Button Event Winners

Blog theme for September~
Buttons!

Good morning, dear readers!

Here are the FOUR winners of the Button Give Away Event:

 

 

Stephanie W

who wrote:  In my pattern stash I have a pattern for a Celtic teapot that uses buttons (cute teapot, too), and a couple patterns for brooches (pins) that use one or more buttons. I would like to try...

 

Crazy Mom Tats!

who wrote:  Cool! Pick me!

 

Sharon D.

who wrote:  One can never have to many buttons. I never have the right size. Looks like there are a lot of different sizes in the bags. Love to hear about Rosie Fey she is so cute.

 

Melissa

who wrote:  What a wonderful and generous thing to do Ms Rachel. I love buttons! I have been using buttons in a lot of my tatting. I use them for crosses...

 

 

To those who have won:

Please be so kind as to contact me via the button to the right of the blog with your particulars and I will get your buttons in the post next week.  If I do not hear from you by Wednesday, October 4th, another winner will be selected. 

 

Many thanks to all who commented and participated in the give away!

 

What are y'all working on, my dear readers?  This weekend I am putting the finishing touches on a FREE pattern to feature in October and plan to take images of some newly completed pieces.  We will also be cleaning up and prepping the pop-up camper for Autumn camping adventures.  Of course, we will be watching the Louisiana Tech football game and the New Orleans Saints.

 

Well, I had better get it in gear.  Rosie Fey is ready for our run in the woods.  May you have a fantastic weekend and congratulations to our winners!  Until next Friday~

Happy Tatting!



Button Sources

Blog theme for the month of September~
Buttons!

Good morning, dear readers!  I hope y'all are doing better than I am.  My allergies are giving me fits!  The goldenrod and ragweed are blooming, making the pollen count very high.  This happens each Fall and Spring.

 

I have had several emails asking about button sources.  The very best place to find buttons is in an antique/junque store or flea market.  I love old button jars!  You never know what you'll find inside.

 

Another good source is Etsy.  I've found numerous button jars and sewing notion boxes filled full of treasures listed on Etsy.

 

Some of you have inquired where I found the Czech art glass buttons.  I purchased most from a bead shop that has since closed, but have found some at the Fire Mountain Gems website.  You can click here to see what they have to offer.

 

Something else you may wish to consider is asking any of your relatives if they have your grandma's button stash box/jar.  I was fortunate enough to receive several containers filled with buttons previously owned by my great-grandmother and grandmother.  These are especially precious to me and I only use those buttons on projects for family members.

 

DONT"T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT ON THE SEPTEMBER 6TH POST FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF THE FOUR BUTTON COLLECTIONS OFFERED IN THE GIVE AWAY!!!  THE WINNERS WILL BE SELECTED VIA RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR AND ANNOUNCED ON SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2013.

 

Well, since I've been under the weather this week, I think I will leave you with some images of works I've done with buttons to hopefully inspire you in your own work:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Note:  ALL images and designs are my original work and are protected by copyright law!)

 

May you have a wonderful week full of tatting creativity & fun!  Until next Friday~

Happy Tatting!

 

 

 

 

 



Autumn Tatting with Buttons

Blog theme for September~
Buttons!

Good afternoon, dear readers!

I have been busy with so many tatting projects, it is difficult to know where to begin.  How about if I give you a peak at the wonderful Autumn colored Valdani threads I'm using in most of my current works.

 

 

Here is a lovely assortment of perle cottons.

 

 

And here are some of my favorite colors in Valdani Luxury Pearl Silk.

 

 

This is a bare bones pendant foundation I did Friday.

 

 

And this one is what I am working on now as I await the start of the New Orleans Saints' game against Tampa Bay.

 

If you would like some FREE patterns using button foundations, check out some of my previous blog posts here, and here.

 

Several of you have asked about my Rosie Fey.  Here are a few images of my growing girl:

 

 

On our run this morning at Lincoln Parish Park.  She LOVES to run on the wooded trails, splash in the creeks and chase the over abundance of squirrels.

 

 

Rosie Fey in profile as she sits pretty for a liver treat.

 

 

And finally, here is this image I snapped of her while I was tying my shoe.  She promises that she was only helping me by poking her nose in my face and giving me puppy sugars as I tried to get my darn laces untangled and retied.

 

Well, I have got to go ahead and post this so I can hot foot it into the kitchen and get snacks for the game ready.  May you all have a wonderful week full of tatting fun & don't forget to leave your comment on the September 6th post for a chance to win some great buttons!  Until Friday~

Happy Tatting!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Delay In Weekly Post

Due to the Thursday home game for LA Tech, my regular Friday post will be delayed until the weekend.  Sorry for the inconvenience, but there will be some nice eye candy put up soon.

Until then~

Happy Tatting!



Button Give Away Event

Blog theme for September~
Buttons!

Good morning, dear readers!

Back in August, as I was cleaning out the Atelier, I came across multiple button stashes.  After culling what I plan to use in my own work, I thought a give away event of the remaining buttons would be fun. 

 

 

As you can see, the buttons are in four snack sized zip-loc bags.  They are mainly vintage plastic, MOP and a few shell buttons.  I have not cleaned them, but have tried to put a variety in each bag. 

 

 

Closer view 1.

 

 

Closer view 2.

 

So, how are we going to do this event?  Well, all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post stating what you might use the buttons for.  There will be FOUR winners who will be selected via random number generator and announced on the September 27th blog post.

 

Since I've been playing with the buttons and having lots of fun with them, I decided that the September blog theme will be Buttons!  On the next blog post, I will have images of a few newly finished pieces you've seen the beginnings of and images of some of my button projects.

 

What are you working on, my dear readers?  What goodies are you tatting for Fall?  There are lots of works-in-progress in the Atelier, but I am also crocheting a wrap and a skinny scarf.  I've additionally been working on some sketches for hand embroidery designs.

 

Rosie Fey is spinning at the door, so I had better take her out and play for a bit. Otherwise, Rosie will not leave me alone to tat!  Be sure to leave a comment on this blog post for your chance to win one of the FOUR button goody bags!  Until next Friday~

Happy Tatting!

 

 

 

 

 



Lemons Into Lemonade

Renovations

Good morning, dear readers!

We are still getting back into the homeschool groove.  Things are going well, but it is an adjustment for us all.  I did not get in nearly as much tatting time this past week as I'd hoped.  Jayne and the bracelet projects are on the back burners, but will be picked up again over the upcoming holiday weekend.

 

I did get out a ball of Valdani Pearl Cotton in M80 (Distant Grass) this week.  My intention was to tat an edging for the pockets on a pair of linen trousers.  Well... my counts were off, but I have an idea to turn the beginning of my oopsie into something else.  When life hands you lemons (or you mess up with the ds counts in your head) make lemonade.  I'll post the finished piece next Friday for you to see how it turns out, but here is an image of my oopsie:

 

 

I am also gathering goodies for another give away event, so be looking for the announcement for it next Friday, too!

Guess I had better take Rosie Fey out before she spins a hole in front of the door.  Have a great Labor Day long weekend & until next Friday~

Happy Tatting!

 

 



Working on Jayne

Renovations

Good morning, dear readers!

 

We are gradually getting back into the swing of homeschooling and I am somehow managing to get in a little bit of tatting time each day.  Plain Jane is slowly being transformed into Lady Jayne, but I had to take a break from her.  There were a couple of design ideas bouncing around in my head that I had to play with.

 

Anyhow, here is a peek at the beginnings of  Lady Jayne:

 

 

This is the center motif with a few bead accents.

 

 

And this is the drop accent that will hang from the center motif.  I may add more beads, according to how the side pieces turn out.  They may be needed to provide more balance to the necklace.

 

 

The above image is of a bracelet prototype that I'm currently designing.  I really love this Valdani Pearl Cotton in color O538 "Cottage Smoke".  It looks great with the Delica beads I'm using and also the pearls I plan to add on another subsequent round.

 

And here is a little pendant motif I'm still playing with:

 

 

It began like this...

 

 

Then grew to this...

 

 

And this is where it is at now.  I sidetracked myself by starting the bracelet prototype!  The bracelet idea popped into my head as I was contemplating the next round for the pendant.  That O538 Valdani pearl cotton was sitting there just begging me to tat something with it, and the bracelet idea popped into my head.  I sketched it out roughly and began tatting.

 

I'm hoping to get back to Jayne this weekend, but it all depends upon how well the bracelet project goes.  For some reason, that is what my hands want to tat.

 

It is also time for another Piney Woods Event, isn't it?!?  I have oodles of vintage buttons and other miscellaneous goodies that may be put into the give away- or do y'all want me to put up a special OOAK piece?  Comment on this post to let me know which you'd prefer or if you think I should do both!

 

Well, Rosie Fey is ready for our morning run.  Guess I had better take care of her and the chickens before starting homeschool for the day.  May you have a wonderful week full of tatting goodness!  Until next Friday~

Happy Tatting!