My return to Blogging

Has been ages since I last update this and my other blog, I decided to return to blogging since I don't getting bored of playing MMOs. Things hasn't been the same when Kitsu Saga was closed down and Jade Dynasty, my character has ascended but becoming boring now and also stupid prick keeps turning the router on whenever I'm online. The router is in another room and choose to work downstairs because this idiot. I wish for my own studio, a space for me and no one else. During my absence I have been busy crafting with numerous projects on the go and acquiring wonderful items.

The picture isn't great since I took this while the laundry was out. During my travels to St Nicholas's Market, I found a cabinet displaying all these wonderful netsuke, I've seen them on Bargain Hunt and other Antique programme. Ah, what to choose they are so lovely, cute rats, gracious dragons so I settled for this cobra. It's not rearing its fang but smiling. The block on the left I believe to be a metal stamp and could be used to stamp on clay, Fimo or other soft material. Sadly the place I brought the block from is now closed down, the shop was called Shared Earth and was only place which sold Divine Chocolate. Sad really all the wonderful shops I used to visit are now gone.

There was two holes on the netsuke, further research I discovered the netsuki are kimono attachments. Have a look at the link for more information. I brought another one from Strapya, this one is carved out of boxwood and of my animal sign. More photos to come.

Over the Christmas period I tried my hand at patchwork, took ages to bast all the fabric edges of the hexagons. The sewing took no time at all, this project is on hold as I was bored of removing all the stitches I'll return later on. Still trying to figure out what I'll use the patchwork fabric for but it's a great way to use up all those scraps.

I've found this plush kit in Hobbycraft. I think you can machine sew the individual parts together. I've made two of these plush mouse. Handmade objects have such charm and whimsical appeal.
There's more photos to show and many finished work to show. I'll update my flickr album as well because have paid for year's subscription.

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Tatting techniques I have learnt.

I haven't been able to update my blog as I like due to some people being stubborn and moronic. Only been tatting for 2 month and already becoming proficient, ring and chains are second nature to me. Also I noticed certain projects contain obmittance and mistakes. Here are techniques I have completed so far.

Cluny leaves are not as difficult as it seems and there are perfect tutorials on youtube. I have difficulty following written instructions even if they have clear photos. I recommend a pattern with lot of cluny leaves just so you can get used to make a loom and weaving.

Celtic tatting- I used Helen Bailey's Celtic Egg Pattern and noticed there were so errors, where it says 'repeat from * to ** 4 times.' It should be 5 otherwise there won't be enough rings to fit to first section. Third section instruction- after Chain B, etc it should be another chain 6 - 3 - 3 - 6 join to picot of ring from First section, chain 6 - 6 - 6 join to picot of ring from First section.
Here's a hint check the instructions before uploading online, 11 year old motif and still not corrected.

Motifs are from Diamond Rio Bookmark/Edging by Sabina Carden-Madden and Saundra Hameed Cluny.

Flying Minor Norwegian Dragon-Google threw up several images of this wonderful dragon motif, I traced the source it turned to be designed by Anne Bruvold. I used Lizabeth H&H 20 No.131 it has 4 different colours you can tell I have used SSSR because never quite mastered it. My dragon is the mystic psychic and appears a totem/guardian of mages/psychics/shamans. Well I am an RPG gamer. 

Inward face Picot- There was very few tutorials for this technique the nearest I could find is Tatted Moth Pattern on totusmel.blogspot.com Hard to notice the inward face picot from this image they are on the body of the moth.

Maltese/Pearl tatting- This is from Eliz's Maltese Pinwheel Snowflake
I must of miscounted on last chain as ended up with additional section of snowflake and it should be load 6 seed beads on shuttle 1 as I can't see how bead on shuttle1 can be encapsulate into a ring. This pattern is good as has clear photos on how a maltese ring is made.

Expermental1- block snowflake
My attempt to create a medallion with blocks. It seems last block has to 4 X 5 or the thread won't lie in the right direction. The first section can be made with split ring which means omitting the beads. I unattentional created floating rings.

Expermental2- Wide snowflake
This has 12 sides and variation of first design I sketched while I was learning how to tatt. Originally featured just chains and ring this motif has SCMR on the outer arms.
These patterns I created are experimental and won't be releasing instructions just yet. Threads I use are Flora H & H white or white with purple graduation.
There are still of other techniques to learn and becoming harder to find practise patterns for them. I have few more experimental motif of my own. Bye for now.

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tatting- block, chain and extras

So far I have learnt block tatting and becoming harder to find practise motifs for advance techniques such as square. Tutorials are plenty and there are decent videos in you tube.
I've found some excellent vintage tatting books on the Antique Pattern library. The older links on Georgia's site are dead so I'm forced to search for patterns else where. Been okay so far.

The top is Sue Hanson's snowflake which features block tatting, come to think of it majority of motifs I tatted are snowflakes. Below is my interpretation of edging by Elgiva Nichol's as shown on www.georgiaseitz.com/classes2/blocktat/block.html. Would be helpful if I learnt the Inward facing picot as would made joining the bottom to the top chain easier. I'll see if I can design a motif using block tatting.

Here is the split chain, I had to watch you tube video in order to figure out how the technique is done. The pattern is Split Chain fan by By Katia Vallée except instead of extra long picots I used handmade tassel.

Some extras- Another Snowflake motif and Button flower by Lisa C. Trumble. I don't have crochet hook small enough to pass 11/0 seed onto a picot, instead use piece of beading wire. (Don't know what gauge as label has fallen off).
I'm current doing cluny leaves which seems complicated but is is simple. Here is an excellent tutorial, not in English you'll soon get the idea on how it's made.

Another excellent Cluny leaf tutorial is by Mimi.

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