Finished Craft

Today I kept busy with household chores and even had time to finish my hoop project. Because I haven't been to a craft store in several years I resorted to what I had on hand. I really would have preferred to use much finer gold wire, but was lucky enough to have just enough of heaver gauge and used every inch! Seven metal rings were strung with beading thread. It is tough stuff and won't break, but flexible so the rings will swing. The silky colorful threads shine nicely in the sun and move gracefully. This was a fun project and I'm glad it's finished to my satisfaction.

please click on image to view larger

 

Crazy Crafting

A friend recently delivered craft materials to me knowing I'd either find a way to use them or find someone who would. Much of the cache was macrame cord of all colors and wooden beads of all sizes. I'm still working on ideas for those. What really peaked my interest were the three wooden embroidery hoops and two packages of threads - special threads! I scanned the packages before opening and utilizing this marvelous material!  No!  I am not going to embroider. Those days are gone. I'm creating and crafting now.

 

The first package was used first on my small hoop. I really wanted to fill the center with fine gold wire zig-zagged from pin to pin but I didn't have enough so I improvised with my crystal suncatcher that a granddaughter gave me. 

To view closer please click on image

It is really pretty when a soft breeze moves the fine threads!

The 2nd package was used on the large hoop. It is in the process of a similar, but very different creation.You'll have to wait for its viewing as it isn't yet complete. 

Please don't be shocked at my use of these very expensive threads. They were just laying around in their packages for a long time and now have been released for beauty in motion - at least to me! 

 

Good Old Threads

I wonder why I love old things so much. Not the fancy stuff but the everyday useful items. Yesterday I needed to hem a pair of slacks and wanted to use a thread that would not break easily. I turn to this thread often for repairs. As I looked at the spool, I finally realized it might be ‘special.’ 

I have two wooden spools of 2 oz. thread. One is white, the other black thread. I have used it for various repairs many years and don’t remember how I came to have them in the first place. They measure 2 1/2 inches tall x 11/2 inches diameter. After an entire afternoon research project devoted to the source of the spools with the information that was stamped directly into the wood spool at both ends, I still don’t really know the purpose of  MY thread, its age and history. 

  My scans of my thread spools  

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Some research results:

Town connection was Lowell, Mass.

Lowell Thread Mills 1830-1850 in operation.

Meyer Thread Company was in Lowell, Mass and was registered as a domestic profit corporation in 1922.

Threads were used for:

   Shoe and Hat repair

   Automobile upholstery

   Florists 

I also have one white and two beige spools the of same size and one has a paper label that reads, Hy-Mark, Paramount Thread Co., New York. C-30 Glace Thread. I’ve used it for sewing on buttons and for basting but never on the sewing machine. The main information I could find is that the Parmount Thread Co. is an inactive business, started February 21, 1946 filed in New York County, New York. It’s dissolution was March 23, 1987 These Hy-Mark threads could be as old as 69 years or as new as 28 years.