Tatted Silk Cuff Winner

Good Afternoon!  Yesterday was a busy day.  We did some Spring cleaning, as well as some yard maintenance.  We are getting ready to plant some vegetables and herbs. . . I am so happy Winter is over, and I'll be able to start spending more time in the great outdoors.  :)

And of course, a winner for the tatted silk cuff was picked!  I wrote the names down, on carefully cut out pieces of paper (so they were the same size), and put them into a hat.  I had my 7 year old close her eyes, and spun her around 3 times, and pick a winner. . . 

Congratulations, JLH!  You are the winner of the tatted silk cuff.  I am so glad that this piece will finally have an owner that will love, wear and cherish it.  :-)  I am going to rewash and pin it today, and get it ready to send out to you.  Please email me at tatsallgina@gmail.com with your mailing info.  I will also send care instructions with the cuff.  Again, congratulations!

Thank you all who entered, and please don't forget there are lots more blog giveaways to come!  I will be hosting another one in the next week or so. :-)

Even with the housework, and gardening, I found time to play around with some Irish Crochet and Swarvoski pearls, bicones and Czech glass seed beads.  Here are some photos of the results:

Those are size 11, cream pearl Czech glass seed beads, and 4mm light cream rose
Swarvoski crystal pearls.

The little beaded center of this leaf motif was pretty simple to make.  I just crocheted a regular circle with a couple of rounds of single crochet stitches, and added the size 11 seed beads using a bead embroidery method.  I used size 100 Fincrochet in Ecru to sew the beads on.  I picked up 2-3 seed beads with my beading needing, layed the beads down to place them, and secured them with a backstitch.  Then I just sewed the little crocheted beaded circle to the center of the motif.  I'm not certain if this one will make it onto the capelet, as I am waiting for some size 15 rocailles that I ordered from Fusion Beads.  I think I will use size 11 and 15 seed beads to make these little beaded buttons for the capelet.  Here is a close up of the beaded center:

This little rose was super simple.  I strung 14 size 11 seed beads onto some ivory nymo beading thread, and kept threading through the beads until my beading needle wouldn't fit anymore.  Then I secured the thread ends with a square knot, and cut the tails off.  Then I made an Irish Crochet rose, starting with 5 chains, every two seed beads.

This adorable little flower is courtesy of Irish Crochet Lab.  I love this particular pattern, and will making lots more of them for the capelet.  I put a 4mm light cream rose Swarvoski crystal pearl in the center.

This little circle was made the same way as the seed bead rose circle, but I alternated 3mm Swarvoski light cream rose pearls, and 2.5 mm Golden Shadow Swarvoski bicones.  I attached it to the motif using couching stitches, and ivory colored nymo beading thread.

 And here is another rose made using a beaded center.  Those are 3mm Swarvoski light cream rose pearls, and 3mm Golden Shadow Swarvoski bicones.

It's been awhile since I played around with my jewelry making goodies, and I almost forgot how much I enjoy it.  I'll play around some more when my purchase from Fusion Beads arrive.

I spent the morning outside, so this afternoon will be devoted to some needle work.  Maybe I'll get a chance to work on some needle lace.  What are your plans for today?

Whatever they may be, I hope you all have a wonderful day!  'Til tomorrow. . . 

Happy Stitches!

Swarvoski Pearls and Seed Beads

Good Afternoon, everyone!  I've been going through my beads and pearls stash, trying to pick some to add the Irish Crochet Capelet. . . I decided to go with Swarvoski Crystal Pearls in color light Creamrose.  As for seed beads, I have a plethora of size 11 delicas, and Czech glass rounds, but am very limited of size 15.  Fincrochet cotton is thinner and more delicate compared to DMC cordonnet size 50, so in my opinion, a size 11 seed bead is too big for such delicate lace.  So. . . I had no choice but to order some new beads!  lol  I purchased a few different types of round rocailles and size 15 delica seed beads in different colors and finishes.  I enjoy shopping for new beads and pearls, almost as much as I enjoy shopping for new thread. lol

Here are some photos of the motifs while I was playing around with the pearl selection.

I almost went with a very light gold, but then decided to keep the whole of the capelet Cream and Ivory.  Maybe for my next project, I will go with a gold and cream color scheme. :)

I also managed to get a little more done on the round Aemelia Ars motif.  It is coming along nicely.  When I've had a bit more practice in this technique, I will start adding some bead work to it.  Wouldn't a little pearl look good in the center of the motif?

For those of you who have entered for the giveaway, my daughter and I will be picking a winner tomorrow at 3pm EST, and I will announce the winner April 12.   There is still time to enter, if anyone would like to do so.  When I was going through my bead and crystal stash, I found a few more pieces of silk jewelry, including a couple of necklaces/collars, so more giveaways will be on their way in the next couple of months. :)

I hope you are all having a great day!  'Til tomorrow,

Happy Stitches!

Blog Giveaway - Silk Tatted Cuff

Good Afternoon, everyone!  Hopefully today will be the day that this silk cuff finds it's home.

I tatted it using Valdani Luxury Pearl Silk, in color Subtle Elegance, and it is adorned with size 11 opal silver lined delica seed beads.  If you would like a chance to own this piece, just become a member and follower of this blog, and leave a comment on this post and I will enter your name to be selected.  The winner will be selected on April 11, 2015 at 3 pm EST, and I will announce the winner on April 12.

I hope you have all been having a great day, and getting lots done.  I managed to finish  the little square Aemelia Ars motif for the handkerchief, and start the round one. . . I'm still not sure which one I will choose.

This little one was made using Fincrochet cotton size 50 in Ecru and a size 10 Piecemaker Embroidery needle.  All in all, I think it came out okay, and I can't get over how tiny and cute this little guy is. lol

The round motif is a bit bigger, so I decided I would use Fincrochet cotton size 30 in Ecru, with a size 9 embroidery needle.  I haven't gotten too much done on it, but I did complete one of the little loaves.

The rest of my morning was spent working on the Irish Crochet Capelet.  I've been sorting through my beads and pearls, to see which adornments will look best with the cream color of the thread.  I'm not sure if I want to keep it all cream, or add a little gold to the capelet.  I will take some photos of the different choices next to the motifs, and perhaps you will help me decide.

I've been looking through my stash, trying to decide what I should work on next.  I haven't made a Romanian Point Lace piece in awhile, and it's been ages since I tatted anything.  But I also want to practice my Venetian Point Gros, and try a Reticello tutorial or two. . . decisions, decisions. . . lol

Well, I hope you are all having a great day, and I really hope I find a home for the silk tatted cuff.  Have a wonderful day!  'Til tomorrow,

Happy Stitches!

Handkerchief Border Completed

Good Afternoon, everyone!  I completed the Aemilia Ars handkerchief border this morning.  I also picked out a couple of motifs to add to the center of it.  I kept to the loaf theme.  I couldn't decide on a round or square motif, so I prepared both patterns, and will make both of them.  They are fairly small, and I can always use the extra one for another project.  

Since the motifs are small, I will probably make 2 of the one I choose, and also add some drawn thread hemstitches to the piece, and perhaps some satin stitch eyelets.

After the stitching was complete, I had to carefully remove the fabric and lace from the pattern.  If I am careful, I can reuse this pattern again.  I use a seam ripper to cut the support stitches, and the stitches holding the fabric to the pattern, and very gently separate the piece from the cardstock pattern.  I use Hardanger tweezers to remove the threads and tufts from the lace, and the pattern.  If the piece were completely finished, I would have also removed the basting hem stitches, and carefully cut away the excess fabric, but since I am adding more lace to it, I left them in, as well as the stitches that mark the center of the piece.  The orange stitches will help me place the motifs evenly.

The border for the handkerchief is taught in detail in the Volume 1 Aemelia Ars DVD, as well as the rose motif on the cover.  It also comes with the printed patterns.  The DVD's are in Italian, but they also have English subtitles.  Along with the pattern tutorials, there is a section that teaches the basic stitches - Punto Smerlo (buttonhole stitches), Punto Chiaro (Venetian Knotted Stitch), Cordoncino (Overcast stitch), and of course, Picots.  It does have a section on how to change your thread, in different areas of the lace,as well as teaching you how to add support stitches, and lay the foundation threads (filo guida)

The Corso Base book is very well illustrated, but since it was written in Italian, and I had no previous experience with this technique, I had a difficult time following the instructions.  After purchasing the videos, and completing the projects, I am able to follow along and complete the patterns in the book (and there are quite a bit!)  I am also a visual learner. . . I learn better by watching someone do something as opposed to having someone explain it to me.

 The motifs that I chose for the handkerchief are from the book.  I printed out the patterns, cut them into circles, placed vellum paper over them, and whipped stitch them together.  Then I added the support stitches, and I was ready to start the lace.

They have a specific thread that they use for the support stitches, but it is not available in the United States, so if I can, I use a smaller size version of the thread I use for the lace.  For the motifs, I am using Fincrochet size 50 in Ecru, so for the support stitches, I used Fincrochet size 80 in Ecru.  This way, if any little tufts get stuck in the lace, it is not noticeable.

I did manage to get the little loaves done on one of the motifs this morning:

 I also managed to start the next band on the Schwalm Sampler, but I'll wait until I have a little more done to share photos of that.

I plan on working the Irish Crochet Capelet this afternoon.  I have the pattern fabric cut, and I will begin placing them to see how many motifs I will need before I can start the background netting.  What are your plans for the day?

And last but not least, be sure to come back tomorrow, as I will be hosting my first blog giveaway!  This will be the first piece featured:

Remember the rules to enter are simple.  Become a member or follower of this blog, and tomorrow just comment about anything that pleases you in the comment section of tomorrow's post.  I will write down the names of all entries, fold them, and put them into a hat.  My daughter will have the honor of choosing the winner.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!  'Til tomorrow.

Happy Stitches

Blog Giveaways and Schwalm Sampler Update

After writing about Organization and Storage yesterday, it prompted me look through my supplies, as well as through past projects.  I have quite a few pieces of tatted silk jewelry remaining in my inventory.  I love tatting silk jewelry, but sadly I don't really wear jewelry. lol

So I thought, why not try and find some of these things a new home where they might be worn, or gifted, or maybe even passed down to daughters and granddaughters.  The next few weeks, I will be hosting Blog Giveaways for the following pieces:

This tatted silk cuff was created using Valdani Luxury Pearl Silk thread in Subtle Elegance.  It is a gorgeous, gently variegated cream/ivory silk thread.  It is adorned with opal silver lined size 11 delica seed beads, and has a gold plated lobster claw clasp.

This tatted bracelet was also made using Valdani Pearl Silk thread in color wheat husk.  It is a subtly variegated thread using cream, beige and gold colors.  It also has 3mm cream rose Swarvoski crystal pearls throughout the bracelet, and rainbow lined gold czech glass seed beads, and a gold plated lobster claw clasp.

This Irish Crochet bracelet, is also silk.  The rose was crocheted using Purely Silk thread in Ecru, and the leaves were made using Valdani Pearl silk in Herb Garden.  The rose and the buttons (rings) are decorated with rose gold colored delica seed beads in size 11.  It also has a rose gold plated clasp.

 

And last, but not least this tatted pendant, which is also silk.  I used Valdani Luxury Pearl silk in a forest green color to tat layers of ruffles around the center piece which is a circle pendant comprised of white freshwater pearls and 4mm Swarvoski bicones.  The tatted ruffles are also adorned with 4mm Swarvoski bicones.

Now the rules for the giveaways will be simple.  Just become a member or follower of this blog, and leave a comment on the day of the giveaway.  I will write down the name of all entries, fold them and put them into a hat, and have my 7 year old pick the winner.  I will contact the winner, and put their goodies in the mail.  :)  I plan on hosting the first giveaway in the next day or two.  Hopefully, these pieces will find the home and owners they are meant for.  

Even with the inventory check (and Easter Egg hunting), I managed to get some needlework done.  I finished the Square Section of the Schwalm Sampler, and got a little more done on the handkerchief border.  Here are some photos of the Schwalm Sampler:

 For the left and right square, I left 6 fabric threads and removed the 7th both warp and weft.  The first square is decorated with kloister blocks similar to those in Hardanger. 

For the center square, I carefully removed all fabric threads. . . I just purchased a brand new pair of embroidery scissors, that I plan to use solely for removing and cutting small pieces of fabric.  This way I make certain the blades stay nice and sharp.  I prefer to remove all the horizontal threads first, then I cut the vertical threads.  I find I get a nicer edge when I do it this way, with minimal tufts of threads sticking out of the stitches.

I really enjoyed this square as it reminds of Reticello, which I have been wanting to try for awhile now.  After the fabric was removed, I layed 2 threads vertically, and needle weaved between them.  This part was simple for me, because there is quite a bit of needle weaving in Romanian Point Lace.

Then I layed 2 horizontal threads and repeated the needle weaving.  Passing my needle through the back of the buttonhole stitches, I layed three threads in the little quarter squares and needle weaved between those to get this:

The last part of this section were a few coral stitch tendrils, and it was done.

Today I plan on working the handkerchief border.  I did decide that I am going to make another small piece of lace to put in the center of the fabric.  I will look through the Aemilia Ars patterns that I have, and decide on a motif later today.

What projects or ideas do you have swirling around in your head?  It always seems as if there a too many projects, and not enough time doesn't it?

Well, it's time to make my girls lunch, and then after that, perhaps, I will have some time for a little needle work.  If you like, fill out the poll on what my next project should be.  I hope you all have a wonderful day, and don't forget to check back for the blog giveaways!

Happy Stitches!