On Needlework, Bonnets, Fans and Lace

Having spent the better part of the past few days immersed in embroidering on a handkerchief and trimming it with lace, decorating a fan and making up a bonnet, I have realized that I was perhaps born in the right era after all.  Actually, I never doubted that I belong to this era - I am rather attached to flush toilets, disposable hygiene products and Tupperware among other things.  


I actually found the embroidery relaxing, although the skin on my fingertips is terribly torn up from the needle, and I am feeling quite critical of my work - thinking of unpicking and redoing it, but I know that sometimes that just makes it worse.  I recognize that I don't sit for hours perfecting the craft - in fact I haven't embroidered in years - but I'm afraid it would take many more hours of practice before I would be truly accomplished again.  The handkerchief I embroidered and added lace to represents the handkerchief in my story, and has the "ED" motif that delighted Mr. Darcy when he discovered it.  I'm hoping we can find a way to work it into the cover art for the book.  The handkerchief really is lovely even though the stitching isn't perfect.


The poke bonnet was fun to make.  I had to literally dust off my sewing machine though.  It was sitting unused in the bottom of a closet for a couple of years now and the outer case was incredibly dusty.  I worried that it would give me problems after not being used for so long, but the old Vigorelli was up to the task although she does need a good oil job and probably a tune-up - that will have to wait for another day.


I used the instructions given on this video to make the bonnet and added some style elements of my own.  I'm not entirely pleased with it though - I learned some lessons along the way but hot glue, while fast and easy, is not always forgiving.  I can also relate to Lydia's fussing over the bonnets not being quite right and wanting to make them over again.  When we do the photo shoot for the book cover of One Thread Pulled,  I'll have some nice photos of my projects to share here, but till then, I will be leaving it up to your imagination.

I might just have to have another go at the bonnet - it only took a couple of hours, and didn't require a lot of materials, so it was pretty cheap to make compared to some other projects I've done.  But what will I do with two Regency-era bonnets?  I had my daughter try it on, and her fiance took one look at her and inquired as to whether or not she would be needing a pacifier.  Not exactly the compliments I was hoping for.   For the snarky comment he gets the bad Darcy award for the day as in "selfish disdain for the feelings of others."  He's forgiven though - I'm pretty sure he was joking.  


And now, for my one complaint to those of you who have stopped by to read.  I'm getting a good bit of traffic on the blog, but no comments - not even one.  It's pretty much crickets.  Now I am not the type to coerce anyone to  do anything, but I am beginning to get a complex.  For my mental health, I would be obliged if someone said something.  


Peace,


Diana


PS - I am unpicking and re-embroidering after all.  Sometimes I'm a perfectionist and sometimes I'm not.  It's pretty random.