Deadlines and Roses

Peace Roses

The top photo is showing Peace Roses that I marveled at this past weekend at the Boerner Botanical Gardens in Hales Corners. I'll dye a batch of thread in those colors in August, but this week the colorway in progress is "Olde Rose", a dark red, faded rose, a bit past prime.

Olde Rose

Currently I am working on several projects with deadlines. One of the Stampington magazines asked me to write an article featuring one of my new, never published tatted jewelry sets with step-by-step photos, so am currently working on that.

I'm also working on a project to submit as a teaching proposal to the Bead&Button Show. In previous years I have brushed off the opportunity in spite of the urging of my beading friends, because I didn't think it was the right venue. Expensive, limited time, and all that - but they convinced me that people who like to travel thousands of miles to an event and pay a large sum to take a class, would be thrilled to take a beaded tatting class, too. So, I am attempting to design a beginner level project that sparkles awesomely enough for Bead&Button - hoping to succeed.

Might as well mention an event to come - in November I'll be teaching intermediate beaded tatting at the Tatting Days event at the Thread Corner, using my "Rotation" pattern as the class project.

So, lots to do, but not much that I can show here just yet. I hope to get the "Olde Rose" thread listed on Etsy in a few days, but already there's many colors to look at there.

Exploring techniques, thread sizes

My first original cluny tatting design

Lately been playing with techniques that have long seemed mysterious to me, like clunies and maltese rings. Pushing myself to design with these skills helps bring them into my own little world, down from the "interstellar region" of things I've heard of but appeared to be distant and difficult.

My first original maltese ring design

I'm finding that I like maltese rings! They're really not hard. I will practice more as time allows. The blue thread is some of my hand dyed from the "Blue Streak" batch.

Size comparison chart of threads that I hand dye. The knitting worsted yarn at the right is for size comparison only

Someone asked about the sizes of my hand dyed thread, so here is a photo showing the threads next to each other, with a strand of knitting worsted yarn at the right for comparison.

Visiting Lace-lovin' Librarian's Summer Tatting Class

The class took place on Lace-lovin' Librarian Diane's porch. Here Diane is sewing a tatted motif designed by a young student onto a handkerchief.

The view of nature's beauty from Diane's porch is so peaceful! The weather was perfect, with a refreshing breeze.

To the trees! What a surprise to see this magnificent tree-house, built by Diane's husband, complete with slide. When the children are done with their tatting class, they get to take turns going down the slide.

Sue Anna and Diane with the Saori loom that Diane has been busy weaving colorful bags on. Notice the neatly shelved books? Obviously a librarian lives here :)

Diane showing us one of her shuttle cabinets where she stores her collection in style.

Some of the fancy shuttles in Diane's cabinet. I think she said the ones in this drawer were handmade by LadyShuttleMaker.

I am so glad to have been able to go with Sue Anna to visit Diane and her tatting class. The children are so enthusiastic about learning how to tat. Sue Anna brought gifts of a new tatting shuttle for each child, and I provided samples of hand dyed thread. After class, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at a local restaurant and were joined there by another tatting friend, Denise. All in all, a perfect day!

The winners!

Since there were so many entries, I added another prize package of similar items, and drew 2 winners. They are Chere Edwards and Marion Bartley. Congratulations to the lucky winners!

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway.
It was a wonderful surprise to me that so many people actually posted details about their random act of kindness, I wasn't expecting that - but the stories are truly inspiring! You are all so very kind, and helping to make the world a better place!!!