More LadyShuttleMaker Hook Pens on the way....

Hi friends,
I am overwhelmed that these bookmark hook pens are being received so well. I have sold out today but please don't worry I am working on more as you can see.
I cannot rush them because I have to make sure every single one is perfect. Of course just like my shuttles I test them before they go out.

For these new ones I dipped in to my special reserve of decals (some of which are vintage) and I am excited about how they are all turning out.

The hooks are quite small (as one would expect for tatting) the largest being size 10 (very small) and the smallest being size 13 (super tiny) with sizes 11 and 12 in between. I had to go out and search all over town for some hooks. Let me tell you, these are not easy to find. I cleaned the town out and will be working the next few days to offer what I can while I can.
I also have lots of fun ideas for decoration too...because of course each one HAS to be one of a kind!
Please keep checking the shop and the blog for updates.

HOORAY for Hook Pens!!!!!

I am excited to offer you my latest creation.
***RETRACTABLE BOOKMARK HOOK PENS FOR TATTING***

A few years ago I purchased a hook pen for use in my tatting projects and I loved it for many reasons, mainly because it was harder to lose and I didn't end up stabbing myself with the point because I always retracted the hook when it was not in use.

Unfortunately those pens are no longer made so I decided to start making my own.
I have even been able to improve upon the design. Because these hook pens are flat they are perfect for saving your spot in your tatting pattern books.

No more hooks rolling away and getting lost in your couch cushions...YAY!

Go to my Etsy shop to get your hand decorated retractable hook pen which is also doubles as a bookmark.
LadyShuttleMaker.

Tatting with beads

Today we learned how to tat with beads. And as usual my girls caught on very quickly! I think they are all some kind of tatting geniuses. LOL! At least they have learned tatting much faster than I ever did!

Kyoung-mi has surprised me with her designing/adapting skills. She is very creative!

She even tatted one of my butterflies from my tatting book...and mind you this is not a beginner pattern!

Hye-soon tatted this gorgeous bookmark from Mary Konior's "Black Magic" page 10 in Tatting with Visual Patterns..... And doesn't it look pretty in "Tropicana" HDT????

Jinju tatted this with "Middle Earth" hand dyed silk. It is sooo much lovelier in person.

Oh, by the way, Jinju translates to "Pearl", which is also the name of her little shop! In case I never mentioned it, all my girls are little shop owners.
And finally an update on my finger. You can see that it is well on its way to healing and it doesn't hurt as much anymore...but there is a way to go before I see a nail again.

Oh...and P.S.S.
I pretty much slept for the last five days. I tried to tat but made too many mistakes. Tatting with a fever is not a good plan! Today I feel much better and going to 4 O'clock Rock was the first time I have been out since last Thurs. It was nice to hang out with my happy friends! I gotta say though that I am pretty tired still and they could see it....they patted me on the shoulder and said, "Teacher, it is o.k. if you want to go home early."
They are so sweet!

A bookmark for Ozzy

This is "Snake Bookmark" from Animal Bookmarks: A Tatted Zoo by Dianna Stevens.It is tatted in my size 20 "Macaw" hand dyed tatting silk.

Connor and Austin respectively.
These are the little dudes who are getting the bookmarks. I just love these guys! I made a snake for Austin because he loves reptiles and one day he came home with a frog in his pocket.
Oz is a second grader now and has been reading for awhile, but I don't think he has a bookmark like this one.
I am going to send a little stats sheet to go along with the bookmarks with stuff like how many knots it took to make. Boys love that stuff...at least I think they do.


Hubby has been asking me everyday for the last couple of weeks, "Have you taken a photograph of all your threads together to post on your blog?". I swear, it's like groundhog day...I always answer "Didn't you ask me that yesterday?"
It's become a bit of a joke so I am putting an end to it by actually doing as he suggests.
Represented in this photo is months upon months of work...and I still have more ideas coming. My hubby says they look really yummy displayed together...like a candy shop.

TIAS:
Just for the record no one has yet sent me a correct guess for the TIAS....but I am sure all that will change soon....

I just got Marilee's Boutique Tatting in the mail. Her book looks fantastic. It is a definite MUST HAVE for your tatting library.

HDT:

Introducing "GRANNY DELICIOUS" hand dyed tatting thread. HOW YOU LIKE THEM APPLES?????

This image was borrowed from a free images library on the web.

Also since I am greatly anticipating Autumn (It's still blazing hot here in Korea BLAH!) I can't seem to stop making Fall related dye batches.

"HARVEST MOON"

Connor's Lion bookmark

This is "Lion Bookmark" from Animal Bookmarks: A Tatted Zoo by Dianna Stevens.
It is tatted in size 20 Flora Ecru and the mane is my own hand dyed tatting silk in size 10 "Middle Earth.

I have nephews who are getting to that reading "age". The joy of reading is very important to me and I always try to instill it in the younger generations.
Connor is five and I am hoping that this bookmark will encourage him to love books.
You know, maybe just give him a little nudge.
And if I'm lucky maybe he will also learn to apreciate "handmade". I will write him a little letter and send this off next week. Now I need to get to tatting my other nephews a bookmark, I hope they treasure them. ... Yes I know they are boys but an auntie can try can't she??

To my TIAS'ers, if it's ok with you I am going to take this weekend off. Day 6 will be posted on Monday. That should give everyone a chance to catch up and give me a little breather.

Cross for my Aunt

I couldn't wait to dive into a pattern from the new book I received. So I chose this cross pattern on page 40 to tat up as a gift for my Aunt. I added the edging which is the newly purchased hand dyed size 80 thread from yarnplayer. After tatting the cross I felt it needed something else so it was a nice excuse to use my new thread.
It needs to be blocked yet but I couldn't wait to share it.
The purple varigated thread is a size 80 DMC.

Happy Memorial Day, a TATTING video, and a Free Cluny Pattern

It looks like it is going to be a wonderful weekend. The weather is gorgeous after quite a cold snap, my husband is finally home for a short time from military duties and I think I will take a break from all my work.
Perhaps a picnic?
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
I designed this cluny pattern specifically to share with the online tatting class (link located on the right side of this page) on Tuesday May 29th.
It would be wonderful to see as many of you there as possible.
If you can not make it, do not worry, click here for tatting pattern
If you know clunies it is a very simple and quick tat.


I have already given away several of these bookmarks.

I made a tatting video a few days ago. It is not an instructional video. I made it for all the non-tatters out there to show them just a smidgeon of what can be made with tatting and hopefully peak some interest in this craft. It may start out a little slow but it definately picks up and it's under three minutes in length so it isn't too painful to sit through.

Tatting for me...

I've been tatting so many bookmarks for friends that I decided to go ahead and tat one for myself in hopes that it will encourage me to take a few minutes and actually sit down with a book.
This is the Marchanne Bookmark by Judi Banashek.
I doubled the length of the pattern since I used size 80 thread.