9 - 18 of the 25 Motif Challenge

9 - 18 of the 25 Motif Challenge

Tatsmithing:  "Basic Design".    One of the patterns from my new "Tatsmithing" book.

 Tatsmithing:  "Stout Agate".  One of the patterns from my new "Tatsmithing" book.

Tatsmithing:  "Cross".  One of the patterns from my new "Tatsmithing" book.

Tatsmithing.  One of the patterns from my new "Tatsmithing" book.

My first doily design.

Yin-Yang set of 10 Daisy Motifs

Bracelet/Earring Set

Doily

A heard of 10 dragons.

The bauble is the "Universal Bauble"  design from my first book:  "Tattasaurusing:  Baubles and Motifs" . 

1 - 8 of the 25 Motif Challenge

1 - 8 of the 25 Motif Challenge

 The pattern is from "The Tatted Artistry of Teiko Fujito", by Teiko Fujito.

      

 Hanky edging...simple design.

 This bauble is call the "Universal Bauble".  This is one of the pattens in my first book:  Baubles and Motifs, found on my Face Book page.  The bauble is a piece of glass, you find in the craft section.

The smaller baubles are from my new book:  "Baubles and Motifs II".  The larger bauble is a the same pattern, with a larger string and bauble.  The pattern is called "Small Flower Bauble."

 Tatsmithing:  One of the patterns from my new "Tatsmithing" book.

 Tatsmithing:  "7-Sisters Standing Tall".  One of the patterns from my new "Tatsmithing" book.

Tatsmithing:  "Elegant Jade".  One of the patterns from my new "Tatsmithing" book.

Tatsmithing:  "Doublet".  One of the patterns from my new "Tatsmithing" book.

Tatsmithing

Tatsmithing

     I am teaching at the Shuttlebird workshop this spring.  I'm teaching Tatsmithing, first thing, on Friday the 1st of May.

     Learn the “In’s and Out’s” of Tatsmithing – how to go about tatting the “Basic Design” around any object using metallic sewing thread. This is the basis to all Tatsmithing. Practice tatting with sewing thread and tatting the basic design around a button. If you have been afraid to try metallic sewing thread, this is the class to take. 

Tatsmithing Again

Tatsmithing Again

     I'm in the mood to start Tatsmithing some earrings.  Here is a pair with blue cats-eyes.  I gave this one to the neighbor girl, for her high school graduation.  The Tatsmithing was done with two strands of Sulky, metallic silver sewing thread.

See my Tatsmithing book on how these are made.

Tatsmithing

Tatsmithing

     Tatsmithing is the art of silvermithing with string.  I started this, 5 years ago, when the cost of silver reached up to $40 an ounce!  Silver had been around $6 an ounce.  My husband suggest I tat around my cabochons (cabs),  thus starting Tatsmithing.
     I had been asked to teach Tatsmithing, but trying to find uniform cabs are difficult to find.  I cab my cabochons with a low dome and had initially wrote patterns based on that.  Since then, I had bought a few cabs and they had a high dome.  I had to adjust my pattern, slightly,  to compensate for this.  Since,  I don't feel like cabbing a bunch of cabs for a class, a fellow tatter suggested I use a button.  That way a person could easily find a button, rather than trying to find a cabochon...rock stores are going by the way side.
     Here is the start of my "Button Collection"...

Tatsmithing: The Art of Silversmithing With String

Tatsmithing:  The Art of Silversmithing With String

   (If you are interested in this book, type out your email address in the comments, below, and I will get back with you. USA orders, only )

  Just in time for Mother's Day.  This book was dedicated to my Mother for Mother's Day.  I am blessed with wonderful parents, who are full of encouragement and praise.  I also thank God, for all the artistic talents He has given me.
     The book is available on Face Book, in "photos", under "Tatsmithing"  and "books".  The book contains 11 Tatsmithing patterns, progressing from the easiest to the hardest designs.  All patterns are diagrammed.  The finished pieces can be used for pendents, earrings, broaches, hanging from a tree or what ever you desire.  The patterns are:  "Basic Design", "7-sisters Standing Tall", "Stout Agates", "Tall Agates", "Itty-Bitty", "Elegant Jade", "Doublet", "Rosey", "Writing Stone", "Heart Earrings", and "Cross".

Tatsmithing VII & Another Estate Find

Tatsmithing VII & Another Estate Find

     This is a free form pendent, made with one strand of bright gold and one strand of copper thread.  The combination created a "rose gold" appearance.

Carnelian Agate, 1.75" X 1.5".

     So you ask, how is "rose gold" made?!  Well, put on you safety goggles and get ready for a brief Chemistry lesson in metal alloying.

     Pure gold and silver are too soft to use by themselves, so they are alloyed with another metal for strength.

     Yellow Golds contains: gold, silver, and copper
     White Gold contains:  gold and either nickel, manganese, or palladium.
     Rose Gold contains:  gold and copper
     Green Gold contains:  gold and silver
     Sterling silver contains:  silver and copper
     Brass contains:  copper and zinc
     Bronze contains:  copper and tin
 
     OK, take of your goggles.  Here are some nifty things I found at an estate sale.

 Crochet ball holder with a cro-tatting hook in the drawer.

 6.25" X 4.25" brass box with a glass lid and gold velvet on the bottom.  This will make a lovely display for my craft shows.

 My "Tatsmithing" ready to go.  I used a removable, black piece of felt to pin the pendents to.

Tin with a crochet-print.

    

Most of my cabs...ready for "Tatsmithing".

     I also found a box full of thread, ranging from size 50 to size 10.

Tatsmithing: "7-Sisters Standing Tall"

 Tatsmithing:  "7-Sisters Standing Tall"

     This is another piece of unakite , measuring 26 x 38 mm.

One of the patterns from my new "Tatsmithing" book.

Tatsmithing: "Rosey"

Tatsmithing:  "Rosey"

     The stone is not rosey or the thread, the original one is. The stone is an agate (it looks better in person, they always do), measuring 33 x 42 mm.

One of the patterns from my new "Tatsmithing" book.

Tatsmithing

Tatsmithing

     Tatsmithing is silversmithing  with string.   Using metallic thread to imitate my silversmithed designs.  

 

Tatsmithing: "Stout Agate"

Tatsmithing:  "Stout Agate"

     This is a banded agate, measuring 30 x 30 mm.  (Looks like a fish in the stone).

  One of the patterns from my new "Tatsmithing" book.

Tatsmithing: "Itty-Bitty"

Tatsmithing:  "Itty-Bitty"

     This would make a lovely pair of earrings!!  Soooo Cute!!  The stone is an agate, measuring 28 x 28 mm.

  One of the patterns from my new "Tatsmithing" book.

Tatsmithing: "Tall Agates"

Tatsmithing:  "Tall Agates"

The stone is a beautiful carnelian agate (the picture does NOT do it justice), measuring 25 x 27mm.

  One of the patterns from my new "Tatsmithing" book.

Tatsmithing: "Tall Agate"

Tatsmithing: "Tall Agate"

     This stone is not an agate.  It is a piece of petrified palm wood.  The pendent measures 27 mm x 38 mm.  The thread is two strands of Sulky metallic thread.  I'm not pleases with the Sulky thread, it tends to fray.  The Coats metallic thread works perfectly.

  One of the patterns from my new "Tatsmithing" book.

Tatsmithing: "Doublet"

Tatsmithing:  "Doublet"

The stones are carnelian agates, measuring 22 x 54 mm.

  One of the patterns from my new "Tatsmithing" book.

Tatsmithing: "Basic Design"

Tatsmithing:  "Basic Design"

     This is similar to the cabochon from an earlier post.   The unique thing about cutting rock, every cut has a different pattern...no two are alike.   The stone is another piece of mahogany obsidian from Glass Butte, Oregon.  The finished piece measures 21 mm x 70 mm.

      One of the patterns from my new "Tatsmithing" book.

Tatsmithing

 Tatsmithing

     Of coarse, I needed a Tatsmithing project for the workshop.  This is a prototype.  Need more work.

Tatsmithing: "Elegant Jade"

Tatsmithing:  "Elegant Jade"

     Ok, so this one is not jade.  The original pendent was jade.  This one is a beautiful banded agate, measuring 41 x 52 mm.

 

  One of the patterns from my new "Tatsmithing" book.

Tatsmithing

Tatsmithing

       Doing a little Tatsmithing in my spare time.  These have the "Basic Design" around them.  Now to start designing the outer rounds.

The Art

 The Art:  Tatsmithing

      The art of silversmithing, using metallic thread is the whole basis of "Tatsmithing."  All "Tatsmithing," starts with the "Basic Design", the "bezel."  This is not the same foundation pattern, used in ice drops or any other pattern used to tat around objects.  

     I'm teaching, the "I See You," pendant, this Sat, at the Shuttlebird workshop, in Spokane.  Hope to see some of you there.