Thanks

I was about to wish you a happy Friday when I realized that today is in fact Thursday. Weird...I go from thinking the week is creeping along to jumping it forward a whole day. So, happy Thursday then. The family is heading off later this morning to the coast to spend a couple of days by the ocean with my husbands side of the family. I'll still post tomorrow as I have the fancy blogger app on my phone, though I haven't actually tested it out yet, so it may be a complete disaster, but I'll try.

I wanted to thank those of you who threw a few ideas at me for my next project. I spent hours thinking about making tikka after I saw this video posted by Crazy Mom Tats. While it wouldn't be the huge art project I want to do, it's definitely something new I could try out. I've done circlets before, but after a bit more research on the tikka's basic construction, I think I've got a few ideas brewing. I'll just have to save them up until after next week.

I also thought about the half mask idea though I have made a one eye mask, it was smaller and I haven't remade it since it sold. I designed it with an eye hook like the arm of a pair of glasses and it's a bloody pain in the neck to construct. A larger version, more like my Masquerade mask, but halved and perhaps further down the face may prove more structurally sound, but I do really want to make something altogether new.

The last suggestion I received was to make a scarf. Honestly I've already made a few of those and they take forever, look lovely and unique, but don't offer the wow factor I want to go for. Basically the idea of the art piece is to make something truly over the top. I generally strive to make things that are wearable by most people, but the art piece can be ridiculous and couture and I must accept that when I make one, it may never sell. I think I have another idea forming now and I'll revisit it when I have time to sit down and work out some potential details, then I'll share. Please, though do share some more ideas if you have them. There can never be too many of them!

A Little Better

Yes, it was another long weekend, but here at the end of it at least I feel better than I did most of last week. I'm still nowhere near 100%, but I think the worst of it is past. I just really don't have the time to be sick right now. There are things that need doing. The shop still hasn't gotten up to the speed I remember from last year and I don't mind telling you that I'm a mite bit worried about that. It's picked up sure, but not as much as my early Christmas shopping dictates. So I must then spend more time on the Internet trying to guilt people into spending their dollars with me. This is not my strong suit so I will likely just complain a bit, try to keep working and hope.

Over the weekend I did in fact finish the gift project I've been working on like I said I would. Should the light cooperate, I'll get some nice photos of it this week so that after it is gifted I can show it to you. I also had a few small orders come in giving me something to remake and I got all of that accomplished save for one bracelet which I will get to today. I'll also need to make up some more free snowflakes as my supply has dwindled and I've been less on task regarding those than my grand plans dictated. I really don't think they have helped get any sales I wouldn't have gotten otherwise, but I suppose it's a nice little treat this time of year regardless. I also have to try and keep the child focused on schooling for the next three weeks when I'm fairly certain she has vacation fever already. Sounds fun, doesn't it? Well, hopefully something photo worthy will happen this week so I can be more entertaining, though I promise nothing.

And Done

Ah, another day exactly as planned. I pressed the new pieces and got them all listed in one sitting. So that's brings us to a total of six new colored journey bracelets with earrings to match. I thought about making some more in other colors, I still have many rolls of Lizbeth that have yet to be cracked open, but I was getting bored with myself. Instead I buckled down and got that supply order put in that I've been stalling about. I really hate doing them for a few reasons. One, they cost a lot. Two, I always forget something only to remember it days later. And three, I always end up buying something completely unnecessary to get my item count high enough to reach the next discount level. I still haven't remembered what I must have forgotten to order this time, but the other two points are alive and well.

So that brings us to today's tasks. I need to finish remaking the necklace I was working on yesterday and then my day is wide open.  There is nothing left to remake and I guess I could bust open more thread colors or maybe I'll get creative and make some one offs. Though my shop is getting rather full and I fear difficult to navigate. Maybe I'll check my masks and see what is still listed as custom there and get those made. Yeah, I have no idea what I'll get up to, but you're certain to hear about it.

Lizzy's Diamonds

Well here we are again at Monday. Let's see what did I manage to accomplish over the last few days? On Friday I asked the twitterverse what I should make and I was asked to make a pair of barefoot sandals in a shade of brown. Usually that sort of request would have been met with a literal response of me making an existing design in the new color. This time it inspired a new one entirely. This one is a barefoot sandal that has some of the same aspects as the ankle corsets. Much of the design is higher and it ties closed with a ribbon. The first pair also immediately sold to the lovely customer that suggested working with brown in the first place. I did get another pair made, but that represents the whole of my Friday.

I was initially terribly excited to have my book review post on Saturday morning. Then I was disappointed with the lack of obvious attention. I don't know why I expected many comments on the review since I don't get all that many comments in the first place, but I suppose I can blame the Internet. It has created a culture where we need feedback on everything and if we don't get it we doubt the worth of whatever we wrote or created. Though I think the Internet has another lesson on this point as well. Bad things get a hell of a lot more obvious attention that anything that doesn't rise to the level of amazing. So I choose to believe that the lack of response is a general, 'it was okay'. If you didn't get a chance to read it and you care to, it's here.

Saturday also brought a sale I had all but given up on. I had received a request for wholesale a couple weeks ago I think. Since I don't do wholesale, I responded with an offer of a coupon code for a discount if they bought a certain quantity and they accepted. Then nothing until yesterday when the purchase was made. It wasn't horrible huge, but big enough that I have well over a dozen pieces that will need remaking. Which is what I mostly spent Sunday doing. I did also pull out the sewing machine to mod a couple of t-shirts and maul my thumb with said machine while I was explaining it's use to my four year old. Ooh, and I also dyed my hair and dropped the base of my hooded hair dyer on my foot just almost breaking a toe this time. I know, you're wondering how I haven't killed myself with a tatting needle or something yet. I really have no idea how I survive.

So today I have a level ton of tatting to get on with. There's the remaking from the bulk order and I also sold one of the newest masks, the unembellished one, so that's in the pile to be done as well. There is also the chance that the online school has loaded in it's new lessons for the year today. Even though school doesn't start until the 15th, I still like to get a jump on things and at least see what silly supplies they want me to buy. I'd even like to actually get started on some of it so we can ease back into it and get a bit of a cushion built up. I also expect a bunch of things in the post tomorrow including some of the supplies I ordered so I might be able to get the new necklace idea I mentioned last week worked up then. I'm already tired just thinking about the next few days.

Why Not Make Two

When I asked all my Internet acquaintances about the embellishment of the new mask, I added a third option to make another mask to embellish leaving the first plain. This is the choice that seemed to garner the most support. Honestly I found it a great idea because it gave me an excuse to make the mask again right away and not only work out the best wire placement, but also help me remember the pattern I just created for the next time. Often when I sell something, I spend the hours before I ship it using the piece as a template to make its replacement. Sure, I write down some of my patterns, but rarely the masks. I do have some of them completely memorized, but that takes repetition and now the new mask has been repeated.

So once I finished covering the wire on the first one, I started on the second mask. This time around, I made the eye wires with extensions to the sides and worked a portion of all three rounds over the wire. This is quite a fiddly process, but it gave the pointed corners all the support they will need and it looks much neater on the back side. Then it was onto the crystals and embroidery. I decided to go light on both of those. The crystals you can see here and the embroidery just goes around the perimeter. I still need to embroider around the eyes today and then I'm done. The very simple bottom edge of this mask helps it work up quickly and once I perfect working around the wires it will be even faster.

Hopefully I'll get the rest of the embroidery done quickly this morning  and get both the plain and embellished mask photographed and listed today. I barely did any reading yesterday in favor of mask making, so I really need to read at least 100 pages of the review book. So far its pretty good, but the language is rife with complex sounding made up words and that makes speed reading very difficult. I have to pay a lot more attention to ascribe the intended meaning. Regardless, those are my tasks for today. Reading, embroidery and photo taking, oh my.

Taking Shape

Still working on the new mask with little to distract me except the most recent freak storm to roll through California. I'd complain, but I enjoyed the cool weather this time knowing that triple digits are headed this way by the weekend, but I digress...back to the mask. I finished up the outer edge working on wire I added to the sides. The shape was great, but it is always a challenge to work in three dimensions. I worked the outside loosely to make sure that the mask rounds over the face. I was stumped on these diamond shaped holes for quite some time. With the last mask I didn't bother with fill in because I was working all those areas with sequins. This time I wanted it whole.

I tried a bunch of different motifs before I recalled another lesson I've learned. Stick with the same motif. Instead of looking outside the existing design, look into it instead and pull out the elements that can be adjusted to accommodate the space that you're working in. I borrowed a clover from the center motif and then used the same vine pattern with some creative attachments. I also added an additional row of scallops on the bottom edge and the tatting was complete. The last mask took a few more days before I reached this point. I guess the lessons learned are really paying off.

Next up was the time consuming task of covering the wire. I wrapped the eyes in the usual fashion, though even that was slow going as getting a good grip on the piece was difficult due to its size. On the top wire I opted to cover it with actual tatting as you would a ring. I did this so that I could keep a constant stitch count between the attached elements. Since they were so loose, I couldn't rely on them to stay where they were put and I needed an even spacing. As you can see, once the wires are covered the pieces seems to have an established shape and despite working on the fly, it fits like a dream.

Now it's onto the sequins. I already started on the eye edges and I will do the outside edge all the way around. Then I think I will added them to the fill in sections and see how that looks. After those it's many crystals and embroidery with the silver thread. After that I get to see if I can stumble upon another fabulous photographer and model to get it properly photographed. I may just ask my brother, because I am ridiculously paranoid about putting it in the mail after all it's predecessor went though. Wow, I am totally getting ahead of myself. Sewing sequins should at least take a few days by itself and I'm visualizing tons of embroidery and that should take some time as well. So that's the plan anyway and we'll just have to see how it goes.

Happy 5th Etsyversary To Me!

That's right, five years ago today I signed up on etsy. I had no idea how this single event would shape the years following it. That act is responsible for my growth as a tatter, a designer and my current persistent Internet existence. I know many people have strong opinions about the site particularly as of late, but I've got nothing but love. You might also know that I just passed my third year blogging here as well as the second birthday of the Wunderkammer.

So, I hemmed and hawed about what to do in celebration of this anniversary since I barely acknowledged the others. Even as I write this I'm still making up my mind. You may feel free to send gifts of course, but these sort of milestones are generally celebrated with gifts to you, the friends and fans. I do wish I had spent more time working this up...let's see, how about a small one day discount? Sure, I can do that. All day April 19th, you can use the code '(code expired)' to receive a 20% discount. That doesn't seem like quite enough does it?

How about a giveaway then? I don't have the time or energy to maintain a big one so I'll give away just one of my newest necklace designs. You can enter to win the black or sepia version of the Studded Flower necklace.

How? Well, for one entry just leave a comment with the color you'd like to win. For another entry, 'like' my facebook fan page. For one more, follow me on twitter & tweet the giveaway and last one 'heart' my shop on etsy and tell me what your favorite piece is. Just to keep things simple, you can leave one comment with all the entries you've done & a way to contact you should you win.

I'll pick a winner sometime on Friday by random number generator to give you time to get entries in. I'll post the giveaway and one day sale on facebook and twitter, but I have no plans to spend the day promoting it since I'll be doing my civic duty this afternoon.

Thanks so much everyone for all the support over the years, here's to at least another five!

At The End OF The Week

Most weeks Friday doesn't mean much since my 'day job' never ends, but I'm really happy to see it come this week. A couple of days off from blogging and maybe I get to sleep in until, I don't know, six or something. Yeah, that's the sweet life.

 I'm still waiting for final payment on the large order, but it's packed and ready to go as soon as that arrives. That means I was free yesterday to make whatever I felt needed to be made. I've opted to actually reproduce the designs that I made for the secret project, just in case it plays out well. Of course that means I really can't show you what I've been working on either as I want the whole thing to remain under wraps for the time being. I did also get a couple of other things remade for the shop and I will continue to work on that until everything is listed again or I get another custom order that requires my attention.

There are no really big weekend plans for me. I'll just keep on working until I get to that point where I feel like I've caught up a bit and can slow down. Hopefully that's sooner rather than later, but knowing me it'll happen right before I get inundated with another bout of custom orders or fit of design fever...or both. It would be nice if shop sales would pick up now that's I'm not so busy as they have been very few and far between as of late, though the timing of the lull was fortuitous. It would put the cherry on the convenient timing cake if they returned now as if the universe planned it all. You hear that Universe, I'm talking to you. Alright then, off to it yet again.

Happy Monday

Finally Saturday afternoon brought the thread I needed for a special order. It was chosen by the customer on ebay and I just picked it up myself to avoid all the extra shipping. I also learned a new lesson, even when the link to thread is provided by the customer, read the entire listing before purchasing. When I opened the thread/yarn I smelled the ball and was greeted with the smell of cigarette smoke. Yuck. I went back and read the listing and it was clearly mentioned that it did not come from a smoke free home. If I had read better, I could have looked elsewhere for the same stuff, but I didn't. Luckily as I am working with the thread the smell is quickly dissipating. Hopefully a quick wash will take any lingering small away and my lesson has been learned.

I should have the last piece in that order done today and I'll try to get some pictures to show you this thread/yarn. I've been trying to take pictures, but the color is just not showing up the way it really looks. It is neon yellow and ridiculously bright. It is also acrylic and works closer to yarn than thread which I don't enjoy, but I persevere for the good customer.

The only other thing to share this weekend is the inclusion of my barefoot sandal tutorial on the Instructables email newsletter. Views of the tutorial were already good, but this shot them right past 10,000. I've also received a few messages on etsy of thanks. My favorite ones are those that tell me that they have given up on tatting and that my tutorials got them to try again. More thread addicts into the fold my friends. Well, that's it really. I did respond to the large order inquiry with the huge shipping quote I got for UPS as well as a long time estimate for completion and I haven't heard back. I might have scared them away, but honestly that to rushing myself and settling for 'maybe it'll get there' shipping just to snag the order. So if they do respond at least it will be on my terms.

Damn time change has the day already wasting away on me, so I best get to it. Happy Monday all.

And The Designer Is...

Okay, it's time to fess up in what I think is the only time I've blogged twice in one day. The second package I sent arrived safely this morning and believe it or not I received a USPS tracking email that said the first package I sent was just refused and is being returned to sender. Now, I have no idea who refused it because it wasn't the designer and I have no idea where it's been for two weeks, but it appears to be on its way home. Of course this time around I am not counting any chickens until they've hatched, we'll just wait and see if it arrives.

Right, the reveals. The designer I've been working with is Sonia Yoon of Bensoni. You can check out This article on Posh Glam where they talk about the inspiration for the collection. There's also another one on Racked with basically the same information and a short one with some of the other accessories they are using on Harper's Bazaar.

The show itself is sponsored by M.A.C. & Milk and will be held on Sunday evening at the Standard Hotel. As far as I can tell it will not be one of the shows streamed so we will all have to wait for fashion blogger coverage to share pictures of the event. I sent ankle corsets, masks and necklaces.

In all honesty, I am still set for yet another disaster to befall this opportunity so I won't likely be relaxing until it's over. I hope that she likes all the pieces and uses them all in the show and I truly hope that her collection is a smashing success. Aside from all this lost package nonsense and the fact that I had to remake everything in three days, it has been a pleasure making pieces for show. Keep those fingers crossed!

Done And Done

Ah, the other side of the weekend and it was a long one. I finished up my pile of tatting on Friday and jumped right into a quick custom order. It was a bride who wanted a pair of barefoot sandals embellished and I got to praise the power of quilting thread yet again. I was on such a roll after my big project that they worked up in a blink of an eye. I should have gotten better pictures after I pressed them, but they're packed up now. Of course then minor tragedy struck...I injured my left index finger. A small split began forming on the ridges and I kept hitting it with my needle. This caused it to rip further and eventually it became red and angry and I was forced to admit it needed bandaging. Unfortunately a bandage make tatting cumbersome so after a few attempts at remaking some things, I stopped. With a half dozen things left to remake, I just stopped. Weird, right?

Let's see, what else? I had a fabulous time out with the family on Saturday and with friends that night. If you've been reading my blather for a while, you know that I have been lacking in physical friends that I am not related to, so connecting with people we should have been friends with a long time ago is quite pleasant. It's almost as if I'm starting to live a more well rounded life. Now if only I could stop boring people with the tatting talk, we'd be great.

This week my Grandfather will be down visiting, so I've got some cleaning to finish up and will likely be distracted by the visit much of the week. Honestly though, he's quite an unimposing guest, I just feel guilty for not being a more attentive host. I suppose I'm not a horrible host unless you want a lot of attention and activities and then I am absolutely at the bottom. Well off to it then and hopefully I can mange some tatting and not re-injure by poor finger.

Over The Hump

Halfway done, halfway done, thank the tatting gods I am halfway done. Unexpected dinner hosting notwithstanding, I managed to get past the halfway point on my pile o' lace. At this rate I should actually have it all knocked out by Friday and with just a bit of finishing work to do on a few pieces, I should get it on its way early next week. I am actually impressed with my own speed at this point...though that might change when I start the finishing work and see what potential mistakes I made in my haste. I mean, I haven't found any yet, but I haven't been looking all that closely.

Let's see, what else have I got for you? Not much else I'm afraid as I am ridiculously focused on getting this project knocked out. In fact I didn't even manage to scan in those pages of the Surface Design Journal. Nope, instead I just took a picture of the bits that mentioned me. I'm pretty sure I didn't need to tell you they weren't scanned though and yes, I played with a filter again, but you can still read it...if you click on the image. It was a really nice article and I was flattered to be mentioned along with a few other familiar etsy sellers.

So, I guess that's it for me today. I will be schooling and tatting and trying to keep the house clean for next weeks house guest. Sometimes the glamour of my live is just too much, I know.

Strike A Pose

Okay, first off how it is not Friday yet? It feels like it's suppose to be Friday and yet here we are on a Thursday. What good is a bloody Thursday anyway? Apparently its good for complaining about, but I digress. I got yet another little treat from my Google alerts yesterday, there was a nice little post about me on Craft Gossip's jewelry page which is new for me. I have of course graced the needlework page repeatedly with various free patterns and tutorials, but the jewelry mention was quite pleasantly unexpected. Thanks to Stacie Hooder for the nice write up, I really appreciate it!

I did get photos done of the gray and black mask as well. I opted for modeled ones since someone I know is creeped out my mannequin heads...she knows who she is. I do admit they look better worn, but sometimes I am just feeling too lazy to get dolled up and make faces at the camera. I mean there is a good reason I never had a modeling career, okay many good reasons. I shudder at the thought of someone walking by and looking in the window as I pose like this. Sure folks say the pictures turn out okay, but I still feel like a bit of a fool taking them.
I slacked off for most of the remains of the day, but I did do a little custom work. I was asked if the new moths could be made onto a lapel pin so that the original commissioner could get a few more like that, so I tatted a moth to a pin. As I remarked on twitter, it was a bit like an entomology experiment and thankfully a relatively successful one. I'll be working on adjusting the pattern to a smaller size today as well as putting more moths on sticks. I'm also still mulling over another mask pattern though honestly I hope the shop picks up soon so I won't have time to work on more. Well more so I have actual sales, but six of one right?

One last bit for today that could have been posted yesterday had it happened then. Apparently I made the front page of etsy with this treasury at 1 am est. I was of course fast asleep and I didn't even get the usual instant link at facebook so if it hadn't been for the handful of congratulatory messages I received at etsy I would not have known at all. Lucky for me craftcult takes screenshot so I can pretend I saw it and this is what it looked like.Crossing my fingers that this wasn't the last of the season as I have been getting a crap load of 'you're in my treasury' messages from sellers as they put together all the Halloween lists. Again not a huge boon to sales or anything, but even in the middle of my night I received more than 60 new heart or people favoriting my shop. So thanks etsy for the bit of love...keep it up!

The Caterpillar

I know I should do something epic today, but I just this moment noted that this is my 500th blog post and all I can really think is, yikes. So, I shall just leave it at the acknowledgment and move on. Usually, I rely on my google alerts to share features with me but it was the analytics that alerted me to a new one...in French. A lovely facebook fan apparently shared my work on a fashion networking site and this is actually the second article to result from that. The very similar wording leads me to the conclusion that they originated at the same place as does the comparison to Chanel's new rub on tattoos. This one is at The Trendy Girl and the first one was at Set Your Style. So thanks to the fashion blogging world...keep it up, no really...go right ahead!

Back to the tatting world now. I did decide to get on with the caterpillar. I went with my new hand dyed green thread as the base color then set it aside to work out a pattern. I could have sworn that I had a vintage edging around here with the proper undulating effect that I wanted, but after a search through my abandoned and prototype tatting box, I came up empty. I did of course run across several older designs that might be brought back to life at some point. I do hate to give up on a design. Anyway, with no preexisting design to work off of, I started by modifying the basic vine pattern to make it curve in and out. Then I added a second row that switched from one side to the other further enhancing the curve. It kind of reminded me of drawing a ribbon.

Once I was happy with the prototype, I switched to the hand dyed thread. I hate to waste any thread, so I wanted to be sure before I began. Here, you can see the wave forming with the vine pattern. I made a fairly long length, but I think I should have gone longer since the second row really does pull the curve up making the overall length shrink up. I have a clever idea for joining the necklace, but I'm not certain how to accomplish it yet. Yes, this is another of my just tat it and see how it goes moments. I am not a good designing role model...don't do what I do.

When I started the second row, I added rings at the joins on a whim. I thought perhaps they would give the impression of little caterpillar feet. In a subtle way though, not the 'there's a bug on my neck way'...okay maybe a little like that. So this is where I left off. My Grandfather who had just visited from two states over came right back to bring us some things. I think he was insane to do so, but I thank him for the visit as well as the things. We took him out to dinner and he was already back on the road this morning before I woke up and I wake up early. Today is finally a school day again and though I do enjoy a bit of a break, I relish in the routine to get things done around here, including my tatting. So hopefully I'll get some more done on the caterpillar and then I feel compelled to create some new fashion pieces to play to the blog attention. Can't let trend potential slip me by, now can I?

Little Surprises

I was all set to let yesterday pass unnoticed and unremarkable, but I did manage to fall into a few interesting moments. I started out just tatting again for the Maker Faire, then I got my first nice surprise, an email from another soul who learned to tat with my Instructable. They were asking for a little further direction, but that's not the point. It is so surreal to know that I really have virtually taught people how to needle tat. I have no real idea how many people have tried their hand at it because I'm not likely to hear from most of them, but I can imagine at least dozens right?

My next task was to actually write down the pattern for my Queen's Feet Barefoot sandals. I got a request for the pattern a few days ago and once it was complete I offered it to a few more people on twitter. Of course I ended up leaving off part of the pattern, which I had to correct this morning, but it's done now...I hope. If anyone else is interested in the pattern, feel free to shoot me an email. You can find my address in my blogger profile. I know I could just publish it here, but I figured I'd save that until I could do a proper instructable which might not be for some time.

Then whilst twitter stalking, I was informed that one of my mask was indeed published in the current issue of Du Jour magazine, the Vintage issue. I had been asked for images for inclusion in a future issue, but due to an email snafu I didn't know it was this one until I was asked if I like the spread. I was also led to an image of the page to share with you.
There I am, in the bottom right corner, and here's a close up so you can read the write up on the mask. It's quite flattering to be included in a magazine devoted to emerging designers. I have a hard time setting myself along side clothing and jewelry designers as I consider myself more of a...I don't know, crafter, artisan maybe. Anyway, it's nice.

The last bit of news for the day was an optimistic message from our real estate agent regarding the offer we put in on a short sale. I wish I could say that this alleviates some stress, but it honestly created much more for me. I was able to keep the whole house buying, moving business at arms length as long as it was completely up in the air. The prospect of it becoming a reality has me terrified. The logistics of moving, adjusting the budget to handle the much larger monthly payment and a dozen other little details are now crowding my mind nearly every minute. Needless to say, I did not sleep well last night and I might not for a while.

A Music Review?

I don't usually mention my musical tastes online. Mostly because the music I love it not considered hip, nor in. I actually have fairly expansive tastes and musical knowledge fueled by nearly a decade at a music store. There are few genres that I truly dislike, but I have always come back to my favorites. Now, five years later I feel out of place when people begin to share their favorites and I rarely run into like minded music fans. All that being said, I was truly surprised recently by someone I met on twitter, yes it's another twitter story.

When someone follows me on twitter, like most people, I check out their profile to see we have anything in common. Social media and marketing experts are ignored, fellow artists and crafters are generally followed and every so often there's a band or musician and I go their site to check them out. This is a fairly easy marketing idea, people will listen, you catch a few, you miss a few, but there's not that much effort involved. Well, I was caught by one with the moniker driftingnsilenc, which is the shortened version of Drifting In Silence. After listening to tracks available on his website, I returned to twitter and followed him back as well as commenting my opinion to him.

Next thing I know, I am in possession of a generous handful of CDs that included not only the main project, but also a side project, Longthenight and a label mate and remixer Drev. I spent the afternoon yesterday listening to all this whilst my daughters slept and I couldn't believe that I had just now discovered them. Derrick Stembridge the man behind Drifting In Silence and Longthenight is a mad genius, really. He has mastered the perfectly beautiful ambient track as well as the industrial beat driven one. Rather than dissolve into meaningless noise, each piece has a defining structure, wrought with intelligence. The more ambient pieces let my mind wander and escape, perfect for designing to and the more aggressive pieces inspired me to work with focus.

I am no music reviewer, I am a maker of lace who likes my music ambient, electro and Industrial. I like music that is crafted by a mad scientist with the soul of an artist. I want music that can at once haunt my soul and move my feet. Maybe it's not the hippest music and it's devotees tend to be a bit darker and a little different, but I like it and you might too. Now brush off the fact that the tatter just attempted a music review and move on with your day. I'll be back to normal tomorrow.

Down Off That Cloud

At my husbands seemingly constant request, I have calmed the hell down. I did take quite a few opportunities to check on my ankle corsets on StyleHive and even through this morning, they are holding on strong as the top save. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't truly shocked by this development. Sure they look cool and I've been told by many that they love them, but to see them sitting next to very commercial products, well it's weird.

What knocked my off that cloud though was their sale in the middle of the night...without payment. I haven't lost hope that it might still come through today as it was a new buyer from out of the country, but I'm not holding my breath either. Now all those views and hearts are gone and when people click through from StyleHive, they will see that they are 'Sold Out' and will probably simply move on rather than look for the new custom listing I put up. So, here I sit floating down from the cloud as was the inevitable outcome of a soar so high.

In more personal news, I took a big grown up step with my husband yesterday. We went to get pre-approved for a home loan. We've been renting for over a decade and it's finally time to move on. Everything went well, now the search begins and then the worst part, actually moving. I hate moving...so very much. I guess it's a small price to pay for our very own space. Obviously, all this will keep us quite preoccupied over the next few months.

One last thing, I think I've come up with a new barefoot sandal design. While remaking the Queen's Feet ones yesterday, I thought that I needed to make something a little simpler and consequently cheaper before the warmer weather is upon us. Quite frankly, I just don't want to have to keep remaking the same large pieces over and over. I'll share the design just as soon as I come up with it. I've got a pretty good idea of how I want it to look, but my imagination and my ability to tat are not always on the same page, so we'll see how it turns out.

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.

Rain and A Headache

This is shaping up to be one terribly long week. Starting with the Monday holiday, followed by a dentist appointment and then nothing else. To top it all off I've had headaches off and on, mostly on for like a week due to my jaw clenching. I got all the cluster effect orders completed and in the mail yesterday. This leaves me free, theoretically, to create new pieces, but I still have at least a dozen pieces to make that sold during the holiday season. Unfortunately most of those are more time consuming projects that means I still can't make anything new if I want to get those done.

I bought these great lamp worked beads back in November from formfireglassworks's shop with the intention of framing them in tatted necklaces similar to the ones I did with AlwaysAmy's pendants. The are still sitting in their package unused. I think I might just buck the remaking work in favor of making something with one of them. I had a bit of an idea this morning that I'm sure to lose if I wait too long to try it out.

Yes, I think that is what I will do on this rainy day. I will try and create something new. Of course that means after I finish the new piece, I will have to take pictures and make up a listing. I haven't done any of those things in months. I hope I remember how. I better get on it before someone orders another custom mask or something.

Down By The Sea

Well folks, I'm off the the coast for a couple of days. We're going to Monterey and then we'll be back for the Holiday so posting shall be at best sporadic for the next week or so. I hope everyone has a lovely holiday season. We did not do a Solstice party this year due to my daughters ear infections, but I hope you had a good one of those as well.

I'm taking a break from the tatting for a while as well because when I get back to it, I will be remaking all of my favorite pieces that sold out during holiday shopping and that is a daunting task. So see you all later!