Summer Vacation Event

Are you ready for summer?  Have a few tatting projects lined up?  Whether you do or not, I have a solution to your summertime blues:

The Piney Woods Summer Vacation Giveaway Event!

Up for grabs this time:  1 full yard of hand-dyed batik fabric, 2 skeins of DMC perle cotton (899, 4025), 4 skeins of Caron Wildflowers thread (034, 148, 112, 227), 2 GORGEOUS Czech art glass buttons, an assortment of antique shell buttons, a small bag of lime green fancy rocaille seed beads, a few rose colored Czech fire polish beads, a few 6mm pink Swarovski pearls, and assortment of green and lavender freshwater pearls, and some purple baroque pearls.

Here is a closer look at the fabric.

Pearls, Czech art glass button & antique buttons.

And finally, a better view of the other Czech art glass button, fancy lime rocailles and baroque pearls.

Do you think you'll be able to keep yourself occupied with this assortment of goodies?

For your chance to win, leave a comment on this blog post and state what you would do with the winnings.

The winner will be selected via random number generator on Thursday, June 7th, and notified via blog announcement.  The winner must respond no later than Monday, June 11th, or another winner will be selected.

Good luck!

I'm off to work on dressing up another cameo brooch.  May you have a great day and until tomorrow~

Happy tatting!



Meet Penelope

Good morning, dear readers.  This is "Penelope":

She was tatted with size 5 DMC perle cotton in color #4120 and is enhanced with a small vintage button and 6.5mm fresh water pearl.  The rose is from one of my Jackson & Perkins English rose bushes, although I can't remember the name of the rose.  It is one of my favorites beacause of its glorious color and scent- it's delightfully spicy.

I will be busy winding more skeins of thread onto cards today and making lists of all I need to restock the Atelier.  This is something I really want to get done this week as Jocelin is on Easter/Spring break next week.  I'd like to have plenty of time to spend with my girl doing all sorts of fun stuff.  Don't worry- I have been busy planning interesting posts for you.  There may even be a few free patterns coming soon!  Be sure to keep your eyes open.

What do you, my dear readers, have planned for April 1st?  This is International Tatting Day- a day when we all celebrate and share our love of tatting.  Will you be teaching, demonstrating or sharing your tatting?  I strongly encourage you to share your gift of tatting with someone.  You never know what you may start!

Well, I am off to get those skeins wound onto cards.  Have a marvelous day!

Until Friday~

Happy Tatting!



DMC Pendant In Progress

The last time I visited the Stitcher's Workshop in Norphlet, Arkansas, I picked up several skeins of size 5 DMC perle cotton.  This particular color variegation reminded me of the roses in my front yard- which are about to bloom very soon.  I had to play with it this morning and this is what I've done so far:

This piece will eventually be a pendant with a button center.  I haven't decided whether I'll use a carved MOP button or a Czech art glass button. 

Don't forget to leave a comment on the "Easter Event" blog post for your chance to win the fabulous goodies up for grabs!

The winner will be announced tomorrow morning!!!!!

Good Luck!

Well, I had better finish the pendant so I can post the completed piece tomorrow.  Have a wonderful day!

Until Wednesday~

Happy Tatting!



Revised Packing Method

It is that time of year when we start escaping to the woods whenever possible.  The new tent is wonderful, but I am revising all of my packing methods as we have replaced older equpiment with newer, lighter pieces.  Also, we prefer to take my Jeep Wrangler for off-road playing.  The truck is nice, but my Jeep can get into places the truck can't.  As you can imagine, space is at a premium given the Jeep's small size.  The new hitchgate on the back helps with hauling things, but I really needed to rethink how to schlep my tatting and fiber art along with everything else.  This is what I have come up with:

This large burlap bag was purchased at a local boutique a couple of years ago and has been in the Atelier closet.  I re-discovered it this weekend while rummaging for something else.  It contains a "slim satchel" filled with my tatting necessities and a crochet project.

Here is a view of my fully stocked "slim satchel".  It has everything I require for tatting wherever the adventure takes me.  Oodles of Valdani Luxury Pearl Silk & Pearl Cotton, a selection of various DMC pearl cottons, Sulky Blendables, Caron WIldflowers thread, needles, a chatelaine, a couple pairs of scissors, emery cushion, findings, buttons, yoyos, beads & Swarovskis- all neatly and securely packed.  And it takes up a lot less space than the "super satchel" I had been using!  Although I will continue to use the "super satchel" for longer excursions.

This is the crochet project I have in the bag.  It will be a shawl when complete.  I am using the peacock fan motif my great-grandmother used a lot.  It was one of her favorites.  The yarn I'm using is Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool in "natural".

As you can see, the crochet rolls up neatly.  I have plenty of room in the burlap bag for my kindle, design journal, snacks and small blanket.

How do you take your tatting with you when you travel?  I am always looking for new ideas and methods of packing my tatting essentials.

To purchase your own "slim satchel", go to Nancy's Notions.  They also have other sizes of these "satchel" products that I really love!  I am sure they will have something that will be perfect for you, too.

Don't forget to leave a comment on the "Easter Event" blog post for your chance to win the goodies!!!  The winner will be selected on Wednesday, March 28th.  Good luck!

Well, I am off to wind some more thread for the slim satchel. Have a great day.

Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

Scissor Fob

The Piney Woods are absolutely drenched today!  The big rain front rolled in from Texas and is taking its own sweet time moving out.  My yard is like a sponge- it "squidges" with every step.  The poor flowers have been pummeled and are pitiful.

Still, I am not one to let a dreary day smother my creative tendencies.  After the morning toad strangler moved through, a gentle rain settled in and the woods were carpeted with a glistening grey mist.  I pulled out a ball of size 8 DMC perle cotton in color #318, a small 2-hole abalone shell button and a 6mm silver-grey Swarovski bicone from the Atelier stashes and tatted this:

A fob for my Gingher scissors.

Something I may try is to stiffen this fob.  A multi-media art journaling friend recommended this stuff called "Amazing Fa-Brick".  I ordered a small bottle which arrived this morning.  Perhaps I'll have a chance to play with it when it's not so humid.  Have any of you, dear readers, used this stuff?  Amie (my friend) loves it and thinks it's fantastic. 

The rain has finally eased-up again, so I will try to get the dogs to go out & take care of "business" before the next rain wave hits.  Have a wonderful day and be sure to check the blog tomorrow as there may be something special for my readers posted!

Until then~

Happy Tatting!

Last Call For St. Pat's Tats Event Entries!

I finished the pendant for the St. Pat's Tats Event:

This pendant is tatted with size 8 Valdani pearl cotton in M26 and is enhanced with an antique carved shell button and Czech fire polish beads.  It is Option 2 in the St. Pat's Tats Event.

And here is a reminder of the other goodies up for grabs:

Option 1 with various threads, buttons, beads, pearls and a "mystery" Celtic tatted piece.  For specific thread colors check out Monday's post.

Now for today's little "extra":  you may post a comment on Monday's post AND today's post, giving you TWO chances to enter the St. Pat's Tats Event!

Well, I am off to tat that "mystery" Celtic piece.  Have a marvelous day and good luck!

The winners will be selected tomorrow morning after I take the kid to school.

Until then~

Happy Tatting!



Giveaway Addition

For some reason, it seems you folks really like the pendant in the "Be My Valentine" giveaway event.  With that in mind, I tatted another pendant of the same design for prize option number 3.  Yes, there will be 3 winners selected!!!  The first selected gets first choice, the second selected then chooses and the third gets the last prize option not claimed. 

So... here is prize option number 3:

This pendant was tatted with DMC pearl cotton in color #4025 and has an antique carved shell button as the center focal accent.

Hope you all like this one as much!

Just remember to comment on yesterday's blog post and/or the Facebook postings I did on this event.

Winners will be selected on Tuesday, February 7th, 2010.

I hope to get some more tatting design work done today, but am also cooking a few things for the upcoming "Superbowl Sunday".  What are you planning this Sunday?  Who are you rooting for?  To be honest, I really do not care as my beloved New Orleans Saints did not make it to the big show this year.  Still, that is no excuse not to cook up some goodies- according to my husband, anyway!

Have a wonderful day doing whatever makes your soul sing!  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting! 



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!