DMC Pendant

Here is the finished DMC pendant:

It began as a simple ICR foundation of 4 and was filled out with accent tatting and a center focal of a 6mm "Siam" Swarovski and maroon seed bead.  Do I need to post the counts?  If enough folks are interested, I'll put them up later.

I have been thinking of different options for the next giveaway event.  As Valentine's day is fast approaching, I'd like to use that theme.  If anyone has any suggestions, comments are always welcome!  March's event is already planned.  I just love St. Patrick's day & have a wonderful event already put together.  But for Valentine's day, there are so many options.  Should I do an event with tatting needles & thread, an event with a special tatted piece, or an event with various creative bits & pieces?

It's time for my manicure, so I'd better hop to it.

Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!



What A Weekend!

Jim and I had a wonderful and very enjoyable weekend.  With the kid at her grandparents, we were free to go on a rare "date night".  After enjoying dinner & a movie, we made our list for the home improvement store and got a good night's rest.  The remainder of the weekend was spent installing various organizational products in Jim's woodworking shop.  Now he can get on the long list of projects I have for him!

We plan to spend the coming weekend clearing and prepping for my tatting shanty in the woods behind the house.

I did stop by Hobby Lobby Friday night and picked up a few skeins of DMC perle cotton.  This is what I did this morning:

I'll finish it up today and possibly post the pattern tomorrow or later in the week.

What did you do this weekend?  Tat anything interesting?  Recharge your batteries?  See to any of the tatting resolutions you made?

Guess I had better take the dogs for their run through the woods.  Lily Fey is spinning at the front door- her eyeballs must be floating.

Have a wonderful day.  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

 

Weekend Prep

Today was filled with necessary errands to prepare for a busy weekend at home.  Jim and I are doing a few Atelier renovation and organization projects. 

There was zero tatting in the Piney Woods this morning & afternoon, however, I do plan to work on that pesky pendant design this evening.

Sorry for the short post that is totally missing any new eye candy- I simply have no excuse.

Stay tuned next week for the next giveaway event and a new free pattern or two.

Have a wonderful weekend doing whatever makes your soul sing.  Until next week~

Happy Tatting!

Mauve Orchid Button Brooch Variation

I wish I could say this has been a productive tatting day, but alas, nope.  Whilst I did get the next button brooch foundation completed, the heart pendant I've been working on has been nothing but aggravating.  The remains of it are gracing the bottom of the trash can- in tiny jiblets.  Oh well...back to the drawing board with that one.

But here is the button brooch foundation:

It was tatted with size 8 Valdani pearl cotton in O 541 "Mauve Orchid" on a 2-hole 1" vintage shell button with Swarovski bicones in "Purple Velvet" & "Copper Rose".  Accent tatting in a bronze color will be added along with a fabuous Czech art glass button.  I'll show you the finished piece in a day or two.

Well, I am off to try the heart pendant idea again.  Let's hope it goes better this afternoon.  Have a wonderful day & until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

Care Packages

I have spent the morning putting together care packages for a couple of fellow tatters.

This is package #1:

It contains a tatted motif, a pack of 3 extra small tatting needles, 3 different threads, and a bag filled with beads, buttons and a brooch finding.

And this is package #2:

It also has a tatted motif, a pack of 3 extra small tatting needles, 3 different threads & an assortment of beads, buttons and brooch finding. 

Whether you tat or not, please take the time to share your knowledge and if you have them, extra/surplus supplies with other fiber enthusiasts.  You never know when you may be the catalyst for a fabulous creative spark!

I've got to put all the goodies in padded envelopes & get them in the post, so have a great day and share your love for fiberarts with someone!  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!



Latest Czech Art Glass Button Brooch

I have had so much fun playing with the Czech art glass buttons!  This is my latest creation:

Should I add another contrasting round?  Another thought I had was to add a hot pink or bright yellow picot bedding under the button to bring out its aurora flash.  What do you think?

A project I am trying to figure out how to use the buttons in an earring design. The problem is that the buttons are rather heavy and I am concerned about them pulling the tatting.  Perhaps I could attach the button to a metal filigree component and add tatting to it.  Hmmm...  I need to dig in the Atelier and see what is in my stash.

Lily Fey is dancing at the door and fussing at me- it's time for her run in the woods.  Guess I'd better take her out before she has a total hissy.  It's a gorgeous day in the Piney Woods and I plan to spend it in my favorite spot tatting and enjoying my dog.  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!



Variations on the Simple Celtic Earring Pattern

The simple Celtic earring pattern I posted yesterday is very easy to vary and enhance.  Here are a couple of examples I tatted up this morning:

This is a design that I have altered and expanded to be used as a foundation for pendants, brooches, bracelets, fascinators, hair ornaments, shoe clips, etc.  It is particularly wonderful as a foundation for the Czech art buttons I favor as it allows the button shank to be centered and anchored, giving support to the button and a framework for additional tatting.

The key is to have fun and experiment- find what works for you and the way you tat.

Hope you enjoy the pattern posted yesterday and have fun playing with beads, picots, and other goodies to make it unique to your taste.

I'm off to run a number of errands, so until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

Simple Celtic Earring Pattern

At the request of several folks, here is the pattern for my "Simple Celtic Earring":

Copyright Rachel Colvin Jackson, 1996-2012

R 12 CL

CH 9 - 9 CL + to top bar of 4th ds to the right.

CH 17 + to top bar of the next 4th ds to the right.

CH 17 + to base of first CH tatted from the front to the back.

Run needle through the top bar of the ds next to the first CH tatted, cut a length of thread and pull to the front and tat around motif using a CH 17 count through out as you did for the first round.  Do the same for the 3rd round.  Tie & cut, hide ends.

A bead may be added to the picot and an earring finding.

Also note:  there is another top bar that can be used for an additional round to create a more dense motif or for adding beading or overtatting.

A R count of 9 may be used for the foundation with chain joins every 3 ds.

This is a basic motif that can be accented and enhanced in a myriad of ways.  Just have fun!

I will tat a few pairs, vary them and post on the blog later this week.  Hope you enjoy the design!

Until Monday~

Happy Tatting!



Purple Czech Buttons

The purple Czech art glass buttons I've been waiting for arrived this morning!!!  They are even more beautiful than I thought they'd be.

Here are the small 17mm round swirl buttons:

The aurora effect is stunning- I just love them!

And these are the hearts with crystal accents:

These may be used on the purse project.  The Valdani "Violet Meadows" thread looks fabulous with them.

Guess I'll be busy playing this weekend!

Well, I would be even busier playing IF my bead and misc. supply order would come in.  I have the company tracking it- it seems as though my rather large order has been "lost".  This is the first time I've ordered from this company and I will NOT be using them in the future.  Yes, I am most put out. Oh well... no reason to let that prevent me from enjoying playing with my new goodies.  I'm off to tat and bead.  Have a marvelous weekend doing something that makes your soul sing!  I intend to.  And I hope to get an earring pattern up this weekend.  Until next time~

Happy Tatting!



Digging

As I was digging through boxes in the Atelier, hunting for the package of E6000 adhesive I've somehow hidden from myself, I came across some items I'd put in a box and forgotten about.  As you know, I enjoy adding tatting to various items- especially vintage ones.

This little beauty was once a clip-on earring.  It's finding had come off the back & it was in a plastic bag of miscellaneous vintage jewelry items at a local antique store.  Won't it be just gorgeous with a tatted edging around it???

And I found my vintage Coro pine cone brooch!!!  I really need to tat an accent for this one. Should I put it on a purse or one of my cloches?

Then there was this vintage blue brooch.  I think it needs a super-frilly edging.  Perfect for wearing on jackets and sweaters!

And the last thing in the box was this pair of earrings.  Jocelin found these at a local boutique.  I think she did great as they will be easy to enhance with tatting.

What do you like to add tatting to?   And where do you find it?

 I adore "junquing/antiquing" and hunting for goodies at boutiques and basically stores everywhere.  You never know when or where you may find a potential treasure.

Guess I'll head back into the Atelier and see if I can't find some thread to use with these and put them in the project box by my chair.  Have a wonderful day & feel free to comment and let me know what you like to add tatting to. 

Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

Heart Accents

One of my evening needlework projects is a set of embroidered hearts that will either be framed or made into pillows.  As I was embroidering, it occurred to me that the pieces could use a few tatted accents.  So... after taking Jocelin to school, I sat down with my tatting needles and played a bit.

These should work nicely for one of the embroidered heart pieces.  They are simple rings with chains joined at the top bar of the ring's double stitches to form hearts.  I'll probably tat a few more in other colors and vary the counts for a bit of artistic flair.

To tat the bottom heart: use a size 7 tatting needle, size 8 Valdani pearl cotton in #O775 "Turkey Red".  String one 4mm "Siam Red" Swarovski bicone on the thread at tat the following:

R 13 - with Swarovski 13 CL

CH 5 followed by 7 even sized medium -s 3 CL + (run needle through) the top bar of the 3rd ds to the left of the Swarovski

CH 5 followed by 3 1st 1/2 ds, 3 2nd 1/2 ds three times 5 CL + (run needle through) at the corresponding spot on the other side of the Swarovski

CH 3 followed by 7 even sized medium -s 5 CL + (run needle through) the top bar of the ds next to the first CH tatted.

Tie & cut, hide ends.

Accent hearts can be used for a wide array of purposes.  Vary your counts, add beads & just have fun.

Since the kid is back in school & the hubby at work, maybe I can get some serious cleaning done.  I'd like to get my house neat & tidy so  the weekend can be spent finishing several projects.  Have a wonderful day doing whatever it is that makes your soul sing!

Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting! 



Button Brooch Giveaway Winner

Congratulations, Dena!!!!!

You are the winner of the Piney Woods Button Brooch Giveaway!

Please be so kind as to contact me with your particulars and I'll get your brooch in the post promptly.

I have not done much in the way of tatting today as the kid is out of school again- the school is having a "teacher in-service" day.  We have been doing the lay about the house- read on the kindles- watch a chick-flick thing.  It is good to have a day every now and then when you don't do too much.  Still, my tatting needles are calling me to pick them up and tat something.  Can I actually go an entire day without tatting?  Hmmm...unlikely.

Guess I had better get off my duff and get a little bit of housework done and supper started.  Perhaps Jocie and I will have some time for another viewing of Phantom of the Opera before Big Daddy gets home!  Have a wonderful day.  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!



Piney Woods Dragonfly

As I strolled through my Piney Woods this morning, I caught a whiff of the mock oranges.  They are blooming like crazy and smell wonderful!  I cut a couple of branches and made my way back to the atelier.  By chance, I happened to have the perfect thread to tat a little something inspired by the mock oranges- Sulky Blendables 12 wt. quilting cotton #4017 "Lime Sherbet".  I then filled a butter pat with various beads that compliment the thread- 15/0 rocaille seed beads in ceylon pastel butter yellow, a few 3mm jonquil Swarovskis, and some 11/0 seed beads in silver lined shamrock green.  For some reason, I thought about a pattern I had designed many years ago- a Celtic dragonfly.  This is what I tatted:

It is a very simple pattern.  To begin with, string the beads on the thread in the following order: 1 yellow rocaille, 1 green seed bead, 2 yellow rocailles, 1 green seed bead, 1 yellow rocaille, 11 green seed beads, 1 3mm jonquil Swarovski bicone.  Run the needle back up through the 11 green seed beads and tat the following counts:

R 15 - (with 1 yellow rocaille, 1 green seed bead, 1 yellow rocaille) 5 - (with 1 yellow rocaille, 1 green seed bead, 1 yellow rocaille) 15 CL.  At this point, I cut a length of thread from the spool to allow for weaving the thread for the Celtic effect.  Continue tatting R 45 CL, R 45 CL, R 30 CL (NOTE: before closing R completely, weave through one of the longer Rs previously tatted), R 30 CL, weaving through the other previously tattes longer R.  Tie & cut, hide ends.

Here is a view of the little bugger by himself.

Another count version of this is on my Atelier website and can be found here:

http://www.pineywoodsatelier.com/bugs.htm

This page also includes counts for a Celtic butterfly. 

I have used these patterns for many pairs of earrings, bobbypins, brooch accents, scrapbook & crazy quilt accents plus many other instances where a small tatted accent was useful.  I hope you will enjoy this pattern as much as I have.

Jocelin is out of school today and we are going to have a movie afternoon.  Have a wonderful day and don't forget to comment either on Saturday's post or on the Facebook posts for your chance to win the Button Brooch Giveaway!  The winner will be announced tomorrow.  Until then~

Happy Tatting!

Button Brooch Giveaway

To celebrate my 100th blog post, which took place earlier this week, I am having a special "Button Brooch Giveaway".

This is the little beauty that is up for grabs.  It was tatted with Caron Wildflowers thread in colors #257 "Spearmint" & #041 "Blueberry" on a 1" shell button base and is accented with ten 3mm "Sky Blue" Swarovski bicones and a Czech art glass button.

For your chance to win: Leave a comment on this post AND/OR on the Facebook post.  A winner will be selected via random number generator & notified by email on Tuesday, January 17th. 

 Good luck and many thanks for following the blog and encouraging me in my tatting endeavours!

Until next week~

Happy Tatting!

Friday Project

This morning I decided to tat a brooch using one of the new Czech art glass buttons.  I used size 8 Valdani pearl cotton in color #1643 and a small spool of vintage Corticelli button hole twist silk in a lovely lilac/lavender.

A 1/2" diameter 2-hole shell button was used for the foundation.  This was one of those projects that was accomplished in sporadic bursts of tatting as I had a full schedule of activities with my daughter today.  Still, it is an easy and portable project.

It looks like the special event to celebrate my 100th post will be a brooch giveaway.  I'm still waiting for the poll to officially end.  Be sure to check the blog on Saturday or Sunday for the big announcement & how you can enter to win.

Jocelin has my tea steeping so I'd better go & get the muffins in the oven.  We are having a "Mother/Daughter Crafting Afternoon".  Have a marvelous weekend doing whatever makes your soul sing!  Until later this weekend~

Happy Tatting!



Button Brooch Foundation Pattern Variation

My order still has not arrived so I decided to post a variation of the button brooch foundation.

Using a 1/2" diameter, 4-hole square button, a size 8 tatting needle, Valdani size 12 pearl cotton in M47 "Robin's Nest" and 48 Ornela size 11/0 cream pearl seed beads, tat the following:

R 15 + 15 CL RW

CH 15 - (with 3 seed beads) 5 CL R 11 - (with 3 seed beads) 11 CL CH 5 - (with 3 seed beads) 15 CL RW

R 15 + 15 CL RW

CH 11 - (with 3 seed beads) 11 CL RW

Continue around motif for a total of 8 Rs and 8 CHs.  Join last CH at the base of the first R tatted, tie & cut, hide ends.

This motif can be enhanced with additional tatting and/or other accent pieces- like art buttons, pearls, cabochons, beads, recycled vintage jewelry components.  The only limit is your imagination.

So far the poll shows a heavy preferance for a brooch giveaway to celebrate my 100th blog post.  Be sure to vote for your choice as the event will be announced this weekend.

Today is a special day for my family as my mom is officially retiring.  Her retirement banquet is this evening and I would like to finish a pair of earrings I'm working on to wear tonight.  Have a wonderful day and try something different or new- just for fun.  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!



Pretty In Pink Button Brooch

Here is the second of the button brooches:

Meet Miss "Pretty In Pink".

This brooch was tatted using the foundation pattern I posted last week and embellished with more tatting.  A pin finding was adhered with E6000 to the back.  Thread used is Valdani size 8 pearl cotton in M14 "Roses".

A simple foundation can easily be expanded and elaborated into many unique pieces.  Let your imagination and creativity lead you to fashion your own little button brooch "fancies".

Still no beads or pearls in the mail today- bummer.  I am really wanting my order to arrive so I can complete the other brooches.  If it doesn't arrive by tomorrow morning, I'll just use what I have and improvise a bit.

My plans for the rest of the day are to sew a few yoyos and play with edging designs for the purse project.  Have a marvelous day doing whatever makes your soul sing!  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!



100th Post

WOW!  I can't believe this is my 100th blog post!  It seems like I only just started blogging a couple of weeks ago.  Time flies when you're having fun.  I need to come up with a special event to celebrate.  How about reader's choice?  Make your selection via the poll to the right of the blog & I'll do an event next week.

After a nice supper with my husband & daughter, I got busy with the tatting needles.  Much progress was made on the brooch foundations.  Here is one of the button brooches I finished last night:

 

To complete this brooch I added a couple rounds of interwoven chains and a Czech art glass button.  A simple brooch pin finding was adhered to the back of the shell button with E6000 jewelry adhesive.

The other brooch foundations are still "in progress" as I am awaiting a bead & pearl shipment to arrive.  I'll have images of them up as soon as the order comes in & I get the final touches done.

Oh- I've got to run.  My appointment for a haircut is just a few minutes away!  Have a wonderful day full of tatting fun.  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!



More Button Brooch Foundations

I had a ball tatting more button brooch foundations this past Saturday! 

Additonal tatting will be added to each foundation to make it a unique work of tatted art.  Stay tuned for a feature of the finished brooches later this week!

A wonderful surprise was in the mailbox this morning:

New Czech art glass buttons!  These will be used as accents for brooches, bracelets and other miscellaneous tatted pieces.  I am still waiting on a shipment of freshwater pearls and Swarovskis.  Hopefully, they will arrive this week.

According to the poll for the thread selection for the purse, "Violet Meadows" is the winner.  Now to select beads and other accents.  I'll have a assortment to show you soon.  Many thanks to all who voted and commented!

I will be playing with various edging ideas for the purse this evening and working on the button brooches.  Since I haven't even started supper yet, I'd better hop to it.  Have a wonderful evening.  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!



Basic Button Brooch Foundation Pattern

Since I'm going to be busy tatting brooches this weekend, I thought I'd share a basic button brooch foundation with you.  The example imaged below was made with a 1" diameter 2-hole mother-of-pearl shell button, Valdani size 8 pearl cotton in color H 204 "Nostalgic Rose" and a size 7 tatting needle.

It is a very simple pattern of 10 Rs & CHs.  The counts are:

R 11 + (through button hole) 11 CL RW

CH 7 followed by 5 graduated picots ( sm, med, lg, med, sm) 7 CL RW

Use these counts for the entire motif, working 5 Rs in each button hole.  After working last CH, + to base of first R, tie & cut, hide ends.

Please note: I use a very small crochet hook to pull the thread through the button holes.

This is just one of the basic foundations I use for my button brooches.  Interwoven chains and a variety of other additional tatted embellishemnts can be added to the foundation along with beads, cabochons, pearls, smaller buttons, Swarovskis...the possibilities are limited only by your own imagination.  Check back next week to see what I come up with this weekend!

May you have a fantastic tatting weekend!  I certainly plan to! 

 Until Monday~

Happy Tatting!

Abstract Tatting

As yesterday was hectic beyond belief, I decided to take today at a slower pace.  I took Jocelin to school, came home, made myself a cup of hot cocoa and sat in the atelier a while.  After a bit, I started running my fingers over various fibers, buttons, beads, and ribbons.  The bead box kept drawing my eye.  For some time, a few little mint green fresh water pearls have teased me from their place in the bead box.  I selected one, grabbed a few other miscellaneous beads, a tatting needle and a spool of 12 wt. Sulky Blendables in "Cool Waters" and proceeded to "abstract tat".  This is the result:

"Abstract tatting" is tatting you do with no preconceived pattern or design.  You just tat as you go.  While this little piece may not be a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, it certainly accomplished my goal- relaxing me and making my soul sing!  I do believe that I may place the piece on the zipper of one of my Kindle covers or perhaps on my make-up case.  Hmmm...

For those of you who tat, take some time every now and then and just tat with no pattern or specific design in mind.  It doesn't matter how it turns out.  Just let your hands go and enjoy the moment. You never know what you may create!

For this afternoon & evening, I plan to work on tweeking a few new patterns that I hope to share with you soon.  Have a wonderful day and remember to take some time to do whatever it is that truly makes your soul sing!  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting! 



Vintage Finds

After taking Jocie to school, I had a number of errands to take care of today.  In between appointments, I squeezed in a little junquing/antiquing.  Here are my treasures:

Two wonderful old pierced shell buttons still on the card, a honkin' huge carved shell button and oodles of 2 hole MOP shell buttons, and two cute porcelain place cards with pinecones!  Aren't the place cards cute?  You can write on them with a marker & wipe it off with a rag.  I'm sure you'll be seeing them in a lot of future images.  Notice the fabric in the background- it's a silk shantung remnant.  Cost a whopping .25!  Yep, a whole quarter. 

Not much tatting has come off my needles today as I only had a few precious moments early this morning before the chaos of an overactive day ensued.  I am ready for some quiet time where I can sit with needle & thread and tat something pretty!

Many thanks to those who have voted on the purse project thread and offered their opinions!  The poll ends next Monday, so be sure to let me know your thoughts.  I appreciate all suggestions and help.

Guess I had better get supper started.  After supper I'm taking a "soaking bath" with a soothing cup of mint tea, putting on my favorite ratty pj's and crawling into bead early.  Maybe tomorrow will be less stressful and hurried.  May you have a wonderful and restful evening.  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

Purple!

For some reason, I have been doing a lot of tatting and crocheting in purple shades.  Here is the completed tatted pendant I made for myself over the holidays using size 8 Valdani pearl cotton in O562 "Horizon Storm":

It is accented with 6mm grey Swarovski bicones around and the center is an 8mm purple Swarovski pearl topped with a 3mm crystal AB Swarovski bicone.

It goes very nicely with the long purple scarf I am crocheting:

The scarf is a simple offset shell pattern I can just about crochet in my sleep.  I am using Bernat Satin Sport yarn in "Lavender Lace" as it was pretty and on sale a few weeks back at Michael's.  The scarf should be finished before this weekend- I hope to be able to wear it to church this Sunday.

There were several nice surprises waiting for me in the post today.  One was from my tatting exchange partner who was so kind as to send this:

Thank you, Sunela!  It is all lovely!!!

And the other two nice surprises were a new Victorian Trading Co. catalog & a new Nancy's Notions catalog.  I am going to be busy flipping through the catalogs and making out new wish lists.

The "creeping crud" seems to be retreating and I am feeling a good bit better.  Let's hope I can drag myself away from the catalogs & Pinterest long enough to tat and crochet some more today.  Have a wonderful day.  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

Purse Project

I have a new project that I would like YOUR help with!

While browsing through the accessories section at Academy Sports, I found this nice purse/tote. It looks like it really wants tatted embellishments.

How about adding a tatted edging and/or other motifs?

What I need your input on first is what color thread to use.  Here are the selections:

Valdani size 12 pearl cotton in M40 "Violet Meadows"

Valdani size 8 pearl cotton in P9 "Bronze"

Valdani size 8 pearl cotton in M1000 "Lime Sand"

Valdani size 8 pearl cotton in M78 "Copper Leaf"

I will put a poll up to the right of the blog where you can make your selection.  Feel free to comment or make any suggestions you wish.  I will be documenting this project and asking for input as I go.  Thanks for your help!

Here is another goody I picked-up at Academy:

A pink camo Santa hat!  I purchased 2- 1 for myself and another (possibly) for a December 2012 blog event.

The "creeping crud" still has me under its spell, but Jim & Jocie have been taking excellent care of me.  I should be back on an even keel later this week.  Well, it's time for another round of medicine, so I'd better post this, take the medicine and crash for a bit.  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!