Purple Picadilly Express. Thanks Sherry! If you didn't tat Sherry's TIAS you really missed out on a lot of fun ... and on this cute little train. Now I think it needs coal for the tender and a little guy waving from the caboose (which we don't have any more on trains around here -- very sad). Oh, if it needs a guy in the caboose, then it also needs an engineer in a cap! Hmmm....perhaps I shall keep it as a ghost train with ectoplasm energy. That's appropriate for the season. Drat. I just now realized I hooked my coal tender to the wrong place on the engine. Mine isn't the Picadilly Express, it's the Oopsadaisy Express. *sigh*
Exchanges are so much fun. First you get to figure out what you want to share with someone else. That means you get to pick through your stash and discover all the things you'd forgotten you have in there. Then you get to pick out about eleventy-million things and sort through those making little piles of nope-have-to-use-that-right-now, maybe, and no-way-why-did-I-buy-that. After that there's the refining of the maybe pile: "Ummmm...what are we exchanging?" I just participated in a shuttle exchange hosted by Alieen (also known as Wickedtats) of Wicked Nothings. I got the most wonderful shuttle from Marie McCarty! It's hand carved and so smooth! Look:
Isn't it pretty? That's a thread sample she also sent. I'm going to wind it on that shuttle and make something. What should I make? Picking a pattern is a whole 'nother problem. I just did send off a package to my exchange partner. I'm not telling who it is, because my partner should get to see it live before seeing it here, but this is what I sent:
I'm not trying to overdo it, but those two little Clover shuttles are ones that I decorated, and they are negative images of each other -- how could I break up a set? The thread is Lizbeth size 40 that my sister sprinkle-dyed. It's an interesting process using wet thread, dry dye, and a salt shaker. I hope my partner likes pink!
Whoa! Would you look at that? That's the most little-steam-engine-looking bicycle I've ever seen! There. Didn't I say it was a transformer? At least it transformed into something incredibly, delightfully charming and not a finger-biting monster. I downloaded Sherry's bonus -- and now my niece wants me to finish the whole thing. That sounds like a great idea to me!
During the time I completely ignored this blog, I was tatting. I just wasn't accomplishing much. To start with, here's a blue doily I worked on for quite a while. It's Lizbeth size 40 thread, and made without cut and tie rounds. It's all split rings and chains to move from one round to the next. It's also never been blocked (big surprise, that). It overlaps itself in several places and I don't think blocking is going to cure it. After all the time I spent on it, I got it to this point and just cut it off the shuttles and chucked it in the drawer with all the other stuff I don't know what to do with. I like the center -- most of the stuff I started during the last year has the same center. All these "oooo better idea" to move on weren't really such better ideas. I think some have potential. I think is one has potential -- but it might need a few cut and tie places to spread out the work and give the edge room to breathe. For now, it's going back in the drawer. ☺ I'm making mice!
Tatting while listening to audio books is what I call relaxation. I get home from work, get dinner out of the way, then park myself in my favorite chair. I pick up my lap desk covered with shuttles, patterns, strings and beads, stick the earbuds in and say, "Checking out!" Nobody bothers me then -- until it's time to go ride the stationary bike, that is.
Lots of crochet time
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I've spent a lot of time crocheting for the past two days. I finished
another cowl, which I have tucked away for next year.
Of course the leftovers went ...
Norty Blues 20250330 Episode 110
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https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-qike5-1868269 Welcome to episode 110
of Norty Blues. I’m your presenter Archie Archive and the entertainment
this we...
Almost Celtic, sort of
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I couldn't find my shamrock, so I wore this - and received a compliment!
This is one of my free patterns called "Vision Necklace" which you can find
o...
A bit of my history!
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It was waaaayyyy back when I was raising kids and working full-time that
this article was published in the local newspaper. I hope you can read
it!!!
W...
Amazon delivery at it's finest
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No. Not really.I ordered a shirt in January with an anticipated delivery
sometime in February or March. I wasn't bothered by a delay in receiving
the packa...
My Facebook Page
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Hello everyone.I have not been updating my blog for a while, posting more
on my Facebook page instead. I find it rather difficult to keep up with
writing...
Men On Boats
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I know I've been absent online for awhile now, but here's one of the big
reasons for that, I've been in rehearsals for a play. This is my first time
back o...
Black Choker
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I have notice a lot of girls and young women are wearing black lace
chokers and so I have made this one for Aimee Grace, my friend's
granddaughter.
Tatting from around the World
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Just completed a Tatted square that is on its way to Brussels, Belgium. It
will join many, many, other tatted pieces to be added to a Monument in
Brussels....
Playing Catchup
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I didn't mean to disappear again; it just kinda happened. I finished
tatting a magic square for my mom. I also worked on some crochet for my mom
as well. F...
A quilted baby basket order
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I had received a request from a new grandmother for her new grandchild. It
involves a basket, fabric (of course) and lace. A little bit
of crosshatch quil...
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I haven't posted awhile but maybe just maybe I will get back to it. Anyhow
I am excited to be a teacher at Palmetto's Tat Days this year. I will be
teachin...
New blog
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Dear All
Please note that I have started a new blog
at http://mycraftbubble.blogspot.sg/ to reflect my more diverse crafting
pleasures at this juncture.
...
Ice Drops getting to be stunning!
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Lace- Lovin' Librarian
sent me a great selection of her designs for more complicated Ice Drops.
This was the first that I chose to make.
She gave them names...
Bauble pattern
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I posted some time ago a Christmas bauble and I promissed to share the
pattern.
It is not dificult to do... except you want to do it the way I did it: with ...
Tea Cloth Update!
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It’s been a while since I’ve worked on the pattern for Section 1 of the Tea
Cloth, but I finally went back and added notes to all the pictures, added
some ...
Putting on cuffs
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No, I didn't get arrested.
I put tatted buttons on denim with a little lace and made cuffs for my
daughters for Mother's Day.
[image: Tatted buttons on 2...
Bobbins, shuttles and a cat...
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Here is James, offering to help with my gold lace braid.
And this is the aforementioned braid.
And here is a bit of land of lace's heart doily round one. ...
Instagram 500 Follower Christmas Giveaway!
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So excited! I have 500 followers on Instagram after being there only a few
short months. To celebrate I'm having a giveaway - on Instagram that is! If
you'...
Back to Blogland?
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Oh, you know me - I flit in and out of "blogland" - lately I can't seem to
find the time or motivation to post much. Most of the reason behind that
is I ...
Sora's Quest
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Hello Tatting and Blogger Land, I would like to recommend "Sora's Quest" by
T. J. Shreffler if you have not read it. It is a great fantasy book well
worth ...
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After a very long hiatus I have resurrected the Design Challenge with a bit
of a twist. The Design-Tat course was never intended to be more than a
first s...
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Time to Tat!
A minor miracle here as I’m able to tat for an hour at a time before my
right hand gives out.
I decided to finish the biggest piece I’d begu...
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I took a class today with the wonderful watercolorist Rena Brouwer!
Unfortunately, I didn't do it justice. She gave lots of great tips and
advice - I just ...
DIVINE MISINFORMATION
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Is it possible that Obama's removal of Gates from Defense has anything to
do with todays news the closing of our Borders?
While this is not exactly punny, ...
Lizbeth thread and some grumbles on postal fees
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My parcel from handy hands finally arrived last week but was unfortunately
stuck at my post office (yet again) for a couple of days - blasted another
USD$1...
And like Alice it just grow'd
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Got some nice variegated green, and decided to expand on my last piece.
Much smaller thread this time so it is about the same size.
All rings and chains ar...