Image Design

Setting up the images for the new shuttles takes on a life of it's own. I wanted to do something unusual and different. So I settled with incorporating three different programs into the process. The first is called "Apophysis". To explain it simply, a program that creates art using mathematics. The second is Poser, a program that uses 3d meshes and images to create unique figures. The final program is "Photoshop". This program puts the finishing touches on the images or puts composite files together.

Below are the first images that I have put together before resizing to fit on the shuttles themselves. 

I have enjoyed the process once again. It has been too long since my artwork has been able to come out this free. I believe that my new health and healing process has brought me back to a position where the creative juices are flowing once again.

If you want to leave feed back and tell me what you think, it would be appreciated.

Happy Tatting

Arial - The Tattered Faerie

Interesting Day Ending

The day started out like any other normal day. I spent much of my day playing around with my Silhouette Cameo that hubby got me for Christmas. Since going Gluten-free, I have gained several canisters of different types of flour. So a little vinyl and my cutter, I now have things labeled for easier use. I also discovered that I need a few more containers.

The mail car comes by dropping off the package I have been expecting for about a week. In opening up the package, inside I find the twenty shuttles that I had ordered. 10 Prym shuttles and 10 Metalicized Plastic with point shuttles. Below is the picture of the shuttles laid out on my desk before I unpacked them to work on.

I posted this picture both on my timeline and Tatting Shuttle Addicts on Facebook. Response to the post was quite overwhelming. I have not even decorated any of the shuttles and several people have expressed interest in purchasing them. I plan on decorating them in pairs with the pairs getting their own bag to be sent with them. 

Today will be be very busy, so I don't know if I will get to play with decorating them. I will just have to take today as it comes and see where I end up. The images that I will be using will be of my own design just so I don't have to deal with someone else's copyright issues. I am planning on making a one of a kind pair with the Doctor Who logo and one of the Doctors. I am not sure which one I will do yet but we shall see.

Well, that is all for today. I need to get my day started.

Happy Tatting

Arial - The Tattered Faerie

Life Changes, New Beginnings

I warn you now that the beginning of this post is not tatting related. Jump to the pictures if you don't want to read it.

What can I say for my blogging absence for so long?  I really find myself apologizing to those who read me for the absence. I have been busy, though, making some life altering changes. No, I have not had any medical emergencies come up in my life. But I did find myself going down a path that needed to be researched carefully. About 3 years ago I was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism. I received what my doctor thought to be sufficient treatment for this of synthetic thyroid hormone. However, this really did nothing but stop the weight gain and some of the hair falling out for me. I still felt tired and had good days and bad days with no real explanation for the issues I was facing. About a year ago when I went to the doctor, he ordered me to do the 1300 calorie diet thing, which I knew would not work. You see, I was already eating next to nothing and not losing a pound. I started then looking at books like "The Thyroid Solution" and "The Thyroid Diet". When I asked him about following this diet, his parting words to me were "I wish you wouldn't." Tell me this is real encouragement from my doctor. According to him, much of my exhaustion and other feelings of poor health were all in my head.

Last November, I started on a new journey looking for another doctor who would not just write off all of the other symptoms of poorly treated thyroid as "all in my head". I have finally found a couple of doctors who are willing to treat me as a whole person. I have also added to my health by changing the way that I eat. It has not been an easy journey but I have had to go to gluten-free cooking. I am so happy to have the support of my wonderful husband. We had to face the fact that cooking and living this way was going to be more expensive. My wonderment was actually increased when I found that my aches and pains actually diminished when I started eating this way. I began my journey of losing weight. I have not lost a lot because I am still dealing with imbalances in my hormones and unknown vitamin levels. I do have an appointment with a doctor at the end of this month with whom I hope to explore this further. I want to be fully diagnosed and fully treated to gain my health back.

There are some days when I struggle with making it through the day without a nap. I had brain fog where I would start something and then forget where I am going with it. Or I just don't have enough energy to complete the thought.

Enough of this rant. I will now get down to what I know you came here for: the tatting.

My tatting unfortunately has not been as prolific as I would have hoped for the Christmas season. But I did manage to complete two new ornaments for my tree.

I was trying to copy a pattern from a picture that I saw on Facebook which was this one.

I made several attempts to get the top part going right but later figured out that this was a larger ornament that what I was using. The picture below was one of the first or second attempt of the first few rounds to get the top part right.

The next picture is the side view of the one attempt that finally ended up on the ornament.

I also am including a bottom view of how I ended up fastening down the cover.

I have realized that the last picture I showed on my blog of the glass mat I had worked on was actually incomplete. So I show you now the completed mat, pressed and finished.

The bad thing about being in a fog with your health is that from time to time inspiration dries up and I just don't feel like tatting. I have struggled with trying to get back into tatting and designing. Guess that is all for the post now. Thanks for letting me rant and attempt to offer some tatting examples. I will still be working on my health and hope that I will be back to exploring new things in tatting soon.


Happy Tatting

Arial - The Tattered Faerie

PS. Since I first uploaded this draft, I have seen a very good doctor who is willing to work with me. I am looking forward to a new beginning this year with my health. It really is amazing when you find a doctor who is willing to listen to all that you have to say and help you look for a specific solution. I hope to have more tatting in future blogs for you to see. :D