New display props for the art fair

New fun display stuff arrived in the mail, and I started arranging my things to see how they will look.

One thing for sure, I need more inventory!






By the way, the pile of color in the background is the new hand dyed thread I just added to my etsy shop. It's "Rhubarb Crisp", yet another dessert name -- but this treat has no calories!

Swallow tail pendant

This is a "mirror image" design. Each half is made separately and then joined together. I have another mirror image design posted on my pattern pages, the "Vision" necklace.

This type of designing allows one to break free from the restrictions of circles and ovals. However, it also makes for more ends to hide! But the results are worth it, in my humble opinion. I think there are tons of possibilities yet to be discovered.

Pendant in "Rhubarb Pie"

What looks like all rings in the center, is only real rings on the upper 2. The rest are chains. They are just joined at the base to look like rings. That way the outer small rings could be added.

The beads hanging off the bottom were strung on the thread before tatting, and are dangling from a picot. The others are slipped over a very long picot before joining.

The larger bead near the top was strung on the thread and joined at the opposite side. This put a thread from each shuttle alongside the bead. Then a lock join was tied at the top of the bead.

The main rings (chains) of the center are somewhat elongated and distorted from the stitch count and the placement of the picots. But I still think it's attractive...what is your opinion?

Oxidation

Here is a sneak peek of how the "Oxidation" necklace is coming along. This is a freeform necklace, so I'm just making it up as I go along. Ordinary tatting, combined with some zigzag sets (1st half 4 times, 2nd half 4 times) and split rings. I use to wonder what split rings were good for. They really free up the possibilities!

I did a goofy thing with an oversized bead -- I added it to the center of a split ring using the technique described at http://janeeborall.freeservers.com/tonyabeadsr.htm

Of course the ring had to be much too large because of the huge bead, so it just flopped over and twisted, but I like the effect. It's just for fun, and adds dimension.

The necklace is of the same thread as the "rock" bracelet of a previous post (seen at the top of the first photo) and actually the polymer clay beads were made at the same time.

How much do I need?

It depends on the thread size, the pattern, the technique, and the tension.

Shown here are one yard samples of 3 different sizes of DMC Cordonnet Special. The loose thread dangling in the larger photo is part of the total 1 yard length, since I needed some out to do the tatting with. The pattern is the start of the popular edging, "Hen and Chicks" which is found in many pattern books.

The green on top is done in size 20, the white in the middle is size 50, and the pinkish one on the bottom is size 80. As you can see, with a smaller size thread a bit more of the pattern can be done before running out.

For simplicity's sake, let's just say that I am able to tat about a half inch with 1 yard. Actually, I only used 26 inches because the 10 inches extra were the ends sticking out. So a full inch of a narrow tatted edging would need about 52 inches of thread. If I wanted 10 inches of edging, I'd need 15 yards, and so on.

This is just a rough guide. If you have a large project planned, it's best to measure some thread, maybe several yards of the size you plan to use. Then work part of your pattern -- a motif, a repeat, or some part of it -- then measure how much thread you have left. The difference is how much you used for that much of the pattern.

If you then do a little math, you'll be able to come up with a close estimate of how much thread you'll need for your project. (It's best to buy a bit extra just in case!)

"Encore" in ecru with green and blue beads

The necklace was just made up as something to match the earrings, but I am pleased with it. I think there are possibilities for many variations! The earring pattern is available here.

Getting some inventory built up is important for me now, as I am going to be an exhibitor at The Lake Country Harvest Art Fair on Sept 8. I was a bit worried about how to take my items temporarily out of my etsy shop in order to put them up for sale at the art fair, but now I have figured out how to do it.

Just go to edit the listing of your item, and don't finish! The item will go into your inactive listings and not be available for public view until you go back into your inactive listings and click finish. Then it's back up in your shop again. Unless, of course, you sold it at the art fair, then you just need to delete the listing!

I'm expecting to be able to sell a lot at this art fair, since people are more likely to buy something they can touch. I'll be bringing some woven items along as well, but I think I will demonstrate tatting -- much easier to transport and set up!