tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89748474035313339292024-02-02T13:00:30.170-05:00Elizabeth's LaceCreating unique shuttle-tatted lace jewelry since 1993.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-28306937739203729932013-09-29T13:34:00.001-04:002013-09-29T13:34:09.661-04:00Back to Blogland?<div style="text-align: justify;">
Oh, you know me - I flit in and out of "blogland" - lately I can't seem to find the time or motivation to post much. Most of the reason behind that is I haven't done much tatting at all this entire year. And even with a long time of resting my hands, I still find my limit to be about an hour of tatting at a time - then the base of my thumbs start to ache. If I do much more I pay for it for the next few days. As I planned, I haven't done any art/craft shows this year, although my patterns sell steadily and I do have some tatted jewelry in a little fiber arts store in Reading - <a href="http://www.somethingslooming.com/" target="_blank">Some Things Looming</a> - so I'm technically still in the tatting business. At a much reduced level, obviously.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I love this thread color from Handy Hands - Charcoal Medium (607) - and have been working with it off and on for a few weeks (fabulous design here by Yarnplayer as well).</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaXLu_vNU8JXrwPD-46zC8ZPALdFHEtvYbEL08ipq9eUORwAZgYWAXPOeugesWVHpG66XyUk2y_3xZY2gnkowtulSpc2M18Zduojec8URth0BaeJbkyhRkLfsdrmKGzKCAdyzN5P3wow/s1600/9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaXLu_vNU8JXrwPD-46zC8ZPALdFHEtvYbEL08ipq9eUORwAZgYWAXPOeugesWVHpG66XyUk2y_3xZY2gnkowtulSpc2M18Zduojec8URth0BaeJbkyhRkLfsdrmKGzKCAdyzN5P3wow/s400/9.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pattern: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/154371026/pdf-tatting-pattern-nouveau-tatted-set?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank">Nouveau Earrings by Yarnplayer</a></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NwJM0tiEX6y5FZevs-KfVAay6KVThP3nIagGMCzcfCSktcgywu4hn4XEh7A9__pMQpxEIhlauNsLuIHyfRMeY6WtZEAM-0cstCsRqCw55O-48ythlu-hsn7eTIh7cShRGb5SI4GEbpc/s1600/9-29.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NwJM0tiEX6y5FZevs-KfVAay6KVThP3nIagGMCzcfCSktcgywu4hn4XEh7A9__pMQpxEIhlauNsLuIHyfRMeY6WtZEAM-0cstCsRqCw55O-48ythlu-hsn7eTIh7cShRGb5SI4GEbpc/s400/9-29.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pattern: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/61867195/original-tatting-pattern-flora-earrings?" target="_blank">Flora Earrings (top) by Elizabeth's Lace</a> </span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Simple Drop Earrings (bottom) by Elizabeth's Lace</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It works really well with contrasting thread and beads. I tend to be a bit monochromatic in my designing, so it can be challenge for me to put different colors together and be pleased with the results. With this thread it seems to be easier, perhaps because it is somewhat of a neutral color.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Well, it's back to the laundry for me - enjoy this Sunday and be blessed!</div>
Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-27797669572820669442013-03-05T01:37:00.000-05:002013-03-05T09:55:46.861-05:00In Loving Memory<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">...of my mom, JoAn. For those of you who have seen me at shows, you know she was my regular companion. She was not only my mom - but a great friend as well. She was an RN and a wonderful nurse. She worked in several different specialties, one of them being oncology - caring for and treating patients with cancer while battling her own disease, breast cancer. Her final job was working in hospice, once again treating patients in their final days, caring for their families and loved ones and helping them with their grief and pain; all the while dealing with and coming to understanding her own mortality.</div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGq-WRmXZCzJEWHifvKcQupSlX_GDwFSM5aXXmIBr_vGKw33XjLYrFx8xhKaELggHmLW-QAed-HKBohZuC9AUVAOHhI96XjcPxJsKiBBaZ1wy-xlxfXB-Sgy93id3lLFIQbcWmlVOK7M/s1600/P1030058+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGq-WRmXZCzJEWHifvKcQupSlX_GDwFSM5aXXmIBr_vGKw33XjLYrFx8xhKaELggHmLW-QAed-HKBohZuC9AUVAOHhI96XjcPxJsKiBBaZ1wy-xlxfXB-Sgy93id3lLFIQbcWmlVOK7M/s640/P1030058+(2).JPG" width="425" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Joan K. Gehris</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Dec<span style="font-size: x-small;">ember 29, 1945 - December 5, 2012</span><a href="http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/MCall/obituary.aspx?n=Joan-Gehris&pid=161529760#fbLoggedOut" target="_blank"></a></i></span><br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2VoTPZ9uRCVlIvX5u8yRP_dno516T9qiE9161fcZFMuxKWpvj_Jsjm-yP-fRUkE2BRfUbaWiZTbCQ36sHatlysh9TJhmLWPv4In35Mrc65fxwPWv-7tIIPTvQwxVx4hchXmR0QSARaA/s1600/mom8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2VoTPZ9uRCVlIvX5u8yRP_dno516T9qiE9161fcZFMuxKWpvj_Jsjm-yP-fRUkE2BRfUbaWiZTbCQ36sHatlysh9TJhmLWPv4In35Mrc65fxwPWv-7tIIPTvQwxVx4hchXmR0QSARaA/s400/mom8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Me, my mom, and my sister las<span style="font-size: x-small;">t Mother's Day at a "Fancy Na<span style="font-size: x-small;">n<span style="font-size: x-small;">cy<span style="font-size: x-small;">" party</span></span></span></span>.</i></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>I wr<span style="font-size: small;">ote the following letter to my mom<span style="font-size: small;"> several years ago, and share it here <span style="font-size: small;">to help you understand the kind of person she was.</span></span></span></span><i> </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Dear Mom,<br />
<br />
Today in church we had a lady talk about her experience with cancer. She has stage 3 non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Not that that’s really important though – what struck me was something she said. She said that it is wonderful to be a cancer survivor. Everyone who has cancer hopes to be a cancer survivor, but ultimately, not everyone is. “But,” she said, “it is much more important to be a <b>cancer</b> <b>conqueror.</b>” <br />
<br />
I couldn’t imagine what she meant by that, but she went on to explain. A cancer conqueror is someone who never lets their cancer beat them. I mean in everyday things – getting up in the morning, going to work, living life as fully as you can while you go through your treatments. Not holding a pity-party for yourself. Doing what needs to be done. Doing things you want to do. Thinking of and serving others. Being content in the midst of what can be a horrifying and devastating illness. Having joy despite the circumstances, and letting others see that joy come through you so it blesses them as well. Displaying peace through the pain. If you can do all these things, then cancer cannot beat you. You have conquered it – it has no hold and no power over you, and though you may still have symptoms and side effects from treatment, you are <b>free from cancer</b>.<br />
<br />
What a powerful message that was. And the whole time she was giving it, you know what I was thinking? I was thinking, “Wow! That’s my mom to a T!! She is a cancer conqueror if ever I knew one.” <br />
<br />
I know I’ve never said this to you, but I sure have said it to other people I know - I really don’t know how you do it. I sometimes think if I was going through the same things, I couldn’t be nearly as strong. Your witness to those around you is a testimony to your strength, determination, positive attitude, and that you can be free from cancer even when you have cancer. What an awesome way to live life!! <br />
<br />
I wanted to write you this note and let you know what an encouragement you have been to me (and so many others) throughout your experience with cancer. You have never let it stop you from doing what you needed to do. Throughout the whole process you have continued to work and serve others who were going through some of the same things you were going through. I am sure this side of Heaven you will have no idea how you have touched so many other people through what you do at work. You have been a blessing to many, I’m absolutely sure of that. I really don’t know what other word to use other than “ministry” – it is your ministry to others, and you show them God’s love with everything you do for them.<br />
<br />
You have also never let it stop you from doing anything you wanted to do. I will always remember going bead shopping with you that day while you had the severe radiation burns on your shoulder and neck. <br />
<br />
Never once did I hear you complain. Never once were you cranky. I’ve never seen you hold a pity-party for yourself. You display contentment. You are joyful through your circumstances, and you bless others because of it. You show peace through your pain. Mom, you have conquered cancer – it has no hold and no power over you. You are free from cancer.<br />
<br />
My prayer is that you will also be a cancer survivor, for as long as possible. But I want you to know that no matter what happens, you are a living testimony to all those around you of a “cancer conqueror.”<br />
<br />
I love you,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Beth</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was a very tough fall a<span style="font-size: small;">nd w<span style="font-size: small;">inter, and <span style="font-size: small;">i</span></span></span>t has taken me quite a while to write this post. We had been dealing with <span style="font-size: small;">my mom's cancer for so long<span style="font-size: small;"> (she was <span style="font-size: small;">originally diagnosed as 4<span style="font-size: small;">2) that it seemed <span style="font-size: small;">at times <span style="font-size: small;">she would live forever. <span style="font-size: small;">Even though we had her for almost 25 years after her original diagnosis, I have to say the end came much too quickl<span style="font-size: small;">y for me. I miss her every day, and often think about all the things she will not be here to share with us - thing<span style="font-size: small;">s as simpl<span style="font-size: small;">e as family <span style="font-size: small;">dinners and a<span style="font-size: small;">s <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">important</span> as </span></span></span></span></span>weddings<span style="font-size: small;"> and </span>her great-grandchildren.<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>I have decided not to do an<span style="font-size: small;">y <span style="font-size: small;">art </span>shows this year, mostly because of my hands and the difficulty I have tatting now; but admittedly because I also cannot imagine my mom not being there with me at any of them.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I know it gets easier with time but right now the grief is still overwhelming.<span style="font-size: small;"> I still cannot really talk about it without a lot of em<span style="font-size: small;">otion but it has been good to write<span style="font-size: small;"> some<span style="font-size: small;"> things down. </span></span></span>Thanks for letting me share a little about my mom - is does help to think back and celebrate the <span style="font-size: small;">w<span style="font-size: small;">onderfu<span style="font-size: small;">l person she was.</span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-1566147206448136132012-08-17T23:09:00.001-04:002012-08-17T23:09:19.558-04:00I'm a Knotty Girl.<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am bad. Bad at keeping up with this blog. It seems when one big thing gets finished (namely, CPA achievement - that's right! licensed in PA as of May 15, 2012!) I start two different big things to take its place. Those two things being kitchen remodel (going on three months now) and craft show season (two shows down, two to go). </div>
<br />
One big thing is enough. <br />
Two are bordering on unmanageable. <br />
And blog falls to the bottom of the "to-do" list.<br />
<br />
But I am tatting! See - my hands know it! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqu3rQM9L1WNUpRIyrvLuD2g_FeO-8tRfxFTx0bL-Dt_ErdG9saJyoH9Wc3wCXT4NamNZnq0-_jue8GoxKHcBdxs6KNXICTRg__emaNaqcwAP0_TZrgDRJGVNETvQCOyuECMwOziXmcTE/s1600/IMG_0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqu3rQM9L1WNUpRIyrvLuD2g_FeO-8tRfxFTx0bL-Dt_ErdG9saJyoH9Wc3wCXT4NamNZnq0-_jue8GoxKHcBdxs6KNXICTRg__emaNaqcwAP0_TZrgDRJGVNETvQCOyuECMwOziXmcTE/s400/IMG_0082.JPG" width="297" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Yes, that's me in the Arthritis glove in 90 degree weather reading my favorite publication. My hands ache. I am really trying to take better care of them by not tatting for 8 hours in a row anymore. Yes, I'm a knotty girl!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
This is <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/yarnplayer" target="_blank">Yarnplayer's</a> pattern and thread - "Unfolding Heart" in "Grey Crimson". Yarnplayer, you can make more of this thread anytime you want...oh and "Garden Afternoon" too! ;-)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwnHQWY6Yk2wF9UqLKWz7le7NeVjQZ9M9lJAeY8NHCOOWY32cjSlbCETAjddTOQpj5dMZw73WdSlyIt_eV1ZVayq7eEzpM4mEAX3dWda6KFCL4Uo7AXw1T5R7j-60ZZi34IcDVzvR08I/s1600/UnfoldingHeart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwnHQWY6Yk2wF9UqLKWz7le7NeVjQZ9M9lJAeY8NHCOOWY32cjSlbCETAjddTOQpj5dMZw73WdSlyIt_eV1ZVayq7eEzpM4mEAX3dWda6KFCL4Uo7AXw1T5R7j-60ZZi34IcDVzvR08I/s400/UnfoldingHeart.JPG" width="346" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
I'll try to keep up with the blog a little better this fall. <br />
<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-62828739096088476532012-03-10T19:46:00.001-05:002012-03-10T19:46:38.661-05:00I Made It!<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am very happy to report that as of March 7, 2012, I have passed all parts of the CPA exam. Halleluiah! Fortunately I only had to take each part (there are four) once, and passed each one the first time. It took me five months and countless billions of hours (well that's how it felt anyway) of studying, but I made it. Now I just have to get some more work experience under my belt to be able to receive my CPA license.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Finally I can get back to tatting!</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-82135572920631413502012-02-15T09:49:00.000-05:002012-02-15T10:35:33.338-05:00The Tatting World Lost a Good Friend<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPWFxeThVxw5e-_EOKuXZJiCyf4V2BolWg0Y_03H7YjnGJEu1G16QrbbenyVDC6OyVE8Ac97vNAh9xtzeDuQsbQKAaXsXUrqMtqV8M-y0oAJ957rY0kgt08qiHvOfZP_QZci8-1YhfZU/s1600/Gina.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPWFxeThVxw5e-_EOKuXZJiCyf4V2BolWg0Y_03H7YjnGJEu1G16QrbbenyVDC6OyVE8Ac97vNAh9xtzeDuQsbQKAaXsXUrqMtqV8M-y0oAJ957rY0kgt08qiHvOfZP_QZci8-1YhfZU/s200/Gina.JPG" width="190" /></a>Gina, known for her blog "Threads of a Tatting Goddess" (I always loved that name!) passed away on Monday. Her blog was an inspiration and she was an endless source of information for all of us. I enjoyed reading her blog almost daily and she was so faithful in her posting and sharing that I felt like I knew her even though we never met. She always took time to comment and encourage other bloggers as well - me included. For those of you in the tatting world who knew her personally, my heart goes out to each of you. If I can feel such a loss for someone I only knew through the blogging universe, I can only imaging the pain and heartache you all must be going though today.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://threadsofatattinggoddess.blogspot.com/">Gina's blog: http://threadsofatattinggoddess.blogspot.com/</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Gina, you will be sorely missed by many.</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-36514878701921061862012-01-17T20:31:00.000-05:002012-01-17T20:31:59.478-05:00Checking in-and a tatting class coming upHi everyone! I've passed two parts of the CPA exam so far and have taken a third (won't get my score until 2/3/12). I take the forth and final part February 29th so I'm still in the middle of studying and, of course, it's tax season! I wish I had more time to blog.<br />
<br />
I did too much tatting around Christmas time this year and my thumbs and wrists have been punishing me ever since. I'm taking a hiatus from the tatting to try and give them a rest - but I do have a tatting class coming up, and for those of you who meet me at shows and want to know where and when I'm teaching - this is for you. I will be at <a href="http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e54nskaa1480ae6d&llr=r4xvikdab">something's looming in Reading, PA on February 5th to do a two hour "Intro to Tatting" class</a>. Click on the link to be taken to their website where you can sign up.<br />
<br />
Back to studying!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-91552172678066120912011-09-25T20:16:00.000-04:002011-09-25T20:16:19.672-04:00Fall<div style="text-align: justify;">One of my favorite things about living in Pennsylvania is fall. Cooler temperatures, beautiful leaves, Steeler's football, apples, cider, pumpkins, mums - I just love the season. So when September comes around, I pull out all my orange and other fall-friendly threads and my tatting takes on a distinctly fall flavor.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is Rosemarie Peel's small Celtic motif from "Tatting for Pleasure." I love this design - especially with beads. I've been wearing this one myself to celebrate fall's arrival.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmVOsfltOl1pnxYpBJcAzBjihSlPC6Rvjrujwi4_SsDvsq-I3XF8T-lgOwIly_3fWRKHCcm15EWx9VzoyuV_KUOqse-xe56Qki748kzcZXLnbQcoiA27R9ETHBnUVwJ5dKNtDSVF2FdU/s1600/leaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmVOsfltOl1pnxYpBJcAzBjihSlPC6Rvjrujwi4_SsDvsq-I3XF8T-lgOwIly_3fWRKHCcm15EWx9VzoyuV_KUOqse-xe56Qki748kzcZXLnbQcoiA27R9ETHBnUVwJ5dKNtDSVF2FdU/s400/leaf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Next - my pumpkin earrings, slightly updated this year based on the fact I've discovered some different findings and decided I liked the tatted pearl better turned upside-down. (There really isn't a right way up I just had decided in my own head which side was the top and now I've changed my mind - at least for the pumpkins.) :-)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztGXi7mjW9IeSxhG1wch6pStaJ4k14FRyO4PjoBMami_xnBJOfc2rktYQbCpycIRvWbOATooRH9Zym1Uojtt-deOSWsrpC4gVNF2llqCQSdsbG3T9BUu99XpojsPPxH4pGg1GeXaoJl8/s1600/pumpkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztGXi7mjW9IeSxhG1wch6pStaJ4k14FRyO4PjoBMami_xnBJOfc2rktYQbCpycIRvWbOATooRH9Zym1Uojtt-deOSWsrpC4gVNF2llqCQSdsbG3T9BUu99XpojsPPxH4pGg1GeXaoJl8/s400/pumpkin.jpg" width="398" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I've also been playing with <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/yarnplayer?ref=seller_info">Yarnplayer's</a> new "Small Maple Leaf" pattern. Love, love, LOVE this clever little pattern! The pattern is written so well, it works up relatively quickly, and it looks just like a maple leaf. <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/yarnplayer?ref=seller_info">Yarnplayer</a> is a very talented designer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0WXlFILu6Re9aLT6fpZi6ZjG8KkT4D6jCBhy-kUwuoNn5eo_Vjdj1sg6kuVF9x7knMuC_qR50GiXiSzGboXLCfJQwCkPcCdx2WcL9OWgJNioBQC6hX348GffqT1OwqR30gnh1GXw3-o/s1600/leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0WXlFILu6Re9aLT6fpZi6ZjG8KkT4D6jCBhy-kUwuoNn5eo_Vjdj1sg6kuVF9x7knMuC_qR50GiXiSzGboXLCfJQwCkPcCdx2WcL9OWgJNioBQC6hX348GffqT1OwqR30gnh1GXw3-o/s400/leaves.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">That's all the tatting for this past week - I've been studying for the first section of the CPA exam which I will be taking this coming Saturday. Say a prayer for me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Blessings,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-53357549759645568992011-09-18T16:57:00.000-04:002011-09-18T16:57:09.595-04:00Bead Embroidery<div style="text-align: justify;">For the last six months or so I've been playing around with what I'll call "bead embroidery." It involves sewing beads onto the tatting after the tatted piece has already been made. Sometimes the tatted pieces already have some beads incorporated in them (as I was tatting them the beads were added) and I'm just embellishing the piece with more beads, and sometimes I just take a plain tatted piece and sew all of beads directly onto it. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQITrwv7jDmCrh-azCWrx_VZibEufVo4gL9fA596tANKSnMVQ6VDI0VhskVU8_Igpm6FsOZKzm86FHMtFvcVnvFzzfAJT_tCItZSQanawtUDfj2QX0u68P7_b5PETZFJUSBLtjvTuH9ug/s1600/beadembroidery1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQITrwv7jDmCrh-azCWrx_VZibEufVo4gL9fA596tANKSnMVQ6VDI0VhskVU8_Igpm6FsOZKzm86FHMtFvcVnvFzzfAJT_tCItZSQanawtUDfj2QX0u68P7_b5PETZFJUSBLtjvTuH9ug/s400/beadembroidery1.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-WpU944sy_mWWPRfr-OPPYkrbAhD9cU97B9XqrGmleXLVm7kUlBS9kri7uLu2u8sVUxTxznVBd1rlRZ0IUK7vnmZLcnqrEXRWif-lkwhf5voSbh5ZZI0VqSIdUClxMfzL2G4w3FvjKs/s1600/beadembroidery3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-WpU944sy_mWWPRfr-OPPYkrbAhD9cU97B9XqrGmleXLVm7kUlBS9kri7uLu2u8sVUxTxznVBd1rlRZ0IUK7vnmZLcnqrEXRWif-lkwhf5voSbh5ZZI0VqSIdUClxMfzL2G4w3FvjKs/s400/beadembroidery3.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's mostly pins I make this way since they already have some kind of a filigree on the back in order to hide and attach the pin. You'll see below one pair of earrings I made this way as well.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lmJ1ULRdnAKjGZVojJdPYUmLbLAS45g2K3e9ssueHQNqXFzEpetgr1cUEs_ruZ04K6mIhlK33g55MG4tOqB5EPXI-kxLnDDSa8uVrJcQKD5FufBdhe5cRLwDteeD3LFo_0uzjQw7lb0/s1600/beadembroidery5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lmJ1ULRdnAKjGZVojJdPYUmLbLAS45g2K3e9ssueHQNqXFzEpetgr1cUEs_ruZ04K6mIhlK33g55MG4tOqB5EPXI-kxLnDDSa8uVrJcQKD5FufBdhe5cRLwDteeD3LFo_0uzjQw7lb0/s400/beadembroidery5.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I enjoy the process - not as much as the tatting itself, of course - but it is a lot more fun than making the little roses I used for many years to decorate these miniature little doilies. I've pretty much discontinued that line of my jewelry (although I still use the cameos for a little more of a Victorian flair) and was trying to figure out how I could decorate and keep brooches as part of my inventory.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFvO1sEsXQbilHJdd6TVZAivpJ_FCEM152kWSTI_QFEdZ0swEDfb3cz8Fj8hNFxmLtA0OVmZXBfPaLMFj10WqjSVjAxsVUr3RyWK2lBG3Kda9O_2o5pMq2v-50CS9EjxHogfVH7Zm8Og/s1600/beadembroidery4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFvO1sEsXQbilHJdd6TVZAivpJ_FCEM152kWSTI_QFEdZ0swEDfb3cz8Fj8hNFxmLtA0OVmZXBfPaLMFj10WqjSVjAxsVUr3RyWK2lBG3Kda9O_2o5pMq2v-50CS9EjxHogfVH7Zm8Og/s400/beadembroidery4.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHrW9UP6qvN23AGqZQrg8kuiONvrC_x99nW-h89UC53Q_OFuma_DlrSjduscMEPI8aw9pjdBCSS8HGVUXEtlKaWZ2bOCJoN5cZq2Irc3aeicqBpTQKtMQQDZH54xyYpt99zuklR0TEaM/s1600/beadembroidery2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHrW9UP6qvN23AGqZQrg8kuiONvrC_x99nW-h89UC53Q_OFuma_DlrSjduscMEPI8aw9pjdBCSS8HGVUXEtlKaWZ2bOCJoN5cZq2Irc3aeicqBpTQKtMQQDZH54xyYpt99zuklR0TEaM/s400/beadembroidery2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I've certainly got plenty of beads and had quite a few piece of plain, undecorated tatting I had originally planned on decorating with the roses, so I started experimenting and my bead embroidery was born. Right now I'm still in the developmental stages; I have a few techniques and designs I like to use often but I'm always working on coming up with something different.</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-33204218380078455752011-08-30T20:02:00.000-04:002011-08-30T20:02:39.140-04:00New Display<div style="text-align: justify;">I will once again be teaching an "intro to tatting" class on September 10th at <a href="http://www.somethingslooming.com/">somethings looming</a> in Reading, PA. Just go to <a href="http://www.somethingslooming.com/">their website</a> where you will find all the information you need to sign up if you are interested (click on "Saturday Samplers" right on the front page). <br />
<br />
I don't have any new tatting pictures to share - just haven't had time to take any. I did get a new display system this year for my art/craft shows, which I absolutely love. It's Pro Panels, which are quite pricey, but quite worth the price in my opinion. Amazingly lightweight, easy to set up and very professional looking. I've been wanting a display system like this for many years. At the end of the show season last year my husband accidentally left all my Velcro boards behind at my final show and they got thrown away (admittedly, they were in such poor shape I'm not surprised someone thought they were supposed to be trash). So this year I had to to something about getting a new display. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xN5dLdRDOK4rg9qBucG-VbgDuw2bYH-6xxNbrnIdGep52v5_5N4lOQiOzvfj1xIFFWjYuR0X2CJbHu6jc9h-oWFEnuVqMgam43iYHEZPFvuLOSkMO1oUdzB4UZD-Tnr5_SmZUABXNiM/s1600/P1000370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xN5dLdRDOK4rg9qBucG-VbgDuw2bYH-6xxNbrnIdGep52v5_5N4lOQiOzvfj1xIFFWjYuR0X2CJbHu6jc9h-oWFEnuVqMgam43iYHEZPFvuLOSkMO1oUdzB4UZD-Tnr5_SmZUABXNiM/s400/P1000370.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Actually I did away with the table in this picture and instead used more shelves on the other side for the second show of the season. I just love it! <br />
<br />
I've been working on a few special orders so I may be posting some new tatting soon as I'll have to take the time to take some pictures. Hopefully :)<br />
<br />
</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-92008271962692233132011-08-27T17:28:00.003-04:002011-09-04T17:42:50.133-04:00Drawing Patterns<div style="text-align: justify;">Hi all! Long time, no hear from me. I will hopefully be sitting for at least part of the CPA exam in November, so studying is in high gear. Still working full time, still doing art shows, and now teaching tatting as well - in other words, still biting off more than I can chew. This is the story of my life. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have been taking <a href="http://design-tat.blogspot.com/">Sharon's "Design Tat"</a> class, although I generally don't post there either and just work on things on my own when I can. I recommend the class highly (although I'm not sure when the next one is starting); it's very informative and the tutorials on writing patterns with drawing software are extremely helpful. I've been playing around today with the software and in the attempt, completed a new written pattern for my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/80590944/elizabeths-lace-original-tatting-pattern">"Tigereye Earrings"</a> and then came up with a diagram for my mini-cross (the written pattern was originally posted as Motif 24 on my blog here: <a href="http://elizabeths-lace.blogspot.com/2008/07/motif-twenty-four.html">Mini-Cross</a>). </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYohuCHNgBmqY6G1uOs4mOoU5P9-d29zZjAv2MKuNkjkNRR9jEX-Lttrlufc4UMmdmFgLuv2nTOKlHVOwpO6rNXckNoSoeWsXGQj-zt1xHAn3Z5X0uQsgp23y_iyygjWfx-r3M-M44TG8/s1600/MiniCross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYohuCHNgBmqY6G1uOs4mOoU5P9-d29zZjAv2MKuNkjkNRR9jEX-Lttrlufc4UMmdmFgLuv2nTOKlHVOwpO6rNXckNoSoeWsXGQj-zt1xHAn3Z5X0uQsgp23y_iyygjWfx-r3M-M44TG8/s400/MiniCross.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Pretty cool, if I do say so myself.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And that's all the time I have to share today - must get back to studying. I do have some "Intro to Tatting" classes coming up in the near future - watch for posts about that in the coming days and weeks ahead.</div><br />
Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-41118051387070683922011-01-26T20:46:00.001-05:002011-01-27T10:43:35.895-05:00Class Available<div style="text-align: justify;">I will be teaching an "intro to tatting" class on February 5th at <a href="http://www.somethingslooming.com/">somethings looming</a> in Reading, PA. Just go to <a href="http://www.somethingslooming.com/">their website</a> where you will find all the information you need to sign up if you are interested (click on "Saturday Samplers" right on the front page). I'm busy getting the kits together so come join us!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Apologies to my faithful readers and followers - once again life, or more specifically school and work, have taken over and I literally have no time for blogging, e-mailing, reading other blogs, etc. I know I fall off the face of the earth for months at a time. I'm still here but not doing much tatting.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I promised some customers I would post when I would be teaching a class, however, so here I am popping in just for a second.</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-18882689388292356452010-10-03T22:10:00.002-04:002010-10-03T22:12:23.168-04:00Darn Scanner<div style="text-align: justify;">My old scanner never had any problems with objects that weren't quite flat. I just laid a nice piece of paper over them and didn't close the lid. They turned out really nice. Not so with the new scanner. Flat things are OK but if I have too many large or thick beads, I seem to get a funny halo effect around the thick area. I have played with the resolution, the brightness, the backgrounds. Finally I turned off all the lights in the room and tried to scan. That met with interesting results. And a clear view of just how dusty my scanner bed was. So I turned on the dust removal tool which removed the dust but now I see a fingerprint! Oops. I'll have to take care of that before the next scan. This piece still needs to be washed and blocked and have a clasp added.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWphPwqLJ5Q_SOrKXWkDP8HxlAl2Wvc4HQ_35MyPcLayARxYZLtDOmi5L-JN6SZ0cmJYWbpTppvPj2A0sIlE5bPkTDraUtjbw41ku40ULmbUsoawHU5OZ6GCsjMQCeRvz_ERWRSUW1XQ/s1600/brownturq1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWphPwqLJ5Q_SOrKXWkDP8HxlAl2Wvc4HQ_35MyPcLayARxYZLtDOmi5L-JN6SZ0cmJYWbpTppvPj2A0sIlE5bPkTDraUtjbw41ku40ULmbUsoawHU5OZ6GCsjMQCeRvz_ERWRSUW1XQ/s400/brownturq1.jpg" width="343" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Integral to this necklace is the central polymer clay piece I mentioned in an <a href="http://elizabeths-lace.blogspot.com/2010/08/not-quite-way-i-planned-it.html">earlier post</a>. I saw the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/laurabeestudios">artist's work online</a> and went to go see her in person back in August. What incredible detail exists in each of her pieces. I love tiny work myself but this just boggles my mind - I mean, look at the clay around the edge that looks like a little ribbon woven in and out of the piece. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVoiP2UFhPHk4h4o-CKfLiGvM6Q8Wg7ufmSV1oKOdog_6PS3pKBAZBCwFB82z0J0Mp2w2JuNyBIZDUnWNAjpLBJYL4-SRmGoYaI4DKKJvezptow4ykN7D13DcbeM-153xYfcaYQOTWKU/s1600/brownturq2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVoiP2UFhPHk4h4o-CKfLiGvM6Q8Wg7ufmSV1oKOdog_6PS3pKBAZBCwFB82z0J0Mp2w2JuNyBIZDUnWNAjpLBJYL4-SRmGoYaI4DKKJvezptow4ykN7D13DcbeM-153xYfcaYQOTWKU/s400/brownturq2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is a vintage pattern (circa 1924) from Priscilla Tatting Book No. 3 - one of my favorite old books. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Back to the scanner issue - I really do not know what I am going to do about this because I'm not really crazy about the black background. It's not terrible, and the detail is good, but I'd much rather have my pretty papers. I'm not even sure if there is a way of resolving the issue. I know my old scanner didn't give me the halo effect unless I closed the lid, so I'm not even sure where to start trying to correct the problem. I'm pretty bummed at the moment. Anyone have any ideas?</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-71189321203269053482010-09-26T17:12:00.001-04:002010-09-26T17:13:41.066-04:00Snowflakes<div style="text-align: justify;">My scanner is here and I'm back in business. Another learning curve involved, however, and one I have not had a lot of time to explore as school, work, and high school football season are in full swing. I'm not quite getting the results I want yet. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am currently enjoying my pdf copy of Jon Yusoff's "Tatted Snowflakes Collection." Tatted snowflakes have been around about as long as tatting itself - so you'd think we'd run out of really different and unique patterns. Not so with Jon's book, predominantly because of the use of more "modern" tatting techniques like the use of two shuttles and split and mock rings. Here is the first one I tatted, "Alladin."</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHp4GxXBVohDMy6hl107f-Q2bi80QC5sNJuk-HAxlV_7U4wPirBFP1iW3UZ3Gfzl_EpNFXsFB1SnzcEo3Hew_CMRZHfEHwNvLhvp7gsw4LCLAwAshYmK3QEkbzamPT18HeEUjaFGJo1c/s1600/JonSnow1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHp4GxXBVohDMy6hl107f-Q2bi80QC5sNJuk-HAxlV_7U4wPirBFP1iW3UZ3Gfzl_EpNFXsFB1SnzcEo3Hew_CMRZHfEHwNvLhvp7gsw4LCLAwAshYmK3QEkbzamPT18HeEUjaFGJo1c/s400/JonSnow1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I think the thread is "Treebeard" by Lady Shuttlemaker (I really should label my thread better). I plan on making this into a necklace eventually, probably by adding a tatted/beaded chain of some sort.</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-5527217339409427442010-09-19T22:44:00.001-04:002010-09-20T02:43:16.084-04:00A Shuttle to Tat - Resurrecting an Old Pattern<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I saw this really cool idea of Chris Hinton's to suspend a tatted motif in epoxy in order to create a shuttle with it - the important links are <a href="http://www.tattingforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?62-Tatted-Shuttles">here (forum)</a> and <a href="http://nuperelle.net/ShuttleShopShuttle/">here (shop)</a>.<br />
<br />
That reminded me I had designed a shuttle pattern way back in 1998 (I hadn't tatted this pattern in a while and had kind of forgotten about it). As I remember, back when the Tat Chat group was in existence we were trying to come up with a pattern for a "tatted shuttle" and this was my contribution. I reworked the pattern slightly since then and have posted it here. If you are interested in getting one of those cool shuttles and would like to use this pattern for your tatting, feel free. There are also other shuttle-shaped patterns available on their site.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOk27iOtosuBgEph3tOAK_6XygnOTQ3JSkx4WCW0o-bMFNxU36RP_6hkdq8OAg630uahyudtWq-pUdnwx4QZDC_CPBeDIXlf5dIajmhJDx1CM6iRsZz5MRyx-Dy0pw0HWvwvXQ-ab9r2g/s1600/shuttle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOk27iOtosuBgEph3tOAK_6XygnOTQ3JSkx4WCW0o-bMFNxU36RP_6hkdq8OAg630uahyudtWq-pUdnwx4QZDC_CPBeDIXlf5dIajmhJDx1CM6iRsZz5MRyx-Dy0pw0HWvwvXQ-ab9r2g/s400/shuttle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div>Two shuttles, wound in the continuous thread method. I use the method of front side/back side tatting. In size 80 thread, the motif measures 2" x 1".<br />
<br />
Pattern Key:<br />
R ring<br />
Ch chain<br />
p picot<br />
+ joining picot<br />
vsp very small picot</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">lp long picot<br />
RW reverse work<br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Shuttle #1</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cloverleaf</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">R1 6 p 4 p 2.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">R2 2 + (to last p of previous ring) 6 vsp 2 lp 2 vsp 6 p 2.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">R3 2 + (to last p of previous ring) 4 vsp 6. RW.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ch 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 2. RW.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div>Cloverleaf<br />
R4 6 + (to last vsp of R3) 4 p 2.</div><div>R5 2 + (to last p of previous ring) 6 + (to 2nd vsp of R2) 2 + (to lp of R2) 2 vsp 6 p 2.</div><div>R6 2 + (to last p of previous ring) 4 p 6. RW.<br />
<br />
<div>Ch 2 + (to p of previous chain) 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 2. RW.</div><div>R7 3 vsp 3. RW.</div><div>Ch 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 3. RW.</div></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cloverleaf</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">R8 3 p 2 p 2.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">R9 2 + (to last p of previous ring) 3 + (to vsp of R7) 3 + (to 2nd p of R6) 2 p 2 p 3 vsp 3 p 2.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">R10 2 + (to last p of previous ring) 2 p 3. RW.</div></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Shuttle #2 </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">R11 3 + (to p of previous chain) 12 p 12 p 3. Do not RW.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Shuttle #1</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ch 3 + (to last p of previous R) 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 2. RW.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">R12 3 + (to 2nd vsp of R9). RW.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ch 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 2. RW.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cloverleaf<br />
R13 6 + (to 5th p of R9) 4 p 2.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">R14 2 + (to last p of previous ring) 6 + (to 2nd vsp of R5) 2 + (to lp of R2) 2 vsp 6 p 2.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">R15 2 + (to last p of previous ring) 4 vsp 6. RW.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div>Ch 2 + (to p of previous chain) 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 2. RW.<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cloverleaf<br />
R16 6 + (to last p of previous R) 4 p 2.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">R17 2 + (to last p of previous ring) 6 + (to 2nd vsp of R14) 2 + (to lp of R2) 2 +(to 1st vsp of R2) 6 p 2.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">R18 2 + (to last p of previous ring) 4 p 6. RW.</div><br />
<div>Ch 2 + (to p of previous chain) 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 2. RW.</div><div>R19 3 vsp 3. RW.</div>Ch 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 3. RW.<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
Cloverleaf</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">R20 3 p 2 p 2.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">R21 2 + (to last p of previous ring) 3 + (to vsp of R19) 3 + (to last p of R18) 2 p 2 + (to 1st p 0f R1) 3 vsp 3 p 2.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">R22 2 + (to last p of previous ring) 2 p 3. RW.</div><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Shuttle #2 </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">R23 3 + (to p of previous chain) 12 p 12 p 3. Do not RW.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Shuttle #1</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ch 3 + (to last p of previous R) 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 2. RW.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">R24 3 + (to 2nd vsp of R21). RW.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ch 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 p 2 + (to 1st p of the 1st Ch) 2. Tie off ends at base of first cloverleaf.</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-29235790683839441582010-09-06T11:14:00.001-04:002010-09-06T12:21:59.167-04:00Nothing New to Report (Tatting-wise, anyway)<div style="text-align: justify;">I have no tatting to share because I have been very busy - my in-laws are up from Florida for a visit, I started school again, and I bought a new laptop. My Dell laptop turned 4 years old this month and it was time to lay it to rest. It has served me well but got quite cranky over the last six months or so and I was trying to decide whether I wanted to just wipe the whole thing by reinstalling Windows again (for the forth time), or go ahead and upgrade. Plus the battery gave out about a year ago and so it has to be plugged in all the time. Kind of a pain for a laptop.<br />
<br />
I shopped around and decided to go with an Acer Aspire. I had some specific items I was looking for - namely, a keypad as part of the keyboard (for my bookkeeping and accounting), a power plug that doesn't stick out of the laptop by 3 inches (I will never understand why all laptops are not equipped with an elbow power cord. I killed my previous Dell because the thing stuck out so far it kept getting bumped. I mean, isn't the point of a laptop it gets moved around a lot and so you don't want things sticking out in all directions?? - but I digress.), and a nice large screen and good sound system because I watch a lot of movies and TV shows on my laptop while I am tatting. The Acer has Dolby Virtual Surround Sound (really, really nice) and a 17.3" screen. The Acer had all the things I wanted at a really good price.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So I spent this past week moving things over from my Dell. I did manage to disable the Acer's DVD player twice, once because I installed a software program that was not compatible with Windows 7, and again when I tried to install my 7-year-old scanner - also not Windows 7 compatible. Why it chooses to disable the DVD player I have no idea. With the software glitch I was able to use a system restore point to go back, but the scanner killed the system restore too and I spent three hours surfing the web trying to find a solution that didn't involve resetting the entire computer back to factory standards - after I'd already moved over all of my data - and I finally found it on Microsoft's own website. I had to go in a edit the registry but it's all working again now and I'm in the market for a new scanner.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I love the laptop so far; Windows 7 of course has given me some trouble but changing operating systems after four years always involves a learning curve. Once I get a new scanner then I will be back up and running and able to scan some more of my tatting to share.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-58709077489100201552010-08-19T00:00:00.001-04:002010-08-19T00:02:21.312-04:00Not Quite the Way I Planned It.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some ideas just do not turn out like you envisioned them. This is one of those projects. Over the weekend I visited the Eagle's Mere, PA Art and Craft Show to contact a particular artist who's work I was interested in combining with my own. I'll share more about that in a later blog post when I actually get something put together. Anyway, I bought a pair of her earrings and since I was planning on using only her handmade beads in my work, thought I might experiment a little with the really cool ear wires the beads were originally attached to.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJZvmMqf4w5c2-AxJ-yDUlXlM9_2YrLx_AMrqYcqcAP-zGhNBSs-OrjGr7yksTUs3iKb-dbOs_55M42y5WNakXBAFXCAaasmuAbPAS1xVEP1eOh32Eo2giywnMeEBoppZADeHMt6W7Ps/s1600/greenonwire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJZvmMqf4w5c2-AxJ-yDUlXlM9_2YrLx_AMrqYcqcAP-zGhNBSs-OrjGr7yksTUs3iKb-dbOs_55M42y5WNakXBAFXCAaasmuAbPAS1xVEP1eOh32Eo2giywnMeEBoppZADeHMt6W7Ps/s400/greenonwire.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I got out <a href="http://tatsaway.blogspot.com/">Jon Yusoff's</a> "Tatting with Rings" to remind myself how to tat onto the wire and away I went. I had a great time designing these and I love the way they look but unfortunately they are not practical. In order to get them in your ears you have to be really, really careful that you don't squash the tatting as you manipulate the wire into your earlobe and as you are trying to fasten the ear wire as well (you end up having to hold your fingers right on the tatting itself as you put them on). So, while I don't mind and know how to take the kind of care necessary to wear these and enjoy them, the design won't work for most customers. For now, I'll just keep going and do some more designing with rings and wire. These go in my own jewelry box to enjoy (yay)!</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-88632378030436503952010-08-16T00:39:00.002-04:002010-08-16T00:51:07.801-04:00Another One Down<div style="text-align: justify;">I didn't do much blogging these past few weeks as I was finishing up another course in pursuit of my CPA license - Intermediate Accounting I. Well, today I finally took my final exam. I'm glad this class is over. I had a much more difficult time with this course than the three that came before it - did fine on the homework, thought I knew what I was doing and then I'd get to the tests and it would all go downhill. I still got a A in the class and managed to maintain my 4.0 average - but it was much more of a struggle this time. Here's hoping Intermediate Accounting II is not quite so hard (along with Business Law II, it starts in a week).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5n_rlKb8Hc6MczDTSE1dUSfMvwRQrbmngV9oANsKi4HccP5qv478KzByndEwXQquaErgKeHzvW69Xf1awPU0I05tc27XM7WdQXmHMP2N4OpLkorVjXDvtBToT1p40A65OZr6HR9PGZrI/s1600/magnolia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5n_rlKb8Hc6MczDTSE1dUSfMvwRQrbmngV9oANsKi4HccP5qv478KzByndEwXQquaErgKeHzvW69Xf1awPU0I05tc27XM7WdQXmHMP2N4OpLkorVjXDvtBToT1p40A65OZr6HR9PGZrI/s400/magnolia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've had this thread, called "<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/48515652/magnolia-size-20-varigated-hand-dyed?ref=sr_gallery_2&%3Bga_search_query=magnolia+thread&%3Bga_search_type=handmade&%3Bga_page=&%3Border=&%3Bincludes[0]=tags&%3Bincludes[1]=title">Magnolia</a>", in my stash for a while without using it. [Yes, I have entirely too much hand-dyed thread.] This one is from<a href="http://ladyshuttlemaker.blogspot.com/"> LadyShuttleMaker</a>. It is a beautiful combination of a light lilac, creamy pale yellow, and ecru. Very subtle and just lovely. She uses a high quality cotton thread which tats up nicely as well. The pattern is from Occhi: Schiffchenspitze, a German book which has very clear diagrams and some unusual patterns.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhht5t8Kb24p7241TKbIzEQhYKokGlkTZRqlUpwgTly1IXda4BcbLEOfhP7bl5hqENICdopqjh0035FJrpUfjt8-55qf2sGmX7E2umJpRMjIzpXt2co6tBZtqBEqIXx5WK4Topkbzxf06o/s1600/OcchiBook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhht5t8Kb24p7241TKbIzEQhYKokGlkTZRqlUpwgTly1IXda4BcbLEOfhP7bl5hqENICdopqjh0035FJrpUfjt8-55qf2sGmX7E2umJpRMjIzpXt2co6tBZtqBEqIXx5WK4Topkbzxf06o/s400/OcchiBook.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've wanted to try this pattern for several months and finally found some time. I mark pages in books with paperclips to remind me to revisit certain patterns when I get a chance. This is one round of a larger doily in the book. The most fun was deciding how I wanted to add beads. You see where the long bugle beads are - that's the kind of thing I find <a href="http://elizabeths-lace.blogspot.com/2010/01/picot-gauges.html">picot gauges</a> to be very handy for. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Be5-o2zZA5JC5eGgtTWVYdzGOSMGxtj0TWtlYbkDwYs1gKuV3n2m67_Lza2xFV1IDVa3w-koaycjxdKoTBFJ4PeGiwmpPqzjzeUsiM2LJ9CwAi0lxw_Pb3Kyc2T3QMy7WaJrxKkchWA/s1600/magnolia+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Be5-o2zZA5JC5eGgtTWVYdzGOSMGxtj0TWtlYbkDwYs1gKuV3n2m67_Lza2xFV1IDVa3w-koaycjxdKoTBFJ4PeGiwmpPqzjzeUsiM2LJ9CwAi0lxw_Pb3Kyc2T3QMy7WaJrxKkchWA/s400/magnolia+%282%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">You can get the picots to be exactly the right length for these bugle beads so that the beads fit perfectly over the picots with no extra thread sticking out. So far, I am very pleased with the way this project is going.</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-16388914048764481002010-08-10T00:05:00.005-04:002010-08-10T16:59:54.279-04:00I ♥ My Mailman, #4<div style="text-align: justify;">I thank God for <a href="http://hhtatting.com/">Handy Hands Tatting</a>. They are one of my favorite suppliers for all things tatting, both shuttle and needle...books, threads, and tools. Usually when a tatter who meets me at a show asks me where I get my supplies, I send them to <a href="http://hhtatting.com/">Handy Hands</a>. They cater specifically to tatters, which makes them very valuable and fairly rare - especially with the extensive line of supplies they offer. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">DMC has been discontinuing thread colors right and left, especially in tatting thread and Cebelia, which are two of the most common threads I use in my work - they have discontinued most of the colors that are my staple colors. That's why I am so thankful Handy Hands is around - they have developed their own line of thread, Lizbeth, which comes in lots of sizes and colors, including lovely variegated shades. My favorites (so far) are a nice deep orange, a lovely silver - seen here:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqnNPpN6QFGpwsRar3ywlHlLLealMHHLLy7Fzc59vSSfNm4c5XTQdVPstvWKyD_G-m2TNWawf8D0oKPStWQBqhGNYH_C4_LMv4YNaU1DPU1znnqjbUWBVSZ0pX6eXEsgab3RUJyV9pe8/s1600/silver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqnNPpN6QFGpwsRar3ywlHlLLealMHHLLy7Fzc59vSSfNm4c5XTQdVPstvWKyD_G-m2TNWawf8D0oKPStWQBqhGNYH_C4_LMv4YNaU1DPU1znnqjbUWBVSZ0pX6eXEsgab3RUJyV9pe8/s400/silver.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9TDFfTa9CN_8bjrVAkoGFyWIUGnMhGcSuoR16HhVmeeGKUbmS04QSrA3VaT9CEyenF9sdnVorLiGkkGgAfDYZl0RrDG7R6qz8Fxbd1WSKZaaBKtLgY6OpgsQzMuO07kC36ggK_0VigM/s1600/springheart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9TDFfTa9CN_8bjrVAkoGFyWIUGnMhGcSuoR16HhVmeeGKUbmS04QSrA3VaT9CEyenF9sdnVorLiGkkGgAfDYZl0RrDG7R6qz8Fxbd1WSKZaaBKtLgY6OpgsQzMuO07kC36ggK_0VigM/s400/springheart.jpg" width="240" /></a>...and my newest aquisition, Spring Garden. I played with it for quite a few days this week. I also did some bead weaving to match my heart pattern - little hearts made of beads! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have read on other blogs and in forums that some people do not like Lizbeth thread, but I have not had any problems so far. I like it much better than soft threads like Caron Wildflowers and embroidery floss. I also like it better than Manuala (too stiff) probably a little better than DMC Cebelia. I still prefer DMC Cordonnet but of course you are limited to black, white, and ecru unless you find someone hand-dying it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0FKAvuPy9U3Lhc2FSiBMs1MqNNMsrLwSsDLLWSvZezc7WuUpKgpG2Ygz4Qz5ZVX5NopohQrpe7kgD_5hWGS8_mCEt92RutGOpIh_grSeX6Xpz82FEesBZbMA9xtXnVwQethm6f4uYzw/s1600/springstuff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0FKAvuPy9U3Lhc2FSiBMs1MqNNMsrLwSsDLLWSvZezc7WuUpKgpG2Ygz4Qz5ZVX5NopohQrpe7kgD_5hWGS8_mCEt92RutGOpIh_grSeX6Xpz82FEesBZbMA9xtXnVwQethm6f4uYzw/s400/springstuff.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I also ordered a Japanese book, one of my weaknesses, I confess. I love foreign books, but I especially love the Japanese books with all their glorious photographs and wonderful diagrammed patterns. I just drool over the photographs especially - such wonderful staging! ;-) This book is called."Tatting Lace" (actually, that's the name of several of my Japanese books, I think) and it contains mainly beaded necklaces. They are a bit too beaded for my taste, I really prefer that my tatting looks more like tatting than like bead work - that's a personal preference. There are two lovely scarves which I cannot imagine myself making because they would take forever and be too monotonous - I have difficulty with repeating patterns and pieces that take more than 10 hours. But the pictures give me different ideas about displaying my work at shows so I did get something out of the purchase.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you, Mr. Mailman (and <a href="http://hhtatting.com/">Handy Hands Tatting</a>)!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">♥</span></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-23130020765104305502010-08-03T19:40:00.000-04:002010-08-03T19:40:57.755-04:00Happy Birthday!Happy Birthday wishes to my twin sons, Ed & Eric - today is their 18th birthday! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdi4eG2m1R5amlGLXrGFwQsMqcnoOHBoGFEw83l9f6KCDgMMLUzfMZy917zcvkNwHPWfGklx-jk53jU1deQ6lMiMpjSyaBers9Jj0R-v6Yrmaqsay8PQIUhEpDSBWc17MZini-uY14zA/s1600/img_2799+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdi4eG2m1R5amlGLXrGFwQsMqcnoOHBoGFEw83l9f6KCDgMMLUzfMZy917zcvkNwHPWfGklx-jk53jU1deQ6lMiMpjSyaBers9Jj0R-v6Yrmaqsay8PQIUhEpDSBWc17MZini-uY14zA/s400/img_2799+%282%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Aren't they handsome? That's because they look just like their dad. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">:-) </div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-39839157636542587022010-08-03T01:58:00.001-04:002010-08-03T02:01:08.670-04:00I ♥ My Mailman, #3<div style="text-align: justify;">There was a time when I was very envious of tatters who use post shuttles. I do my share of lurking around on ebay, in antique stores, tatting supply vendors, and any other place that I might possibly run across nice shuttles. Some of them are really pretty; they come in lots of colors, lovely materials like bone, wood, celluloid, sterling silver. But let's face it - 99% of them are post shuttles. I have collected quite a few nice decorative shuttles on ebay and elsewhere - but they are all post shuttles. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's the dilemma - I don't use post shuttles. They are nice for collecting but for me they aren't practical. They take a long time to wind and you can't change colors easily. I change colors all the time. I'd need a million post shuttles with my million different color and size threads in order to work efficiently. So I only use removable bobbin shuttles. I have used Boye metal bobbin shuttles in the past and I like the antique ones. The new metal ones are complete crap. But mostly I stick to Aeros. I like them. They have a built in crochet hook which I prefer, I can change colors often, they are easy to acquire and are relative inexpensive. But let's face it - they are BORING. Dull gray, plastic, blah. As a result, I had post-shuttle envy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But no more.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYMCBumlo9RJXMtyKFdmoPVTJRNnqNh-Cx_MtYLaVZy4GXCQQE0U5bYfW_F9ewACA-S-DTNlY2YNY6yyP4XPO1srklfezOCb0dxuusHc4rioWZLp0ojk-GwWKb6KYdm1EL4bjWt8Uuck/s1600/shuttles+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYMCBumlo9RJXMtyKFdmoPVTJRNnqNh-Cx_MtYLaVZy4GXCQQE0U5bYfW_F9ewACA-S-DTNlY2YNY6yyP4XPO1srklfezOCb0dxuusHc4rioWZLp0ojk-GwWKb6KYdm1EL4bjWt8Uuck/s400/shuttles+001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thanks to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/LaCossette">LaCossette</a> on etsy.com, no more plain gray shuttles - I can have pretty shuttles too! I have been using mine for almost three weeks now and I LOVE them. Not only because they are so pretty, but because the little bobbin-winding tail you usually find on an Aero-type shuttle (I never used it anyway and just thought it got in the way) has been removed. This makes the shuttle smaller and it fits in my hand better. Another thing I discovered after using these pretty little shuttles for a while is that I prefer the feel of these to the plain gray shuttle. The decoration causes them to have a bit of a texture to them, and when I pick up a plain Aero shuttle after using one of these, it feels almost slimy it's so slick and smooth.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And - they are decorated differently on each side!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMt0_ORpd0bnFYN7DJL1vD9t2TDmRGOBiBycHFuekNl2pXbiTFpwv3wIbqS7CF3bBJCD3pLAly2ZfUY7pIYdjrzKXTBJqzEcL9DMb8Nbwl4K2LSQ3JVfzjiKe0l-JkmW928WZBlsbABo/s1600/shuttles+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMt0_ORpd0bnFYN7DJL1vD9t2TDmRGOBiBycHFuekNl2pXbiTFpwv3wIbqS7CF3bBJCD3pLAly2ZfUY7pIYdjrzKXTBJqzEcL9DMb8Nbwl4K2LSQ3JVfzjiKe0l-JkmW928WZBlsbABo/s400/shuttles+002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The only problem I have now is I'm having a hard time limiting myself to a reasonable number because they are all so wonderful! So far I have (from the top going clockwise) "Oriental Jewel", "America", "Paisley", "Daisy", "Summer Meadow", "Black and White", "Regal Blue", and "Dapper". But let's face it, I mean, how many bobbin shuttles do you really need? You need a lot of bobbins, yes, but you don't really need that many shuttles. I just can't seem to help myself, however. I've had post-shuttle envy for so long I went a little crazy and bought eight right off the bat. I have been trying to avoid her shop for now but have already hinted to my husband that Christmas is not that far off.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Thanks again, Mr. Mailman (and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/LaCossette">LaCossette</a>)!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">♥</span></div></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-69733892958185772632010-07-28T23:39:00.002-04:002010-08-10T10:55:40.066-04:00I ♥ My Mailman, #2<div style="text-align: justify;">There are some tatters I am in absolute awe of, and <a href="http://yarnplayertats.blogspot.com/">Yarnplayer</a> is one of them. Not only does she create the most beautiful hand-dyed threads (of which I have many), but she creates lovely tatted jewelry AND she is a fantastic, and prolific, designer. So far she has written numerous small patterns and TWO BOOKS! Where does she find the time? I often wonder. I have a hard time getting my original patterns written down anywhere, and I can't even imagine the descriptions, and the diagrams, and the tips & techniques, and the pictures (you know the problem I have with pictures) that would be necessary for a book. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oh, I imagine myself writing a book. I have lots of <i>ideas</i> for a book. Just not a lot of time. Or motivation. Or a good camera for all those pictures.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, the second present my wonderful mailman brought me was Yarnplayer's new book "<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/51857267/up-and-tat-em-tatting-book">Up and Tat 'Em</a>". While my favorite pattern is her "<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/yarnplayer/4075381411/">Beguile Set</a>," that particular pattern is going to require a little more concentration and time to make. In fact, I need to obtain some nice rings to use in that pattern first anyway. So instead, I started out with her "Five Petal Pendant."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpAQ-VclF24rsDMtI1rnuh970lQ1HnG2JQmJIPwlDp4icfCI6V85m7zCc8HPnLNqIpjs8CbEed3uo0wsL1Sa-e2vOVdmquTEPQ9C0VWVv2cEq4A3UkrJRTh3wUG88bMyw0nLpl7ro7W0/s1600/yarnplayer4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpAQ-VclF24rsDMtI1rnuh970lQ1HnG2JQmJIPwlDp4icfCI6V85m7zCc8HPnLNqIpjs8CbEed3uo0wsL1Sa-e2vOVdmquTEPQ9C0VWVv2cEq4A3UkrJRTh3wUG88bMyw0nLpl7ro7W0/s200/yarnplayer4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIsnIh6nQaw5kFZ1tTf5znRw_ozok86DNq3t8me6wsljCW8Z8nNMJtHuZY6MtUPYF3bW_bSsm968kTNbsJj7VNdeF6QIBOH_R67gUurZM2qgaSShlQnKiav25SIAY4-ttA6gTieZT-5Q/s1600/yarnplayer3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIsnIh6nQaw5kFZ1tTf5znRw_ozok86DNq3t8me6wsljCW8Z8nNMJtHuZY6MtUPYF3bW_bSsm968kTNbsJj7VNdeF6QIBOH_R67gUurZM2qgaSShlQnKiav25SIAY4-ttA6gTieZT-5Q/s200/yarnplayer3.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> The piece on the right is tatted in a black DMC Cebelia, size 20, with round copper beads. Can I say I LOVE her technique of adding a bead in the middle of a ring? The book was worth it for that technique alone! The piece on the left was tatted with Yarnplayer's own Watermelon Tourmaline thread (still probably my all-time favorite hand-dyed thread color), size 20, with her coordinating plum thread on the outer round. Olive green Swarovski crystals compliment this thread beautifully. This pattern was a pleasure to tat and I love the results. I was having so much fun I decided to try "Belle" as well.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYxbubGuYcwTyCGW31KRentUEbHgZTNhgK1UTh5vP2C3OM2bUWfE8OFNoTll-jfvgOKx_YjJ7ysxpt3OvpRrYgP4ZOSMp-LP1XQrounYFLMmWOj4gfFtuAwGI5AbWW3NVBlaEZTeW8pM/s1600/yarnplayer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYxbubGuYcwTyCGW31KRentUEbHgZTNhgK1UTh5vP2C3OM2bUWfE8OFNoTll-jfvgOKx_YjJ7ysxpt3OvpRrYgP4ZOSMp-LP1XQrounYFLMmWOj4gfFtuAwGI5AbWW3NVBlaEZTeW8pM/s400/yarnplayer2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This one is tatted in size 20 olive green DMC Cebelia with navy blue/olive delicas, a Swarovski pearl in the center and crystal at the bottom. Another lovely pattern with easy to follow instructions, great pictures, and a fabulous result. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I highly recommend the book "<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/51857267/up-and-tat-em-tatting-book">Up and Tat 'Em</a>", as I do all of <a href="http://yarnplayertats.blogspot.com/">Yarnplayer's</a> patterns and threads. Add this book to your tatting library - you will not be disappointed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you, Mr. Mailman (and <a href="http://yarnplayertats.blogspot.com/">Yarnplayer</a>)! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">♥</span></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-22779671434531506282010-07-25T23:20:00.002-04:002010-08-10T10:54:27.355-04:00I ♥ My Mailman<div style="text-align: justify;">Today I start a series on why I love my mailman so much. He brings me presents! Over the last two weeks or so I have received some lovely things in the mail, which I will share with you over the next few blog posts. I'll also share some of my favorite tatting vendors with you - some you are probably already familiar with, but perhaps some new? And hopefully there are beginner tatters reading this blog who will be introduced to some great resources for all things tatting.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">First up is a new vendor to me, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Krystledawne">Krystledawne</a>. She and her alter ego, Dr. Vonthreadmore (you can read all about the two of them on her <a href="http://krystledawnetats.blogspot.com/">blog</a>), create some lovely hand-dyed threads. As you may know, I am a hand-dyed thread addict. I have more hand-dyed thread than one person should really be allowed, but when I saw her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/51712609/vineyard-at-dusk-hand-dyed-tatting-and">"Vineyard at Dusk"</a> - well, I just had to have some. It is a wonderful combination of earthy tones and a lovely vibrant purple. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I went looking for a pattern that would look like clusters of grapes to use with the thread and came across this pattern online, designed by <a href="http://lady-lace.blogspot.com/">Sparrow Kelley</a>, called <a href="http://theanticraft.com/archive/beltane10/midnightviolets.htm">"Midnight Violets"</a>. I thought it was a perfect fit for this thread, and the bracelet below is the result of the two in combination.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9dPSxIe-JBeg-gRFnIO56dZcsXfaCy2rCkii2hGIRREwkvG4PVU12MiQni5bIo6gXKcE09kcDj1IKy2ITG3GyjWbfViWC_4fy21h_BR9vBcDpuQF0e1oK4xP6elpqZPb0b26PKxTlpY/s1600/vineyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9dPSxIe-JBeg-gRFnIO56dZcsXfaCy2rCkii2hGIRREwkvG4PVU12MiQni5bIo6gXKcE09kcDj1IKy2ITG3GyjWbfViWC_4fy21h_BR9vBcDpuQF0e1oK4xP6elpqZPb0b26PKxTlpY/s400/vineyard.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I made earrings to match, based on my long elegant earring pattern but adapted slightly to better match <a href="http://theanticraft.com/archive/beltane10/midnightviolets.htm">"Midnight Violets."</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzCgGLa0AoTO57dI08NK4nooehcI-rW8EcNuoCBRo9lVQC93Pk6BVjOLphiNvjcrFncLV1nYSycDSDjnOBP_wm2Mcak_6mhVsfhkgZSHsRUjT6Fgs0mdbknFs1V98SrE0y3KmKYhR09E/s1600/vineyardears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzCgGLa0AoTO57dI08NK4nooehcI-rW8EcNuoCBRo9lVQC93Pk6BVjOLphiNvjcrFncLV1nYSycDSDjnOBP_wm2Mcak_6mhVsfhkgZSHsRUjT6Fgs0mdbknFs1V98SrE0y3KmKYhR09E/s400/vineyardears.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, if you have a chance, visit <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/krystledawne">Krystledawne</a> in her etsy shop. She is a little short on thread at the moment as she is also busy creating her tatted jewelry, but I know I will be keeping my watchful eye peeled for more of her beautiful thread creations.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Thanks, Mr. Mailman (and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Krystledawne">Krystledawne</a>)!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>♥</span></span></div></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-47394444370829081662010-07-23T00:36:00.016-04:002010-07-23T11:21:18.829-04:00New Pattern Available<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mtWlvhebp9kQ6deHkGeV71iTmbgGJ0mvrNlY8mAevel7iJDCkB3LS6F9HOSpP9np2U_yPb7KjdRScNbY73TJzN6V-WCMUgG8tlvzmKXdrX-IcIXtzFIjNgeR30q-5L_pLafKz7p2qoI/s1600/flora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mtWlvhebp9kQ6deHkGeV71iTmbgGJ0mvrNlY8mAevel7iJDCkB3LS6F9HOSpP9np2U_yPb7KjdRScNbY73TJzN6V-WCMUgG8tlvzmKXdrX-IcIXtzFIjNgeR30q-5L_pLafKz7p2qoI/s200/flora.jpg" width="200" /></a>I've managed to get another of my patterns written up and it's available for sale in my etsy shop. This one teaches you how to do what I call "sewing" on a bead cluster with a focal bead (the sewing is done as you are making the lace with the tatting thread itself, so the bead work is still incorporated right into the lace). It's one of my favorite ways to add beads, and while it is easier to do on small pieces, I will do it even when I've got a lot of thread to pull through the beads, because I really like the results.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6GJYNkyswbVHFQApeZxRr7FXftlPFK9md2pwOjGvUXNIEuIS4qeunaMfxrUSq2ahtahN_-sljTu9qqM2CCV4hdNv0atGeNLf10JwE71eofTqtLttfR8TRHPPzCkj9e3m845jl5aGgzE/s1600/purple-flower-ears3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6GJYNkyswbVHFQApeZxRr7FXftlPFK9md2pwOjGvUXNIEuIS4qeunaMfxrUSq2ahtahN_-sljTu9qqM2CCV4hdNv0atGeNLf10JwE71eofTqtLttfR8TRHPPzCkj9e3m845jl5aGgzE/s200/purple-flower-ears3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
I call this pattern "Flora" because it reminds me of a little flower. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><-----------Look at this picture! Another failed attempt at staging! Why is it so yellow? you may ask. Well, I told you I just can't seem to get the lighting right. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<br />
Here's another example (below) of "sewing" on beads, but in the middle of a necklace. As I mentioned, this method of beading on tatting can give you problems if your thread is really long, but the effect is well worth it, in my opinion. A little bit of patience and steady hands will go a long way.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZcIdCqZBCIXiP48BPsBhY-fIOj0lTXRuP9iSUyoGvEABXjFa8hRp1K4F6RWKq5aTh_b_xA1OoJ6cqjScCdaJaaqwMESXUg0wGFUdiaWtMzSJrOsOAOocjmoWEY5g0sEhrgk_ofV2KMo/s1600/taupeswav4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZcIdCqZBCIXiP48BPsBhY-fIOj0lTXRuP9iSUyoGvEABXjFa8hRp1K4F6RWKq5aTh_b_xA1OoJ6cqjScCdaJaaqwMESXUg0wGFUdiaWtMzSJrOsOAOocjmoWEY5g0sEhrgk_ofV2KMo/s400/taupeswav4.jpg" width="395" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/51693174/original-tatting-pattern-flora-earrings"></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Anyway, if you're interested, pop on over to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/51693174/original-tatting-pattern-flora-earrings">etsy</a> and have a look.</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-29175540893838948572010-07-21T00:13:00.001-04:002010-07-21T00:13:50.361-04:00Why Must It Be So Difficult?<div style="text-align: justify;">I am crazy for tatting, I love designing jewelry, and I the more I learn, the more I adore bead weaving - but I can't take good pictures of my work to save my life. It's not just the taking of the pictures which I am bad at....I mean, they are <b>really bad</b> - blurry, too dark or too bright, not centered correctly, coloring is way off - you get the idea. But I have serious problems with the <i>staging</i> of the item I'm trying to take a picture of. By staging I mean creating a mood for a piece with props and lighting. I have no eye or creative imagination whatsoever when it comes to that sort of thing. Some people just seem to do that naturally - take a gander over at <a href="http://etsy.com/">etsy.com</a> and you'll see what I mean - the front page is a plethora of staging at its finest. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've always had a problem with my display for art/craft shows as well...the other artists around me have displays that look like they belong in a museum and me...well, my display just looks like it belongs in a flea market. Sigh. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had a friend come over recently and take some pictures with his camera to see if maybe it was just my camera that was the problem - yeah, right - but these were the only two pictures (and we took A LOT of pictures) that came out even halfway decent, and in the first one I just noticed that one of the earrings is flipped backwards on the ear wire, and of course it bugs me that the ear wires are not straight either. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQ7x3Zf6RUgBjB76RJ5JMb5aN8E3jMc-ADwdDIUuZCbpadbp91t4tiXOECB-5_1Zof1efX4bNi0eqOz0aAR6mFrDVKbS4zuEFEyuwmNtD3uy6m1KYU7SlucgH-oxcrEOenixQobcuUOY/s1600/DSC00283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQ7x3Zf6RUgBjB76RJ5JMb5aN8E3jMc-ADwdDIUuZCbpadbp91t4tiXOECB-5_1Zof1efX4bNi0eqOz0aAR6mFrDVKbS4zuEFEyuwmNtD3uy6m1KYU7SlucgH-oxcrEOenixQobcuUOY/s400/DSC00283.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNZ1RfHITpdRk2wc8ztNYGa1tjWsZXsmgSIQu7Zd_9rjo1_BEixpTsr3h_pgj3xP4a_7QDXH37iQpGplx6Tzrt_S53idlP3cj1nkXEGJT6JTAoAuKw9HEFiW6ydNgnrowlQBIeKL0N2s/s1600/DSC00268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNZ1RfHITpdRk2wc8ztNYGa1tjWsZXsmgSIQu7Zd_9rjo1_BEixpTsr3h_pgj3xP4a_7QDXH37iQpGplx6Tzrt_S53idlP3cj1nkXEGJT6JTAoAuKw9HEFiW6ydNgnrowlQBIeKL0N2s/s400/DSC00268.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As in most of my previous posts, I guess I will just continue to scan things on nice paper backgrounds. At least that way they are clear and show the work well, even if I haven't managed to set any kind of a mood in which my work can really shine.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thanks, by the way, to all those who welcomed me back to blog-land - I'm glad to see there are some people who hung around! </div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974847403531333929.post-61950485022695838442010-07-17T00:00:00.003-04:002010-07-17T01:11:14.044-04:00Well, hello!<div style="text-align: justify;">It's been a long, long time since I posted - look at that last post - January! Dear me. I'm fortunate to still have followers, I think. Thanks for sticking with me, inconsistent as I am. School, family, work, and life in general all conspire against poor ole Blogger. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Although I am a busy person I still always find time for tatting. Also, learning new bead-weaving techniques is one of my favorite things to do nowadays. Here's a recent piece that combines both techniques.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZR6BTUXci2Y-cHAfVhPMcbZ7_zQ-S-e4Gc6C1GKdIc_ZK2cEhKd0kGfrH6ueTvZjCBv4DHA5j9BnsGsG-TyOGuvdxv_8X5riLRQUk1WFg-aZNqKztI2oqPl-sw54TMFLFOcPzh8CWV0/s1600/largerose+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZR6BTUXci2Y-cHAfVhPMcbZ7_zQ-S-e4Gc6C1GKdIc_ZK2cEhKd0kGfrH6ueTvZjCBv4DHA5j9BnsGsG-TyOGuvdxv_8X5riLRQUk1WFg-aZNqKztI2oqPl-sw54TMFLFOcPzh8CWV0/s400/largerose+%282%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Beaded leaves compliment this vintage pattern from "Lily Doilies & Edgings to Tat & Crochet" in <a href="http://yarnplayertats.blogspot.com/">Yarnplayer's</a> gorgeous "Roses" thread. A picture of the entire necklace will reveal a problem however.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6zzju4JdyjK3r4wAr__ixERtAqM8qJ_X-NjJfMwZbM-3NfCdFqAHYlUTYOafXCY3uN9TEnimMMkO8_OBKaoZ94OTep4mk8_Ph7A_P6DkUQ1aakUoLlcPncrF93zb9tRXUqrwlRRbGRk/s1600/largerose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6zzju4JdyjK3r4wAr__ixERtAqM8qJ_X-NjJfMwZbM-3NfCdFqAHYlUTYOafXCY3uN9TEnimMMkO8_OBKaoZ94OTep4mk8_Ph7A_P6DkUQ1aakUoLlcPncrF93zb9tRXUqrwlRRbGRk/s640/largerose.jpg" width="438" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've been wearing it myself (rather than offering it for sale) once I realized the mistake. I will get around to fixing that wayward upside-down bead one of these days. I do plan on remaking the necklace for sale and keeping this one, however, because while wearing it I fell in love with it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In other news, the <a href="http://elizabeths-lace.blogspot.com/2009/09/ooooh-pretty.html">"Garden Afternoon"</a> piece finally sold at my latest show - it looked so good on the lady who bought it that while I was a bit sad to see it go, I was comforted by the fact that it found a great home. In my mind a piece is never really "finished" until you get to see someone wearing it. All the work and time and creative energy and love you put into it is then - somehow - complete.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">That's all for now, but hopefully I'll be a little more active in the days and weeks to come. Thanks again for hanging around!</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541621843343282192noreply@blogger.com11