Turtle Beads

Stopped at a thrift store during our outing today and look what I found.  Turtle beads.  For $0.25, I could not pass them by.  Now, to find a project for them!

Playing with Dyes & Misc

Now that the weather is nicer, I have started playing with hand painted thread again.  I have the directions for solid colors pretty well down.  However, I still have problems with the variegated (hand painted) threads wanting to bleed color out when rinsing.  I have come up with a couple of ideas that I will be trying over the next few weeks.  I would love to start selling some of the thread but want to make sure I can produce the variegated colors consistently and the vibrance I want before that time. 

If anyone has any ideas, I am open and willing to try anything.  Just email or make a comment to me.  Will be playing tomorrow with one of the ideas.

The variegated is one based on a certain monster out there.  The red-violet was the color that bleed the most.  It is okay but not initially want I was going for.  The two greens are a mix of the blue and yellow-green.  The darker one stayed in the dye longer.  The red-violet and yellow-green singles are great.  The last was the yellow-green with a little red-violet sprinkled on and worked in for the color.

I am on my last round of the 2014 Spring Napkin by Renulek.  Excited to get this finished.  Will post when complete.

There is another tat-along just started today by Donald Oliver on the Tatting Facebook page.  It is a chess set.  The board is the first item started.  I need to finish my napkin, pick my threads and get started on this project.

Oh, there was a church garage sale last week that we were a participant.  My husband tatted 100+ angels and is trying to sell them with all proceeds going to the Children's Hospitals our son and granddaughter had heart surgery at.  One lady stopped by and as we chatted, I showed her my napkin and peacock I am working on.  She has a friend that loves peacock and wanted to know if I would be interested in making one for her.  I was flattered and intrigued.  Need to figure a price and get back with her.  She is in no hurry.  Actually better start tatting faster.  Projects are added to bucket list faster than I can get them done! 

Tat Days 2014 Quilt Blocks

My four quilt blocks are now complete, pressed will be put in an envelope and mailed tomorrow.  Husband contributed with his Angel (pattern care of Marie Smith of the Palmetto Tatting Guild).  Will have to wait for September to see the quilt(s) complete with all blocks from the many tatters participating.  These quilts will be auctioned off and the proceeds used for the Palmettos Tatting Guild Tat Days scholarships.  For information go to http://www.palmettotatters.org/events/TatDays2014/TatDays2014.shtml. 

Vacation Projects

After taking a week for a family trip, here are the projects that kept me busy:

These are different hair clips.  They were easy to do  and did not have to take much concentration.  Half are going to my granddaughter (thread selected by mom) and the other four will be sold at an upcoming church yard sale.  The thread I used is either size 10 or 20 and is hand dyed by me or Lizbeth or Jess's (Tatalicious).   Patterns are from youtube.com (Leco Sedellaanto), Ewa Dochniak (koronkowomi.blogspot.com - March 28, 2014) and Joelle Paulson.  Just realized I did not put any beads in the middle of the flowers.  Just thrilled I was able to finish them.

The peacock was my airplane project.  I also worked on it when I needed a break from the hair clips.  It is from the book OCCHI Schiffchenspitze Frivolite by Leopold Stocker Verlag.  Since the book is in German, Google translate helped in deciphering some of the words.  Thread is size 20 Lisbeth in Fern Green Med. and Blue River Glades.  I noticed that the written pattern varies from the diagram and the photo.  I have modified stitch counts to accommodate my tatting so the piece lays flatter.  I will probably frame this piece and enter in the fair in September.

Just started round 12 of the 2014 Spring Napkin.  This will be my greatest accomplishment when finished.  Hopefully 1 week more and then I guess I will get back with Georgia's Mystery Doily.

Mini Tardis

Received a request to remake a Tardis.  This is Anne Bruvold's pattern.    I was told that the telephone book has only two holes, so I modified the pattern a little to reflect two holes.  This Tardis is made with size 80 Lizbeth thread hand dyed by me.  I thought the original was size 80 although after tatting this I am not sure.  Will block and stiffen tomorrow.  

Edited:  Note to self - when using size 80 thread, split chain needs full concentration!