What I've been up to lately...

New projects I'm working on:- For some odd reason, I've picked up my interest in cross stitching once again. I'm working on a bookmark and a Margaret Sherry Hedgehog kit that I got free with a cross stitching magazine. I was a bit disappointed in the free kit- it did not come with enough peach thread, and now my hedgie has an weird-looking face.

What have you guys been up to???

La Belle Smoke

The other day I was in Michael's, when I came across a package of craft thread in various colors. Although probably not the best thread for tatting (it is a bit fuzzy, and not as crisp as a cordonnet), it still worked sufficiently well for me to tat up a pendant out of it. I added some very pretty hot pink seed beads, and a black velvet cord necklace. I used a commercial necklace, but the extender looked a bit unfinished to me, so I added a small white faux pearl. I think it gives it a more completed look.

In other news, I have sent out my very first tatting exchange!!! I am so excited, and I hope it reaches its recipient by the end of this week.

Thanks for looking!!!:-)... Let me know what you are working on...

Monogramming...

So, I recently purchased a vintage pattern on etsy for making letters. I practiced making my own inititials, and am working on attaching it to a small drawstring bag I got when I purchased some earrings. I do not usually store my jewellry in bags, so I didn't know what to do with the bag, but I've decided I will use it as a tatting bag. When I finish it, I will try to post it up on here, so hopefully I can get some feedback.

I also added a new necklace to the etsy store- it's a green tatted triangular motif. I made it out of yarn using my Tatsy shuttle. The shuttle was weird to work with since it was so big, and took some getting used to, but I love the results!!! (See photo above, or else you can check it out at the store at www.artikaur.etsy.com) The pattern is an antique pattern I obtained online. I think it looks nice as a pendant, but I guess you could also make it work as earrings.

Since my last posting, I have also learned how to do thrown/floating rings off of a chain!!! I am working on a small purple/white doily. I like the new look of the chains with floating rings attached- really adds drama to the piece!!!:-)...

I wish I had more photos to share, but I am so tired right now, and feeling too lazy to take pics of stuff lol...

Well, let me know what you guys have been working on!!!:-)...

Thanks so much for looking!!!:-)...

Happy 2010!!!:-)...

Hi everyone- I realize I have not posted in a very long time, but I was busy with exams, and the holidays. Because I am snowed in, I thought it would be a good time to catch up on my blogging.

I made this Sunbonnet Sue pincushion using ordinary felt and embroidery floss. I stuffed it with cotton balls, and decorated it with an off-white tatted medallion I had lying around the house. I blanket stitched around the edges, but had to use invisible thread to ensure that the pincushion was closed thoroughly, so the cotton wouldn't come out. This pincushion is available for sale at my etsy store- www.artikaur.etsy.com

This is a Sunbonnet Sue needlecase I made using a vintage pattern. I had to adapt the pattern to my needs because I didn't have some of the fabric/materials mentioned, and I was using different sized threads than what the pattern had originally called for.

Below is the interior of the case.

The pattern for the case was the inspiration for creating the Sunbonnet Sue pincushion.

I made this doily from a pure white (possibly bamboo?) thread. I believe it is a size 10 thread. I got the pattern off of the internet. This is the first all-tatted doily I've ever made, and I made a ton of mistakes. Thankfully, there are so many picots and chains that they are well hidden. I had to starch this doily to untwist some of the picots. I pinned the entire thing down to a styrofoam board, sprayed it with some household starch, and then let it air dry. I did not iron it. The starch gave it a nice, light crispness, but I think hairspray or heavy starch would have given it a nicer "heaviness," but there was no way I was pinning it all over again...hehe lol...

I made this doily using a readymade doily with what appeared to be a machine-embroidered babychick. I edged it using a size 10 burgundy thread (shuttle tatted), and then I attached it by sewing it on using the unworked thread spaces.

Well, what have you been working on? Let me know by commenting below!!!

Things I've been working on...:-)...

Been having fun trying my hand at some more tatting. Just got my tatting thread in from ebay, and I like it a lot. It's a silver metallic thread (sorry, the pics are kinda crappy b/c I took them with my phone) and it has some nice "stiffness" to it, so you don't need to starch it- it sort of holds its shape all on its own, which is kinda fun...

The top pic is of my new scarf that I am making. I'm using Caron's Spa yarn...the pattern is pretty simple- just single crochet and puff stitches. I'm thinking of writing down the pattern to sell on etsy...

hmmn...that's all for now...:-)...

Starbaby Swap Results!!!:-)...

Hey guys,

So as you all know, I've been participating in a couple online swaps. Today I received my package from starbaby (http://www.starbabyonline.etsy.com/). It contained two pairs of really cute silver earrings!!!:-)...

Pair #1:- Bali stamped silver with red czech glass disk beads with clear/silver Czech glass seed beads.

Pair #2:- Honey Jade cubes, czech glass seed beads and silver chain.

I LOVE them...sooooo cute!!!:-)... I like how the orange ones have a nice dangly chain thingie, and I love the large silver rectangular bead on the other pair...

I encourage you all to visit her store, since she has loads of jewelry at affordable prices!!!:-)...

*Disclaimer about my blog: I do NOT review products unless I purchase them, or trade for them. I have never received a free product in exchange for a review, and I do not do reviews for free products.*

Swap Results!!!:-)...

So, my package from http://www.whosies.blogspot.com/ arrived. She sent me a cute cupcake potholder and a quick stitch kit to make an owl. Can't wait to make the owl...maybe over the holidays when I have more time...

If you like what you see, she sells patterns for the cupcake potholders, and I think she also sells the owl kits on her etsy store, so go check it out!!!

www.whosiesandwhatnots.etsy.com

I am also doing a CreateCrochet Team Swap with Mamta and Sheila, and I'm also crocheting up a scarf for Debby...So much swapping...so little time!!!:-)...

If you've never tried swapping, I suggest giving it a go- it's a lot of fun, you get to interact with other fun etsians, and you get to try something you've never done before!!!:-)...