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!

New book coming soon!

Yes, that's my name and my tatting on the cover! 

Amazon is taking pre-orders for the book here. November 1 is the date that the book will be available.

This is my new book which is being published by Annie's. All of the patterns are tatted jewelry with beads, with in-progress shuttle tatting photos, diagrams, and written instructions in English.

The patterns are:

• Cool Circles necklace, bracelet, earrings, shown on the cover
• Beaded Path necklace, bracelet, earrings (easy)
• Beatrice necklace and earrings (pearl tatting)
• Dazzling Debut necklace and earrings (curled rings)

All of the patterns use size 10 Lizbeth cotton. Beads used include 6mm and 4mm round beads, 6mm bicone Swarovski crystal beads, size 11/0 Toho Takumi large hole seed beads, and size 8/0 seed beads.

I hope you'll enjoy these patterns! I'm looking forward to holding the finished book in my hand!

Still burnin' the Midnight Oil while enjoying a fresh Nectarine

This week I finished 2 smaller batches of "Nectarine" and "Midnight Oil" in sizes 10 and 20 only. They're now listed in my Etsy shop.

Also this week I was given the opportunity to see the progress on my next book of tatted jewelry patterns that will be published sometime this fall by Annie's Publishing. They're doing a beautiful job of making my designs look good! I'm getting excited to see it finished, and hoping I could do a "book signing" somewhere when the book comes out.

I'm happy to announce that I've added a new Instant Download PDF pattern on Etsy as well as my Craftsy pattern store, the Amoeba Triangle set! This asymmetrical pattern has literally been years in the making, and the pendant gives plenty of practice in Catherine Wheel joins. The earrings and bracelet don't use that type of join, but all of the items in the set do use 2 shuttles and floating rings. It's one of the designs that I taught at the IOLI Convention 2016, and I hope lots of tatters will have fun with it.

Simply "Giddy" tatted earrings

 The pattern, "Giddy" earrings, is in the Tatted Jewelry book published by Annie's Attic. All of the patterns in the book were designed by me (yes, that's my name on the cover). The "Giddy" pattern has just one "floating ring" at the top made with 2nd shuttle, beaded picots, and starts with a bead inside a self-closing mock ring. Instructions are in the book.

I'm trying to get more tatted items made for several art/craft shows that are coming up; 2 of them are listed on the postcard at the bottom of this post. I'll be demonstrating tatting at the events, too.

 

Bragging rights

Screen shot taken 10:30 am

A screen shot of the front page

Hey, this morning my Tatted Jewelry book got #1 spot in the beading and jewelry section of Annie's Attic!

By the way, did you know that Annie's Attic also offers the book as an instant download PDF.

Other sources of the printed book include Handy Hands Tatting, and Lacis. Both of these companies offer International shipping, which Annie's Attic doesn't.  It's also in my Etsy shop, and I'll sign it for you if you ask, otherwise I just slip a small notepaper in with my signature. Currently that's what I've been doing for all my books.

I think you would brag too, if it were your book (happy grin), so get your designs written up, it could be your book next!

Show schedule and new book

My table at Discovery World last year.

In November and December, there will be 3 shows where I'll be displaying my tatted jewelry and demonstrating tatting. The first coming up is Loominosity November 3 - 6. This is a group effort, so although I will have things on display there all 4 days, I only plan to be demonstrating at that location (New Berlin, Wisconsin) on Thursday, November 3rd, until about 3:30 pm.

The following weekend, November 12 and 13, I will be at the Milwaukee Domes for the Jewelry in the Domes show. I will be at that event both days, sharing a table with the fabulous felt artist, Jan Falk.

Then, December 3 and 4, I expect to have my own booth at the Discovery World Holiday Artisan Market. So busy, busy!

My demo at Loominosity 2010

Some of my tatting in the gift shop.

And, to top it all off, my new book is coming out very soon! It's called  
Tatted Jewelry and you can see a preview at Annie's Attic. That is where you can buy the book (as soon as it's ready). I'm quite happy to have had a book published by a real publisher!
Update: Since Annie's Attic doesn't ship overseas, I'll see what I can do about getting some copies to sell from my blog or Etsy.

Ripple necklace

 Here's a new finished necklace, which I've decided to call "Ripple" since it reminds me of undulating waves or vibrations. I used my own hand dyed size 10 from the "Stardate" batch, combined with Lizbeth thread size 10 in black. I designed the pattern myself, and it's just one shuttle with ball of thread. Really not hard - except for those loop tatted rings below the beads in the center (well, you know I would have to challenge myself, lol!) For more info on the loop tatted ring, Tatting Fool has prepared an excellent tutorial on her blog.

Getting the curve just right was my other main challenge with designing this piece. It follows the neckline curve pretty well, in fact it is about the same width as a t-shirt crew neck.

Other exciting news: I just received a phone call this morning from an editor at Annie's Attic, and my "Tatted Jewelry" book is as far as the rough draft stage! I've been asked to look it over to make sure the photos and patterns are matching up, etc. So, that is what I need to do next. Relaxing outside will have to wait for a little bit.

"Newcastle" necklace in earthy colors

The exciting news is that I tatted while proofreading this pattern in my new book, "Tatted Jewelry" which is in progress. The DRG Publishing people have been so very nice! I'm totally impressed with the work they have done so far. (The book is scheduled to be published November 18 of this year.) I'm thrilled to bits that my book will be the 2nd tatting book that they sell in their Annie's Attic catalog - the first is "Learn to Tat" by Janette Baker. Such an honor!

Some folks may be happy to know that this particular pattern uses only one shuttle and ball thread. The model I sent for the book is in black and dull olive, with a gear at the bottom (to look "steampunk", sort of). The one pictured here seems to give a "back to nature" impression. Funny how changing colors and details can make a design look very different.

Well, I need to dye some more of the thread I used on the border, which is from the "Knitty Gritty" colorway and looks so appropriate for autumn. I'll get to work on that now - and my small Maple Leaf  pattern, too.

The "secret" revealed 11-18-11

I can tell you now! I'm getting a book published!

NOT self-published, like my previous books, but by a REAL publisher!!! You've heard of Annie's Attic from DRGnetwork? They've informed me that my book, Tatted Jewelry, will go on sale 11-18-11, just in time for Christmas gifts. That's the "secret" I was working on April through June.