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.

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!

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.

"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.