You're Missing Out IF You're NOT following me on FACEBOOK.

So I've been a bit lazy with blogging recently, due to some orders and trying to maintain my facebook page.  But basically everything I do and find in regards to Turkish Needle Lace (Oya) I post there.  I'm very happy to announce that I've hit over 600 likers which is pretty amazing, if I don't say so myself.


So the above photo is of a recent order that this lovely lady placed.  She asked for a "hibiscus flower brooch" so heres my adaptation.  She was so pleased with the final result that she asked for another!

I've learnt alot about oya since I got back from Turkey, and since we brought my partners mother back from Turkey with us, not only in technique but history and differences with the lace from region to region.  I even started my own antique oya collection.

I hope you'll all like my page on facebook so you can keep more up-to-date with my oya adventures.

You can click HERE to be taken to my facebook page!

Roses are red...Well not in this case!

Hi guys, just a quick update on what I'm doing,  I've been busy at work so thats why I havent blogged but I just thought Id show you the roses Ive been making.  Theyre extremely difficult as they are 4 layers,  I started one today at 12pm and its now 10pm and I just finished.  My elbows are killing me aswel as my shoulders but I'm happy with the way they look.  Anyway its off to bed for me, I definitely need it!

Whats new for 2013?

So in the first week of december I had a market stall in Daylesford (for any crafters reading this that intend to  go to daylesford to sell their pretty things- DONT.  People at this market would rather by dusty crap than a handcrafted piece of gold)  I didn't do as well as I would have liked but never mind.  In october and november I put my head down and my bum up working away on things to put at my market stall because heres me thinking I wouldnt have enough things for people to look at.  Anyway I made alot of oya lace, which some of you can find on my Etsy store, and some you will see here first and then on my Etsy store in the near future...So here they are:

Bouquet of oya lace flowers

Purple bouquet of Oya lace flowers

Purple Bouquet of Oya lace flowers

Bouquet of Oya lace Flowers

Bouquet of Oya lace Flowers

Bouquet of Oya lace Flowers

Tatted Turkish Towel Edging

Tatted Turkish Towel Edging

Tatted Turkish Towel Edging

All bouquets together!

Heres the beginning of my mixed tatted/oya lace table topper

Turkish Tatted Towel Edging

All Bagged and labled!

Yasemin Oyasi, Boncuklu Halay

Assorted bead oyas

This flower is called muhur

Assorted Oya Lace Flowers

I found things in a suitcase...IN A SUIT CASE.

I've been with my partner in this house for 2 years.  He failed to inform me however that his mother had left suitcases here in the cupboard in the spare bedroom.  I practically tripped over the coffee table in an attempt to get there A.S.A.P.  Anyway I found some goodies inside:  2 crochet oyas; one the size of a scarf, and one thats just a sample about 50cm long.  I also found some white nylon thread (which i was in need of) and some beading thread.  So I was quite happy.

Oya Sample

Tulip Scarf Edging.

2 oyas together.

In other news I finished the 50 samples order for my friend over in Utah, which didnt take me long, but trying to remember them all was a pain.  I included some plastic rings for her aswel, as she was cutting tubing for a fish tank to use!

50 samples.

 I also have 2 orders left for the same person, around 20 or so (I've written it down) flowers with leaves, and  a scarf also, but I haven't been working on either of them the past week because alot has been going on family wise and my grandmother God bless her soul, hasn't been well and had a fall last week.  So I've been there looking after her.  Anyway I was told that I don't have to rush, as she doesnt need the flowers for 10 or so months, and the scarf can be done whenever.

Oya flower for order

Ramadan is 3 or 4 days away now, I say 3 or 4 because every year everyone has no idea what day it is because...well...I don't actually know.  We have a calendar that tells us, but then one priest will say this and another priest will say that and then everyone gets confused.  Anyway this year for Ramadan, I thought I'd send my partners mother some scarves so she can show them off to her neighbours.  She doesn't fast anymore because she has diabetes, and the rules are if you're sick or have to take medication, or have to eat, then you don't fast.  So I'm pretty sure she'll be happy with this scarf.  I took a picture of one of the motifs, not the whole scarf, but I will when I finish it (which hopefully is this week)

Partners Mothers Scarf- yet to be finished.

Its a pretty easy motif, but because I've been busy with the orders and my grandmother, I havent had time to get back to it.  At the moment I'm on the 3rd side, so I really should get my butt into gear and finish it so I can go back to my friends orders or she might think I'm neglecting her haha.

I might also pick another scarf to send to her, I think just sending one scarf is a waste of postage .  So I'll pick one out that hasnt sold and send it to her.

Thanks for reading!
Peace x

Crochet OYA Pattern- Pansy- On ETSY

Newest pattern just put on etsy.  You can find the pattern by clicking on this link

Newest Igne Oyasi Scarf- ONE SIDE TO GO.

This is the newest oya scarf I've been working on.  I bought 3 new scarves the other day and I started on this one first.  I chose colours that don't really jump out at you when you look at it, because I know that some people don't want to wear eccentric colours, and I'll probably end up sending this scarf along with 2 others to my mother-in-law if it doesn't end up selling.  I really like the floral pattern on this scarf, and the soft subtle tones don't deserve bold colours to accompany them.  Anyway I have one more side to complete before this scarf is finished and ready to be ironed!  I should be able to finish it tomorrow night, so I'm sure there will be more photos in the next post I do.

Igne Oyasi Tutorial

 So heres another tutorial, this time for Igne oyasi.  A simple yet pretty edging, easy enough to accomplish if you know the basics of oya.  This tutorial is step by step, any questions are welcome.

Once again I have taken the time to take these pictures, and explain what I'm doing for your benefit.  Please, link back to my profile if you in some way choose to post this tutorial on your website.  Its only fair!

Anyway on with the tutorial...

This is what we will be making today.

You will need:  2 colours nylon/polyester thread, a lighter, scissors and a sewing needle.

Make 2 zurafa (loops)

Going back on the 2nd loop make a knot

Make 4 pirpir (long loops)

Continue making zurafa (loops) 5 in total.

Going back on the 5th loop make a knot and repeat making 4 pirpir (long loops)
the above steps are repeated for the length desired.

With the 2nd colour make 3 zurafa (loops) over the 4 pirpir (long loops)

going back, knot in the 1st loop.

make 1 pirpir (long loop) in the same space

continuing forward make 2 zurafa (loops) over the 3 zurafa (loops) below.
you have now decreased. Well done haha.

Going back, make 1 pirpir (long loop) in the same space.

make 1 zurafa (loop) go back in that 1 zurafa (loop) and make 1 pirpir (long loop) in the same loop.

Make another pirpir (long loop) in the same space.

leaving a small amount of thread (enough so it doesn't distort) bridge to the 1st pirpir (long loop) on the row below
and make a knot and repeat the above steps again.

At the end cut your threads and burn them, I burn them so they dont unravel, but sometimes they leave black burnt bits but its up to you i suppose.

And so this is the tutorial!  Thanks for reading! x

The next oya scarf!

This is the next oya scarf I'm working on and I've just completed side one.  I really like this motif and its not taking as long as the last scarf I made (which is on ETSY so go check it out!)  This scarf is blue and white with little sticky sequins things and blue flower motifs on it.  I didn't actually have thread in dark blue so i decided to go with white and a dark shade of yellow.  I'm pretty happy with the colours I've chosen as they take your eye off the harshness of the blue. 

I'm also thinking of making some bead oyas and flat oyas to sell on etsy as little packages, just for the people who dont want to buy a whole scarf.  Let me know what you think and if you think this is a good idea!

Thanks for checking out my post!

Enjoy xx

I've been naughty and haven't blogged! But I have been busy!

And this is why!  I haven't blogged, or been on etsy (except to check if I'd sold anything lol) or anything!  I thought I'd give myself a little break and time to make a whole load of stuff (since I went to a market and wanted enough things to sell) and this is what I have left that you haven't seen before, so obviously I must have made alot haha.  The market stall was ok, I'd do it again, but most of the people were more intent on complimenting me for my work, and not actually buying it.  I made more than I payed for the stall so I guess thats a win for me?  So lets work through all these photos and hopefully get back to normal with the etsy'ing blogging, facebooking and all those other technological things!

Bracelets! from left:  Oya bracelet, Bead oya bracelet, pinkish bead woven, plastic/seed bead woven,
pearl like with seed bead woven, plastic/seed bead woven, pearl like with seed bead woven, daisy chain, daisy chain, oya stitch x3.

Set: Metalic pearl like beads with seed beads woven, as is bracelet with Oya lace earrings

Lilac coloured Crochet Oya earrings

Lilac coloured oya earrings

All earrings

Igne oyasi and Tig oyasi

Lemons, cherries and *add interesting fruit/thing here*

Tatted

Tatted

Tatted

Lemons! Igne Oyasi

11" bead oya edging Purple nylon thread off white seed beads

Knitted baby jumper blue and white with buttons

Knitted Baby jumper purple and white with buttons (at back)

Knitted off white baby cardigan with buttons

Knitted brown and white baby jumper

Knitted mixed colours pure WOOL baby jumper with buttons (at back)

Hats from top left to right:  Pink and Black crochet hat, Maroon knitted hat (hard to see), green and lilac pure wool crocheted hat, knitted multicoloured hat, knitted pinks and creams, knitted light green and brown, knitted blue and peach, knitted pink bonnet.

Yildiz (star) Lif - Turkish washcloth

This is one of my igne oyasi projects this year.  I'm adamant that I'm going to make a scarf with these flowers on it, even if it takes me 365 days to complete.  The flowers are apple flowers and I love the colours and they go excellently with the colours of the scarf.  I think on each side of the scarf there will be atleast 7 or 8 flowers so thats around 28 or 36 flowers in total.

Oya examples from top down:  Tatted, bead wheel of fortune, crochet, crochet green and pink flowers, crochet daisy, crochet "beard", crochet halay, crochet wheel of fortune (this is an alternate version with the oya stitch yillan kemigi incorperated which is the same stitch you can make oya bracelets with), crochet fingers with nailpolish.

So thats what I've been up to in the past month or so, and I do hope you'll forgive me for my lateness in blogging.  Id like to also thank everyone who has read my blog or followed me.  I'm over 12,000 views now and over 50 followers!  I'm very happy and excited about that. 

I will blog soon, I promise!

Peace x