Good news!  I think I've finally figured out a solution to replace Etsy for offering tutorials on Tabistry.  I didn't like the idea of just an online shop, and none of the options I found offered international, tax remittance, vetting abuse.

I've chosen Patreon, because it has more options to help build better communication, and options that I hadn't considered before.  After all, I'm not writing these to get rich.  I just want to be compensated enough to justify spending a portion of my time maintaining the shop and writing tutorials, when I could be inspiring others, answering questions, or even better playing with tabs and other crafts.  :)  Anyway, hope you'll take a minute to go over and check out the new shop.  Planning to get a Discord Server working to answer question more efficiently.

New Patreon Account

And, most of all, I want to apologize yet again for taking so long with this.  It's been over a year, and I was still holding out, wishing that Etsy would do the right things get things figured out.  Alas, I think the good old days are over.  We have new horizons to catch.

Esty Store "On Vacation" from Now Until After the New Year

Regretfully the popularity of my tutorials has caused me some problems with Etsy and Paypal.  I will definitely be back in early January, though sadly I may need a new venue other than Etsy.  I'm looking into a few store options and a site called Craftsy.  If anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear your opinion on the best way to go.

If you are curious why, you can read more about it on my general crafting blog here.

Tabistry Domed Hat Tutorial is now available on Etsy

This is a set of domed or rounded topped hats.  I'll have the flat-topped and open-topped tutorials available some day.  And, now all the steps and techniques necessary are included in the files.  No need to buy the Basics with my tutorials, unless you would like further techiniques.

You can find it here:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/159573974/tabistry-pop-top-domed-hat-pdf-tutorial

We've moved to Patreon!

Thanks for the patience!

It's raining tabs...

...Halleluiah! It's raining tabs... :)



Must apologized for the temporary break from tabistry. We just received a huge stash of tabs from our local recycler. They're the best. We hadn't been in for a while to deposit our cans, but they were continuing to save the tabs that people bring in. We normally only get a zip lock bag or two full every few months or so, but this trip it was something like 8-9 gallons! It's taken some time to clean and sort all of those and get them out of my crafting area. But, with some help, I'm finally back to making some tabistry. I was very please to see a few colored tabs mixed in there, too.

The timing of this couldn't be any better. I have a big tabistry project to complete that I volunteered to do for Ronald McDonald House in Kentucky. I'll be attempting to finish a hat, beach bag/lunch box, and a can koozie for their annual auction in a couple months.

In the mean time, if anyone near Texas is in need of some tabs, give me a holler. I think I'll have plenty to spare for a short time.

100th Etsy Purchase!!

Yay! I just received my 100th Etsy purchase today!



Congratulations to the lucky buyer! They purchased my POP TOP Hat Tutorial and Patterns. But, with it, they also received the "Basics" and a Sneak peek at the Purse Pattern I've been working on, too. (Actually, they requested the instructions for the purse.) I just happened to have it almost finished and was happy to oblige. ;)

I still promise I'll get this and a couple other tutorials up and available soon.

Up and Running with a Little Change of Plans

I created a discussion group. But, after discussing this with a few others around me, I decided against Yahoo groups mostly due to the inability the post comments on pictures. I've decided that Facebook might be a more common ground for everyone. It also has more useful features and probably more users than many other hosts.

Tabistry Group

Sorry, if any of you don't approve. I may move this to another site or just start another in the distant future, so keep me informed of your opinions as we start this.

Now, start sharing all you fantastic projects and ideas! We now have a place for everyone to share!

Possible Tabistry Discussion Group??

Want to share tips on weaving patterns?
Need help getting started?
Need suggestions on how to create a custom piece?
Short on supplies and need more?

If anyone is interested in having a group to share progress and new techniques for tabistry, I'm thinking of starting one. It would be a great place to share supplies. I know many people would like to help by sending tabs to those who need them. I, myself, have many styles of tabs that I rarely use that I'd be happy to share.

I'm still on the fence about what host to use for this. So, please contact me if you have a preference. At the moment I'm considering Tribe.net or Yahoo Groups. I've never moderated a group before. If you know of a better place, by all means let me know. Just want to make it convenient for everyone.

"Tabistry" Made the Boston Globe!

Well, what do ya know?! The word "tabistry" was chosen as a favorite new words of 2009 by the writer of this article:

The year that was - The Boston Globe

Image Viewing Problem

Yikes! Bandwidth Exceeded!

You may have noticed some of my images aren't showing up these days. I just wanted to let everyone know that this is a temporary problem. Should be back to normal around the 18th of this month. I was using Photobucket.com to host my images, and it seems they only allow a limited amount of traffic every month for non pro accounts. If this happens again, I will move the images to a new host. Or, I may have to consider taking up donations to open a pro account in the future.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Mieljolie

Tabistry Grid

For everyone's convenience, I've created a simple printable grid sheet to help in the layout of custom tabistry patterns. At the link below is an 8.5x11" PDF (105K) of the grid for common small square and round tabs. You should be able to layout staggered scale patterns as well as grid patterns using this sheet*.



http://www.box.net/tabistry

* The thickness and stretchiness of your weaving material may slightly change the dimensions of your finished piece.

Tabistry Tutorial Now Available at Etsy.com

Well, I've finally gone and done it. I posted my "Tabistry Basics" Tutorial on Etsy.com (We've moved to Patreon!) . In the near future, I will be putting up some of my patterns, as well. I've had so many people requesting to purchase my patterns, I had to get something up. I really hate charging for it. I have been enjoying the fun of swapping with others for crafts. I love all the unique items we have received. I truely cherish each of them. I still plan to offer the swap option, but right now my swaps are kinda getting hard to manage. :)



Hope it goes well and is useful to others. If you do purchase it, I'd love to hear any comments on how I can make it better and as easy to follow as possible.

Proximidade Blog Award

I just received a blog award from Jamie Moore of Creepy Creations. Ahh, how sweet. (Though, I feel she's a bit biased. **nudge nudge, wink, wink** ;) ) I tried looking up the history of this award, but found very little information about its origins. However, it sounds like a very nice thing to do for others. So, from what I can tell we are supposed to include the following descriptive text about the award:

"This blog invests and believes in PROXIMITY--nearness in space, time, and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!

The instructions then say, "Deliver this award to eight bloggers who will choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

Here are my list of bloggers (in no particular order) that I think deserve to receive an award for their more than "charming" sites.

• Crafterella (oohmybees on Craftster) at http://crafterella.blogspot.com/ for sharing all her wonderful techniques and instructions for making crafts.
  


• Bethany (Eliea on Craftster and Etsy) at http://mrsmulticraft.blogspot.com/ for her helpful advice in crochet and knitting (especially loom knitting) and other crafts.
  


• Scott at http://www.stolloween.com/ for his incredibly inspiring paper mache work.
  


• Marisa at http://www.radiobastet.com/ for sharing all the awesome vintage bellydance music.
  


• Marie at http://my12grimmauldplace.blogspot.com/ for her intricate work in Harry Potter miniatures.
  


• Veronica at http://voknits.com/ for her beautiful and creative knitting patterns.

And, though the following have already received this award, I would also like to include these exceptional ladies:

• Brenda at http://loomlady.blogspot.com/ for sharing all her creative projects, techniques and knowledge in loom knitting.
  


• Jodi at http://creagerstudios.blogspot.com/ for her and her husband's incredible attention to tiny details in their fabulous miniature creations.

Thanks to all of you for your ingenuitive contributions to the world of creative arts and inspiring so many of us to try new things.

Tiffany (Mieljolie)

Visitor's Gallery

Links to show off all the wonderful Tabistry works shared by others.

Original works:

http://attackcatdesign.blogspot.com.

Lina made her senior prom dress out of tabs.

Jessica and her boyfriend made a warrior outfits for Halloween.

Joani made her man an awesome coif.

Joani also made a clever and useful Market Bag.

Rob shares two 100% recycled aluminum warrior woman outfits with us.

Ev crafted up not one, but THREE epic mermaid costumes for a show!

Check out some of K. Dianne's tabistry crown and other jewelry pieces at http://cactusmoon.weebly.com/tabistry.html

Works based off of my patterns:

(crafterella, oohmybees on craftster) based on my turkish vest pattern. More pics can be seen on her blog at: http://crafterella.blogspot.com.

my daughter's six year old cousin's first attempt at a tabistry flower (with a little help from her mom) based on my flower favor pattern.

With a little help Beth made a corset for her daughter based on my pirate corset.

If you would like to have your own creations displayed here, just send me images or a link to my email posted in my profile. Please include a little info about yourself and/or a brief description about your piece.

Thank You for Your Support

I wanted to take a moment to publically say THANK YOU to all of you who have sent tabs our way. We really appreciate the thought and effort.

I've been pretty busy lately with other craft projects before and during the holidays. So much so that my true obsession (can tabs) has had to take a back seat. I have lots of idea planned, but need to get my tabs collected and get started.

I'd also like to add that we are constantly in need of all shapes and sizes of can tabs for our creations. Anyone who has tabs they'd like to contribute, we would be extremely grateful to you. They can be sent to:



Can Tabs
c/o Mieljolie
504 Hwy 276
West Tawakoni, TX 75474