A Sentiment

God knew what He was doing when He sent a gentle breeze and brought a lovely butterfly to set my heart at ease. The happiness of your friendship and the gentleness of your words have touched my life in special ways and now I feel assured. Thank you for your loyalty and for reading everyday. I only hope you find things to make a happy day.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Candlewicking





This picture isn't very good, but I took it from the website to show you what I am going to be working on. Years ago I learned and taught classes in candlewicking. I worked at a little store in my town and we did a promotion on this craft. The floss, needles, patterns and kits were ordered and we had to learn how to do it in a short time. I caught on right away, so that by the time the big order came...I was ready to teach the customers ...free of charge...if they bought their supplies from us. The big day came and the UPS man delivered this big box of supplies. We had purchased books telling us of this craft and it's origins.We set up a table in the window and had a couple of chairs there. We would sit in the window display and I would teach the customers. Candlewicking dates back to pioneer days. Because Americans traveling across the prairies in covered wagons had little room for anything except the barest necessities, fine fabric and thread were often left behind. Additionally, once settlers arrived to new territories, resources were often scarce or hard to obtain. Settlers embroidered hats, quilts, bedspreads, pillowcases, and any number of other items using thread meant for making candle wicks, and calico or canvas for fabric.Today, most of the candlewicking is done on white or creamy colored muslin. The supplies are not as easy to find as years ago. The craft has fallen from popularity, but in my little town years ago...everyone was candlewicking.I have two pillows in my guest bedroom...done by my Mom at that time.  So this brings me to the reason for this post. We have a grandson getting married in October and I've been racking my brain thinking of a little personal gift from me. Some handwork that I can do this summer, while sitting on my porch. The girl he is marrying is a young woman, who is interested in things like this. She always comments on my knitting and other projects going and even bought me a latch hook kit for my birthday this year. I plan to do this wedding "sampler type" project using the candlewicking technique along with crewel embroidery. I'm a bit rusty on doing the "colonial" knot and crewel stitches, so I bought a book from Amazon to help me...if I need it. I will be working on this project exclusively this summer. When it's finished I will have it matted and framed with non glare glass. I have 5 months to finish it...I hope that I can pick up on this old timey craft. I also hope that my eyes will cooperate and let me finish it.
Balisha





6 comments:

Margie's Musings said...

How interesting! I don't think I had ever heard of it.

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Balisha ~ This will be a lovely gift and much appreciated. I know you'll do just fine once you get back into it. Enjoy, and have fun making this gift from your heart.

FlowerLady

Lona said...

It has been years since I did any candlewicking. I use to love doing it. I use to do so much embroidering and crocheting that I burnt myself out on it. LOL! Not many still do it anymore. Everything is done on machines now even the quilting that it is going to be scarce to find the real handmade pieces.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Oh Balisha, you are so talented.
I have never been good at handwork.
My mother, grandmother and great grandmother did this and all of wonderful old sewing items.

La Tea Dah said...

I look forward to seeing your candle wicking project. In years past my mother and I enjoyed this art. I still have a set of pillows that I made. I think the whites on whites have a beautiful effect.

Anonymous said...

Balisha, I used to cross stitch but I've never tried candlewicking. A friend of mine used to do candlewicking, and I thought it was beautiful! Thank you for sharing~~~