Sunday was fun!

 Two days ago I relaxed all day enjoying looking through these:

It’s so much fun to unwrap birthday gifts!

Diversion continues

I’m learning a lot with this project. It’s worked with Perle size 8 on Aida 14. I’ve used Perle 8 to tat with. That project didn’t turn out as I’d hoped. After blocking, I decided it needed to be mounted on fabric. Perhaps I’ll do that next. Maybe…..

This will be the back of a biscornu using this piece as the front. I’m hoping to gain more insight on how to create such a piece. Perhaps I’ll try tatting another biscornu style piece.

More sampling

 I’ve been clearing out old projects. Mine and other people’s half finished projects. It’s not my favorite activity. I’d much rather create afresh than slog through a half-baked idea. But, there is satisfaction in getting things done and dusted and repurposed and useful. Perhaps that’s my music training showing through? Naw…. Just me.

I finished this sample of hook tatting that I learned from Taeko Takashima last year. The yarn is acrylic so it worked up OK. I have more yarn I need to play with and decide how to repurpose. It’s tempting to tat a vest or shawl.

The Center is nice!

 Here’s the center of a wonderful doily:  

I have worked the doily Renata released in 2017. The doily from 2022 captivated a new tatter I’m mentoring. She wanted to try it but didn’t have confidence she could understand the directions. I suggested we tat it together. So, a study of the diagram, a quick write up of the stitch count, and voila! I can’t wait to see her version!!

Diversions can help spark creativity

 I truly enjoy dreaming up uses for tatting. Aside from the traditional examples of passementerie and household linens, I love dreaming up jewelry and fun gifts. There is also the combining of tatting and other fiberarts. Oh, and just plain art. I’ve got several ideas for this year’s Art of Music piece. I was gifted a wood frame decorated with a laser cut rose and piano keys. Perhaps I’ll be using it this year with…..hmmm….I don’t know…..tatting of some sort!!

I find the best way to get my mind thinking of ways to branch out with tatting is to create something just a bit diverse from my normal activities. This last week I stitched a Blackwork motif using Bradley’s Balloons color of thread. I had great fun!!!

I get the concept, but haven’t yet mastered it

That’s what my sample of Helix tatting looks like. I understand the concept. I’m missing a bit of familiarity with the finer points of the technique. That will come with using it in projects, I think. I will be emailing Richard Embrey with a question or two. Including a request for his book. I can see using the technique to finish ornaments that I stitch and add tatting to. We’ll see if that idea takes off.

Developing ideas

 I don’t have a lot to show right now. I’m developing the ideas I talked about here. I’m still working on mastering Helix tatting technique. If I can get a bit quicker at the whole process, I see lots of possibilities and uses for the cord.

I’m also helping fine tune the ideas my favorite 3-D printer has come up with. She designed a caddy to wrangle multiple shuttles. Here’s a prototype with my Helix sample in progress:

Ideas Abounding

Here’s what my Helix sample looks like in a Tatting Toolbox. I needed something that didn’t NEED to be held flat to travel. Yes, I’m a klutz and drop things. The box was just too big. So, the Toolbox came to the rescue. This is the shop where you find them for sale.

Next week I’ll share a photo of the next idea for carting around your tatting projects with LOTS of shuttles…..

Progress

I gave up on big, future projects the other day. I’ll pick up on the most important, don’t worry. I just needed to feel like I was accomplishing something on the Elephant canvas. I did accomplish something. I completed the top two corners. It was quite a struggle for me. Working a lazy daisy with metallic thread with a silk satin background was just about too much for my skill level. I think I finally got things right. Now on to those other projects that are stretching me.