Just a head's up

I'm still alive and kicking, for those of you wondering where I went. I've just been putting my energy into my new Etsy shop!

You can check out my shop here > One Red Button Crafts on Etsy

Follow my new blog here > One Red Button on Blogger

I'm also on Facebook, and you can follow me on Twitter @OneRedButton.

Hope to see you over there! :)

-Sparrow

Big news!

So, I've been keeping this one under wraps for awhile, until I was sure of how everything would work out. It's been hard for me to do, since I'm so excited about it. And it's also the reason I've been so absent from the social life lately, if the internet can be considered a social life.

The first part of the big news is that we [meaning my extremely rural, small-town community] now have an LYS! The shop is called Paper and Yarn, and has been a presence online for awhile with both a website [www.paperyarnwire.com], and an Etsy [www.etsy.com/shop/paperandyarn]. The owner is awesome, and the shop has a great open and welcoming feel to it. It's the kind of place that's nice to go visit and sit and craft for awhile. So if any of you reading this happen to be in this region of Ohio, the shop is located in Minster and you should definitely visit. And, she's carrying tatting supplies! SQUEE!

Along with this, comes the even bigger news. Kat, the owner of aforementioned shop, has asked me to be the official tatting instructor for the shop. So I'm now dedicated to teaching at least one class every couple of weeks, as well as selling goods in the shop. That's right, people. I'm actually selling tatting that I've made. This is a first for me, so we'll see how it goes.

Doctor, Doctor

I was doing so good on keeping up with all my various projects. And then I caught a bug. A very nasty, persistent bug. It's had me up late at night, hunched over in frustration, cursing up a storm. That's right. I caught the Summer Sewing Bug!

It started out of necessity, when we were hit with a sudden bought of hot weather [which has since vanished, but that's besides the point.] and I realized that Rhy didn't have a single pair of shorts that would last him the summer. The leftovers from last summer he did have were barely squeezing by, literally. And then, inspiration. Am I or am I not a crafter? Who needs to go buy 20$ shorts that take less than a yard of material when I have a sewing machine?! So, I bought a few half yards of awesome material and got to sewing. And was immediately hooked.

I've made him two pairs already, and have enough material for two more. But I don't think I'll be able to stop there. They are positively the CUTEST SHORTS EVER. And, of course, as soon as I have something really awesome to share... I can't find my camera. So until the gnomes bring it back, you will just have to take my word for it. But trust me. They really are.

Now does anyone else need some handmade kids clothes? Cause I'm having a blast with these, and I'll take any excuse to keep this bug going. :)

About Celeste

After getting some feedback from some people, it came to my attention that there were some issues with clarity on the Celeste pattern. I wrote in a way that made sense to me, not really thinking about the fact that I tat differently than most people I know. I do apologize for any confusion anyone had.

In the previous version of the pattern, I had labeled everything with two colors. These colors indicated which color of thread was being used to make the stitches, which I labeled simply "shuttle one, shuttle two." [Again, it made sense to me...]

My aunt was kind enough to revise the pattern for me, and rewrite in a way that would be easier to follow. [Thank you!!] Here is the revised edition:

Celeste

Weekend

Well, I spent the entire weekend tatting, and have ended up with nothing but a pile of cut ends to show for it. Frustrating. The good news is that I have lots of ideas brewing, from all my experimentation. None of them are what I needed though. Still, the work goes on.

It has been decided that rather than work on my new book idea, we should finish the book we started almost four years ago. "We" being my great aunt and myself. Some of you probably know my aunt by her pen name, Rozella Linden. Needless to say, the book has lots of really cool stuff in it. Very excited that we'll actually be finishing it!

The rest of my weekend consisted of crazyness. Culminated by the house getting hit by lightning [again] and knocking out all our internet and cable service. I'm so thankful that none of our electronics got fried!

I also made a few sales over the weekend on my book. That makes me ridiculously happy. :D Thank you everyone!

That about sums up my weekend. How was yours?

.:Sparrow

Happy Early International Tatting Day!

As promised, I have a pattern for you all. Consider it an early present for International Tatting Day, which is tomorrow. This pattern will also be shared with the online tatting class by Georgia Seitz, tomorrow at 3 pm and 8:30 pm ET.

To join the free online tatting classes, send your name, email address, home town and country to AKTATTER@aol.com. The regular class meets on Mondays 3 and 8:30pm ET (New York time.) The beginners class meets on Thursdays 3 and 9 pm ET. The question and answer session and needle tatting is at 2:30 and 8PM ET (1/2 hour before the regular class.) There is also a Spanish speaking class on Saturdays with Wally Sosa.

You may recognize this star pattern from this post. Georgia asked me to make it available for her class, so as a bonus you all get it too. I simplified it a bit, specifically the way the colors work, so hopefully it's not too confusing for anyone.

Here's the pdf:

[link removed; see below]

I was a bit rushed with this one, so if anyone finds any mistakes or has problems please let me know.

.:Sparrow

[ETA: There was indeed some issues with this pattern. See post here for more info.]

Staying Behind

Yet another year is going by, and I will be missing out on the Finger Lakes tatting convention. Were I going, this would be the day that I'd be leaving. Though I'm a little sad that I can't go, again, I wish all my friends (and family) who are going a wonderful time. I hope to be there next year, perhaps with more books to sell.

I do know that my great aunt, Ruth, will be taking along a few copies of my beginner's book to sell. So if anyone going wants a copy, but doesn't want to wait on shipping, she's the person to see.

And as a sort of consolation prize to myself, I suppose, I have a pattern to give you all later today. I'll wait until after my aunt stops through on her way to Hector before posting it though. She always inspires me, and I may have a multitude of other things to show you as well.

Until then I will have another cup of coffee [or two, or three] and try to wake up the rest of the way. *yawn*