A Gift For A Friend

About two weeks ago my boss got the chance of a lifetime she couldn't refuse and left us to work for another company.   She had worked for our company for 27 years and her decision was not made lightly.  I am not sure who cried more the day she left (she was the best boss you could ask for) but we know she is going to do great in her new adventure.  She was not only my boss but is a dear friend and a fabulous dresser.  She has always been so supportive of my tatting I thought I would make her something to wish her much success. 
I like the pattern I used for the Seahorse so I combined it with chain to make the main necklace piece.  Then I decided that it needed a "wow" factor so I continued the pattern all the way around to make what I call the "Grand Daisy".  I also made some earrings to match.  I was a little worried as it seemed to be such a large piece but it was the perfect size when she put it on.  We'll miss working with her but she is only a call or text away!  And of course we  have promised to meet up to go shopping her favorite past time LOL! 
 

Mermaid Folly

June 29th I'll be on Gwynn's Island for their 64th annual festival. I love visiting this island.  It's located in the Chesapeake Bay on Virginia's Middle Peninsula in Mathews County.  The island is connected to the mainland by a swing bridge that is fully operational.  On the island itself is a very nice museum you can visit where you can view artifacts that evidence that the island has been inhabited as early as ten thousand years ago as well as ancient sea fossils that are really fascinating. But the most wonderful part of the museum is the exhibit of tatted lace done by the ladies who lived on the island.  Some of the lace has to be done in hundred weight thread as it is so fine.  I believe the oldest piece I saw dated back to the late 1860's. They even have some of the tatting shuttles on display.  It's so wonderful to be able to see that they have preserved the lace and clothing that it is sewn on.  I know we have all read the history about where tatting came from but after seeing this exhibit you come away with the sense that lace really did develop out of small fishing villages. A good friend of mine from work lives on the island.  Her husband is an "Islander" so she makes the hour and a half trek to work everyday. I remember back when her husband was earning his living as a fisherman, sometimes he would come into "town" and stop by the office.  He was fascinated to see me tat during lunch and would say how does she know how to do that?  She's using a similar technique to making nets!  He told me I could come down to the island and help them repair the fish nets one day.  Alas I never got the chance but I remember when my friend would tell me how they would spread the nets out in the field across from their house and the men would all be out there repairing them. There are so many regulations for fishing now that the poor guys have a hard time making a living and hence why her husband found other employment and I never got to try my hand at repairing nets.
I used to think she was crazy driving so far but after visiting there twice now I can see why they would never want to leave. I can't wait to go!
For the festival I decided to make some pieces that tie to the sea and summer.  I am thinking about calling this collection Mermaid Folly.  The seahorse is made with one shuttle and the earrings are done in my Ice Blue pattern but this time I used lentil beads. 

Springtime And Lace

Spring has arrived here in Virginia.  All the trees and plants are in bloom. Everything is just beautiful!  We had some serious thunderstorms last night but this morning the sun is shining and all the pollen has washed away. 
When I woke this morning I looked over at my nightstand and saw these three things sitting there and thought that would make a nice photo for the blog.  I love the combination of the perfume bottle, old lace and necklace.  So French! Made me think of that song I love Paris in the Springtime.  This is the pattern Lacy Treasure Pendant and it comes from Marilee Rockley's Tatted Jewelry book.  I love this little pattern.  This one is Lizbeth Silver paired with a muted ribbon rose and some crystal flower findings.  Since it struck me as French in style I added a French crystal chain to it as well.  This is one of my favorite necklaces to wear. 

A Heart Within A Heart

What's a girl to do when she has no jewelry to wear for Valentine's Day?  Make it of course!  This is a favorite pattern of mine.  Today I decided to extend the pattern upward with the rope connecting it at the top of the ring of the pendant creating a heart within the heart. These are done in Lizbeth Christmas Red Size 20. 

Ice Blue

As I was looking through my tatted jewelry (need something to wear tonight) I found these!  I had totally  forgotten about them.  Thought it would be fun to share these with you.  These earrings remind me of winter with their crystal centers and ice blue beads. 

Rose Variations and introducing the Panera Bread Tatters

Here are some variations on a theme I've worked on recently.  Sounds like music doesn't it?  Found these lovely rose connectors at the store the other day.  Thought I should make a pendant or set of earrings so started playing with some ideas.  What do you think?  I like them both for different reasons.  I may try thread size 10 and see what results I get with that as well.  The longer one measures two inches and the shorter about 1 1/2 inches. The longer one would definitely make a statement and the shorter would do for everyday wear.  May add a jump ring and bead to the bottom of the shorter one and see if I like it.  These are just a workup so thinking it may need some beads now. 

Over the last few months I have been keeping busy, working, getting ready for Christmas and oh teaching too! I would like to introduce the ladies. I am calling us the Panera Bread Tatters! Members- Sandy, Marlene, Winnie (Marlene's MIL), Judy and Chris. Yes, as you have guessed we meet at Panera bread once a month. Tatting is on their "bucket list" of items they would like to accomplish. These ladies are doing great. All began with the shuttle, slow going for most except for Chris. I keep asking her if she has tatted before. The first day I showed her the ds and off she went like she had been tatting for years. We had to take a little break for the holiday so I encourage everyone to take a look at 25 Motif and other sites as well as tutorials on UTube while we were on break. Sandy decided that needle tatting was better for her and has gotten Judy hooked as well. Both made several bookmarks for Christmas presents and had some for show and tell. Judy is still determined to do shuttle but is taking a break and enjoying needle. Marlene had some trouble with the shuttle so Judy showed her needle which is working very well for her now. Chris came to class with beautiful necklaces to show us! She has really done well with the shuttle and is already doing split rings! She also bought some books over the holiday, one of which I almost stole from her, Marilee's (Annie's Attic) book. So I came home went on Etsy and bought my own. Love, love, love her designs! I am going to have to start learning new techniques so I can keep ahead of Chris (wink wink). Winnie also tried her hand at needle tatting as well! She is an avid knitter and always brings that to work on during our meetings so I was so thrilled to see she wanted to try needle. She did great! So we'll try a little bit each time. Maybe she will teach me to knit! I can do basic but would like to do knitted lace! These ladies are such a nice group and I am so happy that they are having fun.

Panera Bread Tatters Counter-clockwise- Sandy, Marlene, Judy, Winnie and Chris

Downton Abbey Revisited

Season 3 of Downton is coming January 6th on our PBS channel, can hardly wait! 
I found this finding at Hobby Lobby a few months ago and decided it would make a great piece as a necklace.  Since it already had the jet beads I decided to carry it through the motif.  I think next time I will use larger seed beads as they seemed a little small once I finished it.  I'm pretty please with it overall.  One of the movie theatres here is going to have a showing of part one of season 3 and all are encouraged to dress accordingly so I think this necklace will be appropriate.  I'm calling this one Downton Revisited.