Nothing to show but "Pistachio"

This is a solid color that I hand dyed this week. A soft, muted green from a previous multicolored batch that was called "Spring Grass". That's all I have to show. There has been some progress made on the doily, but nothing I can share yet since I want it to be a "surprise" when it is finished.

More "Peace"

Just finished another batch of "Peace" hand dyed thread, inspired by the colors in a "Peace" rose. I tried to leave a little white in with the pale yellow, but some of it just went sort of cream - which I think is nice as well. The darkest shade is a good rich pink, and the colors go lighter from there, to delicate pastels.

Another tiny peak at doily in progress, and what Vicki did

This is still the same doily that I have been designing using only one shuttle and ball method throughout. (Some celtic interlacing included). I'm sticking to it!

I thought the design needed some small motifs, which necessitate "tie and cut" and ends worked in. I plan on sewing them in using "Lily's Way".

I think the doily will be finished after a few more rounds, yay!

The butterfly in the next photo was tatted by Vicki, and is her interpretation of the "Bedazzled Butterfly" pattern in my book, "Boutique Tatting". I think Vicki did a terrific job! And thanks go to Celtic Dream Weaver for sending the photo.



Dye batch in progress is "Peace".

"Leafy" green HDT

Actually, there was a batch named "Leafy" nearly 2 years ago, but that was when I was just getting started in hand dyeing and I don't have a record of it. This one looks "Leafy" to me, and I put some leaves from my yard in the photo for comparison.

The "stained glass" effect

This is one unfinished example of what I've been working on this week.

I like the "stained glass" effect that comes from combining a bright multicolored thread (my own HDT "Roses" in this case) with black outlines. I'm attempting a series of variations on the same basic pattern, my own original "Wondrous Window", which I plan to submit as a collection to a magazine for consideration. Shown here is the space-filling effect from adding beads over crossed picots - my first time trying this technique. I was inspired to try it from seeing this technique used to perfection in tatted jewelry by Iris.

I have some skeins wound, and will be dyeing a batch of greens shortly.

What Bina did with my "Duchess" pattern

Presented here with Bina's permission, these are two of her creative interpretations of my "Duchess" design (a pattern available in my "Boutique Tatting" book).

Here is what Bina has to say about them:

"Both show how I changed the finding attachment method to the one Nina uses in her Beanile work with the sandwiched rings. Also the segment bridging the second layer using the spiral tatting including the beads, uses 40 size 11 beads per side regardless if they are regular or hex beads. In the mulberry one, I substituted clunys for the victorian sets going in and out of the first round of petals with the large bead between."

I think they're both incredible! I'm so thrilled to know that people can be inspired by my little seeds of ideas to come up with their own fantastic creations. Keep going!