Hand dyed thread "Mardi Gras"

A fresh batch of "Mardi Gras" hand dyed thread has been listed in my Etsy shop. 

I wish you all a very Happy New Year!

Arranging necklace elements has begun

Early rough draft

I've pinned out what I have so far onto a display form, in order to think about where I'm going with my original design idea. My plan is to finish tatting all the motifs needed, then start connecting them together with a continuous outline of tatting. I'm still debating on the color to use for the outline. I've got some dark purple hand dyed, but am considering going with a lighter color or more metallic, I don't know yet. I do think I'll add a tassel of some sort at the bottom.

The orchestra concert I played in last week went great! The website of the orchestra that I play in is here: https://www.wiorchestra.org/ You'll see me sitting in the cello section of the first cover photo.

I need to practice now for the Christmas music at church. There will be 23 instrumentalists plus choir for Christmas eve and Christmas morning. I'll try hard to play well, but I believe the mistakes are appreciated just as much as the great notes. Like all gifts, it's the thought that counts!

Just a mess right now

Designing in progress

Aqua/teal has been added to the purple and gold color scheme. Flowers are in progress, but I won't connect any of the motifs together until I have enough for the complete arrangement. I have been dreaming big, even thinking of entering the Bead Dreams competition. 

Beading around a druzy stone.

I found 2 small but stunningly beautiful druzy stones in my stash, so they simply had to go into the design somehow. I beaded a peyote stitch bezel and added beaded "picots" so that tatting can be joined around them later.

I'll be playing cello in this concert!

Concert this week! I'm busy practicing to be ready to play. I love being a member of this orchestra, it's so supportive, encouraging, and really amazing!

Hand dyed thread "Gold Dust"

Freshly dyed batch of "Gold Dust" thread has been added to my Etsy shop!

My original designing for the yet unnamed challenging necklace project is still in progress. I found some high quality Amethyst stones at the local bead store and stitched a peyote bezel around them. After that, I dug out some Lizbeth and Flora threads in 2 shades of purple and began tatting around the larger stone. I think I'll incorporate the smaller stone closer to the neckline. 

I did one 3D flower in hand dyed Hydrangea Dark. It turned out nicely enough that I'm considering doing a cluster of them in different shades. I don't know if I'll add any green for leaves or not. The addition of green would give the necklace a Mardi Gras color theme, and so far I like the "royal" look of the purple and gold on its own. But, we'll see. I'm just making it up as I go! 

Unfinished necklace, original designing in progress