Friday, January 25, 2013

In progress peek at my emerging choker design

Still tatting away, making it up as I go, although I now have one side done, so since the other side is a mirror of the first, the hardest part of the designing effort is done, I think. I've been trying it on as I go, and it seems like it will actually work as a high choker collar, so I have high hopes that it will turn out good enough to wear. Of course, this one is a prototype with a lot of cutting out and reworking, so I will just keep it for myself. Once I have it finished, I'll be able to see what I would change for a better version of the design.

The thing that inspired me was that I got asked to be a vendor at a Steampunk/Sci-fi show to be held locally in April. I got really excited about it, although I don't consider my tatted jewelry to fit into any particular style such as steampunk, they're simply my original art. But at the time of this writing, I haven't heard back from them if they've officially added me to their vendor list, so I'll wait and see.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Emerging design...or maybe not. June plans!

So far I like what's emerging from my latest experiment in progress, but I don't know if it will work in reality. What I'm trying to design is a high choker necklace inspired by the Art Nouveau style. If this one doesn't work, I'll just keep trying...or else go on to something else :-)

By the way, exciting event coming in June: Shake Rag Alley is offering 2 Tatting Classes with me as the teacher, one basic, and one intermediate with beads, on June 29, 2013. Check out the other classes on their website. It's in a beautiful, relaxing, scenic area of Wisconsin - great vacation spot!

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Heart with 2 threads as one


While rummaging through my stash, I found a sparkly gold embroidery thread (DMC brand, on a spool, polyester/rayon blend) and wondered how it would combine with some Lizbeth size 10 cotton. I'm reporting that there were many tension problems! I'm not sure if it was because the 2 threads were different sizes, or because they were different fibers.

But, I doggedly persevered, and managed to finish the heart (which is from my "Unfolding Heart" pattern). I also added beads (which are not in the original pattern) and finished it off with gold filigree connectors and gold plated chain. I think it looks pretty, but this heathered version will likely be a one-of-a-kind, since it was so labor intensive to make with this particular combination of threads.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

"Unchained Beast" necklace


 "Unchained" because there are no tatted chains in it. "Beast" because it is a beast to make. It looks simple but it's hard, because there's no normal tatting in it. To get the alternating colors, I used Double Core Single Shuttle Split Rings, following the beautifully illustrated instructions from Jane Eborall's website. The diamond shapes are clunies, and I found Karen Cabrera's video helpful with learning these. I find her way of just letting the loop hang, instead of hooking it on little finger, to be easier for me.

The thread is size 3 Lizbeth, and the beads size 6 seed beads. I ran out of thread partway through, which is often going to happen when using big size 3 thread. Not much will fit on a shuttle, and I used my larger shuttles, too, so that's another way this project was a "beast". But, good practice and now I have a necklace to wear with my red t-shirt.