How I spent my weekend

Me with my tatted jewelry display

 Fun, fun, fun!!! The 2nd annual Jewelry At The Domes show held at the Mitchell Park Conservatory (The Domes) was wonderful. You couldn't ask for a prettier venue, especially this time of year in Wisconsin when we are on the threshold of winter.

A set finished while demonstrating

Many people did stop to watch me tat, and to take information about the Shuttle Tatting course on Craftsy. Some people reminisced about how a relative had tatted years ago, others had never seen tatting before and asked what it was. Lots of remarks were heard about how pretty and different my things were.

I also had some sales - one woman waited patiently for me to finish tatting a Remembrance Ring because she wanted to buy it. I needed to borrow a sewing needle from a very kind beading artist so that I could sew in the ends. (The borrowed needle worked, but not as quickly as my own favorite, thinner needle with a longer eye would have.) Well, I guess I won't be forgetting my own finishing supplies next time, LOL :-)

I actually got a good amount of tatting done, which I'll be able to take my next show, the Holiday Artisan Market which will be at Discovery World on December 1 and 2.

During a break, I took a quick walk through the Domes and snapped some photos. Gosh, so much color inspiration...for future hand dyed thread, maybe?

Panorama view of part of the Tropical Dome

Cell phone shot of me with waterfall

Shoppers enjoying Jewelry At The Domes event

Tatting and Jewelry at the Domes

My display of tatted jewelry

Tatted jewelry will be included in the Jewelry At The Domes show at the Mitchell Park Domes in Milwaukee this weekend. That's my table in the above photo, just after I finished setting up!

That's me tatting at Loominosity

Actually, I'm sharing a table with Jan Falk, felt artist. Since we are both "fiber people" our creations look very good together. One of her handmade felt flowers is shown in the promotional photo at the bottom of this post.

Photo at left shows me demonstrating tatting at Loominosity, the show which was held the previous week, November 1 - 4.

Outside view of one of the Domes at night

Other photos here show the Domes at night, as I was leaving from setting up, and the Kapok tree growing inside one of the Domes, which needs frequent pruning to prevent it from breaking the roof!

A busy weekend, and hopefully we will be educating a lot of folks about tatting as well as all sorts of handmade jewelry.

Kapok tree inside the Domes

2 of the Domes at night

Clean up, and on to the next show

 It was inspiring and fun to participate at the "Jewelry at the Domes" show, and the next art show that I'm in is already just 3 weeks away! The postcard above gives the details for that one, the Holiday Artisan Market at Discovery World.

Middle photo at left is of some unfinished pieces that I made while demonstrating. I also made a number of "one ring butterflies" to give away free to people who showed interest, but sometimes I got so excited talking to people that I forgot to give them one. 2 people in the Loose Bead Society now want to learn how to tat, and another woman said she would email me. I also have another new student already scheduled for a lesson on November 30.

I did have sales! Maybe I missed a few by not being able to process a credit card. I do have the "Square" app on my iPod touch, but there was no wi-fi in the building, so I couldn't use it. No, I can't afford a "smart phone" on my income as an artist.

I had to restrain myself from spending all my profits at the Domes show! I only made one purchase, and it's shown in the bottom photo. Aren't they beautiful? The lovely young woman who made these is one of the most inspiring people I've ever met. Notice the tag says, "Jewelry by Jaws" and yes, that is how they are made. You will find out why at her website, JewelryByJaws.com. Take a look.

Tatted Jewelry at the Domes

Here I am with my display. I'll be there from 9am to 4pm again today. If you're in the area, please stop by! Lots of beautiful jewelry by many talented artists, plus you get to see the incredible trees, flowers, and plants of all sorts inside the domes.

Another show this coming weekend

I'll have more tatted jewelry in the first-ever Jewelry at the Domes show. Details are on the postcard scan above.

The necklace shown at left is one of my new items that will be there. Some tatted jewelry items have been disappearing from my Etsy shop, because of being sold at the previous show, or being sent to a magazine for a photo shoot and future article...I'll announce which magazine when the contract is signed...soon. It looks like another good opportunity to publicize tatting and I'll reveal more when all is settled.

I'll be dyeing more thread after the show, to restock the rapidly dwindling supply in my Etsy shop. I really need to concentrate on getting more jewelry made this week.

Tatted Jewelry at "Loominosity"

Me with my newly published book!

Jewelry displays at the "Loominosity" show

 These photos were all taken at the "Loominosity" Exhibit and Sale, a 4 day event showcasing the artwork of the members of 2 guilds, the Loose Bead Society and the Wisconsin Handweavers. Something tatted can be found in each of the photos.

I also had a new tatting student come for her first lesson. She was so enthusiastic about learning to tat, she gave me this beautiful felted bag that she made!

Gift from my new tatting student, and her very first tatted chain!

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.

So much guild activity!

On Monday, I not only attended the guild meeting of the Loose Bead Society, I managed to coax Sue Anna into making over an hour's drive to come too! During open beading time - well, throughout the whole meeting, actually - Sue Anna and I were both tatting, which caused quite a stir among many of the guild members, who came over to see what we were doing! I think they were surprised to see that Marilee is not the only person who tats ☺The top photo shows the black butterfly (pattern is in Boutique Tatting) that I started on Monday at the meeting, and that's how far I'd gotten by early Wednesday morning.

Then, later Wednesday morning I headed over to the mall food court where I'd heard the Embroidery Guild was gathering for Stitch in Public Day. Another super-nice group! They greeted me warmly, and let me tat with them while they worked on projects ranging from counted cross stitch to needlepoint. They seemed quite eager to have me come "stitch" with them again!

Then, I found out that there is a Crochet Guild in town, too! Still more creative people!

Anyway, this 2nd photo shows how much more I got done on the butterfly during my visit with the Embroidery Guild - while chit-chatting away!

Loominosity show

Handmade jewelry by various artists

This years's Loominosity was a group exhibit and sales event covering 4 days, organized by two guilds: the Wisconsin Handweavers and the Loose Bead Society.

Some of my tatted jewelry was in the sale, and I demonstrated tatting on Saturday.

Later that afternoon I was surprised to meet Sue Anna of Sue Anna's blog! She is an absolutely wonderful lady! (Tatters are such nice people!) Not only did she make the trip to come see me at this event, she brought gifts! Thank you, Sue Anna!

Sue Anna's gifts - shuttle and tatted bookmark

Sue Anna and Marilee

Chemo Cap Project with tatting

This is the first time I decorated a cap for the Chemo Cap Project.

The tatted flower started out to be a different design, but I made a mistake, so... just kept going and made up a different flower. The center bead is surrounded by a self closing mock ring, and the motif just sort of grew out of that, using one shuttle and a ball thread.

I worked on this during the Fall Beading Retreat held by the Loose Bead Society. So, it was a "tatting in public" day for me, and a lot of fun! The event was also a convenient opportunity to learn some jewelry making tips from the excellent "crimp bead" demo that was given.

Historic costume jewelry display

These vintage jewelry pieces and fashions are on display at Mount Mary College. I am gathering ideas from these classics, that I may use in my tatted jewelry designs.

Of the vintage clothing that was on display, my personal favorites were the 1952 prom dress with the lacy, full skirt, and the coat inspired by an abstract painting.

I really enjoyed seeing this display, and I am so thrilled to have become an official, card carrying member of the Loose Bead Society of Greater Milwaukee! What a nice, friendly bunch of people interested in all sorts of ways to use beads!

Right away I got asked if I would teach a tatting class (they remembered me from my tatting demo in February).

Since we can bring our projects to work on at their Fall Retreat on October 10, I'll bring a beaded tatting project, and we'll see what happens. I am also looking forward to eventually learning other beading techniques from these talented folks, that I'll probably "morph" into tatting designs.