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)

Extras for the Show!

As I'm done with all that I had planned to make for the show this weekend, I decided to work on bookmarks in the remaining time.  Here are the ones I have done so far.

Does anyone recognize this design?  Who is the designer?

 

I'm hoping to get at least 3 more bookmarks done before Saturday. ;->

Ready for the Show!

I finished all the tatting I had planned to do for the show coming up (including another headband I found while packing!)

 

I'll post pictures of the display at the show.  I've come up with some new (for me) ways of displaying thing! (teaser!  lol)

More for the upcoming Show

I got the last headband I have done up this morning.

Have also got a good start going on all the earrings I need to make....here is what I have done so far.

Thanks for stopping by.

Headbands with Tatting

Here are a couple of headbands that I just finished.  I have one more to make (Silver Glitter) but haven't figured out what I'm putting on it yet...sooooo

I'm wishing I had had another button for the White Satin one now.  Kind of looks like antennae...lol  Aw well, I'm sure some little girl won't mind...lol

I sold several of these in different styles at last year's Farmers Market and as I have a Craft Show coming up mid February, I thought I'd try and get the ones I have bought made up.

Traveling Jewelry Box

If you read my other blogs, you will know that I am in the process of moving.  I am moving to a town that has public transportation, so I'm working out ways to carry my finished works in smaller containers so I don't have so much to carry all at one time.  Here is my solution to all of the finished jewelry that I have done.  I will be taking this around to several of the boutiques to see if I can put some of my jewelry with them, plus doing different craft shows (there are a lot more there than around here!)  I won't be able to start out taking them to the Farmers Market though...they are only looking for food/produce vendors there.

For those of you who want to make your own earring hangers, here is a photo of mine.

I used an 8x10" frame, 14 count plastic canvas, square wooden dowels and an eye hook to hang it on the wall.  I used a glue called Liquid Fusion to between the canvas and the frame, then small wire brads to hold the wood over the top of the canvas (all on the back of the frame).  Screwed in the eye at the center of the top and hang on the wall.  This frame will hold LOTS of earrings.....depending on the style and size.  If you have a lot of Euro-clasp earrings, they won't work with this as-is, but if you weave a thin ribbon through the holes of the plastic canvas, you will give yourself places to hang them as well.

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.

Still Very Busy...sigh

I'm sure you are all wondering where I have been lately.  Well, truth to tell, I've been VERY busy with the local Farmers Market which is *planning* on staying open until mid December (weather permitting and we don't get a lot of snow)  Not only am I taking my tatted jewelry to the Market, I've been taking all of the cards I have made, the bags that I have made and I have been baking like a silly fool every week and taking cookies galore!  This week I had a new cookie plus 3 batches of fresh (home made) bagels and 2 batches of scones! :-O  I won't be making cookies this week but I will be making more bagels and scones to take as they sold realllly well.  The following week I start making Christmas cookies to take to the Market...yes, it is getting close isn't it?

This week I also started taking Christmas ornaments that I have been making.  These two baubles are my first baubles, but I'm sure more will follow.

This first one is made with the pattern Tat A Winter Star, done in size 20 Lizbeth thread.  In addition to the pattern I added a ring of 6-6 with an iridescent dagger bead dangling form the picot.  I attached it to the longest picot of each "arm" with silver jump rings.   I draped it over a plastic bauble using small drops of Liquid Fusion on the under side (at the junction on the clover) to keep it in place.

Tat a Winter Star on a Bauble

This next bauble is the Windows & Wheels Ornament, done in size 20 Lizbeth.  To make the glass ball glitter, I poured a little bit of floor wax inside the bauble, swirled it all around then dumped out the extra and sprinkled in two different sizes (large and micro fine) iridescent glitter.  Swirled that around then dumped out any extra there and let dry.

I was asked at the Market if I could make the above snowflake on a glass ball like the one below.  So now I need to make it to a store and get some more glass balls (this one was my last...sigh) and make some more baubles. 

Windows & Wheels Ornament

I REALLY like the way this looked as I was tatting it and thought it would make a GREAT necklace!  I'm adding a bead to the center of the center ring, seed beads to the 4 picots on the bottom of the outside ring and a dagger bead dangling from the picot of the bottom ring (the pattern is doubled for the bauble).  I have it started, using size 20 Lizbeth in color # 158 (Niagra Falls) with the center bead matching exactly the darkest of the aqua/turqouise colors and copper seed beads and dagger bead.  I will be sure to post a picture of it when I get it finished.

First Snowflake of the Year

Yeup, you read right.  This is the first Snowflake of the year...lol  Since I am doing the Farmers Market and my tatting is selling quite well I've started making Christmas ornaments.  Not only will I be doing the Market each Saturday until mid December, I have a Craft Show coming up on the first Saturday in December.  I'm still planning on doing this show as I have done it now for about 17 years.  So that means really getting my b*** in gear...lol

Anyways, here is the snowflake.  I have tatted this with a single strand of DMC Light Effects Embroidery Floss - White and a size 8 tatting needle.

This next one is a Tatted Christmas Tree that can be found on BeStitched.  This was tatted with size 80 thread and done with the shuttle.  I filled this shuttle (a Clover) with the thread and I want to see how many of these trees I can get with one shuttle full.  So far I have 2 done...I keep getting side tracked...lol

I sprayed the tree with a bit of Glimmer Mist (designed for cardmaking and scrapbooking) and stiffened it with hairspray.  I'm not all that impressed with how stiff it is with the hairspray so I am working on stiffening both of these with Clear Acrylic Spray Paint.  As soon as I get a few pennies together though I'm going to purchase THIS and see how well it works.

So much new jewelry!

If you are following me on my By Carolivy blog then you know that I have been really busy the last couple of monts at the local Farmers Market selling my cards, tatting and home baked cookies.  Well my tatted jewelry has been selling like hot cakes, so instead of posting the huge amount of photos I am just going to give you a link to my Photobucket where you can see all the new jewelry I've made (both shuttle tatted and needle tatted)

I hope you are all having a wonderful Summer and getting some wonderful tatting done.  I am going everywhere with my tatting now and even have several ladies who have asked me to teach them how to tat!  Yeah!  Spread the tatting to all you can. ;-P

Newest Tatted Jewelry

I've also been busy making some more tatted jewelry.  This set is Dream by Yarnplayer is up on my blog store. 
I made my set with Lily 6 cord Ecru thread in size 30 and Teal(ish) leaf and seed beads.

I am currently working on another necklace and earring set and should have it up very soon...if all goes well.  I haven't been doing much tatting lately as I haven't really been feeling well lately.  Been getting a LOT of reading done lately, not much else...sigh...

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.