Book or Newsletter

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

New pendant and earrings

After a whole day of "bad" tatting I managed to make some things. And above all in black thread! I love the look of black lace. It makes it so elegant and mysterious.


This is inspired in a design by Aga from Poland. I wanted to give the outer round a more flowery look and came with this gradual bead placement. But these beads are a little too big for what I wanted. Anyway I think it looks nice. Will repeat it again with smaller beads. The beads are from a TOHO mix I got in Walmart before coming here to Egypt. Yes, I ransack the beads and floss from the Craft Area before traveling. lol

Then I made these earrings. Also inspired by Aga. I love the design! They are like 1.5 inches. the beads are the same I used on the pendant, copper and gold (the one on the center). I'm in a mood for beaded things so will refill the shuttle and make a necklace set.

Now I have a question for those that sell tatting. Do you make and have an inventory of already made items or you make the sample and tat the item when you receive an order for it? I'm curious to know what others do. Anyway I'll be tatting and "saving" these until I return to PR, because there I'll apply for a small space on the San Juan touristic area. Also I'll apply for the Puerto Rican Cultural Institute. Just to add "fame" to my Licensed Artisan status. :-)

Need some help - Poll

I'm designing a fairy for my coming book "Wings for Hope" but I'm having some problems deciding how will it be at the end. Here are the 2 versions.


This was the 1st version I made. Doesn't have the hands, but it will have them on the final motif. It doesn't have legs.




This version have the hands and legs. The skirt is made with josephine chains, but I think I'll opt for regular chains because the josephine chains are twisting. Also, I made on purpose one leg longer than the other. I can't decided if make long legs or shorter legs.

My main dilemma is if to make the legs or not. And if I make the legs, should they be long or short.

So here is the poll. If you have other suggestions for the motif let me know.

Help with pricing 2

Thanks for all the input!

The lady I'll make the insert is an online friend. Also she is going
to send me the threads. Here in Egypt there's not minimum wage per
hour. And I think in USA and PR was something close to $7 something
per hour. Have been ages since I worked so I don't remember.

I haven't yet decided exactly how much I'll charge her but I think
I'll get more into a standard per hour charge. May be $5 per hour,
because she's friend and anyway I need to tat everyday. :-) Like
Dani said, subtracting the fun factor from the price. Though this is
a boring and repetitive piece.

Thanks all!

Help with Pricing

I need some help! A friend wants to make a shirt with tatting on it and she wants like 12 meters of this insert. The pattern is from a book from Anna Meloni. This sample is like 13 cm long and 5 cm wide and took me around 45 minutes to make. I used DMC Petra #8. So what should I ask for the 12 meters? She is going to send me the thread and it will be black or dark blue. I usually price dark threads items a little higher than light colored threads because of the effort that I need to make with the eyesight. I was thinking may be $5 per meter. I want to be fair for her and for me. So what you think? How much will you ask for a meter of this insert in black perle #8?