Taking Inventory

Renovations

Good morning, dear readers!

Jim got a bit more done on our home network last night.  I'll be glad when he is done.

 

I managed to get the buttons sorted and have made a list of buttons to keep an eye out for as I go on antiquing/junquing jaunts.  I have a lot of vintage plastic buttons that may be used for Christmas ornaments/gifts.  And I am considering hosting a give away event with buttons and other items I'll cull as I clean and renovate this month.  What do y'all think?  Are you interested???

 

Today's main chore is taking a very thorough thread inventory and making out lists of what I need to reorder.  I may find some thread to put in a give away- you never know what I'll find in the Atelier or shanty!

 

Well, I'm off to the shanty to dig in the thread boxes and cabinets.  Have a marvelous day & until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!



Stocking Stuffer Winner

Congratulations to Sheila Miller More, the winner of the Piney Woods Stocking Stuffer Giveaway!

Sheila left a comment on one of the Facebook postings and was selected via random number generator.  Thanks for commenting, Sheila!  Please message me on Facebook or contact me using the button to the right of the blog.  I'll be happy to ship your goodies as soon as I have your info.

Thank you to everyone who follows the blog and encourages me in my creative endeavors.  The kind words you bestow upon me truly make my days!  I dearly love tatting and hope to instill in others the wonders & joys of needle & thread (or shuttle/hook & thread).  It has been an interesting experience, this blogging thing.  I quite enjoy it! 

Special thank yous go to Barbara Gordon, Nancy Dugas Gilmore, Jean Krieger, and others who have encouraged me to blog and share more of my work.  I always knew there were lots of wonderful folks in our tatting community, but I never imagined the amount of kindness and encouragement that has been lavished upon me as I embarked upon this latest journey. 

As you may know, I am in the process of slowly cleaning out my in-house atelier.  That is one of the reasons I have hosted so many giveaways.  Jim (my husband) says I must get rid of some "stuff" so there is room for the new additions to my working spaces.  After I get the in-house atelier renovated, Jim & I are going to build a "tatting shanty" in the Piney Woods.  The building process will be chronicled on the blog and I am sure I will be asking for ideas and suggestions for many things concerning the shanty.  Please feel free to comment and contact me with your input.

Not much tatting has gone on in the Piney Woods today as I have been washing our sleeping bags and other stuff that is needed for an upcoming family adventure.  Next week will bring more tatting goodies and perhaps a little "something" for the New Year.  Have a marvelous weekend doing whatever it is that makes your soul sing!  Until next week~

Happy Tatting!



Piney Woods Harvest Event

After bouncing ideas around, I decided to take Judy's advice and host a "Harvest" event.  So, I went into my atelier and proceeded to "harvest" more items from my stashes that need a new home.  Here is what is up for grabs this month:

Thread, fabric, tatting needles & other goodies...OH MY!

The thread haul consists of: 1 ball size 16 Finca pearl cotton color #1301, 1 ball size 8 Domino pearl cotton color #606, & 7 balls of Majestic size 80 tatting cotton in colors 800, 854, 852, 853, 849, 848, & 846.

I have also included a few blue and purple baroque pearls.

The lucky winner will also receive a selection of 2 1/2 " quilting cotton fabric strips (perfect for making small yoyos) and 6 size 9 (or there about- these are long size 10 beading needles with the sharp tip snipped off) tatting needles.

An assortment of 16 Catholic religious cards is included.  I am not a Catholic, but love the artwork on these cards that are apparantly given out at funerals.  (My Catholic friends, if you have any insight about these cards, please let me know more about them. Thanks!)  From time to time, I happen upon a lot of them and cannot resist.  These are lovely with tatted edgings around them.  I slip them in Christmas cards and frame them for gifts.

To be eligible for this giveaway, simply be a follower of the blog.  Not a follower???  Click on the google "Join this Site" button to the right just beneath the poll.  Deadline for following the blog is November 16th.  The winner will be selected by a random number generator and notified via email on November 17th.  I would like to get this giveaway shipped on November 18th so that it may possibly reach the winner before Thanksgiving.  Good luck!

Dear readers, I wish you a wonderful weekend filled with tatting adventures.  I will return Monday with new works to share and perhaps a new pattern or two next week!  Until then~

Happy Tatting!

Lollipop Pendant, Part One

I have been playing with the Valdani 100% COLORFAST size 12 pearl cotton again.  This time I am using color #M33 "Lollipop" with a size 8 tatting needle.  You will need 32 size 10 turquoise seed beads.  String all beads onto ball.  Tatting counts and instructions for the foundation round are below the image.

R11 L- (pull up 8 seed beads onto this picot, leave about 1/2 the length of the beads in thread after pulling them up.  This will give you enough room for the remaining Rs.) 11CL RW

CH11 - (with 3 seed beads)11 CL RW

R11+ (before joining, slide 1 seed bead up to the base of the previously tatted R, then join.  You will work the remaining Rs in this manner, giving you a seed bead between each R.) 11 CL RW

Continue until you have a foundation motif of 8 Rs & CHs.

Tie & cut.  This completes step one.  Tomorrow will bring step two if you'd like to tat along.

The Czech buttons are still a work in progress and I have yet to get back to the necklace, but they are on my tatting tray- staring at me.  I just could not get into the right frame of mind for either project today, so I grabbed the first ball of thread that caught my eye and tatted the above motif.

DON"T FORGET:  HALLOWEEN GIVE AWAY DEADLINE IS MIDNIGHT TONIGHT!!!

The winner will be notified first thing tomorrow morning.  To enter, follow my blog by clicking the google "Join this Site" button located to the right just below the poll.  Good Luck!

Let's hope I have a more productive tatting day tomorrow.  Until then~

Happy Tatting!

Halloween Give Away Deadline

Deadline for entries into the Halloween Give Away is: midnight (CST) September 21st!!!

To enter, simply click on the google "Join this Site" button just below the poll.  If it does not appear, please refresh your page.

These are the goodies up for grabs:

1 ball of black Cebelia

2 balls of orange Majestic

1 ball of black Majestic

1 Osmina pearl cabochon

1 little Jack-O-Lantern for holding small thread balls

a bunch of vintage jet glass beads (I picked these off an antique beaded bag that was beyond repair)

an antique bone dish

and the Autumn tatted motif

The winner will be picked by a random number generator September 22nd as soon as I get breakfast fixed.  The winner will then be notified via email.  Don't miss your chance to get these Halloween goodies!

I have run into a bit of a snag with my latest Czech art glass buttons.  While they are incredibly beautiful, they are too heavy to use for a tatted brooch with only tatting for a foundation.  I have been brainstorming and think I have found a solution to my quandry, but will wait before I show you the finished results- my idea may not work at all.

As I was pondering the latest design snafu, I decided to peruse some of my previous work.  I found the following pieces in the recycle drawer of my large thread cabinet.  Hope you will enjoy the pics!

This piece was tatted with Dinky Dyes size 12 perle cotton.  I cannot remember the color number, but it is accented with cranberry rocailles and a Swarovski disc.  I have worn this as a pendant, an accent on a cloche, and on a hair clip.

This piece was tatted with DMC size 12 perle cotton and has been a brooch, pendant , & fascinator accent.

This piece has seen a lot of wear on my peasant blouse and red coat.  It was tatted with Oren Bayan size 8 perle cotton and size 20 white Cebelia.  The accent cabochon is denim lapis lazuli.

This simple design has been used for just about everything it could be adhered to.  I've done it in many different colors and have elaborated on it quite a bit.  This is the original prototype, circa 1996.  It was tatted with Domino size 8 perle cotton and size 12 DMC perle cotton.  The accent cabochon is unakite.

I hope you have enjoyed the eye candy and welcome any comments or input you may care to offer.

I am off to tackle the Czech art glass buttons AGAIN.  Maybe I'll actually make some progress to share with you tomorrow.

Until then~

Happy Tatting! 

Emery Cushions

I have had a few requests for more information about tatting needle emery cushions so I dug out my packages of emery powder and did a little research.

Pictured above is the package of emery powder I use to make my tatting needle cushions.  Mine was purchased from Pat at the Stitcher's Workshop.  Inside the bag is a very informative leaflet relating all sorts of info on emery.  Essentially, emery gets its name from Cape Emeri on the Greek island of Naxos.  It has been mined there for over 2,000 years!  Emery is basically aluminum oxide- it is non-toxic, yet very hard & abrasive.

Emery being used to polish and sharpen needles and pins is a relatively new usage that came into being with the invention of the steel needle.  Steel rusts, which presented problems for needle workers.  Today's nickel plated needles will also tarnish and have some discoloration due to natural body oils found on our skin.  Hence, the use of emery.

I am rather particular about my personal tatting needle emery cushions.  I use an inner pocket to place the emery in that is a very tight weave fabric & sew it firmly shut.  This inner pocket is placed within a larger outer pocket made of crushed velvet- the upholstery grade NOT the cheap stretchy kind.  If it is needed, I will fill the remaining space with polyfill or even cotton batting.  This produces a tightly packed emery cushion that is very efficient in cleaning my tatting needles.  I run the needles completely through and saw them back & forth.  (Whatever is needed to keep them clean & smooth.)  I prefer the crushed velvet as it seems to having a buffing effect on the tatting needles.  Hope this has been of help to those who have emailed and messaged!

I did have a nice surprise in the mail this afternoon-  the rocaille beads I need to finish the necklace project finally arrived!!!  I hope to work on the necklace some this evening and have the finished piece ready for your viewing by the end of the week.

This lovely spider was perched on a leaf of the hornbean by my outdoor tatting chair.  Isn't she pretty?  I wonder what kind of web she will be spinning in my piney woods.

SPECIAL NOTE:  Deadline for the Halloween Give Away is September 21st!!!

To enter for your chance to win, simply click on the google "Join this Site" button to the right just below the poll.  The winner will be picked by a random number generator & notified Thursday morning, September 22nd via email.

Have a wonderful day, until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

Helpful Hints

I thought I would share with you my favorite tatting "necessities".  Those who shuttle tat have a wonderful assortment of gorgeous shuttles made in a variety of materials- some are lavishly adorned.  As a needle tatter, I have my own collection of play pretties.  Some items are not exactly aesthetically pleasing, but they all serve a specific purpose.

Pictured above are a couple of emery cushions.  The long strawberry one was my great-grandmother's.  The little purple one was made using nylon for the inner part as this keeps the emery powder tightly packed and contained.  The outer covering is a piece of quilting cotton.  This is my small one that gets tossed in the portable atelier box.  Emery is used to polish and condition the surface of tatting needles.  Other needle artists use it to keep pins and needles clean and sharp.  The spoon ring is used to push through needles when the humidity makes tatting difficult.  Also pictured is my little magnifying glass chatelaine.  I use this to examine my work- especially when I am doing dimensional work or what I call "over-tatting".

Mary Ellen's Best Press is a wonderful stiffener and does not leave a flaky build-up on your tatting!  I rarely stiffen my work, but when I need to, this is the only product I will even consider.  The Gripper is what I use when the spoon ring just cannot manage to push the tatting needle through.  They are basically a pair of hemostats marketed to needle workers.  I have a beautiful adonized green pair somewhere, but they refused to come out of hiding for the photo shoot this afternoon!

My acanthus leaf chatelaine is to the left.  This is my favorite chatelaine!  I have an abolone shell emery cushion, a size 15 mini hook, and a thimble case that I keep rolls of cut up dryer sheets in on this chatelaine.  Dryer sheets are most useful to all tatters.  Cut a piece off and use it to condition your thread.  The thread slides smoothly off the needle and flips beautifully for the shuttle.  

Here is what is usually by my tatting chair:  my trusty "Quilter's Cut & Press 1" for blocking/pinning my tatting, long thin quilting pins for pinning & shaping work, a gripper for pulling stubborn needles, emery cushions for cleaning needles, dryer sheets for conditioning thread,   my magnifying glass chatelaine for when I need to double check my work (& for when I forget where I put my glasses), and a couple of my other chatelaines.  One item on my large clip chatelaine that is super handy is the "Star de Tailor".  It looks like a large needle threader with a star bead at the top.  This little do-ma-hickey is the best thing for hiding thread ends!  Truly a time saver.  One item any needlworker cannot be without is a pair of quality scissors.  I prefer Ginghers, but also like Dovo, & Sajou.

To find your own treasures, check out the selection of tools at Silent Stitches and Nordic Needle.  I have purchased several silver needlework tools from Silent Stitches in the past and cannot say enough good things about this company!!!  Their customer service is top notch and your orders are shipped most beautifully.  Nordic Needle has lots of neat tools (Star de Tailor) and one of the widest arrays of needle goodies on the web.

As you can tell, I love my silver needlework tools!  They may be pretty, but they serve their purpose. Dryer sheets are not pretty, but they are useful for so many different things.  What helpful hints do you have?  I would love to hear about others' needleart gadgets and helpful products! 

NOTE:  I forgot to mention on yesterday's post that there are some antique jet glass beads included in the Halloween Give Away!  If you are not a follower, click the google "Join this Site" button to the right below the poll.  And remember, if you are a blog follower, you are automatically entered.

I will have some new tatting to share with you tomorrow, so until then...

Happy Tatting!

What's Next

The third round on the doily is complete.  Counts for it may be found on yesterday's post.

This piece was worked in Valdani size 8 perle cotton in color #801 "in the forest".  I just love these colors!  If you would like to try this thread click here for the Valdani website.  They have a great sale on certain colors of perle cotton, but you may want to hurry.  The sale ends September 10th!

Since the last thread give away was so much fun, I think I'll do another.  The atelier is in need of a thorough cleaning which means going through my thread cabinets and culling old selections to make room for the new goodies I have on order.  This next thread give away will be a Halloween themed one!

 Up for grabs this time is 1 ball of size 30 black Cebelia, 1 ball of size 80 black & 2 balls of Halloween orange Majestic tatting thread.  I will be including other "goodies" with the thread.  Stay tuned to find out what other treasures will be added.  If you currently are a follower of my blog, you are already entered.  If you are not and would like to enter, simply click the "Follow this Site" button to the right below the poll. The winner will be selected by a random number generator and will be announced on September 22nd.  Sign-up to follow my blog by September 21st to be eligible.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with lots of happy tatting!  I will be very busy creating some new eye candy along with new patterns for your enjoyment.

Happy Tatting!

  

Buttons

It was a gorgeous day in the Piney Woods!  I awoke this morning to a cool temperature of 56F.  Such a welcome break from all of these triple digit days that begin in the mid-80's.  After dropping the kid off at school I went to our local parish park and walked my American bulldog & faithful tatting companion, Lily Fey.  Although it was most comfortable out, I did not get much tatting done.  The wind was too strong coming off the water for my thread to co-operate.  Upon returning home I found the Czech buttons I had ordered waiting in the mailbox.

Isn't this button gorgeous???  Or as we say down here- "gawjus"!  I have 4 of these beauties and ...

these!

The afternoon was more productive as I piddled with the left over DMC size 5 perle cotton I had used on some of yesterday's offerings. 

This is the result.  I will expand on this and share it later.

The results of my first blog poll are: beads are the top ranked thing you'd like to see more of in tatting with recycled vintage jewelry, mixed media and buttons following respectively.  It just so happens that my Czech buttons arrived today so that is what I played with.

I will be going through my bead, pearl & Swarovski stashes this evening, so you never know what I may have up on the blog tomorrow!!!

Please don't forget:

GIVE AWAY ENDS SOON!!!

Be sure to follow my blog (click on the google "Follow this site" button) for your chance to win the cool thread, tatting needles and other mystery goodies I'm giving away.  Deadline is September 7th!

Happy Tatting!

The Give Away

There was peril in the piney woods today!  After taking our daughter to school I returned home in a good, ready-to-tat mood.  I went inside, fixed a nice pitcher of ice water (essential here in the deep South), gathered my tatting box and proceeded to diddy bop out to my favorite outdoor tatting spot.  Well, the pines have been dropping their needles due to the excessive dryness & heat so I figured I'd rake before settling into my tatting time.  Whilst raking I disturbed a rather frightful copperhead!  After dispatching the snake (a non-poisonous snake would have been welcome, but I simply will not tolerate a poisonous one), I was entirely too freaked to tat as I usually do.  There was nothing for it, I returned to the air-conditioned, snake-free environment of my in-house atelier.

Poisonous snakes give me a serious case of the screaming heebie jeebies, so I did not exactly feel up to doing quality tatting today.  Since my tatting time was basically shot I decided to go through my thread and cull some of the excess.  I don't know- can one ever have an excess of tatting thread?!?   Anyway, I thought I would do a "Thread Give Away" to compensate for the severe lack of new tatting eye candy. 

 The give away will consist of:  3 balls of Majestic size 80 white thread, 2 balls of Finca size 16 peach perle cotton, and 2 balls of vintage Coats & Clark size 70 green & white tatting cotton.  Six extra small size tatting needles will also be included.  The antique Bavarian dessert bowl used for a prop is not included.  The winner will also receive a "mystery" tatted piece and several other "surprise" goodies. 

To enter, simply follow my blog by clicking on the google "join this site" button located on the right just below the poll.  Those already following are automatically entered.  Deadline for entry will be September 7th, 2011.  The winner will be selected by a random number generator and subsequently notified on September 8th, 2011. Please note, there are a few countries where I cannot ship lace and/or metal objects.  You are more than welcome to follow my blog (if you are from one of these areas), but please understand there are some restrictions I have to abide by.  Good luck and let's hope tomorrow will be a better tatting day!

Happy Tatting!