Gift tag of the year

Presenting this year's Christmas gift tag (I make an effort to make my own every year)!

Lawn fawn (I had to be careful inking since I combined 2 stamps to make my fairy wear a santa hat!) and All Night Media stamps (wow I think I've had this All Night Media set forever!), Versacolour stamp pad, my trusty colour pencils, cheap card stock and sequins chains from the local $2 store. I quite like the outcome! What d'yall think?

Crafting update

Have been busy at work (and hoping it pays off!) and have been trying my darndest to do bits of crafting here and there. Sadly not much time to tat (so for people looking for a tatting update, you can exit right about here).

 

I'm still one of those "old foggies" who like to have physical diaries... but this year I really couldn't find one that caught my eye... So I made my own with a S$1.90 dotted Muji notebook. Then made a fabric book cover (with extra pockets!) to "protect it" - first book cover I've made using the same concept of the card holders that I shared in a previous post.

Next on to Christmas!!!

This project was inspired by a Christmas gift that I'm going to share later in this post. What you're looking at is a S$3.00 A4 sized calico bag covered with dinosaur stamps (from lawn fawn) in black Versacraft ink. I love it! Have I mentioned I love dinosaurs... and I was inspired to do this because of this gift....

My boss's daughter appears to be a creative little gal... so I decided to put together a "decorate a bag" kit. With a budget of S$30.00 (about US$21.00) I put together a varied collection of items including 2 blank calico bags, fabric paint, fabric crayons, lace, fabric scraps, craft glue, cover buttons, buttons, sequins, plastic gems and more! And it all convenient comes in a plastic carrying case! I'm rather pleased with this gift idea - I think I got a lot of things in there in my budget and I managed to destash a little as well... When I compared this to US30.00 kits that I saw online for sale... I thought I did good! Hoping the little girl enjoys it (and just in case she wasn't sure what to do, I'm even including an idea sheet!).

 

On the topic of Christmas, I have a habit of trying to "personalize" my store bought cards - this year I'm going simple with sequins! Who can resist a little bling =).

The beginnings of my personal alpine forest

Last year's Christmas brooch was one of Ms Patti Duff's mini tats.

This year's is *drumroll* 

Ms Marilee Rockley's beaded Christmas tree :) 

A lovely quick tat :) I love the frilly 3D effect of the rings. 

The bigger ones are with Milford 20. The smaller ones are DMC cebelia 30. I used five different colours of beads (a good way to destash!) together with some star shaped buttons I've had since I don't know when! 

(I had initially tried the pattern with red beads only but I didn't like the outcome.) 

I'm loving them little trees! It might seem early but you never know when you would or wouldn't have time to tat!  

9 done... 11 to go! 

Let the Christmas tatting begin!

Ready steady go!

Another button brooch

Ms Eborall's pattern has swiftly become my "go to" brooch pattern!

Happy Administrative Professionals' week!

Happy Administrative Professionals' week!

I know it's silly but I make effort not to call it Secretaries' week so that like my office accounts lady and despatch uncle (who aren't technically secretaries) don't get left out. 

Made brooches for the 4 secretaries in me office! 

Don't think I've done this type of button work before. And I definitely haven't done beadwork like this is a long time. 

Made in 4 shades of Lizbeth thread with size 11 beads, I did some minor changes to Ms Eborall's pattern - I didn't do the little dangle and instead of the beaded centre I glued on a flat backed crystal :) 

I quite like them! I'm going to make another for a friend's unwell mother. 

Ms Eborall's beaded button brooch pattern has been generously shared here:  

http://www.janeeborall.freeservers.com/BroochFlat2013.pdf 

Another looming idea

Last Christmas I hosted an exchange and received lovely gifts from Carollyn (see post here: http://wickedtatsshroomfield.blogspot.sg/2013/12/merry-christmas.html?m=1) amongst which was a small beaded hook that I loved so much I tried my own hand at making.

But my problem with the beaded hooks was the fact that there was no hook cover - I think I've since found the solution! 

Woohoo for rainbow loom sales! 

The decision is made... I think

I prefer doing brooches for Christmas because then the men can wear them too! 

But the problem with tatted brooches is that more often than not the brooch backs or pins can be seen through the holes in the tatting. :/ has anyone figured out how to overcome this problem? 

Toyed around with two patterns 

A holly pattern from a Japanese pattern book. And... 

A minitat snowflake. I did this in some silver thread I got from a local beading store. 

I think I like the snowflake better. But can the brooch back be seen? 

What do you think? 

A gift for a friend

Someone in the same line as me noticed my red Giddy Earrings. She thought they were cool but commented that she wasn't an earring person (the horror!!!!). So I offered to tat her a pendant.

She requested for green so that it would "look like jade". 

Yarnplayer's Five Petal Pendant (from her book Up and Tat 'em) done in size 20 Lizbeth Jungle Greens with green shimmery bicone crystals. This is one of my favourite pendant patterns. 

So... Have I achieved my goal? Does it kinda look like jade? 

More earrings!

Yarnplayer's Lacy Treasure :). The original design was for a pendant but I "shrank" it down to earrings with size 20 (instead of size 10) Lizbeth Denim Whisper.

I used size 11/0 frosted blue seed beads, 3mm crystals and small holographicy white leaves. 

Also started a WIP with size 80 anchor. I've had this ball for a while and the colour is starting to change. So I started an edging by Ann Orr. 

I wonder how much edging can be done with a full ball :). I intending to use the edgings with my sewing... When I figure out how to use it together. :) 

Giddy earrings and a butterfly

I am enjoying all my Lizbeth stash that I've been to "stingy" to use.

Yarnplayer's Giddy earrings in size 20 Berry Burst with red 11/0 beads and red/orange crystals. 

I just got my handy hands newsletter today and I used size 20 Cotton Candy to tat this butterfly by Kendra Goodnow that was in the newsletter. 

To do this butterfly I used my new pop-a-bobbin shuttle that I bought from Jane Eborall that was made by her sister, Sally, and Sally's huabnd.  

Comparing this and the aerlit it is clear that this is a much easier use than the aerlit. A slight tug and the thread comes off the bobbin. No painful thumbs here! 

A bit of sewing and a bit of tatting

Inspired by the ladies at the Tuesday crafting party I decided to try my hand at sewing a purse with a sew-on purse frame.

This was the end result (I didn't use my favourite fabric since this was "experimental").  

I wasn't quite pleased with the outcome. I don't know whether it's supposed to look "crinkly" - it looks okay when there's stuff inside I think. Anyone know if it's supposed to be crinkly? Please help this beginner sewer (oh dear that looks wrong... is it sewing person?)!

Do not be fooled by my apparent partial success... The partial success was based on several failed pieces and templates...

I would however like to give credit to these two webbies (here and here) which I used as references to do the templates and construct the purse.

Somehow their measurements didn't work well for me and I had to make several corrections before I could get a fabric pouch that fitted into the frame. 

I will probably get more frames (they were only $1.80 per piece) to fiddle more with the template.

I've also completed the Celtic Hexad pendant from Yarnplayer's Beaded Tatted Finery.

This was done in size 20 Milford with size 11/0 Toho beads and bicone crystals. I was quite pleased with my colour combination but somehow my completed project doesn't look as awesome as the photograph in the book. Am slightly disappointed with myself. =(

Finally significant effort was taking to drag my sleepy rear end out of bed this morning for an early morning jog - mid jog I couldn't help but feel grateful for having such a beautiful public park to jog in - I just had to snap a photograph to share.

I heart.

I heart both my tatting teachers. Sheila, who lives in the UK, and Jessica who is local :) I spent an awesome half a day today catching up and tatting with Jessica. I haven't done it in more than a year! I was so excited that I forgot to snap a photograph. Damnit. But it was such a great time :)

I was a bit silly though. I brought two projects to work on. And on both projects, I ran out of thread on one shuttle and I didn't bring any "refills". Genius I am. Sigh. 

On to the tatting... I complete this couple days back and I just took it off the blocking board. 

Tatted in size 10 Red Heart crochet thread, this is Marilee Rockley's Arpeggio. It can be found in her latest book, Marilee's Beaded Tatted Finery :). 

The book (as well as her other books) is available on her etsy store and on most online tatting supply shops :).  Visit her at her http://yarnplayertats.blogspot.com to find out more. They are worth the money, I assure you! 

The bracelet has been claimed by the sister. 

Shopping spree

I went to the local bead shop to get some beads of the right sizing for a pattern out of the latest Yarnplayer book. I only needed two sizes! Two!

Perhaps I need to work on my math... 

Now to start packing for my first trip tomorrow. Some of the beauties above will be going with me! 

My sister's flattery

I made a bunch of my favourite Christmas wreaths for my sister to give away at the office (I added a little bell to this year's "edition").

My sister always had a flair for drawing unlike me. Check out how she gave them away on simple "snazzied" post it notes. 

Getting ready for the Secret Santa

Yes!

Even though there's still time to sign up and the partners have not been announced yet I've already got my eye out for small things to put in my gift box! =) I've already accumulated a few things.

And of course, I promised to share a few ideas for Christmas tatting!

Christmas Wreath by Pam Palmers - in one of the 3 Tatting Treats.

This is my 'go to' Christmas patterns. It's quick and fun to do. I usually make tonnes for Christmas either in the form of brooches (as modelled by my more attractive sister) or earrings =)

Snowflakes

Snowflakes are always a good idea. My favourite flakes are all designed by Jon. I love her book of tatted snowflakes which I now understand is available in most online supply stores! And she has generously shared many patterns on her blog, including this beauty - Quantiesque - don't be daunted by the appearance of Celtic tatting! Give it a go!

Christmas trees

Christmas trees are a must on Christmas - one of my favourites was designed by fellow Singaporean, Ellen. She has generously shared the pattern on her blog as well.

This is my rendition (I added a star for good measure lol).

 There's still time to sign up! Check out the link on the left bar!

Something new for myself

Put together with parts from one or my favourite bead shops. All in all cost me about $6 bucks. And the best part? The beads are removable. I can swap them out, but new ones or theoretically tat my own charms to suit to mood! 

Bird Nest

I love Tip Junkie. For those who've never checked it out you should!

There are posts all the time with all kinds of cool ideas! Like ideas for fabric flowers (I love those), ideas for aprons (I had to make one), ideas for occasions like Valentine's Day, Christmas and to be more up to date Mothers' Day.

In the Mothers' Day post there was a tutorial for a Bird Nest Necklace. I had odd beads left over from spangling and re-spangling bobbins as well as some 20 gauge wire... so I gave it a go. =) I quite like how it turned out. =) plus those extra beads didn't go to waste!

Update update update

Happy Good Friday everyone!

So I had great plans of going out and about to spend the public holiday but my plans were drowned by a torrential downpour that hindered my plans.

So I had time to finish this up.

This is the ring pattern by Ms Jane Eborall. I did this in size 20 Milford with size 11/0 seed beads and a cats eye bead centre. I'm so going to show this off at training tomorrow. I love it.

I found it a little challenging due to its size. It was a little fiddly but the outcome was so worth it. =)

This photo is long overdue...

As a present to myself I custom order a pair of chainmaille earings from Jeff at his etsy shop. They are sooooo cool. I'm going to be showing them off together with my new ring tomorrow! =) Thanks so much Jeff!!!

Last but not least, my latest conquest in Bucks!

Atom and Belle(s)

Well these don't really count as part of my new challenge - whilst I completed them today (i.e. I finally got around to sewing in the ends) they were all tatted last year. 

All these lovelies are patterns from Ms Marilee Rockley's book, Up and Tat 'em. 

All of them were done in size 20 Milford thread. I'm afraid I don't think I've given them proper justice. 

I fell in love with the atom when I first saw them on Ms Rockley's blog and I finally did one! When I first saw the pattern I was definitely intimidated - 6 shuttles! Victorian sets? Oh my goodness! I finally mustered the courage (or perhaps was foolish enough) to give it a go! It was a bit tricky and I sure was stressed - never did these sets before. Perhaps I could have 'tightened' the chains a bit better. I will eventually give it another go! Perhaps this time in grey or silver! 

The other two pendants are also in the same book... lovely pendants called Belle. 

The book is awesome - something to consider if you don't already have it!