Dandelions have always held a certain magic for me—their perfect symmetry, the joy of blowing seeds into the wind, and the elegance of what many consider a simple weed. My latest lace creation, Echo of a Flower, captures this enchantment by stepping far outside my comfort zone and exploring new creative territory.

This piece blends multiple lace-making techniques—tatting, needle lace, and bobbin lace—with an unconventional material: fishing line. The result is a 3D botanical artwork that transforms an ordinary dandelion into art.

The Inspiration Behind the Piece

Echo of a Flower challenged me to push my boundaries as an artist. I had never created 3D botanical lace before, and I loved the opportunity to integrate various lace techniques into one cohesive piece.

Fishing line played a pivotal role in the design. The clear, almost invisible quality of this thread allows the dandelion to appear as if it were floating in space. This choice reflects my ongoing fascination with using alternate fibers to reimagine traditional lace-making.

The Creative Process

Bringing Echo of a Flower to life was a three-month journey filled with experimentation and learning curves. Here’s how I created each element:

Tatting the Seeds
I began by tatting 180 individual seeds. Each one required careful attention—tying knots, clipping picots, and gluing the stems to ensure they stood out when attached to the wool center.

Wet Felting the Center
To create the dandelion’s center, I learned the art of wet felting. Rolling soapy wool in my palm, I shaped it into a sphere that became the base for sewing the tatted seeds.

Bobbin Lace Background
The transparent background was woven with fishing line using a torchon ground stitch, accented with half-stitch spiders. These delicate details evoke the image of dandelion seeds drifting in the wind, adding depth and motion to the piece.

Needle Lace Stem
For the final touch, I crafted a heavily padded needle lace stem. This technique brought a lifelike quality to the design, completing the 3D illusion.

Symbolism and Vision

To me, dandelions are more than fleeting—they’re full of wishes and possibilities. Echo of a Flower embodies this sentiment, inviting viewers to find beauty in the ordinary while expanding their perception of what lace can be.

As with much of my work, I strive to push the boundaries of traditional lace-making. By combining unconventional materials with intricate techniques, I hope to surprise and delight, proving that lace can be more than anyone imagines.

The Magic of Collaboration

Each part of Echo of a Flower is fascinating in its own right, but together, they create something magical. From the nearly invisible bobbin lace background to the delicate tatted seeds and the smooth needle lace stem, this piece celebrates the artistry of lace in all its forms.

I’m thrilled to share this latest creation and can’t wait to see how it inspires others. If you’d like to follow the process of making Echo of a Flower, check out my TikTok and Instagram accounts, where I’ve documented each step of the journey.