Celtic fun with "Pansy" and "Celery" hand dyed thread, classes coming up

New batch of "Pansy" hand dyed thread just added to my Etsy shop! The colors are inspired by wild pansy flowers or "Johnny Jump-ups" as they're sometimes called.

The earrings in top photo were formed from Lizbeth golden yellow size 10 combined with "Pansy" size 20 used on a Celtic shuttle.

The green trefoil earrings were tatted from "Celery" hand dyed thread size 20. I used the Celtic interlocking rings technique which I teach in my "Next Steps in Shuttle Tatting" class. By the way, 50% discount on that class with my affiliate link: www.craftsy.com/ext/MarileeRockley_5188_H

The earwires I also made myself! Hypoallergenic niobium is what I like to use for those, since it's very unlikely to cause any allergic reaction.

I'm on the teaching schedule for Finger Lakes Tatting Conference in April, For more info CLICK HERE.

Project taught at my Finger Lakes classes

Midwest Beads store in Brookfield, WI

Milwaukee area, I'm teaching a beginning tatting class at Midwest Beads on February 13. That class is already full, but if you're in the area contact the Midwest Beads store to be added to waiting list.

As always, free, informal tatting get-togethers the 2nd Monday of the month at The Greater Milwaukee Tatting Guild. See more on the guild blog.

Necklace and earring set in "Pond" hand dyed

This necklace is tatted from hand dyed thread (Pond batch) combined with Lizbeth (Country Turquoise), both size 10. I added seed beads in sizes 11/0 and 8/0, accented with Czech pearl-coated glass druk beads in turquoise blue. After adding the ribbon the connection seemed a little plain, so I tatted a few rings around the ribbon to make sort of a "tatted bead" effect.

The earrings needed a little extra stiffness, so before attaching the hooks I painted the tatting on the back only with fabric stiffener. Looks messy going on, but dries clear. The type of stiffener that I used is "Amazing Fa-Brick" available from https://www.sculptingstudio.com/textile-hardener.html

"Pond" colorway

Sort of ecru blending into teal and green, "Pond" is my latest hand dyed thread batch, now listed in my Etsy shop.

Here's an example of it tatted up, in a variation of my own "Newcastle" pattern. The pattern is in "Tatted Jewelry" but I added embellishments. I used size 8/0 seed beads, Swarovski crystal beads in "Jade" color, and also brass beads. The outer round of tatting (the solid color) is Lizbeth #693 Linen Medium.

After the tatting was done, I put wire through a turquoise stone and wrapped a few loops to form the focal pendant.

Then, wove ribbon through a large linked metal chain. Learned this idea in Candie Cooper's Craftsy class! I really enjoyed Candie's class and picked up a lot of ideas from it. Here's my affiliate link if you'd like to preview her class: http://www.craftsy.com/ext/MarileeRockley_259_CP

Next up, I'll try some coordinating earrings with the new thread!

To go with the blue necklace

Lizbeth thread in Royal Blue #652, size 10. These are my new original designs. The blue necklace is from the same design as the red one from a previous post.

I wanted to come up with an earring that used some of the same elements as the necklace. At first I tried the smaller size 20 to get a daintier earring, but although the thread color number was the same as the size 10, it must have been from a different dye batch and didn't match at all. So, I stayed with the size 10; my ball is nearly all gone now, because of all the experimenting I did to reach the final design! I used the same size beads as the necklace (6mm Swarovski bicones and Toho Takumi large hole size 11/0).

I think this idea would work with size 20 if I had some size 15/0 seed beads. The size 11/0 would be too bulky in the finer thread size with this very tightly fitted design, I think. I now have a reason to buy those tiny beads! But, I like these earrings in size 10 thread, anyhow, because they show better. I think they're reminiscent of the Art Deco style popular from the 1920s to 1930s.

By the way, Bead&Button Show class registration opens Tuesday, January 5. I have 2 tatting classes listed in their catalog! Scroll down HERE to find them. Notice that one is a beginning tatting class, which is an all day class. The other is advanced, a 3 hour class.