Brand new design in shuttle

Here are two pictures of a shuttle that my husband designed. He copywrited the design because we have never seen anything like them. He got the idea for the shuttle when I was trying to make a template for a tatting pattern design. He is so proud of the design and that he came up with something that has never been done before. He is patenting the design as well. I am so proud to have a husband who is interested in what I do. Hopefully he will be able to sell some of them. I will be offering some on my Etsy shop soon.

Pix of the LEDs on my bike

 The lights on my bike change colors. They are finally on. They look so nice. Ready for my roadtrip.

LED lights on my motorcycle

Shawn and I worked on my motorcycle today. We put most of the LED lights on. We have two more strips to put on tomorrow and then I will take pictures and post them. I have owned the lights since January and we just haven't had the time to put them on yet. Luckily we are traveling next week and Shawn wants me to be seen on the road at night. It was a must to get them done. We just have to put the lights on the tank and then zip tie everything down. Yeah. So happy to get this done.

More HDT

 Thread I've dyed in the past few days. I am having so much fun dyeing this thread. This is all size 30, DMC Cebelia. I love the texture and it holds the dye so well. I learned a new technique to cure the dye. It works so well. No more washed out color unless I want it.

Pix of first shuttles I made

Here are pictures of my first shuttles. Can you see the improvements in them as I get better and better at making them? I am having so much fun. I hope to continually improve on the construction of them. The bottom one is the first one. The top is the 3rd, and I gave that one to Bekah to test for me.

 

I broke a shuttle

I am so silly. I was sanding one of the shuttles I am making and I must have gotten carried away because after I finished sanding the post, I was sanding a tip and the shuttle broke in half. I think I sanded down just a little to much.
I am anxious to get ONE shuttle done that I can call good enough. I know it will happen. I am learning so much. More to come on the shuttle front.
Oh, by the way, I am refraining from posting pix of Shawn's new shuttle design for now. He wants to finish a couple and take pix of several at the same time before I present the design. I am hoping someone will want to purchase some. He is so proud of the design. I tested it and gave him a couple pointers on what can be changed and he was really open to the feedback.

tatting shuttles/ Hand dyed thread

Shawn made a new design in tatting shuttles. It is so cute. I will post pix when it is finished being lacquered. I've never seen a shuttle like this one. I am so excited. He made it out of Poplar, but I think it would look amazing out of Purple heart or Marblewood.
I am still working on my shuttles. I got some new accessories for my Dremel today that will help me make them. I have 8 in various stages of completion right now. Still trying to perfect the pattern and look. It's a learning process, but I do see a marked improvement from the first one to now. It won't be long now before I have some that I am proud of.

Now I also need to dye some thread. I want to bring some to the Finger Lakes Tatting conference next month. I plan on sharing some and want a nice selection. I did figure out how to get the color to stay fresher and not look so washed out. I am going to cure it in the microwave before I wash it out. I am using RIT dye so it cures in the microwave nicely when using cotton thread. Of course, pix will follow as always when I get them done.

Got one tatting shuttle "done"

I finished my first shuttle. It is neither pretty or perfect, but I now know what to do to get them better. I almost don't want to post pictures of it, but here it is. I still need to sand and treat the wood. Not sure if it will be usable, but I can see other shuttles being made like this. I have 3 other patterns in mind also.

 

 

Shuttles

Making shuttles is harder than I thought. I have an image in my mind but I can't get it onto the wood. I know that I shouldn't get frustrated because it's only been a few days and I am just learning how to use all of the tools that I have.
On a brighter side, I am getting really good at using the scroll saw. Shawn is so smart. He is teaching me so many tricks to use some of the tools.
I got a dremel today. It will be a huge help once I get the correct attachments and perfect the use of it.
I want to have completed shuttles in my hand TODAY, but that's not realistic or possible. It will come. I know that it will.
One other good thing is that with every error I make, I learn what not to do and try to figure out a better method. I have to keep telling myself "Trial and Error". Good thing I'm using inexpensive wood for all of my tests. It would really stink if I was using the $25 a foot marblewood. Better to use the $2 a foot oak.
Well back to the work room.

Making my own tatting shuttles

I am well on my way to being a shuttle maker. Yesterday Shawn and I went out and we got some exotic wood pieces. I found a guy who I think will become a good friend. He sells the most beautiful wood.
On Friday I picked up a scroll saw and today I picked up a belt sander. Shawn also picked up some router bits to cut holes in the wood so I can make shuttles out of a solid piece of wood.
I have been practicing using the saw. I'm getting pretty good. I've been using some cheap wood to use. Poplar and Pine have been the wood of choice for the practice pieces.
I have some ideas for shuttle designs. I just have to see if they are do-able.
No pictures to show yet, but there will be soon.
My son is so excited that I am doing this. Me too.
I can't wait until the sander gets set up so I can finish my first test shuttle.

I am going to make shuttles

I am SOOOO excited. Today I went out and bought supplies to start making shuttles. I found a couple places that sell exotic woods. I can invision some the the shuttles I am going to make. I want to start right NOW. I need to wait for Shawn to get home and see if he will set me up. I got some cheap wood to practice with. I even have a test tatter to try out the shuttles. Pix to follow.

Tatted Celtic Bookmark DONE!

I just finished this celtic bookmark. I modified Jane's pattern a little bit. I think it turned out pretty good. I am going to keep this one. This will be one of the only things I have ever made and kept for myself. Kind of feels weird to keep it, but I think I deserve it.
I let Shawn pick out the tread combination. I used DMC Cebelia brown and ecru size 30 cotton thread. I noticed that the tread choice Shawn made was kind of interesting. It represents him and I.

Hand dyed thread pictures

Pictures of hand dyed thread. I used DMC Cebelia cotton size 10

 

 

Bekah's tatting lesson #2

Bekah came over today and we had our second tatting lesson.
First we hand dyed thread, which was reallly fun. I learned some new things about dying thread. First is that I need to cure the thread before I rinse it. The colors are so much more vivid and bright. I could never figure out why my colors come out so muted.

OK, so back to Bekah.

Second I taught her:
Folded join
Lock chain
Split ring
Hiding thread - two ways
How to look at a piece and create a pattern.

Bekah picks up tatting techniques so quickly. It's almost intimidating. I am so please with her progress. She is just going for it.

Next lesson I want to teach her:
Split chain
Tatting with beads
SCMR
And any other techniques I can think of.

New Tatting techniques

I need to make a list of the tatting techniques I want to perfect or learn

I know that I need to perfect the:
Catherine Wheel Join
SCMR


I want to learn
Ring off of a ring
Cluny
Pearl tatting


I am hoping that I will learn some really great techniques at the tatting conference in April.

I think I am going to continue to add to this list as I go.

Hand dying thread cont...

Dyed some thread today. I need to let it dry and I will take pictures and post. It was fun dying threads. I used 100% cotton size 10. I make 50 yard skeins. I only did a dozen of them for now.
I want to make some threads for Bekah to use to tat with. She is really enjoying learning and I want to give her smaller thread than size 3 pearl cotton to tat with.
Tomorrow we are going to a craft show and there will be a crafter who tats. I am anxious to see how much she charges and what her tatting looks like.
I have been thinking about selling my stuff on Etsy. I think I will start with bookmarks and 50 yary skeins of hand dyed thread.