Thursday, December 6, 2012

3-D Christmas Ball Ornaments

I’m finally getting around to showing my 3-D ball ornaments from the early ‘90s. All three are the same pattern, but the hanger is at a different spot on one of them (next ball), which makes it look different.

I prefer showing the ‘flower’ pattern as the focus, such as on this ball and another one.

It’s difficult to see, but there is a pearl bauble hanging in the center. If you enlarge the photo you’ll see it more clearly.







Here is the same ball pattern, but showing hens and chicks in the center.

This was done with a size 30 thread, and I have to be careful handling this one.  The other two are done in size 20, which makes them sturdier.













Here are all three together.

I also put glitter glue on the top one, after stiffening it, and it really sparkles on the tree. It also has a clear ‘crystal’ bauble in the center.











As with most things I make, there’s a long story involved with these, but I’m in between shows right now and don’t have time to explain. I know that’s frustrating for you, and it is for me, too. But I wanted to show you my now 20-year-old creations and that they CAN keep their shape after stiffening - although there are some tricks of the trade involved.   I'll eventually discuss these techniques!

Vicary Mansion

Window looking into the Gift Shop near the Visitors’ Entrance.
We had a great time at the Vicary Mansion last Saturday (2-8 pm).

The weather was perfect and there were a lot of visitors. There is always interest in our tatting, and we had more sales than usual!

The mansion was beautifully decorated. Admission is free (although donations are always welcome!) and the staff knocks
themselves out to provide free cookies and punch to the visitors! (It’s like going to a wedding, there were so many varieties of cookies!) Also, they provide a wonderful meal for us vendors and demonstrators, which is greatly appreciated!

They have a children’s craft area, and there are huge, live trees in most of the rooms, including ours, which was on the second floor. I don’t know how they get those tall trees up the big staircase!

I’m a little rushed right now because the big 2-day event is coming up this weekend (Sat. and Sun.) at Old Economy. I’m excited because we’re going to be in the large (huge, actually) Feast Hall with all the other vendors. The first time we were in that hall upstairs was for the 2006 Christmas event when they had a “Civil War Fair” and went all-out to create a mid-1860s feel to the room, complete with colorful banners hanging from the ceiling and a band playing music of the era. There were many Civil War enactors in costume (women and men), and it was a magical evening!

So far, the weather looks decent for the weekend.

 
 
 

18 comments:

  1. LOVE the first one even though when I clicked on it the picture was ENORMOUS!!! SO, pretty.

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  2. Thanks, Jane! Thanks for stopping by! As for the photos, I opted out of the 'lightbox' feature and went back to the original photo system on Blogger. Apparently it depends on the computer and browser as to how large the photo is! On my IE9 browser on my laptop, on first click I get a slightly larger photo, then on a second click a larger one but not too big. On my Android tablet, the photo goes to very large right away. On my netbook with IE9, I get the same effect as on my laptop. I know you have a MAC, so I guess it goes huge right away! The funny thing is, on my Easter post about my Ukranian egg, you commented that the photo was too small! But on my computer it did the usual two-step enlargement. Possibly you can make the photo 'just right' with the zoom-in/out button? Photos are definitely tricky things!!

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  3. Oh, Kathy, life is just SO complicated and confusing at times!!!! Very strange that they show up as different sizes in different places!!! Still as long as you are blogging and I can read your splendid posts (and see your stunning work) it really doesn't matter, does it?

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  4. How did you get the ornaments so perfectly shaped? I'm impressed!

    I also live in Beaver County, and would like to get involved with other tatters in the area. Can you give me some information, please? You can e-mail me at esoraleak at yahoo dot com.

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  5. Your Christmas balls are so very pretty! I hope you'll have lots of fun at your big event.

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  6. Your Christmas balls look beautiful and I am sure they are very popular.
    I too have a craft fair on Saturday, a new place for me and one on Wednesday somewhere else. It's amazing how much work goes into getting ready for a fair
    Margaret

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  7. Oh, how beautiful! I especially love seeing pearls involved... I love pearls!

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  8. What splendid Christmas ornaments, Kathy! I'll bet they make your tree so beautiful.
    Hope the big event is fun and fabulous!

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  9. I love those Christmas balls and look forward to hearing how you made them. I did once read about something made on a balloon that was popped afterwards, I guess that's a possibility. Glad your event went well, I hope the next one does too.

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  10. Beautiful Christmas ball ornaments.

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  11. Thank you for the lovely comment you have left on my blog, I have scheduled post on my blog up to next Wednesday as I like you will be busy over the weekend and I have another craft fair on Wednesday.
    I love your craft balls and would love to know how you did them.
    I hope you have a great day tomorrow, like you we have rain too, but it's going to be very cold.
    Margaret

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  12. Hi Kathy,
    Nice work! I was given your name in an attempt to plug me into a tatting group or guild in the southwestern PA area. I am new to tatting and thought it would be fun to join others for the company and wisdom! My email is mistypost@yahoo.com.
    Thanks!

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  13. Beautiful work Kathy! Did you ever get to writing a pattern for the precious Victorian Slipper? If you have post about it, I must have missed it. I try and check often. Its been a few years since I have asked about it...thought I would check in. Hope your Christmas was Merry and Happy New Year to you and yours! Blessings.

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  14. Thank you for the compliment on my sweater. I have made about 5 or 6 of her sweaters. I wear all of mine in the Winter. They are all better than a bulky coat and they keep me warm enough. I also have about 5 or 6 of her books. I bought mine years ago when they were still in the knitting store to buy. So I have had mine for years and years and the some of the sweaters I have made I have also had for years and years and they are holding up wonderfully. I have never met Alice but would love to. I would love to see your picture of Alice with the bear. Maybe you can email me the picture. Do you have my email address? You can get my email address from my website. That would be fun to see her picture. I also have "Beadwork" on the needles but is truly a hard pattern to knit...you have to concentrate really hard with each row you knit. I would love to You hear from you. Send me an email.

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  15. You mentioned over on Allison's blog that you've found more than 130 tatting bloggers. When I first started looking a couple of years ago, I could find only three. Now I've found a handful! It would be lovely if you'd share your list.

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  16. Beautiful work Kathy! Did you ever get to writing a pattern for the precious Victorian Slipper? If you have post about it, I must have missed it. I try and check often. Its been a few years since I have asked about it...thought I would check in. Thanks!

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