Confetti bracelet

Another birthday bracelet for a friend.  The white beads look like confetti to me hence the name. 
Normally I use mock rings around the center beads but this time I did something different.  I tatted half a ring then pulled the leg of the first half stitch down through the blue bead, used a paperclip to hold it in place and then finished the ring.  After I closed the ring I removed the paperclip and did a beaded lock join.  This seemed to sit better to my eyes. 
I used silk thread and really enjoyed tatting with it.  The only trick with silk is that you have to make sure the stitches don't unravel while tatting. Red isn't my color but I'm tempted to break into my stash of Sherry Pence's hand dyed silks to make one for myself. 

With apologies to Dora...

It doesn't matter how many years you do a craft... when you start working on technique things are going to go wrong. 
Last week I heard Dora Ohrenstein talk on Power Purls about her crochet designs.  I loved her attitude towards design so I looked her up on Amazon. What I found was that she is incredibly generous with her knowledge of crochet construction.  So I purchased and read The Crocheter's Skill Building Workshop. 
  Then I started the Slouchy Hat.
As per instructions I purchased a similar thread and did a swatch...that was way smaller than the gauge suggested.  No matter how loose I crocheted I couldn't get it even close.  After several tries with way bigger hooks I changed thread to one a little larger.
This was closer and I started the ribbed band (turned out smaller than measured but fit my head) then I started the Hat Body with a bigger hook that came close to gauge and I was kinda getting the hang of a lesser tension. All the while thinking this lady must crochet very loosely.  It wasn't until I reached half way through the hat body that I finally realised what was wrong about the band.....I did a slip stitch ribbing not a single crochet!  Lol! For some reason despite doing a lot of amigurumi I completely putzed the single crochet. 
 I finished my hat and started a swatch again with the right stitch.  Much closer to what Dora suggests! 
So sorry Dora about the ugly thoughts that might have been cast your way in the last 24 hours. 

Lisa's bday present

I made this bracelet using the linen thread I purchased from Wabi Sabi on Friday.  I went back for it after remembering that some people used it for tatting a few years ago.  I liked tatting with it because the linen has a neat feel to it.  However unless you take it slowly it tends to uneven stitches.  I think the result is worth the effort and the feel is unique.  I used onyx beads and a large labradorite bead for the center.

I made the bracelet for my friend Lisa's birthday.  She was having an Axe Throwing Party on Saturday night. (its supervised by trained staff) It got cancelled because on Saturday afternoon Lisa and Heather's dog Begbie herniated a disc...yes dogs can do that.  So they took him to the Alta Vista Animal Hospital where it was found that he needed surgery.  He got the surgery yesterday and is currently in recovery. 

Day out 2

Today I worked in the morning then I went to the Ottawa Glass Bead Show.  I missed last year but can't remember why.  It is a great opportunity to see some great glass bead artists all at once and get some supplies.  Dragon Lair beads and McBead Creations were there too!
Everyone had amazing stuff and i wish I could have bought something from everyone.  However I need to eat.  I did buy a ridiculous amount of glass beads.  Including the ones in the pic from Nancy Sinclair. I am totally in love with the grey bead with yellow flowers. I just need to put it on a necklace and I'll be happy.
I deeply regret not buying a pair of earings from Zuzana Heron. 

Day out...

I had a wandering day today.  I was at meetings this morning and worked for a few hours in downtown Ottawa.  Then I did the short drive over to Wellington St to Wabi Sabi.  I'm not sure what the name means but it is a yarn and weaving store.  It is a lovely place with a nice stash of yarn and spools of thread. I purchased a cotton Cascade yarn called Ultra Pima that I can tat with....I think.  I also picked up a spool of long linen thread in black.  I went back to get it after picking up a delicious sandwhich from Bread By Us across the street. I realised that linen might be good for jewelry.  There's a stiffness to linen but it isn't scratchy.  I was also very excited that they had safety eyes, something not a lot of places carry.

Renulek's spring doily 2016

I've started round 14!  I think it will take a full skein of Karen Solomon's hand dyed thread to do this round.  The next round will use lots and lots of thread so I'm planning to use the green Twirlz thread.  I would hate to run out of thread!
I was very tempted to end the doily at round 13.  It looked so perfect... but I'm burning to see how the next few rounds will look with the colors I've choosen.