Needles-N-Shuttles

My books

2011-01-15T17:27:00.002+02:00

I'm selling again several of my books in PDF format. The tittles are:

Celtic with a Twist - 8 patterns using Celtic technique (interwoven multiple motifs). Disponible en Español.

From My Heart - This book was originally publish in 2007. It's a collection of 12 hearts that range from the beginner to advance.

"Knot" Just Bookmarks - This book was originally publish in 2004. It's a collection of 7 bookmarks that range from the beginner to advance.

Quickie Tat - This book was originally publish in 2007. It's a collection of 1o patterns that range from the beginner to advance. Some of them used beads, buttons and/or sequins. The patterns are mostly flowers, angels and butterflies, all of them done in a couple of hours or less.

All of them are available on ArtFire. Any question please contact me at wesosa1@gmail.com Thanks!

Peach Tatted Orchid on Headband

2010-12-21T16:47:00.000+02:00

This week someone view my hibiscus on my exhibition and asked for an orchid. I got Toni Storer's book of orchids and made this dendrobium. Was so pretty that I had to make another one. You can find it at:

ArtFire
Etsy

Hibiscus Headband

2010-12-19T15:59:00.000+02:00

This is a tatted hibiscus, complete with calix and leaf. The Hibiscus (Maga) is the national flower of Puerto Rico. This design is an original. Flower and leaf measure almost 6 inches in total.

Headband is plastic, covered with a braided ribbon on the top and more satin ribbon on the bottom. One size fits all.

You can find it at:

ArtFire

Artesanum

Etsy

Multicolor Snowflake

2010-11-30T18:31:00.000+02:00

A couple of weeks ago Anne Bruvold shared this pattern with the Online Tatting class. I love it! But it was too "easy". So I started thinking, "What if I make it with 3 colors instead of 2?" and here it is. It' s still very easy to make and the extra color gives extra fun. :-)

Thanks Anne for sharing the pattern!

Tatted Lupie Angel

2010-11-04T23:08:00.000+02:00

This is an original pattern. Her name is Lupie and was originally made for Lupus funds raising. The top of the angel is crocheted and then the skirt is tatted with white cotton thread and gold glass beads.

The angel measures 3 inches from the top of the halo to the bottom of the skirt. Perfect to use as an ornament, brooch or card making.

If preferred as a brooch send me a message and I'll place the brooch finding, no extra charge.

**********************
CUSTOM ORDERS ACCEPTED
**********************
Beads can be change to other colors:
red, silver, green, crystal, white pearl

Lupie can be ordered at ArtFire or Etsy

Another peek to the new book

2010-10-06T16:33:00.001+02:00

I have been working on the new book and revisiting some patterns I wrote a few years ago. This is one of them. I made 2 versions, one of them with beads. But I was feeling "lazy" and didn't want to load the beads so I made this one. I think I still have to tweak a little the long picots, making them in 2 sizes.

I wrote already 6 of the 15 patterns, so a few more and will go straight to my testers. Let see if I can get it ready just in time for Winter!

Mary Maynard's Earrings

2010-10-06T00:09:00.002+02:00

Yesterday in the online class we discussed a pattern for an edging by Mary Maynard. It's a really pretty pattern and easily adapted to make earrings. I made a pair of them in size #10 in white and red with gold beads. This is 2 homeworks in a row! I hope I can stick to this pace now. :-)

My cluny attempt

2010-10-03T16:31:00.000+02:00

This was suppose to be a 8 petals motif that Elisa du Sud designed. But because I was making it at the same time I was watching a horror movie I forgot and made 6. ;-) From all the things in tatting (and bobbin lace too) the clunies have been always my archenemy! I can't get the hang of them! Well, one may be but to make several of them... Makes my head spin! I even prefer to make split chains than make clunies.

Oh well, I'll keep practicing!

New Design

2010-09-25T05:21:00.003+03:00

I haven't design anything per se in months! I think the last design was for my birthday. So I obliged myself to do this idea I had a few months ago. It uses a CD as a base. At the end this will be a multi-use ornament. There are still some other elements I'll add to it. I'm not sure if it'll be included in my next book or will sell it as a booklet. Still have time. :-)

Oh, the next book will be Dreamy Winter 2: Snowflakes and Stars. I'm in the process of rewriting the first one. I lost the master and the printed copy a long time ago but I found a notebook with the patterns. The only part that was completely lost was the Introduction. Someone send it to me but got lost again. I guess this book doesn't want to have an Introduction. lol

An Adventure Called Palmetto

2010-09-20T19:23:00.002+03:00

It's been almost a month! Palmetto came and went too fast for me. :-( But it was awesome. I know there are a lot of blogs now posting the photos. I took so many that my camera's batteries die and had to use the cell phone to keep taking photos.

I arrived Wednesday to Columbia after a few delays because the plane from Altanta-Columbia didn't want to start and they couldn't find the "jumper cables". lol After 1 1/2 hrs they change us to another plane and that one started without problem. It's muc

h better that to have to do an emergency landing! But a little before 11 pm (from 9:20 pm I was suppose to arrive) I arrived Columbia and Karen was waiting for me. Took me to eat something and then I hit the pillow at the hotel and was sound asleep until next day that we went to Toccoa, GA. The drive brought a lot of memories of when I was living in GA. *sniff* I miss living there!

We stop to have lunch at the Cornerstone Cafe, a cute place inside an Antique Store.

From palmetto 2010

Then we arrived to the Baptist Conference Center and the magic began! Tons of goody bags and free stuff for our tatting obsession, seen good old friends and making new ones, chatting and tatting sessions, show and tells... Well, you can imagine. I think the most hours a person could sleep was around 5 hrs and even then you'll be dreaming with shuttles, needles and threads. lol

Friday I took a class with Karey Solomon ( a tree made with Floating Chains, which I really like to do). I need to finish the tree. I forgot where I save it and I founf it yesterday inside a plastic leaf on my Sampler book. Duh! After that class I taught my 1st class: Roll

Tatting. It was a fun class.

I had 6 students all of them learned to to the Roll Tatting. Even one student (Ashley) was so inspired that the leaf pattern gave her an idea for a butterfly with rolled tatting on the wings. That will look so pretty!

Then at night was the banquet, the not to silent auction and the games! Yay! We had our Tat-Off and guess who won. Me! *blushing*

The cute trophy is beside the other one I won in 2004 and the shuttle, well, it's already been use. :-)

I think the stars of the evening was the precious tatted quilting and seen Georgia as Richard, her husband, mustache and all!

Saturday were my 2 other classes. The 1st was Schwarino Flying Rings; a new technique similar to Daisy Picots but easier to do and the result is more lacy. It was develop by one of my Spanish-speaking tatters Patry Schwab from Germany and she gave permission to be taught at Palmetto for the 1st time.

Georgia was beside me learning the technique. :-)

It was a full class with 14 students and they told me that it was enjoyable too. Lorena choose and lovely yellow and green combination for her bookmark.

And she almost finish it!

Then the last class was Rolling Picots, a technique I started to develop this year. Similar to the roll tatting but using a secondary color to make the roll part in picots only; giving the work a very colorful look.

From palmetto 2010

IsDihara was a little challenge because she's a left tatter, but we managed and she made the cutest rolled picots in pink and white. We even sang a little silly song! ♪♫ Roll, roll, roll your tat, gently by the thread. Merrily, merrily, merrily, Tat is just my dream. ♫♪

I don't remember who did this but the combination of colors and the rolled picots were lovely too!

After the classes we had Tatting Jeopardy! That was awesome!!! My team was second place but I think the buzzer was malfunctioning. That's my excuse and I stick to it! lol We had a session to decorate cards that went well until midnight.

Sunday was the sad time for saying good byes until next year or next time. The last time to take photos, to promise to keep in touch and take a last good look at the place that for 2 days (3 for the teachers) made a home to tatters and family. But for some of us the fun didn't end there! Back to Columbia some went to a Mall nearby to have a tatting meeting and there we find again most of the people that were with us at Tat Day. We discussed some more classes's patterns and we laugh and ate Ice Cream!

Then on Monday I had the opportunity of spending the day at Pam Frecker's home, with Pam, Riet, Sue, Pam's SIL (sorry the name escapes from me now), Joanie and Hope G. Oh my goodness! It was like a mini Tat Day! lol We tat and had show and tell and ate chocolates, soups and sandwiches and then the most awesome part was the showing (again) of Mary Konior's collection that Sue brought with her. She shared so many memories of Mary and we laugh and cry; and admired so much the pieces. I felt like it was Camelot and we are the knights around the Round Table. Instead of knits were tatters and instead of round was rectangular. :-)

Isn't this a lovely bunch! The experience that day won't be easily forgoten!

Tuesday I had to return to the reality and unfortunately since I arrived to PR (under a hurricane menace) I have been sick with the Asthma. It always get uncontrolled after I return to PR from USA. It's the change in weather... *sigh* But even if I have to stay sick for 1000 days after a trip to Palmetto, I won't change it for anything!

To see all the photos you can go to these albums:

RR updated

2010-08-11T19:20:00.003+02:00

When I signed to the RR at Sharon's site I didn't count with the fact that I was starting a Lupus crisis and because the last one was like 4 years ago, this time I have found it more aggressive than others before. But I manage last week to put on some extra "spoons" and finished them.

I have this idea for a long time to make a small bag using these lovely sequins that hubby got me in Egypt. And I managed to do it now. I used black thread #10, glass iridescent beads and silver sequins. The bag is like 5 inches tall and 3 inches wide. Just simple rings and chains. This bad is already on it's way to Ellen. I liked the bag so much that I'll be making another one for me. :-) The only thing I didn't do and thought of it later, was to make a cover inside the bag. I'm not an expert sewing, so that's why I didn't think about it before. What you think, make a cover or not? Will this be something that you'll buy if I place it on Etsy or ArtFire?

I feel like Cinderella!

2010-07-30T21:25:00.002+03:00

Last Friday I got a notification for a parcel but I couldn't go to pick it because was a long holiday weekend and wasn't until Wednesday that my lil sister took me to the post office. It was from Spain, from one of the online members of the Spanish-speaking tatters group; Esperanza.

Inside I found several treasures!

There is a pair of scissors with a ribbon so I can hang them on the neck and don't loose them. hehe

The earrings are the cutest and tiniest bobbins I've seen.

There's a faux MOP fan skeleton to make a pretty fan.

And the stars of the package: a pair of glass shuttles with my name on them!!! Now I know how Cinderella felt when she got the glass slippers.

The biggest one has a golden green tone with dark green strips and the small one has a aural orange/pink tone.

They are not uniform in the thickness but I think I can use them with a fine thread like #40 or #80. The point are not tight. But who cares about the defect!? They are perfect! Only another person in the world have a pair of these shuttles and is my friend Esperanza. :-) They were made by a glass artisan solely for her.

Thank you a bunch!

Oh no! Another hobby?

2010-07-20T20:49:00.003+03:00

Well, it's not completely new. I learn quilling I think at the same time as tatting. But as with everything else, I stop because I couldn't find materials. Lately I have seen on Annie's Attic about the new sets of quilling and bug bite me again. :-) So I got my set out and started playing again. I found on E-Bay really cheap supplies and got some paper strips. Here is something I did a week ago. It's my first 3-D project. A little flower pot with some flowers and a blue bird singing. Cute, eh? Just free-style. I didn't follow any pattern for this one. I have other photos but will post them on an album and share the link.

I'm looking forward to incorporate tatting and quilling into the same project. Let see what can I come with!

Tat Days Scholarship

2010-07-20T17:30:00.002+03:00

This is a great way to promote tatting and keep it alive! If you can;t go to the event at least you can participate to get this gorgeous quilt!

Tat Day Scholarship

Foldover Bookmark

2010-07-19T05:59:00.002+03:00

I have been tatting madly lately. Trying to cope with the stress. And what better pattern to do a gazillion time that the Foldover Bookmark by Jon Yussuf. I really love this design. Heck, I already have almost a dozen of them in different colors! It's so easy to make that after the first one I knew the pattern by memory. :-)

Here is the bookmark folded. The purpose of the bookmark is for people that doesn't like tassels on their books. So the bookmark has 2 pieces. You place one piece on the page that you want to mark and the other piece a few pages after.

I noticed that the design can make a very pretty bracelet. Just adding an extra short piece to the other side. Isn't it cute? BTW... The thread is Lizbeth #20 in Wildflowers. I just fall in love with this color! Almost finishing the ball, so I will need to buy a couple more. lol

Sorry I asked... But don't judge me either.

2010-07-15T17:43:00.000+03:00

It seems that me asking for help with donations toward my bariatric surgery has risen a polemic and drama that I really don't want. It has mixed with the fact that I'm asking a membership of $10 annually toward the payment of the group at NING for the Spanish-speaking Tatters.

Let me explain first about the Ning money. When Ning decided to ask for the network creator a quote for the use of Ning, I looked for alternative in about a dozen of places. None of them worked as good as Ning and the members in consensus opt to pay the membership of $10 annually to keep the network and all the applications that it has, specially the storage space. There are some people that have problem paying the membership and in each case I have say, it's ok to stay in the group. Even other members have given more than their share of money to help others to stay. Members that can't pay for whatever reason will be able to stay in the group with limited participation. Now, people that are protesting about the money is because $10 per member, and the group have over 1000 members, will give me a lot of money and I'll be rich! But what they don't see is that not all of those members are active, there are people that enter once or twice to see what's in the group and then don't enter anymore. There are people that enter to "steal" material, patterns and photos. So doing a cleaning of all those the group will be greatly reduce to around 100-150 members. Still a lot of money? Well, the rest of the money will be used on the group anyway. The web site has a maintenance around $100 per year. There are contests that will receive material prizes. There will be a better classroom for the online classes. And what if I want to ask for some money for the time I dedicate to the searching of material, translations, designing and classes... Is that bad? Should I give all my time for free? Unfortunately I can't because I don't work and don't have a salary, only a pension which half of it is spent in medicines. Even members have suggested that I could use some of that money to travel and give classes in other countries, something I won't do if this will bring more flame and drama.

Now, about my bariatric surgery. I asked some help because I really need the surgery, not for cosmetic reasons but for my serious health condition. I don't like to talk a lot about it because it's depressing and some people don't like to hear this kind of things because they have their own problems. But I will say it. Yes, my health is very bad, is deteriorating each day more and there's no cure for it. The bariatric surgery will help to diminish some of the secondary health problems, but it will not CURE my Lupus or Asthma. I found some help toward the surgery and that's really good, but still I will need to fund some deductibles and expenses that right now I don't have money and will never have, to be sincere. And I"m not asking money for nothing on exchange. I placed my links to 2 of my online shops. You can buy whatever you want. If you don't want to buy anything but will like to make a donation, fine! I'll appreciate it enormously. I'm not forcing people to buy and make donations!

Saying all this... I have been call a fraud and make me look like all I'm asking is money for my selfish self. That hurts a lot! All my life I have to fight to stay alive, achieve a lot of things that people get for granted. Seven years ago I started this movement to promote Tatting in Spanish. I started translating WITH permissions, materials and patterns. Started the online class in Spanish. Designed a lot of patterns and made a lot of projects, just so that people learned this art. What I gain from this? Stealing of my patterns and translations, illegal publishing of material in my website and group. Tons of fights with my family about the time I spent in the freaking computer and tatting, forgetting a lot of time to do my chores.

So I won't allow ANYONE to call me a fraud! Just because I'm asking some money to help myself to get better health and so I can continue teaching tatting. You don't know all the sacrifices, tears, stress and anxieties I have been through in my life. All the close calls that even my family thought "this is it, the end of Wally's life". Don't judge me because I asked for $10 annually so you can learn an art that anywhere will cost you a lot more! And as I said at the end of the last post. PRAYERS are also very well received.

Sorry I asked for money. I just wanted to get better.

Can you help me achieve my dream?

2010-07-08T16:20:00.002+03:00

I have been talking a lot about my plans for Bariatric Surgery. This is something I need to help my health, it's not purely cosmetic. Several of my doctors have recommended it and even went to my 1st evaluation but I can't make it here in PR. I was looking several options and I receive answer from West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. Medicare covers the surgery and my secondary insurance covers Medicare's deductible. But for transportation, stay and special diet I will need around $2000. From those I need $500 at the end of August for the 1st evaluation (ticket, stay and food).

Before I start reading comments about diet, supplement and miracle cures, let me just say this. I have Lupus and actually is active. I have been visiting professional nutritionists for years and though I loose some pounds, I regain them again because of some medicines I take. I can't take natural supplements that boost the immune system because that's exactly the problem with Lupus. My immune system is over reactive and things like that make it worst. And to end, there's no miracle food, ,diet or nothing that will cure you or make you loose all the weight miraculously. In my case the last resort is surgery after a lot of alternative that my own doctors have tried with me. This is not only surgery, but a total change in my lifestyle, thus I have a medical team of 8 doctors, including surgeon, hematologist, nutritionists, psychiatrist, physical therapist, etc. Even a spiritual counselor.

I really don't like to keep asking people for money. But because I can't work in a regular job, all I can do is tat and see if people buy some of my work.

Can you help me? Prayers and donations are greatly accepted!

By buying at:
Artfire
BeautiControl
Or making a donation to Pay Pal

What to do? Here, there or Yonder?...

2010-07-06T01:33:00.000+03:00

At last, after almost a month of trying to talk to the coordinator of the bariatric center where I made my initial evaluation I was able to talk with her. I told her about my nasty phone call with the dr's secretary that told me that the Hospital do accept Medicare but the dr not yet and there's not a definitive date for it. I have been waiting for an appointment for over 1 1/2 years. I can't stay any more in this limbo. My husband is in Egypt and though he supports me 100%, he's starting to be anxious of when I'll be traveling back to Egypt.

So, the coordinator told me that yes, the hospital part of the surgery is covered by Medicare but not the surgeon's fee. I asked if my secondary insurance can pay for the dr and she tld me that she doesn't know. So now I have to try to get an appointment with the dr to talk about this. *sigh* All this have left me broken.

Now, I found several drs online and I will be calling a dr in SC. I will be traveling to Columbia, SC in August 25 for a Lace Convention, so I thought that I can travel a few days before or stay a few days more and go to a seminar. I will try to call tomorrow to be sure about the seminar dates.

Now I feel like the song that says "Should I stay or Should I go". Here or there? There are a few details like extra money for the extra stay if I decide to do it on SC, or the eternal waiting here in PR until I get an answer.

I hate to make this kind of decisions!

Moving to Miami

2010-06-29T22:58:00.002+03:00

I will probably move to Miami, FL because there's a hospital there that make the bariatric surgery with Medicare. I got tire of waiting here in PR and at last they told me that my dr is not yet affiliated to Medicare, so they won't make any surgery with Medicare yet. But they don't have an idea of when this could be possible. So I started looking on the net for drs. and found severals. Up to now I got an answer from the Miami HOPE Center and I think I'll start the process with them. Now to find apartment into my money range. That's another story. *sigh*

I signed with BeautiControl a few months ago and though I made it for personal use I think I can make some money selling the products. This will help GREATLY into the moving to Miami. So if you can lend me a few minutes and check my page I'll appreciate!

http://www.beautipage.com/wallysosa/

Tatting on Car

2010-06-22T08:16:00.001+03:00

I haven't been around a lot because of the pains I have been suffering for almost 2 months. But thanks God and my dr the pain are less and I was able to go out with my family just to drive around the interior of the island. I think we drove like 2 hours without stopping and I started to get bore because I didn't bring with me my tatting bag. So I took some curly ribbons from a gift someone made to my sister Letty and I started finger-tatting a very simple heart.

But what would I do to help with the joining? I asked mom if she had a toothpiker and she found one and it worked like a charm! I was able to make the joins.

Here is the finished heart. Tatting with curly ribbon is interesting but I don't like how the picots look like and it was difficult to manage the tension of the stitches. But anyway I spend a few minutes without boreness. :-)

APS Awareness Day

2010-06-09T19:34:00.001+03:00

I know that this is not about tatting but as a SLE (Lupus) patient and now possible APS patient I think is good to raise awareness about these almost unknown diseases that don't have a cure.

What is Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APS)? APS is associated with recurrent clotting events (thrombosis) including premature stroke, repeated miscarriages, phlebitis, venous thrombosis (clot in the vein) and pulmonary thromboembolism (blockage of an artery found in the lung due to a clot that has traveled from a vein). It is also associated with low platelet or blood elements that prevent bleeding. Recently, however, even more disease states have been linked with APL including premature heart attack, migraine headaches, various cardiac valvular abnormalities, skin lesions, abnormal movement/chorea, diseases that mimic multiple sclerosis, vascular diseases of the eye that can lead to visual loss and blindness.

APS is an autoimmune disorder in which the body recognizes certain normal components of blood and/or cell membranes as foreign substances and produces antibodies against them. There are two known forms of APS. APS may occur in people with systemic lupus erythematosus, other autoimmune disease, or in otherwise healthy individuals. Sadly, when most people hear about APS and it being referred to as autoimmune disease, they incorrectly confuse the terms autoimmune with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS); or they think this is a form of cancer.

Women are more likely than men to be affected by APS. Some estimates say that 75% to 90% of those affected are women. For example, it has been estimated by some doctors that one third of all of young strokes (defined as under the age of 50) are due to APS.

In obstetrics it is estimated by some doctors that up to 25% of all women with 2 or more spontaneous miscarriages have APS. Some doctors believe that 1 in 5 of all Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), Pulmonary Embolism (PE), and even worse, amputations are due to APS. And it is believed that 40-50% of patients with Lupus also have APS. Still, with these statistics, APS rarely is discussed as a women’s health issue and is misdiagnosed often. Therefore the total number of people affected and true statistics are unknown really.

APS is also referred to as APLS or APLA in the United States and Hughes Syndrome or Sticky Blood in the UK.

Day one of the "Festival de la Palabra" (Festival of the Word)

2010-05-06T06:37:00.002+03:00

I got an invitation for an International fair of writers celebrated this week in PR. Only 5 artisans are participating and it's very exiting! Today was the 1st day. Well, actually, last night was the 1st but I couldn't go at night. So this is my official 1st day. :-)

Because is an event about writers and books they ask me to bring bookmarks. So I spent the last couple of weeks tatting bookmarks. Made around 30. Today I sold 7. May be is not a lot but for me is a triumph! This is my first time in an event like this.

The event is from 10 am to 10 pm in an antique square building with a huge plaza in the center. It was constructed as a jail in the Spanish Colonial Era. A very pretty building. Tomorrow, hopefully, will post some pics. I forgot the camera in the luggage with the tattings on the trunk of mom's car. But is secure...

My feet hurt and are swollen, my back is killing me and I'm so tire I can't sleep but I'm happy.

Collars

2010-04-23T19:03:00.005+02:00

I have been invited to 2 fairs in May and they are just a few days one from the other so I have been tatting like crazy. One is on May 2nd and the other is from May 5 to May 9. This is the first time I participate on fairs since I got my Artisan certification. So I'm very happy. But also I'm getting stressed. I don't know how many pieces should I get with me and what kind of pieces will favor. Anyway I've been trying to tat a little of everything: bookmarks, headbands, jewelry and collars. Will try to make a few baby booties as well. They usually sell everywhere. :-)

So here are 2 collars I made this week. This burgundy one is made with a cotton #10 thread from Egypt called Helwan. Really soft and shiny! A little bigger than regular #10 threads I've work with. I used needle tatting for this one. The pattern is from Needle Tatting with Style Book 1. It's not too big. I think it will work better for a girl's dress collar.

This other is from a Russian Book called "Tatting" from 1993. I can't understand the name of the person. I used #10 thread Aunt Lydia's in a light cream. Very pretty color. I had to change a little the counting of the outer chains because if I do it according to the instructions it was going to cup. Also had to stretch the picots so the curve was softer and can make it bigger.

New tricks previews

2010-04-14T16:46:00.004+02:00

For a couple of weeks I have been tatting and cutting like a mad woman. Since this cool technique came to my mind. It's not easy to find or create patterns to adapt to a technique. But I manage to get some and will be going to Palmetto's in a few minutes.

But here is a peek...

This 1st technique is developed from Roll Tatting. I call it Rolled Picots and for that you need 2 shuttles if worked on rings and 3 if worked on chains. I like how I can play with colors using this. Because the thread I use to add the color to the picots is finer than the main thread I can use more than one color and the design doesn't look bulky.

I was wondering if I can use the picots for joining and yes, you can join to them in a traditional way (sharing a picot) or like in the photo, joining two picots.

Probably will have to look for another name than Rolled Picots because I can make not just picots with it but rings too.

And here is the other technique: Schwarino Flying Rings.

This technique was develop by P. Schwarino. She's a Spanish-speaking tatter who lives in Germany. She makes the most beautiful and colorful tatting I have seen in awhile! All started from seen a pattern for Daisy Picots but no instructions, so she ponder and ponder until she got this. When she posted the photo we where wondering if it was Daisy Picots and she said no. She made 2 videos, one of Daisy Picots and one in her way of doing this. Showed to Georgia the second video and she was in awe as us in the group. A new technique was born! lol

All the techniques will go to Palmetto for consideration. Later the techniques will be on my web site for everyone to learn it.

If you think you know how I made the rolled picots e-mail me at needledreams@yahoo.com. ;-)

Not tatting but...

2010-04-05T21:00:00.002+02:00

I know that a lot of you crochet also and do other crafts. I would love to make this dress but the material used is fingering yarn. I have no idea how big is fingering yarn and I would like to know how many strands of crochet #10 could be use to substitute the yarn. Or if you know of a similar pattern made in crochet thread I'll appreciate the info!

A new technique!

2010-04-05T20:03:00.006+02:00

I have been a little hush last week but is because I have been trying to design something for Palmetto using a special technique not seen yet by many. Only by the members of Frivolite En Espanol in Ning. Why the hush? Well, Schwarino, one of the group members came with a new tatting technique. Yep, there are still techniques to discover in this world! lol She call it the Flying Ring. It kinda looks like the Daisy Picot but the ring gets totally independent over the "core" thread. So Friday I was playing more with her technique and I came with a variation of her technique to work with 2 threads and showing 1 color in the wanted places. Sounds like working with the Pelc or encapsulating, but it's works totally different. Ok, you want photos to understand all my excitement?

Here is a couple of photos.

This is a small triangle that I made while playing. I wanted to make rolled rings but was making them to small and after a ring and a half I changed to Schwarino rings. The first ring worked is the one on the right at the bottom, then the left-bottom ring and the last ring is the one on the top angle.

This is the back of the motif. Notice how the 2nd thread is not shown on the ring? On this photo it shows a little under one of the rolled rings but is because I couldn't close that ring completely. It was driving me crazy! The red therad I'm using is good for crochet but too stiff for tatting and tatting this was difficult.

I also made this butterfly and though it shows miniscule parts of the cream thread it shows the nice picots made in other color.

Will try to write the instructions this week and send them to Palmetto to see if they want a class. If anyone have seen a project done using similar techniques PLEASE let me know. Until we have knowledge Schwarino and me are the ones working this technique.

Time after Time

2010-04-01T23:25:00.004+02:00

How many of us wishes for having more time? Specially to tat some more? Well, I'm one that needs a day of like 26 hrs to I can do more. :-) I still need to sleep around 4 hrs, and I can use them to tat! Anyway. I came with an innovative item! A Tatting Sand Clock. Yes! At last we can have all the tatting time we want! Just put it on your lappel, or in your pocket... Put it on a chain around your neck, or just have it near. It's guarantee to last forever and it will never run out of time! You may be asking "how much such a marvel?" Well, here is the answer: IT'S TOTALLY FREE!!! Now you must be saying "But Wally is crazy, offering free time". Yes, I'm a little crazy and also can read your minds if you haven't notice. lol

The pattern is on my Pattern Section at Needles-N-Shuttles. It's a little gift from me to all of you wonderful tatting pals on our International Tatting Day. Enjoy and let me see your versions?

PS: I don't accept devolutions if the sand clock runs out of time or malfunctions.

All this talking about time always remind me of one of my favorite Cyndi Lauper's song "Time after time".

Priscilla Bookmark

2010-03-21T19:35:00.004+02:00

At the Spanish tatting group, we are translating and modernizing the Priscilla No. 3 tatting book and I got inspired in one of the patterns to make this one. I'm trying to make it in colors and then I'll write the pattern. It's so amazing when a simple pattern can inspire you to get something different. :-)

This is the original photo. It's figure #20 on Priscilla Tatting Book No. 3 on page 7.

Onion Roll

2010-03-18T19:54:00.003+02:00

Last month I gave a totally new look to my site. I think now it looks more clean and organized. Eliminated a lot of gadgets and left only a few on the 1st page. Plus also it has a neat Contact Me form that send me any comment straight to my e-mail.

So I'm now in the task of writing my patterns back. Most of them are up already. Some still aren't post because I have to get my notebook to write them. It's so boring to have to write numbers and - over and over! Pattern writting is boring, but I haven't time yet to get into diagramming them. Bought a "ruler" of circles and oval to see if I can diagram using pen and paper (old school). But enough rambling...

Georgia was asking via e-mail about patterns that use padded tatting and roll tatting. On my site I got a pair of flowers that are padded and I remembered that I made a motif using roll tatting. I think I never published it. It's from 2007. So this morning I posted it on my site.

It's very simple. I think that if I make the roll part in another color will look neater. To make the roll tatting I kinda use the method that is on Jane's site. Just that instead of "rolling" the stitches after a few, I roll them one after I make it.

Here is the pattern: Onion Roll Hope you enjoy the pattern!

New toy

2010-03-16T20:53:00.003+02:00

I recently lost my trusty hook in a chain that I had with me over 10 years. It was a #12 hook on a wire with 5 lapis azulis beads joined to a keyring. If you have seen me tatting in person you may remember it. You can't imagine how I even cried when I couldn;t find it. It got lost when I went to the Puerto Rican Institute for my demo. :-(

So I was looking to replace it an found this one at Handy Hands. It came today. Boy! The are pretty!!! Will never be the same as my old trusty hook but at least I got new hooks to help me join my tatting and even to bead. It comes with a #6, #10 and #12 hooks and a 0.04mm hook. I have another 0.04mm hook that I was thinking to cut and put in a ring. But now I don't have to do it. :-)

Now I'll place these on a keyring and give it to Chaty Teddy to hold them for me with my scissors and plastic picot gauge. Will take photos of Chaty Teddy later so you can see who is she.

Double Picot Gauge

2010-03-16T05:33:00.003+02:00

Some people have been commenting that they can't see the video about using plastic double picot gauges that Kika from the Ning Frivolite en Espanol made. I transfer it to YouTube. Hope now everyone can see it.

She uses the double picot gauge to measure the half open rings that we were studying, but I use them to keep the same bare thread for the mignonette. These gauges keep in place, leaving your fingers "free" for the tatting without worrying about the measurement of the bare thread between rings.

Lucky Penny

2010-03-15T17:45:00.003+02:00

I don't know why people threw their pennies, but mom is sure to pick them! lol She's always finding pennies everywhere she goes. Once I was with her and we found 23 cents scattered on our apartment's parking. Last week she got another lucky penny and when she got in the car she show it to me. "Look a lucky penny of my birth year! Now you can make me a tatted lucky penny frame". I just rolled my eyes and we went through our day. So since that day I have been looking for a pattern that can be use for her lucky penny.

I have been working all this month on the same book of DMC Book of Charted Tatting Desings. Boy! It looks like I'll do all the book! lol So this morning I finished with a bridal garter and the shuttle was still full and browsing the book I came with this motif. It's very pretty and I like the tiny mignonette rings. Here is ho9w it looks with a penny in the center.

Yep, the penny is going to cover the tiny mignonette rings on the center but still looks gorgeous! This is not the penny mom found. I have no idea where she put it. May be is still in the car, so when she arrives from work I'll go and sneak out to hunt for the penny. Then I'll frame all the thing together.

What does she do with all those lucky pennies? Well, when she has plenty of them she exchange them. Sometimes we are short of pennies to buy something and they come to the rescue! So keep throwing pennies so mom can get them. lol

Woes of a Fan

2010-03-14T17:46:00.003+02:00

Since I saw this fan on the cover of Il Chiacchierino 14 I was in love and told myself "I gotta make it!" So I spent like a week tatting the fan. I used Lizbeth #20 in Ecru because the instructions say to use a #20. Also, studying the pattern I "discover" that it can be made in 2 passes if using split chains. I did it in 4 because I didn't use 2 shuttles. But if worked with 2 shuttles it will come out in 2 passes.

So, I finished it and loved it! Now to mount it on the fan blades. Here is where my woes start! The fan blades are too big for the tatted piece. :-( I think I can cut the excess of the blades but I can't stretch the tatting anymore to cover for left to right. Hmm... May be I could experiment taking out one blade or to "close" a little the blades. *sigh* I got so pump up because I was making my first tatted fan and now I came with this dissaster!

Oh well, I'll keep checking what can I do and when I find a reasonable solution I'll finish it. The blades are from a very cheap fan I got from Egypt. The blades are very thin and fragile but this is a fan that will go to display. It's not intended for use. Before mounting the tatting I'll paint the blades with an acrylic paint spray to give some shine and to cover the brown spots that they have.

Looking for my Muse

2010-03-13T20:17:00.004+02:00

Have you seen it? It usually happens to me that after finishing a big project, like last week crown and basket, then I spent like 2-3 days in tatting limbo. Spend the day browsing the books and photos I have but nothing appeals. *sigh* I know Muse is hidding somewhere and she'll come soon.

Meanwhile, I leave you with a photo I took for the demo at the Puerto Rican Culture Institute and didn't published on the blogs. The doily is a half finished one that I can't remember from where I got the pattern (that's why is not finished). The big baby is wearing a hat, pattern from Sharon Briggs. And the 2 lil babies are wearing a crochet mini hat embelished with tatting.

FolkArt Spray

2010-03-12T01:48:00.002+02:00

This is the spray I used on the crown and basket. After I stiffed them with a mix of 3 parts glue/2 parts water and let it dry for a couple of days I applied 2 coats of this spray. It stiff more than the glue/water mix alone. Doesn't clog the picots, though makes them a little "transparent". Doesn't make it very shiny but the shine is enought to notice it. Also it says that doesn't yellow the crafts. I used in the past a glue/water mix on a crochet project and after a few months the project was yellow. So I hope that the sprays protect the projects of becoming yellow with time.

I bought it at a local Fabric Shop, but I have seen it at Walmart. It cost $7. I'm going to tat some small motifs and use only the spray to see how it stiff without the glue/water mix.

Flower Basket

2010-03-12T00:26:00.004+02:00

Well, at last the basket is dry! It's still raining, but the day before yesterday we had a few hours of sunshine, long enough to let me apply 2 coats of the high gloss spray. The original pattern has a handle. I didn't make it because I want the basket for exhibition and it's where I'm going to place my business cards. So as they can easily be taken I opt for no handle.

The pattern is from the DMC Book of Charted Tatting Designs. It's been one of my favorites and lately the one I have been using. I'm just trying to inspire my lil sister for her "wed-niversary". She wants to make a wedding ceremony the day of her 1st anniversary, so that's why the word.

She saw the crown and she loves it. But... She wants it made in black and red! *shrugs* Let see if I tat it completely black with red beads and pearls or black and red threads with pearls. I guess she will want a black basket too!

Pendant Set

2010-03-10T00:38:00.001+02:00

I have been dreaming, literally, with this design for a few days and yesterday I managed to make it real. :-)

The earrings are small plastic rings (1 cm) covered in tatting. The big beads are made of wood and the small ones are a "Peppery" mix of seed beads. The pendant is the same but the size of the plastic ring is like 3 cm.

I'm not yet sure if sell this set as it is or to make a cord. Does this design looks similar to any other online or can I write the pattern and call it mine? Because of the copyright problems, that even I am having, I don't dare to publish anything more until I'm sure that I can call it mine.

Wedding Crown

2010-03-08T23:56:00.004+02:00

Lately I have been wanted to tat wedding stuff and I finished a crown and a flower basket. The basket is still wet from the starching but I can show you the crown.

The pattern is from "DMC Book of Charted Tatting Designs". The instructions ask for a #20 thread but I used #10 to make it bigger. Mom says that may be adding another motif will look better. I stiffened it with white glue/water mix and then sprayed with a fabric/floral hi gloss spray. I still need to give another coat of the spray to make it shine, but it looks pretty stiff now.

Because has been raining so much the things take a long time to dry. So the basket will come in a few days.

Also I'm looking for this book. It's listed on Amazon but for $12. If I do remember, this book was sold for around $4. If anyone knows where I can get a copy, even a used one, please e-mail me. I'll appreciate it!

An itty bitty shopping spree for itty bitty things

2010-03-05T18:24:00.000+02:00

I haven't post like, in centuries! This year didn't start very well and I got so depress that lost interest in almost everything. I have told you about the mess with my health insurance and my medicines. Well, thank God that was resolved a few weeks ago. Now I'm with the plan from the government and a complementary insurance and they will approve my medicines.

So this month I wanted to reward myself and went into a little shopping spree today to buy a few small things.

First I got me the cutest Flash Drive. It's a teddy bear. Isn't it cute? It's a 4Gb driver. It comes with a small chain and a plug to place on the body when using the driver, so you don't loose the body.

I also got an external DVR-RW/CD-RW for my netbook. I love this small computer but it's annoying the lack of a DVD rom. Every time I have to transfer to a flash drive or the external HD from mom's pc to mine when I work. So now I can save everything in a CD or DVD and pop it in any computer. Plus now I can see movies laying down in bed.

What else I got? Well, it's not something I bought but more of a contribution. Last week, we had a big run/walk marathon and this year the earns were going to benefit a center for teens and community education called Centro Sor Isolina Ferre. It was like 2 pm when mom and me stop at BK to have lunch. Burger King was one of the sponsors and they were selling these keychains with the form of a tennis. I like to help with these institutions so I got 2 of them. A black one for me and a yellow one for mom.

And to finish the shopping spree I got the tiniest earphones I've ever seen! I'm all the time plug to my iPod and brake the earphones often. So this time I paid a little more and got me these Sony earphones that fit perfectly! My ears are small and common earphone bother because I use them a lot. The white part is the one that goes inside the ear and it's made of a very soft foam. They feel so nice!!! And the most important thing is that I don't have to pump up the volume to hear well.

Well, those where my itty bitty things I got today. To finish the day ina happy mood we went all (sis Letty and her hubby and mom) to the cinema and watch "The Tooth Fairy" with Dwayne "The Rock" (forgot his last name). I enjoy a lot the movie. Who doesn't enjoy a movie with this hunk of a man? lol Don't worry, hubby knows of my "crushes" and he's ok with them.

So now that my mood is a little bit higher I think I'll blog often like in the past. I have been tatting a lot and I have to show a lot. TTFN!

Mignonette Fever

2010-01-27T20:14:00.003+02:00

I have a confession. I never liked to work mignonette or any other pattern with bare threads. I'm horrible measuring the bare thread without picot gauges and using them slow me a lot. But one of the tatters from Frivolite en Espanol, made a double picot gauge. It's just a plastic gauge folded in half. This permits the gauge stay in place while tatting and you barely have to hold it. Great! I had one of those moments "why I didn't think of that?!" It's really convenient! Here is the video. It doesn't has audio but you can see clearly what she's doing.

Encuentra más vídeos como este en Frivolite en Espanol

So I made a couple of double gauges and made this small doily. Actually is not a doily but a coin purse. It measures around 4 inches wide and I made it with Omega #20 pastel mint green. I'm thinking in making now the purse but in #10. The pattern is from Tatting by Adeline Corset No. 5. Handy Hands newsletter published a few pages. I'm looking if someone has all the book and can share with me the rest of the pages. The book is circa 1916.

I modernized a little the pattern and was able to made it all in one pass with 2 shuttles. Or can be done with shuttle and ball. After making the rosette, cut around 1 yard of thread and it will be enough to go from one round of the mignonette part to the other. Thinking now in adding beads to the mignonette part. So much ideas so little time!!!

Ready to go camping at Maricao nat. Fore

2010-01-22T14:56:00.000+02:00

Ready to go camping at Maricao nat. Forest!

Modernizing an old pattern

2010-01-21T22:51:00.003+02:00

On Frivolite en Espanol at Ning we're making a huge Group Work. We are translating to Spanish and modernizing the Priscilla Tatting Book No. 3 It will take up to December 13 to work all the patterns in the book. The members are all excited and they are working diligently on their assignments. One of the students worked Fig. 15 on the book and then made an example of how it will look with beads. The result is a gorgeous collar.

I couldn't find my gold colored beads at the moment but remembered the twisted bugles. I used white #10. Also with a repetition of the pattern I made a pair of earrings to complement. It's a really good way to modernize an old pattern.

Edging Pattern on a Hanky

2010-01-20T19:36:00.003+02:00

I have been making edgings for several hankies and because the edge of the hanky is scallop I had trouble looking for a pattern. I started doing this one after some trial and errors. Another "here I am" design. It ruffles a little, because I like hanky's edgings to ruffle just a little so it looks more feminine. I have done already 3 out of 6 hankies and I think I'll keep doing this pattern.

How much does a person would pay for a hanky? $20? $30? Would like some input.

The Tatter and the Omega - Based on a True Story

2010-01-19T18:44:00.004+02:00

In a far away little island there lives a crafty Queen, known as NeedleDreams. She spends her day doing little knots. Knots that transformed, as with magic, into beautiful things. But the Queen was a little sad. Because all her work were starting to lack something. Colors! Lately she noticed that all her works were the same color: white; and this was making her depress.

"Oh, if there where some colors in my little knots I'll be happy!" thought the Queen. Then one day the Queen had a visit from a far away friend and told her that she found out that there was a place where they do have colors. Both of them went to this place and came with a bad news. The place indeed had colors once but now it was running out of them and they were not going to get more because the producer of the magical colors was dieing.

Oh, poor Queen! What she was going to do when all the colors fade and she was left with only white?She returned to her kingdom and consulted with her court. The also make knots and they could tell her where to find the colors. One of them, a fairy from a nearby land, told her that she lives near the Great Wizard of Colors: Omega! She assured the Queen that he was not dieing and that she will find some colors for her Queen.

Days passed and the Queen was getting more depress and even stop making pretty knots. She was out of inspiration and her upcoming birthday was near. The Queen always gifted to her followers with a nice pattern of knots. But this year, lacking of colors, she didn't have the inspiration. Then when she thought that the fairy forgot about her a royal ambassador came with a treasure chest. The poor Queen's heart started to beat fast.

"Could it be...?"she say, her voice trembling and hands shaking as she approached the chest. Oh yes!!! It was! Inside she found a pyramid and a river of colors! Shinny colors! Brilliant colors! Colors as the sky, as the flowers, as the rich earth and jewels.

The Queen was so happy! Now she can make her pretty knots again; knowing that she would not be afraid of loosing her colors again because the fairy will always be near her when she needs more colors.

Top photo: Pyramid: Omega #20 , Skeins: 1-4 Acetato "La Abuela", 5 &6 Rayon Perle (#5) "La Abuela"

Thanks to Maria Alcantara from Mexico for the threads. There was a rumor that the Omega thread was descontinued. She lives near the Omega fabric and she even called the company to see if it was true that they were discontinuing colors and threads and they said no. She sent me these ones as a "sample" of the new (at least new for me) line of La Abuela. They even got new products Clover and other names. If you wish to visit their web site is http://www.hilosomega.com.mx/

Keyed Up

2010-01-19T16:07:00.004+02:00

I got from Marilee this pattern. It's called "Keyed Up" and you can buy it from her Etsy. Lovely pattern to work with. I think I have made like a dozen of them already in all colors and changing the beads. These are made in white #10 with a turquoise color bicone and a 6mm rocaille. Simple patterns like this make my day a little brighter. It's not easy to combat depression without medicines. But need to be patient until my health insurance starts again on Feb. 1st.

Closing Time

2010-01-16T22:53:00.002+02:00

I'm tire right now and the situation with the health insurance, the lack of medicines and a HUGE personal problem with an ex is making me more tire. After years of going up with my treatment, the fact that I stop it so briskly have taken me back to almost the beginning, when I was diagnosed with Lupus and Depression.

I'll close all my online shops at the end of the month. Will not consider any other site. Last time I made a sale was in October and was for a package of the belly dancing gold colored coins. Haven't sold a single shuttle nor anything tatted. This take a lot of time also. So from now on I'll only tat for pleasure and if someone ask me to tat something, which I doubt since have been years that I have made a custom order.

Will keep blogging and posting a design now and then; as will continue writing the Frivolite Newsletter in Spanish.

So if you want something from the shops before I close them here are the links for the last time:

Artfire

Visit Needles-N-Shuttles's ArtFire Shop

Etsy

A Swedish - Chilean Cat!

2010-01-16T02:24:00.003+02:00

Have been a "blah" kind of week. It's not fun to discover that for my first 40th BD I'll be on the red again. Nothing new here. But this time is more stressful because of the problem with my meds and the health insurance. *sigh* But I won't go there again...

Anyway, arrived from Walmart just now and when I went to check if Netflix sent my movies I found an envelope from Sweden! WOW! BTW... No Netflix yet. :-(

Inside the envelope came a nice card with this cutie pie inside. It's from Isa @, one of my students from the Spanish Tatting Group in NING. Isn't it cute? I love it!!!! It's a felt oval with a stylish cat and around a dainty edging in silver thread with black beads. It measures like 2 inches tall. This surely makes the rest of the night a bright one!

Thanks so much Isa!!!!

Now to my corner...

Woven Friendship Bracelets

2010-01-13T01:55:00.004+02:00

I haven't post in a few days because I got in a frenzy to tat these bracelets. Yes, they are bracelets. Very easy to do with striking results. The idea is from Jane Eborall's Frienship Bookmark where the center is a woven braid of split rings. This one I made it a little different.

I first made a whole strip of Split Rings, 15 in total. Then I started another strip but before closing the ring I inserted the one already made, front to back. Then made the second SR and moved the inserted strip back to front. I continued in this way until all the first strip was woven with the second one. To tie the band I left around 6 inches of thread at the beginning and end of each strip. Then tied an over-hand knot using both strips end and voila!

I have made like 15 of them and has like a dozen on the process. I was hoping that the ICP (Puerto Rican Culture Institute) call me for the San Sebastian Street Fest but they didn't. So I'll place a few on my shop and see if they sell. My sister Naida asked me one in pink and burgundy long enough for her to hang her PSP Go on the neck. So when my shuttles empty with the threads they have now, then I'll start her strip.

I don't know if the pattern and idea is original enough for me to write the pattern. If people think it's okay then I'll write the pattern and post photos of how-to.

Lovely lunch with Aileen

2010-01-06T23:30:00.003+02:00

Guess with whom I met? With the famous "Wicked Tat" from Singapore. Isn't it cool? Aileen has been visiting Puerto Rico to see her "better half" and I called her to see if we can meet at Heirloom's in Caguas. Heirloom's is a cute LYS that I often visit to buy some threads and go gaga over the embroidery sewing machines. My dream is to have a awesome embroidery machine, one that goes over $700 and does almost everything with just the touch of a button. But unless I find the elusive Birthday Fairy or win the Lotto jackpot I'll keep dreaming.

In the photo from left to right is mom, Aileen and me.

Anyway, to our surprise, the shop was close. Today is holiday (Epiphany Day or Three Kings Day) and most of the places close the day before and probably tomorrow too. So instead of spending the lunch at the shop gazing threads we went to a nearby restaurant to eat Puerto Rican food. Aileen loves "Mofongo" :-) That's a ball of mashed green platains with a lot of garlic and bits of friend pork skin bits. I get mine often without the pork. We talked a lot and laugh and we exchange some gifts even. I wasn't expecting anything but Aileen surprised my with a small bag full of goodies.

Aren't they cool! I got threads, page ups, a wood needle case, keyrings and magnets from Singapore, a teddy puncher, the cutest and smaller folding scissor I've seen, a chinese knot keyring and one of Eileen's paper clip of a butterfly in a pretty variegated blue. Ah, there's a bag hanger that will be used a lot! I'm all the time throwing my bag on the floor! :-p

Though the time was short, we spent a very lovely lunch. Tomorrow Aileen is returning to Singapore. I wish and hope one day I can return the visit to her. Thanks a lot dear!

A new year full of tatting already

2009-12-31T21:42:00.003+02:00

Isn't this cute!!! Two of the Spanish-speaking Tatting group made it as a gift to all of us. I find it so cute that I want to show it to you too. It says in Spanish "Happy New Year 2010". They made it without noticing that our Monthly challenge of January was going to make things allusive to the New Year. So I told them that this was going to qualify for the challenge.

During this year the group has grow a lot. We now have over 1285 members. Not all of them as active as I would like but there are a lot of people learning and sharing their work. It's so good to see that the Hispanics are embracing tatting as well as other laces. We even have a new group project that is gigantous! We are going to translate the whole book of Priscilla No. 3. Can you believe it? Well, at least the projects are going to be redone and the patterns written in Spanish. They'll be posted on the web weekly. The first project will be post on January 11 and the last on December 13.

I choose this one: Tatted Centerpiece made with Needle and Shuttle. Very appropriate as my web site has the same name. :-) I won't be making it all as in the photo. But I'll make the grape and leaves. I'm thinking like making a big leaf and then over it a cute small bunch of grapes and frame it. I started to read the instructions and it seems that the grapes are me in two at the time using a combination of the needle tatting and using the needle as a shuttle. This is something I haven't done in years, so it will be a great challenge. But I have plenty of time. This pattern will be posted by August. :-)

This is my last post of the decade. So Happy New Year to all!

Hmm... Which one will be mine for my BD?

2009-12-30T14:32:00.003+02:00

My first 40th BD is near and I'm thinking in giving myself a very nice gift because I deserve it! lol So what better gift than a shuttle or two. I was looking at the Houtz Bro site and they now have some resin shuttles that are gorgeous!!! The silver ones are awesome too. But this one caught my eyes and I think this is the one!

Isn't it gorgeous?! Of course that I would like also a wood shuttle (love purpleheart and cherry wood) and their 3rd book.

I'll keep looking for shuttles but I think I have the winner. Now I hope that my BD doesn't arrive with a red line on the bank!

Or if anyone knows a BD Fairy that grant wishes tell her that I love shuttles and threads. I'm not very picky. lol

Shuttles at ArtFire

2009-12-23T22:50:00.004+02:00

My dad and I have been spending a lot of time together since I started my process for the bariatric surgery. On the days spent at his home we go to the back of the house and make this little shuttles. They are made with wood biscuits, something used to make cabinets. I got a whole bucket of them and dad helps me making the holes and slits. Then we spend the afternoons painting them. I decided to place them on ArtFire for sale. There are 2 different designs. They measure around 2 1/2 inches long and are perfect for learning or just collecting them.

Visit Needles-N-Shuttles's ArtFire Shop

ArtFire Free Shipping

2009-12-22T21:25:00.002+02:00

I'm having a free shipping coupon on my shop. Every sale over $10 from now until January 11th, will have free shipping. I have to get "rid" of my inventory because I need the money to make some "super" specialized blood labs and the co payment is $300, something that I don't have. These labs are going to help me in knowing, at last, why my blood coagulates too much, even while I'm in a high dose of blood thinners. From here then my Hematologist will put me in a treatment that will permit me to have the bariatric surgery. *sigh* So many things before the surgery can be perform!

So if you would like to have a nice tatted item here is your opportunity!

Visit Needles-N-Shuttles's Studio

Receive free shipping on Order Total (orders above $10.00)

Use Coupon Code:

LABS

during checkout.

Handmade Wedding

New threads

2009-12-16T17:23:00.000+02:00

Mom and I went to a dollar shop near our home and browsing around found this thread. It comes in cones of a whooping 6000 yds! The thread is a poly-cotton mix. But what attracted it to me was the price of $3.00 :-) The size is similar to a #40 or #50. I already tatted something with it and it tats nice. The only thing, like with any polyester thread, is that I need to hav my hands really dry or the rings won't close.

The only ID the threads has is this sticker inside. There are on the shop plenty of these cones but only in the 2 colors that I got. A few months ago they had black but I couldn't get it at that time. :-(

Thanks Aileen

2009-12-15T15:58:00.004+02:00

Awhile ago, Aileen (wickedtat) had a giveaway. As usually I participated and then forgot. I really don't have luck for giveaways. But this time I was lucky. I chose the 1st prize. A cute bag! I was in need of a tatting bag. The color is like a salmon peach and inside is a gorgeous purple shade. It's decorated with beads strands outside and a few beaded picots on the top.

As soon as I opened it there was this cute card saying Congratulations.

But, what was inside? A lot of shinny, jingling and nifty things!

There is a bobbin with a big sample of a variegated thread in blues and white. Size seems like a #40. Love it!!!

Then, there was this cute small scissors. I'm always misplacing them. So this one has a pouch to keep it safe.

Also inside were 4 bags of sequins! How she guessed I like sequins? ;) The colors are all like sparkling in red, silver, black and an oily blueish green. Already have in mind what to do with them.

And last, a great sample of charms, cabone rings, coins and the tiniest jingle bells I've ever seen. Really cute!!!

This for sure has lifted my spirits! After been in bed for a few days with some "new" pains. Now I have some new toys to play with.

Thanks a lot Aileen and hope to see you in PR soon!

At last I'm a Puerto Rican Lace maker!

2009-11-23T17:20:00.000+02:00

Today dad brought me back to my home after spending last week with him. While driving to Carolina I told him if we can drive through Old San Juan (PR's capital). I love to visit Old San Juan with the colonial houses and monuments. And while in San Juan I mentioned dad to check if I can meet my friend Romulo Otero, who works on the Cultural Institute of PR. He has been helping me to get a membership as part of the Institute as a lacemaker, specially with Tatting. Well, we were able to meet with him and it was a blessing!!! He went to talk with the person in charge of approving the artisans and I was #3 on the list. But because the government fired a lot of people, they were going to start calling in January of 2010. Romulo talked with the person in charge that I was already in the office and that I got with me my work and all and she agree to see me. After a short evaluation of some work I did during my week at dad's and an interview she opened my folder and added me to the list of Artisans.

What means all this? This means that I'm a recognized Artisan by the government of PR under the category of Lacemaking. Also that I'm dedicated to the preservation of the Puerto Rican culture through my art and I can represent PR out of the island in anything related to my expertise. Also is an honor because I'm the 1st tatter on the island to get membership on the Institute. It's not easy to become an Artisan now a day. They ask for a lot of details of the work, and we must try, by all means, to use materials made in PR, which is almost impossible because now a day almost everything comes from China! But at least some of the threads can be buy here in local yarn shops. One thing they ask me was to avoid "commercial" licensed characters (Disney, Pooh, Santa Claus, etc) because they are not from PR. Anyway I don't make anything related to them because my tatting is more of an abstract and geometrical form. Also told me that though they are accepting works with beads, they want me to make them not the principal items of my work and to give more emphasis to baby dresses and stuff like that.

So, after over 2 years of trying to get into the Institute at last I was made member today! I'm just so, so happy. Alhamdulillah!!! Thanks God!!!

One less...

2009-11-10T19:46:00.000+02:00

I'm supposed to weight myself on Mondays but I forgot and I weight myself today. After a week of trying to diminish the amount of food and drinking the 64 oz of water daily that's 2.5 liters!) I kept the 8 pounds I lost when I was sick plus lost another pound. Woohoo!!!

It's not much but that makes me happy. It shows that if I manage to stick to the nutritionist's program that will start next week I'll loose the 30 pounds before surgery. I think I didn't loose more because I'm not walking and we ate at Burger King and KFC this week. I know this is not good, but when in a hurry and without a lot of money that's the option you have. But even eating out I've modified my eating habits. No more "Super Size", ask for water instead of soda and no apple pie (well, just one this week lol). Kid meals are cool! I love the little plush toys and the dolls, so I'll be asking for them instead of bigger combos. That is IF we eat out.

On another note... I re-opened my Etsy shop and have over 20 great gifts; mostly under $10. Now that winter is near I'm tatting like crazy.

Needle Tatting

2009-11-05T20:52:00.000+02:00

It's been so long that I didn't use a needle for tatting that I was thinking I must have forgotten. Well, it's like the saying "Once your ride a bike never forget". I don't know how to ride a bike but I didn't forget how to needle tat. I lost my tatting needles but I found a package of doll needles (very long needles using to make dolls) and took one of them and cut the point and then dulled it. That's the main difference of a tatting needle compared to others. They are very long and don't have a sharp point.

So I took the needle and the only appropriate thread I can use with them is the crochet #10. That's fine with me. I just made this little doodle to practice. Pretty nice, eh? I have to continue practicing, specially the tension of the chains and the size of the picots. Going to make a couple of motifs so I don't loose the skills, but this doesn't mean that I will left my shuttles in a corner. No! I love my shuttles too much.

Bariatric Surgery - Finally!

2009-10-26T14:24:00.000+02:00

Cayey, PR

Have you miss me? I have been with my dad in his house where there's NO INTERNET!!!! *gasp* The last week I found a Technology Center and I was able to use the net for limited time but not for blogging.

Anyway, apart of visiting my dad I was starting something very important in my life. A few of you know already and the support is incredible, including husband's! But because now is for sure I'll start talking about it. Early next year I'll have bariatric surgery. I spent around 2 years making research and consulting with my doctors and finally we took the step to go and ask for a consultation. On the 14th was the evaluation. The doctor is really nice and she talked honestly and in details about the 2 surgeries and the pros and cons of each one for my condition. We agreed that the Realize band is the best for me. It's less invasive than the bypass, the weight loss is slower and I won't have to take as much supplements as the other. Plus the recovery time is much less. The surgery will be around February or March.

Meanwhile I will be visiting a battery of doctors (I think all the "ologists"): cardiologist, pneumologist, internist, nutritionist, psychiatrist and hematologist. The hematologist is the most important right now because of my coagulation disorder. The doctor told me that probably I will have to need a small surgery to place a "filter" on my Cava Vein (the main vein that brings the blood to the heart). I have had 3 DVTs Deep Vein Thrombophlebitis) and they need to avoid at all cost another one or could be fatal. So from now on I will have to visit my dad often. At least I'm the one that has the "best" relationship with him and thou we discuss a lot (I think it's just because he's getting the senior's manias) he likes that I stay in his house.

Oh, did I mention that I have to loose 30 pounds before the surgery? Ugh! This will be the fire test. I have never been able to loose more than 15 pounds under doctor supervision. But because now I'm motivated because of the surgery I think I'll accomplish it. No, I won't do any silly diet. I'll be visiting a nutritionist and will follow her directions. Also, now that the pains are diminishing considerably I'll try to use the bike at least 5 minutes daily or as my body stands the pain and discomfort.

What about hubby? I have been talking with hubby about all this and he agrees with me. It's all for my health. He says that he will be patient and will be praying a lot for me and the doctors. He's happy and he keeps joking that he will have a new wife when I returns to Egypt. The new wife been the new me. lol

Well, these are the news for now. I took like 200 photos while at dad's and I need to upload them and then blog about them and also have to update my tatting stuff and the over 3000 e-mails that I have without reading! Ugh! But most of them are trash anyway.

Stormy day

2009-10-08T16:55:00.000+02:00

Well it's not raining per se. In fact is a pretty sunny day with a temperature above 90 degrees! It's just that it started in a wrong way.

I haven't blog in awhile because my lil sister Naida was here for 10 days and I was enjoying her company. She at last, has grow up and mature. Got married, civil, and later in April will be the wedding ceremony. She's finishing her certificates in phlebotomy and practical nursing and is looking forward to start a family with his husband. It has been a 360 degree change from a couple of years were she used to cut herself and abhorred the idea of marriage. Thank God for her change! Here is a photo of the happy couple.

Eric never smiles, but Naida smiles for him. She is showing her gorgeous ring that have a pink zirconium in a heart shape between two white zirconiums, also heart shaped. Lovely ring!!!

Anyway, so this morning I finished reading the 2nd book of Harry Potter that I start like 2 years ago and never finished it. And went to pick up the 3rd one that is over the tall computer desk and a lamp fell down. I never imagined that a small light bulb can smithereens into million pieces and spread over a whole 10x10 room. So I had to sweep the floor and that is something I really can do because of my back. So after spending like 30 minutes sweeping the million pieces of glass I had energy enough to prepare a big glass of iced tea, place a Gloria Trevi's DVD ( Mexican singer) and "flop" on the floor. So I won't stand up from the floor until is time to cook dinner.

Meanwhile I'll be singing and probably tatting. Here is a video of Gloria Trevi. I love her because she's wild and a rebel. Just like my lil poor heart. lol This was when she started in the 80's. But has been her greatest hit. She's singing about having the hair wild and that she doesn't care about the society rules.

BTW... The butterfly on the beginning of the post is one that I made a few days ago. The pattern is by Marilee Rockley and it's on her book "Tatting Boutique". I made it using a HDT called "Vibrato" also from Marilee. The are glass beads in shades of purple and peacock blue.

Lydie-Bug Ornament

2009-09-17T02:05:00.004+02:00

This week a friend told me that her granddaughter has cerebral cancer. She's only 1 year old and the cutest baby I have seen. I cried so much for such tragedy. The baby, even at her young age is a true warrior. You can read her story and see her precious photos here: CaringBridge / lydianichols / Welcome

Inspired by her I made this ornament. I call it Lydie-Bug, that's her nickname. If you can please add her and her parents on your prayers, meditations or duahs.

You can find the pattern on my eSnips

Coupon: EarlyXmas

2009-09-13T19:17:00.003+02:00

Preparing for Xmas? Here is a great opportunity. Free surprise bag when u buy $15! Coupon: EarlyXmas http://bit.ly/qhx9D Exp. 10-13

My Shinny Treasure!

2009-09-13T00:15:00.000+02:00

Like a week or so ago I won a contest from Foxy Findings. The prize was a shopping spree worth of $50. Because last week I was at dad's home I didn't know the package arrived until Friday afternoon. These are all the shinny beads I got. I feel like Bead Heaven! lol Now I need to get busy tatting with them. On Thursday Naida arrives for a week to prepare some things for her wedding on April 24th and I'll show her some ideas for the souvenirs. Of course they are going to be tatted by me. Plus I'll be tatting also for my BD on January. It seems that next year will be a very festive one.

Down are some up close pics so you can see better the beads.

I have been feature!

2009-09-04T16:57:00.002+02:00

There's an e-zine by HandMadeNews.Org about crafts and on this month there's an article about tatting. One of my projects has been used as an example of tatting. I'm so excited!!! This could give me a little boost on the shop. :-) I really recommend this site if you love crafts in general. There's always a very interested article.

The tatting artcicle is here: http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=3554

By the way. The e-zine is free as the shipping on my shop! Free shipping in orders over $15. http://bit.ly/qhx9D Code:ARTFIRE KIOSK Ends 9/5

Resplandecent Star

2009-08-31T23:19:00.002+02:00

I haven't design in awhile but I need to make something special for the Online Frivolite Class that was about working with buttons and sequins. So I came with a "lighter" version of another star I made for my Frivolite newsletter. I really love this one. It sparkles a lot more than the photo shows. Mom also love it and want to decorate her Xmas tree with these. I think this time I'll make her the set because she separate the silver sequins from the big mess bag of sequins. lol The pattern for this one is already posted in Spanish on the http://frivolite.org website if you want to get it right now. But if you want to wait to get it in English it will be post on my site later.

Estrella Resplandeciente

More Inspiration

2009-08-26T03:51:00.002+02:00

You know by now that I love to play with beads and since I'm buying mine from Foxy Findings I'm getting more motivated to play with them. Last time I got these delicious chocolate color beads and I couldn't resist making this pin with them. The thread is a C-lon in a light mocha color and with the beads looks awesome. The pattern is from Free Tatting Patterns. I made a mistake (oops, I mean variation) on the pattern and it curves a little. I'll do another one during the week.

Also I got to play with Jane's Multibeaded Earring and I love it!!! I used for this one Cebelia #20 but I find the thread too soft for jewelry.

I'm hooked on the beads I got last week that I ordered a few strands of 4, 6 and 8mm bicones in a lot of yummy colors. Anyway will need to buy more beads soon because my youngest sister will get married and she wants me to make her party favors and probably her tiara and bouquet. Isn't it sweet that she asked me? :-) We don't know yet if she's getting married this December or next one. So just in case I'm preparing myself to tat, tat and tat some more.

You know?... You can help me too. I'm participating in Facebook in a contest and the prize is a $50 certificate from Foxy Findings. Just need to go to to this link and like my post of Needles-N-Shuttles:Inspiration. You have to be a fan of FoxyFindings to be able to "Like".

Lovely pack!

2009-08-22T20:02:00.004+02:00

In my Spanish-speaking group we're doing a thread exchange and I got mine already. Wow! This came from Venezuela, from Maria Montilla. She not only sent me the thread's samples but she made 3 shuttles and wrapped the thread on them. The thread on the yellow shuttle is a Colombian thread, kinda like a #20. The thread on the white shuttle is a Coats like a perle #5. and the purple shuttle has a Colombian/Venezuela thread like a #30. Really lovely the postcards that she also included. Can't wait to use the threads. But for now I'm just taking a rest from tatting *sob* because I have a dental infection and need to take painkillers every 4 hours so I sleep most of the day and the rest just feel like a zombie. Yesterday I only made 3 repetitions of a very simple collar. What would have taken me only minutes took like an hour. Oh well... At least looking at the pretty shuttles make my day a brighter one. Thanks Maria!

Inspiration

2009-08-14T05:57:00.004+03:00

Last night was a painful and awful one because I had to go to the hospital for a Polysomnography (Sleep Disorder Studio). Gosh, they put cables everywhere and I sleep mostly on my stomach and for the test I had to sleep on my back. Then my right arm started to hurt as hell. So when I arrived home I couldn't do nothing but sleep a nap. *pft* A 6 hours nap! lol When I woke up mom arrived from work and brought me a little package. Inside was an order from Foxy Findings. Gorgeous! This made my day a better one. I got 2 strands of 16" of 8mm pearls and 2 tubes of 11 seed beads (chocolate and holiday red), the wedding ice tube was a prize I won from a Twitter Contest. If you have Twitter follow FoxyFindings. It's well worth! I have won already 3 prizes, this is the 1st one in arrive.

So after my brain was well awake I was inspired to do this. It's a small pendant with a pearl surrounded by red beads. Isn't it cool?

I tried here to take a close up of the pearl. But my camera doesn't take macros. But I think it's pretty close to see that there are four strands of beads around the pearl. I will write the pattern tomorrow. I haven't share a pattern since my BD. So this will be at my web site later on the weekend.

I won!

2009-08-12T02:20:00.002+03:00

Heather, aka The Tarnished Tatter, had a contest on her blog and I noticed today that I was one of the winners. I'm so excited because it's the 1st time I win a blog's contest. :-) Doing a little dance here.

The prize? A copy of her coming book "Tatted Earrings and Things". Just the hummingbirds at the cover make me all happy. They look so cute!

Thanks Heather for the contest and the prize. It was fun to guess what it was.

Flower Tassels

2009-08-12T01:21:00.002+03:00

Last night, to empty a shuttle, I made these 3 flowers and then this morning I decided to make them tassels. I love tassels. These ones can be hang on a Xmas tree. The flower is 2 inches across and the tassel is 4 inches long. I used Altin Basak #10 with silver filament and without the filament for the center. An acrylic heart holds the tassel itself.

What uses can you give to these tassels?

The set is available at my ArtFire Studio if you are interested on it.

Hibiscus Cameo with Tatted Edging

2009-08-07T01:09:00.002+03:00

Last week I ordered a few cameos from Filigree and Findings at ArtFire. Oh my! I love Cameos and that shop is like Cameo heaven! lol Got only 3 to play with them but definitively I'll order some more.

These are 40 x 30mm. But she has smaller in the shop and different themes. Mom said as soon as I opened the package that the black and white was hers. lol

So this morning I played with it and finished a brooch. The edging is a "Hen and chick" style, just one shuttle. Then I glued the small rings to the back and placed a black felt piece over. Then glued the brooch finding. I just love how it looks. So frilly and elegant! I want to order smaller ones to make chokers and bracelets, so in fashion now.

So if you want to get cameos at good prices visit Cathy at Filigree and Findings.

*Note: Not a paid ad, just a very happy customer. :-D

Tatted Girl Collar

2009-08-06T20:51:00.003+03:00

Last week I so busy helping my mom take care of 8 children as a part of a Presbyterian Minister's Convention here in PR that I couldn't be online and much less tat, because I arrived home so tire! But this week I started in a good mood for tatting, now that my hands don't hurt too much. :-)

So I made this collar that Renesmee is modeling. She loves it! It's a pattern from a Russian booklet; but I have seen variations of it in old books. The collar was going to be only white, but when I reached the 2nd row I noticed that I didn't have enough white thread to finish it so I added pink for the chains. Then to make it even I added a round of chains around the neckline in pink. So the collar looks like it was written in that way. ;-)

I used #10 thread and the neckline measures 12 inches and it's 2.75 inches wide. It's now on my ArtFire if you want to see more photos or you if would like to have it.

Doing some "cleaning"

2009-07-27T20:52:00.004+03:00

Prepare yourself! Here is one of the many boxes and bags I have filled with tatting.

This is just one I have filled with the things I made last year. Because I tat almost everyday I keep placing the projects in a box or bag. Then mom sits and choose whatever she wants to embellish her t-shirts or xmas tree. But still I'm left with tons of motifs. Some are my designs, others are from patterns (online and books).

I really don't know what to do with all this! There are some pieces that I will sell on ArtFire (suncatchers, bookmarks, doilies, appliques...). But still I'm left with tons of bits and pieces.

This is a photo of the doilies. There are a few crocheted ones too. But most of them are small tatted doilies.

I think I'll make a few surprise bags and make a giveaway or sell them as surprise bags or something like that. I'll keep rumming all the boxes and bags to see what else I got. All because I'm looking for a collar that I made and I know that mom didn't keep it so I want to sell it. In result, I found all this tatting but not collar. :-( But this is just one box. lol

Sequined Ornament

2009-07-26T21:07:00.004+03:00

After recuperating from the bad evil picot I started another. BTW... The previous motif is recuperating fine after surgery to remove the evil picot. lol

This time I decided to place silver sequins to the points and then decorate in the same way the bangle. I really like how it looks and mom too. Now she wants a dozen of them for her Xmas tree. *rolling eyes* I already place this one for sale and will be making more of them because it works pretty fast, even if I have to take more rests often.

You can find it at ArtFire.

Do you know that you can sell completely free, without having to pay posting at ArtFire? Check it out here.

Bad Evil Picot

2009-07-26T05:23:00.004+03:00

Dang! I spent the whole day doing this small motif. It's not that is difficult but because today was so hot, my hands were too sweaty and couldn't tat fast. Also I'm still with the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and have to stop frequently to rest the hands. The motif is from the 2nd book of the Gr8 Shuttle Bros. I used perle #8 and it's like 3 inches and was going to place it on a bangle when I noticed the bad evil picot! GRRRR.... What should I do? Do I cut it? Do I just ignore it? See how it's looking at you with a big grin? Bad, bad evil picot!

I think I'll do tomorrow another one. *sigh* That is if the weather is not very hot and my hands are not so painful so I'm able to tat.

Sequined Ornaments

2009-07-25T18:57:00.003+03:00

A few month ago Sharon Briggs made a necklace with this motif. I found it really pretty. I asked for the pattern and she c=kindly share it. I made this 2 ornaments long time ago and forgot to post it. Today I was going through a tatting bag full of little projects and found them.

Both of them are joined to bangles. The one on the top is on a black bangle and the one on the bottom a copper and slighter bigger bangle. I like them both. They give me an inspiration for another design. I'll try to work on it today and then will let you know how it went. :-)

Finished Fairy Hair clip

2009-07-23T19:33:00.002+03:00

I like his more and more as I keep making them. Here is the green clip finished. I made yesterday a purple pair and a yellow pair. They are made so fast! I think the fairy hair still have some magic and make me tat fast. lol

This is already posted on ArtFire for sale.

Marble Pendant

2009-07-20T20:56:00.002+03:00

I bought a strand of this gorgeous marble stones and didn't know what to do with them until a couple of nights ago. I used this Lizbeth thread because was already on the shuttles. :-) I like it but I'm not convince of the thread color. I'll make another one using black or ecru. The stone is a little over an inch high. I have a matching strand of stones but like 1/2" so I'll make a set of pendant and earrings. I "encapsulate" the stone with a double round of split rings. Like Jane explains in one of her patterns ( can't find it now)... :-( So the stone looks the same front and back. Then I made the edging around. Something pretty simple.

Now I have to think what kind of cord will go great with the pendant.

A surprise in a church

2009-07-20T02:56:00.004+03:00

While on vacation this week, we enter inside of a catholic church. I'm not catholic and neither my family, but it's an historical building and Letty wanted to take photos inside. I sat in a corner when suddenly this statue caught my eyes. Do you notice what she has on her hands?

Yes! It's a handkerchief with a traditional "calado" (drawn thread) and tatting edging! I'm not sure how old is the piece because the church was empty for an exception of a few people entering to pray . But it looks old. Specially in a corner where the thread looks brownish and frail.

I tried to take a closeup but the reflection of the window was caught on the photo. Anyway I think you can appreciate the pattern. It's very simple, trefoils joined to the edge and chains. Isn't it cool when you find this kind of things? :-)

If you hit any of the photos you can see it bigger.

Decorated Shirt with Tatted Buttons

2009-07-19T22:09:00.003+03:00

A week before going on vacation I made this for mom. I tatted 4 buttons. Mom sew 3 on the shirt and the 4th one I made it into a brooch.

It's really a t-shirt and mom takes out the neck collar because it bothers her. In this one she sew gold e-beads along the neck line and sew the buttons with the tatted decoration.

Here is a close up of the brooch. In the button center there's a polyclay yellow rose. Those are mom's favorites. The patterns are original and I'm writing them to include them on an e-zine that will come soon.

I'm back!

2009-07-18T20:07:00.002+03:00

I'm back from my short vacation. It was too short. Only 4 days. I enjoy it a lot. Got tire of the swimming pool and even got a few minutes to tat and made 2 bookmarks, one stayed with the woman that cleaned our room everyday. :-) It was really fun to stay in a green hotel. Now I have to rest my hands. They have been feeling numb for 3 days now and even tatting is hurting. None the less last night I made a medallion with a big pretty oval rock. Will take a pic later and post it.

TTFN!

Fairy Hair & Flower Hairpin

2009-07-13T04:57:00.004+03:00

Isn't this cute? I got inspired by some *aunthentic fairy hair I had in a box for a long time and with the new buttons I got a few weeks ago I thought I would make some hairpins. I used the rest of the cerulean blue that Marilee sent me. It was not enough for a bookmark but yes for a flower. I really like the look of this one. I have to find the hariclips I have somewhere and then look for a model to take a nice photo. I can't use Nelsita because she doesn't have hair. lol

*No fairy was left bald in the process. The hair come from fairies who have donated their hair. :-)

Magic Moment

2009-07-13T04:06:00.000+03:00

a few days ago I ordered a hank of "Vibrato"from Marilee and she kindly sent me a sample of "Cerulean Blue". It's a very lovely shade! I used it to makeJon's Magic Momentand I think it was a nice magic moment to tat it with this thread. :-) The blue is #20 and the white is DMC Petra #8. I love how this motif looks. It measures 4 3/4" from point to point. I still have left some of the blue sample. I think I'll make a bookmark and keep it.

Collar finished

2009-07-11T00:21:00.003+03:00

At last, after 3 days of tatting I finished this slim collar. It's from the Gr8 Shuttle Bros new book. It's a very simple pattern and if it wasn't for the humid hot weather I would have finish it in 1 1/2 days. Mom already claimed it! lol So I will make another one to keep it as inventory. I used #10 in a light ecru color and it measures around 20 inches; just perfect to sesw around a t-shirt.

I heard the bros are writing another book (or is it two?). I will be waiting for it! Love the designs in the book. I think I'll fill the shuttles now with white to make a few snowflakes. :-)

For my friends at Facebook

2009-07-07T01:00:00.001+03:00

"Go to this event and vote 'Like it'on my photos. Please! May be if I'm a winner I can make something special for you. http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=97593859356&view=all#/event.php?eid=97593859356"

Hairpin Lace Fever?

2009-07-06T05:15:00.003+03:00

I think I got a bug! A hairpin lace bug! lol Thisis a mini doily by Leonore English that was part of the online class a long time ago. I have made this one several time and in different sizes. This time I used #10 in ecru and pink. The picots are a little too long and they look all twisted. But I like how the look. It gives a more "fliud" look tot he hairpin lace. The clovers look more pointy than the original becasue I didn't use a 2nd shuttle to thrown them off, instead I made them as SCMRs. One thing I need to practice better is the closing or joining of the HL braid ends. The pattern of the doily can be found here.

Oh... I'm having an idea of HL and beads and buttons. Unfortunately I will have to note this down and go to bed early. Tomorrow I have an appointment with a gastroenterologist. I have been suffering too much of stomach aches and reflux. May be is all the pills I'm taking. Let see what he says.

Button Bracelets

2009-07-06T01:20:00.003+03:00

After spending most of the day browsing and perusing the bottons I bought a few days ago I tatted these 2 bracelets. The pattern is an adaptation fo Karey Solomon and which appears in Tatting With Buttons. THe one up I tatted with thread #10 in Ecru and the buttons are like 1/4 inch, so I used less stitches than in the pattern.

This other is the same as above but I used the green Petra thread I bought with the buttons and the rings are made with Lisbeth in Countryside color. I love the combination of colors! These also will be posted on my shops.

Hairpin lace and Tatting Hairband

2009-07-05T19:58:00.002+03:00

I love to work with Hairpin Lace and it's been awhile since I did anything on HL. This month on my Spanish Tatting group the challenge is to work with HL and combine it with tatting, or make the imitation of HL in tatting (pearl tatting, SR with long picots, etc). So I took out my HL loom, a Clover HL loom, which I adore!; and made a little headband.

It's a pattern that I worked years and years ago but I made at that time into a bracelet. Now I used thread #10 and made it into a headband. It's almost 3 inches wide. The ties are "rice" stitches in crochet to tie it on the back on a bow. This one will be a gift but I'll put others on my shop.

More buttons!

2009-07-04T20:19:00.002+03:00

Yesterday I spent another full day out of the house making some errands for a new medical insurance. The one I have now chenged a lot of the medicines policies and I ended spending over $300 in medicines per month plus my cholesterol medicine (the only one that worked fine with me) was taken off the medicine list and I won't pay $5.50 per pill!!!! So even if I have to change doctors and may be pay a little more for doctors visits I will gladly do it if I can save that money in medicines. Anywya.... After going here and there getting documents I need for the change I told mom I wanted to buy more buttons. She gladly did it. I was thinking she was going to scream "More buttons? You already have thousands of them!" lol She didn't scream to me, just looked at me like I'm from another planet, but I know she pleased me because at least I was out of the house walking. This morning I woke up with the complementary pains after a long walk, but nothing that half percocet and an ultracet won't take care off.

So I got my 2 bags of pretty and shinny buttons. This time a set with brown tones and the other bag with blues/lime green/purple buttons. They all look so pretty! Each bag is 250 grams, that's like a 1/2 pounder, right? I'really suck converting metric to English. lol

Also got this Petra ball in a very pretty and bright green that complements the green buttons. Petra is my favorite thread to buy while I'm in PR. It comes in #8 and #5 and for less than $4 per 100 grams balls I get very happy with this thread! Comes in a lot of pretty colors too. Only solids, but now that I can paint my threads with Sharpies I will experiment and make a variegated thread myself. :-)

This 4th of July I won't go out of the house. Mom already went to the beauty salon and left me here at home. So I'll spend the day watching the marathon of "Twilight Zone" at SciFi channel and tatting some buttons bracelets, headbands and flowers. See ya later. Enjoy the picnics and BBQs if you are having them.

"Duchess" variation of Marilee's design

2009-07-01T06:50:00.003+03:00

I have Marilee's book "Boutique Tatting" and it's one of my favorite. I wanted to make the necklace that is on the cover but I didn't have to many beads in the color scheme I selected, so I made a variation of it; doing only one repetition. I love it!!! I had to make a few minor variations so I was able to make it in one pass.

Here is a closeup of the main part of the necklace. This is definitively one of my favorites now. I need to buy more beads in amber tones so I can make another. I'm thinking also in earrings to complete the set.

I used Aunt Lydia's #10 in ecru. The beads are from Walmart, size E and the deep amber seed beads were a gift from Aileen Chia.

Decorated Canvas Tote

2009-06-29T22:54:00.004+03:00

I'm still in the long road of recovery and healing, but a few days ago there was enough "sunshine" for me to work in this canvas tote. I got 3 of them at a local fabric/crafts/etc shop. They were super cheap and came with a set of fabric markers and 2 stampers (leaves and a flower). I got 3 of them because as soon as I saw them, they screamed decorate me!

I stamped the leaves and paint them witht he markes and draw some stems. Then I tatted some decorated buttons that look like flowers and added a cute button butterfly.

I think it needs something else, but I can't get what is missing. May be some grass? Or more butterflies? Could you help me with ideas?

Also I got a cool set of 20 colors of Sharpies (permanent markers). They are supper cool! I have been painting the clear buttons I got a couple of months ago and also painting my tatting. Yes, painting already finished tatted items. This opens a great creative window. Can you imagine that you need something in an especific color and you don't have time or the money to buy the thread or to dye it. Then paint it with a Sharpie! lol

Here I used white thread for the rings and pink for the chains. I painted the picots. The colors bleed a little because I wanted them to be very dark. But I love the way it looks!!! The button was also painted with the Sharpies.

How to hide ends using the SSSR

2009-06-29T18:09:00.005+03:00

On my Spanish Tatting class we were talking about ways to hide ends and I mentioned that I like to hide my ends using the SSSR. Here are photos explaining how I do it when I finish a work with a ring. I'm still working in how to do it when the work finish in a chain...

For this example I made a little doodle that starts with the middle ring of a clover.
R: 3-5-5-3.
R: 3+ 3-5.
CH: 3
JCH: 50
CH: 3
Joined the chain to the base of the rings.

Now cut the ball thread, leaving around 3 inches or what ever amount it takes to reach to the middle of the next ring. I hate to waste thread so for me 2-3 inches is fine.

Now I start the last ring, encapsulating the tail. This ring is 3+3-5.

I encapsulate for 5 stitches; just reaching to the ds before making the picot. I don't like to cut ends on a picot because it disfigures the picot.

After making the picot, I start my SSSR. To make a SSSR go to this tutorial.

I made my last 4 ds using the SSSR method.

Close the SSSR and pass the loop around the base of the clover and close tight.

Then you can cut both ends close to the ds. If you're afraid that the ring may open, you can put a drop of fabric glue on the base of the last ring, where the loop of the SSSR is anchored.

That's all! In this way you can finish your ends without having to use a needle to sew ends or use a filament for the magic thread or what ever.

This is showing how to do it with a work ending on a ring that has just one joined side. Can be used also when the ring stands alone.

For a ring that is joined on both side you will need to adjust the SSSR. Ladytats shows how to do this.

Uses of SSSR

2009-06-28T03:45:00.002+03:00

Lately there have been a lot of discussions about the SSSR (Single Shuttle Split Ring). I learned the technique through Bina, Dora Young and Karey. Three very different ways in achieving almost same results. But what is this technique good for? Apart of making split rings with a single shuttle I have been using it to climb up from a round to another in a work with 2 colors, obtaining the one color split ring, like Tatting Chic explained and Jane Eborall diagrammed.

Another use for this is to make split rings alternating colors. This works better if you have a Pelc or double bobbin shuttle. It can be worked with 2 shuttles but prepare to be patient because you have to use the shuttles together and then separate them often.

Other use for the SSSR is to hide ends without having to cut the threads and then use a needle to sew them or to use the Magic Thread. This way you are encapsulating both ends into the last ring, if the work finish in a ring. I'm working in a similar way to end the chains; but not good results until now.

I have lost a lot of photos where I used this technique, so during the week I'll be working on the samples again. *sigh* At least it gives me a push to tat.

A note apart... Thanks to everyone who have wished me well and sent prayers. The last MRI shows no problem on the bone. That is a good news on that side, because it means that I won't need a hip replacement soon. But there's still the mystery of what is causing the pain, some days so bad that I can't get out of bed for long time. Now I will have to go to a neurologist to see if it's a problem with the nerves. OF one thing the rheumatologist is sure; the Lupus is causing all the bad aches and symptoms. Mean while I'll keep taking Percocet to diminish the pain and "Happy Pills" to combat the depression.

Sorry I'm not arround...

2009-06-17T18:26:00.002+03:00

I haven't been arround lately because I don't feel well. The pain in the hip has return and over that I'm going through one of my depression state. ALready taking max doses of antidepresant, pain killers and other medicines and it's not fun.

Have lost all the energy. I even pass the days just staring at the shuttles and books but no inspiration or desire to work in anything.

Last visit to my rheumatologist he told me that he suspect of avascular necrosis of the hip, due to the Lupus and DVT's (Deep Vein Thrombophebitis) and years of steriods treatments (and over doses) for the asthma and lupus. So now what? Hip replacement? Goosh! I hope not. I had a MRI yesterday and the results will be ready tomorrow and then visit again the doctor Monday. The next 3 weeks are already full of doctors appointments. *sigh* Just when I was thinking things were going to be better.

But no, I can denie that things have revert. Also I'm loosing again most of my hair, specially the back of my head and a little of the butterfly rash appears everytime I go outside (even with sunscreen). The heat is driving me crazy, even if is less hot than in Egypt. Above all this problems having my husband away and also with depression (the death iof his dad was to hard on him) and having also money problem is not helping.

I have some exchanges pending and an order of two from my shop also pending. Please give me another week to see if I can get out of this. I'm feeling even numb. There are no words to describe this...

What do you do when life gives you buttons?

2009-06-04T23:38:00.006+03:00

Yesterday was "payday" and I told mom to get some canvas totes we saw a couple of weeks ago for $3.99 with markers and stamps to decorate and some bags of buttons. I saw this cute bags with tons and tons of buttons. Gosh! All of them shiny and pretty. Who can resist them? Not me, that's for sure! Each bag have over 300 buttons of all shapes, colors, sizes; with 2 or 4 holes and some with shanks. I got a pastel-tone bag and a clear tone bag. Aren't they amazing! So I went happy with my booty home. How much I spent in buttons? Ahem... Just a mere $12. But I deserve this treat. Buttons make me happy. lol Okay, now I'm being silly. So now... What to do with so many buttons?

Make flowers, of course! The brown caramel buttons are from a previous pattern I made. The 2 variegated ones and the pink are designs I made last night. The browns are for a t-shirt mom wants to decorate (still need to make 7 more) and the other 3 are going to decorate one of the canvas tote bags that I bought yesterday. I already paint one with the leaves and stems. Just need to make 2 or 3 more and sew them. I think I can finish one tonight and will take a photo.

Patterns for the flowers will come soon. I'm also making some butterflies. A few of patterns are on my web site.

One done, two to go

2009-05-30T00:42:00.000+03:00

Tomorrow is the graduation of the Theological University where mom and sis Letty work. Mom bought a blouse but the sleeves are a little tight. So she had the fabulous idea of asking me to tat some sleeves. But thank God, she change her mind and asked to make just an insertion. She will slit the sleeve in half and add the insertion in the middle of it. So this is what one insertion looks like. It needs hiding the ends and ironing before mom can sew it to the sleeve. It measures almost 3 inches wide and 10.5 inches long. I need to make another for the other sleeve and a shorter one for the back. The back of the blouse looks a little too big, so mom will "scrunch" a section in the back and over this section will sew the shorter insertion.

The pattern of the insertion is actually the center of an oval doily. I added several repetition to make it longer. It's a very simple and common pattern. Now this one have brought some other ideas. I still would like to make a fully tatted sleeve for a blouse but that will have to wait.

I'm using Aunt Lydia's #10 in black.

Just a quick note

2009-05-27T03:10:00.003+03:00

Hi all! I'm writing just a quick note because I haven't blog in awhile. I've been feeling really down. Guess it's because doctors are adjusting doses and medicines. Always happens this. I hate this but it's something I can't control.

I have been crocheting a top for mom. Her 60th BD was Monday but we made a surprise party on Sunday. I'm half way through the top.

On tatting... I finished my bookmark exchange, but need to post about it. Received 2 of the 3 bookmarks. Kersti told me that the 3rd is on its way. Also made the motif in this post. I haven't finish it. But got stump on how to finish it, so it's on the UFO pile for now. I love to play with long picots.

Also I have seen that people are interested more in a newsletter rather than a book. I think I'll jump ahead and will do it. Have plenty of patterns to fill newsletters for a few years. lol I have to practice more diagramming the patterns and take better photos of the finished items.

I got a new package of threads. I got the C-lon thread and it's super! I like it. It tats very crispy and the colors are very pretty. Got 7 colors: black, green (light olive shade), 2 shades of purple, sienna, brown and ecru. The size is like a perle #12.

As you see I have plenty of ideas and things going on. What I lack is an uplifting mood... May be a couple more days of resting will help or I'll need to call my shrink to evaluate the "happy pill" dose. *sigh* Thanks all for been there!

Book or Newsletter

2009-05-20T05:08:00.003+03:00

I'm not sure if to publish Wings of Hope as a book or include it as a newsletter, published 4 times per year. Books take a long time to get the 10+ patterns, edit, revise and translate (in my case English and Spanish). Once finished is a matter of publish and that's all. While the newsletters are published several times in the year, but each issue includes only a few patterns and can be edited and revised for just those patterns. Also books I don't need to worry about including the people in a list, while the newsletter I have to do a list of subscriber.

I started a newsletter in Spanish and it has been welcome by a lot of people. I'm working on the second issue due in July.

So, what you think? Do you prefer a book or a newsletter?

Vote here

What a day! Tatters recycling!!!

2009-05-18T23:14:00.000+03:00

In the Online Tatting Class awhile ago there was a small contest by Mary Maynard. I was one of the winners. But I totally forgot about it until today. I received this cute little box and what a joy when I opened it. It was from Mary.

Inside I found a couple of lovely balls of Anchor #40 in pink and light orange. I like how both colors look together so I'll plan to tat something with both of them. Also several balls of #80 Star and Lilly. Cool shades! But the star of the pack is the picot gauges that Mary made from a recycle bottle of soda. They are really cool! The sizes are from 1/4" to a 1 1/4". Great idea to recycle bottles. Thanks so much Mary!!!

Also I received a great surprise from Venezuela!!! One of my Latin tatter friends, Nancy Hung, sent me these shuttles made by her. Also recycled. She used phone cards to make them. She send me a card so I can make picot gauges.

Isn't it great?! Tatters not only make beautiful laces but also recycle and help the planet. I will be playing with my new toys today. Now I need to find a pattern. Oh wait! The online class is in a few minutes! There I will find the pattern. lol

Thanks girls!!!

Ravelry

2009-05-18T01:06:00.000+03:00

I have been member of Ravelry for awhile but I didn't have time or I just forget to go and check the site around. Last night I couldn't sleep so I went to check the site. I had a blast checking patterns and projects. Now I have like a dozen of projects in queued and already making a few. These are the ones I finished last night.

This rose is by June Gilbank and the pattern is here. It's a super easy flower. Took em around 20 minutes and most of the time I used it to sew the rose into form. I used Peaches & Cream in Peppercorn color. I bought a big cone for a gift I made for my sister Letty last year and I still have plenty of it left. So I'm using it for several projects.

This cute small bag is something I made today. It's a pattern by Ivory Herman and can be found here. The bottom measures around 4-5 inches diameter. I need to cut a piece of cardboard to put at the bottom so it can give some support. Took me like 1 hour to make.

Now I'm thinking what to do next. May be some crochet barefoot sandals... Or may be a corset belt. Those are fashionable now in PR. I have an idea of making one in tatting. But not sure who will like to use it. I don't know any goth youth. Naida is in GA again and she's not in contact with goths anymore. Let see what results.... Also have an idea of fingerless mittens in tatting.