Embellished Magnifying Glass Necklace

Shabby Vintage

Good afternoon, dear readers!

 

Here is the little bejeweled 1928 magnifying glass necklace with a small bit of tatted embellishment:

 

 

More could be added, but my point was to simply show you how to turn a vintage find into a tatted treasure.

Remember the missing stone?

 

 

I have no idea whether the stone was blue or pink, but I dug through my beads, pearls and Swarovskis.  The accent I chose is a 6mm rosaline colored Swarovski pearl.  I began by securing the new addition firmly to the magnifying glass, then preceded to complete tatting around the handle.  The thread I used is Purely Silk in "Strawberry Pink".

 

 

 

One of my favorite things is to comb the flea markets, antique/junque shops for hidden treasures.  This necklace cost all of $2.00.  I think it will make a nice stocking stuffer or little gift for someone, don't you?  Go visit your local treasure shops or sift through your own goody boxes and find something to enhance with tatting.  Treasures are everywhere just waiting to be discovered!

 

Rosie Fey is spinning at the door.  It is past time for her afternoon romp/walk.  Have a great day and find something special to add your tatting to.  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

 

 

 

 

 



Pearl and Bead Foundations

Pearls & Lace

Good morning, dear readers!  I hope you had an enjoyable International Tatting Day yesterday.  I worked on a special tatting project for my Mom at a local park whilst enjoying the Godiva chocolates Jim gave me.  Jocelin and I also took the top off the Jeep and went for a leisurely drive.  All in all, it was a marvelous day!

 

The evening was spent watching The Hobbit on demand and making these pearl & bead foundations:

 

 

Pearls are my favorite precious gem!  Even my engagement ring is a Mikimoto pearl surrounded by rubies and diamonds.  I thought it would be nice to have Pearls & Lace as the blog theme this month since those are my two favorite things.  Pictured above are a variety of foundation rings with natural, cultured and Swarovski pearls.  I typically do not use costume pearls, but Swarovskis are an exception.  Glass pearls are mostly substandard to what I require in the way of quality.  Swarovski pearls are the ONLY alternative I will use other than natural or cultured pearls.

 

Perhaps tomorrow I will have a few pendants tatted up to share with you.  The foundations are calling me back to the Atelier.  May you have a wonderful day and until tomorrow~
Happy Tatting!

 

 



Square Component, Part 2

Good morning, dear readers!

 

The re-doing is slowly starting to work out the way I envisioned it in my mind.  I hope to have some new pieces to share with you very soon!

 

I also did a bit more on the square component:

 

 

What should I add to the center?  Frothy, picot laden tatting or some pearls and beading?  Perhaps a vintage shell button?  What do you think?

 

I have also been working on the gorgeous Juliana brooch, but it is taking a while as it takes time to VERY carefully weave and pull through the silk thread to the various anchor points.  It is looking good, so far, and I hope to share the finished piece next week.  Let's hope it continues to tat up smoothly!

 

Well, I have got to get ready for the weekend.  We have a number of family activities/get-togethers going on and I doubt I'll get much tatting time in.  May you have a marvelous weekend and until next week~

Happy Tatting!

 

 



Square Component, Part One

Good morning, dear readers!

 

I got all my errands out of the way yesterday morning and spent the afternoon playing in the Atelier.

While I made little progress with the re-working of those pesky pieces, I did play with some of the square components I received from Fire Mountain Gems a few months back.  (Sometimes things sit in the Atelier for a bit before I get around to them!)

 

 

This is the very beginning of a "surprise" piece.  The thread I'm using is size 12 Valdani pearl cotton in color O 565 "Primitive White" along with 3mm "Powdered Almond" Swarovski pearls and antique beige Czech seed beads.  So, what do you think this will end up being?

 

Lily Fey is at the door, holding the leash in her mouth whilst staring at me.  I think she is letting me know it's time to go for a run in the woods.  Guess I'd better take care of that then get down to some serious tatting in the Atelier.  Hope you have a marvelous day & until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

 

 



Fairy Queen Pendant

Here she is:

 

 

And she took almost a full spool of Valdani Luxury Pearl Silk to complete!

Here is another image that will give you a better idea of the more dimensional center:

 

 

I went back and added 1 gunmetal seed bead in between the Swarovski pearls in the center.  This gives the pendant more stability as the silk is very soft and flexible.  The outer two rounds are tatted with the same counts and are joined between the 1st & 2nd, and 2nd & 3rd seed beads of the inner accent rounds.  Here is an image of the 1st complete outer round:

 

 

Run needle through (join at) junction of 1st & 2nd seed bead, CH 21 CL + at corresponding spot on next CH, (skipping the inner accent round with the seed bead, pearl, seed bead focal accent- these are meant to be left free of ornamentation unless you choose to add more rounds to the pendant) continue around motif.  Tat in the same manner around the motif between the 2nd & 3rd seed beads, weaving the CHs as you go.  Tie & cut, hide ends and add a jump ring.  NOTE:  I use a small dot of jeweler's adhesive to the silk before I cut it as it will sometimes slip out of a finishing knot.

 

I hope you have enjoyed this pattern and be sure to stay tuned to the blog this week as I plan to post another FREE pattern on Tuesday!  It will be tatted in a vibrant hunter orange Valdani Luxury Pearl Silk and feature some fabulous red/orange Swarovski bicones.  Plus, if I am blessed with abundant tatting mojo, there may be yet another pattern Friday!!!  Yes, I've been on a roll this weekend.  And not just with tatting.  I've been beading and working on making foundations for my tatting.  This is a necklace I strung Saturday:

 

 

The necklace is made of grey peacock Ornella seed beads, lavender peacock dyed freshwater pearls, and purple Austrian crystal rondells.  It has a lovely filigree clasp.  The glare was such that I couldn't get a good image with the clasp- sorry.  I think this necklace needs to be enhanced with tatting done in "Forgotten Lavender" Valdani Luxury Pearl Silk.  Should I add some more seed beads to the tatting accents?  What do you think?

 

Well, I have got to run.  The Saints are playing the Packers this afternoon and I have to get game food prepared.  Comfort food is more like it- I don't hold out much hope for my Saints in this one.  They're not doing too well this season and the Packers are a tough team.  May you have a wonderful weekend & until Monday~

Happy Tatting!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



More Rounds

Good morning!

 

Yesterday was fairly productive in the Atelier- especially considering how many projects I'm working on.  I finished the accent rounds of silk tatting on my friend's gift-

 

 

Now to add the outer rounds and a few more beads.  I'll be working on this in a bit.

 

And here is a view of the completed 2nd round of accent tatting on the Fairy Queen pendant:

 

 

I decided that I would go back in between the accent round with the 3 seed beads on each chain and add another round with picots:

 

 

The counts for this round are very simple:

CH 1 followed by 5 picots 1 CL + around motif

 

I'll try to get a clearer image of this round later when the light is better.  After working on the other pendant, I plan to tackle the outer rounds on this one.  If time allows, I may work on the earring design I've been playing with.  The counts just are not working on the earring project, but I think I've figured it out.

 

As you can tell, I've plenty of work awaiting me.  Have a fabulous day- I'm off to the Atelier.  Until Wednesday~

Happy Tatting!

 

 

 

 

 

 



Typical Monday

Good morning, dear readers!

The weekend was enjoyable, even though the pollen count was at "warning" levels.  I hate it when I walk outside, sneeze, and then am unable to breathe the rest of the day.  At least it was sunny and nice weather for getting some yard work done.

 

The only tatting I put much effort into was the pendant I'm doing for a friend- her birthday was Saturday, so I hope she won't be too peeved when she gets her gift a bit late.  It began like this:

 

 

I used a size 7 tatting needle with size 8 Valdani pearl cotton in "Primitive White" with "satin silk sand" Delica seed beads and 3mm "greige" Swarovski bicone accents to tat the foundation.

 

 

The next round of tatting was done with a size 8 tatting needle and size 12 Valdani Pearl Cotton in "Primitive White" with the same bead accents.  An antique carved shell button was added to the center along with a 4mm light grey Swarovski pearl.  I am going to add layered tatting in Valdani Luxury Pearl Silk in "Subtle Elegance" to it today and probably more beads will be featured in the final rounds.  I'll take an image of the finished piece and post it after presenting it to it's recipient.

 

Today's tasks include finishing the above pendant, working more on the Fairy Queen pendant and tatting another pendant design that had been floating around in my head this weekend.  For those who are following the Fairy Queen's progress, be sure to check out tomorrow's post- I hope you'll like how she is turning out!

 

Well, I'd better get busy.  Have a wonderful day & until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

 

 

 

 



Fairy Queen Accent, Part Two

Good morning!

 

Hope you are all doing great.  I have the next step in the accent tatting for the Fairy Queen pendant ready:

 

 

This round requires 36 seed beads strung on the silk and 12 Swarovski 3mm light grey pearls kept to the side.  Run the needle through any - of the foundation (as shown above),  pick up one pearl with the needle, slide onto thread and tat CH 5 - with 3 seed beads 5 CL.  When you close, snug-up the pearl.  Watch your closing as the silk will sometimes want to twist with the weight of the pearl.  Run needle though the next picot and continue around the foundation.  Tie & cut, hide your ends at the back of the pendant.

 

This round is one that can either be smoothed close to the foundation or left up a bit to provide a dimensional effect.  If you wish, you can go back and tat another round in between the two accent/support rounds I've posted.  I've toyed with the idea of adding a chain round with small picots to give it a bit of fluff, but have not decided if I really want to do it.  I'm going to be adding more beading to the center this weekend and begin work on the outer rounds of the pendant.

 

This is my errand day and my list is so long.  I've got to do a grocery store run, swing by Office Depot, stop by a couple of anitque stores, visit Brenda at the Chartreuse Pear and shop for some new dress slacks for Jim.  I'm tired just thinking about it!  Hope you have a wonderful weekend and I'll have lots of tatting eye candy for you next week.  Until then~

Happy Tatting!



Fairy Queen Accent, Part One

Good morning!

Dad is still rather grumpy, but is slowly improving.  Many thanks for your prayers.

 

Here is the first bit of accent tatting for the Fairy Queen pendant:

 

 

You will need a size 8 tatting needle, & 36 seed beads.

String beads, cut a long length of thread that you will be able to weave through previous work and run needle through any - of foundation and tat as follows:

CH 7 - (with 3 seed beads) 7 CL

Weave CH through and + at next -, continue around pendant.

HINT- I use 2 needles (one at each end of thread as it helps to weave the CHs more easily).

 

This round is important as it will help support the pendant.  When working with pearls, you need to keep in mind that they will be heavier than seed beads.  Tatting sometimes needs a bit of what I call "support tatting".  In my designs, I use layered and accent tatting to add structural supports for heavier pearls, crystals and beads.

 

Oh, boy, is my husband on my VERY good list!!!  He dug through the camping equipment and found the mug I take on our outdoor adventures.

 

 

He bought this for me years ago as a Halloween gift.  It is large and wonderful for my hiot cocoa. 

 

I am off to the Atelier to tat the next bit of accent tatting after I fix a nice, big mug of hot cocoa & enjoy it on the front porch.  Hope you have a wonderful day & until Friday~

Happy Tatting!

 



Fairy Queen Pendant Foundation

Good morning, dear readers!

Dad is doing a bit better today, but has a long healing process ahead of him.  Many thanks for your prayers.

 

As promised, I am posting a new FREE pattern this week.  It is called the Fairy Queen pendant and is inspired by All Hallows Eve, when the sidhe (fairy folk) can visit our world through "thin" places.  Today's post is the foundation.

 

 

Supplies needed are: 1 spool of Valdani Luxury Pearl Silk in S93 "Silver Foam", 24 Swarovski 3mm light grey pearls, and 48 silver-lined gunmetal Czech seed beads and a size 8 tatting needle.

String all beads in the following order:  seed bead, pearl, seed bead.

Tatting instructions:

R5-5- (with seed bead, pearl, seed bead) 5-5 CL RW

CH 7 - (with seed bead, pearl, seed bead) 7 CL RW

R5+5- (with seed bead, pearl, seed bead) 5-5 CL RW

Continue tatting to form a foundation motif or 12 Rs and CHs.

 

Accent tatting will be the steps featured on tomorrow's post.

 

Let's hope today is more condusive to tatting than the busy, noisy hospital was yesterday!  I'm off to it, then.  Hope you have a great day & until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!