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

ArtFire Free Shipping

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

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

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!

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...

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

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.