More New Masks

I must be quick this morning as I was rudely interrupted this morning by yet another ant invasion. I know I haven't mentioned those lately, but they have been almost a daily occurrence though much smaller than the last couple of days where they appear to have 'reloaded'.

Anyway, here's the whole view of the, no I am not going to make more this colorful' mask. That being said I do think that more like the blue mask are a possibility. They have more of solid color feel that is more my style and will allow me to show that there are more colors available. There are plenty of other artisans that can keep the colorful jewelry market covered, so I don't think I'll go there either.

The last bit for today is yet another mask. This one is a new pattern based on the flower garland necklace. It doesn't lay flat on the face on the top half, but I still like it just fine. The color palette was inspired by a facebook comment for autumn colors so this one is brown with a russet red outline. I should theoretically get this one listed today, but it doesn't even have a name yet. My little brother and his fiance are visiting from San Diego and since yesterday was a holiday, I got so very little done. It's back to schooling today and maybe a little routine, so I might accomplish that which I plan to, but it's all up to chance.

In Color

I can't believe how little venting was shared with me on Friday. Am I the only bitter, evil person left? No, that's can't be. The only one without the tact to keep their mouth shut? Now we know that's not true. I suppose it doesn't matter, it made me feel better and that was the point anyway.

Now onto better things, yes tatting things. You might not realize that I have acquired a rather large stash of thread. Okay, you probably realize that, but what you don't is that much of it is in colors. Sure, most of them were acquired to create a custom order, but then I just started buying them, 'just in case' knowing full well that my customers would really have no idea that there were so many colorful options hiding from them because I always go back to black. I adore black thread and the lace that it makes. Anyway, I used some colors this weekend while mask making.

First up here is my 'Between the Stars' mask. I made this one with the and dyed thread that was too bright for the wedding project. It is a gorgeous thread dyed by Heather and it has just the slightest hint of purple giving it much depth. Then I added the black border to frame it better. This one is listed already, but this next one should go up later today and it is the real shocking one too which why you only get a glimpse. I thought when I made "A Land Serene' that it would look nice as a colorful, let's say flower fairy type piece. So that is what I did. Yep this sucker is made with pale yellow flower centers follows by some bright fuchsia flora and finished with hand dyed green. There is no black...at all. In fact while I was making it my husband remarked, 'what is that?'. I replied, 'A Flower fairy mask?' he responded with, 'Is it for Regretsy?' Yeah, that's how out of character this is, but the kids liked it. It will be listed, but if it doesn't sell, I'll use it to donate to my nieces school.

There is even one more after these that I have yet to finish. This one is a new pattern based on the flower garland necklace and is in brown and red for a harvest fall sort of look. Sure, I might do a few more shades as sales are at a stand still and I seem to have time, but don't go expecting the shop to brighten up too much. I have always been and will always be much more fond of the darkness. When I wear color, people worry, but I'm allowed a little 'phase' once n a while right? Besides it's for Halloween and that's about being something a little different than you are, so that's my excuse.

Earrings

It was another long day, but much less eventful. I would even go so far as to say it was a calm and fairly pleasant day. In fact one of the first things I stumbled upon was a blog post by a lovely twitter fashion friend that featured my fancy mask. The blog is Awakened Aesthetic and post was on etsy Halloween finds. What was better than the inclusion was the very sweet thing she said about my work and while I don't know that I'm all that, it was still truly fabulous to hear. I also stole one of her picks for a future Wunderkammer collection so win win.

Before I stared on the long process of getting masks made, I went ahead and made up some matching tenebrous earrings. Then I though, I should make up more matching earrings for existing choker designs. The first was an absolute success meant to match the flower garland necklace. As you can see, it was a simple case of add a couple of chains and a ring, but it tuned the design into a really interesting chandelier type piece. That was so easy I decided for another and was meant with utter defeat. This is when I stopped for the day. So, it turns out some designs do not in fact lend themselves to this sort of motif separation and enhancement. Some designs only work well as part of a whole. This fact has been noted and I will attempt to merely echo the shape for matching earrings the next time I give it a go.

Now to end the week, I'd like to list off a few things that have bothered me this week, you know just to get them out there not to attack anyone in particular. Ahem...people who send emails asking questions, then require you to authenticate yourself in order to respond...I am not going to do it, sorry. People who court drama for the sake of attention rather than intelligent discourse. Self justification...me thinks the lady doth protest too much. Justification seems to only applied when one knows one is doing something wrong. People who 'lol' at their own posts, this one is two fold as I generally dislike the acronyms in the first place and secondly, it is exactly the same as loudly laughing at your own jokes which, unless you are in fact hilarious, is annoying. Putting someone on your mailing list without asking. This will have only one effect, I will unsubscribe, ignore your content and if I know you from elsewhere like twitter, I will likely block you there to. I'm fairly certain all that is the opposite of your intent. And last for now, people who ask a question or request a custom order, receive a swift and lengthy response from me and don't even bother with a no thank you or acknowledgment of any kind. Feel free to add your own annoyances if you'd like...might be fun to vent together.

It Wasn't A Monday?

About halfway through the day I started calling it sneak attack Monday. Why? Well it clearly wasn't a Monday and yet I was bombarded with tasks that usually greet me on the first day of the week. There were multi front and multi stage ant invasions, there was unexpected laundry and lots of it. There was accounting, dishes and cat issues and I could go on, but I shall not.

I did get some tatting accomplished amid all the chaos and unrule. I finished up the black version of the new necklace design and did the finishing work on the gray set as well. I think if I get a chance I'll make up the same earrings in black without embellishment as well. I also do want to get the bracelet design I came up with listed as well. They might come second though as I have two masks I want to get made up and my Mother-In-Law has requested another to be donated to my nieces school for a raffle. I don't really like committing the larger pieces for these things as they take so much time and particularly since it is mask season and I shall likely be making a ton of them in the coming months, but it's family.

I almost lost my other thought for the morning. I came up with a small change to the Wunderkammer to give me a bit of a break. I am going to shift the posting from Tuesday to Saturday and instead of doing an etsy list on Saturday, it will start as just a single image I run across at Flickr. It takes little effort to do that and in this weeks post I will also be asking people to shoot me links. Since there is little risk of the images disappearing I can stock pile them and schedule them to post whenever needed. In fact if I get enough good ones I can add Monday back into rotation with a picture book-ending the week painlessly with eye candy. If it goes well, it might lead to a few more changes I'm thinking about, though the bulk of the blog will stay the same true to its original purpose. Now, it's off to it then.

Ah, September

Well that will teach me to get all picture happy...not a single comment on the new designs nor the grand pile of wedding goodness. I see how it is. Of course with my personal track record of rarely if ever commenting on anything I read, I really ought not be judging. I have no real reason for not doing so either, just not compelled I suppose. See now you have to resist commenting about how you didn't comment because of my keenly laid guilt trap. No, really, it's fine...I know you're out there either way.

Yesterday was a busy day, just not tatting busy. I had the first meeting of the year with my daughters teacher in the morning. Since this is our second year, it was all very much review and reminders. It did however push the days schooling back to after lunch and my child does not function her best after noon. We rushed through and got what needed to be done, done and then they napped. I rushed to do the finishing work on the pile of wedding stuff. Turned the moths into pendants and cleaned up some bits on the boutonnieres. I learned that a little clear quilting filament is perfect for invisibly sewing together bits that didn't want to behave during tatting. I think it is my new favorite hidden tool.

I need to get the finishing done on the gray tenebrous pieces today and get some good pictures to send the future owner before I ship those out. I did start working on a black choker with the new pattern so hopefully I'll get that finished and listed as well. I also ought to get working on masks again. I wanted to keep them in stock for Halloween, but there are apparently a fair amount of Masquerade weddings coming up. It is actually a little odd how many late summer and early fall wedding there are this year...or rather ones that I am aware of or providing jewelry to anyway. I suppose it's likely no more than usually, it is only my awareness of them that's changed.

So, that's it...no pictures or amazing insight. Nothing else I can think of to say except have a nice day!