Weekend Recap

Yikes, am I wiped out this morning. No, I didn't stay up late or go out and adventure. What I did do was go outside for a couple of hours yesterday evening to watch the eclipse and the air was full of crap. By crap, I mean it was an extremely high pollen count day and allergy medication was no match for it. This is why I can't make Spring my favorite season, it can't be a favorite if I can't breath, but what I wanted to share, is we did watch the eclipse and while we were busy watching a projection, I had my phone streaming video of it from Nevada where they got the whole annularity, ring of fire thing. We were too far off the center line to get that, but it was one heck of a partial eclipse with a nice eerie glow outside and plenty of weird shadows to play with. The picture is from early int he event, we were out there for quite some time and even saw the end of it as the sun came through the blinds and projected little eclipse shadows on the wall.

So what of the rest of the weekend, you ask? Well, I did get the reticule properly photographed and listed. There are some nice closeup photos in the listing too, if you're interested in a closer look or just want to gasp at the price point I ultimately chose.

After that was listed, I tried to think of another big project. I flipped through books for inspiration and I even worked a couple of random patterns to see if something would click. I ended up going simple instead. I made up a simple vine type edging that I had just worked up as a square motif. It's nothing too interesting or complex, but I think that was the point. I needed something to make and complete in one sitting and this most assuredly fit that criteria. I made up two of them, one in black and one in Iris purple.

I haven't had a sale in the shop in almost a full week, so I literally stop tatting after I got those two necklaces made. I am uninspired and unmotivated by circumstances to work on anything. Someone suggested I get back to the gloves I tried to make so long ago, so I pulled them out, stared at them for a spell and remembered why I had stopped. The creative brick wall on those is still standing quite strong. This week is the other daughter's birthday and subsequent birthday party. It is also her last full week of school. There are a few days next week and then we are on vacation...sort of. It just means my job shifts from teacher to entertainment organizer. Honestly, I think the teaching might be easier. So I start the week exhausted and I will likely end it the same way.

Tatted Reticule

You'll never guess what I actually finished yesterday. Well I suppose if you're reading this you can see the photos as well so there's really no suspense here is there? I finished the tatted reticule or bag. I had stalled out during the sewing in of the muslin lining. While I do love clear quilting filament for it's strength and the fact that you can't see it, that same fact makes sewing with it a bit more difficult, but I managed to get it sewn in anyway. Then I decided that I was going to add another row of tatting along the top edge and add some brass colored beads. The additional row created an even more interesting ripple along the top. In fact when the bag is pulled shut it looks a bit like a rose if roses were brown and covered in beads.

It was at this point that it occurred to me that I should have done the tassel at the bottom before I sewed in the lining, but since one can't go back, I dealt with it. I decided to dig in my bag of random supplies and see what would inspire me and I came out with a brass cone bit, a couple of bead caps and a length of chain. It took a bit more effort that I thought it would, but I managed to make a chain tassel, attach it to the bottom of the bag and secure it further with a bit of sewing all without being able to really get to the other side of the work easily.

I did think about adding some embroidery to fancy it up even more, but I think it's actually done now. It's big enough to hold my phone, sunglasses, money and keys, so it's pretty useful, you know, in certain situations. Today I get to think on how to best photograph it for a listing and how much I should charge for it. That last thing is going to be the most difficult. This was a lot of work even if I don't account for the prototype phase and other designing issues. I mean it's just a lot of tatting. I fully expect this to be another one of those pieces that just sits in the shop for ages eliciting that shocked, 'you want how much for that?' response. That's fine, I'm glad I finished it and the shop is the best place for me to show it off. I am now completely out of tatting tasks to finish. No orders in queue, sold pieces are all remade, I've got nothing. I think this is the point where I again ask the Universe for a grand idea, an interesting customer or an adventure so I don't have to resort to cleaning. What do you say, Universe, help a girl out?

Almost Done

It was another nose to the grindstone sort of days. There was laundry and dishes, checking on the plants and schooling. When I wasn't doing all of that, I was working on the last pieces that still needed remaking for the shop and I finished, I think all but one of them. Once all that was done, I thought about making something new, maybe a one off, but the thought of having to not only come up with something new to make, but also to photograph it and get it listed was quite frankly, exhausting. Then I remembered the reticule.

I was bopping around etsy looking for a bit of embellishment inspiration when I ran across a newly listed tatted one and I was a bit bummed that I was beaten to the punch. It's a completely different pattern of course, but it is similar in shaping. I'm still going to finish mine though and since the one already listed looks like it was priced based on time to create as well, I won't feel so bad about listing it. I still need to finish sewing in the lining which is just muslin. I did think about going with silk, but I think muslin is actually more usable. Sure you can put your gloves in a silk bag, but your keys and cellphone? I did make a nice double drawstring out of crochet chains instead of ribbons too. That means there's no color contrast there, but I think the lining will take care of that. Then I'll buckle down and decide on the perfect embellishments to the design. Right now I'm thinking about a chain tassel off the bottom and then maybe I go back and add a beaded edge on top.

We have the an end of the school year thing to go to for the oldest this morning which should take up a decent part of the day and then hopefully I can get much of this bag stuff done. Once that's off my plate I'll need something else to fill the big project void, so dear Universe, I'll need a great idea or a big custom order. Either will work or course, only one of them does pays better and it's been a slow month so far.

Oh, Weekends

I tried to come up with a phrase to describe the weekend as an opening line to the blog. Trouble is, the weekend was so all over the place, I really have nothing that works in my vocabulary. The German probably have a word for it, but I don't speak German. Of course, that's neither here nor there, I shall just break the weekend down by days instead. Friday was quiet with the kids spending a long afternoon with Grandma. I tatted, watched bad movies on television and got little done. I was working on the reticule since I had no other tasks. The shop is getting really slow so I'm happy to have a large unwieldy project to work on. I figured out the bottom bit and doubled the height, so even after working on it off and on all weekend, I'm still only maybe halfway done.

On Saturday we left the house around 10:30 to go to an early lunch and catch a showing of The Avengers. Yes, it was am awesome movie completely worth waiting in line for. Then to cap off the comic book spectacular we headed down to the comic book shop. It was Free Comic Book Day and not only were some of our lovely friends who we see much less than we would like there, but we also got our copy of the new Dark Crystal Novel doodled in and signed by Alex Sheikman. Of course when I say 'doodled' I really mean a gorgeous sketch done so quickly and expertly it's crazy. I am so jealous of that kind of talent, but I digress again. After that we headed home and rested up a bit, but the day was really over by that point.

Sunday we opted for yard work. After a normal Sunday morning we headed outside to work on plants and then I got the crazy idea to stain the kids play set. The paper wasps have been at it since we put it up a couple of years ago. I only meant to test a bit of it, but then got into the project and kept going. This left me tired, sore...and oh, so very sun burned. Ah, the first sun burn of the year, it there anything else so...um, uncomfortable. The job isn't even done yet. The whole top half that will require a ladder to complete waits for another day and on that day, I will wear sunscreen and a hat.

So what awaits this week? I really don't know. I've fielded a couple of custom inquiries, but haven't heard back, so I'm not holding my breath there. I guess I'll keep working on the bag knowing I probably won't even put it up for sale because the price will have to be way too much for something that appears so simple. Here's hoping for something unexpected and pleasant to occur today and the rest of the week. I need a jolt of unexpected about now.

Winner & Reticule

Know what the hardest part about giveaways is for me? Not increasing the number of winners based on who amused me so much that I really want to give them something. Seriously, read through some of the entry comments and you'll see what I mean. There was 'creepy' Fox and Victats trying to undermine all the other entries and a few others that had me in that quandary. In the end I must, must, must rely on the random number generator to save me from myself. The winner it unemotionally picked was Dreaming Tree Soapworks. If you haven't heard from me yet, you will be later. I really do appreciate all the entries and the kind words contained within them. Some of the best were the ones that admitted that I had some part in them wanting to tat or my loyal customer who actually confess to loving the pieces they already own. That is so incredible to hear, really...thank you!

Now onto what I got up to yesterday. First, I thought I'd show you the box I got yesterday from my friendly UPS man. I'm not going to tell you how many balls of thread are in there, but I bet you guessed it's a lot. When I opened it my oldest looked over with that, 'what did you do?' expression on her face. I needed to replace some colors and thought I'd use the opportunity to get a few new ones as well. I get more custom color requests than you think and the more colors I actually have on hand, the better.

What I really got up to yesterday was finishing the bag prototype. I learned quite a few more things from it too. I knew about halfway through the second element that there were more issues with the design that needed to be addresses, but I was determined to finish it regardless. First off, it's too squat, the side element needs to be longer. Then there's the joining of the bottom and the side where there is too much space that needs to be filled in. I didn't line it yet, but did stuff some muslin in it to see how it might look filled in. Lining is going to be particularly annoying. In fact before I start the next version, I think I'm going to get the liner sorted by estimating the size from the prototype so I don't have to figure it all out in the end.

I added a ribbon to the end there, but I think it might do better with a crochet chain as the tie. Of course that just adds even more creation time to the piece. I think I mentioned embellishments before and I was thinking about some sort of dangle from the bottom of the bag. Probably not a traditional tassel, but definitely something in that family. I don't have any other projects to work on, no orders recently either, so it's likely that I'll start on a final bag. That is unless I get frustrated, then there are still a couple of pieces I have yet to remake. It should be a busy family weekend too with yard work and movie adventures and Free Comic Book Day. Thinking of the weekend really shouldn't tire me out, should it?

Questions

You still have one more day to enter the giveaway by comments on yesterday's post, but today I thought I'd address some of the questions and comments I have already received. First of all thank you for all the lovely compliments of both me and my work. Yes, it managed to mostly cheer me up, though I confess, the malaise is still hanging about. It'll pass soon enough, now onto the comments.

Let's see first my hair, it is currently blue and purple and it has been for quite some time. The inconsistencies in the shades are due to the natural fading of the vegetable dyes I use. When freshly dyed both colors are so dark they seem the same. I was also asked about the bridal veil I made. It was not edged in tatting I'm afraid though. The tatting was the clip or fascinator bit of the design and it was added to a simple birdcage veil. I though that way, the tatting would be more of the focus. You can see it here.

I got a couple of questions about needle tatting too. First, yes, it tends to be faster than shuttle tatting at least in the beginning. I call it an Othello craft after the game from the 90's with the tag line, 'a minute to learn, an a lifetime to master'. I think there's a greater learning curve with the shuttle, but once both crafts are mastered, I imagine one can hardly tell the difference in speed. That being said, speed is relative to the person and the amount of practice. I tat everyday, sometimes for many hours, so I better be fast. On a related note, I was asked if I recommend any books to learn. I only bought one, Learn Needle Tatting Step By Step by Barbara Foster. It was exactly what I needed. After I devoured that, it was just me and the Internet as my teacher. Of course nowadays there are a plethora of online tutorials including my own at Instructables.

One last thing was a recommendation by two different people to tackle a small bag or reticule. Now, let's be honest there are dozens of vintage and antique patterns for those, but where's the challenge in doing what's been done. I was going to do one, changed my mind since there were so many and then changed it back after looking at tons of patterns and not seeing one like I would make. Most of the design are either a rectangle folded upon itself or two motifs sewn together at the sides. What I saw in my mind was a drawstring pouch that was basically a circle drawn up to a gather. I did realize that it might be a little much so I compromised and started making a bit a bowl shape.

A few things are immediately clear about this piece. One, it is going to take some time and the first one is likely going to bother me something fierce with it's inaccurate proportions. Second, if I do get the piece past prototype, lined and ready to sell, it's going to be one pricey little bag because this is a lot of work. Don't worry though, I will at the very least finish the prototype and get it lined so you can see if it works. I even have some ideas for some possibly interesting embellishments for it.

I hope I addressed everything I wanted to, I do have a nasty habit of forgetting to respond to people if I don't do it straight away. So, remember one more day to enter the giveaway in yesterday's comments and the winner will be pulled tomorrow morning. I guess I'll be working on the reticule today unless something else strikes my fancy and this was a rather longer post than I had initially intended, sorry.