Motif #8 & Tatting Tea Tuesday

Wow! The past week is pretty much a blurrrrr. House guests arrived on Wed knowing they wouldn't be able to make it for Christmas day if they didn't get on the roads then. It began snowing Wed night, & we were snowed in until Sun. Out of town guests couldn't leave for home until Sun because of snow drifted roads between Lincoln & the towns they lived in. I made a trip out on Christmas day to get my step-son, then a return trip to take him home (inside the city.) That was the last trip out for 48 hours as the streets weren't being cleared. Wed thru Sun is a blurr of cooking, serving up food, cleaning up, etc.

Well, that's all passed now. I finally got the out of town gifts to the PO today!! Sheesh!!

Tatting Tea Tuesday has been a most appreciated, blessedly quiet day! I finished the edging for the hanky last night, & I sewed it on today. My first hanky with tatted edging! This evening, I'll choose thread for the next hanky. The edging is a generic clover leaf pattern that I tweaked a bit. The thread is Lizbeth size 40 in Caribbean.

Motif #7 of 25 - Christmas Tatting

Here is the only Christmas ornament I tatted. The first branch & the trunk are a wee wonky. I'll do another one, since that was the first time I worked the pattern. It's going to my sister, who I know didn't set up a tree this year. Everyone needs a Christmas tree on Christmas!! The pattern is from Be-stitched.com

More Goodies from the HBT Thread Exchange

I'm sorry I don't have any tatting to show this week. I did something to my wrist/thumb carrying a laundry basket, so I haven't been able to tat all week. Waaaaaaaaah!

Instead of tatting, I've decided to share with you what I've been receiving from my Thread Exchange partners. This is turning out to be one of the best exchanges I've participated in. I do feel a little bad, though. You see most of my partners have sent letters along with their goodies sharing about themselves & their lives. All I sent was an eentsy note saying thanks for participating & happy holidays. I'm realising what on opportunity I let slip by to let them know something about me personally.

OK, well it's my first thread exchange, so I guess I can go easy on myself. LOL!

Here's what I received from Robert, who it turns out, is my next door neighbor in the state of Iowa. As you can see from the pic, he doesn't just tat. He's been a quilter for many years as well. Isn't that the sweetest little pieced stocking. I wish you could see it up close, because it is perfection. Each piece is cut & sewn together with such precision! He sent a really wonderful letter & some Valdani thread. Valdani thread is made in Romania. I've used it for punch needle embroidery. It's lovely to work with there, so I"m hoping it will tat up nicely, too. There's also a lovely post card of the nativity which is now gracing my coffee table.

If you have never experienced a thread exchange, I hope these posts will encourage you to sign up for the next one you hear about. You won't be disappointed!

HBT Thread Exchange

Ohboyohboy! I received 2 more packages from the thread exchange. From Sunela a very pretty card & 2 thread samples. One matches the card - cute! The other is a sample of Lizbeth #20. Both very pretty threads.

From Mary a lovely handcrafted card, a snowflake & glow in the dark thread. The snowflake glows in the dark!! Now that's coooooooooool! LOL!

While searching for ideas for sending my threads to my partners, I decided on one of my HDT's. It's #8 Fairy Sky. I dyed matching solids, also. I  found instructions for these very cute origami envelopes, so I sent the threads in those.

HBT Thread Exchange

I'm in the HereBETatters thread exchange. My threads will go out to my 6 partners on either Sat or Mon. I received one of my exchange packages yesterday! It's always so exciting to get packages. This one came from Anna in Memphis, TN. Here's a pic of what was in this package. I'm really going to love trying this thread, & Anna sent me the cutest shuttle bag made from a vintage print fabric. I LOVE it! The green thread has a gold metalic thread in it. The little cardboard shuttle has a white size 150 thread! There's a postcard of Memphis & a very sweet note on Santa stationary. Isn't that the cutest shuttle bag ever?!

Tatting Tuesday a Day Late

Well, Tatting Tea Tuesday breezed right past me without me even noticing. I did post on Tues, though.

The city is at a standstill. Road crews have cleared only the main streets. Downtown hasn't been cleared & the news is saying don't bother going there - it's dangerous.

I have my faithful Jeep, so I forged my way out of our side street onto a cleared snow route. I decided to come to work today & not waste a vacation day. I work at the local PBS station in Engineering & our Chief Engineer couldn't make it into town, & most everyone else is taking the day off. We had some problems yesterday with servers, so I'm here making sure they're all working properly, making sure the operators are keeping snow out of the satellite dishes, etc.

I'd rather be home with my shuttles, but jobs are hard to keep now days with the economy.

Tatting - I decided I didn't like my Crinoline Lady in size 20 thread, so I started over with size 40. It's looking so much more delicate. I don't have any size 40 thread in white, so there won't be any white ruffles at the hem of her dress, but that's ok. I'm going to need a solid size 40 for her bonnet, though. Oh darn! That means ordering thread! tee hee!

Secret Santa Exchange Package

Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! What a day! It's been blizzarding all day. I had to work, & when I got off work, I had to clean all that snow off my vehicle. The drive home was just plain scarey, so you can imagine how happy I was to find my Secret Santa Exchange package in the mailbox. Thank you postman for braving the elements to deliver it!

It came all the way from Winnepeg Canada! There's a beautiful red bookmark tatted in very fine thread, a package of seed beads, an Aero type shuttle with 2 bobbins, an eentsy lovely tatted angel (who's dancing in the branches of the tree), a package of charms, a ball of green tatting thread & a cute card with a puppy on it. All these fun goodies came to me from Monica Smith. I'm in heaven!! Thank you Monica!

ladyshuttlemaker Shuttle

I finally have pics of my ladyshuttlemaker ceramic shuttle. I chose it for the teal color & the beautiful tatting imprint. I'm very proud to add it to my growing shuttle collection!
You can see more of these ceramic shuttles here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LadyShuttleMaker?section_id=5052044

Waiting for Santa

Merry Christmas to All

Christmas Tatting

It's very quiet & peaceful as I sip my Starbucks this a.m. My husband left for a week-end hunt with the guys. So, I have an entire, glorious week-end to craft. We put up the tree before he left last night, & it has yielded the Christmas spirit. I have one tatted snowflake - my first ever. I didn't know when I tatted it, that it would be so huge. It's from Jon Yusoff's Quantiesque pattern done in Lizbeth sz 20 Jelly Bean. Here it is as a small doily under a collectable Finton glass tree. I'll need to tat up snowflakes for the tree one of these days before Christmas.

I've started my first tatted Christmas present. This is the Crinoline Lady from Tatting Treats Two by Pam Palmer. I'm tatting this little lady for my sis. The pattern calls for sz 40 thread, but I'm using Lizbeth sz 20 in Christmas Delight & the bonnet is Christmas Red. It's a bit larger than the pattern, but I'm thinking my sis can use it on a quilt block since she quilts. The plan is to send her a Crinoline Lady on each holidy in 2010, so  she can make herself a holiday quilt. This is an easy pattern, & the instructions & diagram are so easy to follow!! Here's the bonnet & the bottom of the sleeve & the pic from the book.

 

Motifs #5 & #6

Finally, I'm finding time to blog! Yesterday, I was wearing my newest tatted Sweetheart, when my co-worker said, "Nice tatting!" I was amazed that he (not a she) knew what tatting was at a quick glance. I had to ask how He (now held in much higher esteem than previously) knew what tatting was when most females can't ID it. His sister-in-law tats, & He & his wife have her tatting hung on their walls as "wall art". Now, is that amazing or is that amazing?!

OK, here's the latest Sweetheart in one of my own HDT. This is DMC instead of Lizbeth sz 20. I have to say, I like the Lizbeth much better - it seems to have a sheen in comparison to the DMC. From now on, my HDT will done with Lizbeth.

I had to make one of Yarnplayer's little rings to go with my other Sweetheart. It's a fun & easy pattern! You can find it here:  http://tinyurl.com/y9b57q7

Here are the older Clovers from my sister & 2 new balls of Lizbeth in size 40. I tatted the newest Sweetheart with one of the new old Clovers. I'll tat her a snowflake to include with her Christmas card - tatted with one of the shuttles.

Scrappy Mini Lunchbox

During my mini-vaca in CO, my niece & I made our annual day after Thanksgiving shopping trip. We only shop for yarn & scrapbooking suppplies. She had found another yarn shop for us to visit. It was behind a huge mansion, along a stone walk-way & inside a carriage house! It's was soooooooooooo awesome! I found a skein of handdyed yarn for a woven scarf to-be.

We next made our way to the scrapbooking store we always go to when I visit. Wellllllllllllllllllllllllllllll, they had these mini lunchboxes. IknowIknow. Yet another tatting box!!???? Remember, though, I gave my other tins away as gifts. Well, here were these mini lunchboxes all scrapbooked up, & I'm telling you, they were CUTE!!! I'd like to be able to say I snubbed my nose & just walked away from them. I'd like to say I was tough on myself & didn't buy. I'd like to say I didn't, but I can't!!! I had to. OK, so there was the box, & this paper that would be so cute on it, & the little jewel stickies, the wee, round letters & the lace butterfly edging... IhadtoIhadto, so I did! I had a great time scrapbooking my mini-lunch box tatting tin!!!

Now, I swear there was purple in that paper when I was choosing the lining. It's more than obvious I need to use my Ott light in the basement at night. There's NO purple in the paper, it's BROWN! So, this box will get a new lining of pink & green. Anywho, I'm loving it!!

Tatting Tea Tues - Late

I'm a day late with my Tatting Tea Tuesday post. I just returned from Thanksgiving in CO where my sister lives. We had a wonderful & fun Thanksgiving, but I'm way behind on everything!! I have several pics I want to post, but they'll have to wait til later in the week.

I tatted another of the Sweet Hearts. This one is done in one of the new Lizbeth colors. I can't remember the name of it - nothing new about my lack of good memory.

I didn't find any tatting threads, but my sister did root around her sewing room looking for shuttles. She's sure she has what may be a bone shuttle, but couldn't find it. She did find an unopened package of the older Clover tortoise shell colored shuttles. They are my favorite Clovers, too! Isn't that a funny coincidence? Now that I know she once wanted to learn to tat, I know any tatted pieces I gift her with will be loved!

Unfortunately, my sister has very poor hand/eye coordination from having rhumatic fever as a child. She had to learn to walk, talk, etc 3 different times until she was 9 years old. All of the fiber crafts I love doing, she just can't, so I want to share as many of my finished pieces as I can with her. She's very limited where crafts are concerned, but the one she can do & has become a master at is sewing. She's a master quilt-maker & seemstress! She has an amazing ability to love unconditionally, too. She can always find somethng good in even the rottenest people! Our mom died in a car accident when I was 9, & my sister Joyce took me in. She's been my mom, my big sister & my best friend.

Raising my cup to Big Sisters!!

Tatting Tea Tuesday - Christmas Gifts & Tea

Mmmmmmmmmm! I'm enjoying another cup of cinnamon candy flavored tea this morning. It got me to thinking about Christmas & gifts.

I love little tins for tatting. They have to have hinged lids, though so I don’t have to chase the lid. LOL! Last month I showed my tatting tools tin made from a little tin that came with sewing notions in it - until I re-purposed it to be my tatting tools tin.

I decided that tatting tool tins would make great Christmas presents for my tatting friends, so I went on the hunt for hinged-lid tins. They aren’t easy to come by, I can tell you! I found these very cute ones at Hobby Lobby, though!

Hobby Lobby has an incredible selection of felt squares, so I found a square that was textured & matched the tin. That got me to thinking it would be cute to color-coordinate everything to match the tin. I lined the tin, & made a coordinating pincushion to attach to the inside of the lid (I don’t like chasing tiny pin cushions, either.)

While waiting in line to check out, I spied these cutest of manicure sets - just the right size to fit into the tins & color-coordinated to boot! I took out the scissors & nail file & replaced them with one of my decoupaged shuttles. I left the tweezers & the nail clippers in for opening rings & cutting thread.
I grabbed a couple square bead containers, & put together enough color-coordinated beads for a small tatting project or two. I added a skein of HDT to pull it all together & put in 2 snowflake thread winders (also found at Hobby Lobby - in the wood section.)

Since I used my own HDT, the whole shabang came to around $13. The only issue I had was that I needed one for myself! Merry Christmas to me, too & thank you Santa! LOL!

Katie

Another HDT Sampling & Motif #4 of 25

Well, that little heart I did last week was a nice pattern for sampling threads. Here's one of the HDT's I did a week or so ago tatted up. I decided to a dd a bead & turn this heart into a pendant. The thread is the 3rd one from the right in the pic below. Now, there was a day when I would be horrified at the thought of these colors together, but I'm happy to say that's not the case today.

Thread I dyed was Lizbeth size 20.Pattern - Sweet Heart by Birgit Phelps.
Katie

Heart Picture Frame

On a visit to Hobby Lobby to look for small tins, I found they had picture frames 50% off. I spied a heart-shaped frame that looked like it might fit that little heart I tatted the other day. Brought it home, & sure enough, it fits!

Katie

Lady Shuttlemaker Shuttle

When Lady Shuttlemaker announced she had new shuttles in her etsy shop, I zinged right over, because I know how fast they sell. Oh, was I surprised to find a few left. Here's a link to what she had made. Mine is the 2nd from the left on the bottom.
http://ladyshuttlemaker.blogspot.com/ I'd post a pic from etsy, but I don't know if that's ok to do, so I'm just sending you over to her blog to have a look.
Katie

Motif #3 of 25 for the Challenge & Tatting Tea Tuesday HDT Sampling

This is officially Motif #3 in the 25 Motif Challenge. I only had enough time to sample one of my HDT's. I tried to be very careful about getting dye under the threads securing the skeins, but I saw a few eentsy white spots, so that's something I'll work on next time by loosening my choke ties a bit. Still, though, I'm liking this thread. Here's the sample - not blocked yet. The pattern is Sweet Heart by Birgit Phelps.
Katie

Tatting Tea Tues & What's In Your Stash?

Ah, another Tatting Tea Tuesday! Love them! Ambitatterous asked us all to respond to What's in Your Stash? She wanted to know particularly about HDT. We must be tuned into one another! My Tatting Tea Tuesday was going to be about my latest HDT experience.

Now, I love buying other people's HDT, but I learned how to dye warps for weaving many years ago, so it was just a matter of doing it on a smaller size thread. I just couldn't resist the call of the dyes! I will continue to purchase from you well known HDT dyers, so no fear there! My HDT stash isn't nearly the size it needs to be!! LOL!

Today I'll be tatting samples from the results of my own dye pots. Here's some of what I did on Sunday. I started a dyeing journal with my formulas & samples, so I can do these colors again in case I like how they tat up.

Antique Mall Find

We went to the antique mall yesterday. I always look for tatting shuttles while I'm there, & always come away disappointed. Not yesterday!! I scored this little beauty. It needs some work as the ends are separted, but other than some scotch tape adhesive, it's in excellent condition! It's a lovely beige on brown pearlescent celluloid shuttle circa 1920.

Next Project

Here's the Crinoline Lady for my next project. I'll use one of my new size 40 Lizbeth variagated threads & a matching solid for the hat.

New Book

I did a search on Crinoline Lady patterns, & found the one referenced in this book, so since I needed a size 15 crochet hook for size 11/0 seed beads, I ordered the book & hook from Handy Hands.

Tatting Tote Almost Finished

Woohooo! The Tatting Tote is almost finished! I have a row & a half to complete the tote, then the handle to do. Then, I think I'll take it to the fabric store to find a lining fabric for it.

Tatting Tea Tuesday

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! I'm enjoying a cup of my favorite tea. I still had some left from my trip to Seattle. It's a spicey tea that tastes like cinnamon candy.

Here's what I'm working on today. It's the little tatting tote by Sharon Albers. I'm using Lizbeth size 20 in a variagated color for the rings & a solid for the chains. I'll be working on this for a while-it's slow going. I wish I'd added some picos to the rings, but I'll do that on the last round & on the handle. I've been using my Laci's shuttle which holds way more thread than a Clover. Everytime I hide ends, I'm kicking myself for not taking the time to learn what I need to to jump out from one round to the other. I've learned split rings, now I just need to try split chains (which don't look very difficult) & mock picos. Why do I hedge on this? (shaking head)

Tatting Related

Although, I tatted all week-end, I'll post about it on Tatting Tea Tuesday, because for certain I'll still be working on that project!!

I did manage to get some cleaning done, & I worked on putting together some items for an exchange. While I was shopping at Hobby Lobby on Friday, I took notice of the felted pieces. You can purchase individual, already felted parts to make flowers, or entire, already made flowers for purse projects, etc. I've been in need of a tiny pincusion, & when I saw packages of these tiny flowers, & packages of leaves, I thought, "Oh, tiny pincusions!!!" Each little flower is sewn together & even has seed beads sewn on them.

Now, this was an easy project.
Instructions:
Glue flower to leaf. Let dry. LOL!!

Now, I have a tiny pincusion for each of my tatting boxes. They're about the length of a Clover shuttle, & if I'd had my photographer hat on, I would've thought to include a shuttle in the pic & added some pins.

Motif #2

Whew! I finally got Motif #2 finished. I, apparently, am not very adept at visual patterns yet. I started that motif 4 times, & really worked to get it right. I kept reversing where I wasn't supposed to. Well, I did finally work through the pattern once, & took notes, so the next one should be much easier. This will be my first attempt at joining motifs, too. I hope I can figure that out without getting it all twisted or something.

OK. Motif #2 is from Tatting with Visual Patterns, & I used Lizbeth size 20 in Spring Garden (I love this new color.)

New Blog Look

My blog has a whole new look. For some reason, the graphic parts of my original template disappeared.

So, I chose a different template. I had to recreate my Blog List. I knew that in advance, so had jotted down everything. I had to add all the Widgets again - sigh. I love the new template, though. It's so pretty!!

While I was at it, I changed the name to something a bit more keechy.

Yet Another Pendant

I'm just joing the 25 Motif Challenge, well assuming I did it correctly, so here's my first official motif. I really love this Lizbeth color! It's one of the new colors - Spring Garden. I've started a doily from Visual Patterns in this color 3 times, & I'm about to start it again today.

This is Yarnplayer's Keyed Up pattern again. It's a really easy pattern even new tatters can do. The pattern uses the 3 seed beads in the center & key charm on the bottom ring, but I subbed the 9 beads for the charm - didn't have any charms on hand. My photography skills need improving!

Steampunk Time Traveler

Happy Halloween!! I'm time traveling this Halloween! Here's me as a Neo-Victorian time traveler. I did manage to get some tatting done this week-end, but it's very late, & time traveling wears one out so.  I'll post a pic of yet another pendant tomorrow. I'll just say, "Goodnight Halloweenies!"

The Lucky Collar

This was my first large tatting project. Large projects since this one have been, well, disasters. I keep trying to start a doily pattern from Visual Patterns, & after 3 failed attempts, I guess I'll try it again this week-end.

So, here's my 1 large project. Oh, I'm calling it my "lucky collar", because at almost the 1/2 way point, there's one clover with 4 leaves. Purely accidental, but I'd done so much retro-tatting (retro-tatting = undoing stitches) by that time, I just decided to leave it. The pattern is from Lynn Morton's Tatting Patterns, & it's done in sz 30 thread.

Monkey on My Back - Tatting Container Acquisition

Now, this isn't my fault. I lay the entire responsibility of my jonesing for yet another tatting container at the feet of my friend Jan.

Jan called & really wanted me & my pooch to go with her & her pooch to Petco's costume contest for dogs. Ok, so I dressed up Widget, my Chinese Crested, & away we went. Jan & her angel dog, Kudjo  had wandered off, so we trecked off to  find them.

There Jan was digging through a clearance bin. She joyfully held up some decorative tin containers. "Hey! Look at these! I'm giving them for Christmas gifts to the angel dog owners!" I asked her if there was one for me. "Nope! I have them all." she laughed. I whined that I really wanted one & went on a search for more. None to be found, so I whined some more. When we got back to my place, she gifted me with one, because she said I whined so well.

Here are the dogs. Jan's Kudjo the angel dog in wings, & my Widget in her So Cute It's Scarey costume, & my new doggy treat lunch box transformed into my newest tatting box.

A Flurry of Threadwinders

While visiting various tatting blogs, I saw some threadwinders that had been pyrographed. They were made from those wood blanks you find at hobby stores.

The tool acquisition monkey was on my back, so I jetted over to Hobby Lobby. SCORE! I found 2 sizes of snowflakes - perfect for threadwinders. The larger ones were already painted. You can see I've already filled one with my new size 40 thread from Yarnplayer - Midnight  Oil.

There's an upcoming thread exchange in the works. I'm thinking my exchange partners might need one of these.

New Tatting Shuttles

All my new tatting shuttles have arrived!! They are all so beautiful! I have my tulip wood Silent Tatter, my David Reed Smith east Indian rosewood & the Shuttle Shop tulip wood with the engraved Celtic Knot. I love wood tools, & these are all exactly what I was hoping they'd be.

I find the David Reed Smith one to be lovely, but it's very thin, so I'm afraid of breaking the tip. It tats wonderfully, though because it's light as a feather!

The tulip wood Shuttle Shop shuttle is soooooooooooooo beautiful! I put just the lightest coating of my beeswax & oil polish on it, & the grain just popped!! It's has a solid, sturdy feel to it, but is still feather light!

My favorite is the Silent Tatter. Again, the grain in the tulip wood is just so stunning! I love being able to adjust the tension so minutely, & the brass pieces really add to the beauty of the shuttle!

My Christmas list is made out & ready to hand to hubby. Yeah, another Silent Tatter, & one of those Opal Shuttle Shop shuttles, please Santa!

Here are my new shuttles:

Online Tatting Classes

Cynthia invited me to join the Online Tatting Classes a while back, so I did. I came in on Lesson #3. So, here's the beginning of a class assignment - Rings on Chains:

The Tool Tin

I needed something to put all my tatting tools in. I have the wee dowel for winding bobbins, scissors, bobbins, a needle, crochet hook & screw driver for my Silent Tatter. I found this little tin, lined it with wool, & everything fits into it perfectly.