New Doily Started

After sifting through the Valdani pearl cotton stash, I selected a color and began a new doily today.

I am using size 8 Valdani pearl cotton in color H 206 "Washed Orange- Heirloom" with a few 4mm "Copper Rose" Swarovski bicones.

To be honest, I didn't have any specific design in mind for this one.  I just started tatting.  Think I'll continue and see what I end up with.  By the way, what do you think would be a good name for this one?

Oh, yes!  I almost forgot...there was a goody in my mailbox this morning from a tatting friend.

Thank you, Heather, for the lovely vintage Star tatting thread and 2 shuttles!  I haven't done shuttle tatting in a while.  I may have to play some this evening.

It has finally stopped raining and Lily Fey is pestering me to take her out for a good run in the woods.  Guess I had better do that before she starts spinning at the front door & howling- she gets VERY excited about her outings in the woods.  Have a fantastic day & until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!



How To Clean Antique Buttons

My day has been filled with cleaning and organizing the latest button jar acquisition so I thought I would share how to clean and care for antique and vintage buttons.

Antique Shell Buttons

Most antique shell buttons are mother-of-pearl (MOP), abalone or brown lip shell.  You care for these in the same manner that you do pearls as the shells also have a layer of nacre.  Nacre is the luster or irridescent sheen on the buttons.

I take a shallow plastic collander and gently rinse the buttons in cool to luke warm water, then place them to the side on a paper towel.  I then prepare a cleaning solution of water with a very small dab of Ivory liquid hand soap in a small plastic bowl.  You may also place a bar of Ivory soap in the bottom of the plastic bowl & swirl it around for a second then remove it.   An old soft toothbrush is perfect for removing bits of dirt and grime.  Gently scrub the button, rinse in cool to luke warm water and lay on a soft towel to dry.  When dry, store the buttons.  For my fancy carved or pierced buttons, I carefully wrap them in tissue, put them in a small zip top bag or in a watchmaker's tin.

Vintage Plastic Buttons

Every now and then I will use plastic buttons as a foundation or base for my artwork, but I strongly prefer the shell buttons.  Clean these in the same manner as the shell buttons, but be extra careful when using the toothbrush to clean them as even the softest brush may scratch the surface- NOT something you'd wish to do if the top of the button will be seen in your work.  Oftentimes, a cotton swab is the best tool for cleaning dirty plastic buttons.  I have several plastic storage boxes (fishing bait organizers) I use for storing plastic buttons.  They are very inexpensive and are readily available on the sporting goods aisle of your local discount store or in the fishing section of any outdoor specialty shop.

Antique or Modern Art Glass Buttons

Use the same care with these as with shell buttons, but ONLY use a cotton swab to gently wipe away surface dirt & grime.  Extra care should be taken with the antique specimens as they can be exceedingly delicate- especially if gold or silver leafing is present.  I store these buttons either in watchmaker's tins or if I feel they are delicate, wrapped individually in acid free (archival quality) tissue paper and stored individually in zip top bags.

There are some lovely antique metal buttons out there, but I do not personally care for them or choose to use them in my work.  I am sure there are plenty of resources on the web if this is an area of interest to you, dear readers.

A brief word of caution-  do NOT cut the shanks off of buttons!  This greatly decreases the value of the button.

If you have a lovely button with a shank and want to use it with your tatting, I suggest using my preferred method- use a shell button for a base and then attach the shank button on top of it as an accent.  This keeps the button intact and adds dimension to your work.

Well, I still have more button cleaning to do and would also like to have a few minutes to get in some tatting.  Have a great day & until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

Working on More Jewelry Foundations

I have spent the morning tatting up various foundations and components for some larger pieces.

The first image is the foundation for a larger pendant:

This Valdani pearl cotton in P6 "Rusted Orange" works up nicely.  I used Swarovski bicone accents in "Copper Rose" and "Crystal AB".

The other motif I tatted using 12 wt. Sulky Blendables.  I can't find the color number on the spool, but hope to find it later.

This is the first of  7 motifs I have to make for Jocelin's bracelet.  It is accented with a 5.5 mm freshwater pearl and size 15 rocailles in "Rust".

There are a few other foundations I've been playing with- and one that I may post later this week as a FREE pattern, so keep your eyes open for another goody.

Well, I am off to tat more of the mini-motifs for Jocie's bracelet.  Have a great day and until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!



Back in the Saddle Again

Finally!  Everything seems to be back to normal.  The ISP I use experienced a massive "event" and over 100,000 customers were without service for a while. 

On top of the connectivity issues I've had to deal with, we have had some VERY high winds.  The screen tent we use in the front yard has been shredded.  Guess Jim & I will be hunting for a new one to put up this weekend.

Even with all that has been going on, I have done a little bit of tatting.  Here is a brooch-in-progress:

I think I will go back and re-do the purple round as the counts seem to be a little off for the button base.

The other tatting I've done is just a bit of playing with the silk hand-dyed thread that LadyShuttleMaker so kindly sent.  It is a bit larger than the Valdani silk I usually use, but her dye job is so pretty!  If you get a chance, click on over to Etsy & check out her store.  She truly has a lovely selection of gorgeous threads!

This colorway is called "Witches Brew" but it reminds me of soft Easter colors.  Think I'll use this silk thread for some Easter egg accents.  Many thanks, Sherry (aka LadyShuttleMaker)!

Since the cyberworld stuff seems to be working now, I think I'll get back to tatting so I have more good things to share with you soon.  Have a wonderful day.  Until next time~

Happy Tatting!



Network Outage

Just wanted y'all to know I'm having connectivity problems with my ISP. Will post when issues are resolved. I was told there is a massive outage here & to expect service to be restored later this evening.

UPDATE:  Still having some technical difficulties, may not be able to post tomorrow, but hope to have everything cleared up and back on track next week.  I'll post if I can.  Thanks for your understanding!

Until then~

Happy Tatting!

Mardi Gras in North Louisiana

Happy Mardi Gras, y'all!

I got busy this morning with the tatting needles and cranked out an original pendant:

This is "Rust Fancy" - a pendant tatted with Valdani size 8 pearl cotton in H201 "Rust" from their Heirloom Collection.  It is accented with an antique carved shell button and "Copper Rose" Swarovski bicones.  I believe this little creation will be placed in my upcoming online Atelier Shoppe.

It's "Fat Tuesday" and all of Louisiana is celebrating.  Of course, New Orleans is the hub of the carnival season, but up here in North Louisiana, we celebrate in our own way.  I have been busy gathering all I need for our special Mardi Gras supper.  The Jackson family will be dining on: lean pork loin roast, greens (collard & turnip), speckled butter beans, green onions & sliced tomatoes, cornbread, sweet tea and my own version of a king cake.

Here is how I make a king cake: 

Spray a bundt cake pan with non-stick cooking spray and layer two cans of unrolled cinnamon rolls in it, hiding the plastic baby within as you layer it (the person who finds the baby has to make the king cake next time).  Bake according to the directions on the can, keeping a careful eye on it- you may need to let it go longer, depending on the oven and how big the cake pan is.  After the cake is done, allow to cool, then ice with cream cheese icing and sprinkle with sugar glitter in Mardi Gras colors.

Jim is off work today and is busy in his woodworking shop.  Guess I had better get busy in the kitchen for the feast this evening.  Have a wonderful day & until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

Girl's Day

Jocie and I had a wonderful "girl's day" today!  We popped over to Hobby Lobby, then visited one of the local quilt shops, & finally engaged in some bargain shopping at the dollar stores.  I treasure special one-on-one time with my teenaged daughter.  She will be grown and on her own before I know it.

After returning home, I discovered the package UPS left at the door- it was our Lee Valley order.  Jim had ordered some special drawer pulls for his woodcarving bench and I ordered some watchmaker tins for storing my Czech art glass buttons and Swarovskis.  Here is an image of the Czech buttons, neatly organized:

This is the way to store buttons!  These tins come in their own hinged-lid aluminum case.  If you'd like to order some, click on this link. 

I got a little bit of tatting done this weekend, but not much.  Pictured below is an image of a St. Pat's button brooch work-in-progress:

I've tatted more than what is imaged, but don't want to show too much of it as my Mom really loves this button and has hinted that a tatted goody made with one of these "green beauties" would be appreciated.  If it turns out nicely, she'll probably get her wish.

Well, Jocie and I are ready for our chick-flick & chocolate.  Have a wonderful day!  Until tomorrow~
Happy Tatting!