Finished!

Well, it took longer than I like to spend on a bookmark, but the last one is finished!  Now to make sure everything is all packed up, ready to load tonight so I am ready to be at the show for the 7:30am setup. :-O

 

I'll be sure to take my camera with me (with fresh batteries!) so I can take photos of my setup at the beginning of the show.

Two more Bookmarks done

I was hoping to get three more bookmarks done before Saturday.  Well, I managed two, but don't know about the third.  I had to go into the Pain Clinic today for an injection and it took them 3 tries to find a vein for the IV...sheesh!  Not sure the resulting swelling/bruising is going to let me get the last one finished (it is started though...started it last night watching an Encore presentation of the Beatles Special)  In the mean time, here you go....

This bookmark is missing the last row, which I very seldom ever add.

This bookmark is based on a bookmark posted by an InTatters member.  My own stitch counts though.  To me, it looks like a rotated version of Jane's Bookmark using Lock Chains between elements.

The last bookmark, should I get it finished is my pattern for the Twisted Celtic Clovers Bookmark, done in Ocean Turquoise and Daffodil Yellow.  (Oh, I'm SO ready for Spring!  Can you tell?  lol)

Oh my!

Oh wow!  I hadn't realized that it had been quite so long since I've been here and posted!  (color me embarrassed!)   I have been very busy this last year, making jewelry and other things for the local Farmers Market and Craft Shows.  I'm currently getting ready for the upcoming season for the Farmers Market...it starts on April 27th.  Can you believe we have snow on the ground again though?  :-O

I have a new love to share with you all!  I recently discovered Kumihimo (Japaneses Braiding). 

I started out with a Kumi Loom, but really didn't like the lack of tension control.  I wanted to go all out and get a Marudai, but the ones online START at $105! Not....so, I was going to have my brother (who loves working in wood) make me one when one of the ladies over at InTatters mentioned that she made one with a wooden stool purchased at WalMart.  So...I went to WalMart, got a 24" tall stool for under $20, ordered 24 wooden thread spools from Ebay and then went to Home Depot with my digital scales and bought washers and bolts to make the Tama (weighted spools).

Here are some photos of my Marudai, Tama and Counterweights

24" wooden stool....much less expensive but just as effective!

Yeup, I know the hole isn't in the center...had to let my friend help me...lol



3 washers, the bolt and a bit of calk to hold it all together and the Tama weighs exaclty 70gm!



Using Fishing Weights as the Counterweight and a 1-1/2" clip on a Medium Ez-bob to hold the cord in progress.

 

Here is the beginnings of this cord going onto the Ez-bob

 

I add a length of string to the spool to hold my working thread so I can use as much of the thread a possible.



When I get to the end, I just tie together the two threads that are worked together.





After doing the second set, I take the counterweight off and continue tieing off.



Finished!

  As you can see, I'm having a blast!  You may ask what I will do with so much cord...well, I'm taking it to the Markets with me and making neck cords, friendship bracelets and key rings....also have plans to tat directly onto one of the neck cords I made with beads...yeup, you can add beads as you are making the cord too!

Can't promise to post every week, but I WILL try to post a lot more frequently than every 12 months....lol

Lots of Earrings Made!

Well, coming up on the Christmas Season for the Farmers Market I bought a brand new earring display, then had to fill it with earrings.  We were off the Saturday after Thanksgiving, so I had 2 weeks to get all the earrings done that I wanted to.
Here is the display all filled up.

Here is a better picture of all the earrings.

The only ones here that are not on the display when I took the photo are the Christmas Trees.  Most of these earrings are now available on my blog store.
Even though the Market will be open one more week I will not be going.  It is just TOO cold!  Even with all the layers of denim and flannel I had on last Saturday I like to froze!  Not very many people came either.  Funny thing is that 3 people came who had never been to the Market and didn't even know we were there even with all the advertising we do and all the signs at the gate and along the road...gotta wonder about some people...lol

I have posted all the new Christmas ornaments on my store too but I really want to show you this snowflake that I test tatted for Frivole (from InTatters).

Criss-Cross Crystal Snowflake

I tatted this one according to the pattern but the next one I just couldn't resist adding beads.

Criss-Cross Crystal  Snowflake with Bugle Beads

Believe it or not, this one is exactly the same stitch count as the first one.  The only difference is that the picots are longer to accomodate the bugle beads.  For any interested in the pattern, Frivole has posted it for sale on her Etsy Shop.   I tatted both these snowflakes with Lizbeth Niagra Falls size 20 thead.  I just had to order me some Blue Ice that should be here soon to do better justice to the snowflake patterns that Frivole is coming up with.

Bookmark Exchange

Over on InTatters we had a Spring Bookmark Exchange.  I made a really cool bookmark using Red & White Rickrack that has been wound together to look like a Candy Stick.  The pattern is called Tatted Rickrack Candy Stick Bookmark.  (the pattern used to be on Freepatterns.com but is no longer there)


Edited to add: I have had several requests for the name of the designer of this bookmark.  It isCharlene G Finiello.

I received a gorgeous bookmark from Louine along with a beautiful Rose Brooch.



So Sorry!

I really do need to post more often!  I have been doing tatting...really!  I've just been so busy, I forget to let you all know what I've been doing.  So, this post is going to be picture intensive.....I'll put a little blurb in with each photo too...(go and get a cuppa, I'll wait....)

Lacey Bookmark done with shuttle

This bookmark is tatted with a size 10 Grey thread that I had intended on using on the following Two-by-Two bookmark, but it was a different weight size 10 than the burgandy I did the center with....so, since the shuttle was already loaded, I made up this bookmark.

Celtic and Two-by-Two Bookmarks

 I really like the burgandy and cream thread of the Two-by-Two, but really think the bookmark would have "popped" more if I had been able to use the grey thread...ah well.  I LOVE anything Celtic, so this bookmark was a joy to make.  What a lot of color combinations you could use to make this gorgeous bookmark!

Jane's Bookmark (shuttle)

 This little bookmark has to be one of my all time favorite patterns to work, needle or shuttle!

Color Challenge

These bookmarks are the results of an interesting Color Challenge that one of the ladies from InTatters put on.  Tat something with a Variegate, then with the Variegate and a Solid Color, then reverse those colors, then the Solid Color.  I had a limited amount of the size thread I wanted to use, so that is why my solid bookmark is Cream instead of White.

Jane's Bookmark

This is Jane's bookmark again, using all of the thread leftover on the shuttles from the Color Challenge.  Not enough for a "full length" bookmark, so I added ribbon to both ends.

Hematited Bracelet

This bracelet is made with Split Rings and Hematite Beads (alternating round and square), then the Chain done after all the Rings are done.  I made this bracelet to give my youngest daughter when we picked her up at the airport right before Christmas.

Greenman Necklace

I made this necklace with Split Rings, various sizes of Hematite Beads and 4 Garnet Beads (right near the Green Man).  The Green Man was a gift from my friend when I went to visit her in Upstate New York late last Summer.  Originally, I just had him on a silver chain, but it just didn't "work".  I think this necklace works really well with him.

My Christmas Earrings

Ok, last tatting picture for today.  These are the earrings I made for myselft for Christmas.  I had made another pair that was similar and when I was at a Craft Show in early December, a lady wanted a pair of Christmas Earrings, and I didn't have any on display.  I was, however wearing a pair that I told the lady I could make a pair like them for her if she wanted.  Well....in the end, I just ended up selling her the pair out of my ears...lol....so I had to make myself a new pair.  The thread is actually some that I plied myself.  My OH made me a spindle, based on the CD/dowel spindle and I used 3 strands of Machine Embroidery Thread.  After plying the thread together though, it had way toooooo much twist, so I found both ends and let it "untwist" onto itself, essentially re-plying itself again in the opposite direction.  I really like how the thread ended up and will be making more of it to tat jewelry with.

Christmas Craft Show 2010

Here is the display from the Christmas Craft Show that I did.  I sold a few cards and actually sold quite a few of my tatted earrings.
I have another show that I am getting ready for on February 12 that will be at the Country Club again.  I can just hope that i do as well there as I did at the Christmas Show.

Now that you have seen what I have been doing since I posted last time, I will "try" to post a bit more frequently so my posts aren't this long again...

Sending you all hugs
Carol