I can’t believe it’s March already! Maybe February went so fast because it really is a shorter month, Leap Year or not. My crocus and narcissus are peeking out already, so I know it’s time for spring.
I enjoyed the slower pace in February, which gave me time to replenish my inventory for this year’s events. My demo schedule at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway arrived this week and will soon be posted on the Events page.
My first demo will be at the end of April after a quick trip to see a special friend in Maine. Then it’s time to hit the ground running!
I did two interesting restorations during February, one of Northern Italian heritage and one a beloved family heirloom of uncertain heritage.
One of my local customers is looking forward to the arrival of her first grandson and had a very specific design idea for a large blanket for the little prince. She shopped for the 8 colors she wanted to include, we agreed on the technique, and we were both very pleased with the outcome! I suggested she purchase Caron Simply Soft, which washes and wears well when loved by a child. It is easy to work with, but sometimes tends to split, which reminds me to always have my hook pointing down when I work fast – or any time.
Along with requests for lace restorations I received an invitation to join the American Institute for Conservation and I am now an associate member in the Fiber Division of this prestigious institution. I am very happy to not only represent the art of restoring antique and vintage lace pieces, but also to join in the effort to conserve all the lace techniques I practice, which are part of a global heritage.
While working in my studio a couple of weeks ago I found the pieces of inspiration that started it all – the idea for the Heirloom Treasures name and the inspiration for timeless, classic labels. They have been around since the early 1980ties, and I still would not change a thing! They now have a place of prominence, and they still inspire me and cause grateful smiles!
Yesterday I had a lovely message from a customer with a child who has Autism. He has a well-loved broomstick lace blanket that needs some attention. After giving the mom all the needed information, she explained to her son that his blanket needs to go to the yarn hospital for some surgery and overnight treatment. He processed that information for a while, and we are now good to go! I will give this special blanket immediate attention when it arrives, so it can be released from the yarn hospital as quickly as possible! Unfortunately, shipping will take longer than the time it takes me to restore it. But I love those very special opportunities to make someone’s day.
My February highlight was a Valentine celebration with my lady friends; we all had the same idea and purchased a plethora of pink and red balloons at the Dollar Store for each other! What a big laugh we had! Great minds run in the same direction. We went to our favorite lunch spot, hung out for a while afterwards and each of us went home with a bouquet of balloons! Just to spend time together and catch up was the best gift of all.
The next reason to celebrate is St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. That’s the only time I accompany my neighborhood friends to the brewery around the corner. I love the green beer in souvenir glasses! Since they have a band, conversation is impossible and we do strange things, like playing cards!
I make sure I do something with Irish lace on that day to honor the Italian nuns who taught the Irish ladies how to crochet lace during the potato famine and the strong-willed Irish gals who were so territorial that they made sure every county has its very own rose or flower that they could wear and identify with. Best known are the Rose of Sharon and the Rose of Killarney – but there are dozens more. I loved my time in Ireland and the research that went into my book.
More reasons to celebrate this month is that spring officially arrives in the middle of March and I can’t wait to work on some of my ideas for new creations. Spring is the time for renewal, so let’s be inspired to think of something new to create (green or otherwise!) or to learn!
Have a happy March!
“I do what I love and I love what I do.”
New in the Studio:
The Italian job – northern Italian design, Sicilian heritage.
Windmills – probably a Dutch design.
My inspiration – the Ponte’ tag was attached to a vintage doily,
purchased in a Benicia, CA antique shop.
The treasure inspiration is from a church program, ca. 1983.
Here is the fun blanket for a leap year prince.