Penelope, Layla, tatting, smiles

This is Penelope!!  My best friend Mandy made her for me.  Isn't she darling???  Mandy secretly made this one for me with yarn and fabric that I had dyed for her.  I just love her!!  

Mandy does such a wonderful job on these dolls!  She hand sews them and hand paints their adorable faces!

I introduced her to Layla, and Layla was not impressed. 

 Then, I tried to teach her to tat.  Nice, right??

Thank you Mandy for my new friend!! I will always cherish her! (and you!)

Then, I decided to take pictures of some of my recent tatted items that I haven't shown yet:

Another one of Karey's snowflakes, this one in Chilled Mess

I'm working on Julie Patterson's Petals bookmark in Calliope Mess

Here is Jon's Sweetheart Medallion, on the left is size 40 Grackle Mess and on the right size 100 Rainbowlicious :o)

And Layla, slept the entire time I photographed :o)

And Oh yea!!!  This is the last post of the year!!

Woo hoo!!

If you go out and decide to party into the new year, please be careful!!

<3<3<3

Far from pretty, but very interesting!

I love the amigurumi dolls/ animals.  I've been wondering if it could be done with tatting, and I'm sure it's already been done, but since I didn't know any patterns, I just "free-tatted" this one. :o)

I works, but it would probably look better if it were actually crocheted instead of tatted.
I did the arms, legs, and head separately from the body and attached them as I did the body.  It was quite fun.  In fact, I did this instead of finishing the Lace Mat (whoops)

The "dots" on the chest are from all the lock joins, but it creates a neat little stripe pattern. :o)

Since this was just a test run, I just knotted the thread and cut.  I didn't bother with hiding the ends.  I do want to try again. :o)

The whole thing is tatted with size 20 thread around a size 40 core.  That just happened to be what was on my shuttles, so I ran with it.  I don't know how that would change the offerall look of it. 

It might be something to look into though. 

Hmmm... what else can I say about this little girl...

Her hair is a tassle that was sewn to the top of the head.

And I stuffed each piece before they were closed.

To make joining easier, I stuffed the arms, legs, and head, then closed elements and added a chain with lots of picots for joining. :o)

Birthday, Christmas, first dance colorway

Well, first off, my birthday was interesting to say the least.  It started out perfectly.  My dad made waffles, and they were delicious.  Then around mid morning I got a call from my Step Mother in Law, she wanted to know if I could watch my 14 month old niece because her mother wanted her to go with her to some bar and the sister in law was pulling a double.  She said she'd pay me and I'm not one to turn down any baby time.
So, I went and picked up Chloe, and she went to lunch with us.  Now, I wanted Enchiladas at home, but Livi insisted that I go to El Porton's for lunch so that they could put cream up my nose.
Chloe made an absolute mess but that's alright.  Then she took a nice nap.  During that time, Livi fussed and fussed about wanting Chloe to be up so that they could play together. :o(
When she did finally wake up, it was evident that she is teething because she was extremely cranky.  (Great! right?)
Needless to say, I was relieved to see her go when SMIL came and got her.

Then I took myself to WalMart to get a Redbox movie and popcorn because I was pooped out and just wanted to veg-out!
We watched Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, it was the highlight of my evening. :o)

I did however use the babysitting money from the SMIL to get Livi a couple more Christmas presents because this month has been extremely slow in the shop and I was feeling really bad about how little I was able to get her. Her dad did pull through at the very last minute and she didn't feel deprived but, that's a different story and I don't feel like going into it now. :o)

I love this picture!  One of my presents to her was one of my old cameras and as you can see, she loved it :o)

I should have taken a picture of my one present, it was pretty funny, it was a bag of M&Ms from my Mom. But, I wasn't expecting anything, so it was a nice surprise.  However, Livi did eat them for me.  I have always said that everything I get ends up going to her. So, it's only right that she ended up getting my one Christmas present, right? lol :o)  

So, then yesterday, I finally got around to winding Livi some skeins to dye to pay for her dance lessons next month!  She did a great job too!! 

I asked her what she wanted to name this one and she decided on "Livi's Ballet Shoes"

So I present my Starflower design in size 40 "Livi's Ballet Shoes"

Didn't she do wonderfully????

First Birthday Post and Still Trying

First, Happy Birthday to Me! Depending on how busy I get today with festivities, I might decided to post another birthday update lol

Second, I finish this Starflower of mine in the "Grackle Mess"...

I scanned this one, and then played with the picture by saturating the color, I think it shows the color of the thread better, but now, it looks quite purple and black and you still can't see the green and I have now lost the navy.  But, that works for me, because all the skeins have navy and purple in them, and some of them have more green than others.  Some, look like they didn't get any green at all, and others have a healthy, and pretty dose of green.

That's just one of the joys of the Messy Jess!-y's!

Do you like the extra round of chains?  They could be done better, but overall I like them. :o)

I need photo taking tips with VERY dark thread!!

While at Tat Days, Katharine Buckner suggested a "Grackle" colorway.  Something that would resemble the iridescent colors of the grackle bird, with colors of navy, dark teal and dark purple.
Well, I finally got around to it, and it looks really pretty!  In fact, in darker light, it looks almost black, but then in the light, it's so pretty, mostly navy blue, but with purple and teal occasionally.  (I did it as a Messy Jess!-y)
Here are the not so great pictures that I've come up with so far:

Frustrating, right??

I have listed this thread, so if you trust me that it's prettier than these pictures, I invite you to purchase some while I try to get a better picture. :o)

A Fun Conclusion to our fun!! The Winner/s

I let Livi reveal the random winners for  this final draw.  She even made me pick two names!
Enjoy!!  Sorry for our crazy bed hair. :o)

If for some reason, you can't view the video, the winners are Jennytats and Debbie L

Thank you to everyone who entered!! 

Winter Jewels, again :o)

This is one of Karey Solomon's snowflakes.  It's from the November 2012 Tatting Times!

It's so cute! 

Plus, I really love it in the Winter Jewels colorway. ;o) 

Winter Jewels!

This is another Inspired Colorway, this one by Dora!

I've been putting this one off since it's called WINTER Jewels.  So, since it's almost Winter, now is the perfect time for this colorway. :o)

Did I mention that my birthday is at the Winter Solstice? 

It's not on it this year, but it is many years. 

Anyway, That's all for today. :o)

I'm trying to get some cleaning done today since Livi's Christmas break starts tomorrow. :o)

<3<3<3

Our 5th Secret Santa Giveaway Winner and Enter for the last of the six Secret Santa Giveaways!

The fifth random winner is Marie Drew!!
Congratulations!  Please email me (my email is on my Blogger profile) or message me through Etsy with your address and thread size choice. :o)

Alright y'all!!  This is it!! This is the last of the 6 giveaways!! This has been so much fun and I would like to personally thank our Secret Santa for funding our fun! It was an extremely generous thing to do and you have been such a blessing to Tat Land!  Thank you for choosing me to hold these giveaways! :o)

So, to enter this week, please comment on this posts, and your name will be added to my growing spreadsheet. :o)

___________________________________________

So, my finals are behind me now!  I am so happy about that!  Today was a busy day though.  Between the post office, making icing for gingerbread houses, making gingerbread house with Livi's class, and being in complete and utter shock of the tragedy of Newtown, CT, I didn't get as much as I would have liked today, but that's okay!
I did however make a point to work on my Lace Mat.  I like to do things differently and this is definitely a different way to do it!
I had already started this mat, but I messed up on the last round and I will need to cut some of it off before I can finish that one.  I didn't feel like doing all that and felt like changing the colors anyway, and dare I say... add beads. EEeek! lol
I am getting more friendly with beads.  :o)

I don't want to show too much of this, because I want to do a big reveal after Jon's poll is done but here is a sneak peak. :o)

Just a hint, there are NO SLTs ;o)

12/12/12

Hello!!

Just a Super Quick Hello!!

How could I possibly miss posting on 12/12/12, right??

So, what's going on with me today??

Well, I have one more final, at 8 am! It's my toughest final and I'm freaking out over it, just slightly.

I listed some size 60 and size 100 Rainbowlicious! Fun Times!

I bought myself a white shirt from Old Navy's website, and got it out and discovered it's a polyester/ rayon mix.  Super upset about it because I won't be able to dye it as well as I was hoping.  For some reason, I thought it was a cotton mix.  Oh well!

Also, I have posted a few non HDT things in my shop, including the bracelet I showed not to long ago, and a scarf and onesie that I dyed.  Fun fun!!

Enjoy the rest of your 12/12/12!!!!!

<3<3<3

Craftster.org Just Thread It Challenge

I set up this little tatted arrangement from some of my newest tattings.  

This is for a craftster.org challenge entry.  

It's cute, right?

Right now I am wishing that the rainbow butterfly looked better with the Punk Princess Flower, but that's alright.  The items needed to be crafted with in the last month, and these are what I have that qualify. :o)

Unfortunately, I am new to craftster, and can't post picutres yet.  So, y'all get to see this cute little arrangement as well. :o)

PIF and a Request/Offer

Pay It Forward

You've heard of it, right?

Well, if you haven't, this is how it works.

Urban dictionary defines "Pay it Forward" as such:

"A phrase used to imply or otherwise act upon the action in which one would perform a deed of good service onto, for, or in the favor of another person or group of persons with the sound intentions that the only thing they do in return is to perform a deed of good service onto, for, or in the favor of another person or group of persons where in which they should maintain the same sound intentions of the individual or group who performed a good deed unto them. This method of kindness is infallible unless met with a person of great greed and/or immaturity."

Back in May, JB hosted a PIF and I signed up.  I waited to host my own until I received the item from JB.  I'm glad it came now, with Christmas break coming up.  Because, if it were in the middle of a semester, I'd be in trouble. :o)

Here is what she sent:

Thank you JB!!  I love them.  I am wearing the bracelet now, and Livi just put the ornament on the tree.

She did leave a note saying that all of these items are handmade, but only the tatted items were made by her own hands.  :o)

So, now it's my turn!!

The first three people to decide that they would like a handmade item from me and are willing to in turn host their own PIF will be accepted. 

Now, for the Request/ Offer:

I should post these on separate posts, but one will end up getting lost/ ignored/ not seen/ whatever

, so I will put them together.

I told you I had a return that I needed to issue, right?  Well, I got the package back.  

As you can see these are already unwound.  I would like to sell these without putting them on Etsy.  If you would like one, I am willing to sell them for $7 each, and only $2 for the shipping overall.

That means if you were to buy all 9, you could get them for $65

If you would like to only purchase 1, it would be $9.

Please not that if you were to buy these from Etsy, and got the unwinding, it would cost ~ $80

I really don't like complaining or having people feel sorry for me.  I know that a lot of people are having financial problems these days and being right before Christmas makes it all the worse. 

But, please know that I will extremely grateful to you if you help me move these. 

These are what I have available:

Size 20 Blue Tango

Size 20 Serendipity

Size 20 Little Boy Blue

Size 20 Mother of Pearl

Size 20 Key Lime Raspberry Parfait

Size 20 My Bleeding Heart

Size 20 Chilled

Size 20 Delicately Delicious

Size 40 Rainbowlicious

As these move, I will update this list. 

<3<3<3

Secret Santa Giveaway 5 of 6!!

Whew! 4 down and 2 to go!! :o)

The Winner of Week 4 of the Secret Santa Giveaway is 

Tatterjill

Please Tatterjill will you email me your address, my email is on my profile page, or you can message me through Etsy!

Thanks!

Last week's entries were a lot of fun! Lots of good discussions!!  If you missed, you should go back check some of the comments and their replies. :o)

Last week, I told you to prepare to share a favorite holiday tradition!

So, please do so now to enter your name in the pot again.

I have absolutely no preference on what holiday you choose.  Maybe, you have an interesting Valentine's Day tradition, or St. Patrick's Day.

My favorite holiday is Christmas.   I like to celebrate all month long!  My birthday is just before Christmas, so it has always been my favorite time of the year.  :o)

I may not reply to your comments as faithfully as last week.  This week is finals week so that' s taking a lot of my time.

Also, I need another week to think about my favorite holiday tradition... so I won't share mine now. :o)

Livi was able to be in the parade this year!  I thought it was really nice that they let her ride since I still haven't been able to pay for the lessons. (But I've almost got it, so that's good.) 

I have a special coupon for you all!

FREESHIPPING

Today (Friday), Tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday!!

Thanks everyone!

More Papillons!

I love Frivole's little butterfly pattern! It's so cute!!

It's just too fun!

With these two, I added a bead to the center and left off the head.

Interestingly this semester, I had had a lab where we chopped off fruit fly head so that we could smash them.

The purpose was so that we could do paper chromatography of the eye pigments, but it was a very weird experiment.  But, it means that I know have lots of experience with chopping off insect heads. lol

left to right, Size 40 Summer Bliss,utilizing BDS, and size 20 Fancy fields

On the left, the bead is called a "miracle bead".  These beads so much fun!  They are super light weight, which is nice because it's not going to weight the piece down, but they are also super shiny!  Here's what it looks like without the flash.

So, this bead almost glows.  It's so pretty!

Also, Becaue I decided to try this with the balanced double stitches, I left off most of the picots.  I like how the BDS came out though. :o)

I didn't have school today because it's a Study day.  Finals start tomorrow.  Once Livi found out that I didn't have school today, she insisted that I have lunch with her. :o)

She's such a crazy girl. :o)

IMPORTANT DOMESTIC SHIPPING CHANGES! and cute Livi news.

Hey Everyone!
If you live in the U. S., I have important and possibly exciting news for you.

I found this picture on the school's computer.  It's cute, funny, and cheerful and just what I need today. :o)

I have decided to offer a slightly cheaper shipping option.  Now, if you buy just one skein, (without unwinding), I will ship it like regular mail.  This means I can ship it as low as .45.

BUT, there is no tracking with this option, and it will have to be .45 for each skein. (That is because I may have to send multiple envelopes.)
Of course, if you ordered 4 skeins, the shipping price would be $1.80 and I would just send it First Class at that point.  (which would include delivery confirmation).

I am going to try this out and see if it pans out.  If it starts to look like it's going to bite me in the bum I will of course change it back to the regular method.

On a more personal note and in hopes that you might feel for me and give me words of encouragement or words of warning against my formerly mentioned plan:
Right now, I may have to refund an international customer for a package that I have already resent once.  I am terribly distressed over this.  But, that's just part of the game, isn't it?
It just really sucks that it would be for a larger order and at a time when I was trying to save money for Christmas and dance lessons.  

C'est la vie!

2 steps forward, 10 steps back! lol


ALSO, I just realized that I don't think I announced that I decided to sign Livi up for dance lessons.  She is super excited about them!  I told Livi that she was going to have to help me dye and sell some thread to pay for them.  It will take 8 skeins sold to pay for the lessons. (Even more if you consider the cost of materials, but that's a little much for her brain) She's excited about it!
In thinking about it, I thought it might be cute if I wound up 8-10 skeins each month and let her dye them by herself.  Those could be special skeins dedicated to pay for lessons.
That could be fun right?
They are sure to be colorful too.  Any time I ask her what colors we should use, it's either every color she can think of or pink and purple. :o)

Tempted by my own rainbow!

Well, I thought that since this batch was only size 20, I would leave it alone.  But, it just looks too good!

So, I took a break from my studies to tat this little beauty.

The pattern of course is Frivole's Papillon!

and the thread is my own Tat-ilicious "Rainbow-licious" size 20.

I love these colors!  They are so bright and cheerful!  I think I will keep this little gem with me tomorrow when I go take my Biochem test. 

Maybe it will keep me from stressing out too bad. :o)

<3<3<3

Rainbow-licious is here!!

OKay!  This batch is only size 20.  I did dye 30 of them though.  I only listed 15 though.
Once everyone that reserved one or however many gets theirs I will list the other 15.
That's the easiest way I know to do it.

So, if you reserved a skein, or two, you can purchase them now.  If by chance you go to the shop and they are sold out, I have others that have been set aside.  I really didn't forget to set one aside for you.

I will be doing more in other sizes.  I want to do some of the bigger skeins in size 60 and 80.  I will also do a few size 40s.  There is a couple of 40s in the shop now, but they are from the last batch. 

<3<3<3

Scribble Dolls! You need to check out these SUPER cute dolls!!

I have been bugging my best friend to open an Etsy shop for months!  Well she has finally done it!!

I am so super excited for her!!

Her dolls are so super cute and she has been working so very hard on them!!

Scribble Dolls

I just adore these dolls!  They are so cute!

Mandy has always been a fabulous artist!  But, you can probably tell since she did a fabulous job painting this adorable face!

So, please check her out!! 

Now!

Also, HERE is a link to her blog!!