Helen Bell

Helen Bell

Autumnal Gold

Made by Helen Bell

Pattern Source: BML377(20). Patterns for lace at the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery, Bedford: from the Thomas Lester collection, pp 6-7; Copies of lace prickings from the Gallery’s collection: 52 Designs.

Designer: Thomas Lester.

Adapted by Helen Bell

Thread Used: Ecru DMC Broder Machine 50; King Tut 40/3; Superior Masterpiece 50/3; Superior So Fine 50/3 polyester

Approx: 70+ pairs

This piece was an entry into the Australian Lace Guild’s 2015 Triennial Competition, and the theme of the contest that year was ‘Gold’, given the host State of the NAC was Victoria, and part of the state’s rich history is indelibly linked with the gold rush of the 1850’s.

I was inspired by the Fall colours of the trees up in the high country around Beechworth, Victoria. I looked for local inspiration in my photos of Fall colours in Colorado and Washington, and found a pattern that could be adapted and had a similar shape of leaf to those I’d seen near my home in WA.

Blending the colours was an interesting experiment, as was blending thread types: cotton and polyester. I spent over an hour in my local quilt shop going through fabrics to mount the lace on, and settled on a dark green that had darker ‘tree trunks’ printed on it. The shaped frame was a lucky find.

(photo of the leaves on the tree accompanies this piece – they are the inspiration for the colours)

Bedfordshire cuff

Made by Helen Bell

Pattern Source: Bedfordshire Lace Patterns (Turner, M), pp84-5; Traced Parchment Patterns for Lace (Cecil Higgins Museum).

Designer: Unknown (BML 370(17)

Threads used: 50 Broder Machine; DMC Perle 12

Approx: 180 Pair


This pattern appears in a couple of publications and is an old pattern from the mid-late 1800’s, in the Cecil Higgins Museum Collection.

I started this piece in class with Jean Leader, when she visited Seattle and conducted a workshop in 2012.

The hardest part of the piece was working the wreath arrangement of flat overlaid tallies in the central motif, and Jean’s pithy comment regarding that section proved true when it came time to work that part of the lace. Plan A rapidly evolved into Plan F. In the end it was completed, and won several prizes including Grand Champion at the Washington State Fair.

Christmas Star

Made by Helen Bell

Pattern Source: Lace (96), October 1997, p37

Designer: Robin Hueppauff (Australia)

Thread used: 50 DMC Retors D’Alsace; gimp: sulky 40

Approx: 67+ pairs + 8 pairs of gimp

This was a long, on going project with the some curiosities along the way, including crossings with 5 legs (2 in 3 out/3 in 2 out). It survived an interstate move whilst in progress (no broken threads!).

It’s mounted on white batiste, with a buttonhole stitch.


Festival of Trees - Bucks Point ornament

Made by Helen Bell

Pattern source: Lace (138), April 2010

Designer: Jenny Thurgood

Thread used: Ultra Rayon 30; 2 strands for gimp

Approx: 36 pairs + 6 pairs gimp

This is the first of 3 of these that I have made, and I love the addition of the beads in the honeycomb rings.

The are mounted post completion on a metal bangle. The nice part is being able to work the ends into the braid at the bottom.

Kaartenspel

Made by Helen Bell

Threads used: 50 DMC Retors D’Alsace

Pattern Source: Kant Magazine (didn’t write down the issue #, but it’s one from the 1980’s).

Approx: 238 pairs

I made this piece for my Late Grandmother in Law, who loved to play Bridge. She had it hanging by her front door, so everyone saw it as the entered and left her apartment.

I decided to try it in black and white, since decks of cards are usually black and white. It’s mounted on red microsuede.

Polychrome Bucks

  • Worked in Pipers Silks

  • Pattern is Designed by Alexandra Stillwell,

  • Source: Polychrome Bucks booklet by Alexandra Stillwell.

Ring Pillow

Made by Helen Bell

Pattern Source: Lace (80), 1995, p30; Lace(72), October 1993.

Designer: Orignal: Jean Leader. Adapted by Cherry Cook

Adaptation of adaptation: Helen Bell

Thread Used: 50 DMC or 100 Brok DMC Perle 8

Approx: 32 pairs + 1 1/2 pair gimp

This is the 2nd time I’ve used this pattern for a ring pillow, and this one was made for my cousin. Her colours were burgundy/merlot, so I went for a merlot coloured gimp for the bells.

I took off a headside edge, added a several more rows of ground, and added a footside.

The pillow is ivory silk dupioni, has 2 layers of ribbon, and a sparkly buckle for a little bling.

Tulips

Made by Helen Bell

Pattern Source: Floral Bedsfordshire (Scheele-Kerkhoff, Y)

Designer: Yvonne Scheele-Kerkhoff

Threads used: 100/2 Brok; Pink silk for gimp

Approx: 100 pairs + 1 pr gimp

I love the flow of this design. It was a little more challenging to work, and just for fun I added 2 rolled tallies on top of the crossings inside the wheels.