Tag: angels

The trouble with Angels

I’ve been thinking for a while now about making a material angel with tatted wings.  I finally sat myself down and did it. 
I started with the wings, which would determine the size of the rest of the angel. I had two shuttles already wound with Lizbeth white size 20 thread so I could just get started with my idea for wings.  They were turning out pretty much as imagined when I noticed something a little odd.  They already looked a little dirty.
No, I had clean hands, just two colors of thread.  What I had thought were two shuttles with color #601 white, in reality were one of #601 and the other of #602 Natural.  Things were going so well and I was so far along that I decided I wouldn’t stop but keep going, so finished the wings.  
Then it was on to the body, which I made of denim from a pair of jeans.  I spent a lot of time cutting down the material to the right size and getting it shaped into the body.  For as small as this is, the denim was hard to work with.  Instead of sewing the back together I used fabric glue.  Then I had to get the neck just right so it looked good with the head bead.  Again, if I had used a lighter weight material it would have been easier.
The front tatted piece is a circle, attached to the wings in the back, which are glued to the body.  I left a twisted picot back there – I’ll have to work on that. The simple rings and chains at the bottom of the skirt are glued on, which also helps to keep the denim from fraying without a hem. The halo is a tatted ring with an outside round of chains with beads, which makes it pointed. This halo is not the first one I tried, but about the third or fourth.
The finished size of this angel is about four inches tall.  The body is stiff enough that it can stand by itself, but then the head falls off because it’s on the thread but not held tight to the body.  I think I need to find another way to keep it there, whether a knot or a touch of glue.  The wings aren’t stiffened but they might need to be.  I’ll be watching to see if they start drooping. 
Yes, I’m lazy and used glue instead of sewing the tatting on.  This is a prototype and I just wanted to get it done. I learned a lot doing this one, things to do differently next time and things to do the same.  If it was for someone besides myself I might – maybe – sew on the tatting.  Time will tell. Overall I’m happy with my angel. I’m just hoping the next one – when, if – doesn’t take so long!
I’m call this #8 of this round of the 25 Motif Challenge.  It was quite the challenge to finish.

edited 10/16/12 to mention wings were not stiffened.
“But men must know, that in this theatre of man’s life it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on.” Francis Bacon

Tatting for Special Days

These angels are ‘Tiny Angel #12’ from 15 Tiny Tatted Angels by Patricia Ann Rizzo.
Tiny Angel #12    Pattern by Patricia Ann Rizzo
I tatted these angels for two of my aunts for Mother’s Day.  They’re both Tiny Angel #12 but the one on the right I modified just a little bit.  (I sometimes can’t help myself, just can’t keep myself from making changes.) They are in Lizbeth #671, Christmas Red in size 20.  I like to give my aunts tatting but things that can be hung up or worn – they don’t need anymore stuff laying around than I do.  And it made it possible to get them done in time for Mother’s Day 🙂 
The other tatting I did was the pin for my mother’s birthday using the dragonfly I showed last week.  But it is such a light color it needed a darker color behind it. What better background for a dragonfly than leaves?  
Leaves © Wanda Salmans

These are made in Häkelgarn #2015, size 20.  I had to look through my entire stash of thread to find a green that would look good with the dragonfly and also the scarf that I was hoping it would go with.   Christmas green was definitely out, it was much too bright. In truth, I don’t have a lot of shades of green, but I do have a lot of thread that I had to dig through.  This was a perfect choice.

I know there are leaf patterns out there but I was running out of time, so, as usual, I tried to re-invent the wheel – I made up my own.  I was also going to use the Catherine Wheel join to make the edges smooth – think the beautiful designs of Marilee Rockley – but just couldn’t get them to co-operate.  Then I realized that the ragged edge looked pretty good on a leaf (at least I think so). So I made then next one just like it.

And then I put them together.

Dragonfly pattern by Jon 2010

My mother was very happy with this.  As you can see, I didn’t find the long hat pins I was looking for, but this worked.  I can see this being used as a scarf pin, too. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of the scarf I gave my mother for Mother’s Day, which was the inspiration for the pin in the first place.  Oh, well, it looks good on the hat, too.

I didn’t get the cup done yet.  It’s all laid out, the tatting ready to be glued down, but that’s as far as I’ve got. It should take long now, but I’m running out of time before work, so it will have to be for another day – again.

The DragonFly Symbolizes Maturity and a Depth of Character
The dragonfly, in almost every part of the world symbolizes change and change in the perspective of self realization; and the kind of change that has its source in mental and emotional maturity and the understanding of the deeper meaning of life.

The traditional association of Dragonflies with water also gives rise to this meaning to this amazing insect. The Dragonfly’s scurrying flight across water represents an act of going beyond what’s on the surface and looking into the deeper implications and aspects of life.


http://www.dragonfly-site.com/meaning-symbolize.html

May is Celiac Awareness Month.  The following information is from celiac.com.
Symptoms of Celiac Disease (as if it wasn’t bad enough by itself!)

Celiac Disease can appear at any time in a person’s life. In adults, the disease can be triggered for the first time after surgery, viral infection, severe emotional stress, pregnancy or childbirth. CD is a multi-system, multi-symptom disorder. Symptoms vary and are not always gastrointestinal (GI). GI symptoms can often mimic other bowel disorders.
Infants, toddlers and young children with CD may often exhibit growth failure, vomiting, bloated abdomen, behavioral changes and failure to thrive.

CLASSIC SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE

  • Abdominal cramping, intestinal gas
  • Distention and bloating of the stomach
  • Chronic diarrhea or constipation (or both)
  • Steatorrhea – fatty stools
  • Anemia – unexplained, due to folic acid, B12 or iron deficiency (or all)
  • Unexplained weight loss with large appetite or weight gain

OTHER SYMPTOMS

  • Dental enamel defects
  • Osteopenia, osteoporosis
  • Bone or joint pain
  • Fatigue, weakness and lack of energy
  • Infertility – male/female
  • Depression
  • Mouth ulcers
  • Delayed puberty
  • Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
  • Migraine headaches

SOME LONG-TERM CONDITIONS THAT CAN RESULT FROM UNTREATED CD

  • Iron deficiency anemia
  • Early onset osteoporosis or osteopenia
  • Vitamin K deficiency associated with risk for hemorrhaging
  • Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
  • Central and peripheral nervous system disorders – usually due to unsuspected nutrient deficiencies
  • Pancreatic insufficiency
  • Intestinal lymphomas and other GI cancers (malignancies)
  • Gall bladder malfunction
  • Neurological manifestations