Once called "Poor Man's Lace" because it could be made without the use of expensive needles or hooks, tatting used to be commonly found as edging on pillow cases, collars, dresser cloths, doilies and even jewelry! I have heard from several people that tatting is a dying art and that the delicate lace is seldom seen except in antique stores or estate sales. That makes me sad! Over the last year and a half, I have been teaching myself how to tat. I started with needle tatting and then ventured into using a shuttle, which is the more traditional way. While it can be tedious because of the small thread, it is also relatively simple because there are very few stitches to learn. The "magic" happens with different combinations of those stitches to form chains and loops. I have tatted several items, including bookmarks, ornaments and doilies, but I think the lace work on the pillow above and to the right is my favorite so far. The pattern is actually an antique dating from the 30s or 40s, I believe. After making the flower in several pieces, I joined them together and sewed them on the pillow I made. I entered it in our local fair and actually took a second place! :) Ever thought about learning how to tat? Check your local library for a how-to book or your local craft store. Normally, I find the tatting supplies in the needlework section near the crochet items. I have also purchased quite a few things from Handy Hands, which offers a great selection of books and gorgeous threads. Let's keep it alive!
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If you've read many of my posts, or seen my work, you might be able to guess that I get the majority of my inspiration from God's creation. While on vacation in the mountains, I took some pictures of things that others might not think "picture-worthy", but I think they're pretty cool! Look at all of the different shades of green and brown! Not to mention all of the different textures! This spruce bough caught my eye because of the various shades of green and the symmetry on each little branch. Did this happen by accident? Don't think so! These sweet, little Mountain Asters thrive in the cooler temperatures! See how the wispy lavender petals contrast beautifully against the bright yellow centers? I was able to get flowers in different stages of development all in the same picture...pretty neat! This image shows the devastation left behind after a fire and how the timber is being cleared away to make room for new growth. The different lines created by the logs against the barren ground struck me as interesting, and although less cheerful than my other pictures, I think beauty can be found anywhere if we take the time to look. I took all of the pictures above with my phone. No filters, no special software.
Have you seen sky that blue before? I love the white puffy clouds...no hazy light blue here! I hope these images have given you some inspiration too! |
About MeFiber artist, wife to a wonderful husband and mom to 2 awesome, grown kids Archives
July 2023
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