Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Playing around with beads

I've been manipulating the tatted ring and came up with a way to do a double band of beads. I have some more weird variations to share over the next week or so.

This is my great great Aunt & Uncle Howell. I find it interesting that in old photos one so rarely sees a smile. My step dad says it is because they didn't want to show their bad teeth. But my theory is that the cameras had such long exposures they had to sit ever so still.

11 comments:

Zarina said...

You can shoot me but you look a lot like your great great Aunt with that exact face.

Unknown said...

Hi Sherry,
I've never heard the "didn't want to show their bad teeth" one before. What I have heard many times is that at that time it was considered more noble to be photographed with a somber look on one's face. It was just "in" style to do that.
Anyway, your great aunt and uncle make for a handsome couple smiles or none! :)

Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...

The double bland of beads looks really cool!

Unknown said...

So nice to see your creative juices flowing. Interesting piece of tatting.

Gina said...

That was my understanding too - that they had to be perfectly still for longer than we would today to get a good exposure.

Kathy Niklewicz said...

Hi Sherry! It’s delightful to see you back in good spirits (it was a treat to see your comment on my blog - glad you also like old cars!) and also wonderful that you’re experimenting with designs (beautiful “bleeding hearts”) and ideas (double beading), which to me takes a relaxed mind. I’m still trying to learn how to do ‘normal’ beading, let alone double beading – very cool!

Your family photos are wonderful (especially the candid Christmas photo!), and I’m astounded you not only KNEW your great grandmother, but also learned to tat from her! Many of us never even knew our GRANDparents, let alone THEIR parents! Amazing!

Stephanie said...

Interesting bead technique you have going on there! The bead between the stitch halves is very cool. I take it the black beads are on bare thread space? What did you do with the center picot? I like the way it looks. More like macrame than tatting.

Keep the pictures coming! As far as the facial expressions, it all depends on when they were taken. I believe in the end decades of the 1800s flash powder was invented so the people didn't have to hold their poses for long periods of time. Smiling for a picture simply just didn't come into vogue until later years.

Sharon D. said...

Love the beads. Hope you post some more pictures.

tattrldy said...

The double beaded rings look very interesting.

I love the old pictures, they're great. I look forward to more, and the stories that go with them.

Fox said...

Interesting beading!

Yes, the exposures were VERY long. It is easier not to smile to hold those positions! (Try it - your cheeks start to quiver before too long!) Foc : )

Tatskool said...

Love the old photo, they do look so serious and stern. Hope they were happy people!!

Interesting bead technique.