The One Off

I was such a busy tatter this weekend. From Friday until yesterday I made so many new bits. I even photographed and listed most of my new things. I really don't know what is behind this streak of creativity, but it just keeps on coming. It may be that a small comment made to me a while ago has ear wormed me. It was suggested that perhaps one off pieces are more interesting and valuable. This encouraged me to make more bits that cannot be remade exactly. It really is a freeing experience to tat without worrying about stitch counts or whether I can ever find a certain supply again or not.

Of course not everything I've been making is a one off. I made up the hexagonal headpiece/choker/headband and got it listed. It is totally repeatable. I also finished the conversion of the ankle corset piece into a choker, also a design that can be remade ad nauseum. By the way, I think it turned out pretty nice when I did it on purpose. I even got to add some of the runway pictures to the listing and chalk the design up to the stylists 'creative' use of an ankle corset.

The photo up top is of course a one off. I found this resin antler bit in a clearance bag I got at Michael's. I tatted around the triangle piece it hung from and them made stuff up as I went. I finished it with some heavy looking black chain, which is actually light. I haven't gotten this one listed yet partly because I feared I was listing too many things and partly because I adore it even though I know I will never wear it.

The other one off that I did get listed, there is still one more I'll show you tomorrow, is this asymmetrical piece. I had a bunch of metal rings of various sizes in a grab bag from Fire Mountain so I just started tatting around them and randomly connected them together as I worked. I didn't plan any of the designs, I just made this one up as well. Again I hung the whole thing from the black chain. What was surprising, besides that it turned out in the first place, is the weight of the piece. The metal gives it a nice solid feeling without being too heavy. It really gives the whole piece a sense of...I don't know, gravity.

It was pointed out to me that these look a bit like gears, so I dug around for more rings and came out with a few metal ones and a couple of rubber ones as well. So I'm working on turning those into a brown version. It will of course look completely different as I am making it the same random way. Side note, tatting around soft rubber rings, is not terribly easy. I will hopefully get that made up today and show you it and the other one off I still need to list tomorrow. Who knows when the streak will end and you will be stuck with random babbling again, so I suggest you enjoy this while it lasts.

More Hexagons

Not only did I actually get the two new pieces I showed off yesterday all the way to listing, but I turned the circle bit I mentioned into a piece as well. I really wasn't certain how I was going to finish the bracelet, but in the end I went with the tried and true lobster clasp. Someone said something about it maybe being a bangle and while that thought did cross my mind, I'm not sure how the lace would handle being stretched over ones hand repeatedly and I since I personally always lose bangles, we'll just stick with the clasp.

The circle piece just needed something interesting to hang in the center of it. I grabbed something random out of my Fire Mountain boss bag and hung it from a nice snake chain and got myself another nice one of a kind piece. Of course I can make the circle again, but it will have some other bit hanging in the center.

I also worked on the necklace I mentioned yesterday using the little hexagon. I re sized it again and worked it into an undulating pattern. I actually got the length finished on it yesterday, but I haven't decided how to clasp it yet either. It would actually make an interesting headpiece or even a headband as well as a necklace if I simply attach ribbon to the ends, but as usual I'm hemming and hawing about it. I should make up my mind today and I might get it listed as well.

Ooh, one last thing for you today. I was over on the etsy checking out some new changes they made when I saw this article linked on the front page, Needlework From The Drawers Of Daughters. I will admit that the content didn't resonate that much with me as I don't really collect lace and I don't have anyone in my life that tatted to inherit pieces from, instead I create my own with a fresh life. That being said the article is highlighted with some lovely pictures of tatting and the related items at the end featured both myself and the talented Krystledawne. If you get a chance also read some of the comments as a few folk make an effort to remind the world that these are not lost arts or ones simply relegated to someones great grandmother, but living, breathing, evolving ones with creators from all walks of life and corners of the world. As much as I respect the old lace, I think that new lace and its many makers deserve a little more love, don't you?

Hexagonal

Sure, I spent the morning surrounded by cheese and kids, but when I got home, I got things done. Go me. First up is the latest circlet/headpiece. I initially wanted to make it more of a wedding piece with crystals or pearls, but I had these little brass bits lying about after a failed necklace creation, so they were recycled instead. This one has five tatted motifs around the side modified from an antique edging pattern. I am also getting a bit better at this chain length business. That being said, I think I'm done with these for a spell. I tend to get ahead of myself and make tons of things with a new idea before I even have any clue whether they will sell or not.

Once that was done I was in the mood to find something new to make with some of the beads I recently acquired. So I began flipping through my pattern books for something I hadn't yet tried to leap out at me. This process can sometimes be slow as I 'm not looking for anything in particular, but rather something that tells me it wants a new life as something that can't be seen on the page. I stopped on a hexagonal groundwork motif. It's simple, dense and can be worked up in countless configurations. The first being this bracelet that kind of has the feel of a link bracelet.

I didn't get either of these pieces all the way to finished for listing so that's my task for today. I just didn't feel like taking pictures by the time the afternoon rolled around. I've also been playing with other configurations and stitch counts for the hexagon. I made up a circle piece with them that might become a pendant and I'm testing out an undulating design for a potential necklace. Honestly though, I'm not sure why I'm doing so much with the design since joining the last ring together with a needle in these sort of motifs is always such a pain.

Which reminds me, I need to answer another email with that question in it...if you're reading and you're curious, here's how I do it. First I make the last ring up to the final join, then I pull those stitches off the needle being careful to not pull the thread all the way through. Then I use a crochet hook to make the join and work the last stitches. Pull those stitches through, finish and close the ring. Yes, it can get fiddly and remember to join the working thread and not to let the stitches get twisted around. I think this is one of those times when the shuttle tatters have it much easier without that long needle in the way. I probably should add this little bit to the barefoot sandal pattern as that's why I get asked all the time. Yeah I'll do that today too.

Kitties

Yesterday went off much as I predicted. I spent most of the day working on remaking a mask, catching up with comic book reading and my dvr. Then I was compelled to react to an email message which asked for more headpieces, so I began work on another one. This one will be in Ivory and brass, but I didn't get any pictures of the progress I've made so far. Instead I present kitties. I realize that this first picture probably does not require any explanation to other cat owners, but the story is still amusing so I shall tell it. See, I unloaded the dryer and the kitty JiJi climbs right in and settles down. After taking his photo I remove him and begin putting more wet clothing inside. He then proceeds to climb in again and cozy in a pile of wet clothes and I now completely understand how cats end up dried to death. Lucky for him, I'm observant.

We have a field trip this morning to a cheese factory, but then I hope to get back to the headpiece so I can get something made to show you. I've also taken to the idea of reworking my In Bloom ankle corset so it is an actual necklace. The inspiration for that idea came from the runway where the designer used the actual ankle corset as a necklace. I'm fairly certain that she just tied them on, but I think if I simply extend the design I can add a clasp. I might need to do a few more tweaks to get it to look nice or at least like I meant to do it, but since I have so many pairs made right now courtesy of the lost and found package, I can just experiment a bit with those until I have that aha! moment.

And since I can't just show one kitty, here's Halo not paying any attention to me. Yes, they are getting huge and are soon due for their spay and neuter appointments. The boys are much bigger than the girls but their rampant destruction is a family affair and they rip about the house with the power of a small tornado. Lucky for me they are still largely uninterested in my thread. Get a ball of yarn however and all bets are off. Alright, off to it then.

Ummm

I really ought to have dolled out the new bits from yesterday over a few days, but no I posted them all at once. Where does that leave me today? Well, with nothing to show of course. I spent yesterday on an epic pile of laundry, another ant invasion that needed quelling and remaking a few recently sold things.
Well that and physically recuperating from 'playing' in three foot snow drifts. Apparently that sort of activity can put a strain on ones body unless you are under the age of 18, then you just have a damn fine time and bounce back the next day as if nothing occurred.

I even woke up late this morning and I still have orders that need packing to go out today and we're back to schooling as well. I guess what I'm saying is I have nothing of worth to say and much more that needs doing. Oh, but there was one question in the comments yesterday regarding Steampunk tatting. I have tried to make things more in that vein, but honestly my lace style will always be more in a NeoVictorian vein. This actually makes it perfect for accessorizing fancier or more dressed up Steampunk outfits. I've added gears and tatted in browns with brass hardware, but honestly I try to go as far as I can without getting to that 'trying too hard' point. I'm certain I have more pieces with that feel waiting to be created, but I'm happy just keeping the Wunderkammer up to satisfy my steampunk tastes.

Today will be just more of the same, so don't expect too much awesome tomorrow either.