Small Oval Pendants

I bought some small oval metal pendants (1-1/2” x 1”) at a craft store for the purpose of putting tatting in them, although I had to remove the oval gem in the center so I could insert my black velvet paper background.   (You can see the original pendant in the last photo below.)

 

PENDANT 1

Lizbeth Spring Garden, size 20
The doodad was sewn on afterwards and not tatted in.

This pendant was a total surprise, as it was not planned at all.  I was merely practicing the basics of making a ‘fluffy’ round rosette with picots (like those pretty ones Allison has been posting about recently at ‘Allison’s Tatting Blog’  http://tattingfarmchick.blogspot.com/2012/09/frilly-rose-pattern.html ).

I stopped after the ‘picot round’ because  I ran out of thread on the ball. (I knew that would happen; I was just trying to see how the rosette is generally constructed, as I’ve never done one before.)   Also, the chain with the picots was not ‘tight’ enough,  so I would have stopped there anyway.

However, I thought that this little ‘scrap’ of tatting would fit nicely into the small pendant (although I had to stretch it a little to make it fit the oval shape), and it looked good  in these colors.  Then I thought I’d add some bling with a little ‘doodad’ which has convenient holes in it for sewing onto the tatting.  

This is what I love about tatting!  What might otherwise have been a scrap piece became something useful and attractive!

 

PENDANT 2

Lizbeth Turquoise, size 20

With simple tatted chain in the filigree ‘rim’

 

This pendant WAS planned and is a tribute to Rachel Jackson (The Piney Woods Tatter http://pineywoodstatter.blogspot.com/),  who inspired me to learn to do the interlocking rings.

In addition, Rachel seems to have perfected the concept of ‘layered tatting’, where she beautifully enhances a tatted motif (or even commercial jewelry),   with several rounds of overlapping and interwoven tatted chains.  She also artistically uses beads to  enhance her designs.   She has a way of visualizing how she will ‘construct’ this layered work, and creates one-of-a-kind pieces!  She especially loves to enhance exquisite brooches (such as cameos) that she finds at estate sales.  Her work is amazing!    

 

I obviously didn’t do any fancy ‘layered tatting’ on the metal rim of my pendant here - just one row of chains to ‘match’ the interlocking rings; but I’m fascinated by the concept and hope to try it sometime.   This would be the ‘foundation’ row.

Here is the original pendant.  I’m always on the lookout for pendants with pretty frames around them,  having empty or ‘removable’ centers so I can put my velvet paper inside as a backing to my tatting.

 I  prefer that the pendants come with bails attached, and appreciate the larger bails, so that a variety of necklaces  can fit through them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although I love Fall and am glad to see some cooler weather come in (maybe a little too cool?),  I’m not happy that it’s getting dark earlier in the evening.   It is difficult to believe we’re quickly approaching October!