Monday, October 31, 2016

Wired and tatted


 All mixed up!

This pendant is my latest experiment of combining wire-wrapping and tatting. I started with a wire weave that I learned in Aga Kruk's 2nd Craftsy Class, Wire-Wrapped Stones, Designer Techniques, and captured some random tatting into it as I wove the wire.
The woven bail technique I learned in a class by Dawn Horner, called Start Wire Weaving Cabochon Pendants.


Woven wire earrings from instructions in Aga's class.

Woven Cubes FLW wallpaper
 Bradbury & Bradbury
 Home improvement projects have taken up much of my time lately. The dining room area in my 1920s era house needed new wallpaper in the wood framed panels, so when I discovered that Frank Lloyd Wright wallpaper designs were available to order online, I jumped right on it! Several patterns are available from Bradbury & Bradbury Art Wallpapers. I chose Woven Cubes.




Leaving you with a pretty autumn view of Miller Park baseball stadium, which is not very far from my house in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Saturday, October 22, 2016

The new book


 So now at last I have my own printed copy of the new book to hold in my hands! Tatting With Beads Jewelry is a beautiful, professionally published 28 page book containing patterns for 4 tatted jewelry sets, all designed by me. Indeed, it is gratifying to see my name on the cover :)

I've listed some in my Etsy Shop, so if you want the book signed by me, buy it there. If you want it as a PDF file, you need to buy that from the publisher Annie's. 

The "Beatrice" necklace is the most advanced pattern in the book. It uses the technique of pearl tatting. The easiest pattern in the book is "Beaded Path", which is only tatted chains. I've enjoyed designing all 4 sets, so I hope you'll have fun tatting them!



Friday, October 14, 2016

Free easy tatted star and snowflake pattern

Download the pattern as a PDF file by clicking HERE.

This is a very simple pattern that I've written up and used in teaching beginner tatting classes. Feel free to use it to teach others! Only the basic techniques of tatting are used: ring, chain, picot, join, and a little about sewing in ends.

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Celtic Triangle


 This project is essentially the same as the Celtic Triangle that I teach in my Next Steps In Shuttle Tatting class on Craftsy. In this one I replaced some of the double stitches with beads on the core thread. The green is my own hand dyed "Leafy" and the brown is Lizbeth Fudge Dark, both size 10.

The pendant looks different on either side, so you can choose whichever side you're in the mood for to show. I finished the pendant with a wire bail that I formed myself, and a lovely silk ribbon from Quintess on Etsy.