Rose Within

Here's an experiment with a filigree finding. I guess I really should have joined Diane's Doodad Double Dare! But, I never can plan ahead, my designs just sort of "happen" and I'm as surprised as anyone if something actually turns out.

Because the lace "frame" surrounding the suspended filigree is so open, it needed stiffening to stay in shape. I painted "Fa-brick" stiffener on the back only. I like to keep the natural sheen of the cotton thread untouched on the front.

Oh, and while other people are getting excited about going to "Tat Days" I haven't done any preparation at all, other than get my travel arrangements in order. I sort of have a sense of foreboding about the whole event. Silly, I know. Probably it'll be loads of fun once I'm there, but it's the whole "journey into the unknown" that scares me.

"Sugar Maple" hand dyed thread

The colors of my "Sugar Maple" hand dyed thread were inspired by the autumn reds, oranges, and greens of a Sugar Maple leaf. However, botanists may notice that the photo contains a leaf from a Red Maple variety - well, it's all I could find with color since it's still summer here. My latest hand dyed batch is now listed in my Etsy shop.

Bracelet to match the Nouveau necklace

It looks like I may have a collection going here!

The only unfortunate thing about the design is that it is assembled in parts, so there are many ends to hide. But, I think it's pretty.

Nouveau tatted necklace in black with aqua beads

This new original seems to almost have an "Art Nouveau" look to it with the flowing, floral-like design. I do like the aqua Druk pearl coated glass beads with the size 20 Lizbeth thread in black.

The cold that was keeping me listless has gotten a little better, at least I had the energy to get this design finished, and the necklace done and photographed.

It's just a cold

The "Tollway Tatters" get-together will not have me in attendance today, as I am currently just a collection of very nasty germs. It's only a cold, really, but one of the worst ones that I have had. So, my energy is being all used up to just fight this thing and hang on until it passes. I do feel slightly better today, and am eating, so maybe later today I may feel up to tatting, but right now all I can manage to do is sit on the couch and watch TV.  I enjoy "Pawn Stars" and the shows where they take old cars and fix them up and customize them. I don't know anything about cars, but design creativity is design creativity in any form, it seems to me.

So, I'll just take care, and when I'm better I plan on dyeing another batch of "Sugar Maple".

Summer Vacation in St. Louis

1904 fashion

To avoid boring you and to save space, keeping my vacation photos fiber related here. The first picture shows an outfit that a well-dressed woman would have worn to the 1904 World's Fair. I love the lacy details, and perhaps it may inspire a new tatted jewelry design.

Miniature tatting

The Weavers' Guild of St. Louis had an exhibit of their creative work entitled "Woven In Time" at the Missouri History Museum, and there was some really teeny tiny tatting included. The next photo gives a size reference compared to the larger items in the display case.

Weavers' Guild of St. Louis exhibit with miniature tatting

Weavers' Guild of St. Louis exhibit

Weavers' Guild of St. Louis exhibit

Weavers' Guild of St. Louis exhibit

 The beautiful city of St. Louis, Missouri is a great place to vacation! I really enjoyed my visit there and came back totally inspired! I even bought a tatting book (Tatting: Technique and History by Elgiva Nicholls)
at the Levee Mercantile shop!

The Gateway Arch seen from the car

Necklace parts in progress

Finally - after the 3rd try on the main medallion, I got the stitch counts worked out so that the design would lie flat without ruffling at the edges, whew! Then, I tatted small motifs like the center of the large one, to arrange together for a necklace. I'll tat some chains or whatnot in between to hold it all together for the finished necklace, but wanted to show you what I've done so far.

Someone on Facebook brought up the issue of SCMR (self-closing mock ring) and I did have a simple snowflake with a SCMR center that got cut from the Craftsy lesson plan due to time constraints. Wouldn't you know, after looking through all through my piles of tatting and notes, I can't find it! So, I'll have to tat it again. I think I remember how it looked...or something similar.