Tatting through designer's block

The "harlequin" and "stars" elements were finished weeks ago (or has it been months?) and were placed in a container to await inspiration for finishing. In the meantime, life went on. Then, earlier this week I used the "just do one thing" approach by moving the container to my work table. There!

On another day, I took the motifs and supplies out of the container. Another accomplishment!

Yesterday, I wondered about which thread to use for tatting the various elements together. Nothing suitable! But then, I remembered that I had some of the new Liz Metallic size 40 Icy Blue. So, I put that on a shuttle and tatted a ring, then a chain, counting the stitches to reach the next picot, and then to reach the next motif leaving what seemed to be enough space... and now a start on putting it together has been made. Yay!!!

The rest will come - I hope. ☺

My artwork has been selected

Detail photo of "Exuberance"

 Today I received confirmation that "after an inspiring and highly competitive jury process" my artwork "Exuberance" has been officially selected to be published in the 63rd issue of Artistonish Magazine!

I'm actually surprised and very much thrilled! There will be promotional badges and social media features to come when the October 2025 issue is published. Upon entering, I did make it clear that this is my original design, so it is a unique expression of my distinct ideas and artistic interpretation, making a unique work of art. 

Doily is finished

 

The pattern is my original "Daylily Dance". I added another motif at each end to make the elongated diamond shape. I really love the vibrant colors that I chose but they're difficult to get a good photograph of. I used size 20 Lizbeth cream color 612 and the bright pinkish red and dark green are vintage Flora threads. The shaded colors are my hand dyed "Rhubarb Pie".

I took a picture when the doily was still a round shape next to the original model for the pattern.

I have another picture of the finished piece on a white background that I won't show here yet, the reason being I decided to be very bold and enter it in a juried competition for an artist magazine as fiber art. Well, I don't know how that will go over (smile) but for sure it is my original design. I needed to give the piece to be entered a title, so I called it "Exuberance". 

New hand dyed thread "Asters"

 

During a nature walk recently I saw so many native asters blooming in differing shades of purple and white with their bright golden yellow to rusty red centers. I tried to capture those colors in hand dyed thread. The thread is now listed in my Goimagine shop, "Marilee's Tatting".

Doily in progress

 

In my stash of thread I selected some colors that made me feel happy - sort of a Marshall Fields 1972 happy!☺ The vivid magenta red and dark green are both vintage Flora threads, the shaded pink to green is my own hand dyed, and the cream is Lizbeth color 612. All size 20, although the Flora 20 is very slightly thicker than Lizbeth they are working well together.

The pattern is my own "Daylily Dance". Many thread ends to hide, but playing with the colors is fun so it seems worth the trouble.

Oops! I made a mistake that needed to be cut out in the second triangular motif. So, I  rewound the shuttle with continuous thread from the ball to continue the tatting. While cutting out the mistake I made sure to cut far enough out to leave at least a short core thread tail along with the ball thread tail to hide under some double stitches in the following chain, staggering the abandonment of each tail to give a gradual thickness reduction. I cut the tails off after finishing that motif.

The motifs need to be joined at the correct picots in order for everything to fit. In the pattern there are diagrams and photos to show where to join.

Almost halfway there! By the way, the "Daylily Dance" pattern is available as an instant download on both Goimagine and Etsy.

Tatting in tinyStudio Creative Life Magazine

 

First 2 pages of the 6 page article that appears in issue 28 of Creative Life Magazine

So exciting! My tatting appears in issue 28 of tinyStudio Creative Life Magazine! To order a digital or a printed copy of this colorful, joyful, and creative fiber arts magazine go to https://www.fiberygoodness.com/ 

I was contacted by the editor a few months ago when she saw my tatting on social media and asked if I'd like to write an article sharing my process "in my own voice" about my approach to tatting. I had not seen the tinyStudio Creative Life magazine before (it's published in New Zealand) so I looked at the website and was amazed at what a big, beautiful, and inspiring magazine it is. I felt honored to be asked (and paid) to write an article to appear in it.

Table of contents for issue 28

The cover of issue 28