Diamonds come to life

First of all - don't forget that the shuttles are going 'live' today sometime. I will mail the sold ones tomorrow as the Post Office will be open. Least that's the plan!!!

Do you remember this post with the diamonds?  The doodads with the diamonds are at the bottom left of the picture in the link.  Well, this is what I made to go with my outfit using one of them.  It's Doreen's birthday party tonight so I will be wearing the new top, new bracelet and this as a pendant.  Since I scanned this picture I have straightened out the lock chains and gently stiffened it all with white glue.  Don't you LOVE the way the diamonds reflect the colour of the thread too?

One 'trick' I've learned over the years is to use a large metal ring at the top that will allow a chain (with fastenings) through it.  This means that I only need 3 chains to accommodate all pendants.  The three I have are various lengths so that I can use whichever is appropriate for the neckline of the top/dress (I NEVER wear dresses!!) that I'm wearing.  Now, why did I say 'dress' when I don't own one? Must be old age and senility catching up with me again!

Ooooh look at this

It's lovely when people send in pictures of what they've made out of my patterns. Makes me realise that somebody actually does use them!!! 

This is the square pattern that you can find here and which Jaycee sent in to show me yesterday. It's amazing how very pretty it looks made in just the one colour - I'd not thought of that. Here's what Jaycee says:-

"Dear Jane,

I tatted your Square Motif and was fascinated that it looks even better in a plain colour - though I also tatted one in 2 colours. The one colour truly shows off your lngenious design and it looks so dainty with 4 squares joined together! I am enjoying working these squares tremendouly and I can assure you that I won't stop at 4!!!

Here it is - done in size 60, Coats 503."

New technique page

The penny dropped at long last on another way of adding findings to your work.

People often mention they've finished their tatting and now have to add the findings and then I've seen them add a metal ring round a ring or a chain. Now that worried me as I always use split rings (like key rings) so that there's no chance of the tatted piece finding a gap (as there are in jump rings) and consequently falling off.  I've always added my findings as I go along - like this.

The thought of getting out the pliers (split ring pliers) to open the metal rings and then poke the tatting through them horrified me. I thought of the stress on the thread - UNTIL (as I said before) the penny dropped!!! 

As you know by now - I'm a lazy moo when it comes to tatting. I like to find easy ways round problems so this is what occurred to me - perhaps you could add findings like that without harming the tatting by forcing it through a metal split ring. So, here's what I came up with!!!

Then me, being me, realised that somebody in Tat Land was BOUND to have thought of it before so I did a quick search. I was right!!! Marilee did it here but she used a jump ring!!  Same difference at the end of the day.  Anyway - enough of my rambling - I'm off to have breakfast!!!

A bit of bling!!!

This is part of my outfit for the party on Saturday. I know, it's another Starry Button Bracelet but I do love making them and any excuse will do.

I spent yesterday afternoon sewing - yes, more bags!!!  Just got another six to do as they're already cut out and have zips and then I don't quite know what I'll be up to.  I now have a good stock in the Etsy shop with a good few in the 'waiting to be listed' bag!!!

I have a 'shop box' which is where everything goes once it's listed and then I have a bag where everything goes which is waiting to be listed.  THEN I have another bag called the 'Crafternoon bag' which is where pieces go that need the lining hand stitched and those get done on Friday afternoon.  It's a weird way of working but it works for a crazy old git like me!!!

Coming sooooon.

A new batch of Pop A Bobbin Shuttles. Here's the list.

I should be able to list these in the Etsy shop by next Saturday so keep an eye open then.

I've also listed another bag too. One of the smaller square bags in that lovely black with bright flowers. I'm going to make another for myself sometime but have lots of that fabric so I will get roundtoit in the end.

SHUTTLE LIST MAY 2015

POP-A-BOBBIN SHUTTLES

3 ELM (2 with hooks 1 without) £18

2 AMERICAN BLACK WALNUT (with hook) £18

4 CHERRY (2 with hooks 2 without) £18

2 ROSEWOOD (1 with hook 1 without) £18

1 EBONY (with hook) £22.50

2 PEAR (1 with hook 1 without) £18

1 SPALTED BEECH (no hook) £18

1 OAK (with hook) £18