Thursday, March 29, 2012

Lesson in Laraine's Hanah Silk Ribbon Flowers


You will need - 1mt. x 15mm. of Hanah silk ribbon (makes 3)
                         Small piece of Vilene or fine backing fabric
                         Sewing thread to match ribbon,  a fine needle and pencil.

Hanah Silk Flowers.
Cut 30cm. pieces of the 15mm. wide Hanah silk ribbon. Measure and mark 3cm. intervals along the length of the ribbon with a pencil. Load a matching thread (double) into a fine sewing needle and tie a knot in the end. Fold the ribbon in half length ways with the dots on the outside facing you. 
Draw your knotted thread through the ribbon in the fold, 1.5mm. from the end.  Backstitch over the fold to secure your thread. Always start at the fold. Stitch as shown, with running stitches, rounding the corners and making sure the space on either side of the dot is the same. This ensures that each petal will be the same size.  Always take the thread over the fold to pull the edges in. This forms the petal. Gather gently as you go to prevent the thread from breaking. The stitching on the last petal should return to the folded edge. Don't draw up gathers too tightly as this will make the flower too small. End off.
Sew the petals to the Vilene with small stitches into the gathers. Begin at the outside edge and form a circle, turning and overlapping the petals until you reach the centre. The Vilene is trimmed away at the back, being careful not to cut the couching stitches. Sew a few beads or ribbon French knots to the centre of the flower. Arrange the flowers on your embroidery and stitch in place when you are happy with the look.

Hanah silk petals made from the larger size ribbons are measured as 3 times the measurement of the folded ribbon width. ie 25mm. ribbon folded is 12.5mm. so each petal will be 37.5mm.  This is the mark you will make along the edge.  You can also choose to make 5 petal flowers instead of 10.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Doors - A peek at Life






Some of the many doors I had to photograph when on holidays. I love the iron doors on the graves in Paris with just a glimpse of stained glass windows shining through and the blue and white that dazzles the eye on the Greek islands.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

A Dose of Colour




After working on the pastel organza ribbon I felt I needed a big dose of amazing colour. These are some of my favourite hand dyed ribbons, felted wool fabric, chunky chenille, French silk threads and Ric Rac.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Embroidered Organza Ribbon




This beautiful embroidered organza ribbon has delicate daisy style flowers on metallic thread stems with seed bead ascents in the centre of the flowers. It is ideal for crazy patchwork, embroidered bags, cushions and garments. The ribbon is 5cm. wide. Sold in .5 mtr pieces. See all ribbons in Whats New


Choose a background silk fabric that will match or enhance the ribbon. Decide the size of your project and cut fabric including seam allowances. Use a homespun or fine cloth for a lining. Place work in a large hoop to keep the fabric taught with the silk on top of the lining.
Lay the ribbon down and applique along the selvage of the ribbon with tiny stitches in a matching thread.
Make as many folded roses as you like and also some of the picot edged gathered flowers. I have used the new Vintage Lace hand dyed rayon 15mm. ribbon for the roses.
Arrange them on the ribbon and when you are happy with the placement, stitch down. Nestle the gathered picot flowers close to the roses.
Next I will add some silk ribbon roses to the stems with leaves and more beads. I think I will expand the area with rows of metallic silver braid running alone side the organza ribbon.



Watch for the next instalment.
Laraine

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Wooden Bobbins with Paper Twin


The long awaited parcel filled with wonderful vintage reclaimed Braider's bobbins arrived today!
Some are wound with the finest white paper yarn (250 metres) which can be used for all manner of crafts including collage and mixed media. Fine enough to use for stitch or just add beads and couch down.
The bobbins wound with colour are a heavier twine (41 metres) ideal for parcel wrapping and all paper crafts. $18.00 for each Twine and Yarn
All the reclaimed bobbins are unique and look similar but they do vary in size and colour.
They are approximately 10 - 12cm tall and 4.5cm wide.
I am offering a set of three empty bobbins and will try to match the styles. $21.00
Wonderful for displaying your ribbons and laces.

Friday, December 30, 2011

New Sampler Charts

The days between Christmas and back to work can be an oasis of relaxation but they can also feel a little flat after all the festivities. Hopefully our great new cross stitch sampler charts will inspire you to use the time to put some of your craft skills into action, or tempt you to take advantage of our sales.
I really love the Blackbird Sampler designs especially the small pincushion projects. I've just received about twenty new charts to delve into and they are now all available at http://www.larainesoncapri.com.au/.
Look under Embroidery Linens and Wool for cross stitch charts, Sajou alphabets and wonderful linens to work on.




Monday, December 19, 2011

I Spy

I spy with my little eye something beginning with R - everything bright Red.
WDW felted wool - Candy Apple
Hand dyed ribbon - Bright Gypsy
Hanah Silk velvet ribbon - Bougainvillea (coming soon)
Primitive Storklettes Scissors
Thread Gatherers Silk Chenille - In The Red
Cottage Garden Threads - Canna Lily
 Happy little Lady Bug Beads
A wonderful festive colour for a happy season and family holidays.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Merry Christmas

A very big Thank You for all your support during 2011. I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a bright New Year.
I always feel December is the beginning of a new year for me as all my work has finished and there's room in my head for all the new ideas to come forward and express themselves. It's quite hard to choose where to start as there are sooo many styles of embroidery that I love. Will I do the wool designs or will I start on the crazy patchwork! Maybe both at once! I hope you have time to stitch too.
It's going to be a great New Year!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Free Christmas Wrapping

We're counting down the days to Christmas - 5 weeks to go!

Don't forget that we have all the little finishing touches for your Christmas giving projects. There's Doctors Flannel for needle cases, Lavender for sachets, Lavender and Walnut shells for pincushions and lots of vintage buttons and trims for those finishing flourishes. Many of my kits, accessories and scissors make wonderful stocking fillers too.
Free gift wrapping will be available with every order until Christmas so just leave a message in the comments box as to which items in your order you would like wrapped.
                                                        http://www.larainesoncapri.com.au/

Scissors for Christmas


I love the imitation Ivory and Mother of Pearl scissors from Sajou ( France) and all the Mother of pearl accessories for your sewing boxes. There is something precious and ladylike about Mother of Pearl that echos a bygone era but is still relevant today.
Scissors make a wonderful gift for a family member or friend. They are an enduring gift that gives joy from the very first snip. If you are like me you can't have too many pairs.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Colour Inspiration

I just thought I'd share with you some of the beautiful colours that arrived in my latest parcels. The Weeks Dye Works felted wools come in the most gorgeous pastel colours and they work so well with the French Scallop braid and the new Hexagonal Mother of Pearl buttons. The Thistle Needle Keep is also new in store. It is nestled on some of Colour Streams 4mm. silk ribbon. Yum!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Hand Dyed Lace Spools

I've just finished dying this lovely lace trim in shades of green, pink and blue. The colour will blend with just about everything and is great for crazy patchwork, trims on pincushions, needlecases and lots more. Combine with Dupion silks, velvets, wool and felt for a wonderful texture and colour play. Why not also add a little sparkle with the Crystal Chantons and Vintage glass buttons.

Each Hand Dyed Lace Spool holds 1.55 mtr. lace. Re-use the wooden spool when the lace is all gone.