Outrageous

Outrageous advertising!!! 

Yes, I'm putting out a reminder on today's post that I have plenty of the new bags available here in my Etsy shop.  Sales have been slow. Well, not slow but more non existent!!!  I blame myself because I don't really advertise them much!!!!  

Customers who have bought them are pleased with the quality and I've never had a complaint.  All bags are fully lined and washable too.  Not sure what else I can say about them, really!!!!  I have several that I use for projects, storing tubes of beads, work in progress etc.  

I have a good stock of the bags now and have made myself stop making them. I'll admit I'm having withdrawal symptoms from not using the sewing machine but that may change over the weekend.

Anyway, before I go here are a couple of pictures of those in the shop.

Test tatting

Now I've got permission to share a picture from Martha's new book. 

YES, there's a new book coming sometime from Martha Ess. As you'll see from this post of hers she's aiming to get it finished soon.

So, here are a few teasers!! Yes, it's an angel. Yes, it's pretty. Yes, it's easy to do as her instructions and diagrams are fabulous. No, my job as a test tatter wasn't hard at all as there were no corrections needed to the pattern. 

Will you want/need the book? Guaranteed a big YES.

Round 2

Well here's round 2 and I'm beginning to wonder what I've started by using the beads!!! 

Now don't get me wrong - I love the beads but it's now becoming obvious that I'll have to get dear old BC3 out to help on each round and plan before I work it!! 

This round is relatively easy. All I've done is leave a 'bare' picot on each chain ready for the joins on the next round. BUT I looked ahead and trembled when I saw the problems ahead with the other rounds!!!! 

What am I doing? Answer? Having fun, really. It's so lovely to do something without designing from scratch - BUT, after just a few days, I feel the urge to make something else that's been on my list for a long time.  The doily is shortly to be relegated to 'relaxing time' rather than 'real tatting'!!!

Oh, if anybody wants a copy of my notes on how I'm doing this then please ask. I will tell you, though, that you will need a copy of the pattern too.  First of all you'll need it for the diagrams (essential) and secondly because I won't share unless you have bought the magazine. I'm not about to break copyright laws!!!!  Not fair on Jan's family.

Round 1

Well I succumbed. It could be about half a century since I did a big doily - they don't appeal to me normally but this one does!!! No idea why but that's the weird thing about my brain!!!

It's the Jan Stawatz Monster Doily. I bought the pattern from Zarina's Etsy shop here (she's got more copies I noticed yesterday) and am currently writing down the 'Jane' translation as I go along. 

You will notice that I'm not using my usual 'in your face' colours as I'm trying to do something I've been meaning to do for many years - grow old gracefully and use 'old lady' colours. OK, I can hear you all laughing your socks off. I'll probably give up on that idea within a week or two - we'll see!!!

I'm working this alongside Pigmini too so we can check our 'interpretation' of Jan's wonderful pattern. It's not easy but it's working - so far!!!

Back to normal

Well if anything can be called normal nowadays!!!

This is a bracelet that I've been going to make for ages. It's just the starry button bracelet pattern which is here.

I wanted this to go with a top that I've got but the top is almost worn out as I've been 'going to make it' for so long! Now I've got an excuse to go and buy a new green top, haven't I?