Hi Maureen. Thanks for the compliments. The trunk of the tree is made with stitch
"Gnocheti" (this is a dialect term because our Venetian lace stitches are called in dialect, in Italian the correct name is "Gnocchetti"). I love this because it's a little relief, and it can give a little bit of movement at work. It is done by grouping four or five stitches sacola together. In the second book we will put the explanation of "Gnocheti".

Thanks you.  It is so nice to have Catherine "handy" too, I have found. she is very generous with her knowledge, and is always helpful.  she suggested I mark my circles 'properly' with more even spaces so all the first round stitches are the same size, and that will improve the work, too.

I have a small NL pillow, but don't use it!  I find it easier to work in the hand. I hunch up over a pillow, which is not good, and working in the hand, I can lean back on the couch, pull my lighted magnifier to the correct position, and work more comfortably. I love Carol Williamson's designs, - and made my neck band/high collar from one of her designs in a UK Lace magazine. I pulled the design to pieces, as it was too 'round' and wider than the neckband, and positioned the leaves beside the rose, not around it, and it turned out well. I presume she is the "Williamson" of the Williamson Stitch!!  It is such a nice stitch, and I use it a lot.  Lucky you to have had a class with her.

Hi Maureen, thank you for inviting me to be your friend.

Well that's interesting.  What a unique look. I like it.

I can't find where I talked and showed the Looped Star stitch, - so thought I would update you privately!!

Catherine sent me a copy of the pattern for the Sampler 4 shown on her web site.  t printed out to the correct size, she assured me. My circle was too large, for starters.  Anyway, I printed her sampler off, - and then cropped it for just the circles, and put them on a pad. We were away this weekend, so I had it with me to work on. I did 3 circles needle towards me, as I usually work, - and then did the bottom 2 circles (either side of the stalk mark) needle away, - and they were so much better, so I did the small centre circle, needle away, too.   I can see that I have to work this stitch, like the Pt. de Gaze Ground needle away every time.

When I had the wonderful workshop with Catherine, when she came out to Australia, she said I should work needle away all the time! I find that hard, but gradually, I am finding stitches that look better needle away!!!  Do you work needle towards you or away?

You can see that centre top was the first circle I worked! Nice to see that I improved a bit.

Still room for better tension, but I can now live with the bottom 2 circles. the small centre one is OK too.  It is an interesting stitch, stich can be useful to give a different look.

Hi Maureen.  Thanks for welcome.  I'm trying to find way round site and it seems very informative.  Loving some of your pictures, you have done some beautiful work. I'm in danger of spending more time on computer than making needle lace! I didn't know there were so many types, so its all very interesting. 

Thank you for your welcome Maureen - I have started my first piece of needle lace with the help of Liz Ligeti and I have not been able to put it down! Returning to needle based lace making has been a great decision.

thank you dear..

hope I will do it right :)

Maureen

I'm glad you posted your Cottingham event.  I've been hoping that everybody would do that.