Serious Tech Upgrades

Renovations

Good morning, dear readers!

Well, we sort of have our tech issues resolved.  It seems that we had an unexpected power surge that took out our wireless router, cable modem and insulated surge protector.  Fortunately, the laptop & desktop computers are on different surge protected circuits.  They were unaffected. The router and modem have been replaced, but Jim is still working on setting up our home network to his exact specifications.  What a blessing it is that my husband is an electrical engineer!

 

I am taking the next few days to help him get our home network set up and everything connected and protected as well as organizing my thread, bead and vintage items.  The Plain Jane Project will be revealed later this week as we really need several days to get things squared away and back to our liking.  Sorry for the delay, but unexpected things sometimes happen.

 

The blog theme for this month is "Renovations".  I plan to rework my favorite tatting areas in the house, Atelier and tatting shanty.  I'll let you know about some of the neat storage and decorative goodies I find and throw in a few peeks at some of the pieces in my upcoming Olde West Collection and a few new additions to the Romance of the Piney Woods Collection.

 

Rosie Fey is giving me the "look".  I had better take her out and get on with my day.  This is my antique/vintage button sorting day.  Hope your day is wonderful and full of joy.  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!



Plain Jane Beginning

Olde West Inspiration

Good afternoon, dear readers!

We had a busy weekend dealing with the garden and putting up our harvest.  I did manage to get some tatting time in and have a little surprise for you- we are going to have a tat-along on the blog this week.  Here is the beginning of the "Plain Jane Project":

 

 

Using a size 7 tatting needle and a ball of size 8 Valdani Pearl Cotton in M49 "Subtle Elegance", tat 6 ICRs with the following counts:

ICR 11 followed by 5 graduated picots (sm, med, lg, med, sm) 11 CL

ICR 13 very small - 13 CL

Tat 3 of each, alternating for a total of 6 ICRs. Tie, hide ends & cut.

(For a tutorial on needle tatting ICRs, click here.)

 

The next step will be featured on tomorrow's post.

 

What did you do this weekend?  Any interesting projects being tatted out there?  I'm busy working on OOAK pieces for my upcoming Olde West Collection and adding to the Romance of the Piney Woods Collection.  I'll have to hit the estate sales and auctions soon as I'm running low on antique cameos & intaglios.

 

Rosie Fey is ready for an afternoon romp.  Have a great day & until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

 

 



Olde West Inspiration

Olde West Inspiration

Good afternoon, dear readers!

I am feeling much better today.  Jocelin and I ran errands this morning in preparation for the 4th of July holiday.  Jim has several days off work, so perhaps we can get some things accomplished around the house & yard.  I certainly hope to get in some serious design time in the Atelier!

 

The blog theme for July is Olde West Inspiration.  The Olde American West is a special love of mine.  My favorite movie is Lonesome Dove, and I dearly love to read Louis L'Amour, Zane Grey & Larry McMurtry.  It is always a thrill to happen up on old sepia toned pictures from that era.  Over the holiday, I plan to watch all of the Lonesome Dove movies along with some John Wayne movies and the Sacketts. 

 

I am in the process of designing a new couture tatting collection inspired by the Olde West.  There will be quite a number of OOAK pieces and a few FREE patterns based upon them.  The thread used for these pieces will be Valdani Luxury Pearl Silks in "Muddy Bark", "Wheat Husk", "Subtle Elegance", "Icy Leaves", and several other VLPS in earth tones.  Accents will include antique cameos, intaglios, cultured pearls, Swarovskis, and Czech seed beads.  Blog posts this month will feature images of a few of the works-in-progress and a couple of FREE patterns.

 

Well, I am off to get supper prepared so we can settle down to watch part one of Lonesome Dove this evening.  May you have a wonderful Independence Day full of freedom and happiness!  Until FRIDAY~

Happy Tatting!



Cameos and Stash Organization

Pearls & Lace

Good morning, dear readers!

I decided that I had better get today's post done as we are supposed to have some scary, severe weather this afternoon & evening.  That also means I will have intermittent internet access.

 

I have been getting things gathered up and ready for serious tatting work in the Atelier.  The plan is to have all new original pieces available in May.  Here are some of the cameos I've acquired at auctions and estate sales:

 

 

It was hard to get good images due to the glare this morning, but you can get a general idea of what the "before" cameos look like.  The earrings are screw back, but I plan to cut off the backs, file down the rough and use them as pendants.

 

 

These two ladies need a good cleaning, but I expect they will dress-up quite nicely.

 

The intaglios and vintage brooches have been sorted, catches & mountings checked, and are neatly organized on my jeweler's bench in the Atelier.

 

Now, I am awaiting the cultured pearl order that was placed a couple of weeks ago.  Oh, yeah- I also need to order more Valdani Luxury Pearl Silk.  Lots to do to add to the Romance of the Piney Woods & Olde West Collections!  I'm off to inventory the Valdani threads.  Have a great day & until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

 

 

 



Playing With Neutrals

Romantique

Good morning, dear readers!

Yesterday was quite enjoyable with my girl.  She had a ball trying on clothes and shoes.  The only bad thing about Monday was the high winds we had to contend with. We made it home safe & sound, but still, the winds were a bit scary.

 

I still have not heard from tatlyn! 

 

If I do not have a reply by this evening, another winner will be selected via random number generator.

 

Well, here is a bit of what I've been tatting:

 

 

Neutral variegated threads are such fun to tat with.  I've been experimenting with different bead accents and Swarovski crystals.  What is your favorite thread color group to tat with?  Whilst I do love to tat with colors, there is just something about earthy neutrals I adore.  The upcoming Olde West Collection will feature original OOAK pieces tatted with neutral and earthy foundations.  Some pieces will have pops of color, but most will be neutral and earthy.

 

Well, I am in the middle of a hand embroidery and needle tatting project.  Guess I had better get back to the Atelier and finish the outlining stitches.  Have a great day & until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

 

 



Playing Around

Romantique

Good morning, dear readers!

It is yet another foggy morning in the Piney Woods.  I must say, it really annoys me when people do not turn on their headlights in this weather.  Especially when they are driving a gray, silver or white vehicle- you can hardly see them.

 

I spent yesterday playing around with a few projects.  During the afternoon, I tweaked the counts of the piece that will be the FREE pattern for this month.  It's almost ready.  The evening consisted of playing with some new Valdani Luxury Pearl Silk.

 

 

This is a Winter Blossom motif tatted with S514 "Wheat Husk" Valdani Luxury Pearl Silk and is accented with dark cream pearl Ornella seed beads.  This piece is just the foundation to a larger idea I had.  If it turns out, it will be part of my upcoming Olde West collection.

 

This morning will be filled with hand embroidery design, FREE pattern tweaking and more tatting on the pictured prototype.  Hope your day is full of tatting goodness!  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!