Butterfly not done yet

The polymer clay butterfly with tatting is still in progress. The photo shows the 2nd wing being attached to the butterfly body. The thread is pulled through the hole in the polymer clay with a crochet hook, in preparation for a join - a normal join at that particular place. Around the outer edges I've used only chains with lock joins.

What I've learned so far is that the 2 wings needed to be completed first, then the body worked, attaching wings to the final round of the body. I'm planning to tat antennae last...well, actually the last part will be the neck cord. I'll probably have to use a slightly different thread color since I'm running out of the hand dyed color I'm using. Isn't that always the way, running out of thread! This is definitely a one-of-a-kind project, and not for sale. Just to exhibit and keep.

I hope to finish it next week, and also dye more thread for my Etsy shop.

Sue's Blues...and why I don't do custom orders

It's true, I DON'T do custom orders. But, sometimes I have a hard time saying no, especially when what people suggest seems like such a good idea!

A very good friend showed me her new jacket and wanted hand dyed thread to match the colors in the jacket, to be made into a matching pendant. A fabulous idea! But, turning ideas into reality, well, that's just amazingly hard to do.

The thread I managed to come up with, well, I'd say it compliments the jacket, but isn't an exact match. I could tweak the recipe to make the lights lighter, and the darks darker, but I can't change the basic hues without buying different dyes.

The dye company's printed samples don't really capture the exact hue, so the only way I could find matching blues would be to buy whatever looks close, dye a sample, (keeping careful records of how I mixed it) and see what the finished color looks like.

Sigh...life is just too short...I DON'T do custom orders!

Butterfly with polymer clay

Work in progress on a one-of-a-kind, whimsical butterfly combining polymer clay with tatting.

By the way, the new "Up and Tat 'Em" book has been selling like the proverbial hotcakes, so I haven't really had much time for anything outside of filling orders. I started this butterfly last week before the books arrived from the printer. Today, I'll have to go to the printer to order more copies, before I run out!

It's here!!!

The title of my new book is
"Up and Tat 'Em"

This is my 2nd tatting pattern book - 28 pages, over a hundred color photos. Here's what is in it:

• "Five Petal Pendant"
• "Grand Aura" earrings
• "Beguile" set of necklace, bracelet, and earrings
• "Fancy Closures" (frogs)
• "Atom" pendant
• "Belle" pendant
• "Wondrous Window" stained glass effect pendants (3 variations), bracelet (or bookmark), and earrings

This book is the same size and general format as Boutique Tatting with even more photos.

This book is written from a shuttle tatter's point of view. My projects do tend to be a bit "off the beaten path" and challenging, so I recommend this book for folks who already know the basics of shuttle tatting. Of course, I said the same thing about Boutique Tatting, and clever needle tatters have told me they've enjoyed my patterns as well.

A little promo for the printer:My books are printed at PrintGraphix, 4749 S. 76th St., Greenfield, Wisconsin 53220. They do a great job of printing and are wonderful people, too!

Available in my Etsy Shop.

Thank you so much to everyone for your wonderful encouragement, which has given me the energy to complete the Up and Tat 'Em book.

How about some "Rhubarb Pie" while you're waiting?

My new book is still at the printer. Well, they are a very busy print shop because folks in town know they do a great job.

In the meantime, I did manage to hand dye a new batch of "Rhubarb Pie" thread. I used Procion MX fiber reactive dyes, as usual. (The slice of pie photo is just for effect - LOL!)

It's at the printer

Well, I finally got the book done - it is currently at the printer! They said that it may be ready later this week. The instructions for the tatted atom is included in the book. Title? You'll find out what I've entitled my new book very soon!