Distracted

Boy, did I get distracted today!  My thread shipment from Valdani came in this morning and I have been digging through my bead & button stash to find accents for the new fibers.

As always, Valdani has the most fabulous color selection.  The above group of fibers will be used in my upcoming "Romance of the Piney Woods" collection.

And I had to order more of another favorite variegated combo:

 Valdani's M40 "Violet Meadows"!

I just love this colorway.  The purples and greens are so beautiful- wait until you see what I'm doing with it...

As the new fibers totally distracted me, I accomplished very little tatting today.  I also had absolutely no luck in finding those tiny shell buttons.  Don't you just hate it when you hide things from yourself?  Those buttons were on my working table in the atelier, but have somehow vanished.  They will turn up eventually.  Hopefully, it will be in time to do the little project I have in mind to post on the blog.

 Tomorrow's post probably won't have much in the way of tatting, either.  Since the new fibers have arrived, I feel the need to make a trip to the local bead shop for various accents and findings.  Thought I'd give you fair warning!  I will share images of any new goodies I find, though.

Remember:  the Piney Woods Xmas Thread Giveaway is going on!  Deadline for clicking the google "Join this Site" button to follow the blog & be entered is December 4th.  Good luck!

Well, I 'm off to the atelier to move the work table and hunt for those dern buttons.  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!



Little Ideas, Part One

Some of my most cherished Christmas memories are of the small, tiny things that perhaps, others did not notice.  I have always delighted in giving gifts that have been lovingly wrapped with special care, thought & attention.  Oftentimes, I will top a gift with a tatted motif instead of or with a handmade bow.  Pictured below is a gift topper I recently made.

It was tatted with Valdani size 8 pearl cotton in colors O560 and M43 and is accented with golden jingle bells. 

Here is a closer image:

Keep a small box or tin by your favorite tatting area and place a random motif or two in it as you tat through out the year.  Use these to slip into a card or in place of/in addition to a pretty bow.  The recipient will be sure to feel special by your extra effort.  And nothing is more beautiful than a litte piece of lace gracing a special goody!

Speaking of goodies:  be sure to click the google "Join this Site" and follow my blog for your chance to win the Piney Woods Xmas Thread Giveaway!  Deadline for entry is December 4th.  Those who are already listed as followers are automatically entered.  Good luck!

Well, I am off to hunt for some tiny, antique, mother-of-pearl buttons that I have hidden from myself.  I need them for tomorrow's blog post.  Let's hope I can find them.  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

   

Recovering from Thanksgiving

The husband is back at work & the kid is back in school- now I can begin recovering from the Thanksgiving holiday!  I loved having them home and spending quality time with them, but my tatting routine was drastically altered.  Maybe after I get the house cleaned up and a few chores done, I can get back into a good tatting groove this week.

I did pick up the needle for a bit this morning.  This is a small motif I've started using Valdani pearl cotton in M30 "Deep Waters":

If the motif works out as planned, it will be a gift for a tatting friend.

Don't forget to follow the blog by clicking on the google "Join this Site" button for your chance to win the Piney Woods Xmas Thread Giveaway!  Current followers are automatically entered.  Deadline for following is December 4th.

Well, I had better get off my duff and get busy with the chores.  I'd like to get some tatting done this week, but cannot ignore the dishes, laundry and general cleaning that needs doing.  Have a great day.  I hope to have more to show you Tuesday.  Until then~

Happy Tatting!



Piney Woods Xmas Thread Giveaway

'Tis the season to clean out the thread cabinets!

I am in dire need of more thread storage in the atelier, so this lot of Christmas colored thread needs a new home.  For the first of my Christmas themed giveaways, I am offering~

 This cute hinged-lid poinsettia tin filled with the following balls of thread:

1 ball of size 20 Lizbeth in color #144

1 ball of size 50 Altin Basak in color #369

1 vintage ball of  size 70 Coats & Clark in color #21

3 balls of size 80 Majestic in colors #800, 829, & 854

1 spool of size 12 wt. Sulky Blendables in color #4104

 2 bobbins of size 12 Sulky Blendables in Antique Xmas & a red I cannot find the # or name for

& a mystery tatted goody (which may or may not be the one pictured).

As always, to enter this giveaway you must be a follower of the blog.  Simply click on the google "Join this Site" button located on the right of the blog just below the poll.  Deadline for entry is: Sunday, December 4th.  The winner will be selected by a random number generator and notified via email on Monday, December 5th.  Good luck!

Please note:  I tried the Lizbeth thread as everyone has been going on about how great it tats up.  Well... I was sadly disappointed.  It was NOT a good thread for my work.  It felt a little too stretchy and I just did not like the texture or the way it tatted up.  It has been my experience that different tatters prefer different types of threads.  I have very strong opinions as to what works for me and what doesn't.  The Lizbeth does not work for me at all- I wish it did.  Hopefully, it will find a home where it will be used and enjoyed. 

The Sulky Blendables 12 wt. quilting cotton thread tats like a dream!!!  As do the others in this giveaway. 

 Jim is busy hanging the lights on the exterior of the house and could probably use a hand.  I had better run and see if I can help.  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, I am absolutely stuffed!  The food was delicious and my day is just super-fantastic!

We are relaxing by doing our favorite things and spending time together.

A few minutes ago, I picked up a ball of Valdani and a tatting needle and began work on a little goody that will be part of the next giveaway event.  Here is a little peek:

You'll have to check out tomorrow's post to see what I've come up with for the first (yes, I said "first") Christmas giveaway event!

Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not, I hope you have had a marvelous day doing whatever makes your soul sing.   Thank you to all who read my ramblings.  I do enjoy this blogging thing and hope to have lots more tatting & fiber art adventures to share with you.  Guess I had better run- Jim & Jocie are about to start the movie without me!  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

Preparing for Thanksgiving

I have been busy getting ready for Thanksgiving.  The kitchen is a mess- pots, pans and such are scattered everywhere as I've been preparing our goodies for tomorrow.

I did sit down for a few minutes this morning and tatted this:

It is a pendant tatted with Valdani Luxury Pearl Silk in color # S541 "Mauve Orchid" and is accented with a dyed fushia freshwater pearl, size 11/0 Czech seed beads in "purple/aqua" and 4mm lavender Swarovski bicones.  The center is an interlocking chain-ring foundation of 6.  This piece is a gift for an exchange partner.  I hope the recipient will be pleased!

The only other tatting I've done today has been to refurbish and repair some ornaments that have been in the family for many years.  I hope to get back to my Christmas designwork this evening.  Perhaps I shall have some new motifs to share with you soon and you just might want to be on the lookout for the first of my Christmas giveaways!

Well, I had better check on the pies in the oven- they smell like they are close to being done.  May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with all that makes your heart sing!  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!



ICR, Part Two

For your enjoyment today, I have slightly elaborated upon the basic interlocking chain-ring motif featured in yesterday's post.  I used a size 7 tatting needle and Valdani size 8 pearl cotton in color M26 "Green Grass" (it was one of the colors in their fabulous "Two at Christmas" collection).  For accent beads I used 10 lime green size 11 Czech seed beads and 5 green AB finish Czech fire polish beads.  A medium sized gold jingle bell was used as a center focal accent.  The counts for the ICR foundation are the exactly the same as yesterday's motif:

R11- add beads 11 CL 5x for the foundation of piece.

To tat the accent round, run needle through top cap of ds to the left of the beads, CH 7 sm- med- sm- 7 CL + to the corresponding top cap on the other side of the beads.  CH 4, CL + to the top cap of the ds to the left of the next set of beads, continue around the motif.  After tatting the last CH, run needle from the front of the motif to the back.  Tie, cut & hide ends.  Add the jingle bell of other focal accent of your choice, or simply pull the ends through to the back, tie, cut & hide ends.

As you can tell, ICR foundations are easy to tat and offer a plethora of design options.  I enjoy using ICR foundations for pendants, brooches, doilies, and ornaments.  I hope you have fun playing with ICRs and would love to see your efforts.

Well, I must run- there is a break in the rain and I have many errands to see to.  Until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!