Fall Ornament, Part Three

I have completed all 3 chain rounds for the ornamnet's perimeter and it looks like this:

The 2 rounds I added (one to each side of the previously tatted chain round) are simple with no picots and are a count of 19.  Very simple.  Just tat CH 19 CL + around the fabric yoyo.

The next step will be to add a fluffy "frame" around the button.  I am debating whether to use the same olive green variegated thread or another color.  Look for tomorrow's blog post to see where this folly takes me!

The Piney Woods Harvent Event is going on!  Deadline to follow the blog is November 16th.  Just cllick on the google "Join this Site" button.  This month's giveaway is full of wonderful fabric, pearls, thread & Holy cards.  Good Luck!

Have a wonderful day doing whatever makes your soul sing!

Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!



Fall Ornament, Part Two

It's another gorgeous day in the Piney Woods!

After enjoying my hot cocoa, I went out to my favorite tatting area and did the first round on the ornament.

I am using a size 8 tatting needle and 100% COLORFAST size 8 Valdani pearl cotton in color P2 "Olive Green", a lovely variegated green.  To do this round, simply run the needle through the yoyo and tat chains with the following counts around the perimeter:  CH 7 followed by 5 graduated picots (very sm -, sm -, med -, sm -, very sm -) 7 CL + and continue around yoyo.

Here is a little helpful hint:  when I join the chains to the yoyo, I use my thumb as a guide for spacing and needle placement.  Just be careful not to jab yourself!

More will be added to this ornament in tomorrow's post.  I am contemplating a few different options before proceeding with additional tatting.

The Piney Woods Harvest Event is still going on!  To be eligible for this fantastic giveaway you need to be a follower of this blog.  To do this, simply click on the google "Join this Site" button to the right of the blog just beloww the poll.  Deadline for entry is November 16th!  Good luck!

Lily Fey (my bulldog) is telling me it is time for our run in the woods.  Have a wonderful day.  I will have more tatting goodies to share with you tomorrow.  Until then~

Happy Tatting!

Fall Ornaments, Part One

It was so pretty and crisp this morning that I decided to start on a "Fall Ornament" project. 

 The first thing I did was to wash & dry a few batik fabrics previously purchased from Hannah's Quilts.  I put a little white vinegar in the rinse cycle to be sure all the dyes were set properly.  You usually do not have to do this with most batik fabrics, but I have had a couple of lengths that wanted to run a little, so I always prewash, set with vinegar & dry before working with it.

After both lengths I had selected were dry, I ironed them with some Mary Ellen's Best Press.  This gives the fabric good body without the problem of starch or sizing flaking.

I then used a yellow (large size) Clover yoyo maker with Sulky Blendable size 12 quilting cotton to sew a yoyo.  Afterwards, I added a Czechoslovakian art glass button to the center. (Which is the first image featured on today's post.)  Now the ornament is ready for tatting additions, which will be featured in tomorrow's post.

This afternoon & evening, I will be spending my Halloween making more Fall themed yoyo ornaments while watching the monster shows on Discovery & H2 channels!

Have a wonderful Halloween full of tatting fun!

Until timorrow~

Happy Tatting!



Additional Harvest Event Images

I thought you might like some more detailed images of the fabric and Holy cards offered in the Piney Woods Harvest Event Giveaway.

I think that there are 32 of these 2 1/2 " fabric strips.

Some of the Holy cards seem older:

Some seem more modern:

But they are all beautiful!

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend full of tatting fun!  I am!!!

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!

Blue Mood

After doing the laundry and fixing supper last night, I settled into my tatting chair and dug through one of my project baskets.  I came across a few old photos of my grandmother, Leola.  She had the most vibrant, piercing blue eyes.  As I recall, blue was her favorite color. She is no longer with us, but she is often in my thoughts- especially as I do needlework.  I picked up a partial skein of Caron Wildflowers thread (sorry, I can't find the color number) and tatted a pendant and hair ornament in Mamaw's favorite color.

The pendant is enhanced with an Akoya pearl, purple rainbow seed beads, 3mm sky blue Swarovski bicones and a Mary medal.  Accents on the hair ornament are an Akoya pearl and 3mm sky blue Swarovski bicones.

I am still contemplating what to do for the November Piney Woods Event.  If you would like something particular, let me know before lunchtime tomorrow!

Well, I think I will get back to making out my next Valdani thread order.  Have a great day!

Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting! 

Lavender Silk

As I mentioned yesterday, the Valdani Luxury Pearl Silk was tempting me!

This is what I am currently working on.  I don't know if it will be a pendant, a hair ornament or if it will morph into a larger doily piece.  The color I'm using is S208 "Forgotten Lavender".  The photo does not do it justice.  The Akoya pearl in the center picks up its lovely luster as do the Swarovski bicones.  I'll try to get a better image when I finish it.

This is how it started- just a simple motif of 6 interlocking chain-rings with Swarovski bicone accents that were later joined with a chain row.  Very easy to do.  The Valdani silk is such a pleasure to tat with!  While it is silk and does want to curl and slide some, it has a wonderfully tight twist that produces even, clean stitches. 

Okay, I admit it- I am a thread snob.  I love thread but am VERY discerning when it comes to what I prefer to tat and stitch with.  Valdani is one of my favorites and it keeps impressing me.  I am toying with the idea of ordering some of the Valdani silk embroidery floss and doing a mixed fiber art piece of embroidery & tatting.  What do you think?

Well, I had better wrap this up and get it posted.  Since I played this morning, I have to use this afternoon for mundane housework and the like.  Never fear- I am planning to play some this evening and hope to have something beautiful to share with you tomorrow.

Until then~

Happy Tatting!