I've mostly been knitting but the mitten is wrong side out right now and I didn't feel like turning it right side out to show progress. I have a thumb and the finger flap to do. And then another mitten. LOL! I have to take breaks from projects, especially those that take a lot of time. I will probably have another week with mittens and then a hat to match and then start all over so I'm making it a point to get my tatting time in. This little motif is only started. Looks like a Jane Eborall motif, doesn't it? If you are not familiar with Jane's work, then go see her patterns. I think it's the colors I used along with the shape.
Anyway, it's from this Japanese publication that I bought while I was at Palmettos from Kaye Judt. Why I had to go all the way to SC to buy it, I'm not sure. Perhaps I should check out what she has in Greenfield more often!

I wanted to use more than a single color, just to see how it plays out. I've still got the outer part to do and I'm already disappointed that you can see where I tatted over the end of one thread while beginning. This is the first pattern I've used from this book - it's all diagrams unless you read Japanese and I don't. Can't even figure out small phrases such as "ring" or "chain". There was one motif in particular that made me purchase it and this isn't it. I'm working up to it. LOL! I think it's going to be tricky and since all I have are diagrams to lead the way, it's going to be even trickier. I happened to notice last night that it also has a 3D Christmas tree and some holly and holly berries. I'll have to try those out before the season rolls around again!

Part IV of Jane's Tat It & See series. I think the next step is tomorrow.

Grizzly Mountain Arts certainly keeps coming up with beautiful tatting and needlecraft tools. I love the colors of the celluoid shuttles he is making but I don't like flat shuttles and have enough already for my collection. Now if he would make them into post shuttles, I'd be more tempted. Actually, one of them was...but still too expensive for me.

Well...back to work.