Progress on the book: looking at January

 Since I still have 4 patterns to do, it looks like the book, which will be entitled "Marilee's Beaded Tatting Finery" should be finished in January 2014. Sorry to disappoint those who were planning to buy it as a gift for the holidays, but hey, now you know where to spend that cash someone presents you with :)

The blue necklace above will be one of the patterns in the book. I've decided to call that design "Fiesta". It's a little tricky, but people who've seen my other patterns know that I do my best to explain things. The medallion of the necklace is really crowded with beads and doesn't lay perfectly flat, even after blocking, but so many people have asked for the pattern, I've decided that when perfect is impossible, fabulous is acceptable. 

Last week I enjoyed demonstrating tatting at the Milwaukee Domes. That's me with my display in the photo below. I handed out loads of Greater Milwaukee Tatting Guild flyers as well as one-ring tatted butterflies. So, expecting a big turn-out at the next Guild meeting, which will be December 9. Gotta remember to bring name tags!

Marilee with tatted jewelry at the Domes

Progress on the book: in the zone

At this point in time I have completed the how-to review section and 7 patterns. Planning to add 7 more patterns, which should bring the book up to about 40 pages. I'm drawing diagrams for each, which is time-consuming, but should help make the designs easier to follow. Also including many in-progress photos such as the one above (it shows a self-closing mock ring in progress, with a bead being added to the center).

My tentative title for the book is "Marilee's Beaded Tatting Favorites", unless I think of something better.

All the patterns will be for tatted jewelry, including pendants, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. None of these designs have been published before, although some of the finished items have been seen in my Etsy shop, such as the Boomerang earrings. They're all my own original designs. I'm not putting the current models for the book into my Etsy shop until I'm done photographing for the book. Also no new hand dyed thread until I'm done with the book. No anything until I'm done with the book...(except the essentials of daily life, of course). So, online, I'll be boring for at least another month :)

Still, there are a couple of public events coming up that I'll be participating in: 

• Greater Milwaukee Tatting Guild meeting on November 11 at the Mayfair Mall Food Court in Milwaukee, WI from 3pm to 7pm.
• Jewelry at the Domes show and sale, November 16-17, 9am to 4pm both days, at the Mitchell Park Domes, Milwaukee, WI