“Grace”
It is about time I wrote something and showed a bit of what a 
dear friend Carolyn and I have been upto. For well over a year, we both have put our talents together in creating something extraordinary and worthy of our journey in preserving our heirlooms via machine embroidery. Freestanding laces of all types have always fascinated me. When I spoke with Carolyn about combining her talents with mine, I had never imagined that the journey would take both of us such a long time, not to mention the development of bobbin lace in a manner yet to be seen anywhere in the machine embroidery world. The laces created are so fine and delicate yet strong. Carolyn is indeed a true pattern maker. It is amazing what the lady can do with her imagination!
The pictures do not do justice at all to the first collection of “Grace”-
Bonnets and Booties but they are a preview. My idea was something simple yet elegant and was I ever surprised when Carolyn took the laces created for the collection to patterns that are truly a reflection of heirlooms. Bobbin laces are indeed a difficult type of lace to recreate for machine embroidery. Each design had to be manually created and I have to admit I learned so much from this experience with Carolyn constantly advising me on the texture. I am grateful to her for her guidance and to my testers for not losing their patience with my constant changing of files.
What started off to be a small collection of designs to recreate heirloom type laces has turned into an enormous collection of designs with each section portraying a different look of patterns for creating wearables, home decor and ofcourse heirlooms for children and babies. The ideas are so many that we decided to section off each of the collections. The first collection of “Grace” 
will be released in July and will be showcased specially at my trunk show at “Ruthies Notions” in Baker, Florida. The first collection show cases Bonnets and Booties for the baby but the designs can be used in so many other ways as well.
Our next to youngest son decided last week to finally tie the knot with his girlfriend. I have to say I was bowled over when he called and asked if he could get married in the 250 year old winecellars on our property. The winecellars are still standing and not used much except for storing wine that my dh likes to make. My machine is at this very moment of my writing stitching out laces from the “Grace” collection to create the ring bearer’s pillow. 
I also have plans for using the laces in so many other ways for the wedding which incidentally is next weekend….no kidding, he gave us two weeks prep notice, LOL.
As for the name…”Grace”, it is definitely with Grace that we start off something that is a revolution in the machine embroidery world and what a fitting set of designs and patterns that would start a trend of creating heirlooms for generations to come.
How exciting Sadia and Carolyn!!! Really need to hear and see more of this style. Guessing since you said bobbin lace, you are using something other then pre-wounds there.
What a great combination of talents! How did you ever keep quiet on this project??
Congrats big time, looking forward to the release.
Nutmeg
Please post pictures of the ring bearer’s pillow as I have to make one for our son’s November wedding–and please include that in the set being released in July!!
Our youngest son gave us 8 days notice for his wedding in May–we knew it was coming but not the actual date!! Actually, considering they did next to no planning the wedding itself was very nice–and I didn’t have time to fret over any of the details The one getting married in November is a planner but they seem to have everything under control!!
Karen Rapp
Sadia, it’s so beautiful and delicate….almost from the Renaissance and Victorian at the same time. Exquisite.
Thank you Nutmeg for your comment. And to answer your question….pre-wound can be used if desired as the designs are created in such a manner that it is really irrelevant. If you are wishing for both the sides to show the same color and if you are using a darker color then yes a pre-wound would not be best rather winding the top thread in the bobbin would be desirable. There are however, ways to over come this problem and I do it with any lace that I stitch. Simply loosen the top tension so the top thread wraps more around the bobbin thread at the bottom hence eliminating the need for winding same thread as the top one in the bobbin. The release will be sometime in July. Thanks again. HUGS, Sadia
LOL, okay Karen, I heard you. Yes, we will have instructions to create many other items with the desgins as well. Two weddings in a year…you are awesome. Congratulations and I do agree, less time gives less fretting time…I think I’m there….I think. HUGS, Sadia
Wind Dancer, thank you so much for your comment, I truly appreciate it. Carolyn and I are both quite pleased with the end results. HUGS, Sadia
Sadia you are always so innovative and this is no exception. I love the bonnet and booties. They are so perfect and intricate. You and Carolyn make a fabulous team of designers.
Terri
Hi Sadia, You and Carolyn are so creative and I am always amazed with the designs that you come up with. Everything that you both do is done with such perfection. I can’t even imagine what more you can come up with. Thanks to you both.
Marilyn
Thank you Terri and Marilyn. I truly appreciate your comments. Yes, Carolyn and I have a lot of loves together and it is wonderful that we can team up to create them. Thanks again. hugs, Sadia
Sadia, your work is always beautiful but the Grace collection is a masterpiece. You should both be congratulated. I’ll have to buy it to start making things for my great-grandchildren-to-be.
Congratulations
Mimi
Gorgeous workmanship! I hope I spelled that correctly! I am trying to learn to do French heirloom sewing and it is really hard to find beautiful lace. I have an 18 month old granddaughter and my first sewing/embroidery machine. I am looking forward to learning all about using these laces. How wonderful it will be to have handmade dresses with embroidery and laces made at home too. Thank you for sharing your talent.