An Arts and Crafts Family - Part the Second

As promised - a continuation..............

I learnt the basics of tapestry, or half cross stitch, while I was laid up in a Navy hospital. The Red Cross ladies who visited daily helped me to understand the quality and beauty of needlework. Over the years I completed several quite large tapestries and when I married Kay and she came to live in Tassie, she wanted to learn how to do tapestries, so I taught her the basics and she developed into a very talented needle worker and has completed several of her own.

Tapestry I did for Mum

I gave this tapestry to my Mum for a birthday, I seem to remember, and when she passed away, it was returned to me by my family. It is now hanging in pride of place in our house.

One of Kay's tapestry masterpieces

Another of Kay's tapestries

Kay learnt of the magic of patchwork quilting and regularly attended classes in Launceston. She made several very attractive quilts and even some shoulder bags, which she still uses.
Now that we are in Queensland, Kay has found that by attending classes here, her skills have developed beyond all expectations and now she is concentrating on wall hangings. They are spectacular, to say the least.

Egret Wall Hanging - Kay

Japanese wall hanging - Kay

What is next on the learning agenda for Kay I cannot say, but I   think maybe maybe embroidery could be just around the corner.

Because I sold my band saw, scroll saw, drill press and router when we left Tassie, I just don't have the tools or the space now to continue making clocks and plaques, so I have settled to making frames for Kay's wonderful wall hangings. It takes a little time to make them but they are made with the love of timber and the joy I feel when they come together. I only use a tenon saw and chisel to make the half housed lap joints and the only power tools I use is a drill to join it all up.
A real labour of love, in more ways than one.