Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

from the Piney Woods!!!

 

Good morning, dear readers!

 

 I am finally feeling much better.  Being sick around the holidays is no fun.  At least I'm over it and feeling back to my somewhat normal self.

 

This will be the last blog post until after the New Year.  Jocelin will be off at college next year so we decided to make the most of this year's holiday season.  I plan to take her shopping, antiquing/junquing, do some festive baking and crafting.  You know- special mama/daughter time.  Jim plans to give her more off-road driving lessons, target practice at the rifle range, and take her hunting.  We also plan to have a number of movie marathon days!

 

I am working on several OOAK pieces that will debut after the New Year on a revamped website.  The other thing I'm looking into is possibly moving the blog to my website host.  Lots of things are happening in the Piney Woods!

 

Here is an image of some button brooch/pendant foundations I'm working on.

 

 

And here is a special OOAK piece-in-progress:

 

 

Oh!  I almost forgot to tell you about our newest family member!  A few days ago, when it was rainy, icy & nasty, we had a male kitten wander onto our front porch.  He actually got on well with our dogs, wasn't hissy or anything like that.  He was almost starved.  You could see and feel all his little bones.  Since I didn't have any cat food, I scrambled him a couple of eggs until Jim could run to the store. Well, he just kept rubbing, loving and purring on all of us- including the dogs- so we "adopted" him. 

Dear readers, here is "Biscuit", the feline mascot of the Piney Woods:

 

 

Jocelin adores him and he certainly seems to love all of us.  This is the best image I have of him as he is always purring and rubbing.

 

Jocie and I will be heading out on an antiquing/junquing jaunt shortly, so...

May you all have a lovely Christmas filled with joy!

Until the New Year~

Happy Tatting!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



2012 Snowflake Center Accents

Good morning!

I was up late last night with a very stuffy nose and headache.  I didn't get up until almost 7 this morning!  I can't believe I slept in so late.

 

Anyway, here is what I've done with the center of the snowflake design-

 

 

The light in the Atelier was not the best for taking images, but I hope you can see the details well enough.

 

Here is a collage of how I did the center.

 

I took a needle and nymo thread and added more Czech seed beads and a Lotus freshwater pearl.  This is only a suggestion for what can be done to accent the center of the motif.  Exercise your own creativity and play with your bead stash.

 

I will be adding additional tatting this afternoon as soon as we get back from Jocelin's consultation at the salon for her Homecoming hairstyle.  She is so excited!  She is getting a manicure today and will confer with our hairdresser on possible up-dos for her big evening.  Tomorrow she will get the full salon treatment.

 

Well, I am off to pick up Jim's suit from the cleaners and to look at new stoves.  It may be less expensive to purchase a new stove than to repair my old one.  Have a great day & until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

 

 

 

 

 



FREE 2012 Snowflake Pattern

Good morning, dear readers!

We had a wonderful time at Jim's office party last night.  The food and company were both excellent.

 

I thought I'd share a reworked pattern with you today.  This design was originally an eight point star/snowflake that I came up with for featuring some fabulous blister pearls I'd lucked up on.  I reduced it to a 5 point star/snowflake.  Additional beading, accents and tatting rows are easily added to this foundation.  I recently did a set in red for a Christmas gift. (Not saying who they were for though!)

To tat this pattern you will need: a spool of Valdani Luxury Pearl Silk in S49, a size 8 tatting needle, 5 3mm crystal AB Swarovski bicones and 40 antique beige Czech seed beads.

 

 

String the beads on the silk as follows: 3 seed beads, Swarovski, 3 seed beads, 5times.  Then string the final 10 seed beads. 

R 8 - (with 10 seed beads & leaving plenty of room for joining subsequent Rs) 8 CL RW

CH 10 very small - 5 CL R 6 - (with 3 seed beads, Swarovski, 3 seed beads) 6 CL CH 5 very small - 10 CL RW

R 8 slide 1 seed bead to base of first R + 8 CL RW

CH 3 followed by 5 small -s 3 CL RW

R 8 slide 1 seed bead to base of previously tatted R + 8 CL RW

Continue around motif until you have 10 Rs, 5 long CH with R combos, and 5 small CHs.

Tie & cut, hide ends.

It is always a good idea to place a small dot of jewelers adhesive on the knot before cutting.

 

If you would like, dear readers, I'll dress this bare bones foundation up in subsequent posts with additional rounds, beading and a lovely pearl focal center.  Be sure to leave a comment if you'd like to see how this one progresses!

 

Well, I have a couple of errands to run today before I get back to the Atelier.  My uncle needs some more yard eggs and I've got some last minute things to pick up for Jocelin's homecoming outfit.  I'm off to take Lily Fey on her morning run. Hope you have a wonderful day & until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

 

 



Almost Done

Jocelin and I had a VERY busy day!  We took care of shopping for Big Daddy this morning then paid a visit to her best friend (who recently underwent surgery).  This was followed by more shopping for groceries and miscellaneous stocking stuffers.  We then spent the afternoon wrapping gifts and getting ready for our Christmas baking/cooking day.  I am so pooped!

While we were wrapping gifts I found a couple of the mini ornaments that were missing from the stash I had tatted.  Thought I'd share them with you, so here's a little eye candy:

This was tatted with Sulky 12 wt. Blendables quilting cotton and is accented in the center with "fancy lime" 15/0 rocaille seed beads.  I believe the color is "Truly Teal".

Same design, same type of thread, different colorway.  This one is done in "Forest Floor" and has "olive green" 15/0 rocaille seed beads.  I am partial to the Sulky 12 wt. quilting cotton when I want to tat something small.  It forms neat, crisp stitches and is a great size for the small tatting needles I use.

I hope to get the counts for the Christmas doily up tomorrow or Friday- I really haven't forgotten!

On tomorrow's schedule is:  cooking, baking, cleaning and final decorating.  If I get the chance, I'll finish the "Romance" pendant and take some new images for posting.  If I'm really lucky, I'll have time to get those final doily counts up.

Jim is waiting for me to get off the computer and cook supper, so I'd better get busy as I have a "honey-do" list I'd like for him to take care of.  Can't expect him to do that on an empty stomach, now can I???

Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!



Pendant Progress

While we have been busy with the holiday preparations, I have snuck in a few minutes of tatting time.  The "Romance" New Year pendant is coming along:

Still have a couple more outer chain rounds to go.

And I have been putting the finishing touches to some crocheted Christmas gifts, so my hands have been working overtime!

Speaking of hands- I found something at my local Walgreen's last week and LOVE it!

I have been using this on my hands and it has helped so much!  As you can imagine, my hands take a lot of abuse.  Working with thread, fabric, yarn, pine needles and such dries out and roughens the hands.  Many lotions and hand creams are way too greasy for my taste, but the Carmex is creamy and quickly absorbed with very little residue.  Walgreen's carries the  "Healing Cream" & "Healing Lotion" and I'm sure other pharmacies carry it, too.  Another plus is the scent- it is light and fresh, just like the Carmex lip balm.

 I have not forgotten about the Christmas doily counts.  They will be up before Christmas!  Jim will be home shortly and I've not even started supper.  I'd better get to cookin'!  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!



Busy, Busy

As you can imagine, this is a very busy time of year.  Jocelin and I have been taking care of last minute details today and I've not had the time to get the counts for the final two rounds of the Christmas doily up.  They will be posted later this week- as soon as I have the chance to sit down for a while and figure out how to explain the final round.

The overwhelming result for what my dear readers would like for the New Year Giveaway is a "Romance" pendant.  I have started work on it already.  Shall I give you a sneak peek?

It is being tatted with Valdani pearl cotton and is accented with Swarovski crystals and Czech seed beads.  The finished piece will be up later in the week.

Here is another piece of eye candy.

This is Bev's (my mother-in-law) pendant.  I tatted it with Valdani Luxury Pearl Silk and accented it with Swarovski crystal bicones and center disc, and threw in a few antique Czech seed beads that were painstakingly picked off of a Victorian beaded bag for good measure.  I hope she enjoys wearing it as these colors are so pretty on her.

Well, Jocie and I have some Christmas cooking and baking to do so I had better get to it.  My posts this week may be erratic as we are in the midst of Christmas activities and celebrations.  Until later~

Happy Tatting!



Xmas Prep

As today was my errand day, I did not get much tatting done at all.  I did, however, pick up a few things for the Christmas giveaway events that are in the planning process.

I found these wonderful hinged tin boxes at a local dollar store.  They will be just right for holding some tatted ornaments and goodies!  Tatted ornaments were the top pick in the Christmas giveaway poll, so I had better get busy.

The fabric is a Robert Kaufman "roll-up" strip of Christmas fabrics- perfect for making yoyos that are embellished with tatting and Christmas bling.

Here is a closer shot of my goodies.  I also looked at the potted "living" Christmas trees at Lowes and may have to get one to use as a prop.

The Piney Woods Harvest Event is going on!  Click the google "Join this Site" button to follow the blog & be eligible for the cool items up for grabs.  Hurry!  The deadline is November 16th!

This weekend I hope to have more time to tat, but it feels like I'm coming down with a cold or something.  Not to worry, my husband will be home soon to pamper and spoil me- and make me take my medicine.  (He doesn't put up with my guff!)  Have a marvelous weekend doing whatever makes your soul sing!  Until next week~

Happy Tatting!