Monday, October 4, 2010

Road to Ribbonwork: Week 1 of 4


This is the first of four Monday posts where I'll show pictures of pieces of antique ribbonwork that I have in my collection while preparing for a ribbonwork workshop with Candace Kling in November.


I don't have many pieces but I enjoy studying the methods and manipulation of ribbon to accomplish different effects so I thought you might too.


I love the twist of this ribbon to form the basket bottom...



And the use of wrapped wire to give the basket its handle.


And for those who like to look at the back of the work...


The piece was made onto two pieces of buckram...one for the basket and one for the flowers...then sewn together.


And check out this beautiful example of an Antique Ribbonwork Lingerie Case courtesy of Cathy Kizerian on Crazy by Design. It's wonderful and shows two interesting methods for making ribbon roses.

Do you have any antique examples to share? Just leave a link on this post and I'll reference it in my next post.

Enjoy your Monday everyone...

P.S. Thanks for all of your love and comments about Jack, his date and the corsage. Luckily, he and his friends aren't interested in reading a needlework blog *wink...

18 comments:

Rachel said...

It really is fascinating to see how various effects are achieved - the use of the grograin for the basket, for example.

Lovely - I'm sure it will give you wonderful ideas for your course!

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Here's another weird thing about me. I love to look at needlework. I drool over some pieces with ribbonwork, but I have no desire to own antique pieces. I'm really not a ribbon kind of person. But now that I am back to embroidery, you never know where that will take me.

This is a beautiful basket. It was interesting to me that it was done on buckram, since I love to use buckram when I want to give a piece more stability and body, such as the mask I am making.

Judy S. said...

Very interesting! Do you have any idea of the age of this piece? It looks really well preserved. Where did you find it?

Susan Elliott said...

I think it's a piece from the 1920s...at least, it looks very similar to pieces that were being made then...but I don't really know for sure.

I found it on ebay.

Catherine said...

Wonderful piece!! Love the colors, textures, twists, turns and everything else!

Gerry Krueger said...

The basket is INDEED just too cool for words and I almost missed the leaves which are amazing the clever way they are overlapped ... Gerry K.

flyingbeader said...

I have a couple pieces of vintage ribbon work too, but nothing as intricate as that basket. It is amazing to look at it and trying to picture in your head the hours and hours of work.

shirley said...

I just love the ribbonwork on the basket how beautiful is that. You are so lucky to have such treasures.

I love working with ribbon

Marty52 said...

Beautiful, Susan... that basket is verra cool. The twist in the ribbon the bottom really makes it interesting.

Cheryl said...

I love this ! I especially like the texture of the ribbon ,the sofness of the flowers and the roughness of the basket is what makes it so nice !! I wonder if we can still buy soft ribbon like this and the color of the basket ribbon.

Createology said...

How truly beautiful this antique ribbon work is. Thank you so much for sharing. The details are unlike what you see mostly today. Very precious indeed. Happy week to you...

Mosaic Magpie said...

I sent an email friend over to visit your beautiful work. She was blown away as well. She sent me an email about the beautiful basketwork. I just now got the courage to come over. Susan isn't that basket the most fantastic ribbon work! Of, course you think it is, you posted it. You found it on ebay! What a find!
Debbie

Ingrid Mida said...

I appreciate seeing these pictures, especially the back. I love ribbonwork as you know. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your collection.

Laurie said...

That is AMAZING! Thank you for showing us. Swoon!

Wildflowerhouse said...

This is amazing. The basket part is so intriguing. By the way your son Jack is so handsome with that smile of his. W cute date too and the corsage was so special. A true keepsake! Jack is lucky to have you as his mom.

Elizabeth said...

How beautiful!!! I thought that the basket was woven wire till I looked more closely and reread the title!!! AMAZING!!!!

coral-seas said...

This is lovely. I like looking at things, trying to work out how certain things have been done.

Rosali said...

Su blog es muy hermoso, gracias por compartir sus labores a través de fotografias. Saludos desde México.

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