So, some more on the search for lace. The picture to the left is of the inspiration dress - its lightly beaded and has a flower pattern, but the main thing is to have the right components - that is a scalloped border of a reasonable width (at least 6"), at least one type of free standing motif, and a symmetrical border of 2-3" in width.
For the benefit of anyone else searching for lace (and maybe my future benefit!) here are sources I've looked at:
Ebay.com seller bridal girl 55 has some lovely lace, but the one I really like isn't beaded (and john likes sparkle so I want beaded if I can get it!)
Ebay.com seller wowfabric4less123 has beaded lace in an interesting pattern in lots of colours - not quite my taste as the beading is a bit chunky, but if I was looking to make a evening gown rather than a wedding dress I might be back!
Harringtons has lots and lots of yummy laces, but nothing that fitted with the piecing I want to do - no prices on the website!
Bridallace.com is an american site, again with a lot of choice but nothing that works. Prices are not too bad but I find the layout of the site annoying.
Bridalfarics.co.uk has nice stuff too - I really like the look of olivia, which is a laser cut lace - very different from everything else I've looked at. It went off the short list when I realised I'd never find a border to match because it was so different. This one is trade only.
And finally, the pictures (massively colour altered so you can see the outlines over the glare) below are of a lace called 'Naomi' by Carrington (stockist Fabulous fabrics). I really like this and, since I can buy the border separately, works out to be reasonably priced. It has all the components I wanted, comes in white or ivory and in beaded and unbeaded varieties. The one thing I need to check is delivery times (once bitten, twice shy right?)
Ebay.com seller bridal girl 55 has some lovely lace, but the one I really like isn't beaded (and john likes sparkle so I want beaded if I can get it!)
Ebay.com seller wowfabric4less123 has beaded lace in an interesting pattern in lots of colours - not quite my taste as the beading is a bit chunky, but if I was looking to make a evening gown rather than a wedding dress I might be back!
Harringtons has lots and lots of yummy laces, but nothing that fitted with the piecing I want to do - no prices on the website!
Bridallace.com is an american site, again with a lot of choice but nothing that works. Prices are not too bad but I find the layout of the site annoying.
Bridalfarics.co.uk has nice stuff too - I really like the look of olivia, which is a laser cut lace - very different from everything else I've looked at. It went off the short list when I realised I'd never find a border to match because it was so different. This one is trade only.
And finally, the pictures (massively colour altered so you can see the outlines over the glare) below are of a lace called 'Naomi' by Carrington (stockist Fabulous fabrics). I really like this and, since I can buy the border separately, works out to be reasonably priced. It has all the components I wanted, comes in white or ivory and in beaded and unbeaded varieties. The one thing I need to check is delivery times (once bitten, twice shy right?)