How a Bunny Became a Sun

I decided that in order to become a better tatter, I need to tat every day. One of the ways I figured out how to do this was to sign up for some online tatting classes. I've re-joined the Georgia Seitz online class that meets on Mondays as well as Sue Fuller's tatting designer class that meets on Tuesdays. You can find out more information about both classes and others HERE.

There are a couple of projects going on in the tatting designer class right now. One of the projects is to design a bunny. The other project is to design something that is outdoors/Springtime. Both seemed easy enough projects. I decided to start with the bunny.

Google searches and sketches got me to thinking about what kind of bunny I really wanted to make. I thought about the different types of bunnies out there. While most would go for the obvious cute bunny with the floppy ears and cotton ball tail, I just couldn't wrap my mind around that image.

My bunny seemed a bit more round and more puff rather then fluff. It was looking more like a dust bunny rather then a cuddly bunny.

Out came the needles and thread as I tried to figure out how to put the pieces together.

Well, my first attempt did not go well and I ended up with something that looked more like a four-eyed mutant bunny that just escaped from a science lab.

Bunny design epic fail. Or is it?

But wait, do my eyes deceive me, or do I see another design hidden within this mutant bunny?

Yes, I would have to bring this pattern all the way around to see what would come of it.

Lizbeth size 20 thread color #139 Fruit Fizz

Well, well, well, what do we have here. A respectable looking snowflake. But it felt like I could do some more with this snowflake. So I decided that I would file this particular design away for later. Now onto playing with the piece a bit more. Maybe adding some levels to the rings for interest.

Lizbeth size 20 thread, color #656 Wedgewood Dk

Oooooh! Now I was really on to something. What if I changed the position of the small and large rings? Maybe less picots in the center? Hummm...

Lizbeth size 20 thread color #688 Seagreen Dk

I really started to like what I was seeing. And extremely impressed with my own design skills. 

Now I just needed to find the right thread to really pull it off the image that was coming through.

Lizbeth size 20 thread color #100 Falling Leaves

Ta Da! A cute little sun burst to shine bright and warm the day.

But what of the bunny, you ask? Well, it took making a sun to show me how to make this little dust bunny. Simple and quick to tat. Look at its wide open eyes, plump little cheeks and a very dust-bunnish body. Isn't he just adorable?

Lizbeth size 20 thread color #678 Olive

Now, I'm off to write down the patterns for both. 

Boy Toy's Failed Attempt at Design

Well, I am happy to say that another one of my designs have been accepted by a yarn company!

I've just mailed off the completed garments from the other yarn company and working on swatches for a few more submission deadlines coming up.

It feels good to have some work to do and get paid for doing it. Like my Theatre teacher often told me- "The only real difference between a professional and an amature is a paycheck".

The interesting part about all this is trying to get my Boy Toy to  understand the whole process of me being paid to play with yarn.

Boy Toy: So, let me get this straight. You draw some shit on paper, turn it in to some company and they pay you for it?

Liver Chick: Well, that's part of it.

Boy Toy: So, I could get paid for drawing shit?

Liver Chick: It's not shit. I draw pretty pictures.

Boy Toy: Okay, so lets say I draw some pretty shit on paper and send it in,....

Liver Chick: Stop calling it shit! Call it 'stuff' or something.

Boy Toy: Alright. So I draw some pretty shitty stuff on paper and turn it in. Then they pay me for it?

Liver Chick: Say that five times fast.

Boy Toy: Pretty shitty stuff, pretty shitty stuff, pretty shitty....

Liver Chick: No. You actually have to 'make' what you draw and give instructions on how you made it so other people can make it too.

Boy Toy: Well, that's easy. I'll just give it to you to make.

Liver Chick: Oh, how nice of you, honey. Make me do all the work while you get all the money? I don't think so. If I do the work, then I get the money.

Boy Toy: No, that's not how it works. Remember, we're married. What's mine is mine and what's yours is mine.

Liver Chick: Um, I think that's my line, honey.

Boy Toy: No, I remember specifically in our vows that you are to honor and obey me and give me all your money.

Liver Chick: Maybe those were the vows you heard when you got drunk and married that hooker in Vegas, but that is not how it goes in this house. If you get a design accepted by a yarn company then you're gonna have to pick up your knitting loom and knit it yourself.

Boy Toy: But honey, you love me. And you suppose to do nice things for the people you love. So, if I get a design accepted, you'll do it for me, right?

Liver Chick: Only if you agree to clean the toilets for a month.

Boy Toy: Never mind.

The Pleasure of the Process

I was looking through my sketch books this morning and was blown away at the amount of ideas I have sketched and collected in just a year. I find the very process of coming up with ideas to be just as exciting as seeing the final results knitted up.

This got me to thinking about the notebooks of other designers and after a search on Flickr, I was very pleased to find some designers willing to give us a peek into their sketch books and design process. May you be inspired to pick up your pen and pad and create something new.

[caption id="attachment_891" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="photo by litlnemophoto by: have you any wool?photo by jessfir"][/caption]

 

photo by MaryJaneM

 

[caption id="attachment_894" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="photo by The Bacanes"][/caption]