Back to school...

We had our first day of school this week.  That is why you have not see me in a little bit.  Trying to get all the last detail things done and soccer also started.  Which keeps us a little busy as well with three daughters on three different teams and coaching them and the games.  There are other things that have pulled me away from the blog for a little bit too maybe I will explain at a later date on that.  Bear with me I will be back at this soon.  Thanks for your patients and understanding I have a few more heirloom tutorials photographed and just need to prepare the text part of the post hopefully soon.

Free embroidery pattern

While on vacation I took some photos of some of linens Grandma Ernst had they are not in my possession these linens I just took photos because I liked them.  this piece was not finished so I thought others would like a copy of the embroidery for their own use.  If she seems a little tilted well that is because she is meant to be placed in a corner the linen in question had her I think in either 3 or 4 corners I can't remember which.

Here is my original photo it was dark and hard to see it well

Here is one cleaned up a little for your use

If you do make one please post a comment with a link so I can see your finished piece thanks. Right click on image and select view image to see just the image to save and print.

Bolero progress while on vacation

Here is the progress I made at granddaddy's house and in the four hour drive home from there.  You can also see a little bit of the progress I have made on the heirloom blouse.  I am thinking about putting a battenberg yoke on it (that use to be a collar) to make it a little fancier in the yoke area still thinking on that part of things and you can see the type of collar I am putting on the blouse.  Also you may have noticed I have added lace around the hem of the blouse.  Just so it is clear these two items would not be worn together on me they are just both on the mannequin at the same time to test things out.

To place the bolero on the dress-form easily it is actually inside out because it is still attached to the pattern.  The pink fabric you see is a pattern that is over 100 years old.  You can see where it is still attached to the pattern which is where I am still working on it.  This has close to two hundred hours of time in it already.  That of course is the cord making too.  This is why I don't mind giving my children the supplies to make one well because the expense isn't in the thread it took to make it  but in the time involved and the skill needed to make the filling stitches and cord and baste to the pattern.  In their case I would do the tracing of the pattern too as I wouldn't let them use the original it wouldn't survive the abuse of children working on it.  But a new copy on muslin would.  I just don't think they have that type of patients yet.

Bolero Romanian Point progress

I went on vacation for a few days and took this as my work-on-in-the-car-project.  It is now about 90 percent done and looks like it may fit me.  Although my middle daughter is still claiming it to be hers.  I was happy to let her learn to make the cord with my help, which she did for about 5 inches of cord.  I was going to copy the pattern for her use.  But after the 5 inches of cord she decided she didn't want to make yards and yards of cord.  She decided she would just have mine.  I have explained that isn't an option but well she is a kid and thinks she knows best.  My oldest wants to give the cord a try to so she can have one.  I don't think she will get much farther either but she is welcome to try.  I offered both all the supplies they need and my help but I don't they have the patients yet.  I can't remember if I told you that the thread that made the cord is vintage/antique and the threads making the filling stitches are discontinued if not now I have.  The cord is made out of bedspread weight thread and the filing stitches are size 30 thread.  While on vacation I showed this to my almost 96 year old grandmother she said I was crazy to make so many little knots, there are not actually knots in it just filling stitches but she calls them knots.  But on the same vain it is quiet beautiful to her.  She loves teasing me always says I am crazy but that the items are worth the effort.

Thease photos are oldest to newest.

While visiting my sister this was my progress

While I was at my grandmother's home this was my progress

I worked on it more at my husbands grandfather's house but didn't take photos of where I am now. I have finished all the pink, green, and brown areas. I have a few cream scrolls to finish then I am done with it.