Here are a couple of motifs that I am going to use in my new book "Tiaras and Headdresses".

My idea is to show that the same motifs can be put together in different ways to achieve a different look.
In these pictures, the motifs are simply placed together for the camera. I will eventually wire them and then tape them together, probably with some little fill-in daisies as well.

Headdress motifs

Here are a few motifs I have come up with for the latest book of patterns. I shall show how to assemble them into both a hair slide and a corsage, showing that the same motif can be used in more ways than one.

Tatting time again

At last I can get back to my tatting. Boy have I missed it.....but I suppose that it will be all the more pleasurable after the break.

Now, do I continue with the tatting tiaras or have a go at Jane's TIAS (tat if and see)? Hmmmm, I'm spoilt for choice!

Tiaras assembled

While I'm waiting for my new wool to arrive I thought I would finish off a couple of tiaras.

I have attached the tatting to the headband using fine jewellery wire. The left one I added pearl beads at the same time. This could also be done for the one on the right and I think it would benefit from it....what do you think?

After I had assembled the tiaras I felt that they were not stiff enough - I had used "Fraycheck" - and so I dipped the tatting in full strength PVA glue, wiped off the excess with a damp cloth and reshaped the tatting by moulding them against curmpled alluminium foil. The stiffness is now perfect!

Project "Tiara" started!

Following the request to make a Tiara pattern book, I have made a start on the designs.

The creamier colour is a size 20 thread and 4mm pearl beads and the one in the top left of the picture is done with a perle size 12 and tiny beads with a silver centre.

I have now soaked the pieces of tatting in a stiffening solution and when they are dry I will attach them each to a headband.

The new book will also contain headdresses/fascinators and corsages. The first one is almost ready to assemble. I will post a pic when it is done.

Beaded Split Ring Tiara

Some time ago I posted about designing a bridal tiara for my future daughter-in-law....I was playing around with some motifs, but had to put them aside while Christmas and New Year came and went.

I picked up the project again a couple of days ago and this is what I have come up with. I only have to stiffen it, but I thought I would photograph it first to show a before and after.


I have used a thick shiny thread, that was not easy to work with, but looks really sparkly (the photo does not really pick the sheen up) and 6mm and 3mm sunrise pearl beads.

I will post again when I have stiffened and shaped it.

Tiara motifs

In a previous post I told you about our future daughter-in-law being diagnosed with breast cancer. Well, it was supposed to be good news, as there was no lymph involvement, and she would only have to have radiotherapy after the lump was removed. But it now turns out that she is HER2+, and for those who do not not understand what this means (which I didn't until recently) it is not good news! HER2+ means that she has the most agressive form of cancer and therefore will have to have the most aggressive form of treatment! Chemo, radiotherapy and Herceptin....the whole kit and kaboodle!

She had been growing her hair for the wedding, Sept 4 2010, but of course, will now loose all her hair. She had it cut short last week so that loosing it would not be so traumatic! It looks fantastic and she is so pleased, because by the time the wedding comes round her hair will have grown to this length at least. We have all assured her that we think it suits her better than when it was longer! And....hand on heart.....we all really mean this! It suits the shape of her face so well - it gives her that urchin look!

Now that I've got all that off my chest, the reason for the tiara motifs is this. I was always going to make DIL's tiara anyway, so I thought, to cheer her (and myself) up a bit I would make a start on the design. The pictures show my doodles so far. They are a long way from the finished article - I may not use anything I have done so far! LOL - but any feedback/comments/suggestions from my valued tatting friends and followers would be most welcome. My tentative idea is to make a larger motif for the centre, with smaller motifs on either side, and maybe even smaller again, petering out. I must mention that DIL is only small with a cute little face, so the whole thing has to be on the smaller side. When I get the final design right, I shall be using real crystals, so that it sparkles - it will also match in with the sparkles on her wedding dress. I have several shapes of crystal including faceted droppers. My personal favourite motif, so far, is the centre white one in the top row, but I also love to use clunies. Oh what a wonderful dilemma, I'm loving every moment of it, especially because of the reason that I am doing it! It was always going to be a pleasure, but now its magnitude is a thousand fold!