The First Friday

I guess I'm on a bit of a roll over here. When I listed the new burgundy and garnet necklace  I was quite encouraged by the reaction to it. I posted it on facebook and there were many compliments it garnered quite a few hearts on etsy as well. I'm also enjoying the way my pictures turned out. I've been playing with using a black background and I think it really makes the images pop. Of course with the black proper lighting is the key and when I used it for my last mask and the tikka, there was no light so they were a bit of a blurred mess. Of course I just decided that I was going for that look and went with it, but well lighted is much better.

After I posted this one, I suggested that I might do a few more in this embellished style, in black and green maybe. All it took was one person saying that they can't wait to see the green one to get me to make that first. For this one I used mountain jade beads and I have no idea what large stone is in the center as it was part of a grab bag mix, but it matches perfectly. I did finish it, but that light issue I shared earlier was in full effect when I did, so good pictures and listing will have to wait until today.

The mailman also brought me my silver hooks for use in the creation of tikkas, so I made a black and silver version. Again, I'm using bits from the grab bags so I think these will all be slightly different from each other. At some point I will probably try an entirely different pattern for them, but for now I'll stick with making it a line with different colors and embellishments.

So, what's on tap for today and the rest of the weekend? Yeah, I really don't know. I might go ahead and make a black embellished necklace or my fabric stiffener might finally arrive and I might have to start playing with that using my scraps of rejected tatting. I've also had the though to add to the trailing scrolls necklace design for an even more complex piece. I guess you'll just have to wait until Monday to see what direction I flew in.

Tatted Tikka

And it's all over. The husband returns to work today and though the child is technically on vacation for more than two more weeks, I'm putting her back to work today as well. Not full time or anything, but the routine must be reestablished before chaos becomes the new routine and I lose complete control. So, what did I work on yesterday? Well, I did a little cleaning and I took down Christmas early due to escalating cat related incidents. We usually leave it up until the 6th for Little Christmas, but I began to fear the worst so I erred on the side of caution, but I did also tat.

I know I am going to have to wait until I get in the last stiffener before I really start to work on that idea, so in the meantime I thought I'd tackle another of your ideas, a simpler one. I decided to have at the Indian hair jewelry that I've since learned is called tikka, or at least the pendant portion is. I'm still a little fuzzy on it, but it seems the pendant is suspended from a short chain that ends in a hook that is attached to the hair, either to a braid or bobby pinned in. This is the prototype pendant I tatted up based on the last necklace design I came up with.

Next up I dug though my findings feeling pretty confident I had a hook or two on hand to make the first one with. Well, I did, but they were gold toned. I figured the best way to utilize what I had on hand was to make the piece up in brass. I made the final piece up with brass bits and dark brown thread. I think that the basic design could work with different embellishment options as well. I could hand bits from the bottom as well as bead the outside edge. So if this one is well received, I'll try to source some silver hooks and get a few more versions made up. I'm also thinking I should treat the back of the lace so that spirit gum can be applied to it. I read that is often done to keep the pendant in place while belly dancing. Luckily I've already run across just the product for that purpose.

Hopefully I'll get this and my newest mask listed today after I get some photos. Of course that depends on the sun and my ability to remember how to get good photos. I's been quite some time since I had to do ones that featured my face so predominately. I was enjoying all the simple pieces that I didn't have to get dolled up to photograph. So, that will likely be the whole of the day, unless of course inspiration strikes or someone actually makes the first purchase of the year...I'm still waiting for that one.