HDT

I had almost forgotten that I had made an arrangement last week to make up some bracelets for someone using their own hand dyed thread. That was until I got the box in the post yesterday and I got terribly excited not least of all because it was something fresh and new to do. The thread and request was from the lovely Jess.


It's painfully obvious that I prefer to tat in black and solid colors. The black because, well, that's just me and the solid colors partly because I've had limited success with variegated pieces selling in the shop and partly because again, I don't wear them and even though I tat to mostly to sell the result I still apply my own personal style whenever possible. That's not to say I don't think hand dyed thread is beautiful. It most certainly is and I love the sense of discovery you get when working with it. You get to learn what the thread will do, when the color changes and how best to maximize that with the design and joins. In all honesty, I have used some poorly done thread in the past with color changes that were too abrupt or just not complementary enough, but these worked up just lovely. Also I kind of love these bobbin things the thread is wound on. I got both pieces done and they're on their way home today. Of course that means I really didn't do anything else at all yesterday afternoon.

Today I really must make up some more kitty ears and if I get enough done I might just make up some bits for the shop with the HDT that is left over. The kids loved the pretty colors too, particularly the top one. I worked with that first and the transition to the other shade made me feel like summer was changing to fall in my hands, but I digress. I was trying to say that I might make up some bits for the kids too as long as their requests are reasonable...they often aren't. So here's to another great day, hopefully with more surprises and projects!

Busy, Busy

I feel like I'm almost too busy to stop and write down well, anything really. I shall not complain about busy though...busy is good. Anyway I want to thank everyone for their support yesterday. Your comments not only undid the negativity I started the day with, but shot me right back into positive space. If you didn't catch the end of the story, the comment was removed after a wonderful friend flagged the comment. So my instructables presence is no longer marred, in fact I'm featured in the weekly newsletter as well. So, yay.

In more 'yay' news, I mentioned that I got some samples of hand dyed thread recently, unsolicited. What a lovely surprise it was and it led to my acquisition of a dark purple and gray thread. I just ordered them, so I shall have to wait to get them, but I wanted to show you the shades. The thread is dyed by Heather of hajdesigns31. It has been a pleasure working with her and I can't wait to get these new colors.

Sure, I don't know when I'll get some time to make up new pieces in the shades, but at least I finally have the option. I do get frustrated by the lack of deep colors in size 10 thread. So now, I've got a supplier for those colors I get asked for the most.

Yes, I'm still working on masks and ankle corsets and I see no end of the tunnel yet. I still have pieces to make for a photo shoot next month and the holidays are right around the corner. I'm out of breath just thinking about the list. Well, here I go now.

Gave Away

I had a rather long and productive day yesterday, but not for tatting I'm afraid and it's a shame because I have an enormous to do list in that arena right now. I didn't mention this yesterday because I had already written the blog post when it occurred, but I had a fine little event on the twitter. I was feeling unfocused so I thought I would do a quick giveaway to give me something to make. I asked my twitter friends...or followers if you prefer, to tell me why they deserved a free piece of my tatting and to please amuse me. It started slow, but after a few minutes people were coming out of the wood works with stories and, well...amusing the crap out of me. I left the contest open for only a brief time, declared a winner and then decided to offer all those who played a free pendant. So if you ever want to win random free tatting, you must follow me on the twitter and listen to me drive all day. Yeah, I don't know how soon I'll do it again though. The winner chose to apply the dollar amount I offered to a mask, so that has already been sent away to her. So, I now have a mask to remake and several pendants or various colors to create. All this and I am still working on a bracelet ordered in a custom length two days ago.

What did I do instead of tatting, you ask? I cleaned. I know I lead a glamorous life and you are all terribly jealous. I also did some book keeping, my favorite, and realized that while September was a terrible sales month at least it was leaps and bounds over August. Still, I wish I knew what made July sizzle so much for me so that I could recreate those conditions. Of course it could just be seasonal...yeah, I have no idea. After over three years of this, I still have only the most tenuous grip on sales trends. I really should do some research, start advertising and try out all this SEO business people keep blathering on about, but I just can't seem to get motivated to do all that. I think I've said it before, but I know I can only grow so much and then no further. I can't outsource my labor and I can only tat so fast before I'm neglecting my stay at home mother duties, so I guess, yeah, I'm ignoring all that stuff I just mentioned.

One last this for Friday though. I got a little package in the mail yesterday. I knew the package was coming, but I had no idea what it was going to contain. Thread, my friends. Hand dyed thread in a dark gray, a plumy purple and a deep wine shade. They were made just because I complained about wanting dark colors. My most favorite is the gray and while the purple is a gorgeous shade, I still want darker. Anyway, I think I have now acquired a source for some additional colors and for that I say thank you! I'm gonna tat up some pieces in the new colors when I get some time and then I'll know for sure whether these are perfect. I'm just tickled that someone took so much time and effort just for me, without me asking. I'll out her later if it's okay with her. Maybe Monday will have something new to share.

Last Night

I dreamt of a wind storm last night. I vaguely recall feeling like everything was going to be knocked down around me, but when the wind abated I was left with a merely cracked overhang while all the neighbors were cleaning up destruction. As is often the case with dream, this one made me think about how it applied to my waking life. I'm been experiencing a lot of ups and downs lately, each seemingly more emotionally dramatic than the last. From exciting bits of exposure to periods of no sales and less inspiration. From the excitement of finally buying a house to the disappointment of an uncooperative real estate market. The dream pointed out to me that drama or not, I have been left fairly unscathed. I suppose you could say that I've been taking two steps forward and one step back. I may not be moving quickly, but I'm still going forward.

Last night and early this morning, I had a few lovely, if not difficult to understand conversations from a new customer from Russia. So I will be busy today making some tatted items to travel very far and remaking those same items to be relisted in the store. I also woke up to the sale of my husband's favorite piece, because it was all his idea. The Order of Ecclesia collar was inspired by a character from one of his favorite video games, Castlevania. So congrats honey, you made a sale and no that does not mean you get the money from it. I don't think I'll be remaking this piece anytime soon though. As it gets hotter I have less desire to work with yarn.

I have been looking for organic cotton or other sustainable material threads recently to work with. While the yarn market has begun to see more of this trend, I have been unable to find anything in my preferred size 10 thread. That is until yesterday when I discovered that Aunt Lydia's is making a bamboo thread. I got all excited only to be thwarted by color selection. I could only find white and natural...no black. So I embarked on a twitter based mission to find someone to dye the thread for me. Though twitter turned out to be a dead end, I asked one of the ever talented tatting thread dyers to tackle the task. Though she can't work on the project for another month or so, I am happy to say I have someone who will give it a go for me.

I've always liked the idea of using more socially responsible materials, but this is the first time that it is even an option for me. When that adventure begins, I will be certain to share the results with you. Well onto the tatting tasks for the day.

Limited Edition

One up side to being glued to the couch comforting a sick child, is the amount of tatting I can get done. Yesterday was another down sales day, so I broke out the hand dyed thread I bought a bit ago and started working. I bought the thread solely because I liked the colors and thought it would be nice to finally try out the hand dyed stuff. The colors weren't quite as vivid as I thought and since the seller was new to dying there are a few white spots, but I generally liked the effect.

I decided to just start tatting pieces to see how far the small skein would get me. The answer is two necklaces and three pendants. At least now I know that if I like another colorway, I can probably complete a mask or collar necklace easily with one skein. I am so bad at gauging the amount of thread I need for a project mostly because I don't need to know. One ball of thread will last so many pieces that I pay little attention at all.

Anyway, all the pieces made with this thread will hopefully all be listed today. I've got a couple more things that I'd like to get remade and listed and then I have a goodie bag of yarn that was gifted to me so I was thinking about working on a new scarf or caplet. Of course this all depends on the mood of the kids as I am completely at their whim at least until they are feeling better.

Hopefully next week will start out with healthy children and a happy household for the holidays...yes, I am knocking on wood.