Be Back Soon!

I'm moving and will be back online in a week or two.  Sorry for the lapse in posting!

This is the perfect opportunity to send in photos of your challenge project!
Kim

Reminder: Challenge photos due tomorrow!

Hey everybody!  Our Challenge is over tomorrow, so please send those pictures in to me.  irishcrochettogether@gmail.com
I know there are a couple of you working on this, and if you need a couple more days, let me know.  I plan on posting the results next week, so a bit more time is fine.  Don't let me be the only one with a picture to share!!!
--Kim

Irish Exhibition Postcard

This photo is from a postcard of the Irish International Exhibition in Dublin, 1907.  The Exhibition was a 6 month long World's Fair which showcased all the regions under the British empire during that time.  Music, art and industry were celebrated.

The photo is a view of the Industrial section.  The displays on the left side are part of the "Irish Lace Court."  On the right side, you can see on the little bump-out it says "Crotchets" above the window.  Unfortunately we cannot see any of the items in the "Crotchets" section!  

More information about the Exhibition HERE

I'd give anything to walk around here for a day!

Antique of the Week--Pat's Mothering Sunday Collar

From Pat, "The collar was given to me on our mothering Sunday in 2011 by my No 3 son, Patrick. He got it, with his father's help, from ebay. I took it to Clones with me for last year's summer school and, with Maire's help, mended a few small holes.  I am 99 percent sure it is silk.  I hope to wear it on a green velour dress."

The curling overlays really mimic the Venetian Gros Pointe lace.

An unusual large floral motif.  Any ideas as to what this is?

I love all the grapes on this collar.  More of the curling overlay here, reminiscent of grape vines.

Antique of the Week--Doily No.3

Here is the third of Pat's friend's doilies--Enjoy!!

Full doily.  Many of the motifs used around the outside are more uncommon.  The trellis motifs in the center have been modified from a square shape, so when they are combined they make an oval instead of a rectangle.

One of the flowers on the end of the oval.  Bullion "Clones" Knots in the center and fat bullion stitches on the outer part of the center.  I've not seen this motif before. I'm hoping someone can identify it in the comments!

Fern motif with huge cylindrical bullions in the center.

Thanks again to Pat for sharing these pieces with us!!!

Antique of the Week--Doily No.2

This week's gorgeous antique is the second of the Doilies from Pat (see last week's post).  

Full view

a US quarter and a 2 pence coin to show the tiny scale of the inner lace of the doily

Flower and Grape motifs

Three dimensional flower motif.  Here also is a good view of the Clones Knots on the filling.

Wheel with shamrock spray.   Look at the Clones Knots in the spray, creating tiny shamrocks!

Challenge--Valentino Blue Lace Dress

Have you seen it?  Cameron Diaz is wearing it on the cover of this month's InStyle magazine.  Valentino describes this as a silk macrame lace dress, and it will run you over $5,000.  We've been chatting about it over on Ravelry, and some have come to the conclusion that the lace must be machine made.  Some of us think it's reminiscent of the heavy lace look of Irish Crochet.

I think this is the perfect inspiration piece for a Challenge.  Each month, we will post a Challenge, and anyone can participate.  The only rule is: be inspired!  (oh and send pictures!!!)  Interpret this beautiful Valentino dress into your own Irish Crochet creation. It can be a single motif, a series, or a repeating pattern.  It can be big or small, out of no. 10 thread or 100.  It can be using the color or not, the entire piece, or just part of it.  HAVE FUN!  Send Kim your photos by June 15th and I'll post a collage of them here on the blog.

Thanks to Eileen for the great idea of Modern Interpretation!

Here are some more shots of the dress and the fabric.