At last is coming!

I have been writing, or planing to write a continuation to my book Dreamy Winter.  Thanks to Hope Green and Stephanie Wilson who pushed me to go on on this project last time I was on Palmetto I finally sat to write it.  Well it took me a year after the "push" but te important thing is that is finished and now is in hands of my tat-testers.

The book will include 15 stars and snowflakes; using mostly basic techniques, and some of them beads. 

Here is a sneak preview of one of the patterns

My books

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!

Tatted Lupie Angel

 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 Her name is Lupie and was originally made for Lupus funds raising.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.

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CUSTOM ORDERS ACCEPTED
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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

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!

New Design

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

RR updated

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!

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!

New tricks previews

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. ;-)

A new technique!

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

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

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.

Pendant Set

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.

Edging Pattern on a Hanky

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.

Shuttles at ArtFire

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

Lydie-Bug Ornament

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

Resplandecent Star

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

Inspiration

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.

Hibiscus Cameo with Tatted Edging

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

Decorated Shirt with Tatted Buttons

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.

Fairy Hair & Flower Hairpin

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. :-)