Needlebook with tatted closure and "Roses" HDT

There's an easy-to-follow tutorial by jessyratfink on Instructables on how to sew a needlebook. I used it as a guide for making my own needlebook, changing it just a bit to suit myself.

I made my needlebook smaller, 3"x4" closed, to fit more easily into my tatting project bag. Of course I wanted a tatted closure! This one is something I just made up, but I think there are many small motif's that would work. Just add a tatted loop long enough to fit around the button. The elastic is simply put through openings in the lace of the tatting, before sewing it into the seam as usual.

As a personal challenge, I selected some photos that my husband is offering in his Etsy shop JantasticPhotos, printed them onto photo transfer paper, and ironed them onto the fabric before cutting and sewing. It's the first time I've tried the photo transfer process, and I'm pleased with how well it turned out!



The dye batch this week is "Roses", and I think that completes the rose series for a while. Fall colors will be arriving in a little while. Summer just flew by way too fast!

Hand dyed thread and roses

Past & Future

With time on my hands, I decided to curate my first treasury list on Etsy. 
I was in sort of a "timey-whimey" mood (to quote Dr. Who).  There are 2 tatted pieces included, from Smaranda C. and Sarah McKee. The rest is sort of a mix of retro-future.

No tatting of my own to show yet today, but my injured finger is starting to feel better, so will get back to tatting very soon! Dye batch this week is expected to be "Roses", and after that I will start in on all the autumn colors.

Neapolitan

 Neapolitan is here! Strawberry pink, vanilla, and chocolate brown, softly shading together in a pretty hand dyed thread.

I will have to wait to tat something with it, though, until my finger is healed. I was stringing beads onto thread with one of those needles that open all the way down the middle instead of just at the end. Well, I will never use that type of needle ever, ever again! Because the needle is so razor thin from being split into 2 sections like that, it cut deeply into the tip of my finger. The cut was still painful 3 days later and looked black and scary, so I got medical attention for it. Fortunately it is not infected, it will just take time and care to heal.

I did manage to finish the "links" for the collaboration project with my wire artist friend, but will tell more about that in a future post. It's difficult to type with one finger bandaged.

Tatted "links" for future earring project

Trying to tat with a sore finger

"Celery" greens

 It has been a busy week, having fun with friends at guild meetings, trying to design a tatted connector for a friend's wire jewelry collaboration project (no success yet on that), and helping dear husband Jan set up his own Etsy shop. He's just getting started with selling digital photos at his Etsy shop. So, if you have time, do browse through what he's got so far, and favorite the pictures that you like.

I hand dyed a new batch of "Celery" thread, which people have been asking for. It's quite a bright shaded green, like leaves in sunshine. Now listed in my Etsy shop.

Have you seen the new Tatting Central website? It's nicely organized with links to guilds, suppliers, patterns, tutorials, and designers. So far, the designer section features Jane Eborall, Linda Davies, Tat-ology, TotusMel, and me!

Lace-lovin' Librarian - Diane with Carol at Tollway Tatters

Peace rose and Craftsy classes on sale

 Craftsy's having a sale through August 11, and since I'm an affiliate, if people click on the link below and order any of the classes, then I will earn some $$. Thank you for your support!

Click here to see the sale!

The "Peace" batch of hand dyed thread is done and listed in my Etsy shop. Apparently blog posts result in more sales than notices on Facebook or Twitter, so I'll try to get each of the colors posted here as I finish them. Below is some "Blue Streak" that was added several weeks ago, that people seem to have missed.

Flowers in thread, coming events

 Flower necklace in progress, with hand dyed threads. New batch of "Peace" thread will be listed by tomorrow. The pattern is in this book.

 Colors of hand dyed thread you may have missed, inspired by flowers.

I submitted a tatted jewelry set pattern to Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine, and have received a reply saying it will appear in the Winter issue, unless they decide to save it for a later issue.

My beginner level tatted earrings class proposal for the Bead&Button Show has been submitted, but I won't hear if it has been accepted for the show until November, since they receive many, many submissions. I do have another project in the works for the Bead&Button Show auction: a collaborative effort with a wire jewelry artist. She is making the wire parts of a series of earrings, and I am making the tatted parts. More on that later.

This coming Monday, August 11, will be the next meeting of the Greater Milwaukee Tatting Guild. Also, rumor has it that the Tollway Tatters will be meeting the following day. If so, I'll be bringing cake. Not saying why :-x