Slow lace and beading

Slow art piece in progress

A little peak at what I'm working on. The colors in the harlequin shapes as well as the bright yellow beaded crystals were inspired by The Starry Night painting by Vincent van Gogh. I'm at the stage of "Now what!" But, eventually an answer will come, a little at a time.

The large yellow beaded crystal is built around a center called a "cushion" 10mm across, not really round (a square with rounded corners) but it looks round enough with the peyote beading around it and the tatting.

In between working on that art project, I've added some more things to my "Marilee's Tatting" shop. At the top of this blog there's a tab labeled "Online Store", click on that and it takes you there.

Adelia pendant in teal and purple

Hand dyed thread "Pond"

Leap day wishing for Peace

 

Peace symbol in wire wrapping + tatting

Wishing for peace everywhere to everyone. ☮ 

The wire frame before tatting is described on my previous post.

For the center tatting I used 2 multicolored threads plus a green thread, in the encapsulation technique (unflipped double stitches over a multiple thread core). I have a short video on that here, but for this project I kept the flowers small, only 1 "petal" each.

The tiny "flowers" are Josephine rings tatted using the same half stitch repeated, along with an occasional normal ring.

I used only 2 threads, normal tatting in green for the "vine" around the edge. 8 Victorian sets of 2/2 between each Josephine ring. I usually use about 9 half stitches for each ring. 

For the outside edge I generally used the modified soumak weave with 28 gauge wire, changing to simple coiling when the base wires overlapped. I arranged the tatted "vine" around the edge and caught it in the wire occasionally. Some 2mm beads were also included for added texture.

 

This was quite a challenging project for me! More difficult than the usual wire-wrapped + tatting pendants that I've made before, because of the smaller spaces to work the wire into and trying to keep the symbol clear enough to be recognizable. But, I'm happy to have one done that I can wear, and to get more ideas from!

Published in Belle Armoire Jewelry!

 In today's mail I received a lovely surprise! The issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine with my own wire-wrapped tatted pendant article in it!

The issue is Summer 2023. It will arrive on news stands around June 1, 2023. 

Because I'm a subscriber to the magazine, I received 2 copies in the mail: my subscription plus a complimentary copy for being published. So, I have 1 copy to give away!

Giveaway!!! Open to residents of the USA only (because of shipping costs).

To be entered in the giveaway, leave a comment on this blog post before May 20, 2023.

I'll choose one winner on Saturday, May 20th and contact the winner (so please leave some contact info in your comment). This giveaway includes some hand dyed thread samples along with the magazine. ☺

"Autumn Glow" pendant

 

The mixed media pendant that I had started last week is done! I'm really pleased with this one, so much so that I've started another, though of course each one is always different. Some years back I posted a quick demo on YouTube showing my basic process in making these. I really should do another tutorial showing more detail of the tatting techniques I'm using in these, including hiding the tail ends without sewing. Would anyone be interested?

The silk ribbon that I like to include with these pendants is hand dyed by Quintess. She has a stunningly beautiful selection of ribbons, and scarves, too.

Started an Autumn Pendant

 

From my stash of hand dyed thread, I chose warm autumn colors of red, gold, and shaded greens in a mix of 10 and 20 (but that dark red seems a bit finer, so I'm not sure). Having completed the tatting of josephine rings and encapsulated chains, I'm in the process of wire wrapping it onto the frame. 

I found a pretty orange topaz colored glass briolette focal bead purchased from BastetsBeads on Etsy, planning to suspend it in the center, although that depends on if there's still room for it when I get that far! I don't plan ahead much, I just trust the process. 

Josephine rings and barely started time vortex

 

Josephine ring in progress, made of the same repeated half stitch.

A series of Josephine rings.

From my own "Petal Portal" pattern.

The Petal Portal pattern uses several unusual tatting techniques. It's tricky, but I really enjoy seeing the results, especially with using a multicolored or variegated thread for the little Josephine ring "petals" that seem to spill out of the pendant. I'm currently in "blue and yellow" mood but there are endless color possibilities!

The earrings from the "Petal Portal" pattern add the Daisy Picot technique.

I have started another pair since I really like them!

This is as far as I've got with my version of a "Time Vortex Manipulator". ☺

I like how the tatting fits around the lightbulb and the 2 layers. There will need to be a 3rd layer, which will form the actual bracelet. I'm still thinking about the design possibilities for that. The dark tatting in the photo should be able to turn freely, not joined to either the top or bottom. So, one can pretend to change time either backward or forward by turning the middle motif. 

The lightbulb will be activated by completing the circuit (of special conductive thread which will be sewn through the lace) with a snap closure and battery. So you can pretend to jump instantly to another period in time. Of course, that's the plan! The "change time" notion is only make-believe, but the lighting up part is intended to be real! 

One sleeve done

One sleeve done and the 2nd sleeve started! I'm feeling confident that this sweater will be done by springtime. I'm one of those people who feels cold all the time, so I'll enjoy wearing it on pleasant spring days and most summer days too. The pattern is "Spring Leaf" designed by Bronagh Miskelly, found in Knitting Magazine, April 2017. I found the magazine in the Pocketmags app.

Not as much snow here in southeastern Wisconsin as last winter, so far. Brrr! It's cold outside!

The "Star Capella" pendants have been very popular in my Etsy shop. The tatting pattern is a free download from my Free Patterns page. My video demonstration is on YouTube. 

Seaside colors coming in New Year

 

Mermaid vibes, perhaps? 

This is my "Fairest" bracelet pattern tatted in size 10 Lizbeth No.715 "Maple Butter" which I think makes a nice warm, sandy beach color. Paired with aqua colored beads, it reminds me of summer days. I took a green screen shot with my smartphone against a video of Lake Michigan taken last summer. (There's an app for that!)

For this bracelet I decided to use a sliding knot closure in nylon macramé cord, laced up corset style. In my Etsy listing there is a short video showing how to put on and tighten the sliding knot by yourself.

Also recently listed a Star Capella pendant in hand dyed aqua accented with some of the Lizbeth thread. 

A new hand dyed thread batch has occurred to me, and I'll be working on that within the next few days, to be listed in the new year! I'll probably call it "Seaside" since I already have a batch with beach in the title (Beach Café). My goal is to have it gently shading from aqua to a sandy beach color. We will see how it turns out!

Wishing you all a very happy New Year!  

Tatted star in pink and knitting goes on

In 2 shades of pink from my stash of hand dyed threads, the "Star Capella" finished as a pendant. Actually the camera couldn't capture the true color of the darker pink, which is really a boysenberry shade. 

The sweater project is still in progress. I've finished the lacy edging on the right, and am at my second try of starting the left side, which is knitted from what I call the "back side" of the work. I've had to learn a new-to-me knitting technique called "purl 2 together through back loop" and it is even trickier than it sounds. I don't know why people carry on about tatting being hard - knitting is much harder, in my humble opinion - and I learned to knit much earlier in my life than I learned tatting.

Every Time I Look in the Stash

I find something interesting such as a gear (still being made!) that works with my unpublished gear earring pattern. If I still can figure out a tatted "gear" substitute for the center (for those who don't or can't buy the gears) I may publish it - or not, I don't know. What do you think?

I found a lovely Jasper stone cabochon that I'd been hoarding for years, so I turned it into a wire wrapped pendant with a spray of tiny tatted "flowers".

Like many other crafters who enjoy the sparkle of crystal beads, I'm totally miffed that Swarovski will be abandoning the craft market so my attitude is "don't let the door hit you on the way out" (I'm being nice since this is a family friendly blog). I made these blue earrings using crystal beads from their competitor Preciosa and they sparkle just as beautifully, so there.

Not much time for dyeing this week so only one size in this test batch, which I called "Fizzy Bubbles" since I couldn't think what else to call it - and it sounds so happy!

Tricked myself into wire wrapping another spray of tatted "flowers" onto a "Champagne" colored frame by putting all the supplies into a kit that was easy to grab while watching television.

Looked into my design folder on the computer and found a completely forgotten, partially written pattern from 2014. Well, I've started tatting it and have begun thinking of ways to repurpose the object with improvements.

So, it looks like I've been busy but I haven't posted here for several weeks. Just filling the time.

More Wire and Tatting Pendants

 

Vintaj® natural brass colored ParaWire, with floral style tatting of my own hand dyed thread. 

A burst of creativity resulted in 5 new necklaces added to my Etsy shop. I've decided that non-tarnish coated wire is the best choice for combining my tatting with wire-wrapping. It comes in a variety of permanent colors (obviously I love colors!) and no worries about tarnishing. Even Argentium silver eventually does tarnish and of course the silver is more expensive, so I won't likely be using it anymore. 

Bronze colored wire with hand dyed thread and nylon micro-macramé

Micro-macramé, or even a simple braided cord makes a nice color-coordinating finish for these projects and the sliding knot enables the necklace to be adjustable to any length. I like that the nylon cord is shiny and smooth, and tail ends can be melted with a lighter. 

Recently I've learned to be very careful with the lighter, as I had to re-do one neck cord because I accidently burned the wrong part. Didn't set myself on fire, though! ^_^

Titanium colored non-tarnish coated wire with hand dyed, white thread, and seed pearls.

2 colors of wire and 2 colors of cord

Tiny beads added during the wire wrapping. On the large focal bead I used a filigree bead cap from a "goodies bag" acquired at a long ago Tollway Tatters meeting. 

New Pattern: "Petal Portal"

 Just finished! 

My original pattern "Petal Portal" for tatted pendant and earrings is listed for sale as an instant download in my Etsy shop. 

The tatting techniques used in the pendant are: ring, floating ring, curled ring, chain, picot, bead picot, join, lock join, Celtic weaving, and encapsulation.

The tatting techniques used in the earrings are: ring, floating ring, split ring, chain, picot, bead picot, Daisy picot, join, lock join, encapsulation. 

So, it's a challenging pattern using a lot of techniques. The instructions are written in English from the shuttle tatting perspective. This pattern also has diagrams with stitch counts and some in-progress photos. 

The thread used for the pendant and earrings is size 20, along with size 15/0 seed beads and 4mm beads.

"Petal Portal" green set

The actual colors that I used in the green set are Lizbeth #604, #684, #676, and my own hand dyed "Nectarine".

The actual colors I used in the purple set are Lizbeth #612, #632, and my own hand dyed "Crocus".

"Petal Portal" purple set

I came up with the title "Petal Portal" because the Josephine rings at the bottom looked to me like little flower buds or petals growing, and the open center of the motif seemed to be a gateway or portal leading to somewhere nice.

The tools and supplies that I used for the green set

Pizazz, Kinetic, and Wire

A fresh batch of Pizazz hand dyed thread is done and listed on Etsy. It's satisfying to see how bright these colors are when dry, since they're darker when the wet dye is applied.

Leaf earrings using Pizazz thread, from the pattern Small Maple Leaf.

Earrings in hand dyed and Lizbeth Metallic from the pattern Kinetic.

I combined tatting with wire wrapping to make this mixed media pendant.
Playing around with more ideas!

Interested in the basic techniques I'm using for wire wrapped tatting pendants?
See my video on YouTube.