Tat's All She Wrote

More Elegant Tatting Gems

2012-01-29T21:12:00.000-07:00

Yup -- been tatting, just not posting. The computer has been in use -- it's school science fair season. Wanna know how to clean a penny? Never mind.

I've done some more of the beautiful snowflakes from Jon Yusoff's book Elegant Tatting Gems. I'm still making them all in red and green DMC size 80 tatting thread, but they're no longer in order. I goofed on "Nilam" (joined a picot that shouldn't have been joined) and had to remake it -- goofed that one too (all the internal picots are too long) and now am going to have to find more red thread before I can finish any more at all. *sigh*
Not that all these others were perfect right out of the gate:

As you can see, I had some problems with Lazuardi. First, I wanted all of the round one loose threads out of my way -- I kept catching them in the rings I was making on the second round. Second, I didn't put in magic threads, so I sewed in the ends. Rather, I attempted to sew in the ends. What I really did was break the thread on the first round. I started over, but used the wrong size picot gauge and the long picots were just too long. The last one looks pretty good, though. When I was doing Kencana I made too many picots on the first red chain, so I did the same for all the others and then joined the bottom ones. It makes the snowflake a lot rounder. I did that one over too, and like the less rounded look of the original pattern much better. Not too many problems with the other four on this page, but I'm not telling how many times I unpicked some of the rings!

Drum Roll, Please!

2011-12-28T19:55:00.004-07:00

I've wondered from time to time if drum rolls are anything like cinnamon rolls -- maybe, but not so fattening, eh? Anyway, I found all thirty-two comments and asked the Random Number Generator at random.org to pick me a number. Wheeeee, the first and winning number was 9

Oh, dear -- she didn't want it! Not hook-ish enough. Yeah, that's why I'm giving it away. :)

Okay, back to the random number generator (I was tempted to just draw a number out of a hat -- that's pretty random, isn't it?). But -- I randomed a new winning number -- it's number 10, {Huh? That doesn't seem very random to me -- it's right after 9. I was tempted to keep pushing the button to see if it would give me 11 then 12 then 13 then 14...but I didn't think I could handle the stress.}

Congratulation, 10 -- who is:

Padded package with gift of no value coming up (they don't charge you import duty for something with no value do they??).

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-22T00:24:00.002-07:00

I hope you're all having a holiday. I'm going to enjoy mine because I don't have to work for six days. To celebrate and I'm giving away this shuttle. It's a white Clover shuttle covered with a bit of a fractal with glitter decoupage. If you like this shuttle, leave me a comment. Since I'm not working for six days, I'll get a random number picker to pick a random number long about the 28th of December. Happy Holidays!

Commenting for a chance to get this shuttle is closed -- commenting for any other reason is welcome!

And then there was October

2011-12-12T21:20:00.002-07:00

I totally forgot about October. I didn't do ANY tatting. Nope, none --- well, maybe some standing in lines. I crocheted most of October. The building engineer where I work came out to my dad's house and put up his new carport. It came in a box with a zillion parts. We helped, but he brought the know-how and the tools. Dad's old carport got blown upside down into the neighbor's backyard in a really bad windstorm (it was held down with a rail road rail -- not a wooden tie -- a steel rail!). That won't happen to the new one, unless it takes the driveway with it -- there are bolts about ten inches long and as big around as my thumb holding the thing down.

As a thank you, I crocheted an afghan for our engineer (who says he's always cold). This is my favorite full-size afghan pattern, it's easy to do and doesn't need fringe (which drives me nuts). It's made of worsted-weight polyester yarn so it can be tossed into the washer and the dryer.

For those who asked: This is "Lacy Chevron" from Leisure Arts Afghan Parade which is Leaflet 335. It's copyrighted 1984, so I don't know if it's still available.

Really Elegant Tatting Gems

2011-12-09T16:24:00.004-07:00

These are the snowflakes I've been making from Jon Yusoff's book Elegant Tatting Gems. I'm making them all in red and green DMC size 80 tatting thread. I'm also doing them in order. I've got seven and a half done. This is just the first seven, not the half.

Oh, one of them is NOT in DMC size 80 red and green threads. One of them is a Lizbeth size 20 pink and blue variegate. I suppose which one is rather obvious.

These are really great little snowflakes. They're all pretty and they are all done with basic techniques -- but when they're done they look so complex. Amazing, right?

Challenge 17

2011-12-07T22:22:00.001-07:00

Yeah, yeah, I know -- it was supposed to be DONE in one year not two or even ...ahem... three. Finally made it to Seventeen though.

Last May (yes, May), I made these green snowflakes from the Ariel pattern in The Tatter's Treasure Chest. They've been waiting until this week for the center bit and for getting stuck onto the Styrofoam ornament. My dad's been visiting us so it was a golden opportunity to tat and chat -- I tatted and chatted; dad just chatted. I made up the middle, and it didn't work quite like I envisioned, but I like it well enough not to take it off and start over!

Marking Time

2011-12-02T16:30:00.012-07:00

I belong to the Bar. Yeah, I know, scandalous. It's not an interesting bar, though -- it's the Paralegal Division of the Utah State Bar. To keep belonging to the bar I get to do 10 hours of Continuing Legal Education every year. Usually I go to the free "brown bag" seminars. That way the boss can't complain that I cost anything -- they're free and during lunch hour. I take my lunch and am gifted with a cookie, a drink and some esoteric knowledge.

Once a year they really splash out and give me $100 to go to the Fall Forum. I can get 80% of the hours I need in an evening and one day. This year I went to the evening performance of "A Midsummer Night's Mediation Tragedy." It was, too -- tragic that is. There's a reason lawyers become lawyers instead of actors. Don't get me wrong, they did a very nice job. However, every one of those litigators does a MUCH better acting job when they're standing in a courtroom, NOT in a dining room!

I take my tatting with me to these events. Everything I need to know is on the handouts which I can download from the bar website. I listen very closely, and I have a pen and paper in case I want to write something down, which I do now and then. Now, there are occasionally people who don't think I should be tatting when someone else is speaking. Not meaning to sound sexist or anything, but it's usually men. I don't believe they can multitask after all. I thought it was a rumor. I've told them before, "I listen with my ears, not my hands!" Every year I have to tell a new person. I'm wondering now if some of them do listen with their hands! Besides, tatting keeps me from getting up and wandering around the room, or talking on my cell phone, or playing sudoku on my smart phone, or doing my office work on my iPad -- which would be much more rude, and which I saw quite a lot of those same people doing. This year I made four bookmarks. I've only got three, though, because I gave one to another of the attendees who was interested (more interested in my tatting than in A Midsummer Night's Mediation Tragedy -- really. Hard to imagine, eh?).

I like Jane Eborall's butterfly bookmark because it's so adaptable. I know the basic shape and stitch counts and it can be done without beads. Now dropping a container of beads, THAT would be distracting! These are made in Lizbeth size 20 Golden Yellow, Medium. Yeah, I know. It surprised me too. Funniest yellow I ever did see -- that's what the label said though. So, I don't really know what color-name is assigned to this red, white, blue and purple, but it makes good bookmarks!

Elegant Tatting Gems . . .

2011-11-29T22:20:00.002-07:00

is a wonderful book full of ... well ... elegant tatting gems. Lovely snowflakes made using basic techniques. I've been working my way through the book, but have NOT been weaving in ends. Those will have to wait until later. For now, these are the ones I test-tatted for Jon. At least three of them are. I'm just certain the other one is one of Jon's as well, because I had it stored with the other three, but I can't find it in any book. Anybody that recognizes it, please speak up! All of these test-tats were made with size 80 DMC tatting thread. My sister dyed all that white thread really pretty colors, didn't she?

There! Jon got me all straightened out -- thanks so much. It was one of the test tat patterns she sent, so it does belong with the others, after all. She modified the design after the test-tat and it became Ratnawilis in her new book. The change is really pretty -- but I haven't gotten that far in the book yet.

What? August!

2011-11-26T16:03:00.008-07:00

It's hart to believe it's the end of November already -- I've been AWOL for 3 months! I don't even have a really stellar reason. It would be nice to say I won the lottery and have been on a world cruise and just too busy playing to blog. Nope. I didn't win anything; I've been right here at home; and I've been too busy working to blog. Borrrrrrring! On the good side of that my assignment at work has changed so that I just get to do the part I like -- all the rest of the stuff I used to do someone else is now doing. Lovely. Now I have to step into the Wayback Machine and show you what I've been doing for three months -- because I have done some tatting. :)

How about the Fair, for starters? I got some blue ribbons (1st), some red ribbons (2nd) and some pink ribbons (4th). In ascending order then, I got a 4th place ribbon on my ankle bracelet and my hat (which for some reason shows at a pillowcase on my "premium statement" from the fair). The ankle bracelet is the same one I entered in the county fair. The hat is all new. I made the initial just for the hat, but the top is decorated with one of Jon Yusoff's snowflakes. Both are made in size 80 thread hand-dyed "Oh, Baby" by my sister. The judges comments -- that I was hoping would be helpful -- just said "nice" and "precise tatting" for these. *sigh*

The Heart's Desire bookmark is also the same one entered in the County Fair. It got a second place ribbon at the State Fair. I also entered my little crocheted Chtulu toy which got a red ribbon. The funny little guy has wings, arms and legs, but he's buried here in someone's quilt, so it looks like he's only a head. He's being shipped off to the far reaches of the world, as soon as I find a spare minute to stand in line at the post office.

I got nice first place blue ribbons on the button doily, and the Easter and Christmas ornaments I also entered in the state fair. The coaster I entered got a blue ribbon as well. It's the square I designed in Sharon Briggs' Design Tat Class. She teaches well! I made it again in purple size 30 DMC Cebelia. I've made four now so I have a small set of coasters, but I only entered one.

I was very pleased to have gotten a first place ribbon on the large centerpiece I adapted from a Jan Stawasz pattern. I left out all the picots except the joining ones. What made me so happy is that entry morning when I took it's picture, I noticed that I had missed a couple of joins -- there were the picots just hanging out there. It's such a large piece that either the judges didn't see them or figured they'd cut me a little slack! It's the same doily on which I reported not much progress last June.

The first two pictures are those I took the morning we were taking things to the fair. It did turn out really pretty, I think. I was just upset that I had missed the joins. I still haven't decided whether or not to try to fix it, or just figure, nobody's perfect and a man on a galloping horse won't notice anyway. The second pictures are the ones I took at the fair, after I convinced the fair people to move it . It was originally displayed draped over a white knitted something, and it completely disappeared -- not to mention I spent hours getting it blocked just right and they rumpled it all up. I have no idea how the owner of the afghan they finally placed it on felt about having her work covered up. *sigh* I wish they had a bigger building!

The last thing I entered in the fair was over in the Creative Arts area. It's a bit of Calligraphy in the Celtic style. It got a blue ribbon, too.

All together, it cost me $11.00 to enter this stuff in the fair, but I came home with $22.00. Not too bad -- it bought me a nice lunch one day!

State Fair

2011-08-22T01:50:00.000-06:00

Sharon mentioned that the entry categories for their local fair are pretty limited for tatting, and that the entrance fee is rather stiff. Our state fair has seventeen categories for tatting. It only costs $1 to enter something and the prizes range from $6 to ribbons. Of course, to get into the $6 area you've got to tat a tablecloth or a framed picture. Interesting that there's no size on the picture. Hmmmm...that may be achievable one of these days!
Last year I thought it would be a good thing to make something to enter in every category. Keep all those tatting categories open so we don't disappear from the public eye. After looking over the list, I decided it's not going to happen this year, probably not for years to come either.

I don't have an idea for a picture to make and frame. I'm going to think about that one, though.

I did buy a table to make a table cloth for, but didn't get it finished. It doesn't say how big the table has to be -- I got one for a dollhouse. That probably would be unacceptable. *sigh*

Everything else is achievable, but certainly not all at once, and not this year. I've given away a lot of the stuff I made this year.
I am managing to enter in categories:
58 (well, if I get the last round done and get it starched by the 31st!),
59 (the blue diamond button doily),
60 (maybe, I have to measure the piece I have in mind),
61 (the Hearts Honor by Wanda),
(I wonder what happened to category 62 and what it was?),
64 (the same ornament I entered in the County Fair), and
65 (again, the same ornament I entered in the County Fair).

If I get the large centerpiece done early, I might have time to make something for category 68 -- I've got a hat to put it on!
Let's see. If I concentrate on the list and start in September, maybe I can enter something in every category NEXT year -- well, no, not the tablecloth. Not doin' that!

Challenge No. 16

2011-08-17T16:00:00.000-06:00

Wondering what happened to the little butterflies from a few posts before? They got made into this Easter Egg Ornament. I used those three and a bunch of smaller butterflies (some of which are adapted from Jane Eborall's great butterfly pattern). I pinned them to the satin egg with little gold applique pins stuck through powder blue seed beads. I'm counting this one as number 16 for the 25 Motif Challenge. It's destined for a long trip half-way around the world as a gift for a good friend.

It's making a stop at the County Fair before being shipped away, though. It's got a first place blue ribbon, a high blue (considered for Sweepstakes) and a Judge's Choice ribbon. A big ribbon...greedy me, I like big ribbons.

Challenge No. 15

2011-08-16T16:00:00.003-06:00

Number 15 for my 25 Motif Challenge (which I've missed by, oh...a good 9 or 10 months, and which I miscounted, but I still don't think I'm going to get 25 before the end of this year either *sigh*).

This one is a top and bottom copied from one of my old ornaments, so I have no idea of its origin. I made the top and bottom to try lacing them together after a discussion with to MSquared. This was not what I had in mind so I just dropped in my finished tatting drawer and moved on. When it came time to enter the fair I scrabbled around in the drawer looking for something I've made within the last year (fair years run from August to August) and re-discovered this one. I decided that the fastening thread made an interesting zig-zag after all then dropped it in with the stuff to go to the Fair. Apparently, the judges liked the zig-zag lacing it together, as well, because it's got a blue first place ribbon, too.

I do wish I'd taken a picture of it before hauling it out to the fair -- because what ever that is on the shelf below the ornament looks ...um... somewhat inappropriate for a G rated blog.

Blue Diamond

2011-08-15T16:00:00.001-06:00

Look closely -- squint if you need to. Yup, this is the same pattern as the Pink Diamond Bookmark -- it just has a couple of small modifications so it will lay flat when fastened together. It's also entered in the doily category. It's made with two colors of blue Lizbeth size 20 thread and a bunch of little blue and white shirt buttons. I made this one -- again -- thinking it would fit in the Fair theme. But they didn't care because -- again -- it's NOT a quilt block. It still got a first place blue ribbon, though, so I don't suppose they cared that it wasn't a quilt. This was as big as I had time to make it before the fair entry day. I'm thinking about adding to it for entering in the State Fair -- but that depends on how lazy I am. I did manage to get a scan of this one before I entered it, but didn't take down its vital statistics. The best I can say is it's about the size of my hand. Of course, if you've not seen my hands, that's not going to help much, is it?

I just measured it. It's 6 inches across (about 15.5 cm) at it's widest point. I'm going to leave it as it is for entering in the State Fair. Then the one I'm working on and this one won't have to be in the same category!

Something Blue

2011-08-14T16:00:00.002-06:00

Jessica Spaulding taught classes at Shuttlebirds this year one of which included this bracelet. She was kind enough to let me test tat from her pattern and this is what I came up with. The bracelet is made from Lizbeth Caribbean colorway -- but I've forgotten if the size is 40 or 20, how's that for strange? We stretched the categories at the county fair so this one made an appearance as a "wedding accessory" -- it's the something blue. The ribbon it got was something blue as well.

Fairly Coasting

2011-08-13T01:04:00.004-06:00

A couple of years ago I made a tiny doily from Iris Niebach's "Stella Alpina" pattern in her book Fantasia. It sat around in my drawer until I got a wedding invitation this year. It looked like at least a start on a set of coasters. I still had some of the Sulky machine embroidery thread and white quilting cotton I used for that one, so I made a set of four. I entered this one in the doily category at the fair (fortunately the wedding's not for a couple of weeks).

It has a nice second place red ribbon (I forgot to take a picture before I entered it).

The competition in the doily category was pretty stiff this year. One large doily made in cream and brown of a bazillion little motifs won the sweepstakes ribbon. The variegated brown looks very striking with the cream used for most of the doily.

We picked up all out fair entries today and I read through all the judge's comments attached. Both judges disliked the thread color. They said it detracted from the pattern and my "nice, even stitches," which it why it got a red ribbon. One also said that the addition of the white thread caused it to look fuzzy and out of focus. Rats. I liked the effect -- it looked tweedy to me. Now I wonder if I should get something else for a wedding present!

More from the Fair

2011-08-11T16:30:00.003-06:00

Back in April I made a bookmark from my own button decoration pattern with a long perle-tatted tail. I called it a Pink Diamond bookmark because this year's fair theme was "Diamond Days, Country Ways". It didn't matter, though. The only "theme" brownie points being given were for quilt blocks. *sigh* Fairs seem to have a love affair with quilts.

I did get a nice first place ribbon on it, and a "high blue" which means it was considered for sweepstakes -- even without the brownie points.

It's also made of size 20 Lizbeth pink thread -- but it's a pink variegate.

County Fair

2011-08-10T22:41:00.002-06:00

Last Sunday we took the long trek out to the county fair grounds and entered our ...er... stuff (can't think of a more elegant word). We had a dozen things which meant we could purchase a parking pass for all four nights of the fair for the price of parking for one night of the fair. That was good. We used it tonight -- just to see how we did. Though we looked through the whole fair building we did not venture outside except to go home. We'll save the animals, food vendors and carnival for the weekend. There were some pretty interesting things at the fair, and some really strange ones. I liked the little beings and bugs made out of vegetables.

All the tatting is in the glass display cases, so my pictures aren't very good. That's why I made scans or took pictures before entering the stuff in the fair. In the category "other" (so descriptive!) I entered this pink Heart's Desire bookmark designed by Wanda. She did such a good job, I got a blue ribbon. Now, that's a mark of a great design! Anyway, here it is as displayed in the case (under somebody's ID card) and the scan before it was entered. I made it with pink Lizbeth size 20. It needed minimal blocking -- another mark of a good pattern for me. Thanks, Wanda!

Little Butterflies

2011-07-25T21:44:00.003-06:00

Making butterflies out of Sulky thread was sometimes an exercise in frustration. Trying to get six stitch rings to close nearly made me nuts -- my fingernails kept getting in the way! I've got three butterflies done that I'm going to use on an ornament. The rest of the space on the ornament will be filed in with smaller butterflies of one sort or another.

This one is "Celine" from Tatted Butterflies by Adelheid Dangela. It needs to be blocked to get the body to be straight and the lower wings the right shape. It wouldn't hurt to get the antennae straightened out either. They're clipped at the end because I wrapped the thread around the picot two more times on one than the other, that meant to make them even I had to trim the ends. It measures 1.25 inches (about 4.5 cm) wide wingtip to wingtip, and one inch (about 2.5 cm) tall without measuring the antennae.

"Jade" is from Sherry Pence's The Exquisite collection of Tatted Butterflies II. It would have been prettier if I'd followed the pattern. There would have been a more defined point at the bottom of the wings and a nice picot there, too. I was talking while tatting and didn't count twice -- close once. As a matter of fact, I didn't count or look at the pattern until after I'd closed. After looking at it for a dismayed minute or two, I decided there was no way I was even going to attempt to open that little tiny split ring! I just made the other wing to match. This one measures 1.25 inches (4.5 cm) wide and 1.5 inches (just under 4 cm) at its tallest point.

Finally, I made "Curly Q" -- another little treasure from Sherry Pence's book. All those tiny rings in this fine thread gave me a lot of "aaaarrrrrgghhhhh" moments. It's such a pretty little butterfly, though, so I kept at it. It measures about 1-3/8 inch (3.6 cm) at it's widest point and about 7/8 inch (2.3 cm) tall It also needs some blocking. I'll take care of all that before I stick them on the ornament.

Depending on how it looks once I get them placed, I might even make one more larger butterfly -- probably "Lily" from Sherry's book. If I do that, I'm going to consider placement of magic threads very carefully. This Sulky is too fine for me to weave the threads in with a needle. I don't own a needle thin enough

Nervous Butterflies

2011-07-11T22:42:00.000-06:00

I get those at hospitals. Good thing I had Adelheid Dangela's Tatted Butterflies with me. Now I have a bunch of Flame butterflies. All of these were made with the thread my sister dyed for me on a size 30 Cebalia thread. They ALL need to be blocked. Six of these are from Tatted Butterflies. The one in the upper left corner is supposed to have two wings, but I got it all messed up -- even the first wing isn't right -- so it turned into a butterfly in profile. Now that I know how to do the first six, I think I'll make them in more butterfly-ish colors in finer thread. I've got a friend who loves butterflies. They'd look good on a Christmas ornament -- wouldn't they?

The one in the lower left corner is an adaptation of Jane Eborall's wonderful beaded butterfly (but I didn't have any beads, and used thread ends, so there aren't any split rings on the wings either). The tiny profile butterfly above that is Jon Yusoff's profile butterfly -- except I couldn't remember the stitch counts, so I guessed, based on how much thread I had left to finger tat with.

I didn't do a nervous scribble or just tangle the thread, because my niece was having her tonsils out. Not a horrifying thing (except for her -- this was her first IV). It was easier to concentrate after we finally got something to eat (I mean my sister and I got something to eat -- my niece had to go into surgery without). They kept us waiting what seemed forever. We got there at 12:30 in the afternoon and they finally took her into the operating room just after 3:00. They released her much later and we got home at 7:00 in the evening. She's recovering and we're spoiling her while she does it. :)

Progress Report

2011-06-05T21:30:00.000-06:00

I have to report not much progress. I've nearly replaced the round I cut off -- only another 7 repeats to do. The green snowflakes (from the last post) interrupted progress, but so did the book I've had my nose stuck in lately, and work. I even worked on Saturday. Bleah.

You can see what a mood I'm in -- Laziness Prevails! I dropped this on the scanner. The first scan was a really blurry mess. Did that inspire me to take a nice photo? Nope, it inspired me to put a piece of cardboard on top of the blue paper then a stack of disks on top of that so the lid would press down on the doily without trying to flatten the shuttles. Yes, I could have just pulled the shuttles out of the lid, but I was too lazy. *snicker*

Click on the photo if you want to see it bigger -- lots bigger.

Seasonal Flakes

2011-05-31T21:00:00.000-06:00

Ariel from The Tatter's Treasure Chest - 6 repeats only

Green makes them appropriate for Spring -- the flakes are also appropriate to the kind of Spring we've been having. *sigh* Snow in May is weird (not today, but a week ago).

These are made with DMC size 80 tatting thread hand-dyed by my sister in "Desert Green." The beads are just little red glass seed beads.

The green snowflakes are going onto a white ornament. I'll have to show that off when it's done.

Knot Wrong

2011-05-24T19:07:00.000-06:00

As in not right. "Whew," I was thinking, "finally, ready for the next row!" That was so not true. It turns out in trying to split these individual motifs so I could work the doily in rounds (the one I was working on for Tatting Day) I got the stitch counts backwards on the split rings. Fiddle. Out came the scissors, forty-eight little snip-and-rips later this is what I've got -- a pile of knot wrong.

I'm about half way around putting this row back on -- but it's not wrong this time it's Knot Right!

Speaking of Bookmarks...

2011-05-16T22:12:00.001-06:00

Exchanges are so much fun. I like getting things from other tatters -- they're always inspiring. These are the bookmarks I received this year:
The top one (with the card and pretty tatted strawberry and bee) is from Tattabugg. It's Mary Konior's Black Magic made in size 80 black and a lovely bluish turquoise (yummy!). It's very delicate looking, and beautifully blocked.

The flower lattice bookmark in variegated pink, green and brown is from Anika. I got a little note with it that has single-ring picot flowers on it in matching colors (and one little blue flower). It reminds me of the climbing rose trellis in our backyard when I was little.

The last one is from Catriona (it even came with a huge "Royal Mail" stamp -- Queen Elizabeth II is looking quite young on it). The bookmark is a stretched out "Stumpy" from a pattern by Kersti. She made it in size 10 Lizbeth Caribbean -- that's one of my favorite variegates from Lizbeth! For someone who says she hasn't been tatting very long, the stitches are certainly even and well tensioned.

My books will be happy to have such lovely bits marking 'em.

Since this was an exchange, I made bookmarks for other people and sent them on their way. I did that about 10 days ago, so I hope they've all arrived. The turquoise butterfly string is made from Lizbeth 20 "dark sea green" and "wildflower" from my own pattern. I made it without buttons -- which don't do well inside books. But I like it a lot, so I made another with the little tiny buttons in size 80. I made a really, really long tail so none of the buttons have to actually be inside the book. The last one is also size 80 made of "Midnight Escape" variegated thread my sister dyed for me. It's from Edging Pattern No. 8902 in "The Tatter's Treasure Chest" edited by Mary Carolyn Waldrep. The tassel and it's hanger were added on with separate threads at the end.

I was very tempted to add a second bookmark to each package to divest myself of all those "Made in Hawaii" but they were a ONE bookmark exchange, so I practiced restraint. Perhaps they'll find their way into a Holiday Exchange package this year.

Made in Hawaii

2011-05-11T20:10:00.000-06:00

It surprised me to find that I had very little time to tat in Hawaii. We were busy, busy, busy. Even on the ship there were things to do. My tatting went with me wherever we went (well, okay, I didn't take it snorkeling!), but I did small things. In fact I did all the same small things. I even did the same small things in the same colors. *sigh*

All these bookmarks (but the obvious one) are made from a modification of Jane Eborall's Butterfly Bookmark. Her butterfly has long beaded picots and beads on picot joins which make it nice and shiny (I like shiny!). Working with beads while standing in line or riding in the car or on a boat or walking up a trail is just not within my ability. I left out the beads and the long picots. I couldn't carry a picot gauge doing any of those things either.

The odd-one-out is a modification of xstchntat's Flower Bookmark. It's a modification because I didn't take the pattern with me and lost track of where I was. It's got that really big flower on the end because I miscounted. Ah, well, I like that one too.

The tails are mostly perle (pearl, purl??) tatted. There's just one that's a long Josephine spiral. I used xstchntat's tassel technique for those with tassels. The rainbow thread is size 30 Cebelià that my sister dyed for me. Everything else is Lizbeth 20. The length of the tail just depended on how much thread I had left on the shuttles.

There -- these are my haphazard vacation tattings!

Marking Time

2011-04-14T00:23:00.000-06:00

Bookmarks are good things to have. Many, many are required -- unless you only have one book. They don't work very well for a Nook, but not everything is electronic. They work really well for marking places in tatting books.

The pair of bookmarks to the left are "Flower" by xstchntat. The first one was made with size 30 Cebelia thread that my sister dyed for me, and size 40 white Lizbeth. That was weird. I thought I had picked up a bobbin of size 20 white. I had to make more stitches in the chains than the pattern called for because of the difference in thread size. When I made the second one, in size 20 that too-many-chain-stitches carried over. These aren't quite according to pattern, but it is a really fun and simple pattern. I played with the tails and managed my first real tassels using the technique xstchntat showed in this video. Works great!

The bookmark on the right is made in size 20 Lizbeth. It is my own pattern and is supposed to represent a string of butterflies. The one at the bottom is also size 20 and is made from my pattern for a button shirt decoration. I figured as the button part would stick out of the book, it would be okay and not make a lump in the book. (click on images to enlarge)

Sticky Fingers

2011-04-07T16:00:00.004-06:00

At it again. Sad, isn't it?
All of these use glitter ModPodge® for one or two layers. Shiny -- gimmie shiny, shiny with sparkles is even better!

This is what I've been doing when my fingers need a rest. Tat one night, glue, color, cut the next. :) After the marathon they've been doing with the blue and brown doily, getting sticky was good for them.

I don't know about all you other tatters, but the threads cut into my fingers, sometimes. I have an almost permanent line across the middle finger on my left hand and the crease on the side of the top knuckle of my right little finger is deeper than it used to be. Most of the time I remember to tape up. (Oooo, sounds so athletic!) I use fabric bandages and just cut off the sticky part. That nifty little gauze pad just gets chucked out. I can cover the three most worn places with one bandage. I've got a favorite brand and they are hard to find. When I do find them I buy all available and hoard them (No, no, no! I'm not telling what they are then somebody else would go buy them and how could I hoard then?). Oh, okay -- they're Curad brand. They're thinner than most and the adhesive doesn't come through the tape to get on the tatting. I've made do with others, but it really is just making do.

Oh, yes, I got carried away there for a bit. These shuttles are all covered in bits of fractals I found in various places on the net. There are some really artistic mathematicians out there! I colored some of the pieces of the Aero shuttles that don't get covered in paper with Sharpie® markers in matching colors. I decided to try some without folding the paper around the sides. I never fold the paper under on the Clover shuttles, so figured it should work for the Aeros as well. The gray is only visible on the inside of the shuttle. Believe it or not, I've still got more shuttles to play with. Ahhhh, anticipation and mud pies...makes you feel like a kid again.

Oh, and thanks, Diane -- these shuttle flowers are much prettier than rows and rows. :)

Finished...finally!

2011-04-04T16:00:00.005-06:00

This is what has made my tatting blog a non-tatting blog for so long. It has taken up most of my tatting time since last November. I made it for someone special in colors she likes. I love the blue, but the brown rounds were really difficult for me to get through (that's why they're smaller!). I can't tell you why I don't care for brown, but I don't -- maybe I just got a surfeit of it in college. I wore a lot of brown then. I finally decided colors, the brighter the better, gave me a better outlook on life. Maybe. Of course, it could be I had more trouble with the brown rows because the thread is darker and it's harder to see. The colors are medium blue and chocolate brown, both from Lizbeth, in size 40. [Actually they are Blue-Med. #651 and Mocha Brown Dk. #692] It got packed up right after I took these pictures -- and I forgot to measure it. I did go measure the chair I used, though. It's probably something like 15 inches in diameter, more or less (the doily, not the chair).

The pattern is one by Jan Stawasz. It's a very pretty pattern, but as written, makes me tear out my hair. Most of the rounds (the central brown and the two outer blue areas) are done with dozens and dozens of individual motifs. I just don't have that much thread-winding or thread-hiding patience! I used split rings everywhere so I could work the whole thing in rounds instead of motifs. The central brown area is two rows and that large inner blue area is done in three rows. However, I did do all the wheels individually. The pictures are clickable so they can be seen larger.

It's not perfect, but I liked it anyway. As a matter of fact, I liked it so much, I've been recreating it without all the frilly picots. Those really are little monsters when it comes to blocking. I gave most of these a pat and a promise. I promised I wouldn't take the scissors to 'em if they'd shape up! They cooperated for the most part. I packed it up in a mailing tube and shipped it off -- insured, because I figured, if there was a chance they might have to pay out, the USPS would take better care of it. Ta-da! It got where it was supposed to go -- and she liked it!

Tatting Day!

2011-04-02T00:50:00.001-06:00

     Hmmmm...April 1st is International Tatting Day. I think I missed posting, because it's after midnight now, so I guess it was April Fool's Day, too. I did tat, though. I've got this doily thing now out the the fifth row. It needs another bit of blocking, but I've decided to wait until I'm done. That's why you get to see this rumpled work. I just tossed it on the scanner. It's the same Jan Stawasz pattern I've been split-ringing into single rounds instead of individual motifs. All those threads have been woven in, but I'm leaving them at least an inch long until I'm finished. I'll snip those off after it's blocked. The thread is size 40 Lizbeth in white and "Cotton Candy".
   I didn't actually do so well with ITD because I didn't tat in public. The only place I went that could be considered public was lunch. I couldn't tat at lunch -- especially not in white!   Oh, wait, I went to the toy store, too. We weren't there long enough to tat. I was shopping with a munchkin who knew exactly --very exactly -- what her friend wanted for her birthday.
     Oh, I didn't eat any chocolate either. I don't much like chocolate. {waiting for the gasps to stop and some of the more delicate personages to wake from their faints} Okay, long enough. Move along -- nothing more to see here!

Not Just Bling

2011-03-21T23:35:00.004-06:00

You think I said that just so you'd read this, don't you? Not so. I have been getting all sticky and covering shuttles (and I found a whole jar of glitter ModPodge), but I've been tatting, too. Actually, what I've been doing is test tatting for other people, so I don't have pictures to show of all those pieces (ha-ha -- gotcha). But here's the latest batch of fractal covered Aeros:
I did a bunch of Clover shuttles like these, but didn't get a picture taken before I packed 'em up for Shuttlebirds in April. Now...I won't be there, but the shuttles will. A very generous soul from Bonneville Tatters is taking them to see if anyone might want to buy one. Personally, I'm hoping she gets rid of the whole lot. Then I can buy a bunch more shuttles to cover. Like I said before -- it's soothing and such a great reason to stay up until 2:00 in the morning.

Just so nobody gets disgusted with my no-tatting tatting blog -- here's a bit of something I started. I'm going to start over and change the stitch counts on the second set of split rings because to get it to stay flat I had to really stress the clover joins. Doesn't look good enough to bother completing the rest of the piece onto this center, but it's still a nice little coaster. This is a doily by Jan Stawasz, but with alterations. Having absolutely NO patience with dozens of little separate motifs to make up the doily, I fussed and figured and counted (and need to recount) so I could make this thing in rounds instead of pieces. Oh, all the decorative picots have disappeared, too. I like the frilly look of picots, but have the worst time blocking the fussy little things, so I'm trying this without.

Heart and Shuttles

2011-03-02T21:24:00.009-07:00

One last heart. I forgot about this one, it turned up when I turned out my tatting bag (I do clean and organize now and then, just don't want to go overboard about it). It's really little, about the size of a U.S. dime, even though it's made with size 30 Cebeliá thread. It's one of the things we learned at tatting guild -- last year. Since I learned last year, and never did it again, I don't think I can do it again!

Now -- on to the shuttles. Diane (Lace-lovin' Librarian) had the prettiest shuttle that I really needed. It's blue with a pattern of lines making what almost looks like tatted shamrocks. I offered to trade her for one I did with a blue and green paisley pattern. She got right on the job; and I got the loveliest surprise package today. I've got the pretty blue papered shuttle, two balls of size 70 thread, and a beautiful glittery bag. See?

Once I get to the post office I'll get my part of the exchange sent off. Only now I really need to find something pretty to package it in, don't I? :)

I've been covering shuttles like a mad fool. I don't know why, but it's a soothing thing to do. I think it's a bit like making mudpies or playing with papier mâche. You get to get grubby, ignore everyone (works ever better if you put in earphones connected to an MP3 player with a really good book), and stay up way too late. I do this stuff a bit differently than Diane. I use a regular paint brush, not as many coats of decoupage and I don't use fingernail top coat (but I've got to look into that and the sponge brushes!). Instead of a craft knife, I use a curved nail scissors. Knives and I don't play well together. (It's not me -- they bite.) Anyway, here's a photo of the last lot. None of these have had the final coat of acrylic spray applied (I've been too lazy to lace them into the spray box). The ones outlined by the squiggly red line are all the same pattern, but different colors -- like a six shuttle set (so alliterative!) -- I don't even mind the tan one! The bunch outlined in turquoise are all Clover shuttles (yeah, like you couldn't tell, huh?). The ladybug shuttles are all made with stickers on tissue paper, as is the firecracker (the blue next to the blue with a ladybug). There's a lavender one in the bottom row and the one black shuttle that are made with nail stickers on tissue paper. I've decided to not buy any more of the nail stickers once I've used those I have. I'm not creative enough with them and they end up just ...well... stuck there.

Heart Wannabes

2011-02-22T20:53:00.012-07:00

They wanted to be hearts. I wanted them to be hearts, but they've got goofies in 'em. Look quick! That's not so bad -- but don't study them in detail. They fall down in the details.

Vicki Clark's Ruffled Heart is such a pretty heart when looking at the original on her blog. It didn't work so well for me in this size 80 thread. I tried it again in a size 20, but -- hmpf -- that didn't work very well either. I think I need more practice. I'm just not certain I want to haul out the rope (size 10) and see if I can figure out where I'm going astray. I've set it aside for a while.

The Rainbow heart is my own snowy heart pattern, but I make some kind of alteration every time I tat it. This time I didn't make the same alteration on both sides. I would have done that, but didn't see it until I was finished. Now, I've unpicked ... er ... retrotatted a long way back in a pattern, but that was just a bit too much. It's all done and the ends are tucked in and it's sitting in my drawer. I'm waiting for someone to have an "oops" exchange...'cause I'm ready!

Well, I'm gratified the mistake in this heart isn't obvious. I know it's there because I made the oops. There are a pair of mirror joins that aren't mirror! Just for people who really want to know but don't want to study each ring, chain and join, I circled the spot in red and put arrows. Here ya go (click to enlarge):

Hearts, Hearts and More Hearts

2011-02-15T18:06:00.011-07:00

Valentine's Day got away from me -- it happened while I was busy being ill. Who has time to post anything when they're stumbling around looking for tissues and anti-cold pills? I suppose that's why Blogger has that convenient schedule a pre-prepared post option. But, really, pre-prepare -- who does that? Never mind, don't tell me. I'm certain it would be just too, too depressing. I've been making hearts for Valentine's Day, though -- quite a few of 'em.
This nice blue heart I've been calling "Snowy Heart" (because it's based on my own snowflake pattern) I made to send off to my exchange partner for the Tattinggoddess Valentine Exchange. It's made of size 20 Lizbeth thread in a pale blue and is about 5 inches wide and 6 inches tall.
Once that one was done and shipped off, I made another one with a few changes. This one is made with Lizbeth size 20 pink and variegated pink. This resulted in parts of it just looking washed out, but I rather liked the effect. Instead of the chains with the little ring pairs I used split rings around the outside of the bottom part of the heart -- those make it look a bit more substantial. Then I made the other ring pairs "Dimpled Yorkies" -- sort of hearts on my heart. I'm thinking about what to do with this one. Maybe it will just sit in my tatting drawer until next Valentine's Day.
Then I did a couple of little hearts. This one is Jane Eborall's Flurry Heartache. Sort of -- I didn't have the big beads ready to hand and was too lazy to get up, so I just used a pile of little beads. It's made from Lizbeth size 20 in Dark Seagreen and Wildflower colorway. It's a great pattern all made in one round -- one pair of threads to hide at the end. I'm going to get some bigger beads and make more!
This next one I saw somewhere on the 'net and made a scribbled drawing. That scribble was stuck into the back of my purse. I was probably at work *sigh* so I didn't write down the website or anything. Duh. If anyone recognizes it, please let me know! Its made with the same Dark Seagreen and Wildflower, also in one pass, but it starts with a chain on a paperclip. It's such a clever idea. Yes, I have to make more of these as well.
Finally, I made more of Anne Bruvold's Christmas Hearts. I was going to join them together in one of the many variations Anne made available. I didn't have the pattern at hand, though -- it was inside the computer way over in the other room and I was so comfortable. So...I just joined three of them together clear down one side. I could see that the remaining space would be too large for a single heart and too small for two additional hearts. It sat around looking at me reproachfully for a day or two. Then I decided what it needed was a head and a bit of crocheting. Voila! Butterfly.

2011-02-07T21:34:00.002-07:00

Miranda's Angels in the Snow pattern is a lovely snowflake. Done in the right colors, it could also double as a wreath. Not only that, Miranda is donating all the proceeds from sales of her pattern to the Brain Injury Association of New Mexico.

This one is made of Lizbeth's size 20 red, green, and white colorway. I think I could have made a better color choice, because the pretty pattern looses it's definition this way. I'll be making another (and another, and another) but picking either more subtle colorways, or solid colors.

Amazing Giveaway...

2011-02-02T21:44:00.004-07:00

Oh, no...not me.

LadyShutleMaker is having another Random Monday Mondo Giveaway event. This time the lucky person will get one of her handmade ceramic shuttles.

{Waiting for the sounds of thud, from everyone passing out, to stop}

It's true. If you'd like a chance to win one of these absolutely unique, and uniquely beautiful shuttles, click on the link:

Heart of Anne's

2011-01-31T20:23:00.007-07:00

This little heart is from the talented Anne Bruvold. It's not a difficult pattern, and can be used many different ways (doily, table runner, earring, pendant) with or without beads. This one is made with Bermuda Red thread hand-dyed by my sister on a Cebeliá size 30.

Slowly, slowly -- I am tatting. It hasn't been easy. Staying up until one or two in the morning means I too often really do tangle up string. Work has been a lot of work lately. I was there day and night for a while so I only got to tat when I got so creeped-out at work that I had to leave. I work in an old mansion that's been converted to an office. It's creepy to be there at night when nobody else is around -- just in case there is somebody else around. My office is on the second floor in the back. I have a lovely view of an alley.
People seemed interested, so I've put in a larger picture of the mansion (which can be clicked to become even larger). My niece calls it "The Haunted House Where You Work." My office is to the right of the chimney, around the corner, and about midway across the back of the house. The reason it's creepy is that it's not in an area where there is a lot of after-hours activity. I have to go out to my car on the opposite side from the chimney where someone could hide in the alley and the security lights don't come on until you're already all the way down the back steps! Across the road (from the chimney side) is a Junior High School and an empty office building (it was the Obama HQ a few years back). Across the road in the front is some kind of apartment building, I think. I've never studied it much, but don't see people there very often. Besides that, sometimes people forget to lock the door when they go. I usually go down and check, but it's creepy because we've got all those big windows and people can see me walking around in there by myself. Fortunately, I don't have to do late nights very often, and sometimes I can take my work home instead.

Thank You!

2011-01-28T23:12:00.002-07:00

I just got the best thank you card ever. The card was hand-made, the thank-you sincere and the photo included was totally adorable. The best part was the other treasure included. Hand-dyed silk thread. Isn't that great?! The scan doesn't do it justice but the colors are blue tones -- my favorites.

Thanks for the thank-you!

Bling-a-ding-bling

2011-01-23T19:33:00.003-07:00

Some people are obsessive. Not me, of course. Somehow all these shuttles in my possession have been gussied up with bits of tissue paper, cloth, stickers, and whatnot. Weird how that happens, huh?

Exchange

2011-01-06T16:45:00.002-07:00

No, no, not the kind you do after you get something and wonder what in the world the gift giver was thinking. Really, who wears garters with bells on them? Wait ... I got distracted.

This exchange was a trade of generosity. The Christmas Exchange over at the Tatting Forums was a lot of fun, and I was lucky enough to have LaceRN as my "Secret Santa". Wow, does she know how to pack a sleigh -- well, okay, a nice tin. Isn't this a great tin? I love snowmen -- they all look so happy. I got a really magnificent hand-made card, too.

That's not all though -- the inside was packed! It contained a whole skein of Christmas HDT, an entire ball of Lizbeth size 20 Christmas green mix, and a ball of Coats & Clarks blue size 70 thread. Nice variety and colors, right? Then, to go with the thread she tucked in two shuttles. Ah, but not just ordinary shuttles -- look closer. I've got decorated, blinged, fancy-dancy shuttles. One little pink clover with sparkles and gems and one substantial, holiday-appropriate Tatsy. For garnish on the thread she packed in a whole tube of red Czech glass beads. Now these aren't wimpy little seed beads -- these are "notice me!" accent beads.
The two little glass charms certainly charmed me -- they're frogs! Frogs! Have you got that? FROGS! I collect frogs! I've got a whole shelf in my room full of frog figurines; I have frog ornaments for the tree, I've got stuffed frogs; I have a variety of frog earrings. Frogs -- I love 'em!
(I've saved the best for the last -- but it's rather like not noticing the elephant in the room, eh?)
Tatting from another tatter is especially valued -- we all know how much work goes into it. See my butterfly? It's bright, cheery and very SCMR. :) Okay, the other two elephants are obvious. Two (yeah, TWO) beautiful ornaments. These are made in size 10 thread and fastened to the ornaments with large pearl-headed pins. Only the size 10 thread would do for those pins and only those pins would work with the size 10 thread. Now, that's something I've got to try. I don't know why size 10 never occurred to me before. These ornaments are really miniature showcases for tatting. The knots are visible and the construction stands out proud. These ornaments are ones you can show a non-tatter and say, "See? THIS is tatting." Thanks, LaceRN!

Happy, Happy...

2011-01-04T21:22:00.008-07:00

New Year!
I was going to go all philosophical about new beginnings and whatnot -- but my feet are too cold. So, I'm going to tell you this instead:

I'm a winner, a happy, happy winner!
Or at least I was a winner -- now I'm an owner. :)

Way back at the end of November Lace-lovin' Librarian had a drawing for some very pretty little bags. The random number generator generated my number, randomly. As my niece would say, "Like, Random!" The postman finally got around to delivering my little package and I'm finally getting around to showing you what I got.

It's soooooo cool, yeah, really!

It's a really pretty yellow-satin fold-over bag with a zipper. That's not all though. It was stuffed with tatting things! There's a sample of Sulky thread (a very pretty blue -- which is my favorite color), a ball of Coats size 70 white tatting thread (I see tiny little snowflakes!), a lobster claw hook and charm (that's going on my down coat -- I lost the zipper tab last year and never found anything to replace it -- but I'm going to add some tatting), and a most beautiful decorated Clover shuttle. Just look at that shuttle! The pattern looks vaguely oriental and I love it!

Thank you so much, Diane. It's good to be Random!

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-23T09:17:00.003-07:00

No matter what you're celebrating -- even if it's just being off work for a bit (I'd like to celebrate that every day!) -- I hope you thoroughly enjoy this time of year.
Yes, where I am it's dreary looking (actually raining!), it's damp, and cold. BUT...I don't have to work after today until it's a whole new year; my sister and her family are flying in from Maryland today; we're all healthy; and the year was good enough that Santa Claus is coming to our house. Lots of things to celebrate.

There are tatting things to celebrate too. I won a drawing at the Lace-Lovin' Librarian's website and received the most wonderful little packet of goodies. I was wondering if the "Royal Fail*" had invaded our USPS, but they did manage to deliver a very pretty yellow satin pouch with a shuttle, some thread, and other goodies. I'll have to post a picture after the holidays. (I'd like to claim I'm having technical difficulties, but it's really that I'm having organizational difficulties.) I got a beautiful tin tied in a silver ribbon from my exchange partner at The TattingForums. I'll get a picture of what's inside on Christmas day and post that later, too! I'm certain it's good stuff, though!
Finally, I've got pretty shuttles to use now -- that should make all my tatting prettier, right? I'm anticipating some good days of tatting and chatting with family. I wish you all the same.

*Check out the continuing mis-adventures of the English post at Jane Eborall's website!

Flurry of Bling

2010-12-07T22:41:00.004-07:00

This is the Flurry part -- Jane Eborall's Flurry Snowflake in bangles. It's really a great pattern (and even easier when all done in one color so the SLT can be skipped ... lazy, that's me). It looks wonderful in the bangles -- even if I did have a bit of trouble getting each spoke at 60 degrees from the other. The one done with Lizbeth's red, green and white thread is a bit wild, but I like it anyway.

"So...where does the bling part come in?," you ask with great trepidation. Yup. I did it again. The dollar store yielded up lots of pretty patterned tissue paper. Of course, it's rather seasonal. TA-DA! Holiday Shuttles! And, yes, those are a couple of little Clovers on the right end. I think the Aeros are easier to cover because the paper can be tucked under the sides. It has to be cut with much more precision for the Clovers. I like the striped one on the left side the best, but the minimalist blue snowflakes is a close second.

Addicted to Bling?!

2010-12-04T02:22:00.004-07:00

Addictive, that's what it is. These rather speak for themselves, but I have discovered I like tissue paper better than paint. That gray one on the far right (the one with the red jewel in it's little bellybutton) is covered with silver tissue paper. It doesn't look much different than the plain gray Aero, except for the shine, until you turn it over and see it has Snowflakes on it. :)

Continued Bling and Snowflakes

2010-11-29T19:06:00.006-07:00

Here they are for a closer look. (There are only 7 of them, this shows both sides of each shuttle.) The three on the left are unpainted -- that's the native gray showing through.
The green vines on the far left shuttle were made with two shades of extra-fine Sharpie markers. It has a big yellow chrysanthamum (at least that's what I'm pretending it is) on the opposite side. The flower and leaves were painted with acrylic paint then accented with Sharpie markers.
The purple and green stars on the second from the left are shiny metallic stickers with more Sharpie marker lines for accents with shiny little half beads stuck into the shuttle divots.
The third from the left is covered with tissue paper, stripes on one side and dots on the other. The flat half-beads stuck into the divots sit pretty flush with the shuttle body. This one is the easiest to use. Maybe because I only used two coats of decopodge -- or it could have been a better shuttle to begin with -- or even, it could be that the tissue paper makes it feel sturdy but still light. I don't know, but I like it. (I don't like it as well as the beautiful shuttles I got from LaCossette though.)
The next three were all painted white -- but it took two coats and a bunch of touch up to get the gray covered. That's too much paint and it doesn't look that good on close inspection. The flowers are stickers with Sharpie marker stems and leaves. I had to peel away part of the paint and decopodge on part of the winder end of the red and purple flower one, because I couldn't put the bobbin on it. It looks a bit odd with that bit of gray showing.
The frogs are somewhat raised stickers, also accented with Sharpie markers. That black blob on one side is supposed to be a little fly. This one is the second hardest to use because of the raised character of the frogs. The thread doesn't slide over them from the back -- but if you tat with your fingers behind the center of the shuttle, as I do, there's a perfect finger spot on this one.
The blue one on the far right has shiny silver star stickers on it -- and at least three coats of blue paint. It's painted on the inside as well. That was not a good idea. The bobbin doesn't turn well in this one, but it's still workable, and I think it might loosen up.

I know they all work because I tatted these with them:

You all must recognize Jane Eborall's Flurry Snowflake. This is the greatest snowflake pattern I've run across in a long time. It's pretty. It looks good in lots of colors (these are my sister's Bermuda Red and Singing the Blues in size 30). It uses beads (shiny, I like shiny!). It's all worked in one round. It's uses the shoelace trick in the cleverest way ever. I even think it will fit in the bangles I use if I just make one of Jane's long beaded picots at the top of each point.
You know, sometimes I think the world doesn't know what it's missing because Jane hasn't got braincell number 4 in permanent residence. If she can be this clever with just number 3 -- she could clean up the world with number 4! I really, really like this pattern -- can you tell?

More Bling

2010-11-28T18:26:00.003-07:00

I've been playing with my plain gray Aero shuttles during the long Thanksgiving weekend (my office is closed the day after Thanksgiving, too). Seven of my shuttles are out of commission -- at least for the time being. I learned something on each shuttle and about each of the materials I used. There are some things I would never do again -- like paint the inside of the shuttle (duh). I will probably never do three or four coats of paint with four coats of decopodge, either. Oh, and I'll wait for the Sharpie ink to dry before putting the decopodge over it, too. Lots of fun goofies, but I'm hoping they work out anyway! Once they are free of the drying box, I'll put up some better pictures. Between cleaning, cooking, cleaning again and painting shuttles, I haven't done any tatting this weekend -- can you imagine!?

More Covered Ring Jewelry

2010-11-17T20:14:00.007-07:00

The absence of tatting on this blog doesn't mean I haven't been tatting. I've just been tatting things some people who read this blog shouldn't be seeing until after the holidays. This jewelry set (two earrings and a pendant) is for someone I don't know. My sister's co-worker loved her "mom earrings" (the ones with the nylon hooks). She requested earrings and a pendant for her sister-in-law who's just had a baby. She wanted earrings just like the ones I made for her (except in blue), so I had to come up with something pendant-looking that matched. I'm not too certain this is it. My sister's going to take them in and see what she thinks.
I made a draft without beads and it worked, so I added the beads, now some of the rings overlap a bit. If the pendant is too weird, I'll make something smaller. This pendant is about 2.5 inches long and 1.25 inches wide. The earrings are about an inch wide. These are all made with Oren Bayan multi-colored metallic thread and sizes 15 and 10 seed beads -- there are 94 size 15 beads and 12 size 10 beads on each earring. The pendant has 206 size 15 beads and 8 size 10.

This picture is from the scanner, that's why the six ring flower in the center of the lower ring of the pendant is blurred. I might get better results with my camera, but it's such a hassle.

To Bling or Not to Bling

2010-11-10T23:04:00.008-07:00

To Bling or Not to Bling, that was the question...

Personally, I think it depends on who you are and where your talents lie.

Apparently mine don't lie with painting with fingernail polish at midnight.

I do show SOME common sense. These are opposite sides of the same shuttle. I can at least claim only one shuttle was harmed in the making of this post.

To clarify just a bit -- the shuttles are plain Aero-gray. I didn't paint the whole shuttle, nor did I cover it with anything. The flowers are painted with a pink fingernail polish and the leaves and stem are green fingernail polish. The pink had one little bristle in the brush that stuck out further than the others, so there are a few tiny pink dots on the shuttle you can't see at this size. The blue one is painted with blue fingernail polish and outlined with a black Sharpie marker. I don't know what possessed me to give it green antennae. I live in a household with two girls (one 8 and one 15). We have very nearly any color of nail polish you can name.

The Dreaded Cluny

2010-11-06T12:00:00.000-06:00

The cluny -- other people can do them. Some people do them beautifully. Some people are really making an effort to make clunies and improve their personal technique.

I scribble. Okay, I scribbled once.

I think there might be one of these that looks pretty good. Mostly they look wider on one side than the other -- what's up with that?

My fingers are all thumbs when it comes to making the loom. You know if you don't pinch the thread right it all comes apart in a non-interesting tangle?

Wanting to learn and having the patience to do so are coming into conflict. So...I'll do what I do with most difficult questions. I'll keep it in the thinking stage for a while.

If you're thinking about it -- you don't have to DO it. *sigh*

25 Motif Challenge Numbers 12 and 13

2010-11-03T23:43:00.003-06:00

Halfway through my ornament challenge...any the year is almost up. Ah, well, I may not make it -- fortunately there is no penalty. :)

These two are adaptations of Mary Konior's Spinning Wheel Glass Mat. One ornament is 2.5 inches and the other is about 1.75 inches in diameter. Both are made with white perle cotton and lots of little green glass beads. Just to be different, I pinned them to the ornament with sequins under the pins. I'm still deciding if I like that or not. I do think the pattern looks really good wrapped around an ornament. I might have to make more.

Seahorse Dragon

2010-10-31T12:32:00.003-06:00

Anne Bruvold created this Seahorse Dragon based on Debbie Arnold's Seahorse. What a great pattern! It's rings and chains, no complications or advanced techniques. It's a relaxing piece to tat and at the end you get this really cute little guy.

My sister dyed this "Mermaid" thread on a DMC size 80. It seemed like the perfect thread for a marine animal. It's just 3 inches tall and a total of 2 inches wide from tip of nose to tip of wing.

I'm going to make more of these. I'm thinking a red one, a green one and some snowflakes on a styrofoam ornament. Yeah, cute!

Dangerously Beautiful?

2010-10-17T21:51:00.012-06:00

I wanted you all to see why I was only distressed that I could not tat on plane on the way home -- not truly moaning about losing my plain gray Aero shuttles. All this beauty came in the mail just before I left for vacation:
Aren't they pretty? Having these declared dangerous and "not permitted" really would have made me cry!
The top shuttle on the right, and first to arrive, is a Dragon Shuttle made by Chris Hinton from The Shuttle Shop. The wood is beautifully veined and polished to a smooth lustre. Of course, the carved rendition of Ann Bruvold's dragon right there in the center makes it very special. Even more charming is Chris's personal "Hi" to me carved into the post. That's a particularly nice thing to do after I literally destroyed two of his winder shuttles during testing. I intend to take very good care of this shuttle. All the shuttles are posed in the Dragon Shuttle's new case -- what could be more appropriate than this silk-covered box I got in San Francisco's Chinatown? (Well, okay, one with a dragon pattern on the silk, but flowers are good, right?)

The shuttle on the right arrived next. It's a new Pop-a-Bobbin Shuttle from "'im in the garage" that I got from Jane Eborall's Etsy site. These great shuttles sell like hotcakes, so my timing had to be just right. I'd been waiting to pounce on the new offerings since Jane announced the posting time on her blog. This one is teak -- it sounds as exotic as it looks. It's also a very smooth bit of work, and I love the feel of the wood. Oh! It has a purple bobbin too! Wouldn't it be fun if bobbins came in every color of the rainbow? This is my fifth Pop-a-Bobbin shuttle -- greedy, huh?

My last beautiful shuttle actually arrived home the same day I did. Isn't it marvelous? It used to be a plain dull gray Aero shuttle until Joëlle at La Cossette agreed to try covering an un-neutered Aero for me. I like the length of the Aero shuttle and frequently have my fingers just above the winding post when I tat. Without the post, I'd drop the shuttle! I use the winder all the time, too. I told her any of three patterns (or was it four?) which were in her Etsy shop at the time would be just fine. I don't know how she actually picked the one I liked the very best! These are blackberries and are on both sides of the shuttle. I love that bit of orangy-yellow leaf on the bottom end of one side. What ever paper and medium she used to secure it has certainly altered the feel of the shuttle. It doesn't feel like a flimsy plastic shuttle anymore; it's much more substantial. Besides that bonus, the covering medium also gives the shuttle a bit of a texture making it easy to hold onto without creating any place the thread can catch. I think I need more of these pretty shuttles.

There's just one more to see. This one I've had for quite some time, but it's another shuttle that doesn't travel with me. This one was made by David Reed Smith. It's very light wood with a small, flat brass hook set into the end. It's very nice to work with. Can you just see a double-shuttle project with this on one thread and the Dragon on the other? Nice image, eh? Anyway, not content with just the shuttle, I also got this crochet hook in a turned case. The hook pulls out of the end, reverses, and goes back in for use. It has a hole through the end of the long cap so it can be worn as a necklace or on a chatelaine. I wonder if it would make it through the x-ray machines at the airport? Ha. Well, I'M not going to be the one to test it, that's for sure and certain.

There. Now you've seen my at-home shuttles. The dull gray Aeros are my traveling shuttles. I've always got one in a contact lens case with a pair of fingernail clippers and a couple of extra bobbins of thread so I can make butterflies or caterpillars anywhere.

Dangerous!

2010-10-17T00:30:00.006-06:00

No, no -- not the beach or the sand or the sun or the wind. Cancun, Mexico is a lovely place. Those Caribbean blues in the water were perfect -- I understand some of the thread dyes now!
The hotel was marvelous -- the only places with four walls, doors, and windows were the individual rooms and a couple of the restaurants. Everything else was open, on patios or under palapas. The people were marvelous and so patient with my very poor Spanish. I can count, say hello and goodbye, and know a smattering of other useless words (like sombrero, and burro -- fortunately "Coca-Cola" and "Fanta Orange" appear to be Spanish.)
Chichen-Itza was a wonder, truly. I never realized how large the area is and how many buildings there were. The building precision was amazing to see, and the carvings equally so.
Cancun was a lovely place for a wedding! (Nope, not mine -- my niece's, which made it even better.)

So...what's dangerous you ask? I'll show you:

Yes. It's the dreaded Aero Shuttle in all it's drab grayness. I flew down to Mexico with six of these weapons in my carry on bag and happily tatted in the plane all the way down. I came home without six of these dangerous items. I do hope you all feel safer in your homes and in the skies.

However, just so you know, these are NOT dangerous:

Go figure.

Let this just serve as a reminder (which I didn't even think about) that just because you can travel through the airports in your own country with your tatting shuttles, knitting needles (my sister's are gracing some airport security lockup in Cancun), and crochet hooks, it doesn't follow that you can travel with them in some other country. Perhaps on my next trip my nice wooden lucet will have to come along for the ride.

Happy Birthday

2010-10-01T16:00:00.004-06:00

Happy Birthday, Dad and Akari!

Iris Niebach "Cactus" - color photo-manipulated.

Koinor Butterfly and Rings Only Practice

2010-09-28T21:19:00.004-06:00

While I've got the opportunity to use Mary Konior's book "Tatting Patterns" (because a very nice person let me use hers for a while), I'm trying out the small patterns. This one is a rings only butterfly. It's tiny little head is a knot hidden down there by it's wing, so I made the antenna extra long. Thread spaces are usually so difficult for me to make even. The way this butterfly is made, though, the thread spaces are less critical. Its not blocked in any way -- just set on my new scanner (the old one gave up the ghost after 13 years of trusty service). It looks pretty good, if I do say so m'self. Not only that, I think the colors might be more true to life than on the old scanner.
This is my sister's dark and light rainbow on a size 30 DMC Cebelia base. It measures 1 3/4 inches (4.5 cm) across at it's widest point, and even though it doesn't look square, measures the same at it's tallest point.

One Last State Fair Post

2010-09-22T20:44:00.014-06:00

This is our little corner at the Fair. The Bonneville Tatters are fortunate enough to have a wall space where we demonstrate tatting during the State Fair. Wendy is the secretary of our guild. She brought a large square doily to work on. That empty chair is mine. I was working on a bit of brightly colored edging. We were giving away the bookmarks on the corner of the table -- each one has a little scrap tatting (butterflies, caterpillars, flowers) glued (please pass the smelling salts!) to the paper.
Having bragged on my own tatting, I thought you'd like to see all the other tatting at the Fair this year (if there was more than this, they hid it!):

Unfortunately, the Fair people lost the crystal globe off the little red and white tatted lighthouse (they didn't seem to be too concerned about it either!)

I thought these bobbin lace covered ornaments were worth showing off. They almost makes me want to learn to fuss with all those bobbins! Aren't they pretty?!

The best of show in the needle arts this year was a beautiful knitted tablecloth. Okay, I can see why it got the best of show.

All you tatters out there: Find out where your county, regional, state or whatever fairs are held. Find out if you can enter your tatting! Get it out there in front of the public. Show off then brag about it!

State Fair and me

2010-09-16T20:54:00.001-06:00

Yes! I did enter stuff at the State Fair. We've got to keep those tatting categories that exist and see if we can expand them! I entered seven things in the Home Arts Department. I was going to enter my table cloth, but didn't get it finished. I'll show it to you one of these first days. :) I mostly entered the same stuff I put in the County Fair, so you've seen all the pictures, but the ribbons are a little different. Here are my entries. The only things I hadn't entered in the County are the Valentine hanging decoration, and the cockerel bookmark -- the state tatting section had categories just for "other holidays" and "bookmark". When I didn't finish the tablecloth, I made the Valentine ornament and the bookmark. They didn't take very long. Other than a white instead of blue on the angel and a red instead of sweepstakes on the quilting-thread Cornelia I got the same ribbons as at the County Fair. If you look at the picture you can see a green and white ornament with red beads. Isn't it pretty? I've blocked out her tag so you don't get to see her name, but she's got a spiffy blue ribbon to go with her ornament. I didn't take pictures of the other tatting (very self centered of me!), but I'll be tatting at the Fair again on Saturday so I think I'll take my camera and show you what everyone else entered. Personally, I think there's not enough! Everybody needs to enter so people stop thinking tatting is a "lost art" -- we need to show them we've found it!
Oh, yes, I very nearly forgot -- probably lack of oxygen from being so high up on my soapbox. I also entered stuff in the Creative Arts division. My jewelry did well. I got a first for my pendant and earring set, and a second on my earrings. I can hardly wait until we pick everything up so I can read all the judges remarks and find out how to improve my work.

Finally, I had a very nice surprise in the Creative Arts building. You might remember the Fine Arts judge at the County Fair said I should have entered my 23rd Psalm illuminated calligraphy in Creative Arts. Okay, I did so. I forgot I'd entered it (too many things to remember) until Bonnie pointed it out. Oh, nice! There it was hanging in the corner reserved for Best of Show. I got a "big ribbon"!

State Fair and Bonnie

2010-09-15T21:30:00.003-06:00

You all know what a talented sister I have when it comes to dye -- I think there should be a category at the Fair for hand-dyed thread, but so such luck. Bonnie does lots of other things, and does them well.
She entered four things in the sewing categories: a sleeveless, drop waist, green dress, a baby cap, a vest, and a large bag. Bonnie got blue ribbons on the first three and a red on her bag. The vest wasn't displayed so that one could tell it was made of a pair of jeans, a bandanna and a bit of lace. The jeans are turned upside down and the legs become the front and back of the vest, with the bandanna acting as a yoke. The waistband of the jeans is the waistband of the vest and the button is still there -- of course the zipper is gone (it would zip the wrong way anyway). Her bag is another pair of jeans with the legs cut off, it's also fully lined. The judges left it unbuttoned and with the fly open!!

Bonnie crochets (left handed, amazing to me!) and entered a washcloth and matching hanging towel set, a really,really long scarf, and a baby afghan. Two blues and a white on that lot. I think the baby afghan is really pretty, but I guess it must be too plain for the judges. Plain is good for babies because when they do those things babies do, it can go into the washer and into the dryer and still look just like new.

As I mentioned, Bonnie dyes things. The judges liked her tie-dye on this rayon caftan-shirt and showed it with a pretty blue ribbon. Me too -- I got some thread the same colors!

State Fair and the Family!

2010-09-14T21:16:00.009-06:00

Don't look for any tatting here! These are things that my nieces and Dad entered in the fair. I belong to a talented family -- yeah, I really, really do.

Nicole, who's eight, entered her tie-dyed dress in the Creative Arts. She didn't make the dress, but did the fold and dye herself. She competes in the Junior category, which is up to age 14. She got a pretty red ribbon for her entry. She was disgusted that they never give the "big ribbons" to kids.

Allix entered her pottery in the Creative Arts section. Because she's 15 she has to compete with the adults. She got a first on her blue pinch pot vase (which looked purple under the lights at the Fair!), a second on both her coil/pinch pot and her sgraffito (at least I think that's what she called it) box. Her turtle pile sculpture, which got a first place in the County Fair, got a third place ribbon at the State Fair. All-in-all, she did really well.
Allix did get to compete in the junior section in the Home Arts, because that is up to age 17. She did this really nice cross-stitched bookmark. It's the first thing she's ever cross-stitched and she changed one of the books at the bottom so the spine read "Inkheart" which is what she happened to be reading at the time. She got a first place on it. Pretty impressive for a first piece!

Dad welds. He always welded, but before he retired it was for fixing and making useful things. When he retired, his welding became fanciful. Now he makes birds and dragons, and lizards and snakes (we don't mention the cat). This year he entered two pieces in Creative Arts, one in Over 18 Inches and one in Under 18 Inches. The Over 18 inches bird is about two feet tall and made of semi-truck parts, an old shovel, a piece of saw blade, washers, rebar, and ball bearings. He had some trouble with the paint sprayer, and this one was too big for the tiny brushes he uses on the little birds, so he left it. He got a second place ribbon on the big bird and a first place of the little bird, which is made of a spoon bowl, three spoon handles, little ball bearings and other odds and ends.

See? Aren't they a talented trio? Just say, "Yes!"

Learning a new Technique

2010-09-08T23:05:00.006-06:00

Roll tatting seems to be all over the tatting blogs these days. That's means it's time to learn. I borrowed Mary Konior's book "Tatting Patterns" from a friend lucky enough to have it. One of her fragments patterns is called Almond. It's got roll tatting and bare threads. I started with a partially filled shuttle and it was going okay, until I ran out of thread. Drat. I wound on a bunch of thread and started again. Do you know it's very nearly impossible to unpick roll tatting (even if you cuss)? I had the ring partly open but broke the thread anyway. Okay. Start again. Ta-da! Not perfect, a little lumpy, but finished. Coincidentally, the thread worked out so both end rings are red and purple and the colors are on opposite sides. I thought that was really a nice touch. This is my sister's dark and light rainbow hand-dyed thread -- the Almond is small enough that it ended up being all dark rainbow! Makes it look like I very nearly know what I'm doing. Oh, and the magic threads worked a treat -- the ends just disappeared.
Thank you to all of the tatters who have gone before me and blazed the trail to roll tatting -- where I could see it. I learned a lot from them -- like the roll has to transfer just like the ds!

Ribbons from the Fair - part 16

2010-08-31T17:00:00.001-06:00

One last entry -- this is my mini-doily. It's made with YLI machine quilting thread in a very subtle variegated blue/green/purple called "Alaskan Twilight". It measures just 3.75 inches (9.5 cm) across. I've posted this one before -- sometime in June. It was intended originally as an ornament cover -- but I took it traveling without the ornament and made too many repeats. It's Iris Niebach's "Beatrice" from Tatted Doilies. They have a category in the fair for "coasters" so I entered it there. It impressed someone because it also got a nice sweepstakes Big Ribbon.
The stuff that gets sweepstakes goes into the running for "Best of Show." You want to see what got best of show in the lace area? Of course you do! It's this beautiful piece of bobbin lace made in what looks like size zillion thread -- it's also framed by etched mirror with a clear center so the lace can show through. It's so covered with ribbons it's hard to see -- there's a blue, high blue, sweepstakes, judge's choice and best of show -- and the prize of a pottery casserole dish. Pretty nice, eh?
(Oh, that swirl on the tag is my doing -- I didn't think it was nice to show someone else's name without her permission -- even if I did show her work.)

Ribbons from the Fair - part 15

2010-08-30T17:00:00.001-06:00

Back in early May I made this pendant (using ideas from Jon Yusoff) which I gave to my sister for her birthday. She never really nagged about matching earrings, but she did mention it ...oh... about forty-'leven times! There was a category for jewelry sets (two or more pieces and a pair of earrings counts as one piece) at the Fair. Good excuse to make those matching earrings. They are also made with the Oren Bayan multi-colored metallic thread and size 15 seed beads. They're supposed to look like leaves.

I don't know if the judges saw leaves, liked the color or exactly what -- but these got a sweepstakes ribbon. (wheeeee -- one of the Big Ribbons!) They're going to the State Fair, where they will compete against other multi-media jewelry, not with the tatting. It'll be interesting to see how they "fair" in that venue.

Ribbons from the Fair - part 14

2010-08-29T17:00:00.002-06:00

Jubiloso* by Yarnplayer is an incredible pattern. It looks really complicated -- but it's rings and chains, and well within the beginner's grasp. It's the wonderful way she's put all those rings and chains together that makes this such a beautiful piece. I chose Lizbeth size 20 in Light and Medium Sea Green. This is what I worked on in the car while on vacation this July. No beads to fuss with, nothing so complicated I couldn't enjoy the scenery -- it was a pleasure to work on. My only beef with it is the dozen single motifs. Effective, very effective -- but all those thread ends! I used magic threads throughout, even going to far as to cut off part of one row and start over, because I'd forgotten to put them in. It turned out really well and just over 10 inches in diameter. It also got a high blue ribbon. I'm entering this one in the State Fair, too!

*Anyone interested in obtaining the pattern for Jubiloso should go to Yarnplayer's Etsy shop, and inquire of her if it still available for purchase.

Ribbons from the Fair - part 13

2010-08-28T17:00:00.002-06:00

Thanks, Mark Myers! From a stalled bookmark to a successful baby wearable, Mark's pattern was just perfect. That pretty seahorse (without the seaweed, which I just could not get my head around) is the central decoration on this summer baby onsie. The two little fish I made up (three rings and a chain) when I was trying to figure out how to finish this off. I had thought about adding a bit of wavy blue chain above the seahorse or at the neck to represent water, but decided enough was enough. Apparently it was enough for the judges, too. This one got a blue ribbon, then was considered for sweepstakes, so it got a high blue ribbon, too.

I know three people having babies -- but they are all winter babies, so I guess I'll keep it around for a while. I can guarantee, it doesn't fit anyone in my family!

Ribbons from the Fair - part 12

2010-08-27T17:00:00.001-06:00

I've shown this one before too -- it's Number 4 in my 25 Motif Challenge (this time around). It's modified from "Ice Crystal" from Blomqvist and Persson's Tatting Patterns and Designs. The blue ribbon on this one was a surprise -- a pleasant surprise. You see, I thought the other ornament would do better. Although I do like the red plastic ornaments better than the gold ones -- it's still a plastic ornament! It has to be the way the white really stands out on the red -- that and so many people have the idea that tatting should be white! I've decided it really IS pretty!

Ribbons from the Fair - part 11

2010-08-26T17:00:00.001-06:00

Yes, that is Anne Bruvold's dragon -- twice. This is my dad's hat. The dragon, and harvest orange and black, were his High School's mascot and colors. I made the dragons last Fall in Lizbeth size 40, had them pinned to the hat last Winter and partially sewn on this Spring. Can you believe anything so lazy? I finally finished sewing the night before we took our entries to the Fair. They don't have any beads (not even eyes) -- because I made them for Dad! Actually, I should have made them smooth-skinned and left off lots of the picots to make them look more masculine. That's okay -- at 80 Dad says he can wear what he wants (including pink and purple tie-dye!).
I thought the hat turned out really well and Dad likes it. Turns out the Fair judges liked it too -- see that pretty blue ribbon?

Ribbons from the Fair - part 10

2010-08-25T17:00:00.000-06:00

I've posted these earrings before -- last October. They're made with Oren Bayan multi-colored metalic thread and tiny little blue beads. Like the rest of my jewelry, they were originally entered as "Creative Arts: Jewelry-mixed media" but got moved to the Home Arts, where I could compete with myself. *sigh* These got a nice blue ribbon -- but as you can see in the first picture -- got buried under the ribbon and tags in the Fair display. (Huh, getting a ribbon's not good enough -- now I gotta have location, location, location!) Anyway, I was pretty chuffed about these, because they are my second favorite pair of earrings. (I've got a pair of heavily beaded silver ones that I wear almost every other day!)

Ribbons from the Fair - part 9

2010-08-24T17:00:00.002-06:00

This angel is made from white button cotton and a tiny bit of Oren Bayan gold metallic thread. I can't find the pattern I used! (See? I knew there was a reason to NOT clean!) Does any one recognize the designer? I'll keep hunting through all my patterns because I want to give proper credit.

Thanks everyone -- especially Martha Ess. This is her "Marjorie's Angel" pattern.

After carefully considering the available tatting categories, I entered the angel under "Wedding Accessory." I told the people taking stuff in that it was for the flower girl's dress -- because, really I could only think of handkerchief or garter as a wedding accessory when I was looking around for what I should enter. Of course, there's a category for handkerchief (but I didn't have one anyway). Since then I've looked over some other blogs (notably Tatscool's and Lace-lovin' Librarian's) and realized there are a goodly number of things which are wedding accessories. I didn't have any of those either (like ring bearer pillows or wedding bears!).

At any rate...
The judges pinned a nice blue (that's first place) ribbon to her. Good -- 'cause I think she's perfectly lovely and is also to be sent off to my friend who's getting the Bible marker (she collects angels). Maybe she'd like the ribbons, too?

Ribbons from the Fair - part 8

2010-08-23T17:00:00.000-06:00

Okay, I'll admit it -- this was a disappointment. *sigh* This is my original Lock Chain ornament cover pattern. It's made in DMC size 80 red and green threads with red, green, and white beads. I made a completely different bottom for it, too. I like it very much. I think my tatting was very nice as well. The comment I got on this one was that it was not spaced evenly on the ball. Oh. Well, darn. Next time I'll get out my protractor, ruler and calipers! (Yeah, that was a really mature comment.)
Just like Nicole (my 8-year-old niece) I wanted one of the BIG ribbons for this one. Humility, indeed! (I dunno where to find any of that).

Oh, I haven't posted this one before, so it's number 12 for my 25 Motif Challenge.

Ribbons from the Fair - part 7

2010-08-22T17:00:00.000-06:00

Another bit of Bonnie's jewelry I borrowed back. I made these for her birthday last year. They are made from the thread she dyed for me and were adapted from my original pattern (for a center-ring snowflake). They didn't fit into the rings as well as they should have, but they were well-done enough to garner another red ribbon.

Who out there is snoring? Wake up! I'm not done yet.

See that gold thing on the red square over there? It got put in the case upside down. This was an experiment and I really didn't like it very well, but my niece did. I entered it for her -- and now she can have it. I don't think she will wear it, though. It really looks rather like this: The pattern is Jane Eborall's butterfly with too many beads holding it in the ring. The big mistake was the loop of size 10 beads at the bottom. I would have used the size 15 beads, but couldn't fit two strands of the thread through them! Then, too, it is yellow. It's made with Oren Bayan gold metallic thread, but it just looks yellow. So, why did I enter it in the Fair? Because it doesn't cost anything to enter stuff in the County Fair, that's why!

Ribbons from the Fair - part 6

2010-08-21T17:00:00.000-06:00

"Delia" from Tatted Doilies by Iris Niebach. I finished this one back in May and thought it would be perfect for the Fair. I did a little more blocking on it, but I don't think it was enough. The judges didn't love it as much as I did -- they loved it second-place worth, though. That's good, but means I don't think it's going to be making the trip to the State Fair this year.
It doesn't mean I'm going to stop making Iris Niebach patterns -- they're still my favorites (in fact -- my copy of Tatting Fantasia 3 came the other day!)

Ribbons from the Fair - part 5

2010-08-20T17:00:00.001-06:00

Julie Patterson's "Hearts and Flower Cross Bookmark "was made for a friend of mine (she's still waiting for it). You can see how it looked at the Fair -- sorta rumpled up in the case. Poor little thing (it got a smudge on it too, so I'll be washing and reblocking it). I entered it as a Wedding Accessory -- a bookmark for the bride's Bible.

That's its second place ribbon just about overpowering the bit of tatting. I'm not certain why it got that, because the comments just said "nice work." Yeah, Fair judges -- way to keep me humble. (Ooooo, I sound like a whiny brat!)

The pink background over there is what it looks like stretched out on my scanner. I don't do tassels well, and it has to be shipped off to another state. I wanted a tail that would lie flat in her Bible and not get too bent up during shipping. This one is made of button cotton in perle tatting over an inner thread, and ending with a tiny split ring cross.

Ribbons from the Fair - part 4

2010-08-19T17:00:00.003-06:00

This is my sister's Christmas jewelry set -- made from a Yarnplayer pattern called "Dream".

I originally entered it in the "Creative Arts" section of the fair as "Jewelry - mixed media". Well, that's what it is. After we were all done, the person taking in the entries decided that tatting didn't belong in creative arts or in the jewelry. She took it all over to the "Home Arts" area and they just wrote in new tatting categories for it. *sigh* Mine was the only tatted jewelry entered, so I competed against myself. I do wish it had been left to compete with the rest of the jewelry. It will be in creative arts as mixed media jewelry for the State Fair, because they don't just write things in if they feel like it.

Bonnie used to have an inexpensive necklace with these little bells on it that she wore at Christmas. One of the girls decided that the bells would look better used another way and ...well... chopped it up. She rescued the bells, but no longer had any jewelry. With as many bells as she had, I was able to make her two sets: one red and one green.

Good thing I entered the red set -- the only green ribbons they give out at the fair are those big sweepstakes ones! Of course, red ribbons with the green set would have just looked even more Christmasy, wouldn't they?

I suppose when I give the set back to her I could give her the ribbon, too. She could tie it over her ear. ;)

Oh...I apparently need to practice my chains to because they judge said they are all inconsistent. *sigh* Actually, what I read on the note was that the "chair types were inconsistent". I looked at it blankly and thought "What chair?" Rest...I need rest.

Ribbons from the Fair - part 3

2010-08-18T17:00:00.000-06:00

The last of my not-tatting entries is this crochet baby afghan. Good thing it got a red ribbon -- none of the others would have matched. I don't really like yellow or colors with yellow tones, but this yarn practically screamed "Buy me! Buy me!" It's really soft and crocheted up in my favorite pattern (actually the only one I use for baby afghans) it looks like tropical sherbet to me. Anybody want a spoon?

This was made for another tatter who's expecting a small person to expand her family pretty soon. I couldn't send it until after the Fair -- and now I can't send it until it gets washed in some nice mild soap. Don't want Fair dirt on a new baby!

Ribbons from the Fair - part 2

2010-08-17T17:00:00.000-06:00

Another piece of not tatting -- and I got a red ribbon (that's a second place)! Amazing for a point-and-click picture taker (no way can I use the word "photographer").

This little guy is a Monkey Face Frog. I took his picture at the California Academy of Sciences in the Rainforest exhibit. He doesn't look much like Kermit or Froggy (my favorite frogs), but he does look like he's smiling.

I'm adding him to my frog collection corner -- instead of the shelf, he's going on the wall.

Ribbons from the Fair - part 1

2010-08-16T20:07:00.004-06:00

Okay, it's not tatting, but this is my third place piece of calligraphy. I made the paper, too -- out of old paper -- that's why it's rumply looking. It's supposed to look old.
The judge said it was entered in the wrong area and it "just broke her heart" to have to judge it against the paintings. It should have been entered in Creative Arts where it would certainly have taken top honors (uh-huh, prob'ly because there wasn't any other calligraphy entered). Well, I did try that but the Creative Arts people told me because it was framed it had to be entered in Fine Arts. The Fine Arts lady wasn't there, but her daughter who was doing the scrapbook entries took it in. Wouldn't you know...tatting and calligraphy, the forgotten (but not lost) arts. I should have learned to sew!
I don't do this often anymore, so I doubt I'll be entering any next year. That's okay. I've hung this back in my office and the wall looks finished again.

County Fair

2010-08-10T11:32:00.004-06:00

Nothing to see here! I've been tatting but not scanning or photographing. As a matter of fact, I took my stuff to the fair without even taking pictures. I entered 18 things (not all tatting), some of which have never made an appearance on this blog. Between the four of us, we entered 43 things. We looked all over the house for things we've done in the last 3 years that have never been entered in the fair!
The fair starts tomorrow so I'll know the result then -- well, I will if I go looking. We're going to make certain we're there to see the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (we've got tickets). We'll look at the fair stuff if there's time after that. Of course, we plan on going back on Saturday to take a leisurely look at everything. If you're in Salt Lake County:

25 Motif Challenge - Number 11

2010-07-28T21:31:00.003-06:00

This is one of those .75 inch ornaments that I thought would allow me to get through 25 for the challenge very quickly. Well...that didn't work! These tiny ornament covers take just as long because to make them look good I have to use smaller thread. This one is my Lock Chain Ornament Cover using only 3 repeats with DMC size 80. I did use the single ring with sufficient picots to fasten it on -- that worked a treat.
I've stalled on these again. I'm working on a few things for the fair and I've only got a bit over a week to get them ready!

25 Motif Challenge - Numbers 9 and 10

2010-07-26T22:45:00.005-06:00

Two more bring my total to 10 -- still behind, but gaining! Again, made from Lizbeth 40 on 1.5 inch glass ornaments, these two are a pair in different colors. The pattern is Ruth Perry's Celtic Snowflake 2008. I had to use just five pattern repeats instead six so it would fit the ornament. The bottom is the first round of the snowflake with that lovely Celtic twist Ms. Perry does so well. These are laced together with a single strand of the colored thread to hold them on the ornament.

25 Motif Challenge - Numbers 7 and 8

2010-07-24T17:18:00.004-06:00

See? I might actually get 25 done if I can keep up this momentum! Another pair made from the same pattern, but in different colors. This one is also my own pattern, but uses only four repeats. Both are made with size 40 Lizbeth (the size of the thread also dictates how many repeats are feasible. These were actually made before Mike gave me his suggestions for fastening onto the ball. The beads at the joining point of the top and bottom are being used as a knotting point. The thread runs in and out of the bead as it joins the picots, and there is a BUK (big ugly knot -- don't like to say that too loud) tied, tucked and hidden by the bead. I thought about tatting them together -- but having tried that once, I'm not anxious to try it again!

25 Motif Challenge - Number 6

2010-07-16T07:56:00.003-06:00

TA-DA! I did it twice. Now I've got a matching set. This is the same "Lock Chain Ornament" pattern as the green one -- it's just made with red instead. See? Much easier to get these smaller things done, because I only use four repeats of the pattern instead of six. It's finished off with that same single ring with all the picots, too. Oh, this is also Lizbeth size 40 thread.
I don't think the pattern actually shows very well in the picture, because you can see the other side through the glass ornament. It looks really pretty hanging on my metal tree thingy, though.
I've decided to make a bunch of these for a present, so I've ordered a metal tree (actually, it looks like a naked branch) for them. This way, I'll get my challenge done, and have something useful to do with the results. Of course, once I give 'em away, they aren't my storage problem any more, right? That means I can add to my stash. Oh, yeah!

I Like Mike!

2010-07-12T22:59:00.005-06:00

This is Number 5 for my 25 Motif Challenge. Yes, okay, that's what I said: 5. I know it's July and I should be more than half-way through. I'll get there, eventually.

I might actually make it in time thanks to MSquared. I joined into a discussion on InTatters and we got around to how Mike attaches his tatting to ornaments on which you can't use pins. I tried fussing with stuff like taping the darn things to the ornament then lacing and trying to do a little weaving in the center of the bottom where all the threads cross. Uh-huh. There were a zillion little threads in the trash after that fiasco. I tried making a matching bottom and lacing them together. That works, but it's a pain in the patoot to get both sides to stay the right shape and in the right place.
This little ornament was the result of my first attempt at using one method Mike mentioned. It's all done with the magic of making one little ring with enough picots to correspond to picots on the cover. I know when I say it you all think, "Well of course! That's such a simple thing." Yeah, well so was the picot join -- once somebody else thought of it! Anyway, it should be no wonder to anybody that I like Mike! With this one little bit of inspiration, I might actually get 25 ornaments covered in a year.
I do have to admit, these are not the extremely inexpensive (oh, okay -- read "cheap") ornaments I was going to cover. Even tatting couldn't make them look pretty (amazing, eh?). This is one of a set of 1.75 inch glass ornaments I bought. I also have to admit that the small size makes the prospect of doing 25 easier to envision, as well. In fact, that size was so inspirational I went out and purchased a box of 0.75 inch ornaments this weekend!
THANKS, MIKE!!

Ornaments on a Ring

2010-07-07T23:48:00.005-06:00

Ruth Perry's Snowflake 2008 is a beautiful Celtic pattern. It's made in one continuous round when done in one color. Of course, I cheated and made it in two colors instead of one, so there were extra threads to hide. Both are made with Lizbeth size 40 thread in Christmas red, Christmas green and white, just combined differently,

At first, I thought I could just do the inside round and fit them inside the ring. That was the right size, but not the right choice. The outer round stabilizes the Celtic twists in the inner round. Without the outer round, the inner lost some of its definition. That's why the outer round sticks out beyond the ring. I like the way they look hanging up -- really they look better than flat (especially against that bright yellow [what ever possessed me to do that?]).

I know, you all thought I was working on my challenge ornaments, right? HA-HA, fooled you! These are not part of my challenge because they are not covers for round ornaments, but they're still going to look good on somebody's tree.

Actually, I have been working on my challenge ornaments, but round doesn't fit in the scanner, you know. I have to haul out the camera (like it's a chore when it's just a point and click digital), and find a good place for the pictures, then get the lighting just right and figure out the macro settings and all that other stuff. I don't have any excuses for not taking the pictures just this reason: lazy, just plain lazy. Maybe tonight. . . [for the pictures! not for anything more exciting!]

Mini Beatrice

2010-06-23T07:46:00.004-06:00

"Beatrice" is from Iris Niebach's Tatted Doilies. (See? My favorite book!) This tiny little bit is made from YLI machine quilting thread in a very subtle variegated blue/green/purple called "Alaskan Twilight". It measures just 3.75 inches (9.5 cm) across.

It might make a tablecloth for a dollhouse. Originally, I intended to leave out a couple of repeats and put it on a Christmas Ornament (as I am soooooo way behind in my challenge pieces!). It went traveling with me, though -- and the ornament did not. When I got home I discovered that I'd already done too many repeats for the little glass ornament I had intended to use.

*Sigh*

I've started another ornament cover, but it can't travel as I'm using beads on the picots. I don't like hauling beads around with me because I tend to drop them all over everywhere. That wouldn't be so bad, but then I feel compelled to pick them up. That just looks strange -- some old bat crawling around on the floor in airports, restaurants, county recorder's offices, . . .

Jellybean Cornelia

2010-06-17T08:03:00.003-06:00

"Cornelia" from Iris Niebach's Tatted Doilies is one of my favorite patterns. I feel about this one they way the Lace-lovin' Librarian, Diane, feels about the Spinning Wheel glass mat from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. It's like comfort food. :)

This one, however, is rather uncomfortable to me. I made it in Westminster, Colorado while I was at a seminar ...errr... last month. (Blocking has NOT been inspiring me lately.) I picked up the thread at a huge Jo-Ann's store there -- which I happened on quite by accident (some accidents are lucky). All the Lizbeth size 20 was on sale. This Jellybean looked pretty good on the ball, and there was this nice matching green. *sigh*
As it turns out, the green matched too well. The varied colored parts should be the rings, with all the chains solid. That's really how it is but NOT how it looks! The Jellybean thread green so exactly matches the solid spring green that it loses definition by also having some green rings.
Still, it's bright and cheerful and it is a wonderful pattern -- it looks complicated when completed, but is really very easy to do.

Wheeeee -- Monday MONDO Giveaway Part XIII

2010-06-16T15:01:00.003-06:00

LadyShuttleMaker is at it again! It's more Workbaskets -- wonderful, eh?

Get over there, enter her drawing and give her a little commiserative pat while you're at it.

Just click on Monday Mondo Giveaway.

(I wanted to make the button clickable -- but Google Chrome doesn't want me to!)

Delia

2010-05-26T20:54:00.004-06:00

More than two weeks since the last bit of visual mumbling posted here. You might think it's because I've not been tatting -- that would be incorrect. I've been tatting, mostly just bits and pieces, messes, broken things, things I threw away, and little butterflies.

When I reach a point in my tatting where nothing seems to be working or I can't figure out what I want to make my shuttles always "run home to mama". Mama in my case is Iris Niebach's Tatted Doilies. Her designs are always such a pleasure to tat, and they stretch my concentration without stress. It's delightful to fill the shuttles, and work from the outside to the inside and back again until the doily is completed -- one round! If I had used size 80, there would also have been no necessity to add in a new thread.

This one is "Delia" made in Lizbeth size 20 in Light Raspberry Pink. It just about fills my scanner. It's eight inches (about 21 cm) in diameter. It needs some blocking -- some of the chains are rumpled -- but I still think it's a pretty thing.

Another Pendant

2010-05-08T09:39:00.006-06:00

I've worn my fingers out -- two of them have a couple of severe thread dents, the kind from which a couple of layers of skin peel back. Working with size 20 thread always does this to my fingers. I think it's because I want the stuff to be as small as size 80 so I pull it tighter. My tension is very tense. *sigh*

I made this a couple of weeks ago. It was going to replace my exchange partner's pendant, because I was convinced the purple and silver one had gone missing. Nope, it got there safe and sound. This one I thought looked like a leaf. Some nice leafy earrings would look good with it -- but I've been babying my fingers, so those are still in the planning stage.

The thread is Oren Bayan multi-colored metallic. It matches any and all of the beads I have.

That's a pretty funny picture (lots of empty space), but I thought y'all might like to see the necklace, too. It's a very thin metal cable covered in see-through green plastic of some kind. The fastener screws together, so it's easy to put on. I think these things are perfect for pendants -- then you never have to worry about making the necklace part and whether or not it is going to be scratchy.

June 10:

I gave this one to my sister for her birthday. She claimed to have been coveting it since it was finished. Good! Green is her favorite color. Now she's waiting for those matching earrings!

Charming things

2010-04-29T17:00:00.001-06:00

The green phone charm that Wendy won in my giveaway has gone astray. It's my own fault. I didn't send it with any kind of delivery confirmation. Actually, I did worse than that, I sent it first class with stamps on it (after weighing it at work). Well, duh. There was no customs form attached. It's probably being probed by some government official who suspects it of being something nefarious. Perhaps it's been taken out and blown up in some preemptive strike. Who can know? That was pretty shabby of me.

Wendy told me her favorite colors were red and pink. Hey! I have red. I made up two more charms, both with red Oren Bayan metallic threads -- one with silver beads and one with red beads. Both are pretty (f I do say so m'self), but the silver bead one was more striking. I sent it off properly custom-formed and all. Well, fat lot of good that did. Who knows when it will get there? Some volcano seems to have gotten in the way. As I frequently say, "If it ain't one darn thing, it's another!"

PS: Wendy received both the green and the red charms. Nice! I think the green one was slow because I am slow (couldn't seem to remember to get a padded envelope at the store!). The volcano didn't slow the red one down much, either. Good. I'm glad to know they didn't go wandering off into the ozone and that she has two to enjoy or share, as she chooses. :)

Rings 'n' things

2010-04-25T19:09:00.009-06:00

I've been tatting -- really I have. I just didn't seem to have anything I could show. My InTatters exchange partner has informed me that she received the pendant I sent, though. I thought sure the poor thing had disappeared behind some monster machine in the Post office or something. Nope, it made it safely. It's made with Oren Bayan silver thread and purple mini-seed beads (a whole pot-load of 'em). The necklace part is a twisted metal cable inside a purple protective casing. Really, it matches better than this picture makes it appear.
The other things I've been doing I'll trot out when they're finished. I'm still emptying bobbins, too. I've been making more butterflies -- the little four ring ones. But, I've also made a couple of Jane Eborall's Butterfly Bookmarks without the bookmark tails, and one tiny one with a tail for really tiny books! I've got a few more bobbins with enough thread to make Butterfly Bookmarks, if I mix the colors. That should be interesting. I might very well end up with a Christmas Butterfly, because I've got a bobbin each of red and green that are about evenly matched in amounts.

As for the ornament challenge...it has foundered. *sigh* It will get back on track pretty soon though. I ordered covered styrofoam ornaments and they've been received! I think the plastic ones are going to end up with my nieces. They can decorate them by gluing or sticking things on 'em. My patience with them (the ornaments, not the nieces -- hmmmmm, wait, some days it's them too!) has been exhausted.

Success!

2010-04-11T21:06:00.007-06:00

Disneyland is still there -- so are large portions of my feet. I'm certain I came home with barely-there soles and at least one charming blister. My feet pieces are not all that got left behind, somewhere in the world are at least a dozen butterflies that have found new homes via the lines at Disneyland. Hey, if someone asked what I was doing, in addition to explaining it, I snipped 'em off a butterfly. A lot more people looked, whispered (not too quietly -- Disneyland is noisy!) or talked behind my back. My shuttle and a selection of bobbins with left-over thread went into the park everyday. I came home with 19 empty bobbins and this collection of butterflies and a few flowers (Well, I didn't tat every minute, you know!):

As for my teaching my sister -- that's another reason I'm claiming success. :) I took two colors of size ten thread, plain cream and rainbow (that Bonnie dyed for me). I asked her how she wanted to learn -- right hand holding the shuttle or left hand. She chose right hand, because she tried to learn to crochet doing the mirror-image thing and just couldn't figure it out. She did very well -- she knits right handed, too. She says it's because both hands are doing something, they just have to be trained to do the correct thing. She started with a BUK (big ugly knot) and made a chain, then a ring, then a chain and a joined ring, then a chain and a couple of joined rings and a chain, and ... Well, you get the idea. Then she used just the cream color and made butterflies. She only had enough thread for two and 3/4, though. I think she did just peachy wonderful for a first-timer -- especially for someone that learned to tat standing in line. What do you think?

VACATION!!

2010-04-07T10:36:00.003-06:00

Yup, I'm taking one. I know it looks like I've been on vacation for a while, but I've just been busy getting things done at work so I could leave. I'm off to Disneyland with my sister and my two nieces. :) I'm taking a nice little supply of tatting threads, shuttles, and lots and lots of patterns. The patterns are all stored in my Nook, so that's how I can have lots and lots. I'm also taking two colors of size 10 thread because Bonnie said teaching her would give us something to do while waiting in lines. I hope it works, because she's a lefty and I'm a righty. I'm not much of a teacher either...we'll see. I'll report on our success (or lack thereof) when I come back. Maybe I need to learn left-handed (I did that to teach her to crochet many year ago -- and I can't do it anymore).
As for tatting -- I've been doing some! I've got some UFO's (one of which I'm taking with me) and I've been emptying shuttle bobbins by making lots of little butterflies. Some of the bobbins have quite a bit of thread on them, so I tried making something a bit bigger. This is Jane Eborall's newest butterfly bookmark -- with some oops things. I didn't load any beads first, and miscounted the ones I did add. Duh. It's made of one strand of variegated quilting thread and one strand of yellow Cebelia wound together. I also didn't have enough thread to make much of a tail...it's for marking tiny books, maybe.

Happy Blogoversary to TattingChic

2010-03-29T00:35:00.003-06:00

You'll want to pop over to TattingChic's blog! She's having her Second Blogoversary and is celebrating by giving away a "Learn to Tat" book, a shuttle, and some thread. Doesn't matter if you know how to tat -- isn't there someone you want to teach?

25 Motif Challenge - Number 4

2010-03-27T20:46:00.004-06:00

"Ice Crystal" by Blomqvist and Persson's Tatting Patterns and Designs is a beautiful piece worked in two continuous rounds (only one set of threads to hide if started continuous thread method). I modified it by using only six repeats of the pattern instead of eight. That made it cup nicely around the ornament. For the bottom I used the diamond motif made by the pattern, but used six repeats instead of four.

Lacing the top and the bottom on is just a trial and a pain. I thought I'd out smart this pair and just tat it right on the ball. Oh, yeah, that was clever. It worked, but it was worse than trying to lace the pieces together. It slipped all over and trying to get the final join done took me about 20 minutes. I was certain the thread was going to pop before I got the last ring to close. Finally!

I don't think I'm going to try that again. In fact, the next one is still in the thinking stage.

I've been working on a pendant for an exchange, and making some earrings for my niece's art night auction. I can't show the pendant, and the earrings are just same-old, same-old.

And the winner is...

2010-03-22T19:20:00.012-06:00

I thought about Diane's comment that the kids have so much fun doing a drawing. Yes! That sounds right. I got the girls to participate. Allix offered to be the box holder (okay, I volunteered her), but I think it's just so she can show off her Highland Swimming sweatshirt! She looks very serious, doesn't she?
Nicole was happy to draw the winning name -- standing on the stairs meant she could actually reach into the box to pull out one of those little squares. I took the tiny piece of tape off and she opened it to reveal:
Congratulations, Wendy! Once we get the address squared away, I'll ship the charm and the big-eye needle off to you.

But, me, I can't ever leave well enough alone. Out of curiosity, I had Google find me a Random Number Generator. Cool. I just had to try it out. It was too funny!!! What's so funny is that No. 8 is Diane who thought the kids should have the fun of drawing a name! That gave me the giggles, but maybe you had to be there. Anyway, Diane, I've got another little charm that I'll send off to you. :)

Two Hundred!?

2010-03-16T21:29:00.005-06:00

I'm not such a blabbermouth as I thought I was. It's taken me over three years to reach two hundred posts. I was going to claim that I promote quality over quantity. That might work until y'all read some of this stuff. Then somebody's going to wonder about the quality of the stuff I've been drinking (only the best tea, thanks).

It would be really fun to give away one thing for each post! Oh, yeah -- dream on. I don't have that much extraneous tatting stuff. I do have lots and lots of extraneous stuff, but I don't think anybody reading this wants my old shoes or the treasures in my ragbag.

There is a little something somebody might like, though. Oh, not my phone, but the charm. Well, not the charm that's attached to my phone (because it's attached to my phone). This nice dark green charm. It's made of size 20 Haklegarn worked over a plastic ring with a whole pile of clear seed beads built right in.

If you think you might like to have it, leave me a comment on this post, and a way to contact you. On Monday next (that would be the 22nd of March) I'll either get a random number generated, or have one of my nieces draw a name out of a box or a bag. Not only will I send you this spiffy charm, but I'll include a really nifty beading-threader-thread-weaver-inner-all-around-useful big-eye needle.

25 Motif Challenge - Number 3

2010-03-11T21:23:00.002-07:00

Ta-da! I'm now caught up to the second week of February. Unfortunately, it's the second week of March. *sigh* No matter, I'm plugging away at it. I tend to get obsessive about deadlines and keep reminding myself I need to relax. If I fuss about this challenge I'm not going to enjoy my tatting, nor am I going to take time to tat other things.

This one is made of really inexpensive size 30 crochet thread that used to be dirty white (we found it in a box in the basement). My sister was trying out new dye colors, so I let her use some of the thread. (Yeah, I'm nice like that!) This is what she calls "Flame" in shades from deep scarlet to bright yellow. I love the color, I extremely dislike the thread. It's got odd little slubs in it here and there which made some rings very nearly impossible to close. Perseverance was the key -- okay, it was really, fuss, cuss, pick, pinch, pull, cuss, and slide one stitch at a time!

The pattern is my own snowflake -- the one I designed for Sharon Briggs' Design-Tat class. I made two then laced them to this matte-gold ornament with a single strand of gold thread. The beads are inexpensive clear glass. I don't know how Christmas-y this is, so maybe it's a Halloween ornament. :)

Jewelry Break

2010-03-02T20:57:00.005-07:00

Very simple earrings on a ring and a pendant to match. The pendant would have matched better -- but I ran out of thread on both shuttles. The loop for the chain is a lock chain with a bead at every lock stitch. It looks quite nice up close and personal. I couldn't get a better picture (because I'm not a photographer).

These are made of a multi-colored metallic Oren Bayan thread and over 300 mini-seed beads. The beads are so tiny I couldn't even get my size 16 crochet hook through them so I could put them on the joining picots. That's right -- there are naked picots right there in that picture.

Just as soon as I get a padded envelope for the pasteboard jewelry box they're in, I'm shipping these off to a friend. She gifted me with a signed copy of her first novel and I'm doing my best to reciprocate!

Well -- back to the ornament covers. I've got another done, but am struggling with getting it on the ornament. After covering 25 of these slick plastic ornaments, I might be certifiable.

25 Motif Challenge - Number 2

2010-02-23T20:54:00.004-07:00

Would you believe it? Now I've got two done. Amazingly quick, huh? W'azzat?

Oh. You noticed.

Yes, I admit it -- it is exactly the same pattern as the first one. It is the same adaptation of Iris Niebach's "Beatrice" from Tatted Doilies. Well, the top is the same. I had intended to make two identical pieces and fasten them to one ornament. I finished the two pieces but they wouldn't fit on one ornament -- too much overlap. That's when I decided to make two ornaments out of them and just do different bottoms for them.

If you look closely, you can see that the bottom on this one includes some long lock chains and a different arrangement of beads.

Once again, I've reaffirmed my opinion that satin covered styrofoam ornaments are the way to go. Pinning the tatting on with decorative pins makes it much easier to get it centered and even. Quite frankly, this lacing it on with beaded thread is an exercise in frustration for me. I'm not going to tell you about that blindingly brilliant idea I had for fastening on the bottom after doing the first one -- because it didn't work. Turns out I'm no so brilliant as I thought. How very lowering.

25 Motif Challenge - Number 1

2010-02-18T16:05:00.002-07:00

At this after-Christmas sale I bought 24 unbreakable (uh-huh, it means plastic) ornaments for $2.50. About two weeks after that I bought 6 bigger ones for $1.00. Now, with a total of 3o ornaments (12 gold, 12 red, and 6 blue) sitting in the middle of my bedroom floor, I thought I'd better get busy and use them. That's when I got this really bright idea. (Rather, more like the Grinch's idea -- a wonderful, awful idea.)

In January I re-joined the 25 Motif Challenge. I challenged myself to cover 25 ornaments in the next year. That would mean I'd have to do two ornaments a month. Rrrrriiiiiiight, as if! So far I have done a grand total of (hmmm....let me count) -- it looks like ...and it is!... a total of one. This one. That means I'm two behind already. I may have bitten off more than I can chew. (But really, who eats plastic ornaments anyway?)

Be that as it may, this is an adaptation of Iris Niebach's "Beatrice" from Tatted Doilies. It is worked in size 20 Häkelgarn in a very dark green. The bottom is very loosely based on the center of the same doily. I fastened it together with strings of beads. After it was done, I thought of a better way to do it. But it's done, and I'm not taking it apart. I'll save that great thought for another time.

Sharing Valentines

2010-02-16T20:54:00.005-07:00

These are the hearts Martha Ess received from me for the Tattinggoddess Valentine Exchange. The Butterfly Heart bookmark is from Dianna Stevens' Animal Bookmarks: A Tatted Zoo. The ornament is an adaptation of Iris Niebach's Cornelia from Tatted Doilies. The last heart is the one I created for Sharon Briggs' Design-Tat course. Martha didn't get the one shown (it's got an oops in one pair of rings -- they are mismatched!), but I didn't get a picture of the one I did send. This was a really fun exchange. I never know what to put in a package for an exchange and always feel like I reap more than I sow.

Ladyshuttlemaker Random Monday Mondo Giveaway

2010-02-16T11:33:00.004-07:00

She's at it again! You'll want to hop on over there and make a nice comment. She's got a lovely tin of violet mints (with the tin, you know), and some beautiful size 50 Himalayan Poppy hand-dyed thread.