Something Three-Dimensional

I've been busy working on orders lately, but I always have an easier project on hand for when I'm feeling tired.  This is one of my latest efforts.

It's what I call a 'teaching pattern', as it uses six different techniques, designed by Diane S. Hertler and it was published in Bead and Button magazine.  The original pattern called for size 11 Delicas, I used size 15 Japanese seed beads which are quite a bit smaller.  As you can see, it works out to be pretty right for a 1/12th scale miniature.  I'm interested in exploring more three-dimensional work with beading so you can expect to see more of this type of thing in the future.
What I like most about this little backpack is that it has a pocket in the front, and the flap opens so you can put school supplies in it.

It also has straps at the back, so it could be worn by a miniature 'person'.

In case you're wondering, it is sitting on a miniature silk braided rug I made some time ago, and underneath that is a full size crochet doily.  Now I have all sorts of ideas running around in my head for things I could make using these techniques!  In the meantime, this little backpack has found a home in my miniature beading shop.

I've been busy!

I haven't posted any work on my blog for the last couple of weeks, but that doesn't mean I've been idle. I have been designing some miniature petitpoint teacosies for a client commission but I won't show the teacosies until they are with their new owner so you will all have to wait a while for that!

Not to disappoint anyone, I have also been busy with my miniature tatting and have several new miniature doilies to show. Most of these are actually snowflake designs, but the doily below is my own design, and is intended for a miniature setting and not as a snowflake. It's called Tranquility, and once again it is tatted with 100 sewing thread. Shown here next to a US dime, this doily is really tiny, and would probably look good as the centrepiece on a 1/24th scale dining table. I have decided that I like the 100 sewing thread I have been using so much for its fineness and strength that I will probably do all my miniature tatting with it. This is number 5 in the 25 Motif Challenge.

Number 6 is Carol Lepard's Snowflake 1 - an unusual design and one which really caught my eye when I first saw it. I think it has a very modern look. Thanks again Carol for allowing me to use it! Carol wrote this pattern for needle tatting, so it was interesting to try tatting it with a shuttle - I found I had to add a split ring here and there to avoid joining between the rounds.

Numbers 7 and 8 in the challenge go to two more of Jon's beautiful designs. These are part of a matching set called Sweetheart. I just love these designs, and Jon has designed a matching edging to go with them too. I am tempted to try the edging in miniature as well!

I should mention that although I have posted photos of one motif of each design, I have actually tatted three of each motif on my blog - one for myself and two for sale on my stall at the VAME miniature show in Melbourne, which is held in July each year. That means I've actually tatted 24 motifs so far, but I'm not counting the duplicates in my Challenge count because I want to have the incentive to tat some more!

More Tiny Tatting

I promised I would show some more of my tiny tatting, so here it is.

This is a little dressing table set in a variegated 50wt thread, my original design, which I'm calling the Serenade Doily Set. Each tiny doily is tatted with a single thread, and I used split rings to transition between the rounds.

This is the same set worked in a white 100wt thread - it's a little smaller and finer.

I have just entered the 25 motif Challenge on this blog.

25 MOTIF CHALLENGE

The idea is that you tat 25 motifs within a year. I'm going to start by tatting some more miniature doilies. I have three so far - that's the Serenade set, and Jon's Spring Blossom and Sweet Rose designs. I am working on number four at the moment so keep an eye out for it!