PIle Of Lace

The scarf is done. I wish I could show you some awesome pictures of it, but I finished too late in the afternoon and by the time it was pressed the sun has passed. I could have gotten some pictures anyway, but they're never really good without the sun. So late, I promise. For now I have a picture of a pile of yarn that will look like a scarf soon after the picture was taken. I honestly can't believe that I even continued making the first scarf after I saw how awful the lace looks right off the needle. It misbehaves something horrible, all curled and twisted, but just a little heat and steam and it will look wonderful, I swear.

I started tatting a necklace after I finished work on the scarf and it feels so weird to go back to working with thread after having the large, coarse yarn sliding through my fingers for days. I know there are at least a half dozen pieces I need to get remade, but as November has started out like a...um, well there have been no sales anyway, I've got that creation malaise. Hard to want to keep creating when things are just sitting. I'll get it done, but there is less enthusiasm for the work.

I am trying to also work out some deal or sale to offer exclusively to the facebook fans. If you swing that way, be sure to stop by and fan the page so you're around when I do figure it out. I'm thinking of offering a sale item a day or something like that, but I'm not married to the idea. I probably won't be offering any other major sales this holiday season save for maybe a free shipping deal, so if you are looking for a deal, that's the place to find it.

Almost A Year

On Friday, I left you with a hint of a surprise. Well, that and lots of feet pictures, but let us talk of the surprise. I've been feeling very good lately about the amount of feedback and help I've been getting from my twitter friends, but also from my blog readers. I wanted to do something special as a bit of a thank you, but I wasn't certain what or when. Then I was looking at my Google Analytics data, which I do compulsively, and realized that we're coming up on my blogs one year anniversary this month. Honestly, I find it hard to believe that I've had something to say most weekdays for an entire year, but apparently I have.

So, the when is taken care of with that realization, but I am still working out the what. I share all this as a bit of a heads up that soon, in conjunction with this anniversary, I will be having perhaps a sale, perhaps a giveaway, perhaps something else I haven't quite thought of yet, but something interesting is coming. If you've got any great ideas, feel free to share them with me. I'd love to know what you would like.

Now, because you have gone a whole weekend without a new photo of my feet, here's my next barefoot sandal design. I think that this is it for the footwear line, unless I strike on something truly amazing. I really am a little tired of showing off my feet at this point, but I am fairly proud of what I've created and they've certainly gotten enough attention this past weekend with views of the listings being very high. I even sold a custom pair of my first barefoot sandals the first day, so yay!

I Hope You Like Looking At My Feet

The first pair of shoes I ordered came in, so I took some pictures. There are more of them on my flickr, but here's one of each of the newest designs to enter the TotusMel catalog. The first I've just decided to call 'The Queen's Feet' which would be a play on the Viva La Reine upon which they are based. I've made this motif so many times that it is really second nature to me. They turned out exactly as I had hoped, much more dramatic than the many crocheted versions I happened upon.
Next up, we have the first of the Ankle Corset designs. This one is based on my Portrait Of An Elegant Lady collar and will be called 'Portrait of an Ankle Corset'. They took quite a bit more time to tat up than the barefoot sandals and I think they look amazing with the shoes. I am still waiting for the stiletto sandals to arrive so that I can show them off with a different look.The last one to show off is the only piece not based on something I've already made. These ones started with the edging of a 40's era centerpiece, but evolved far past that. I added quite a few elements including the motif I call, In Bloom. As you might have guessed I used that as their name, the 'In Bloom Ankle Corset'. These too will get additional photos when the sandals arrive.

I'll be listing them on etsy soon and we'll see if they were worth all the effort. Though honestly, the challenge of creating them was quite a rush and I am so glad of all the advice and suggestions I've gotten throughout the process. I think I have a special surprise for you next week as well, I'm just working out the details, so stay tuned.

Who Needs Shoes

Oh twitter, will I ever stop finding reasons to adore you? Seriously, yesterday I decided to work on my barefoot sandal idea. When I was having a creative block I asked my twitter friends for inspiration, they responded. Then after I had chosen a design to start with and shared a picture of the beginnings, they responded. When I needed advice on finishing the piece, they responded. When I was finished, I posted a picture taken with my laptop, complete with sleeping baby legs and just needed someone to pat me on the back, and you know what, they responded.

It was almost as if I was working in one room and there was a party next door. All I needed to do for help and feedback was poke my head in the other room and ask. Since my only companions while I work are two small kids and four not so small cats, this adult feedback is so wonderful and I'm officially addicted to it.

Back to the design though, I searched all around for a style that I liked in crochet or other medium and I found nothing. All the barefoot sandals foot thongs were very simplistic. The main designs were a couple of chains connected with some beads and well, they were just very meh. I like my designs much more dramatic as I'm certain you've noticed. So I searched through my pile of lace for something to start with and I settled on my Viva La Reine necklace design. It was originally a motif for a chair covering. I added some rings and a toe lop on one corner. Then Instead of making a spiral chain to go around the ankle I crocheted a long chain and added a tatted ring at the end, you know for decorative purposes.

I still need to finish up the second one and get proper photos, but I have a dental appointment to finish my root canal so the day might be shot. I also got my first pair of ridiculous shoes suggested by you all in yesterday and the sandal stilettos should be here next week and I can get pictures of all the footwear to list. Who would have thought that I would be making tatted pieces to wear on your feet. It is still crazy to me that I've taken this craft in so many different directions. I wonder where I will fly off to next?

The Ankle Corsets

I managed to finish the first ankle corset using the design I showed off yesterday. Then I got a custom order so I had to stop work on the second one. Of course, I still have to wait for my shoes for them to have a proper photo shoot and I need to work out a better way to take pictures of my own feet as well. I think I am going to stick with ankle corset as the name for these pieces, but I still haven't settles on a price point.

When I do finally finish up this pair I am going to try to work out a barefoot sandal design that will have a toe loop as many of you have suggested. I do have fairly small feet, so it might be a challenge to devise a pattern that will fit more sizes than just mine. I probably won't add beads, at least not at first mostly because I don't like working with them all that much.

Good news on my instructable, I received an email this morning telling me that that it is now 'popular' and has been returned to the front page. This just means a little more exposure for the tatting. In a month or so, I plan on doing one that will teach split rings and spiral or Josephine chains. I'm also aware that I did not do a personal reveal post last week. I figured all my talk of tooth pain and jury duty was verging on too much information as it was so I skipped it. Tomorrow, I will have one for you, though I don't really think anyone is waiting on pins and needles to find out more mundane details of my life.

More For Your Feet

It was a fairly downbeat weekend so I managed to work out another pattern for my impending line of anklet footwear. This one started with a 40's era pattern for a centerpiece edging. Then I added matching motifs across the top and used my In Bloom motif in the center. The last time I went ahead and made the prototype in black thread because it's based on an existing piece and I knew that it would work out. This time I made it in ecru thread since I had no idea if it would work. After a few final tweaks, adding some floating and split rings around the bottom edge of the design. I have started on one in black, but it is not ready for a closeup just yet.

I always seem to forget that there are differences in the ecru and black threads I use. My vintage size 10 ecru thread is a bit thicker than the same sized modern black. This means that the final piece in black will be noticeably smaller. I think that I will have to add an edging on the sides of the final black one to make the size work as well as give me a better edge to lace the piece. I'm having an internal debate about the price of these corseted anklets too. I am personally very cheap when it comes to shoes and to price these for the time would be more than I think I would pay for a pair of shoes. Of course they should make quite a statement and it's always hard to remember that I am not my customers.

I should have a pair of the new design done in a few days and then I'm just waiting for my ridiculous stiletto shoes to arrive so I can get proper pictures. Hopefully I will have also worked out a proper name for them as well. Suggested terms have been 'spatlet', which brings to mind a tiny spat, and 'spanklet', that frankly sounds a little dirtier than I'd like. I'd prefer something a little more corset related, I think. Ideas from you are of course very welcome. Then I still want to work out a design for a barefoot sandal design as well. Things have been fairly slow etsy wise, so I've had some much needed time to create new things as well as get most of the pieces I had listed as custom orders made up so they're ready to ship.

In other news, this Sunday, I got a google alert to an interesting feature of my Order of Ecclesia Victorian Lace Collar. It was based on a video game character and suggested for creation my husband. Apparently, the gamers have finally stumbled upon it. My husband was so proud that it was his idea, he kept reminding me that I should be thanking him for the idea. The feature was picked up by two other gamer sites, nothing huge, but still pretty cool to have some unsolicited attention.

While I Was Away

In case you were wondering, I got out of jury duty because I have an appointment next week to finish my root canal. Not my favorite way to get out of jury duty, but this was going to be a long trial so I'll take it. When I got back, I was so excited to see all the comments left regarding my tatted spat/anklet thing. I spent the evening looking through the myriad of shoe options you amazing folk left for me. Wow, you are great and I think I found the perfect pair for displaying the spats as well as a couple of others I now want for no good reason other than they're pretty.

I also got some fab ideas for future pairs. I think I'm gonna go ahead and make up the second one for this pair and then get to work on a longer pair that will go up the leg a bit more as well as down the foot more. Then next on the list will be essentially the shoe equivalent of my slave bracelet, because I like the idea of a barefoot sandal too. How soon you can expect to see these creations is anyones guess however. I seem to be always biting off more than I can chew.

Also a lovely surprise I discovered after jury duty was the spread of my tatting instructable. I had already had a lovely comment the other day from the needlework editor of craftgossip that she was posting the tutorial there, but I returned to find my google alerts had even more postings. It is also now featured on the Craftzine.com blog and at The Point NYC website. And to think I thought I was going to have problems getting the word out on that one. I even had one of my twitter buddies give it a shot using an embroidery needle and she shared her first try. I have to say I'm impressed not only with the first attempt, but that my instructions were clear enough for a beginner to create the piece in just a few hours. I am also so glad that she shared and I hope that anyone who attempts this pendant, my scarf pattern or my mask will show me the results!

I will, in the future, offer more patterns and projects for you to digest, but I want to space them out a bit. I've already got an idea for some more beginner techniques to share that will take people beyond the flower pendant, but again I'm in no hurry to create my own huge library of learning. For those of you who want to learn more right now, I have a few sites to suggest. First Bella Online, I've picked up tons there, lots of links and patterns and whatnot. Then there's HandyHands Tatting where you can find some lessons and get supplies. Last, if you're looking for some personal help, try etatters ning network. It's beginner friendly with tatters from all levels. I know, another place to "join", but you can get some one on one help as well as browse a growing library of tatting pictures for inspiration. I think that's it for now. I'll see what I can make up this weekend to share with you on Monday.

Addition: Gina the Tatting Goddess also suggests this board for needle tatters as well. Thanks Gina

It's No Stiletto, But...

I started on this project before I started feeling bad, but now that I'm on the mend, I have a bit more energy. This one was inspired by a photo I saw at Haute Macabre featuring a pair of lace shoes. Now clearly I'm not making a pair of shoes anytime soon, but I thought maybe I could take an existing design and modify it to become a sort of spat or anklet.

I started with the pattern for my Portrait necklace and rewrote the ends to be much shorter. Then I added a small section on either side so that I could lace it up the back. Of course once I was finished, I realized that I don't have a single pair of plain black high heels. I've got boots aplenty and several pairs of casual shoes and one pair of ridiculous taupe bridesmaid shoes. Not one of them really gave me an idea as to whether this would work or not. Finally I settled for a pair of wedges, leaned all the way over and took a picture of my foot.

Now all I need is opinions, lots of opinions before I decide to make a second one to perhaps sell. Does it give the intended look? Would anybody actually wear it? Should it go further up the ankle like the one it's inspired by? Where on earth do I get shoes that make it look right without spending a fortune? This is probably the first project I've worked on that requires another article namely a shoe to work, though I guess it could look pretty interesting on a bare foot too. Well, until I get some feedback, this one is going on the back burner, but I thought I'd share before it gets buried in a pile of lace.

I'm off to jury duty this morning, so I don't know how available I'll be or what I'll get done the rest of the week. I won't be able to do any tatting since I'm certain that giant pointy needle will not get past the security that doesn't allow knitting needles. Oh well.