Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Sue's Blues

 I dyed a fresh batch of "Sue's Blues" thread. The story behind the name is that it is, indeed, called Sue's Blues after a friend of mine named Sue. Now, I do have several friends that go by the name of Sue, so let each of them think that I named it especially for her!
Here's a pair of earrings tatted from size 20 "Sue's Blues" thread.The design is based on the "Giddy" pattern in the book "Tatted Jewelry" published by Annie's Attic. I fancied it up a little with more seed beads, my hand formed niobium ear wires and an Argentium silver wire wrapped dangle at the bottom.

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Sue's Blues coming soon


The picture shows an old batch of "Sue's Blues" being tatted into an earring at my workbench. A fresh batch of Sue's Blues will be underway in a few days. My assistant (dear husband) will have more time to prepare skeins for me now that his seasonal job of working at the ballpark is done for this year.

I did finish tatting the earrings started in last week's post, so here they are:
Thread color is hand dyed "Pizazz" and pattern is "Trendy Teardrop".

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Found! "Carnival" Earring Pattern


Found in my computer files! My original free pattern (from 2007) for the "Carnival" earrings.

Download the PDF file HERE.

This is another of the designs that Annie's purchased to publish in the book "Tatted Jewelry". Since the original was available for free on my blog in 2007 it seems reasonable to re-post it.

Old file issue: When previewing in a Chrome browser, the PDF has annoying yellow boxed annotations when mousing over the photos. No worries, those yellow boxes are gone in the downloaded file.

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Pizazz


Brilliant red orange shading to dark red, Pizazz is another autumn inspired hand dyed thread. I've nothing finished yet to show, but have made a start.
The beautiful Calla Lily shuttle is from TheKnottedVine on Etsy. The tatting is the beginning of a Trendy Teardrop earring.

By the way, I have brought back my original pattern from 2011 for Trendy Teardrop and listed it on Etsy. It's the same design that Annie's purchased from me to publish in the book Tatted Jewelry, but from looking at my communications with them I've found that I'm allowed to sell my original self-published pattern on Etsy. Which is good, because the book is out of print and I don't get any royalties whatsoever on Annie's PDF of Tatted Jewelry.


If you use Facebook you may have noticed my page and profile are not there anymore. I did NOT get hacked. I just decided that Facebook was taking up way too much of my time and energy, so I "temporarily" deactivated my account. I'm still on Instagram, which is simply pretty pictures and a happier place. Twitter is where I put pictures that aren't pretty enough for Instagram ;)

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Tatted Dalek Went to the Maker Faire

That's me with my tiny tatted Dalek meeting a big Dalek at the Maker Faire Milwaukee.
We're all beaming with excitement!

Close-up of the tatted lace Dalek. (A Dalek is a character from the television series Doctor Who.)
Yes, this one is my original tatting design. No pattern......just...no. Exterminate! ☺☺☺
Seriously, I used the techniques of a bead inside a ring and block tatting. I made the gun and sucker arm from wire and a saucer bead. The lights, eye stalk, and globes are beads.
Here I am with my tatting display at Maker Faire Milwaukee.
Many people stopped to ask questions and watch me demonstrate shuttle tatting.
I gave single ring tatted butterflies away to the children.
A collection of big Daleks and the Tardis (Time And Relative Dimension In Space) as seen in the TV series "Doctor Who".
This particular Tardis was not bigger on the inside, but fortunately these Daleks were friendly!
There were many astounding science exhibits. I was able to leave my tatting booth long enough to see this Tesla coil in action.
I don't know the story behind these jelly fish lights, but they were impressive with their size, changing colors and twinkling!
 A Maker Faire is a great event to see amazing creativity in action for both kids and adults. If one takes place in your area, I highly recommend that you go see it! Even better, sign up as a Maker and demonstrate what you make!