreciated.

    I can see a few problems with it that I'll watch out for next time - like the difference in lengths of some the pages. I think I got carried away with using the beautiful laces and spent my time on one layout without remembering to look at the page on the back of it too. It's funny how you don't notice things sometimes until you look at a photo; I think it gives you that 'further away' persepective. It's tricky deciding when to stop, too, when enough is enough! But yes, I'm pleased with it, and proud that I've finished, too!

    I look forward to hearing more about how your first online workshop goes.

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  3. Oh my! Your lace book is soo beautiful!
    I am a new visitor, but I just had to comment!
    I'm so glad I was able to stop in here~
    I hope to peek in again soon and see more of your posts!
    Karen O (in CO)

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    1. Karen, I 've only just realised I haven't been replying to people's comments, Instead, I've been making a new comment, so probably everyone thinks I never reply to their comments!

      How kind of you to drop by and comment. Welcome!

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  4. Karen, How kind of you to drop by and comment. Welcome!

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  5. HI Jesse! I finally had some time today to start reading your previous posts. Your book is simply stunning and your choices in laces and photos just beautiful. I hope that you will continue making time for your art! Hugs, Sue

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    1. Hi Sue, I 've only just realised I haven't been replying to people's comments, Instead, I've been making a new comment, so probably everyone thinks I never reply to their comments! Could you please tell me if you've already seen this comment below, or do people only get me reply if I actually hit the 'reply' button?

      Thanks! I aim to, but with kids at home on school hols I am busy just now being taximum, also one about to sit final exams for Year 12 and applying for Uni. Taking photos for the blog takes a while, too, but it's fun. I try to do too many interesting and fulfilling activities. I rotate through them! Hugs, jesse

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  6. Hi Sue, Thanks! I aim to, but with kids at home on school hols I am busy just now being taximum, also one about to sit final exams for Year 12 and applying for Uni. Taking photos for the blog takes a while, too, but it's fun. I try to do too many interesting and fulfilling activities. I rotate through them! Hugs, jesse

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  7. Your book came out so gorgeous!!! I am going to take that class just as soon as I finish making Christmas gifts for my family. I can't hardly wait!

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    1. Hi Gigi, I'm sure you will enjoy Suzy's class immensely!

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  8. What a pretty piece of work Jesse. Clever you and partner being musical.Do you both sing?
    Judy

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    1. Hi Judy, thanks for visiting my blog. Yes, we both sing and play instruments. We are playing at the 50th Australian national folk Festival at Easter. Our FaceBook page is here if you want a look https://www.facebook.com/Ballyhooley-NSW-South-Coast-Folk-Band-437627379646953/?ref=br_rs
      cheers,
      Jesse

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Thank you so much for your friendly comments. It makes my day to hear from you about my artworks and topics.