The frog necklace idea didn't work, so I made this instead

 This asymmetrical necklace uses the bits I was going to put into my original frog necklace idea, which I abandoned after seeing that the frog was just too big and heavy to balance in a necklace. I do like the simpler necklace that resulted, though, it has a bold steampunk/industrial chic look. Working with size 3 Lizbeth thread is a little outside of my "comfort zone", since I have to use a larger shuttle and more physical strength to tat it. I like my knots/double stitches firm and tight, so with the size 3 it takes harder pulls to get them the way I want. Normally my favorite thread sizes for tatting jewelry are 10 and 20, with 20 being the easiest to work with.

The frog in size 3 really is a nice size closure for a jacket or cardigan, though, so I will offer it for sale simply as a frog. By the way, the pattern for the frog (in size 20 thread) is in "Up and Tat 'Em". The only change I made to the pattern when using size 3 is the size of the button, I used a 7/8" (22mm) button with the size 3 thread.

 I'm planning how to display my items on my table in the Maker's Fair at Concinnity. I always demonstrate while I sell, and hope to get more people interested in the new Greater Milwaukee Tatting Guild. I'll be handing out flyers!

My great big tatted frog closure and small hairclips

 The frog closure is on it's way to becoming an asymmetrical necklace, with the frog as the focal point and also used as the closure of the necklace...that is, if it works. It's still in progress, in size 3 Lizbeth thread, which is the largest size of that thread. The black frog measures a whopping 4 inches (10cm) across. For a size comparison, the white frog is tatted in size 20 thread, similar pattern. I'm using a Starlit shuttle for the size 3, since it holds more thread.

I've also started making small flower hair clips, using size 10 thread. All these things I'm going to display at my table in the maker's fair at Concinnity, April 13.

The other thing I'm doing this week, is playing my cello at church. They usually only add fancy extra instruments like cello to accompany the choir at special occasions like Christmas and Easter. So, I got called in to play in an ensemble that includes 2 violins, a french horn, and myself on cello. It's nice when they ask for volunteer musicians from the congregation, I think, it makes us feel needed.

Tatting for the Steampunk Maker's Fair

 On April 13, which is a Saturday only a few weeks away, I'll be a vendor at the Steampunk Maker's Fair, just one of the events at Concinnity - From Steampunk to Time Lords to Anime' - Science Fiction and Gaming Convention.

With such a wide ranging theme, my styles should fit in somewhere :-) So, I am busy tatting jewelry, plus a few 3D hair clip flowers from a new design that I made up.

I really enjoy tatting around the metal filigrees that I received as a gift awhile back from Lace-lovin' Librarian - Diane. I've ordered more filigrees, as they make for a relatively quick and easy tatting project and look very Victorian. Since the filigrees are all different sizes, there isn't really a "pattern" for the tatting, just tatted rings and chains, joined into the holes in the filigree as needed.

 The Celtic Hexad pendant shown is another original design. The thread I used is Lizbeth "Herbal Garden", a color combo that immediately became one of my favorites since it looks so "woodsy". I paired it with Leaf Green Dk #676 in the pendant.

The challenge of tatting the Fantasy Flower is that it doesn't lay flat, so it's a bit fiddly while in-progress. I chose to sew it onto a snap clip using the thread tails. A snap clip because it stays put in fine hair, which is the kind of hair that I have. At some point I may just keep them for myself :-)

Giveaway winner, and photos from Greater Milwaukee Tatting Guild

 The lucky number chosen was 37, so Andy Muckler is the lucky winner of the French tatting book and hand dyed thread! Congratulations, Andy, and thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway at my previous post, I enjoyed reading all the comments ever so much! Tatters are the best! So, don't feel bad if you didn't win this time, there will be more giveaways in the future.

March 11th was the Greater Milwaukee Tatting Guild's 2nd meeting. That's Heather on the left, and me in the tie-dyed shirt.

 Khomi and Ana having fun tatting together. Khomi was working on the "Arches" doily pattern, and Ana on a design with buttons.

 Some of Heather's beautiful work. The tatted "Tardis" of Doctor Who is from a PDF pattern by Anne Bruvald.

 Ana does many types of jewelry making, and she's wearing her latest creation, a "Pogo Stick" necklace of springs and found objects.

I tatted around some filigrees, trying for a Steampunk look, since I'll be a vendor at a local Steampunk/Sci-Fi convention next month. Ana gifted me with a new, different type of wide-eye beading needle that opens all along its center, then snaps closed. I tried it out, and it's really handy!

The Greater Milwaukee Tatting Guild will meet again on April 8th. For more information, send me a message via my Google profile.

Extremely Very Early Spring Giveaway

Leave a comment on this blog post for a chance to win the brand new tatting book La Frivolite Aux Navettes AND 2 skeins of size 20 hand dyed thread in the colors pictured above. The book is written in French, with over 1000 clear photos that need no translation. The thread is my own hand dyed from the "Stardate" and "Celery" batches. I'll use a random number generator to choose a lucky winner on Tuesday, March 12.

Shamrocks in many shades of green

Tatted in a variety of threads, using the Celtic knot from Rozella F. Linden's book Celtic Tatting Knots and Patterns, but this particular shamrock idea is my own. This shamrock pattern is written out on a previous post in my blog, but you'll need the aforementioned book for the instructions on how to weave the Celtic knot.

I'm so glad that March is finally here! Am looking forward to spring, but no signs of it here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin yet, we are buried deep in snow.

Now that I've finished writing up the "Fairest" collar and bracelet pattern, and finished a bunch of shamrocks, I can get back to hand dyeing thread. And, looking forward to March 11, the 2nd meeting of the Greater Milwaukee Tatting Guild!