Proficient at Unmaking

I have, out of necessity, become quite proficient at unmaking lace.  I spent almost and hour at Lace guild yesterday undoing the tatting I had done the first hour and then re-tatting in the 3rd hour back to where I had been when the mistake was made.  I think that in any artistic endeavor one learns as much or more by fixing mistakes then in any way else.  I'm just glad that it could be fixed; I've had to cut whole section off tatting because they couldn't be fixed.  The lesson learned is to pay better attention to the pattern.

Speaking of patterns; the wonderful Margie has invited me up to her house on Friday to riffle through her bobbin lace pattern stash!  It's good to have friends.

5 Handmade Gifts Challange

I took up a challenge on facebook this week to make 5 people a hand made gift.  I have my best friend K, and old friend Lucy,  a mission companion - Mindy, and then 2 newish friends - Rachel and Lisa.  I have some ideas, but it comes down to...book or lace!?  It's a tough choice.  Good thing I have a year to do this.

Reticella Lace

Finally!

My book of Reticella lace making came.  Unfortunately the authors assume you know how to make all the stitches and know all the jargon *pout*  So, now I have to find another lace book that has the needle lace stitches and glossary of terms.  I may just try online, but I'll not hang all my hopes on that.

To give you and idea of the kind of lace I am aiming to make take a look at these lovely paintings.  The first is Reticella that is "floating" by itself, the second has the lace motifs set into linen.  Most lace in paintings from the 16th Century is a variation of this kind.  Fun fun!

yipee

This last month has brought me a great many tatting gifts.  Threads and bobbins from Mom, books from Lisa, and shuttles from my dearest Rick.  I have tatted a snowflake from the "24 snowflake" book and will be picking a project out of the Mary Konier book.  I also received a tatted ornament from a fellow tatter as part of the Intatters Secret Santa exchange.

Another good thing is that I found the money to buy an imposer file and am now able to proceed with the Carol Berg book binding.  Fun stuff for the coming winter months!  I hope, now that the studio is heading back towards organization, that I will be able to make the growing list of books and such for my friends.

Santa Exchange Pieces

These were made for a Secret Santa exchange. This angel turned out much better since I knew what I was doing.  The sunburst is a pattern by Tatbit called Floral Fantasy in Lizbeth size 20 - fall something - color #100.  Sorry about the state of the photos - I hate my camera.

Ups and Downs

The studio is a wreck.  The window was recently replaced and hasn't been framed in yet.  This means that the work table is still down, things are piled everywhere, I barely have enough room to work on the wedding dress, however, I think the bed is still in there somewhere...under all the piles.  Book and box making has come to a halt.

Lace making is in full swing.  That is to say, it was until Boo decided to help Mommy by unraveling 2 spools of thread at the same time.  Not by pulling and pulling it unwound, but pealing it off the balls like an orange.  It took two hours to separate and sort it all out.  One of the balls was to be a gift too, so I have to go buy a replacement.  *laugh*  Maybe I should just set it all aside till after Halloween.

Rocky's Birthday

My neice is turning 12 this Saturday and I'm sending this to her.  It was fun to make and my first attempt at a Split Ring.  I love love love how the coloring turned out.  So not planned.