The Exquisite Collection of Tatted Butterflies Book I and Book II available again

I sold out of both my butterfly books but I am happy to report that another run has been printed and are now available for sale once again in my Etsy Shop.

Whoo hoo!

On a designing kick

I got some more copper in so I will be making a few new copper shuttles soon. Here is my newest design. Who doesn't love butterflies?

"HOPE" and The Holocaust Project

If you guessed a butterfly you were correct. This is tatted in cotton and silk.

Has anyone ever noticed the peculiar commonalities that we tatters share with one another? I am not referring to our "reclusive" tendencies, or that we have enough patience to try a Saint (I mean come on...tatting?...thousands of tiny knots?...yes we are crazy!)
Nor am I referring to the fact that we are one of the most generous and tight knit communities on the world wide web.
No...I would like to talk about something that is perhaps a little sadder. How many of us suffer from chronic pain, depression or other health conditions? There is something soothing about tatting that draws us in and brings us together to comfort one another.
These tatters are who I designed "HOPE" for. Just a small symbol of the threads that bind us and a reminder that we are not alone.
I am working on diagramming "HOPE" this weekend and the pattern will be free and posted early next week...(maybe sooner if all goes well.)

I also think this would be a great butterfly for The Butterfly Project.
If you haven't already heard about this wonderful project, please check it out ASAP!

The Exquisite Collection of Tatted Butterflies Volume II ~taking orders now~

Well, after a year a half of tatting, designing, diagramming and writing and then doing it all over again after losing everything in a hard drive crash we finally arrive at volume II of The Exquisite Collection of Tatted Butterflies II.
I am taking pre-orders now. The hot off the press copies will ship on Feb 12th.
Be the first to get your copy!
...and as always I give you a sneak peek of every pattern so you know exactly what you are getting.

This volume contains 13 glorious and challenging patterns to add to the ones you already own. ...and all for under $2 per pattern no less!

A lot of time and hard work goes into everything I do and this book is no exception. I strive to offer you only the very best. The best in design, the best in diagramming and the best in materials. This is a high quality production all the way around. I hope you enjoy it!

THE FIRST 5 PEOPLE TO ORDER WILL GET A FREE SKEIN OF HAND DYED SILK!!!

Thank you for supporting the arts!

"Butterflies are Free" Shuttlebirds Tatting Convention

The theme for this year's Shuttlebirds Tatting Conference is "BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE".
When Patti D. told me the theme would be butterflies, of course I got really excited because I LOVE butterflies and I ESPECIALLY love tatted butterflies....I mean, for goodness sakes I even wrote a book on them.
If you click on the link above you will find the butterfly contest rules. Guess what???....you can enter the contest even if you cannot attend the convention. It is open to ALL tatters. I encourage you to take a look and consider entering.
There are some really nice butterfly books and patterns out there, or if you are really adventurous you can design your own.

Debuting my first Tatting Book

It is finally here! Thank you all for your encouragement and patience.
If you haven't already guessed, the first book is all about butterflies.
I will release my other more advanced patterns next year when I can get some help from the "tatting guru's that be" on how to write up my new technique.

Anyhow, this book was a year and a half in the making. I am so happy it is finally finished. I had no idea of the the unforseen complications that would arise in an undertaking such as this. I learned ever so much and I am very proud of the final product.
I was uncompromising in it's production process and I think I drove a few people crazy.
Awhile back I asked members of the etatters group what they look for in a tatting book and I took into consideration and applied the wonderful answers I received.

Here is what you can expect from this book.
It has a range of skill levels from beginner to advanced.
You get 12 beautiful patterns (or up to 21 variations if you choose half butterflies).

Holiday Shipping applies until Christmas!
Holiday Shipping =
FREE to United States
and $2.50 Everywhere Else

Each tatting pattern has fully written instructions, glorious close-up color photos of each tatted piece, and each pattern is fully diagrammed as well.
This book is 29 pages.
It has a combbind so that the book lays flat when you need it to.
It has a gorgeous thick glossy cover....(that I spent two weeks painting over and over and ended up using the first draft afterall.) Hee hee
I used only the best paper available. It is the kind of paper that calendars are made out of.....nothing but the best!
As you can see in the photo above I am letting you see every pattern that is included in the book beforehand.

You can buy it right now using the paypal button to the right!

It will also be available in my Etsy shop but will cost an extra $1 to cover listing and commission fees.

Life must be easier now...so we don't need each other anymore?!?!?

Anyone who reads my blog knows that autumn is my favorite time of year. Ever since the season started I have been antsy to visit my grandparents in Northern Idaho. They live in a place where the Fall colors are spectacular and in abundance. This past weekend I finally got my wish (and early birthday present to myself) and took the long trip for a short visit. On Saturday we took a nice country drive on dirt roads through the many tiny country towns (like 5 or 6 houses and maybe a church) of Idaho county. We encountered wild turkey, loads of deer, and several free roaming cows that at times impeded our process. I became very nostalgic for the laid back, slower paced life. We visited my great grandmother’s homestead. Her house has long been torn down but her plum trees are still on the property.
The highlight of the trip was our visit to a tiny unmarked cemetery on a lonely out of the way hill. There is nothing like a cemetery to really put life in perspective.
Roaming through it I realized that life was certainly NOT easier for the people of the late 1800’s to early 1900’s. Even though this cemetery had less than 50 headstones the largest percentage of them were babies, small children and young people my age. Here are just a few of those heartbreaking stories:





I love this picture I took of my grandfather, it says so much! Even though my grandfather is a young man in his 70’s he did admit to me this weekend that he is starting to slow down. He said it was sobering to know half of the families in the cemetery. He is the son of the great grandmother that taught me to tat. My grandpa is my hero and I don’t like to think of the day that he will leave me.


My grandparents talked about how the new (out of state) people are moving in and the first thing they do is put up fences and no trespassing signs. How the charitable organizations like the Lyon’s club have died out because no one has an interest in joining groups anymore. And how unpatriotic young people have become. It is a sad truth. I have found that I am guilty of being antisocial, a trait I hope I can overcome.


I did take my tatting book along and did a lot of work on it in the evening. And because I was so inspired by being close to where my people came from (especially my great gran) I was inspired to create a new butterfly design. It is not yet finished but you can get the idea.

It will be called “Queen Alexandra” after the real butterfly.

Also, I have posted some of that "Rubi 5" thread in my shop.

Vegas Butterflies Completed

I re-tatted these designs (several times). Here they are in size 20 Flora. I added some embellishments and they will now stay this way. What do you think about the new picot treatment in the lower wings of Vegas 1? I've had this idea in my mind for quite awhile and tatted it up over a dozen times until I finally got it right! Whoo hoo!
Today I am leaning towards the first book being all butterflies....none of your standard four ring butterflies, but all of them truly exquisite for all levels of tatters.
I don't know....I may change my mind tomorrow.
Regardless of which will be the first book, I plan to do all three book ideas eventually.

I have also been working on more pottery with tatting embellishments and I can't wait to show you all.

Vegas Butterflies

Here are the two new butterflies I came up with while on vacation. I was aiming for a quick simple tat. I think I achieved that goal. I may refine these a bit later.
I have so much on my plate right now I am just trying to keep my head above water.
If you check to the right I have finally put up my Free Patterns link.
The half butterfly is diagrammed. I feel there is some room for improvement yet, but as I refine my computer skills, with practice, I will eventually get there.


On another note: Can someone tell me what kind of lace this is?

A quick update whilst still on vacation.....

I had hubby take a picture of the barrette in my hair. I never found the time to add the other motifs before I left, but I still plan to do so in the near future.

This is me and hubby sharing a wonderful fancy French dinner. We never get to do things like this so it was very special.

I came up with another butterfly pattern on the plane ride and will share that later after I have perfected it. Also, it was fun amusing the flight attendents with tatting.

I found a few moments to get on the internet today while hubby is at work. I plan to work on some more tatting today....probably poolside...(Yes, I know...life is hard). I'll be home again soon and back to the daily grind.

Procrastinating...Who me???

My husband who is military was gone for two months and he is home for only two weeks before he leaves again for another month. We just had some of his family in last weekend and we have more coming today. I am supposed to be cleaning the house and getting ready for our new visitors but what am I doing? Playing on the computer. That's right, totally procrastinating and trying to ignore the piles of projects I have ALL over the house. Not to mention that we don't have a scrap of food in the house which means I will need to go grocery shopping and I HATE grocery shopping.
Awwww well.
On to tatting. I had purchased these little baby overalls for the Tatting Treasures from Trash challenge but ended up not using them for the purse project. I thought this cute little outfit cannot go to waste so instead I will be putting a few of my original tatted butterfly designs on it and perhaps list it in my tatting shop.
I only have furry kids of my own, and all the babies I know right now are little boys or are too big for this outfit, so hopefully someone will find a use for it.
The butterfly isn't attached yet. As soon as I quit procrastinating and get to cleaning maybe I can find time later tonight to attach the b-flys properly.
This outfit is for babies 6-9months.

Backside of Purse and "Healing"

I was able to tat two more items for the backside of my little purse. This is a small purse and just my style. I loaded it up with my personal items and gave it a test run and guess what? It's my new favorite purse!
I just LOVE it!
In the beginning I thought this one would be a give away, but nope, I'm going to be selfish and keep it all to myself and I couldn't be more delighted.
The tatting on this purse is in size 80 thread. The gorgeous brown thread belonged to my great grandmother and was given to me recently by a great aunt along with one of her shuttles. So it makes this purse extra special.
I attached the tatting to the purse by carefully sewing it with invisible thread. Talk about a pain in the tush, but well worth it in the end.

This morning is the first day since the dog attack that I actually feel some improvement in the healing of my hand. Today marks one week since the incidence and I think it is safe to show you a picture of the hand taken this morning.

I didn't sleep well last night because it was itching all night long. Does that mean it's healing? Anyway, I have a little hope today that I will be able to get back to my projects soon. Not being able to do pottery for a week has left me a bit depressed. Our Flight doctor is coming over today to take a look at it which is a relief. My other injuries such as road rash and bruising are actually bothering me more now.

Tatting treasures from trash

If you didn't know, Sharon started a new challenge which I glady joined. I just love challenges of any kind. The link is on the right side of this page.
Anyway, because of the recent dog attack that has left my right hand damaged, I haven't been able to get a whole lot done the last few days. But I did pick up the tatting and stubbornly plodded on. I tatted these original butterflies and made up a flower pattern on the fly. What would normally have taken a couple of hours has taken me two full days. The tatting is terrible, because my tensioning is out the window and I had to stop every few stitches because of the pain. But anyway, I am thankful that I am tatting at all and hoping it will all heal up soon.
I can envision a lot more to come for this purse. This is just a start.

Oh and I found out after the fact that the attacking dog was a mastiff! I wasn't exagerating when I said it was big.

Clothing with tatting embellishments

In 1999 I went to Fiji with a group to build a church. While I was there I fell in love with all that was Fiji including the sulu skirts that both men and women wore. When I returned to the U.S. I set out to make my own skirt with tatting on it. I chose one of my favorite colors...a mellow happy shade of yellow. I chose the same color thread to create a subtle monotone effect. All the butterflies on the skirt are from The Big Book of Tatting. I've only worn this skirt once since I made it because, firstly, this isn't really the fashion for this part of the world, and I put so much work into it that I didn't want it to be ruined, and finally, I've been waiting to go back to Fiji and model it there.
Well, I decided to wear it today for Mother's Day. There is no sense in keeping it hid away forever.
Also, I think it is noteworthy to point out that all the tatting is in size 80 thread and I have over 15 feet of tiny edging. Talk about a long and boring process, if I recall correctly I think it took two months of tatting everyday to finish the edging.
It looks like I have a little more work to do in securing the butterflies...their antennaes are flopping about.

Applying what I learned

I finished this butterfly last night. I used all the techniques I learned over the weekend in this design with the exception of the split chain. Each wing was tatted with no interruptions. It may look simple but it is in fact the most technical piece of lace I have ever designed. Although not perfected my cluny leaves are getting better. You haven't lived until you've had to undo a cluny.
I forgot to add in my earlier post that I literally brought a shoe box full of ceramic shuttles to the convention (five months worth of work fit in a shoe box). I did not go to the convention primarily to sell my shuttles but I did sell just enough to break even on the trip. That was a real blessing.

What I learned.... and a slide show Tour

I was nervous to finally meet other tatters because I just knew I would learn I was doing everything wrong for the last umpty ump years. My biggest surprise was that I knew more than I thought I did what I didn't know was all the terminology. I thought I needed to learn the Reverse Stitch, encapsulation and wrapping. To my surprise I already knew how to do this and they are all one in the same. I've been calling it split work. Another surprise was watching everyone's hands while they tatted, I saw a few different styles including my own...I didn't see anyone who tats like I do. I tried some of the other styles but I think I'll stick to my own. I did learn some very valuable concepts that I am already implementing in my own designs such as mock picots, the direct method of tatting and split chains and my favorite...clunies!
In one of my classes a couple of the other girls and I proposed the idea of a "TatPedia". It would be a place on the Internet where tatting concepts would be clearly laid out and all the different names we use for that concept would follow. It is something I wish I would have had access to all this time, it would have cleared up a lot of frustration and confusion I have had in the past. I don't feel that I am qualified to do the "tatpedia" given my lack of knowledge on the subject but if you feel you could do something like this please let me know so that I can add the link to this blog.
To my great surprise and delight my "Reflection of a Butterfly" took third prize. It was a real honor considering the excellence of all the other work.
I had a wonderful time with my grandmother. Everyone was so nice to the both of us. I am hoping she might want to come again next year. I finally met, in person, my Internet tatting friend Jen. It feels like we've known each other forever, but now I can finally put a face to her name.
On to the slide show: I didn't take as many pictures as I wanted, I was so distracted by all the commotion, but I think this is a nice little glimpse of the wonderment that was the Shuttlebirds Tatting Convention. I have credited the pieces that I knew who the owners were, and some of the other work was collaborative. If you see something that belongs to you and I didn't credit you, firstly I apologize and secondly let me know and I will correct it!

Please enjoy the show.

Free Half Butterfly Pattern

So I shared this tatting pattern in Georgia Seitz's online tatting class yesterday. It is a great class that I highly reccomend to anyone who has the time!
However, to my embarrassment the pattern I shared with the first class had a couple of confusing mistakes. The good news is that I had time to correct those mistakes for the second class. Now that it is "good to go" I would like to share it with you. Enjoy!
Butterfly Pattern by Sherry Pence.

Butterfly Exchange and Great Tatting Group!

This is the perfect time to plug the MySpace Tatting Group. http://groups.myspace.com/tatting
This group just celebrated it's 1 year anniversary. I have made friends from this group that I hope will last a life time! This group has hosted several exchanges the most recent of which is a Butterfly exchange! Can we say WHOO HOO????
If you are looking for a great bunch of tatting people please check it out and even better, why not join? It's all free!
This is the Butterfly I received from my friend Linda. She found the pattern at
http://www.wcnet.org/~scwheels/page18.htm

The following are the butterflies that I made for my friend Jen who I will be meeting in "real" life for the first time in a couple of weeks. They are original patterns.

I will be sharing the bottom most pattern in the online tatting Class on Monday April 9th.

How about some color up in here?

Can anyone tell that I like butterflies yet??
Since I have my first tatting convention just around the corner, I thought I would empty out all my shuttles of their left-over thread. And since I am of a thrifty nature and do not like to waste anything, I decided to tat up this colorful wing. With the wonders of photo editing we have this big guy.

Goof'n around

This is another one of my original butterfly patterns.
Something else I enjoy doing is graphic arts, so I scanned my tatting and goofed around and came up with this. For some reason it kind of looks old fashioned and I like that quality. The real butterfly is very colorful...perhaps I'll post a pic of it later.