Monday 28 November 2011

Lace Books

If you read Lesley's blog you will know we've had a book swap going on between the pair of us over the past few weeks. A throw away remark from Lesley in my comment box referring to a book swap, resulted in me taking up the challenge and before we knew it we had agreed some rules, a theme (lace) and a date for posting. Lesley's parcel arrived on Thursday and as soon as I read the beautiful printed card with its quote from Coco Chanel, I knew I was in for a treat.



Lesley took her inspiration from this lovely stamp featuring Sir Walter Raleigh wearing a rather fine lace ruff.


One of our "rules" was that our books should have some sort of container and as I pulled this fabulous box from the parcel my excitment could hardly contain itself.


And with just cause... because inside the box was an amazing "lace ruff" book


There are 91 of the most amazing tiny little books each stitched onto an embroidery frame creating the ruff.


And each little book has a cover printed with lace and pages that contain snippets of instructions from a book on lacemaking.





And if all that wasn't totally amazing enough, Lesley made me a second book (She broke all the rules you know!) Another exquisite little gem which I think is called a lotus book.


With folded pages made from little square lace doilies... to be honest Lesley... that alone would have been enough... it's beautiful!



In return this is what I sent Lesley. You may remember my drawings of samples of lace from a few weeks back. I ended up making ten little A6 studies of lace from which I cut away selected areas




These were then assembled into a "blizzard" book structure, with front and back covers covered in a fabric printed with a lace pattern.






For my container I made a box (this was a first for me) with a lid covered in the same fabric




I think both Lesley and I have spent hours on this swap but I know I would quite happily do the same again, without hesitation. It has actually given me a lot of pleasure when I have felt very stressed over the past few weeks. To be able to escape for an hour or so of drawing and cutting at the end of the day has been a delight. However Lesley did remark should she be so careless with a throw away comment again, such as "how about climbing Kilimanjaro"... I should ignore her. I've been trying to find out what date she had in mind but she's having none of it!

*update* I've had a request for how to make the blizzard book so you might want to check out this tutorial that I posted about two years ago should you want to give it a try.

31 comments:

  1. Hmm - you've still got that ball of wool to tackle!

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  2. My daughter has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro but I have no desire to do it. However, both of those books are absolutely stupendous and so, so inspiring. I have always loved the ruff and even made one for a Hallowe'en costume. How absolutely clever to make a book from the lace ruff as inspiration. Your lace cut-away is wonderful and has given me so many ideas.
    To both of you, thank you for your creativity.

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  3. Absolutely beautiful, all three of them!

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  4. wow. just fabulous. all of them. i will share this with my lace group. they will be amazed.

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  5. Oh that's so wonderful - all of it!

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  6. I love both your interpretations of the theme and can only marvel at the sheer thought and work that has gone into it all. Fabulous.

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  7. Oh


    My


    WORD!

    You two have shown such originality and flair....... fabulous books!

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  8. The both of you are very, sorry I mean VERY talented ladies. I am in total AWE.
    Just fantastic and that all because of a comment, just great.

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  9. A swap worth being involved in. Wonderful work from both of you. Be warned box making is as addictive as book making!

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  10. How very creative the pair of you are, magical things fly from your fingers.

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  11. Gina, even I had not realised I'd made 91 books! I think I gave up counting after 60 but every one was a joy. Reading the comments on both blogs has also been great. They re-inforce the knowledge that there are a lot of people out there who think along the same lines as us.... but why did you have to mention Kilimanjaro again? I think my 2012 diary is definitely choc a bloc already. Sorry x.

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  12. All three books are amazing and so beautifully made and presented. I love the idea of using a wooden embroidery frame. Both of you must be delighted with your swaps.

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  13. So beautiful. What a wonderful swap,congratulations to you both on your stunning work.

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  14. This is a S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G swap! You 2 ladies are so talented and imaginative.

    x

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  15. Wonderful - all of them. I'm in awe!

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  16. The 3 books are just amazing and lovely. I would love to know how to construct the books. Your lace cutouts are gorgeous

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  17. ooh, I sat up as soon as the word lace appeared and boy was I in for a treat. I am now a drooling, swooning heap on the floor. stunning work Gina. I must go and visit Lesley's blog too. mmmm Kilimanjaro was it??

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  18. Just fabulous! Inspiring, creative and delicious!

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  19. What a delightful post! I too love lace and this might just inspire me to get back to the studio. Thanks Gina. I hope you feel more settled and relaxed this week.

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  20. Wow -- you guys are crazy!!! Those books are gorgeous -- what a lot of time must've gone into making them. Beautiful -- just Beautiful!!!

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  21. The are all amazing! That lace ruff book is brilliant! You both have wonderful treasures there.

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  22. Amazing.
    Mind bogglingly beautiful, clever and technically supreme.
    Wow!
    Must check out Lesley's blog...

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  23. As I said on Lesley's blog, what a pair of talented ladies you are - each of these books is a delight and what a treat to be able to share that talent.

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  24. What beautiful books, sorry not to see yours Gina in real life before it went, but looking forward to seeing Lesley's 'in the flesh'. You are both SO creative and clever.

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  25. They are both fabulous what lovely ideas

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  26. Wow! They're brilliant. I feel totally inadequate.

    Ann

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  27. Both books are wonderful, gorgeous works of art, but the lotus fold book from lace doilies is genius!

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