A Desperate Tatter

The Final Hours of 2012

2011-12-31T11:24:00.000-08:00

Well, 2011 is drawing to a close and a lot has happened this year. I have a new grandson and a great granddaughter. Spent a month in Alaska. Neglected my garden and let it go to ruin hope to do better next year.

My father is doing well and we are looking forward to a new year with him.

I learned how to use my new embroidery machine and made several gifts for Christmas. Have several new designs picked out for shirts and bags next year.

Taught a series of tatting classes and have another one lined up for the new year.

I am getting my list ready for the new year with my goals laid out for me. I hope to knit 12 pair of socks this year most will be for gifts. I am looking at making 12 hats and 12 pair of mittens. I also want to work on 12 tatting projects, just not sure what I will do with the tatting. I want to write at least new 12 poems and work on my stories that I have neglected for way to long. I plan to update this blog at least once a week and not leave it languishing for months at a time. Won't be to difficult with the winter months but spring and summer are difficult.

I am teaching tatting!

2011-11-13T19:05:00.000-08:00

So, I am teaching a hands on tatting class in Tawas, Michigan. Last Tuesday was the first class and I had two students show up. I had a lot of samples to show them and we discussed some of the differences in how patterns are written. Then we got into the nitty gritty business of tatting. Both ladies could make the double stitch at least once but were not able to repeat it a second time. I hope they were able to get it to work when they went home and were able to relax a little bit. They were having trouble getting the stitch to flip and I was not sure how to address the flipping of the stitch because it is so natural to me. I never even thought about it when I learned so I may have to do something different Tuesday if they still are not getting the flip.

My sister is home from Nebraska and we have been having a great time. She has been spending a lot of time at my house this year more so than she has done in the past. So we have been doing come sewing and getting some things done in my house. Hopefully we can get some more of the my sewing room cleaned up and organized. It is difficult to find anything in there as I haven't done to much since I moved in three years ago. Just made room to get to my machines. I have material, tatting thread and yarn that needs to be stored and organized.

Last week we celebrated my dad's 82 birthday. All five of us girls were here for the party. It has been a few years since we were all here at the same time. The only one missing was my brother and he thinks he needs an engraved invitation, which isn't going to happen! He needs to grow up and be a son to my father. It might be to late for him to do that, after all he is 54 years old now!

The Year isn't over yet!

2011-11-04T12:22:00.000-07:00

Oh, my, I haven't been on here since January 2011. Must be I have been busy this year. I haven't done a lot of tatting this year, mostly been on a knitting binge. But, I am going to be teaching a tatting class starting next week! How cool is that? I was a bit apprehensive about doing it as I do not consider myself to be anywhere near an expert but we always want new tatters to join the ranks. I will be teaching in Tawas, Michigan I am planning maybe 6 weeks of classes. Will see how well versed the tatters I have are and how long they want to go on. This whole teaching thing started because I dropped off a pair of tatted baby booties last April at the knit shop and she showed them off and now I am teaching tatting.

This year I also had two additions to my family, a new grandson in Alaska and a great granddaughter in Michigan. I now have one granddaughter and four grandsons and one great granddaughter. I am a lucky grandma.

This weekend we are celebrating my fathers 82nd birthday. We are so blessed to still have him and 22 of us will be home to help him celebrate. That is only about half of us. The rest could not make it home as they all live out of state. All five of us girls will be here tomorrow. Only my brother will be missing and he refuses to come home without an "engraved invitation". We don't mind anymore as we have learned to adjust to his stupidity!

Yes, I have a project!

2011-01-14T06:53:00.000-08:00

I have not given up on my tatting at all. Just to keep you up to date, I have decided to join the fun with Jane and her new TIAS. Here is my first installment.

You can follow along on her Blog Tatting and not a lot else. It has been a while since I have played one of her games and I am excited to see what she has created for us. I have no idea what it might bee and may even have my picture upside down. Only time will tell as we tat this project.

I am still making mittens and have finish four pair for the challenge. Plus the four pair I made before the end on 2011. I sent this pair to my sister in Nebraska. She fell in love with them.

These were fun to make and a welcome change from plain classic mittens. I have a few in the challenge qqueue that are going to be very challenging this year some are color work and use very small needles. I am hoping to make a pair of trigger gloves for my son-in-law in Alaska as he is a hunter. I have never made gloves before so that will be a fun project. Just hope they are warm enough to wear when hunting in Alaska.

I am currently working on a crochet project, a toy. It is a bumble bee and I have had the pattern for a while just have not been inclined to crochet. And oh, yes, I have lots of sewing projects to do. Always something to work on and no time to be bored!

What is the other side?

2010-12-26T14:34:00.000-08:00

I feel like I have gone over to the other side. The other side of crafting? I have been knitting up a storm the last couple of weeks. I finished my crocketed Christmas Ball Gowns for this year and have moved on over to knitting. Mittens and hats. I joined a mitten challenge over on Raverly.com for 2011. To knit 11 pairs of mittens in the new year. While I can knit mittens and they are fast projects I am challenging myself to do more intriciate projects. Mittens with pattern and lots of colors. Then I am going to make come baby things, hats, booties, blankets and maybe even a gown or two. I have no one in particular that I am making them for and may send some off to Newborns In Need. Or they may show up in my Etsy Shop, Keep Me Busy. It would be nice if I could sell enough to help with the cost of a trip to Hawaii that my daughter is planning for next November.

I do have some tatting projects that I need to get busy on. My nephew is getting married in August and I hope to make a ring pillow for them. I have decided to just make it white as the bride can't decide on her colors. At least with white it can go with any color she chooses. I also hope to try to design some ball covers for Christmas balls for next year. I love to give my family and friends handmade projects and tatting is one of the unique things I can give to them.

So, I have a busy year planned and need to stay focused and on tract. Maybe I should rejoin the 25 Motif Challenge and see if I can complete that with all my other projects. At least it would help me stay on track and make sure I get some tatting completed with all the knitting and sewing I have lined up.

Christmas Presents

2010-12-18T16:28:00.000-08:00

Christmas giving is over for this year, at least in my family that is. We met at my sister's and I gave out all of my gifts for my family. sorry to say this year I had no tatting gifts only crocheted Christmas Ball gowns which were a hit. all of my new snowflakes are still hanging in my window. I add to them from time to time, especially when I a new one online that I like. Last year I gave away most of my tatted snowflakes so I will have to work on some new ones. Plus I would like to do some Ball Gowns that are tatted. Haven't see any of those online yet, but I am sure a designer will create one sooner or later.

My grandson and his girlfriend are up for a few days. It has been a long time since I have seen my family for our Christmas party. So this was especially nice for me. Generally it is all my nieces and nephews that are with us for Christmas. I am hoping he can come every year now as I expect he will continue to live in this state. He will be the only one of my grandchildren in the same state as I am. So I am glad to have at least one of them close by. The others are in North Carolina and Alaska.

I have been sewing, knitting and crocheting a lot this fall. I think I made over a dozen of the Christmas ball Gowns. I may have one left when all is said and done. I have maybe four more balls to cover, after Christmas I am going to look for some more balls on sale. I will need some to cover if I every get some tatted covers made.

Tuesday's Tatting

2010-10-19T16:37:00.000-07:00

Here is the second row on the baby bonnet. It has shaped nicely, but it is very small. This fits loosely over a golf ball, I don't think it will ever fit a baby. I checked my directions and I did follow them right but it just isn't going to work. Maybe I need to add another ring in the center, now it only has five. I think I will put it back for now and try something different. I don't think I am suppose to make any of JoAnn Stearns patterns for baby. The booties I tried came out huge and not the bonnet is way to small. I will try again at a later time and see how it works out.

I found a new antique lace pattern to try. I was not sure I was going to like it and it is finicky to work on but all in all I am happy with it. I am going to make a Ring Bearer Pillow for my nephew's wedding next year so I am trying out different edges. I do want one that with have a long drop off the edge so I keep looking for one and trying it out to see how I like it. This one looks like it might be two inches wide so it might be what I want. I will keep looking I have almost a year to find the one I like.

My sister once had a home on this same site and she said my great grandfather haunted her house. I am beginning to think he might still be hanging around here. Although I moved my house in two years ago I am just north of the original home site. Every once in a while I can smell something burning, it bugs me that I can't find out what is causing this. I am thinking I will just have to blame Great Grandpa. She also told me he didn't like cucumbers and would hide her seeds every year. He didn't hide mine. I had a great cucumber crop last year, just didn't get them planted this year.

Golf season is almost over, the course down the street is closing the end of the month. Looks like I am going to get in one mare day as we are going tomorrow. Should be fun and a good thing I have winter golf gloves as it might be a tad cold.

Bootees and a New Bonnet

2010-10-15T05:58:00.000-07:00

Finsihed two more booties. Now that I have made over a dozen of them I am looking for ways to tweek the pattern. I have done some front side/back side tatting as I realized at one spot it was actually comming out with the back showing. Had to fix that right away. I really need to learn how to do split chains and maybe I could do them without cutting and tying the thread after each round.

This first pair was made with Lizbeth Thread Number 134 Mountain Breeze in sise 20. I think they look very boyish. Sometimes it is difficult to find colors that look like boys.

This next pair is made from Size 20 Green Cebella It was two dark for solid green so I added in the white. I think it looks a lot like Christmas, or maybe it is just the season is getting close. The green ribbon seems to sparkle in th is picture.

And now for the baby bonnet. It is out of Cebella White Size 20. I have just gotten started on it but it feels like it will be going fairly quickly. I will post additional pictures of the bonnet when I complete the next round. The pattern is one I purchased, the designer is JoAnn Stearns. I think I purchased the pattern at Handy Hands.

I am also struggling to learn now to needle tat. I learned how to shuttle tat and I enjoy that very much but have been told some patterns are better suited to the needle so now I am attempting that method. It is very challenging to me and I have not yet put more than two rings together. I had a second chain on this but it didn't curve right so I had to rip it out. This will be an adventure.

More Booties

2010-10-05T12:25:00.000-07:00

I seem to be locked into bootie mania! Here are three more pairs of baby booties. So far this fall I have completed six pair and I am still making baby booties. The first six are in the mail to Nashville, TN. as my mother-in-law suggest she could sell them. We will see how many more pair she requests when she gets these. But Help! I need another project to tat. Maybe I need to try a bonnet and see how long it will take to finish one of those. I do have a couple of patterns to try. So maybe........

So far we are having a lovely fall here in Northern Michigan. Lovely warm days and cool evening. We have had a couple of nights with a hard frost but my marigolds are still looking very colorful in the garden boxes.

My daughter in Alaska has her first baby appointment this month. We may get a date for the new baby this spring or early summer. Another excuse to go to Alaska and visit. I am hoping for a little girl this time around. Boys are nice, but I would love to have another granddaughter. Beside my daughter needs a daughter just like her. She drove me crazy when she was growing up. My mother always said she was a different kettle of fish and she sure has been. I always thought she should have been born in the 60's and been a flower child. She would have fit in that culture very well.

Beside the baby booties I have been making, I have been doing some sewing. I purchased an 18 inch doll last spring and now I am making clothes for dolls of that size. Plus I have made some fleece slipper socks for kids. I need to make some bigger sizes as my grandchildren are older and have big fee. My oldest wears a size 13 shoe! Most of the patterns that I have only go to a size 11 so I have to adjust to make his slippers and socks.

I have also been reading my 'nook' . For those that don't know it is an electronic book reader. You can download your books to the reader and read them from there. I found it is much easier to read the new e-ink and the words are so much clearer. I love my reader! So far my sister has gotten one and my best firend. We are all loving them and the ease of reading. So now all of my books are stored in cyberspace and not taking up space in my house.

Yes, I am Tatting Again!

2010-09-24T19:23:00.000-07:00

So, it is official. Summer is over and Fall has arrived. Most of the harvesting has been completed and the canning should be done. Now it is time to get those winter projects in line. Which is exactly what I am trying to do.

All has not been lost to summer fun, I do remember how to tat. Need proof. Here is is....

I found this pattern in an antique pattern book and knew I wanted to try it out. It was called "Three Flower Scallop Edge" I love it! I did have to create a corner for the pattern and I was happy with that also. I have completed two hankerchief edging with this pattern. I am sure I will be making a few more. It is a very simple pattern and I can almost do it without thinking.

Plus, my mother-in-law has inquired about baby booties. So...I am making baby booties again and quess what! I just found out this week I get a new grandbaby next summer. Too bad this one is going to be in Alaska, but a great excuse to go visit. So far I have completed three pair of booties. Here they are.

I am currently working on a fourth pair in white. So far I have cut the vamp on the second one out two times. I can't seem to get it right tonight so I am putting it up for the rest of the evening. Decided to update by blog instead. Let everyone know what is happening in my world.

New babies, one grandson living in Michigan and going to college, one in North Carolina getting ready to build a computer. One in Alaska, just learned how to crawl and my granddaughter is a star play on her softball team. My dad is doing great and I have had another wonderful summer with him. Let's see, what did I do this summer. I went to Colorado spent a week on a mountain primitive camping for a week. No running water, no bathroom...humm when was the last time you lived in the wild? Wild, yes we saw a bear! He was across the field, thankgoodness, not close to camp at all, but still very exciting. All the guys decided to be macho and guns came out from every where. I think every gug in the camp had at least two, if not more guns. But the bear got away! We did not see it again. I even went White Water Rafting on the Arkansas River through the Royal Gorge. Yes, me, who is not fond of the water got in a raft and when down the wild river. It was great! I would go again.

I aquired another dog. One just like my Sadie, well almost! Rikki is not has hyper as Sadie much more laid back and refined. Must be something about being a year older and a male! Humm I wonder if that really has anything to do with it. Maybe it was just a better trainer. Sadie is still on the wild side and I am not sure who is in charge, her or Rikki. He has been with us just over a month and they still go around and around. No major fights and they really seem to get along for the most part.

Plus the tatting I have been doing some sewing. Doll clothes mostly, until the last two days when I made four Halloween Treat Bags. I think they turned out cute. Just have to wait and see if anyone else likes them enough to purchase. I made two pumpkins and two skulls. Have completed four doll outfits and have two cut out and ready to sew. All fit an 18 inch doll. Easier to make than Barbie Doll cothes. I do like to sew so it is just another one of my winter projects.

Well enough for now. I will try to be back soon and keep everyone update on my projects.

What's New......

2010-04-25T13:42:00.001-07:00

Nothing in the way of tatting going on at my house. Not even any knitting right now. Some sewing and a lot of weeding. I have five big raised garden beds and four small ones. The weather has been so nice I have been weeding my beds and getting ready to put in a new one. I will bed one for Strawberries and tomatoes. I have planted peas and potatoes so far. The rest are ready to be planted. I am also getting fairly proficient on the tractor. I decided my raised beds were not enough so I have been plowing a spot in the field. This is the first time I have ever operated a big garden tractor. So far it has been fun, except when my dad ran over my toe with the disc. Lucky for me I didn't lose my toe, didn't even turn black and blue! Now I am extra careful about where I put my feet when we are attaching the plows and discs.

I do have some tatting projects lined up, just can't seem to get the shuttles out and working. Must be the weather. Golf season is starting soon and that too will interfere with everything. We have our first meeting Tuesday and our first day of gold will be May 5.

In June, I think, we will be going to Colorado for about 15 days. My sister has some acreage in the mountains and plans a camping trip about every other year. So no reunion this year camping instead.

The new Alaskan baby has arrived! A fine baby boy on February 4th. He weighed in at 8lbs 4ozs and was 21 inches long. He is named after his daddy, Ira Kathel Griffin III, being called Kathel.

Have, you all heard of the "nook" from Barnes and Noble? It is the newest eReader on the market and I have one and I love it. I am reading much more than I was (Hummm, maybe that is why I am not getting any tatting done!) and I think I am reading faster. The newest update gave us a web browser! I like the nook better than the Kindle from Amazon and I think the fact they can push updates out is great. My new electronic gadget has not gone out of date yet as I get all the new software when it is ready. I even joined the nook book club on Facebook.

And I have even been working on some writing projects. One is a summer picnic story and I hope to have something done before June 21 as that is the deadline for that one. The other is my most recent poem. Which I am posting here. I hope you like it.

Heartfelt Pain

My heart cries out in senseless pain
tormented, yearnings of my heart
knowing only that we must part

only seeing the ugly shame
hidden in the shadow of my heart
buried so the pain won't start

why, oh, why, must I play this game?
exposed to nothing but endless pain
always knowing there is no gain

forever hoping it won’t end the same
coming back to face the endless
unforgiving, mindless, sadness

Yet in my sleep I call your name
…this foolish yearning of my heart
please, dear Lord, don't let it start.

Where has the time gone?

2010-01-19T10:03:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it has been two months since I have posted anything. Wow, where has the time gone. I have been busy, although not using my shuttle! By accident I picked up my knitting needles and have been knitting up a storm. Mainly dishcloths because they are fast and easy. As my sister, Kate said the other day, "They are instant gratification." In about 8 hours you have a completed dishcloth. Now what to do with them, Hummm. I think I will open open an Etsy shop and see if I can sell any. Hopefully I can and support all of my habits.

For Christmas I purchased a new eReader. I love it. I can download several books and have one already to start as soon as I finish one. I have always loved to read but this makes is so much easier no waiting for a book to come in the mail or having to run to the library. Just go online, purchase and download and I am ready to go. Will be great when I return to Alaska next month. No more hunting for a book at one of those pricey bookstalls in the airports. I purchased mine from Barnes & Noble, the newest greatest eReader on the market (according to them) but really it is great. You can see one on the website, it is called a "nook". Amazon also has an eReader, but so far I am liking this one just fine.

No baby yet! Karyn is doing fine and getting restless waiting for the baby to arrive. She wasn't very happy when the doctor moved her due date back a week from 1-25 to 1-29. We try to keep her focus and tell her babies come when they are ready no matter what. At least her husband is home to help her out and run to the hospital when the time comes. They have decided not to move to town early, so it will be at least an hour drive from home to the hospital. Hope the baby isn't in to much of a hurry!

I will be going back to Alaska 2-16 for a month. Yeah, I get to play with a new baby. While I am gone my sister, Sherry, will be comming home to look after Dad and Martha for at least a couple of weeks. Sure am glad she will be here I won't worry about him to much. She is bringing her daughter and two granddaughters with her. Will be a houseful for Dad and Martha but they are looking forward to it. Bella is 2 1/2 and Annaleigh is almost 4 months.

I am taking lots of crafty things with me including my shuttles. So hopefully will have lots to do while I am there, that is if I can leave the baby alone long enough to work on something.

Going Home

2009-11-15T15:07:00.000-08:00

My time here in Alaska is almost over. I will be going home tomorrow, we are leaving her about 2:30 tomorrow afternoon. I don't fly out until 10:15 tomorrow night and I won't actually get home until after 9:00 pm Tuesday. A long trip but really only about 15 hours of flight time. It has been snowing here and it suppose to continue and my daughter does not want to have to drive home on slippery roads after she drops me at the airport about 6:00 pm. I really don't blame her as it will be dark as she drives the 80 miles home.

It has been an interesting trip, my grandson decided to go home to North Carolina while I was here and that was a fast trip. He did have a return trip ticket so it only cost us $100 to change it. We were able to get him on a plane the day he decided he wanted to go home. I think he was homesick for his family and friends. He had been here about five months and it is pretty isolated out here. No one, but my daughter and the dogs to keep him company. He was working, cutting, stacking and hauling firewood at $10.00 an hour. Not bad for a kid just out of high school. The only problem was the guy he was working for just didn't keep him busy enough.

I didn't get much tatting completed while here. I finished a bookmark and started a second one. I did find my stork pieces and did work on them a little bit, but did not complete one. I do have a headless one and I did get a new crochet hook so I could do some joins and some beads for the eyes so I can finish one when I get home. I also had to order some more thread for the baby body and the blanket as I didn't bring any with me. But it looks like I won't finish one until I get home now. Good thing I still have time to make my cards. Baby isn't due until the end on January.

Baby Shower

2009-10-31T11:15:00.000-07:00

It is a cold crisp day in the interior of Alaska. I believe I saw the thermometer at -13 this morning. But it is toasty warm in the house. The picture is a view from the front of my daughter's home.

Today is my daughter's baby shower. People should be arriving in about an hour or so. I think she is only expecting about 8 people but she has already started to receive gifts in the mail. It should be fun and I get to meet some more of her friends. My grandson is going to Healy to watch a volleyball game. He didn't think he wanted to hang out with a bunch of women playing games and talking about babies. He has been getting quite the education with this baby much more than a 19 year old really wants to know!

I finished my bookmark and now have those two shuttles empty so I can fill them up with the colors for the stork and see if I can finish one before it gets ate. That may be the biggest challenge I face with the storks. I do have about half a ball of thread in white and ecru so I should be able to make a few with that. I will have to be sure to put them up out of reach of the bloodhounds!

From Snowy Alaska

2009-10-28T21:52:00.000-07:00

I have been here a week tomorrow now and haven't accomplished much in the way of tatting. My daughter has five dogs, two bloodhounds, two basset and a chocolate lab and guess what.......they decided they wanted to do some tatting while we were gone one day. Chewed up two tatting shuttles and two balls of thread and the stork I was working on. Now that is two storks that have not survived, I am beginning to think I am not suppose to make these cards. I will be home tomorrow, sort of alone, just me and the dogs so maybe I can get one done after I unravel what is left of my thread.

I did bring a bookmark with me so I at least have that to work on. I carried it on the plane along with a small paid of sissors. Not want blip as I came through security. Thank goodness. I hope it goes as well when I go home.

We have about three inches of snow on the ground here and it is dipping into the low twenties at night but othere than that the weather has been great. My grandson was suppose to take his driving test but it was cancelled as they had not plowed or put any gravel on the roads. I don't blame the offices administrating the test I don't think I would want to be on slippery roads with a new driver. Even though I went with him to the post office and he did a very good job. No slipping or sliding at all. He should do great on his test whenever they reschedule it.

Off to Alaska

2009-10-20T07:01:00.000-07:00

Thursday is the big day I am leaving for Alaska. My daughter sent me a text message last night to bring warm clothes and boot as the temps are in the 20s and 30s. Exactly what I expected for the interior of Alaska. I have my tatting packed also. Don't want to be stuck in a snow storm and have no tatting to work on. I shall be gone three weeks but will have access to the Internet while I am there. So I won't be totally isolated out in the wilds. She lives about 80 miles south of Fairbanks so there won't be a whole lot going on. The baby shower is at noon on Halloween. Then I think we are going to a costume party. I don't think I have ever gone to a costume party, at least not since I was a little kid.

My body has been found!!

2009-10-16T07:41:00.000-07:00

Well at last the stork body that was lost. I am making Jane Eborall's stork and I lost the second body that I did for a week. Too many sewing projects going on the table. It was lost amongst the fabric pieces. I will give this stork a head eventually. I decided that size 20 thread was just going to make a stork to big for the cards. I ordered some size 40 from Handy Hands and now have anew one stated. So far I have not had any difficulty with Jane's pattern, not that I expected to she is such a wonderful designer. I am excited to see the small one progress but don't know if I will have it completed before I leave Tuesday. But as soon as I have the stork done I will post a picture.

Poor Sadie is still on a tether. Her wireless fence has malfunctioned and I have had to order a new transformer and a then a new collar and now a second transformer. She has been tied for two weeks and she does not like it at all. It is funny to watch her try to pull out the stake or chew the cable in two but so far she has not succeeded. I had to tie her down as she was chasing cars on my street and the cars go 70 mph down the road. She could have ended up as one smushed puppy on the road and I didn't want that. The one night she was out there I had four cars that eventually stopped to try to help corral her! At least they understood what a determined little monster she was! But no more, no freedom until I get her fence working again, and we are working on going to the mail box but not going on the road.

Next week it is off to Alaska for three weeks. I haven't stayed that long on any of my trips yet! It is getting cold there and they have had some snow. I don't think it has stayed but who knows what I will find when I get there.

I am still in a sewing frenzy. I have several more projects I want to work on but they are going to have to wait until I return home. I am taking tatting with me to Alaska and Georgia assured me I needed a metal shuttle with my SSN engraved on it just in case!!

Dhamana Bookmark

2009-09-30T17:25:00.000-07:00

After finishing my 7th pair of baby booties I was looking for something else to work on before I start another big project. On InTatter, Kersti posted the October Challenge. To tat something with some thread you had lurking around in your stash that maybe you didn't care for the first time, or you didn't like after you brought it home. I had some Coton Perle 8 that I purchased some time ago and didn't care for. (And still don't care for!) So, I looked up a bookmark pattern that I wanted to try and here it is! Since it was a challenge piece I think I will count it as number 20 in my 25 Motif Challenge. I only have 5 more to go and only three months left this year. I better get busy.

Next I hope to make the Stork by Jane Eborall. I hope to make a plethora of them for announcement cards for my daughters baby in January. I hope I have bitten off to much with this project. At least I have time to make them before the baby gets here. I think they will make adorable cards. Oh, yes, three of our babies have arrived. Joshua Lewis was born 9-12. Annaleigh Barbara, 9-25 and Sawyer Jean 9-28. Only 4 more to go! Along with the tatting I have been sewing up a storm for all of the babies. Fleece sleeper and flannel kimonos. So many babies, so many sleepers!

Today, was my last day at work, I am official retired, again! It is a good thing too as I am going to Alaska October 22 for three weeks. So far I have a baby shower and a costume Halloween Party to attend. I don't think I have every been to a costume party, or at least not since I was in grade school.

I had better close have lots and lots to get done!

The Seahorse

2009-09-05T15:47:00.000-07:00

I decided to take a break from baby booties. I have three pair done and am working on the fourth paid with two more to go. I added another pair by request. So I have done two lime green pair and a pair made from Lizbeth color Jewels. I have another green pair to do and then I am doing mocha and cream for my new baby.

Not a traditional color for a seahorse, but who said tradition was all you could do. This one was done with Lizbeth Color 123 Grape med., plum lite, plum dark and lighter shades between colors. It was actually the second one I did the first didn't turn out at all. I thought I followed the directions exactly but my seahorse looked very sick. So this time I follow the diagram and it did turn out better. The pattern is one of Debbie Arnold's. I might do this one again. It was fun and a nice break from baby booties. I am going to count this as 19 in the 25 Motif Challenge. I might get them all end before the end of the year.

Now it is back to listening to the pressure cooker as bean soup is cooking for this winter. I discovered a pressure cooker is great for dividing up meals and canning them. Making single servings is difficult and this way I can have some later without all the fuss. Besides who can make bean soup for just one person!

Sadie.....NO!!

2009-08-16T08:31:00.000-07:00

Look what happens when your dog gets ahold of your tatting project. I had just finished the second round on the second bootee and put it down for the night. The next morning while I was getting ready for work Sadie came in with it dripping from her mouth. To late to rescue this bootee! She is so curious you really have to put things up where she can't reach them.

I did get right on the the second one though and finished them up. They are going to my nephew and his wife. They are expecting a baby boy in December. Don't you think this was a great color combination for a little boy? Now I am working on green ones for my sister's new granddaughter due in October. I will have still
have three more pairs to make before the end of the year. Two more green and one is going to be mocha and cream.
I am using a pattern by Mrs. C.B Platt and size 20 Lizbeth thread in color 113 Jewels.

It is so hot out doors that I should be able to get a lot done on e the new bootee today. I spent most of yesterday outdoors working in the yard and garden. I almost have enough cucumbers to make a batch of bread and butter pickles. Just need to get a few more ingredients and I can start the process.

The first pair.

2009-08-08T13:10:00.000-07:00

Here they are the first completed pair of booties. I still have the ends to work in but I am very happy with how these have turned out. I did learn a lot by making the test bootie and was able to fine tune some of the areas that were difficult for me to work. My sister in NE thought they looked great and has suggest a very bright green for her new grand daughter. So of course I have had to order the thread as I do not have any of that color. While I am waiting for the new order of thread to arrive I am working on a pair in Lizbeth color 1113 Jewels. I am hoping they look manly enough for a boy. I would want his booties to be to pink. So far I am happy with the color and will be anxious to get t his pair done too.

Baby Bootie

2009-07-31T16:41:00.000-07:00

Just so you can see I have not been totally idle this last month. Here is my first complete baby booties. It as done as a test pattern, to see if I could do it. I think it turned over very well and am happy with it, even with the errors that I didn't rip out. Not very good colors for a baby but I was just experimenting with the pattern. I like it and it was easy to work. Just four rows. I even learned how to use a weaver's knot. I ran short of thread on the vamp and had to add more to my shuttle. I did find it challenging to get the thread on the shuttle right as the pattern just told you so many wraps about the shuttle. Most of the time it was way to much thread, except the vamp it would have been right on. I have the second one almost completed. Just the last row and it will be done. I am not sure what will happen to this pair but I have five more to make. Lots of new babies in my family this year. At least two boys and a girl. Then my friend is having a girl and my sisters daughter friend is having a girl. My daughter is not going to find out so we will just have to wait. She is due in January. So I will be making a trip to Alaska next winter!

I am going to count the bootie as number 18 in the 25 Motif Challenge.

Where has the time gone??

2009-06-28T14:35:00.000-07:00

Here is is almost time for the 4th of July and where have I been? One place was to North Carolina, where my oldest grandson graduated from High School. In the picture you see him, his mom in the red shirt, his sister Kyra and his little brother Sean.

Now he is in Alaska with his Aunt and having a ball even though his Aunt has put him to work already. He has done some yard work, hauled logs to be cut up for winter fuel, learned how to operate the power generator, and drive a standard shift truck. He has gone four wheeling with his cousin and learned how to clean the spark plugs on the four wheeler, fishing and exploring for bears. This weekend he is helping his cousins unpack two trucks and move into their new home. They have been living in a motel for three weeks with two little girls. I wouldn't have wanted to do that! They are in the army and will be stationed at the post in Fairbanks. If they make it through the winter they are considering staying there when he gets out in three years.

My sister will be home this evening from Nebraska. She will be here for a month. We will be doing some golfing and kayaking. I hope I don't tip over when I get in this year as I did last year. Also have lots to do around the place for dad. He has his projects all lined up. She will be busy.

I am still working! I was about to be finished July 8th but had a email telling us to stick around until we are asked to leave. Oh well, more extra cash to pay off those pesky bill and to buy more tatting shuttles, threads and books. Just need to find some time to tat.

I have several raised beds that I need to be out weeding. Have several vegetables growing but probably not enough to can in the fall. I have cucumbers, spinach, lettuce, radishes, cantaloupe, potatoes, onions, chives, beets (but I don't think they are growing) tomatoes, peppers, and asparagus. Lots to keep me busy. Good thing my girlfriend does the lawn mowing when she is here. think I will assign her the flower beds to weed too.

Bookmarks

2009-05-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

I finished these two bookmarks from Jane Eborall's friend Jane. I love doing these. They are very easy and quick. I think I may make some more.

Well I purchased a truck the other day, not a new one, but it has everything I wanted on it. A good thing too, as the first thing I did with it was to get it stuck in the yard. I didn't realize my yard was so wet. I had purchased some dirt and a tree for the yard and drove down to where I wanted the tree and then I couldn't get back out. My tires just spun in the wet grass and mud. The one thing I really wanted on the truck was four wheel drive. Good thing, I put it in four wheel and drove it right out. What a difference that made. I hope it works as well on the snow next winter.

Just finished planting my new Red Maple Tree. I like it so will I think I will get a second one to plant. I missed having trees in my yard where I lived before so I am going to make up for it now by planting some new ones as often as I can.

More Bocher Samples

2009-04-19T08:38:00.000-07:00

Here is another sample from the Bocher Book for the Online Tatting Class. This is a floret, it would have been longer but I ran out of thread on the shuttle so it is just a short piece.

I have been working on the needle tatting for class but am still struggle with it. I can finally make a decent ring but the chain is now giving me trouble. I need to find a video online to watch maybe that will help me out.

I am also working on some hairpin tatting. I find that is very time consuming I have a lot to get done before class next week. It isn't difficult and will look wonderful when I get it finished.

Then I saw on InTatters they are hosting a bookmark exchange. I would like to join but my time for tatting is at a premium right now. With working and being on the road an hour and a half each way it does eat into my time. Maybe I should give up the work and just concentrate on the tatting.

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T11:22:00.001-07:00

Happy Easter. It is a glorious sunny day here in Michigan. I worked outdoor in my garden pulling weeds for a while getting it ready for plants next month. Lucky me, the raised beds are just outside of Sadie's range and I was able to work in peace. Not that she was happy about that. I have hours and hours or work to do outdoors just to get ready for summer. The snow knocked down a lot of branches that will need to be racked. I think I will challenge myself to spend an hour outdoor each evening after I get home from work raking in the yard.

Here is another version of the Easter Egg from Kristen Wind Hansen's Tatted Easter Eggs. This one was made with Lizbeth Color 630 and it is all front/back side tatting. What a challenge that was as I kept forgetting what I was doing and had to rip out my chains several times. But I did it. and I like it.

I have been working on scrapbooking and knitting this past week. Finished my knitting project but still have lots of scrapbooking to do. I even have to order some pictures for the scrapbook must have it completed by July 11 for the family reunion.

One more Easter Egg

2009-04-04T17:53:00.000-07:00

Here is the other Easter Egg I have completed from Kristen Hansen's book. It is Easter Egg Number One and worked in Lisbeth thread also.

I still have one more I am working on from this book.

Easter Eggs

2009-04-04T10:50:00.001-07:00

Here are two Easter Eggs I have completed. They are from Kristen Wind Hansen's Tatted Easter Eggs book. I am working on one more and will post it as soon as I finish it. This helps me get closer to my 25 motifs. With the two I will now have 17 completed.

These are also for the challenge on InTatters. The challenge is to tat the same pattern in as many colors as you can. So far I have two. I think I will make more of this pattern but in a solid color. I have lot of Lizabeth threads to try out. All of these of are done in Lizabeth threads. I am going to give them to my step mother to hang on the door so the birds don't hit the glass. Right now she has black electrical tap in an "X" on the window. Don't you think the Easter Eggs will be much prettier?

Boy, working sure does affect the time I have to tat. I am not liking that at all. Friday our computers were down until noon. I was wishing I had a shuttle with me. But I was in luck as my friend was in town and she picked up a shuttle and some tread for me. I was able to start something but the tech guys showed up and fix our problem so it was back to work . When my friend called I asked her to get me a plastic shuttle and some thread. However, she purchased a metal shuttle with a bobbin, think that I would like that one better. So I finally tried a shuttle with a bobbin. I am not sure that I like it, but I do understand the convenience of one as you don't have to unwind your shuttle when you are working. I might get used to one but I don't think so. I have lots of little plastic clovers that I love to work with. I will save this one in my purse so I always have one on hand no matter where I am.

March Tatting

2009-03-30T10:59:00.001-07:00

Here it is the end of March and I haven't posted hardly anything. I have been tatting though. I am working on my Bocher Models for The Online Tatting Class. Here are some of the patterns I have been working on. I have no pictures to help with the patterns. So sometimes it is a guess as to where they picots or joins are suppose to be. In one pattern I work one of the sections call for an extra picot which made the ring larger. I couldn't find anything to tell me different so I made it that way. Then I made another one with out the extra stitches and I thought it worked out much neater.

This purple piece is called an edging but it has a lot of curve to it and would need to go on a circle project. The first one of these i made was in green and I was going to use it on a journal page for my sister's flower journal I am making, but.....Sadie had other plans and I only found bits and pieces of it on the floor. I try very hard to make sure any tatting is put up where she can't find it. She can destroy something in a matter of minutes. This morning she grabbed a ball of tatting tread and I had to bribe her with a treat to get it back.

I am still working on this pattern. It is difficult to get it to lay flat with the instructions that I have. I am going to try it using two shuttles to see if I can get a smoother look to the pattern. I do like it and think in a finer thread it would look great as a hanky edge. Here it is done in size 20 and the bottom blue one in size 10. I don't remember what thread I used.

I have been working on Easter Eggs. I will have to wait to post them as I have not scanned them yet.

Yesterday we had horrible weather, snow, sleet, rain and more snow. They were saying we had black ice this morning so I did not go to work. That means I can join the Online Tatting Class at three today instead of 8 tonight. The sun is out now and most of the snow is melting. I will be so glad when Spring really gets here and the snow is gone for a few more months.

This last piece is the first time through on an edging. I like the pattern and think it too would look great on a hanky. Since I have lots of nieces and great nieces I can practice a lot on hankies for them. I don't care for the red and green I used but it was on the shuttles and I need to finish them off so I could put on something else. All three of these patterns are from the Bocher Book we are restoring for the Online Tatting Class.

I am still having issues with my new glass and that makes it difficult for almost everything I try to do. I am thinking I will go back and have the lines put back in them so I can see what I am looking at. This weekend I was having issues with reading a book and when I was working on my sister's journal the pages moved ever time I turned my head. Not a fun feeling.

Easter Egg

2009-03-22T17:29:00.000-07:00

I had an eye appointment for new glasses a couple of weeks ago and I let them talk me into getting the new digital progressive lenses. I am not the least bit happy with them. I am having a difficult time with close up work and I have to look out the top of the lenses for distance by tilting my head down. I guess it will be back to the eye doctor this week for some adjustments. I tried progressives before and wasn't happy with them. I should have known better. I can't stand it when I can't see well or have bleary vision with the glasses. Even with this handicap I was able to complete a couple of projects.

Today I tatted my first Easter Egg. It is a pattern by Eileen Stafford. I enjoyed making it even though I didn't have all of the directions. I missed part of them when I copied the pattern but still it was fun. I used Lisbeth Thread Color Number 115. I do like working with this thread it is smooth and doesn't seem to have a lot of thread dust. I am going to count this as part of the 25 Motif Challenge.

And just so you know I haven't been idle here is a picture of my design for the Design Tat class. I made several attempts before I finished this one and I still have an error. I was going to do six picots on the outer rings but as you can see I forgot what I was doing and only manage to get them on the first ring. So it will be off to make anther model for this one.

I have put aside the needle tatting as it has totally frustrated me. I don't know that I will ever conquer it. I will just have to be satisfied with the shuttle.

A Shamrock for the 25 Motif Challange.

2009-03-13T18:52:00.000-07:00

I need a birthday gift for a friend next week and decided the quickest thing I could complete was this Shamrock Bookmark. It is from a pattern by Ellen Lai and I have made version two. Version one is attached to a large paperclip. It was easy to make and didn't take very long at all. Now it is back to work on my Design-Tat homework and Bocher Book models.

He made it...........

2009-03-13T16:08:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I mentioned my second grandson was in a lottery for a magnet school in North Carolina. He had to wait to see if his name was drawn out of the hat, and it was. We found out late last night. He is so excited his best friend and a girl he knows will also be going there in the fall. What a blessing for all of them. He will be studying computer engineering and hopes one day to be able to build computer games.

Not much tatting has been completed this week. I have been working on samples for the Design Tat class I joined and that has kept me busy. I hope to scan the samples this evening so I can upload them to the classroom. I don't want to get behind.

I also am trying to learn to needle tat. My hat is off to all of you who do. I can barely get the ds on my needle and forget adding a picot. I don't think I will master the needle, it will always be the master of me.

I did finish the yellow hanky edging that I lost. I attached it to a piece of linen that I had so I actually made the hanky itself. I have three more that just need to be hemmed and I can made edging to add. So many hankies what will I do with them?

My first.....

2009-03-10T17:10:00.000-07:00

Today I am showing off some of my "first". This is my first foray into front/back side tatting. As long as I remember what I was doing it was fun. A couple of time I had to unknot knots because I didn't start with the 2ds. All in all it was a fun experience and I will probably do some more of this type of tatting. I am going to count this motif as part of my 25 Motif Challenge. It is from the Emanuel Bocher 1912 Tatting Book we are studying and restoring in the Online Tatting class.

Then it was my first attempt at needle tatting. It only took me about two hours to do this one little ring and there isn't much tension in it. I don't think I like needle tatting but am will to work at it until I become more proficient.

Bocher Book Model and samples.

2009-03-08T14:40:00.000-07:00

Well today was the first day of DST and it is not my favorite time of the year. It takes so long to adjust. Today I have just been tired and sleep all afternoon. I won't be staying up late tonight and tomorrow will get here way to soon. I am still driving 80 miles to go to work every day. I haven't yet seen a paycheck! It seems they are having a problem figuring out how to pay us. I hope they get it together soon as I can't afford to do this without gas money.

I have been working on models for The Online Tatting Class project. Here is my model of the original Four Point Star from the Bocher 1912 Tatting Book. It is the third one I have done and next one I do will be with front/back side tatting. I hope to get going on that this week. I have worked a couple of other samples from the book. They are mostly homework assignments but were fun to do.

I didn't have much thread on my shuttles when I worked this piece. It was the modification pattern using Josephine Knots. I do like to make JK they are so different and make a nice element to a project.

The yellow piece is left over from my yellow edging I was working on and yes, I did finally find it. The edging is complete I only have to add it to the hanky and then I can post it for all to see. This piece is the original pattern from the Bocher book. I like this one as well and may do enough to edge another hanky.

And finally, the green piece if a sample from the Bocher Book. I can't use it as a model because I have an error in it. But you can see how it is working up.

It is sleeting outdoors and Sadie is insisting on staying out. Such a silly little dog she is. She did miss the two deer that just wandered through the yard. I don't think she will stay out too long as it is cold. Earlier she lost a piece of a treat under the oven and she keeps scratching at the oven trying to get it. I tired to fool her and put a piece under there when she was out, but it didn't work as she is still looking.

Oh, the trauma of it all!

2009-02-23T16:05:00.000-08:00

My week did not go very well last week. Not only did I lock myself out, my car is now in the shop! It appears I need to have a new wheel bearing. Good thing I have my taxes back! It seems just when you get them back you have a big expense to take care of. And I wanted to get some more tatting supplies and a new shuttle. Well, I am going to get them anyhow!

From there I lost the tatting project I was working on. I can't find it anywhere and it was almost a full ball of yellow thread. I really like the thread as yellow to me is just such a happy, sunny color. I have looked for it all weekend. I am afraid I may have thrown it away by mistake along with the shuttle. Good thing I have more than one shuttle. But, I sure did like the color of the thread. I will have to order some more, then maybe I will find the one I lost. A couple of weeks ago I lost my size 14 crochet hook that I use to connect picots. I purchased a new one and then I found the one I lost. I sure hope I am not getting Alzheimer's. If so please put me out of my misery!!!!

Not much Tatting.

2009-02-18T15:20:00.000-08:00

I get home to late and get up to early to get much tatting done during the week. An hour and half on the road each way takes a lot of time no matter how much I am enjoying the new schedule. This morning I got up and the weather was bad, slippery roads so I decided to wait an hour before leaving. Then when I was ready to lock the door, went out with my coat and purse, closed the door and guess what?...... No KEYS. Couldn't get back in the house. I thought the other door might be unlocked, but no! I ended up walking in the snow over to dads. Fortunately he is less than 1/2 mile away. But the bad thing was, I woke them up to get into the house. Nothing doing but dad had to get dress and bring me back home. I didn't mind the walk over and the exercise was good for me. But or no he had to drive me home. At least that way I was able to give him back my house key so the next time I lock myself out I can get rescued. The key I had hidden hear had been used earlier this winter and not replaced. I manage to lock myself out of the house on average two to three times a year. You would think I would learn. One time I had to walk six miles to get an extra key. I didn't have my cell phone so could call for help then. Oh well, it was good exercise anyhow.

The only tatting I did was this little paperclip heart. I am happier with this one than the first one I did. They are homework for The Online Tatting Class. The other one I did was a little different and I was not happy with it at all, even though I turned it in for homework.

Sadie is spending a lot of time out of doors. I think she is guarding the yard. She will bark and bark and I don't see a thing. Soon the deer will just stand outside her area and laugh at her as she can't get to them. She just sits in the snow and watches. You would think her butt would get cold in the snow but so far it doesn't seem to bother her.

Two Color Four Point Star

2009-02-14T09:44:00.000-08:00

Here is the second version on the Large Star of Four Points from the 1912 Emmanuel Bocher Tatting Book. I am going to do one more version in front/back side tatting. I have never done front/back side tatting so it may be a test of my tatting skills.

I think Sadie has settled into my new routine. She was not nearly as hyper last night as she has been and today she is very calm for her. She has been out a lot today but now is in under my feet or trying to chew on them.

New Motif for 25 Motif Challenge

2009-02-12T18:19:00.000-08:00

Here is the next motif for the 25 Motif Challenge. It is from the 1912 Emmanual Bocher Tatting Book. We are restoring this book during the Online Tatting Class with Georgia. I volunteered to work on pages 88 through 91. There were no pictures to work from and this is what I ended up with. It was a challenge as I like to have the pictures to look at when tatting. It helps to do the pattern, especially some of the vintage patterns. I was happy with the way this was turned out and now I am going to do it in two colors and then I will attempt to do front/back side tatting for one of the samples. When I started these pages I though I was going to have a couple of different motifs but to my surprise it was only this one. There are a lot of people participating in this project and so far it has been fun. I hope to do some more pages and find more challenging pieces to work on. Which shouldn't be difficult as there are 235 pages in this book. It was originally in French.

Working has been a blast this week. I love the interaction with the people and the challenges with taking care of the issues. I do not live the 70 mile drive one way but so far and doing okay. Sadie has been a wild dog when I get home. She was not accustomed to being out all day and is hyper when I get home but still wants to be out. I called my sister, that gave me the dog, and told her I thought Sadie was ADHD. She was so bad the other night I made her go to bed. She sleeps in a dog crate and I can lock her in. It was the only way my feet were going to get some peace. She certainly was living up to her breeds nickname of Little Devil Dog!

Microdragon

2009-02-08T12:36:00.000-08:00

The only thing I have to show for the entire weekend is this one tiny little microdragon. I decided I need to practice SSSR's before I forget how to make them so here is another one. The microdragons are going to my great nephew to add to his scrapbook. He now will have three of them, two are microdragons. I do like to make these they are fun to do.

Tomorrow, it is back to work. Boy, I am not sure this is a good idea. Driving 70 miles is just such a pain and will it really be worth it?? Yes, I can get a lot of tatting thread and some more tatting books so.......

Sadie has spent a lot of time out doors this weekend she need to adjust to being out. I am thankful the weather has changed and she can be out. I don't trust her in the house while I am gone all day. And I don't think it fair to leave her tied up indoors. She has a wireless collar. It is great. She can roam about 90 feet away from the house in any direction and she doesn't have to be tied. So far it has keep her off the road and that was one of my big concerns. Traffic goes by here at about 70 miles an hour and it wouldn't take much to squash her on the road. I think my dad will check on her during the day too. He may even take her over for a visit. I know that Martha would love that.

Purple Book Mark for 25 Motif challenge

2009-02-06T07:50:00.000-08:00

I decided to take a break from antique patterns and made this bookmark instead. I am counting is as number 12 in the 25 motif challenge. I think I had better work on the next thirteen as I am going back to work next week for a few months. I will be driving about 70 miles one way so I don't know how long I will last. At least I know the end is in site or I can stop whenever I like.

The weather is about to break here. We are in for some warm days, about 40 above. I hope it melts the rest of the snow off of the decks. I can tell the snow is melting every day I look out the window. It just seems to be getting lower and lower, is that possible? This is the first winter in a long time I have had to deal with snow all winter. Most of the time is comes one day and is gone the next so this was a fun winter for me. I am glad I didn't have to get out every day and drive in it.

My second grandson called yesterday to tell me he might get to go to some Technological High School. His name was one of the names selected for the first round. I understand there are only about 500 students in the school. You had to meet a certain criteria to go into the pool. The lottery will be draw the end of the month and he is excited to think he might get to go. They will be selecting 100 names. I am crossing my fingers for him. He will be a freshmen in the fall.

Another Antique Edging

2009-02-05T09:30:00.000-08:00

Here is another edging from the same book. I have shown the picture of the pattern first this time and you can compare it to the one I made.

I followed the pattern more closely with this one. It was much easier. The last two motifs I did in reverse order and I like the way the thread connected at the top better. It seems to lay much flater.

I have one more sample I am going to work up to see how I like it. This sample was done with Cebelia Size 20 thread.

The second motif.

2009-02-04T14:50:00.001-08:00

Here is all I am going to do from this pattern. It was just a sample and a trial to see if I could make the pattern turn out somewhat like the original picture. You can check for yourself to see how well I did. Here is the original pattern.

What do you think? Did I come close? Well on to something different. I have another pattern I want to try out.

A "new" edging

2009-02-04T08:10:00.000-08:00

Here is a motif I tried to follow from one of the antique patterns. It was not easy and I did make some changes, now that I am looking at the picture again. It seemed that the clovers in the center of the motif were not given in the directions. Then in the picture the clovers do not have all the picots that I added to this one. It is suppose to be an edging but I am wondering exactly how it would be attached to something. I do like the extra picots and in a smaller thread it would appear very lacey, I think. I used size 10 cebelia this time.

My sister and her family left this morning about 7:30, at least that was the plan. I know she was not really wanting to go back to Nebraska. It is hard to leave sometimes when this is the place that "feels" like home. It was interesting to us that it did feel that way. We never lived here when we were growing up and my mother never lived here either. Dad didn't move here until he was in his sixties. The property has been in our family for 100 years and we did spend summers here as kids. But when we came home to take care of grandma we discovered it "felt" like home. Even my daughters feel that way about this property. Strange how a place you never lived in can become home.

I am going back to work next week for a few months. I worked in unemployment and the office needs some help so they offered me a short term contract. Now that my sister has gone I will take them up on it. At least for a while. I will be driving 80 miles and I am not sure how long I want to do that.

Yellow Heart Number 11 in 25 Motif Challenge

2009-01-30T10:14:00.001-08:00

Just so you know I haven't been idle all week. I finished this Tir-Heart by Susan B. Taliaferro. It is made with size 30 Omega thread and I think the variegated colors worked out wonderfully.

Miss Piggy has gone to her new owner, who was thrilled with her and can hardly wait to get home to add her to a shirt or something. It has been a busy week so far with my sister and her family. Yesterday we tried to go to the casino, but the line to get in was too long for the cold. Beside we had dad and Martha with us and it was just way to cold for them to stand outside for 30 minutes or more. So that trip was a bust. We came home dropped off the old folks and went to local watering hole for a couple of hours. What fun! It was karaoke night and what a hoot listening to those guys try to sing. Today it has been baking, baking, baking. Bread, cinnamon rolls and pizza dough. I am actually making bread bowels for SuperBowl Sunday. We are going to fill them with chili. Should be good.

Tomorrow three more sisters will be showing up for a family get together. I am not sure who all from their families will come along. Dad's front room could become very crowded. We may have to heat the garage for the party. Which is what we normally do except last summer we tore out the chimney for the wood stove and will have to use heaters this year. Because my family is so big we almost always have family party's in the garage. I am only one of six and each of us had at least two children. Now the grandchildren are having kids and you know how that can go. My dad says he is going to stop giving out Christmas presents because there are to many of us. He and mom should have considered that a long time ago!!

Oh, yes, I finally bit the bullet and purchased a Wii game. It is a blast. We are going to start a bowling league should be lots of fun. It is, however, our underhanded way of getting Dad and Martha to get in some exercise while it is too cold to go outside. I have mine hooked up but have not programmed the TV yet so I haven't been able to get going at home. I am hoping my nephew will come over and do that part this afternoon.

Ringtrim, at last!!

2009-01-27T11:01:00.000-08:00

After a few false starts, and rings that would close properly and using the wrong thread for the two color split rings I finally have a gorgeous Ringtrim of my own. I am so excited to have mastered the SSSR and made this little guy. He is just right. First he has to be added to the 25 Motif Challenge, as he sure was a challenge for me to make. Then to decide where he might fly off to. I wonder.......

After I finished Ringtrim I made two loaves of bread can you just smell my house. The warm yeast bread scent if wafting through, doesn't it make your mouth water. I may have to go cut a piece and cover it with butter and peanut butter. No jelly to drip onto my hands though. It is for my dad when he comes by with the hay bale. Do you think that is a fair trade? Two loaves of fresh bread for a bale of hay!

Miss Piggy and family are on the way. I haven't heard a word from them yet but assume everything is on track and going well. I am sure she would call if they ran into any problems. I hope her grand daughter is not to fussy. Bella is just a year old and it is a long drive to GGpa's house all the way from NE.

Challenge piece # 9

2009-01-25T08:57:00.000-08:00

Immortal Heart by tatmom. After a few tries I was finally able to get this to look right anc complete it. I think I have an extra picot somewhere in there but can't seem to find it in the pic.

Now I am trying to learn the single shuttle split ring. It is certainly a challenge. I have figured out where to tat after I make the ring for the shuttle but have not mastered how to close the ring when I finish tatting. I will master this as I really want to make AnneB's Ringtrim dragon and the others as well. They are just to cute.

I won't be getting much tatting done after Tuesday as that is when my sister (Miss Piggy) comes home for the week. I know we will be busy all week. Plus my baby sister is planning on comming for the weekend. Dad will have wall to wall bodies at his house as his living room is so much smaller than mine. Oh well, everyone wants to hang out there so it will be all right. We are going to have a SuperBowl party Sunday night. I wonder how that will be. I don't watch football so I may just take over a book to finish. I am going to the Online Tatting Class first to see what is being taught and maybe I will take that to practice on.

Clover Drop Heart

2009-01-23T15:35:00.000-08:00

Here is a new motif for the 25 Motif Challenge. It is a pattern by Nancy Tracy her Clover Drop Heart. It was fun to make and was a quick pattern. I also did another small heart but it is getting block as I write this post. I am thinking I will add it to the pj's I am making for my DGD.

It has been cold here today and the wind is blowing. Glad I didn't have to go out anywhere. However, I did get a call from my former employer and they are offering us work. I am waiting to see exactly what the offer is before I make a committment. Even at that the drive is going to be an hour and half from home. I can't go overnight as I have to be home to take care of Sadie each day. I don't feel real comfortable with leaving her out all day long. I could be gone as long as 12 hours with the drive and the overtime. It will be hard to say no and the income would be great and I need a new chair in the front room.

Where is this little piggy going?

2009-01-20T17:07:00.000-08:00

Not to market I don't think. However she does become number 7 for the 25 Motif Challenge. She is from Christel Weidmann's Tatting Farm Animals. I think she will be finding a new home in Nebraska when my sister gets home next week and see's her. At least you can be sure she is going to a good home. As this is the sister who wanted to grow up to be a "pig". She have a collection of pigs that she has gather up from all over or that have been given to her over the years.

I have been stuck in front of the tv today watching the inauguration of the president. It was mesmerizing to watch. I did not plan on watching it all day it was just to hard to stay away from all the pomp and circumstance. We do put on a great party. At least the whole world gets to see how we do it here in the United States and it is a great statement on how system works. We are so lucky to be able to have this smooth transition of power.

Now on to other things. Like tatting. I do not have anything new in the works at the moment. I was too cold to work on anything today. Had to keep my fingers warm. So what to do tomorrow. The booties are on hold for the moment. While we find out about the baby. My daughter is going for an ultrasound tomorrow and then we will know more.

Number 6 for 25 Motif Challenge

2009-01-19T18:41:00.000-08:00

A tiny snowflake for the challenge. It was a cold day but the sun was shinning and I needed another snowflake for the window. This is made from Olympus 40.

Finished WIP's and Number 4 & 5 for 25 Motif Challenge

2009-01-18T16:12:00.000-08:00

I am just trying to keep up with Tatting Chic with finishing projects. Two are hankies, the blue one wasn't very old, but I had finished it last week just didn't want to sew it on. The green one I worked on last summer when I went to Alaska so you know how old that was. Even before I learned on this wonderful community and learned about picot gauges. It would have been much easier to attached had my picots been all the same. As you can see the blue edge is a hen and chick pattern. The green one is the simplified version of Skipping Ropes from Mary Konior's Tatting with Visual Patterns. My plan was to have it done for my daughters wedding, but alas I didn't make it as she was married in July. Oh well it is done now. At least that is two projects completed. It took me all day to add the edgings to the hankies. The blue one was a purchased hanky and the green is one I actually cut out and hemmed. Last summer when I was looking for hankies I couldn't find any so I purchased a yard of linen fabric and cut out my own. At least that way I can adjust the size and make a bigger hanky if needed. I didn't know about Handy Hands or the Be-Stitched store then.

Last night before I thought about UFP's I worked up this little fan. It is number 4 for the 25 Motif Challenge. I found it on the Be-Stitched page and couldn't resist. It is a Contest Winner and was created by Connie Strobel. It was fun to do but I did have a false start and had to start it a second time. All in all I am happy with the way it turned out. Now if I can find something to do with it. Maybe put it on the front of a card???

And then because I couldn't go to sleep I did the quick Li'l Heart by Birgit Phelps. It was quick and easy and will now become number 5 for the 25 Motif Challenge.

Now I can start something new or maybe I better make pj's from my granddaughter who requested a new pair at Christmas time.

#3 for Challenge

2009-01-15T15:20:00.000-08:00

Here is my third entry for the 25 Motif Challenge. It is from the Priscilla Tatting Book No. 1. I saw this motif and knew I was going to have to make it. It is unique and I think changes could be made to make it more tatter friendly. Each round is cut and tied. I think we could use two shuttle and eliminite at least one of the cut and tie rounds. The clover at the top has to be done seperately, as far as I can see and then the final round to join them all together smoothly. I am sure I will be trying this one again.

It has been cold here all day last I checked it was just 4 above and that was just a dusk so it will be going down below zero again tonight. I am so glad I am retired and do not have to get out at 5:30 in the morning to go to work. But on a brighter note it was 52 above zero at my daughters in Alaska today. Can you believe that 100 degrees difference in just a week. I just can't imagine that weather change. She and her husband were on their way to check out a new puppy. She is a sister to the one they just lost. I am sure my daughter will fall in love with her and bring her home. The dogs are a lot of company while her husband is off on his work hitch.

#2 for Motif Challenge

2009-01-14T16:26:00.000-08:00

I have been working on my motif's for the 25 Motif Challenge and here is number 2. It is the patchwork pattern from Mary Konior Tatting with Visual Patterns. Of course this was my second attempt. I like the pattern but had to pay close attention to what I was doing. I didn't want to have to "PICK" out any rings again. This one is made with size 10 Cebelia thread and I have enough thread to make a whole bunch more.

I have been working on the baby bootie and have completed three rounds of the sole and sides. To me it looks like a very big bootie for a baby. But then maybe I just need to get it finished to see how it really will look. I haven't told my daughter too much about the progress and I don't think she

reads this blog so she isn't getting any updates on the bootie progress. It has warmed up in Alaska, in fact it is warmer there than it is here. She said it was about 20 above today. She had to go to Fairbanks to pick up her husband. He works on the North Slope for the pipeline and is gone anywhere from four to six weeks at a time. Her puppy went missing yesterday afternoon. She let all three dogs out as they had been house bound for the most part the a couple of weeks do to the cold. The little one didn't make it home. They found it on the railroad tracks this morning. It appears is survived the night but was hit by a train. They are going to build a big bonfire to thaw out the ground so they can bury the poor thing.

On to other news, my father almost had a house fire yesterday. The furnace caught on fire and he has a scorched spot on the floor where the fire was under the boiler. He refuses to stay away from home, unless he goes to the casino. So he set up some space heaters to keep the house from freezing and stayed home. It may be a couple of days before he get the new furnace installed. What excitement in my life these days!

My granddaughter loved her necklace. I heard her say to her mother "It's an awesome necklace". So I think that said it wall. I was happy with the way it turned out. I may need to make her some more. Valentine Day is coming so maybe I can get one made out of read and white and have a heart on it for her.

What a Week of Errors

2009-01-09T13:29:00.000-08:00

Look what happens to your favorite picot gague when you accidenlty drop it on the floor and the five month old puppy spies it. I heard the CRUNCH and then it was a chase around the room to try tosave it before it was totaly splintered. In the end I had to trade the guage for a doggy treat and you see what I have left.

Then on to the tatting projects that have been such a trail all week. Nothing is working out. First I was trying to make Icelas Lacey Heart and totally missed an element and didn't discover it until two rings later. I totally hate to rip out rings! Then I tried Ruth's Easy Heart and put the center ring in backwards again I didn't catch it until two rings later. So I just decided to try it again. This time I at least have the center ring going the right way but it doesn't lay flat so I ripped out the last ring and I am going to add split rings a make it into a necklace for my granddaughter. Maybe I am not suppose to make any tatted hearts.

I think I had just better go back to work on the baby booties. I have to make another toe and then the sole and sides of the bootie. I have to quit thinking I have until August to get them made as winter will be over soon and I am going to want to be out doors working on flower and garden beds.

In case you haven't seen it on the news the weather in Alaska has been between -46 and -60 this week. I don't think I could manage in that cold weather. My daughter seems to take it all in stride though. She did say you have to prepare for it and be aware of the cold. When they shop they leave the cars running in the parking lots and no one bothers them at all. I am glad her baby will be due in the fall and I won't have to enperience the cold weather. At least not this year.

Baby Bootie Round 2

2009-01-05T14:35:00.000-08:00

I completed round two on the pattern for the baby bootie. It wasn't as difficult as I first expected last night when I was reading the pattern. I just had to remember to take it one step at a time and it worked out just fine. I remembered what my mother taught be about reading crocheting or knitting patterns. Don't read so far ahead and to do the work from one comma to the next one. That works the best. I also copy the patterns and cross off each section as I complete it so that I don't get lost. Now it is on to the sole of the bootie.

I also started an edging for a hankie for my Aunt. She is 81 years old and game me a tube to store my tatting in for Christmas. I am sure she will be happy to get some tatting and a hankie is best for her. It is the hen and chicks pattern so that I don't have to study a pattern and I can take it anywhere to work on. I hate to sit waiting for an appointment with nothing to do. I usually take a book to read but the tatting will work just fine. Plus I can show it off.

My first 25 Motif Challenge Piece

2009-01-04T16:52:00.000-08:00

Here it is my first challenge piece for the 25 Motif Challenge. It is a bookmark made using the center ring from Jon's snowflake. I made it for my sister who is coming home the end of the month. She lives in Nebraska and will inherit the property my home is setting on. But we have a deal and I can stay here as long as I want to. Which had better be a very long time considering what it cost me to locate my double wide here. She reads a lot, way more than I do. I have to many other projects to work on and can't read while working on projects.

I have four sisters and one brother all younger than me. This one is three years younger and she spent 20 years in the Navy. We all agree that she should have been the son in the family. She is such a tomboy. When we were growing up she always wanted to grow up to be a "pig". She collects them now and I hope to be able to tat one for her. She also does a lot of sewing and makes all kinds of fun neat things. Then she tells me and I have to try them. Last year is was 6' lizards made out of fleece. I made three of them. I have one more to make for a little guy I sort of adopted. He was two years old in November so I think I have time to make his lizard.

I am still working on the baby booties but needed a change for the day. Tomorrow I will work on them. I have until August to complete them so there is no really big hurry on that.

Bootie Attempt Number 2

2009-01-03T17:30:00.000-08:00

Here it is attempt number two. It felt better as I was working on it. Plus I copied the pattern so I could mark off each step as I completed it so that I did get lost and miss an element. It still does not lay flat but that may be because it is the two of the bootie. The pattern is by JoAnn Stearns from her Christening Set.

Booties attempt Number 1!

2009-01-03T13:33:00.000-08:00

My first attempt at the baby bootie and it is dismal. First I missed a whole section on the first corner and I didn't pull the center chains in enough as it doesn't lay flat. Then when I joined the last corner I turned it somehow and unless I cut it apart I can't do anything with it. At least I know what to do when I make the next one. Lessons learned are always helpful. This is made out of Size 20 Flora verigated greens. I like the color. It is just a soft green and will be perfect for the baby no matter what it is. I want to make the booties and an bonnet to match. My oldest daughter is making a crochet blanket out of a green organic cotton. Hopefully the colors will blend together.

Time to start attempt number two.

Spinning Wheel

2009-01-03T06:29:00.000-08:00

This is what I spent the day working on yesterday. It was cold and I didn't have to go anywhere so I just tatted. It is a pattern from Mary Konior's Tatting with Visual Patterns . I like this book and the patterns are fairly easy to follow. I made this using size 20 Cebelia and as you can see I ended up using two different shades of pink. But it is just a practice piece!

My boxes of thread from HH and Be-Stitched arrived. I think I need to check my thread stash before I order again as I tend to order the same colors over and over and I really wanted to get a variety of colors to have on hand to choose from. For those days you want to just tat and not have to order thread first.

The patterns for the baby booties and bonnet arrive too. I order a ball of moss green and white that I think I might use for them. Since my daughter is not going to find out the sex of the baby we have to go generic for now. She called last night and said the temp was down to -46 at her house and she was glad she didn't have to go anywhere. Just out to check the generator once in a while. I am glad I am not there as I am not happy with our temps that have been just above the freezing mark.

Jon's Quantiesque

2009-01-01T18:30:00.000-08:00

Here is how I spent New Years Eve and Day. I complete two snowflakes. The first one is Jon's Quantiesque I almost ran out of thread on the last clover leaf but I managed to complete it without adding any more. I really hate to add thread at the very end of a project. It just never lays right when I do.

The second motif is from my book I have been working out of. I did both in Flora thread. The first I have used and I am very happy with the thread. I have more to use and will not heistate to purchase more whenever I need some.

It has been cold here all day in the low 20's I was glad I didn't need to go out. My car is still cover with snow from last Tuesday so you can see I don't get out much. I will have to clean it off tomorrow as I need to go to town. My granddaughter called last night and asked if I wouldn't make her some new pj's. Apparently she has grown out of the pair she has. I like to sew so I may have to spend the next couple of days at the sewing maching.
Can't disappoint my granddaughter. She doesn't call often to ask grandma to do much. So when she does I don't want to disappoint her.

Kyra's bracelet

2008-12-31T05:51:00.000-08:00

My granddaughter loves bracelets so I decided to make her one. The last I knew her favorite color was "HOT" red and of course I had to make her one in red. Her mom did tell me the wider the better and the next one will have to be wider. I am thinking along the lines of a cuff. I have see a couple of patterns but am not sure how well I like them. I didn't think of addind beads until after I had finished the first JK. Since my GD is only 11 I didn't want to go overboard on the first attempt.

I have been making little butterflies with the ends of the threads on my shuttles so I can work on new projects. Right now I have four different colors of butterflies and I am looking for a way to string them up to add to the window. Just a little touch of spring and hopefully it will keep the birds from flying into the window. Much prettier than the black electrical tape my dad has on his french door.

It is still cold out but when I consider it is -55 at my daughter's home in Alaska we are having a heat wave here. She was laughing last night when she said there was 100 degrees difference between the inside temp and the outside temp. She heats with wood so that is amazing. However she lives in a log house and the logs are 14 inches in diameter, very good insulation.

More Black and White

2008-12-28T15:15:00.000-08:00

It has been a very cold day and I didn't even want to poke my nose out of the door. After yesterday's high (46 degrees) here it was disappointing to have it drop 20 degrees over night. I was hoping to have it stay mild again today and get some more pictures of the golf barn. Instead
I watched the water freeze in the yard! And listened to the wind howl around the house. They said it would be gusting to 5o mph and I think it may have. At least this year my house didn't move with the gusting. I have a doublewide mobile home I placed on a foundation this past summer and it is much more stable and the floors are much warmer.

I did this black and white snowflake. I guess I am not done with them yet. I don't have any colors that I want to use to make baby booties so I placed an order with Be-Stitched. I am going to order some of the new Lisbeth threads from HH when it is in. I seem to be building up a supply of threads. It must be an addiction!

I talked to my daughter in Alaska and she had her first bout with morning sickness. She has a couple of old remedies to try out to help with that. She is just such a naturalist any home remedies would be just right for her. Her hand is healing nicely but is now itchy. She keeps it covered to avoid any infections and that also helps to control the scratching and digging. Her weather, just so you can shiver was -32 when I talked to her earlier.

Black and White Edging

2008-12-27T12:52:00.000-08:00

Here it is, my black and white edging. It isn't big enough for a hanky and I am waiting for the velvet to arrive that it is going to be attached to. The only color I am sure I am getting is red as my BF purchased it and mailed it to me.

It has been very foggy here all day, I think in the east they might call it "pea soup" fog. I can almost see the woods out behind my house. I did have to go out in it but was only going about five miles and then it was right back home. The temp has risen to almost 50 here and the snow is melting. Plus it is raining so we have lots of water pooling. The golf cart barn, just a mile down the road, roof collapsed Christmas Eve. I had about four inches of ice at the edge of my roof. So I have lots of dripping going on too.

I almost have a baby bootie finished. It is my test to see the size, a good thing to as I have made plenty of mistakes. But then I look at it as a learning lesson. I order a book, Christening Set, from Hany Hands. So I should have lots of new patterns to work with.

Number 13

2008-12-24T07:27:00.000-08:00

It is a good thing I am not superstitious as I have just finished snowflake number 13 and it appears it will be the last one before Christmas. I was delayed in finishing as I had family over Saturday for Christmas, then we went to the casino Monday night. I did not come home any richer, either.

I think I working on a simple edging although I am not sure what I will be putting it on. It is worked with black and white. I am thinking of attaching it to a small jewelry pillow of black or a wine colored velvet. I have an order coming from Handy Hands and am anxious to get it. I ordered several balls of thread and a new tatting pattern book. My picot gauges arrive from Georgia and I love them.

I made five pounds of fudge yesterday. Good thing I am sharing it with my step-mother. She really wanted it for her family. As I live alone I don't need that much fudge hanging around for weeks. Most of my cookies were given away or ate on Saturday when my sister was here with her family. So I won't have a lot of Christmas goodies to get rid of.

My daughter in Alaska finally went to the doctor Monday and she is pregant with her first baby. We are so excited, I will be spending some time in Alaska again next year. I promised her six weeks after the baby gets here. I want to tat a hat for the baby so I think that may have to be my next project. They are not going to find out the sex of the baby as they want to be surprised. So I will not be doing gender specific projects. She also wants to go "green" and use cloth diapers. I have purchased a dozen so far but plan on making most of them. Since she lives 90 miles from Fairbanks she can use lots of diapers.

Number 12

2008-12-20T15:06:00.000-08:00

Finally, number 12 is done. One for each of the 12 Days of Christmas. I had them all hanging in the window and they look great, but now five of them have melted away. I think I had better get some more in the window so it doesn't look so bare.

My sister and her family was here today for Christmas. After the snow storm yesterday they were the only ones brave enough to attempt the trip. Her son and daughter along with their five children were her. That along with my dog made for an interesting afternoon. We had a great time I enjoyed seeing the kids. Gramps play Euchre with my niece and nephew and they had a great time playing. It seems gramps won two of the three games but then they didn't want to disappoint him by wining all the games.

I have another little project I was working on and have at least one of the flowers put together and glued to a card. I am pleased with the turn out and it is a great way to use odds and ends of thread on your shuttle. I have one more to put together and I think I may used a different background paper to see if I like it better. This is from my DMC Festive Tatting book. It is the begonia notepaper pattern. It could be added the front of a card or to the corner on some notepaper. It would make a nice gift for someone who likes to send cards or letters.

Number 11

2008-12-17T06:22:00.001-08:00

Here it is number 11. This was fun to make and I think I can see some changes that could be done so that it did not need to be done in two seperate rounds. I did have a time with it as I almost closed a ring in the wrong place. Thank goodness I checked before I pulled it all the way closed and I was able to open it up to rip out. I hate opening rings, it is so time consuming. I try to be very careful and check before I close them to be sure they are where they need to be. Still this is a pretty little snowflake.

The Count has started.

2008-12-15T09:47:00.000-08:00

I am not sure if I can count this as a snowflake, but it came from the same booklet that all of the rest of them have been in. I think I will send this one to my neice in Nebraska. It kind of reminds me of some angels I tatted last year. This one is different as it has the little rings around the outside edge. I think I like them and maybe I will try another one and do Josephine Knots instead.

I finished two of the dolls I need for the weekend. They turned out cute. They are rabbits I think my great neices will like them. They are just the right size for a five and three year old. Only one more to go and I have enough for the little ones that will be here this weekend.

One more snowflake

2008-12-14T17:05:00.001-08:00

It took all day but I managed to get this one done right. It was a challange to be sure I had all

the threads turns right. Plus I was constantly switching shuttles. So now it is hanging in the window as another accomplishment. Istill have time to make them before Christmas. I wonder how many I can complete?

Another Snowflake

2008-12-13T16:03:00.000-08:00

Here it is one more snowflake. I had it finished earlier in the week but was delayed in posting as my dad went to the hospital on Tuesday. In a horrible snowstorm and very snowy roads. I hate to drive on snowy slippery roads. So instead of driving the 70 miles home I went to and stayed with a cousin. As a result I was not hope to post the new snowflake. He is out now and doing great. Now I can get back to work on tatting and getting ready for company next Saturday.

We now have about 15 inches of snow on the ground. Tomorrow we are to get either rain or snow I am hoping for snow. Rain translates into ice and that is not a good thing.

Not quite tatting

2008-12-09T05:48:00.000-08:00

This morning at 7:30 I was up, dressed and outdoors to take some pictures of the snowfall overnight. We have an addition 4 to six inches and my little snowman. His hat is actually a bird feeder and it does have seeds in it. I think the birds will have a difficult time finding the seeds right now. We expect to get another 4 or more inches by 1:00 am Wednesday. I am so glad I do not have to get out on the roads to go anywhere. Retirement does have it's advantages!

Last one for today.

2008-12-07T16:10:00.000-08:00

I finished this snowflake that I started this morning. What a job! Between tatting and letting the dog out I was busy all day. I am just glad to have one more finished. One more for the window. I think I will give my fingers a rest and do something different. I have two sewing projects lined up that need to be completed before the 20th so I had better get on the ball with them.

Sherry's Snowflake

2008-12-07T11:58:00.000-08:00

Finally my computer has cooperated and allowed me to upload this picture of the snowflake I am sending to my sister for Christmas.

More Snowflakes

2008-12-07T08:26:00.000-08:00

I know it has been a while since I posted but I have been busy. My girlfriend was up for a week and we did Christmas decorations. So now I am all decorated for the holidays only some baking left to do. We are having Christmas here on the 20th so I need to get the baking done soon. I don't want to wait until the last minute. Cookies and candy are on my list of things to get ready. I am going to make turkey soup and chili, very non-traditional meal don't you think?

I made these to red and white snowflakes and I have one other white one to post. I am sending the one to my sister in Nebraska. She will be surprised! She has been crocheting snowflakes and will be excited to get a tatted one as she has no idea on how to tat. I hope to have enough made so everyone can take one home on the 20th. I think I am going to have enough with a few extra. That is always a good thing to have extra's you never now when you might need one for a gift for someone unexpected.

Bookmark

2008-12-01T15:38:00.000-08:00

Another completed project. A red and white bookmark made from a pattern by Rita Weiss and this time I made no changes to the pattern. I did have a different thread in mind when I was starting this project but with all the shuttle switching I decided it would be better to use the two colors. It is the perfect color for Christmas. Now I can go back to making snowflakes.

Snowflake Two

2008-12-01T07:28:00.000-08:00

Here is another snowflake. This one is from DMC Festive Tatting. I adjusted the pattern when I make this. You were insstructed to cut and tie the thread after every round. Instead I left a long tail and used a split ring to clumb out to the next round. I think it worked out very well and I was happy to not have to finish off all those ends. However, I think I needed to sung up the center rings so it doesn't look so gappy. Now it is going to the window for Christmas.

Our snow came down overnight about 3 1/2 inches. I am glad I did not have to go anywhere today and can just enjoy the scenery outside my window.

DMC Snowflake 1

2008-11-30T09:09:00.000-08:00

Here it is the first snowflake in the DMC Tatting for Today booklet that I have. There are 31 motif's in this booklet. I believe that some are way beyond my capabilities. But some of them I am willing to try. This is actually the second one from the booklet that I have done. I did make a mistake on this one but it doesn't affect the snowflake. I left off one of the center rings by mistake but unless you have the pattern I guess you would never know.

I have another snowflake from DMC Festive Tatting all done by finishing off the ends. When I have them finished I will upload a picture of that one. This booklet has 22 snowflakes to try. I still need to make a bookmark for Christmas and the thread arrived that I want to use just yesterday. I have found a pattern that I like so maybe I had better work on that before I tackle another snowflake.

We are currently under a weather advisory and expecting up to 8 additional inches of snow. I won't be going anywhere with that on the way. So I guess I can spend the time tatting snowflakes for my windows.

The Day After!

2008-11-28T12:28:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was an easy one for me. As I had no company! We went to the Country Club for a Thanksgiving smorgasbord. It was great except no leftovers for dinner tonight. I missed the smell of the turkey cooking too.
Since I didn't have to cook I was able to spend the day, when I was home, tatting. As my daughter is having a difficult time with her 18 year old son and was depressed yesterday I decided to tat her this pink cross. Now I need to block it and get in in the mail. I am sure she will like it and the colors are great. I used Cotton Perle again and I was happier with the way this one turned out. I am still not sure how well I like Cotton Perle but I have more of it to use. I was given several balls from my MIL when she decided to stop tatting.

The pattern is Gina Butler's Basic Ring-chain Cross Bookmark. I. by mistake added an additional ring on the bottom and I finished it with the tassel instead of the spiral chain. The most difficult part of this patter for me was the center getting those corner rings to fit and lay nice. I may make another one to see if I can improve on my tension.

It has been snowing on and off here all day so another good day to work on crafts. I started to make a doll for one of my great nieces for Christmas but have not finished it yet. I only need to stuff it and sew up the edges. It is just a simple thing and won't take much time to finish. Then I will get back to some tatting again

Yellow Rosette

2008-11-25T15:52:00.000-08:00

Despite all of the interruptions from my puppy, Sadie, I managed to complete this yellow rosette and send it to Georgia for a critique. I hope I have managed to get it right this time. I even made a picot gage to get the picots all the same size. I think it looks pretty good and hope to get a good critique. Then it will be off to my granddaughter to add to her hat. She will have three of them now all in different colors and each a little different look.

Bookmark

2008-11-25T13:11:00.000-08:00

I finished the bookmark for my sister for Christmas. It is a pattern by Diane Stevens. It wasn't difficult but did take a bit of time. I have found another bookmark pattern I hope to try as soon as my new thread arrives this week.

I am doing the rosette again. Georgia gave me a critique and I see I need to do some work on making improvements. I hope I have everything figured out and will be sending the new one on to Georgia tomorrow for another critique. Then I can maybe practice some of the techniques we discussed in last night class.

Dragon

2008-11-24T16:13:00.000-08:00

I finished Martha Ess's Dragon for my nephew. I am sure my sister will like it for a scrapbook page. I do have some error's but I don't think that will matter to Sir Mason. He was knighted this summer at the Remaissance Faire. He and a friend took fencing lesson this fall but I don't think he was too excited about fencing. I think he would like broad swords better.

I only need to finished off my ends and I will have a bookmark completed for Christmas. I am making progress!

Rosette

2008-11-24T09:04:00.000-08:00

Here is the rosette that Georgia Seitz challenged me to complete. My challenge was to tat the classic rosette but change the last two rounds to something of my own choosing. I did the fourth round with all half stitches, which are hard to see in this picture. The last round I did picot's ever two stitched. I am not real happy with the half stitch round as I didn't think it laid well. But I am still learning and will do better next time.

It is snowing outside so I am sure I will find time to do some more tatting. I am working on a bookmark for my sister for Christmas. It is made with cotton perle which I am not sure I like working with. I think it splits too easily and am not really happy with the final product.

2008-11-23T13:03:00.000-08:00

I was sitting here last night trying to stay warm and tatted these two little motif's. This is from Tatting for Today motif 25. There are a lot of motif's in this book. It would take me a year to do all of them. Maybe a project to attempt.

I am also working on a rosette for Georgia. It is an assignment left over Monday night's Classic Wheel lesson. I have the inside of the rosette done and am trying to decide to finish the last two rounds.

Tatted Cross

2008-11-21T12:21:00.000-08:00

This year for Christmas I hope to make some tatted items for my sisters. So far I have completed this cross. It is from Mary Konior's Tatting With Visual Patterns. This was made with size 30 Sage Green Cebelia' thread. It didn't take very long to complete, I think I did it over two evenings. But there were not any difficult elements to work.

I hope to complete a couple of bookmarks for my other sisters.