A puppy and a pattern

I have not been blogging for a long time. There are circumstances that prevented me from doing so.  Last month I tripped over stairs while I was out shopping and damaged my foot ligaments.  According to the doctor I needed  to take bed rest and the damage would take 3 - 6 weeks to heal. Something I don't mind, but practically it is impossible. There is so much to do, and to leave it all and lie back is  unthinkable. Then to top it all my dog gave birth to a puppy, just one puppy, quite unexpectedly. The first few weeks were tough because the mother was so fiercely possessive about her pup and would not let anyone come near, but now she has calmed down. This is the pup whom we are now extremely fond of. He is very playful, friendly and very aggressive.

Meanwhile, I tried working on the Twirlz earring pattern. I consider a diagram is very important part of the pattern.  I downloaded a pattern making software and struggled in vain, finally giving up on that. I managed to get the rings right but the chains would not connect. I was probably was using the wrong software.

I  decided to use the picture for the thread count as I was not able to make the diagram.

You need 2 shuttles, size 20 thread and 66 size 11 seed beads.
For a single earring earring thread 33 bead on the thread, but when winding CTM slide 12  beads on shuttle A and 21 beads on shuttle B.


Top Circle
Shuttle A slide 7 beads within the ring, R 6ds, lp with 6 beads, 6ds ( the 7th beads is automatically positioned at the base of the ring) RW
Shuttle B  Ch 7ds RW
Shuttle A slide one bead in ring, R 6ds join to  beaded picot between bead 1 and 2,  6ds (the bead is positioned at the base of the ring on closing). RW
Shuttle B  Ch 7ds RW
Shuttle A slide one bead in ring, R 6ds, join to  beaded picot between bead 2 and 3, 6ds. RW
Shuttle B  Ch 7ds RW
Shuttle A slide one bead within ring, R 6ds, join to  beaded picot between bead 3 and 4, 6ds. RW
Shuttle B Ch 7ds RW
Shuttle A slide one bead in ring, R 6ds, join to  beaded picot between bead 4 and 5, 6ds. RW
Shuttle B  Ch 7ds RW
Shuttle A slide one bead in ring, R 6ds, join to  beaded picot between bead 5 and 6, 6ds.

Shuttle B slide 3 beads in ring, R 6ds, slide three beads in picot, 3ds p 3ds. RW
Shuttle A  Ch 5ds RW
Shuttle B  slide 3 beads in ring, R 3ds  + 3ds,  slide three beads in picot, 3ds p 3ds. RW
Shuttle A  Ch 5ds RW

Cloverleaf
Shuttle B  slide 3 beads in ring, R 3ds + 5ds, slide 3 beads in picot, 5ds p 3ds.
Slide 3 beads within ring, 3ds + 6ds, slide 3 beads in picot,  6ds p 3ds.
Slide 3 beads in ring,  3ds + 5ds, slide 3 beads in picot, 5ds p 3ds. RW

Shuttle A Ch 5ds RW
Shuttle B  slide 3 beads in ring, R 3ds + 3ds,  slide three beads in picot, 3ds p 3ds. RW
Shuttle A Ch 5ds RW
Shuttle B join to base of first ring with a shuttle join, slide 3 beads in ring, R 3ds +3ds, slide three beads in picot, 6ds. Tie and sew ends.


If there is any problem in the pattern please let me know.

Happy Tatting.

Whirrrrrrrrs and Twirlz

Though it is many days past since the new year began I do not consider it is too late to put a cheerful New Year wish for everyone visiting my blog.  I wish you all the very best for this year. It was never my intention to delay the first post of the year. No excuses, but  I had been having some problem with my laptop, lots of awful whirring sounds while booting and also while using the internet. My biggest scare was that  the hard disk was possibly going to crash attributed to its overuse.  To protect my data I took regular backups on a USB drive and also on DVDs. Finally, I had the courage to take it to the service center to be rectified.  It was a great relief  when it was diagnosed as a fan problem. The poor fan was being overused, as I worked and surfed in this Indian heat.  I was relieved to hear that my hard disk was fine with no bad sectors. The fan's been replaced and the laptop has become quiet again.

I had time to design a new pair of earring which I have named Twirlz. It is a simple pattern  tatted using size 20 thread and embellished with turquoise Miyuki delicia beads.

After adding lever back earring findings the earrings look like this.

 Against a darker background.

This is all for now but there is lots more to come.

A Valentine chocolate box

I was contemplating whether to enter Isdihara's Chocolate box contest and till today I was not sure I would. Decorating boxes has always been a challenge which I enjoy. I remember once I had to attend a wedding but when I could not find a proper box for the gift, my creative side prevailed and I used a shoe box which I lined all over with wrapping paper. It was worth it, when the bride appreciated the packing and also the gift the next day at the reception.

When I started I did not have a chocolate box, but I manged to find this square cardboard box which had  a  lid made of plastic. I discarded it and made my own lid using thick white chart paper. For the background I used a fine napkin with a soft pastel print (the only one available at home). At this stage I had decided that my theme would be Valentine since the colors are very soft and romantic. I used a fine hens and chicks edging in pink to decorate the sides of the box. I searched online for some small sized hearts patterns and by coincidence both the patterns I liked are designed by Brigit Phleps, the ones at the corners are called sweetheart hearts (one of the reasons I selected them) and the green one in the center is called the L'il heart.

The box looked still looked very bare, so I used some fine organza ribbon, small tatted flowers and some glitter to give it a soft feminine look.

And as I have already mentioned this is my Valentine chocolate box.

 Ooops, I forgot to put in the chocolates!

Another Parcel

Today I received a parcel which I had been expecting sometime back, it was probably delayed for some reason, that is why it came as a surprise. I had got in touch with Heather, as I was keen to test tat her new three hole polymer clay shuttle. In the parcel she has sent me two pretty little shuttles along with one skein of  lovely HDT in various shades of green called Ruth's Irish.

 

I had to sandpaper the slots of the shuttles with the sandpaper provided. I took me some time to  do this as I had to be very careful not to break them. Finally it was done and now the shuttles look like this.

I then wound some size 40 thread in one of the shuttles, which I was able to do thrice in the three holes provided.

This shuttle is now ready for tatting. Thank you Heather!

Eisha Bracelet and Earrings

I have tatted many earring and it is time to move on and try my hand at making other types of jewelry . Using split rings and green glass beads I came up with this set, which has been named Eisha. The thread is size 20 and colors used are dark raspberry pink and light green.

I added a  silver split ring at one end of the bracelet  and a sterling silver clasp to other end. To complete the Eisha earrings, I added sterling silver earwires, and as an after thought a few  beads in jump rings to dangle from the lower end.

 

 I am quite pleased with the result, I hope you like them as well.

A Giveaway Parcel

I was the lucky winner of Krystle's giveaway this month, a  nice unexpected surprise.The parcel from Krystle and Dr. Vonthreadmore reached today. It reached me in 10 days flat, like all my other parcels of things I have been buying from all  over the world. It has four skeins of  gorgeous HDT called Vineyard at Dusk in size 10, 20, 40 and 80.  Lately, I  have been tatting with thread size 10 and 20, and I had used size 40 many years back, but size 80 is new to me and I am looking forward to trying this super fine thread.

Thank you Krystle! I am going to be busy for a while with all this thread.

Earrings featured in Etsy Treasury

I formally started my Etsy shop in July this year. Nothing much has been happening there except that a few days back my Small Leaf earrings in Lime Green were featured in a treasury on Etsy under the caption Lime with a Splash of Orange.....

A little encouragement is enough to keep me tatting!

Earrings...Earrings....

I recently tatted two pairs of earrings. They are both my own designs. The first ones are the Small Leaf pattern earrings, which have been tatted in Lizbeth size 20 , lime green. I have added lots of Miyuki beads in yellow and there are two cloisonne beads strategically  in the center.

The second pair of earrings have been named Divya. They have been tatted using Hakelgarn size 20 and embellished with silver beads.

Both these earrings are available in my Etsy shop.

Rythmn in Tatting

When I select a pattern for tatting there are many things that serve as a criteria for selection, the appearance of the item, techniques used,  thread availability and of course the ds count. I always prefer to tat patterns which are diagrammed, and if the diagram is not available I convert the written pattern into a diagram. I prefer patterns which have consistency in the  ds count, like  5-5-5-5 or a 5-10-5 or a 3-6-3. Believe it or not sometimes I sing along as I tat  la..la 5..trala .5...ula...5..mula. ..5.....  , this is very relaxing and the tatting comes out neater as well. 

My latest addition to the collection of doiles I have tatted is a very rythmic pretty piece, with a simple ds count, it is called the Hexagonal mat and is from the tatting book by Gun Blomqvist. I have used split rings to move from one daisy to the next to avoid the tedious process of hiding too many thread ends. The thread used is Red Rose size 20, colors are light pink and dark raspberry.

If you listen to music while you tat, it will also have a favorable outcome which will be visible in your tatting.

Happy Tatting!

First attempt at Needle Tatting

I had bought a size 5 needle from Handy Hands few months back. Many times I practiced on my needle guided by tutorials on the internet. There are excellent tutorials on youtube for needle tatting, many of them are by Totusmel. Few days back Agasunset also added a superb tutorial video on her blog and there is another one by Middia.

I finally tatted my first motif. It has been needle tatted in Red Rose thread size 20. It is a simple pattern, the rings are 3-3-3-3 and the chains are 6-6. Needle tatting gives a broader and flatter knot which looks quite nice. It definitely has its advantages and disadvantages compared to shuttle tatting. 

I feel shuttle tatting gives more flexibility but needle tatting is better for intricate celtic designs, long necklaces and pearl tatting.

An old motif for a new purpose.

I had designed this motif last year and was planning to put it up with the pattern. I forgot, and it got lost somewhere with all my other tatted stuff. Now it has resurfaced, and I have used it as the profile picture for my Etsy store "Tattips Adornments". I have named it "Adora", that sounds like something Greek, I suppose. It has been tatted in the Cebelia size 20, the color is pretty pink (no. 603). I like Cebelia thread for tatting as it has a silky sheen and rings are easy to close. I find the shape of the motif interesting, hope you like it as well.

A revival of an earlier pattern and more...

I had created these earring a few months back and named them "Victoria". I revived this pattern by adding lots of gold beads and a few minor yet significant changes. Now they look  very dressy and  eye-catching.

These earrings actually look better than the photographs I have taken.

 

Its the rainy season in India nowadays, with lots of slush and abundant greenery everywhere.  So  there is  more green, a different shade no doubt,  in sync with the the season, a pendant set tatted in aqua green with green and metallic beads.

The same with a tatted cord necklace.

 

That is all for now.

Earrings Designed in Progression

I have not been around for some time. It is because I have been feeling run down and low. The  good part is that I have been tackling my health problems and doing that successfully. Tatting is always extremely important. If I am not tatting I am collecting thread and beads or drawing my patterns, browsing on the internet and generally keeping in touch.

I am now on Etsy selling some earrings. These earrings were made using the same basic concept and by incorporating a few changes as I went along, I came up with these variations. I  added different types of beads and experimented with beading techniques in the process.

I started with a split ring pattern with rings on the second half of the split. This pattern has 3 inner split rings. I added some Miyuki Delicas beads in lemon and blue and finished off with sterling silver ear hooks. These are called Stylish Floral Earrings.

I tried the same pattern in a solid color. The layout of the bead has also been changed.

I varied this pattern by adding another inner split ring, that makes 4 split rings in total and came up with these Beaded Floret Earrings. A size 8 amethyst colored bead  has added in between the two split rings.

,

The square shape in any form or size attracts me. As I progressed I came up with he next variation of this design, a square. The inner color of both the earrings is a different because I used variegated thread. These are the Square Party Earrings

The Square Party Earrings tatted in medium grape and gold, embellished with square Miyuki beads.

That is all for now. I hope you enjoyed this post.

3D Earrings

I started with a simple pattern in mind, my primary purpose was to polish my beading skills, but sometimes things don't happen as they are planned. It was a pair of single shuttle earrings I had decided to tat. I used white thread and black beads, but after a few rings I realised that there was a major mistake in the pattern. I had two options, either to convert the earring project into an edging or discard it altogether. In the midst of this conflict  after a few minutes of brainstorming, a few snips, rings and joins my project started to look like this.

As I progressed I came up with these 3D earrings. They had to be blocked to retain the shape. After fixing the silver findings they are now ready to be worn.

The lower lower edge looks like this.

The aerial view is like this.

That is all for now, as I continue playing with shuttle and beads.

Floral motifs in Springflower

It is a Konior design again, this time it is the Flowerpatch and Bud fragment in Lizbeth Springflower.

I decided to try my hand at a celtic design that is very pretty and delicate. The selection was this celtic bookmark designed by Eliz Davis. The pattern starts with two rows of connected split rings. The outer row creates a pretty floral design with SCMRs. The colors used are Springflower, Grape Medium and Silver.

 

The completed celtic bookmark.

The reverse side of the bookmark looks like this.

An Earring Obsession

I would like to wish all tatter’s a belated International Tatting Day. I remembered my tatting and tatting friends on that day but could not come online to share my tatted thoughts, because I was traveling. I also did not forget to eat yummy chocolates and plan future projects.

I have not posted on my blog for over a month, but I have been tatting. My latest obsession is earrings. The patterns are my own, with a bit of inspiration from here and there. My designs are very simple and easy. I have used Lizbeth size 20 in variegated and solids and the findings are sterling silver.

These earrings are tatted in the color gold using one shuttle. It has no metallic strand running through it. This design is called Victoria.

The Victoria earrings tatted in Grape Medium with a slight change in the length of the earring.

This design is based on the daisy picot technique and is called the “Daisy" earring as it simulates the flower. The color used is Butterfly Breeze.

A shorter version of the Daisy earrings with no beads. The color is Spring Flower, which is so aptly named.

This is another simple pattern where I have incorporated three techniques of beading, the color used is Gold.

These earrings are another simple design in Silver with black beads.