Custom

Thank you so much everyone for all of your comment support yesterday. Sometimes all I need is to know I made a logical decision and that I didn't overreact too badly. So now this whole mess is in the rear view and I'm nice and busy again.

I know I mentioned a bit about the custom order I was working on and that's what I got up to yesterday. The idea was to create two specific lengths of lace with a similar look to my 'queen' pieces on one side and a simple chain and ring edge on the other with the task of providing a space to lace through. The two pieces will eventually make their way to a costume jacket. So the challenges were to make sure the pattern would fit the length right and that the design would provide the strength needed to be functional.

The first challenge was defeated through dumb luck. I made up a length of lace using the same pattern as the outside edge of the 'queen' pieces and with a slight modification to the ends, it was the right length. The second challenge was a bit more of an adventure. I decided to tat the entire edge over a length of wire. Now, I do this all the time for a few of my masks, but it's a small bit over the wire, this was every chain along the edge and it was a pain in the neck. You can see the wire there curving down...it's about two feet long. I bet you're wondering how you do that with the needle. Well, you set the needle next to the wire and then pretend that the whole wire is the needle and tat over it and the needle at the same time. Yes, it is tiresome, clumsy and slow work, but it is effective.

The final pieces are perfect. I mean that in the, 'it will work perfectly', not in the 'it's entirely flawless' sense. It's the right length. There is plenty of lace to sew to the garment with a decorative edge. It also holds it's shape and with so many lacing points it should function well and not distort at all. Working on this piece also reminded me of one of the reasons I charge so much for some of my work. It may look simple, but making it was anything but.

I still have a couple of pieces in queue to be remade today, but I have caught up with all my recent orders. The Universe has been extraordinarily kind and I do so appreciate it. I hope that kindness continues as it's past time to start saving for our annual vacation and other adventures in the future. My work is never done.