Coming along fine

My challenging necklace project is coming along just fine. I still need to figure out how to connect everything together, but I'm trusting that a stunning finish will present itself soon.

Screenshot of my profile on Bluprint

So, Craftsy is now officially Bluprint. I looked at my Bluprint profile page (affiliate link) and everything is there. All is well.

Craftsy becoming Bluprint

Confused over Craftsy becoming Bluprint?

It's only a name change. 

Craftsy is changing its name to Bluprint on January 8, 2019. 

If you have purchased classes on Craftsy they are still yours on Bluprint.

You will login to Bluprint using your same username and password that you had on Craftsy.

You do NOT have to purchase a subscription! An account is not a subscription!

An ACCOUNT is simply what you login to.

A SUBSCRIPTION is like a purchase. You buy it only if you want it. (A subscription will allow you to watch any and all Bluprint classes, but only while the subscription is active.)

You still have the option to purchase individual classes to keep always. You'll always be able to access them whenever you're logged in to your account.

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By the way, I did receive an email saying that Bluprint is reducing the number of patterns for sale on the site, but had this to say about my patterns:

"Good news: you’ve been identified as a top designer on Craftsy! We love your work and we are excited to continue to share it. We thank you."

This is all I know for now. I hope it helps.

Hand dyed thread "Mardi Gras"

A fresh batch of "Mardi Gras" hand dyed thread has been listed in my Etsy shop. 

I wish you all a very Happy New Year!

Arranging necklace elements has begun

Early rough draft

I've pinned out what I have so far onto a display form, in order to think about where I'm going with my original design idea. My plan is to finish tatting all the motifs needed, then start connecting them together with a continuous outline of tatting. I'm still debating on the color to use for the outline. I've got some dark purple hand dyed, but am considering going with a lighter color or more metallic, I don't know yet. I do think I'll add a tassel of some sort at the bottom.

The orchestra concert I played in last week went great! The website of the orchestra that I play in is here: https://www.wiorchestra.org/ You'll see me sitting in the cello section of the first cover photo.

I need to practice now for the Christmas music at church. There will be 23 instrumentalists plus choir for Christmas eve and Christmas morning. I'll try hard to play well, but I believe the mistakes are appreciated just as much as the great notes. Like all gifts, it's the thought that counts!

Just a mess right now

Designing in progress

Aqua/teal has been added to the purple and gold color scheme. Flowers are in progress, but I won't connect any of the motifs together until I have enough for the complete arrangement. I have been dreaming big, even thinking of entering the Bead Dreams competition. 

Beading around a druzy stone.

I found 2 small but stunningly beautiful druzy stones in my stash, so they simply had to go into the design somehow. I beaded a peyote stitch bezel and added beaded "picots" so that tatting can be joined around them later.

I'll be playing cello in this concert!

Concert this week! I'm busy practicing to be ready to play. I love being a member of this orchestra, it's so supportive, encouraging, and really amazing!

Hand dyed thread "Gold Dust"

Freshly dyed batch of "Gold Dust" thread has been added to my Etsy shop!

My original designing for the yet unnamed challenging necklace project is still in progress. I found some high quality Amethyst stones at the local bead store and stitched a peyote bezel around them. After that, I dug out some Lizbeth and Flora threads in 2 shades of purple and began tatting around the larger stone. I think I'll incorporate the smaller stone closer to the neckline. 

I did one 3D flower in hand dyed Hydrangea Dark. It turned out nicely enough that I'm considering doing a cluster of them in different shades. I don't know if I'll add any green for leaves or not. The addition of green would give the necklace a Mardi Gras color theme, and so far I like the "royal" look of the purple and gold on its own. But, we'll see. I'm just making it up as I go! 

Unfinished necklace, original designing in progress

Other Ideas Brewing

 While still thinking about how to proceed with my current tatted necklace project, I did manage to complete my very first multi-strand necklace in bead stringing. No tatting in it, but posting the picture here as I'm rather pleased with the result! ☺ I don't remember where I got the metal circles that I used, and for all I know, they might have been a gift from one of Lace-lovin' Librarian's "doo-dad" mixes!

 These earrings are old (well, about 8 years old) but I like them. I'm starting to think that there might be a way to add that design element to what I have in progress. The design, not the color. I'm sticking with the purple and gold theme I have going. The goal in mind is to come up with something fancy to submit to a magazine or a competition.

Slow going, as I have many other distractions, including practicing for 2 concerts that I'll be playing my cello in, as part of the Wisconsin Intergenerational Orchestra. More info on that here: https://www.wiorchestra.org/performance-dates

Hydrangea Dark

New batch of "Hydrangea Dark" is now listed in my Etsy shop. This is the thread color that I used for these tatted earrings.

I also dyed a very small amount of "Hydrangea Light" in size 20 only. I experimented by watering down the Hydrangea Dark colors and adding a pink.

The only tatting I did this past week was to add on a little more to my Celtic motif. I think I'll keep going and see what happens!