Thoughts of Negative

No, I’m not angry at the World. I try to be positive overall. I have been stitching up small Assisi motifs for a fund raiser. The focal point of the design is where the background cloth shows through your stitches. In this case, cross stitch. I’ve enjoyed stitching them before. I have benefitted in my tatting designing from learning about this style of surface embroidery. Negative space is more important. I have one more motif to stitch up. Here’s the second one I’ve done:

Sifting through ideas

I’ve been spending quite a bit of time brainstorming ideas. Several will make good workshops. Several are just not good. Or at least not good enough to spend more time on them. I’ll be spending the next few days sorting through everything to decide what to work on over the next few months. After all, Christmas is coming!

The good kind of Fireworks

 Living in California, we have “fire season” (which is just about year-round now) when you cannot have fires on your property or shoot off fireworks. It’s against the law. Really, we mean it. The goal is not to have fires that burn homes….or people.

Summer Fireworks
designer: Anne-Marie Anderson-Mayes

A couple of years ago I completed a canvas with some interesting stitches. The designer, Anne-Marie Anderson-Mayes, named it Autumn Fireworks. It was fun to stitch! Last weekend, I completed my version of Summer Fireworks. I really like the center block. I’d like to use that stitch combined with some tatting. More to imagine……..

More interesting experiements

Baby booties by Crowther

This is my interpretation of the vintage pattern found in Beginning Tatting by Gloria Crowther. I suspect an editor (who didn’t know how to tat) changed some things in the text. The other patterns are much clearer. It doesn’t help that the photo of the finished bootie on the back cover isn’t clear.

I’ll be writing up my notes and what I think works better. Then, I’ll be incorporating the basic structure of the lace in the vintage pattern I have for an American Flag. The Workbasket article was pretty well laid out. I didn’t have much of an issue understanding what I was meant to tat. We’ll see if my idea to use the structure for a set of booties yields an acceptable pair of footwear.  

And for those that caught my error in the Dec 18 snowflake, You’re correct! All will be discussed next Tuesday. Or at least what I’ll admit to!!

Interesting experiment

 I finished the snowflakein the 10-2 yarn. I included a small Clover shuttle in the picture so you can see the size. We didn’t have a nice-looking banana. It’s been an interesting journey tatting this up.

I used the smallest hook in my Takashimabari set. The twist in the thread worked quite nicely with the hook.

The pattern is from 24 Snowflakes by Lene Bjorn. I enjoy tatting her patterns. I’ve even added a bit of bling.

I need to find a way to set the dye. I discovered while blocking the tatting that the dye bleeds. A task for another day.

I’m conquering second bootie syndrome!

I’ve tatted the sole, finished one round of the side, and the medallion that goes over the toe area. Now to attach the medallion and finish the sides.

Fair is closed

 

Another exhibit is finished. Lots of creativity displayed! The picture above is of a case with embroidery items (I only did the one in the top right.) I picked up my entries and ribbons. I entered 4 items. I won 3 First Place and 1 Second Place ribbons. These will go in my treasures box.

 

Now on to the next show.