Armenian Knotted Lace Video, The Third

We've had a pretty rough weekend around here. There's just been a whole lot of things adding up to create a stressful environment for our family. I don't really want to ramble on about it, but I did want to put it out there as a vague explanation for any odd behavior I may be unconsciously expressing.

Luckily before things starting piling up I did make and post the newest Armenian lace tutorial. This one is on the square loop with a little extra instruction at the end regarding adding new thread. I'm not certain what the plan is for this week's video, but if you have any requests do let me know. For now here's the video and I'm crossing my fingers that this weeks goes better than the last one.

Armenian Knotted Lace Video, The Second

Friday's plan worked out just fine and just in case you didn't see the video link on one of my other social media spots, here it is embedded for you. I did only the fancy single side stitch for this one, so it is nice and short. This week, when I get my quiet-home time, likely Friday, I'll do one on the square loop.


I also got an order in my shop yesterday for a large necklace, so I've got something that I really do want to remake this week. I started tatting on it last night while watching commercials, but it's going to take a few days I think, so a great start to the week.

Today's Plan

Sorry, it was another achievement free day, unless you count getting the laundry done as an achievement. Yeah, no, me either. So instead of writing about yesterday I'm just going to focus on the plan for today. Once schooling is wrapped and kids have headed out with Grandma for lunch, I'm going to get the next Armenian lace video made and posted. Of course that's supposing everything goes according to plan. So if everything works as I hope, I should either have one video doing the next two stitches or two videos with one stitch each. It all depends on how long it takes to demonstrate each one. I want to keep the videos really short.

I won't post the video link here until Monday, but It'll show up if you subscribe to my YouTube channel and I'll post on my Facebook page, Twitter and post it on Instructables as soon as I get it done. So here's to today going as planned.

What's Next

Okay, so let's see, Friday was the first full that my Armenian lace video was up and I had some lovely comments. a couple of questions to answer, and quite a few views. I guess it turned out okay then. Sorry I can't oblige with outtakes as I deleted all mistakes as they occurred. That is the joy of digital media after all. I used Friday to finally pin up the last of the gift doilies as well. It will sit here until the brother for whom it is intended visits again though.

I also gave some thought to the next video. I have two more stitches mocked up and ready to go. I'm going to do the fancy side stitch as it will allow me to teach the knot stitch going from left to right, and then the square stitch with a simple loop row above since it's a completely different shape. They will likely be two different video as that lets me keep them short. Short is easier to make in one shot and I imagine easier to watch over when trying to learn something.

I figure after these two I'll tackle a multi-row stitch like the basket stitch and then making round lace. I don't have a clue as to the actual timetable here, but I'm thinking maybe once a week right now. We'll just have to see how my free time flows I guess. If you missed the first video it's here, or on Instructables if you prefer. When I have a few more I'll add them to the sidebar of the blog as well.

Armenian Knotted Lace Video, The First

I actually managed to do the video yesterday. Yes, I am surprised at myself as well. The kids were off in the afternoon with grandma and so I got everything together and made what will be the first in a short series of tutorials for Armenian knotted lace. This one is just getting started and teaches the Armenian knot stitch in a simple loop. I'm not going to tell you how many takes it took to get the video done, nor am I going to say how many were spoiled by cat and how many by my own cursing over mistakes. I just want to make sure that you know that I will be spacing out the videos a bit to keep my frustration level down.

So here is the video. You can find the it on Instructables too if you prefer. I hope that you find it helpful and it makes sense. I'm not sure what the next one will be on, likely a different stitch, but not sure which. No, I did not mean to rhyme that and I'm sorry.

Lock Stitch

It was quite a day yesterday. It was busy, productive and fun and relaxing though I'm still a little tired from all of it. First thing I managed to do yesterday after schooling the kids was get the lock stitch video filmed and posted.Yes, you heard that right, I actually did that. It's posted on YouTube and Instructables and of course right here.

It's really rather short, but I think it does what it needs to. Never mind that it took like an hour of babbling to myself just to end up with a two minute clip. I thought about waiting to post it with all the other pieces of the petals pattern puzzle on Monday, but I really needed the feeling of accomplishment that can only come from putting something finished into the world and getting any kind of feedback at all. The initial small flurry of views and comments were all I needed to feel justified in my effort.

After that I had my nieces and nephews to babysit for the afternoon, so I didn't get much else done. I was far too busy monitoring the playing and nonsense that only occurs when extra kids are about. It wasn't a bad afternoon, just chaotic. I did get a couple of interesting emails that may result in extra work, but it's too soon to tell.

The evening was rounded out with dinner out with friends, which I do honestly wish we could do more often because it makes me feel like an adult and because it allows me to actually talk to other grown-ups I'm not related to and because my friends are terribly awesome with ridiculous stories.

So that brings us to today's tasks. I woke this morning to the sale of some ankle corsets, so I have ready made tatting tasks in their remaking that will take me at least the day if not a few. Oh, it's definitely going to be a few days on those which I can deal with. Crazy as this week has been and next week is going to be, I'm feeling pretty good about all of it.

A Video?

Hello Monday. Well, I do in fact have a couple of things to share with you on this brand new week. First up was my Saturday morning surprise. So, I head over to etsy in the morning as I do most mornings and check my stats page. At first I thought I had clicked on the link for the weeks views because they were far too high for that early in the morning, so I try again and they're right. I scroll down to see the views are coming from youtube, I never get views from youtube. Now the stats page won't take me to the exact link so I need to do some google-fu to discover this video before you.

Yes, I am aware at first glace it seems like an odd place to find my work, but it's in there among many odd and awesome finds. If you just want to see mine it's at 2:39. If you see it on youtube there is a list of links in the video description and clearly this encouraged some serious clicking. Though it didn't result in a single sale Saturday, all those new eyes certainly can't hurt. I still have no idea how my little shop ended up on the guy's radar, but I am thankful for whatever did that.

I shamefully spent much of the weekend playing games on my phone instead of remaking pieces that needed it. I'm not sure why I felt the need to stall, but I was most certainly doing it much of the weekend. Last night I decided that I needed to try out the next doodle form at the very least. Once that was made up, I saw that it needed some serious stitch count tweaking in the center repeat to work in the new form, but rather than do that I would get back to the remaking that I should have been doing.

That's the plan for today as well. I have a couple of pieces to remake and they are ones that take some time, so that should keep me busy today and likely tomorrow as well. I also fielded a lot of questions this weekend that theoretically could end up as sales, though the lack of responses to my responses is not encouraging. I had someone ask if I sold my masks on facebook...because apparently that's not obvious...anyway, they were saying they needed 15 of them. I'm fairly certain that once I directed the person to my shop and they saw the prices, they changed their mind quite quickly. It's questions like that I've been dealing with. Encouraging and discouraging all at the same time. So, I'm off to the day...oops, I did forget one thing. Sunday was my blog anniversary. Yeah, I know I should have done something, but it was a Sunday. The blog is now four years old and I'd like to use the opportunity to again say Thank You for reading, commenting and supporting my work. I truly appreciate it!

New Tatting Video

In lieu of chatting today, I'll just show you what I did yesterday. Well, I'll chat about it a bit first I suppose. This isn't my best video by a long shot, but after being hounding by many folks I thought I'd do up a quick demo on two color needle tatting. This is of course just one method and there are several and I should have gone into the differences between tatting off the ball and with the cut thread, but I didn't really plan it out in advance, so this is what you get. I suppose I might go back and do it again better, but it really does take forever to make these videos. Oh and don't anyone go thinking it was their fault for pestering me into doing this. There were literally dozens of requests over the last few months and after I make a quick video of the swallows visiting my house, I guess I was in the mood to give it a go.

I hope this is at least a little helpful. If you're looking for a quick written explanation on two color needle tatting, I'd suggest Barbara Foster's book Learn Needle Tatting Step by Step because that's where I started. I do think the next video will be on tatting with cut thread by working up a one shuttle pattern. I just need to decide on a quick one, maybe just a string of rings.

Ah, Comments

it was indeed a long weekend. There was a movie, Tron...I enjoyed that, then there was the birthday get together for a friend full of fabulous conversation, I enjoyed that as well. Then there was a visit from my sister and her children, actually that was enjoyable as well, loud, but enjoyable. In fact the weekend was so chock full of interaction that there was only enough tatting time to get some custom ordered pieces worked on. No mask for me yet. I'm starting to think that it will be put off until after the holidays are actually over so I can give it some actual attention. I guess we'll see how it goes.

I did want to do a little rant this morning. You see while I was out, I received a comment on my youtube video that teaches the simple flower in conjunction with the written instructions over at Instructables. Every now and again I get someone having a problem with the video, I tell them about the written portion and they are right as rain. This comment however was a bit of a rant itself, and I quote,  

"I find that your video isn't beneficial past the first minute because you go too quickly. It's so frustrating, trying to learn a new craft and the supposed best video for beginners(you're recommended, believe it or not) and having to repeatedly go back and back in the video trying to unravel how in the world to do something. You need to either slow down or reconsider making videos. Not everyone-especially beginners-can keep up with what apparently is your perception of slow."

Now, I get that I am not particularly slow, I didn't want to be, but what bugs me here is not the core complaint of speed, but the suggestion that I reconsider making free videos to the world because she personally finds it to not fit her learning style or needs. The biting sarcasm surround my video being recommended is also unnecessary for her complaint to be understood. Clearly those that recommended it did in fact find it useful and the fact that she does not doesn't negate that for them and insulting me is not going to get me to make her a slower video. It is instead going to make me rant, dear entitled youtube user, perhaps next time you'd like extra help or a slower video or have a request of any kind you will ask nicely and receive some help.

I am usually a nice person and I generally like to help, which is why the videos exist in the first place. You see, someone could not understand the written instructions and rather than tell me that my writing style sucks and why did I even bother, they asked for a demo video so they could also see what was happening. You know what, it took be a bit, but that is exactly what they got. My point is, why don't we all stop acting like we deserve everything we want and need handed to us for free on the Internet. On the flip side, I would like to thank every other person who has asked nicely, provided constructive criticism and thanked me for my meager efforts. For you all, I will keep making videos and Instructables and answering questions. I think I might start ignoring the entitled entirely.

Fresh Video

Ha, I get another pass because I made another video. This is just my 'learn needle tatting with my flower pendant' video, but with talking again.

This may be the last video for a spell though as the husband is getting his vacation time soon and quite honestly I fear he would mock me were he stumble upon me talking to the camera. Also out of curiosity, how do *you* pronounce the word 'picot'? A different pronunciation was shared with me yesterday and more conversation on the subject resulted in a few different pronunciations along with explanations for the differences. So out of pure curiosity and no malice, I ask yours.

What Videos

So in lieu of answering all the feedback I got the day before yesterday, you just got the video, but I did in fact read all the video and tutorial suggestions. I got some for two color tatting, Victorian sets, the split rings and some more general tatting tips if you will. What I think I may do is start with an intro to needle tatting video. Basically tell folk what tools they need, where to get them, what books and sites I recommend for beginners and some finishing tips. This seemed like a good place to start, however it will require that I actually film myself talking and I might put that off until I get my hair prettied up. Yes, I know that's terribly vain of me, but I'm gonna put my face on youtube, I'm gonna look my best. Then I'll follow that up with a series of short videos with the intention of creating a little library of TotusMel tatting. No, I have no idea when you might be expecting all this to happen, but it's on the list to be created. I also don't want to over saturate the Internet with my presence so I might just drop them weeks apart for breathing room. If you have any more suggestions on what might make a useful video, please do let me know. I'm certainly not making these for me.

As far as the tatting goes, I finished making up a pair of my tatted spats even though I had already listed them as a custom piece. You see Coilhouse magazine is about to ship and my first print ad is it and that ad is a picture of those spats, so I thought it prudent to have a pair made, just in case the ad actually has an impact. Now I have heard that advertising works best upon repetition, so I actually bought four issues worth of ads hoping that the effect would take hold. So that being said, I don't really expect a huge impact from it the first go round, but better safe than sorry. I think I'm going to work on getting another Sepia piece made up today, likely the Woman bracelet and if it goes quickly I might make another up in the Black Tie colors as well to list. Oh and if you're interested I'm still running a Face Book Fan sale, the details are listed on the page.

Needle Tatting Split Rings & Josephine Chains

I totally get a pass on today's blog. Why, you ask? Because I did a tutorial video yesterday and I get to post that for you. This one is on split rings and Josephine chains and is already linked over in the pattern list in the right column. I got the filigree pieces in to remake the Copper Princess necklace and used the the chain portion of that to film. Also, I talk in this one and according to early feedback this is a good thing. In fact, I may redo my other video with the talking as well since I apparently do not sound like an idiot...unless they're all lying to me and I do sound like an idiot.

The video is also posted at Instructables if you'd like to go rate it there. I may also go ahead and do a series of these though they do already exist by other folks. I suppose sometimes having a choice of who to learn from is a good thing.

Do You Like To Watch?

Apparently I was not done sharing as I have now recorded a video of myself needle tatting my flower pendant, warts and all. It's not fancy and I got rid of all sound to avoid the lovely breathing noises I was making. I thought about adding music, but figured that I would be the one person to get in trouble for doing so. So if you need to watch hands to learn tatting or just want to watch for the sheer 'thrill' of it, I present: Me needle tatting.


The video is also available over at instructables as a companion to my beginners tutorial where you may comment and rate it to you hearts content.