Check out my Slide Show!

Completed Gladdy

Well this is the finished result. Of course you could add more flowers but be warned they take a lot of thread!

The story so far!

This is the gladiolus development so far.
I have made one large set of petals and one set slightly smaller. I have designed the buds and the calyx.
I just need to make a couple more buds and calyxes and then I can assemble the whole flower.
This flower has been quite challenging but I have managed to create each petal and calyx with one "throw". The only C & T (cut and tie) is at the end of each petal/calyx.

June Wedding Cake

Although the wedding for this cake is not until June 21st I have finished it today. This is because it is a rich fruit cake and therefore the longer it stands the better it gets! But also because I am going to have an operation on my shoulder on May 16th and could not take the chance that I might be better in time to do the decorations after the op, if you see what I mean!

I had a few flowers and leaves left over and so I thought I would make a small arrangement for the knife as an extra gift from me. I would normally charge for this service, but as the couple are collegues of my son I thought I would change the habit of a lifetime! :>)

Another young lady came to see me on Friday about her wedding cake for August who hadn't got a clue what design she wanted! However, when she saw this one she wanted the same thing with a slight variation i.e all three layers stacked on top of one another - and she wanted the exact same colour roses - but with just beargrass and no leaves so that it matches her bouquet.
I did explain to her though that she couldn't have all tiers as fruit cake, stacked like that, otherwise she wouldn't be able to pick it up! The bottom tier alone weighs about 10 pounds - there is also aprrox. 10 pounds of marzipan and icing on the three tiers!!! So she has settled for a sponge centre tier - with that, we should just about be able to pick the whole thing up - BUT NOT ME!!!

Looks as if I am going to be very busy making 4 dozen claret roses before May 16th!

Imogen's Christening Cake

This is the cake, now complete, that I did the little bootees for. And this is the gorgeous little girl that the cake is for!

Gladiolus progression

I thought you would all like to see how I have developed the gladiolus that I have been designing. Even the experts don't always get it right first time! Sometimes a pattern works out well with just one go but I find that that is not very often. It is much more likely to take 3 or even more goes to get it exactly how I want it.

The first picture shows the very first trial. I didn't bother to complete the third petal as I new it was not right. The petals need to be pointed and this was no way near enough.

The second picture shows that by doing the lock stitch chain (LSC) it achieved the point that I was after but on the first two petals I did the centre vein with block tatting. On the third petal I decided to do the centre vein with LSC to see what a difference it made and I thought that it looked much better.

The third picture shows my finished design of the petals. I will make another set of three petals and place them, offset, on top of the first set to achieve the correct shape of the gladilous.

Now all I have to do is to write out the pattern, design the calyx and make a bud! Not much pressure then!!! But you all know I love it really!

Queen Anne's Lace

Here, as promised yesterday, are the pictures for the Queen Anne's Lace that is one of the flowers that will be in my new ebook Summer Collection of Tatted Flowers. The pattern incorporates the daisy picot ring technique.

New ebook update

I am getting along well with the new book of summer flowers. Thanks to many of the Ring members I have now more ideas to work with.
I have completed the Queen Anne's Lace and I am really pleased with it. I will post a pic of it when I photograph it in the daylight! The written instructions are not done yet but they will be very straightforward, for once!!!
I started to do a gladidolus and ended up with a very pretty flower. I was not right for a gladi but luckily it was ideal for a hollyhock! Back to the drawing board on the gladi. I have restarted it and I think the latest attempt will be much nearer the mark.

Split Ring Demonstration Video

Christening Cake Bootees

Instead of making a Christening cake decoration in icing sugar, that is so fragile that it might break in transit, I decided to make this little scaled down pair in tatting. The pattern, as many of you will recognise, is from Rebecca Jones' Complete Book of Tatting and I used Anchor cotton size 80. I shall be decorating the cake shortly and will post a picture when it is done.

New ebook in the offing

I am presently working on a new ebook that should be available in the summer - in fact it will be called "The Summer Collection of Tatted Flowers".
I'm keeping the contents close to my chest at the moment but I'm sure you will all be pleased with the brand new designs!
If anyone has got a favourite summer flower that they think I could create in tatting then let me know and I will do my best to include it in the new book!

New Video Coming Soon!

I am in the process of doing another video tatting deomstration. This time it will be on 2 methods of doing split rings. I would appreciate some input as to whether this would be a useful subject.

Tatting Demonstration - Beading & Non-twisted Picot

Pom Pom Dahlia

I have put this pom pom dahlia on my blog to show the use of a button with a shank. This flower is quite labour intensive but the end result is very effective. The petals are made individually and then glued onto the flat top of the button. I then thread a wire through the shank to represent the flower stem.

Organza headdress

I have designed this little headdress for the bride who doesn't want a big veil but still wants a hint of the traditional. The delicate organza handles and works well into the fabric roses and sparkles in bright light. I have edged the little veil with my overlocker (serger) to make a tiny, tidy edging. I have added the ivory feathers with diamantes to compliment the daimantes in the centre of the roses and to add a touch of opulence! The whole ensemble is attached to a plastic comb to make it easy to wear.