Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Poor Beatrice, and hearts

Beatrice is unlikely to be finished, I have all but run out of thread, and stupidly I didn't buy any more at the time, and now there isn't any. Still, that's ok, because this doily reminds me of another Beatrice, my sad little princess in a chateau. At the time I was caring for her she was aged 38, but an attack of measles when only 18 months had left her severely mentally handicapped and suffering from rather unstable epilepsy.

It was my job to wash and dress her each day, and set up her feeding pump, and then in the evening I would put her to bed. She had been cared for by her mother until she had died of cancer and now she was the responsibility of her father. I personally felt that she'd have been happier in an institution, but he wouldn't hear of it, so poor Bea spent day after day alone in the kitchen of the chateau, like some poor imprisoned princess in a fairy tale. I quit that job in 2002, but I often think of her, and how her face would light up as I let myself in, and this doiley seems appropriate in it's incompletion...oh well, that's my excuse anyway.

The second heart is off the pillow, and I probably ought to have undone and remade it, because by the end I had a clearer idea of how it should work, but I couldn't face it! I won't wait so long before doing some more bobbin stuff, and so the next trial should be a little better. (should be, lol)

This is what it looks like when you put the two together, and that was the original design...to be used for a greeting card! It would have to be for someone very special for all that work! I don't think I possess that much emotion...I don't really do love, although I do quite like some people...but enough for a card like this, hmmm I think not!

10 comments:

Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...

What a sad, but touching, tale of Beatrice. Did you use HDT? Is it something that one of us might have on hand? Somehow it seems like Beatrice needs to be finished, if possible.

Your hearts are lovely. Some day...

Katherine said...

Yes, the thread was from Sherry, silk size 20 colour Peach Pandeora. I thought I would be able to buy another skein but procrastinated and by the time I was ready she had sold out! A lesson for us all. :(
It's ok though, I hadn't made such a good job of the tatting...one day I will try again with a different thread, like your spinning wheel, and it will be really good! ;)

LadyShuttleMaker aka MadMadPotter said...

Snowy,
Will you email me privately? ladyshuttlemaker@hotmail.com
I may have a solution.

Tattycat said...

What a beautiful, touching story of Beatrice. The doily is a fitting tribute. Something to remember her by. The hearts are sooo pretty. I wish I could do that!

Katherine said...

Thank you Sherry, and thank you Laura.

Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...

Snowy, I have one skein of Peach Pandorea silk, size 20. Let me know if you would like it. I will gladly send it to you so that you can finish Beatrice.

Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Katherine said...

Diane, that is such a kind offer! I really appreciate you suggesting that, but luckily Sherry has found some 'second' silk that she is going to send me. I will have no excuse not to finish now...
Honestly, I am very touched by the kindness of you both. Un grand merci!

Marilee Rockley said...

It sounds like the Beatrice doily will be able to be finished now, and perhaps that is a sign of better times for the other Beatrice, too.

Unknown said...

Your beatrice doily almost looks like it couuld be fashioned into some sort of fan. You know, the kind with the stick on the end? Not the folding kind. That is a sad story about the Beatrice you cared for, but how nice that she had someone who really cared.
I like the layered look of the two bobbin lace hearts together. Very pretty.