Off the Shuttles: My First Ice Drop

Now that Christmas gifts have been given and opened, I had time to make my first ice drop. It's a really quick and easy pattern.  I just find it somewhat awkward tatting the last part of the last ring while holding onto the glass gem at the same time. I definitely have to work on not twisting my stitches at the last join. 

When Hobby Lobby opens tomorrow, I'll have to get some 1/8" ribbon and some other gem colors.  I've been wondering if the ice drop would have the same effect if were tatted in coordinating colors instead of white.  I may try that on the next one.

The step by step tutorial can be found here: 
https://lacelovinlibrarian.blogspot.com/2016/11/step-by-step.html

Off the Shuttles: The Holy Family

This was made from a purchased pattern.  It's The Holy Family, designed by Edda Guastalla.  It's an easy pattern.  The hardest part is placement.

It was tatted with Lizbeth size 20 in white.  It's sewn onto blue velvet and mounted into a 16" x 20" wooden frame.  It's a Christmas gift for a friend.

Off the Embroidery Machine - Bloodhound Pillow

I made this pillow for my oldest daughter for Christmas.  It's 16"x16" not including the 2.5" ruffle.  The fabric has small paw prints in white, tan, and brown on a black background.

Off the Shuttles: Tassel Angel

My first tassel angel.  The pattern is in the booklet, "Big Book of Tatting". It is such a fast and easy pattern.  Best of all, no sewing required, glue only. While I was putting on the wings and the halo, I left the plastic sleeve on the tassel so it wouldn't get messed up.  The pattern called for size 20 thread.  When I make the next one out of white, I think I'll make the halo gold color. 

I used Altin Basak white and silver thread which is U.S. size 30 (European size 50).  The wings may have been a bit bigger if I had used the normal size 20 but I don't have any metallic thread in size 20. I wanted the metallic so color from the Christmas tree lights would bounce off it.

The tassel was manufactured by Wright and I purchased it from Joann Fabrics.  It's 3.5" (88.9mm) long.  I purchased some colored tassels from Hobby Lobby. I'm anxious to see how the tassel angel looks in color.

This is a gift for a friend's daughter. 

The photo on the left is the front of the angel.  The other photo is of the back showing the wings.

Off the Shuttles: Ornament #3

I haven't decided what I'm going to do with this one yet.  I may hang it on my own tree.

The size of this ball is 3" instead of the 2 1/2" balls that I used previously.  Thankfully I only have 1 or 2 balls that are 3".

I'm not totally happy with it because I'd like the tatting to cover more of the ball.  The tatting only goes to the center of the ball.  I may move the tatting onto a smaller ball but I'll let it sit for a few days and see how I feel about it then. 

There are very tiny pins and very small pearl beads at every picot, join and reverse work junction. I used Lizbeth sized 10 in white.  I'm not a fan of size 10 thread.  It just doesn't look lacey to me.

The pattern is Snowflake #4 in the Barbara Foster book, Festive Snowflakes and Ornaments.  The book showcases the snowflake on a 2 1/2" ball.

Off the Shuttle: Emma's Ornament

Since this is her last year of high school, I thought it best to make one in her school's colors - orange and green.  I used straight pins with orange balls at the end and green sequins.  The photo makes the balls look much bigger than they actually are.

The pattern is Grace's Snowflake.  I tatted the snowflake in size 10 Lizbeth thread, #695 Bright Orange.