Oh Look! Our very own Nina Libin!



Okay, only her hands and certainly not her voice. If you have ever met Nina, you know she is Russian and has a strong accent. This video is a result of an interview posted at www.readymade.com Chains aren't shown but once you master the making of the stitch, chains are easy.

I've been having great fun on my magic carpet ride! I've visited 185 of the 796 (currently) blogs involved. New blogs are added every day so it's a challenge to keep up! I've seen a little tatting, mostly used in other projects and gotten so much inspiration in other places. I'll be posting about some of them as we move along.

I've been very busy this week. Ah...I have a free night! I misread an invite to the Sugar Creek Art Center and thought an event was going on tonight but it's TWO weeks away. I spent a few nights this week finishing up the tatting for my giveaways in the OWOH blog event. My weekend will be a bit busy too but I'm going to work towards finishing T.A.T. and getting the remaining boxes out of the living room. I want to get a new TV soon and need to be able to get to the old one!

I would also like to take my tree down. It's almost February. Maybe I could just take all the Christmas ornaments off and put tatted hearts on it? I've probably given away every heart I've made though. Just have a few I've received in exchanges and one of them is bobbinlace. Oh..actually, I think I made several hearts last year as I was trying out different patterns and they are still in the pattern pages. I put my printouts in those clear protective pages and then in binders eventually. I have one binder labeled "hearts" and it's full. It's not that hearts are my favorite motif to tat, there are just so many patterns available!

I also plan to visit my son and pregnant daughter-in-law. I haven't seen them since Christmas and she was just getting a little bump there at the time. We're halfway there so that means I need to get busy figuring out what baby stuff I want to do! I need to make one bootie. Yes, ONE. I already made one a few years ago for the little 3 year old who is my goddaughter. I tested it on her before I made the 2nd one for her christening. She was 6 months old by then and the bootie was too small so I adapted the pattern and made it bigger. I planned to make the 2nd of the first pair for my son anyway - just hadn't gotten to it.

Well...back to work. Hope you all tat this weekend!

One World One Heart 2010

Dorcas (#82 comment)from Wondrous Strange Designs is the winner of pouch with tatted embellishments!

The winner of the beaded tatted heart is comment #2, Shelly of The Art & Musings of Shelly Rae Wood!

Thank you everyone for stopping by and peeking in!

Okay ~ we're down to the LAST DAY! It's doubtful I will stay up until midnight on the 14th to draw names of the 2 winners but I will check to see if there are any last minute comments. Please make sure your email link is activated on your blogger profile if that is your means of contact. If you don't use blogger, then you should have an email in your comment or on your blog that I can find from your name. GOOD LUCK!!!

What is One World One Heart 2010?

Lisa, the Whimsical Bohemian, originated this giveaway event to bring bloggers together from around the world who may never ordinarily meet. It "closes the gap of the blog community and enables all to interact, discover new and wonderful people, and in the process possibly win a prize or many prizes along the way. 2007 had roughly 85-90 participants and many connections were made because of it......friendships that are still going strong.

We had a strong showing the first year for sure, and then in 2008 we had just about tripled that number. In 2009 there were 911 participants, to say I was amazed is an understatement. 28 countries were represented in the 2009 event as well.

This is more than wanting to win something.......that is only the means.......in the end it's about finding kindred spirits. Someone who may be fairly new to blogging, not sure how to navigate, find others and have others find them....Some are long time bloggers and in some cases well known in the blogging community. Whatever the case it brings all of them together. This is an INTERNATIONAL event that has and had participants from the US, Canada, France, Sweden, Germany, Finland, Malaysia, Brazil, The Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Ireland, England,Wales, Slovenia and more. It transcends geographical location, socio economics, political affiliation, religious beliefs......it's a coming together like the giant community we are on this planet. If only it took a simple giveaway to create PEACE everywhere, in the mean time here we give from our hearts. We are not solving the worlds problems nor are we curing anything nor are we changing the world. We are merely generating a closer community between humans through blogging. What more could I ask for, my little idea has surpassed my wildest dreams of what it could become."

Last year was the first year I really noticed it though I might have caught the tail end of the one in 2008. This is MY first year to participate and I certainly hope I'm up to it!

If you're interested in participating yourself, or want to check out the hundreds of creative participants, click on the logo above or in the sidebar.

If this is your first visit here, I'm Gina, aka Tatting Goddess. I've been tatting with a shuttle since 1997 after painfully teaching myself from a book. Trust me, it's so much easier when you have someone to show you the "flip"! Today there are so many resources online to help new tatters begin and refine their skills. The reason I'm taking part in this event is to help promote tatting. IT IS NOT A LOST ART!!!!! Feel free to browse the archives as well as the 150+ links in the sidebar to other tatters. They'd love you to see their work too!

I'm offering two separate items for the giveaway. I'll use the random number generator to pick two numbers. The first item, this little handmade pouch, is embellished with a tatted flower and loop for the fastener. Buttons (some vintage) complete the tatted closure. The handle is a sturdy crocheted cord, the kind I use to make Romanian Point Lace. I like to do a lot of laces, but tatting is my primary passion. It measures about 3 1/2 inches square. The first one I made I use to carry a couple of tatting shuttles and a small ball of thread when I go to tatting events. It hangs around my neck, but you can use it for anything you want!


The second number from the random generator will receive this beaded tatted heart, my own design, which measures about three inches square. It can be used to embellish a card, clothing, crazy quilting, or framed or hung on a hook in the window as a suncatcher.


Here's the heart on the back of the bag so you can see they are similar in size and you also get a glimpse of the back of the bag.



Of course there are a few rules. I'll send anywhere so international comments are welcome. To be eligible for the drawings, you must leave a comment as well as a way to contact you. You should have a blog since this is an event for bloggers. If you are on Blogger, you must have your email link active or I can't contact you. If you are not on Blogger, leave an email or clickable link with your comment. Only one comment per person. The deadline is midnight February 14, 2010 and the winners will be announced on Monday, February 15th! Comments are valid ONLY on this post.

I hope you enjoy your ride on the magic carpet to all the other blogs! We were encouraged to be creative in our presentation but since I decided on the spur of the moment....it's pretty straightforward. Out of the 100+ blogs I've viewed so far though, many had some very entertaining stories and presentations. Go! You'll love it!

TTT 1-26-10

Instructions here!

Yeah, I know it's actually for coffee but for the coffee drinkers who visit here, it's a goodie for them, and for the tea drinkers, just adapt it for tea, and for the margarita drinker....hehehehe...Put a little container of margarita salt and some margarita mix in there. Make the cup a goblet and you're good to go. What a great all-around pattern!

That's all I got this time folks. I hoped to have a tea cozy made but there just wasn't time. I've got tons of links but other things have priority for now. I've got more floor space in the living room but I'm still not done.

I'm going to be joining the Whimsical Bohemian for the 2010 One World One Heart 4th Annual Blog Event so watch for a post later this week. When you go to her website, you will find hundreds of links to other bloggers, creative bloggers, who are hosting a giveaway as part of this celebration. The idea is to meet other bloggers ...everywhere. I'll be having a giveaway too but I'm not quite ready. The event started today but you can join anytime up to Feb. 8th, I think.

So pull up a chair, sip your coffee/tea/martini, tat and browse all those websites and see how inspired you get!

It's 50º outside!

It's been a busy week and I love that each day got warmer. The sun is even shining! We needed that after a week of subzero temps and overcast skies.

Yesterday I went to the Greenfield Tatting Guild. I think I've mentioned before that we often end up test-tatting for Kaye. We had some new faces this time and some that I haven't seen for awhile. Haven't been there myself for several months. The angel above is what Kaye is teaching at the Finger Lakes Tatting Seminar on April 10/11, 2010. I was going to post the seminar information but it's 7 pages long so we'll need to find another way. In the meantime, contact Karey Solomon for more information. I've subscribed to a site that will host pdf files but haven't taken the time to test it yet. That will solve problems like this!

Looks like a great lineup for the seminar. Since I know Kaye's teaching style better than anyone else I've taken classes with, I can recommend her highly. The angel is small and I tatted it within the 1 1/2 hour time frame we had but I was also familiar with the techniques. This is a great class to learn some new techniques. Kaye uses them in small doses and has clear diagrams and goes through each technique, as a class and individually. This one involves double picots, split chains and split rings, and block tatting. Sounds like a lot, but as I said, they are in small bites. There is not a pattern for the wings, but she has several suggestions for the wings and the ones she uses are sparkly and gossamer. I've just used some gauzy flower stamens I found in my stash. So if you want to learn new techniques on a small scale, this is a good class to take.

Watch the blogs of other teachers - I'm sure they'll be showing a sample of what they are teaching too. (Kaye doesn't have a blog!)

I didn't have time to do anything more with my decluttering goal this week. This morning I moved a few boxes that I know are done out of the living room into the hallway. Once my laundry dries, I'm off to the gym and then a few errands. Once I come back, I'll wash down the closet these containers are going into and put them away and try to finish up what is left. Then I will tat.

I tried to create a different profile on facebook to move all my tatting friends to but it looks like it will be a long process so I think I'll make a badge for here and you can use it to join me on facebook at the new page. Once I do that, I'll be removing all my tatting friends from the current profile. It's just easier for me.

TTT 1/19/10 & Winner!

Before I say anything else, I want to note the passing of Mary Konior. While Mary hasn't contributed anything new for many years, her books have been a source of inspiration for all of us and will continue to be long after most of us are forgotten. I checked my blog and found 209 entries about her patterns. Some are probably referencing more than one statement in a single post but in some posts, I know there were several patterns by her and in some cases, I might not have mentioned her at all. That's about 20% of my posts so far. I think that's a lot and she deserves the credit for every single one of them. I love her books. The edging for my daughter-in-law's bridal hanky came from one of those books. It's not the most recent thing I've tatted from her but one of the biggest projects.

So last night I took a little time to empty some shuttles and tat another of my favorites from her books. This one is in a section from Visual Tatting called "Fragments and Doodles". I love this rose and have framed many of them alone. It's perfect for emptying a shuttle and it's feminine and delicate and all that tatting is. Her patterns are not complicated and to me, that is the genius of it. She created so very many edgings, doilies, collars and other pieces that are beautiful without a single split ring or split chain or self closing mock ring. Her book on Visual Tatting made diagrams almost a standard in tatting. In fact, the only reason I bought that book was to learn how to tat from a diagram. It remains my most referenced book.

I said in the last post that I would show you the miniature fansticks I bought from Ann Keller during my first visit to Ireland in 2000. My sister and I took the train from Tara station to the other side of Dublin where Ann had her studio. She met us at the station and drove us to her studio, telling us lots about the local history along the way. At the time, Ann was the ONLY tatter I was able to find. Wish I'd known about Pamela (Tatskool) then as I would have made a special trip to meet her too. Since Ireland is known for lace, I was totally flabbergasted that it wasn't brimming with tatters! Where are they? But tatting is not the lace Ireland is known for. I finally figured that out. LOL!

As you can see, the fansticks are quite small, shorter even than my shuttle. Ann painted the outside sticks on both the outside and inside. I also bought four shuttles from her and picked out a scene on each side for her to paint. She painted them and then sent them to me after I'd returned.

Here's a scan showing the fan closed.

This one shows you a close up of the outer side of the fanstick. I also bought some tatting patterns from Ann, including one to make the lace for this size fanstick. They are by someone else - and not really easy for me to look up right now, but I think that's going to have to go on my "to-do" list for this year. If you would like to know more about Ann or perhaps even order from her, check out her website here.

Another thing I've uncovered in all my cleaning is tea stamps! I ordered the set on the left from someone at work and I won the set on the right during a silent auction in Hector a few years ago. Yea.....another thing to put to use!

And now...drumroll.....the winner of the tea cozy pattern...is......commenter #2 from the random number generator which is Katie! Katie, I left a message on your blog to send me your mailing address at ginab6 at yahoo dot com. You should have it by the next Tatting Tea Tuesday!

Sunlight on Lace by tinyfroglet

I just changed my comment process to not include word verification. I've just commented on a few blogs and could barely read the letters to begin with. I still moderate but we'll see if not having word verification really opens me up to more spam or not. You won't see it as I'll have it deleted rather than published anyway.
[Update ~ well, that didn't last long. I had 2 spams as soon as I published and 2 more within an hour. Can't just leave it at word verification either as there are a few who do go to the trouble of doing that.]

I'm still downsizing. This going through stuff you love is not a quick process. At the moment, I have several boxes I need to document with the camera and then take out to the car for charity - or whomever I'm giving them too. That will open up some space to work in. I went through my patterns AGAIN and managed to reduce the number to fit into ONE storage cube. Unless there's another one hidden in the basement somewhere. I know I have some patterns in another container with some fabric but it's not more than 5 or 6.

I've given myself a deadline. I kept all my doll dress patterns because I also have a box of dolls and I will dress these dolls and find homes for them in this year or let go of them all. It's silly to have them boxed away for years on end.

I have culled a lot of the wood I was going to paint on. I've emptied the craft room closet and need to wash it down before I refill it.

I found some things I had completely forgotten about ordering! And next time I'll show you the tiny fanstick I bought from Ann Keller while in Ireland. I also bought a pattern to tat the lace for it and still haven't done it. Wow.....10 years ago in June!

Last week was my first full week back at work since the holidays. The week before should have been but I was sick two days, not deathly ill, but enough to not want to expose anyone else. I thought it was a cold but I think it was a different virus now as I got over it way too quickly for a cold. So this week was tiring. I wasn't overly busy although I had appointments scheduled every day. It was those evening activities that wore me out! Monday I managed to make it to the pool/gym again. Plans to continue that did not materialize but I will go today. Tuesday night I met with a lace friend to look at her new all-in-one printer/scanner. I'm seriously considering giving my current one to my son and getting one like hers that does what I want it to do in a way I can follow! Then we went to dinner. Wednesday night I went to my daughter's house and she highlighted my hair and I visited. (new photo shows new highlights!) Thursday night I ran some errands and was just plain tired. Time to stay home for a change and I went through several boxes. And I did try to tat. More on that later. Friday, last night, I was again tired. Came home, went through some boxes, stitched, and went to bed on time. I don't remember when I got up but it was after 9:00 a.m. so I probably slept at least 10 hours. I'm very happy to have a 3 day weekend!

So...after that marathon earring tatting, I needed a break. By the time I started tatting on Thursday night, it was late and I was tired. I started one of the 2 remaining projects in T.A.T. Too late, too tired, and poor instructions. It is a new technique to me. I did finally get it but the instructions leave a crucial diagram out. There was only one phrase that gave me a clue: piggyback shuttles. Now I've done that before. These are samples of a technique I taught at Palmettos one year which required holding the shuttles that way but it's not the same kind of project. You just have to hold 2 shuttles together which is also called piggybacking them. So once I got that, I could figure out the next part although it was not really explained. The next step was way too much for my tired brain at that point. I'll have to tat up one of Martha's brain cells to get me through times like this!

I'm finding so many treasures as I downsize. This is a cupid stamp that I made in art class in high school. I buggered up one of the eyes a bit but this is my one and only attempt at making a stamp. We used a 3 x 3 inch linoleum block manufactured by The American Crayon Company (cost 28¢) and then transferred our design that we sketched on tracing paper and then carved away the background. Then we inked it with a roller and stamped with it. Messy. Looks like I might have slipped with cupid's arrow quiver and slid across his poor little face! I'd like to try stamping with it if I can find an ink pad big enough in my stash. I don't think I have one. I've only got a few stamps but my sister might have one. She's got a HUGE stash!

This is the stitching I did last night. This isn't entirely counted cross stitch, which I'm NOT good at but I've been itching to stitch, embroider rather than be limited to cross stitch, so I thought I'd start this. I've already got a needle roll started somewhere, but I'm determined to finish this one.

This should be the end result. The others I have are herb design needle rolls. I think I've actually given most of those kits away.

Here's one I'd forgotten about too. The embroidery covers a heart shaped tin. I've been putting my tatted motifs in decorative containers, mostly ceramic, lately. I don't think I've got a ceramic heart shaped conainer but I do have several tin ones.

And look! It came with a tin of Altoids in the kit! This one will be good for me to get a little different exposure to stitches without it being a huge project. I have a big one that is a "tea sampler" and I'm just not sure I want to tackle it. I actually have a coworker stitching one that is teapots because I can't fathom doing it myself. She likes cross stitch. I don't. LOL! I do like embroidery but not xxxxxx.

This is another kit that was a real bargain. Originally it sold for $27.76 and I got it for $2.77. Can't tell you when....but it has everything included in the kit. I wonder how long a bee's wax wheel is good? Oh, I do have to provide the fabric for the embroidery...velvet, linen, whatever...

I also found my teneriffe wheels and instructions. Some ancient knitting and crochet booklets. I have a group of maybe 5 that are only bags. I don't even like them. Why? Why? Why did I get them? Maybe they were included in something else. I'll probably sell those on ebay.

I have tons of wooden stuff to paint on. I didn't have the time to do it but I had the inspiration. I'm trying to downsize that pile.

Fabric and patterns. I've cut my patterns in half...again. I'm not as good about letting go of fabric. I'll have to work on that.

Tatting Tea Tuesday 1/12/10 Giveaway!

I found it! The website for the Indiana business I've used before and thought was gone is still there! There is not nearly as much on it as in the past but they are still in business and I signed up for the newsletter again.

I don't know if anyone pays that much attention but I have a category of blogs in the sidebar that have to do with interesting and inspiring blogs that don't feature tatting as the main subject. Yesterday I noticed that Lollychops had a subject line that said screamed, "The Mad Tatter's Teabag Template!". Now who could resist checking that out??? So I did.

It seems Lollychops has a sister who just learned to tat (in like 24 hours!)and she was bragging on her, rightfully so. But THEN, her next paragraph...and how cool is this given it's now Tatting Tea Tuesday? was a new crafty design of hers - a Tatter's Teabag Envelope! and you can get the template HERE!

I had great intentions for making it when I got home but I was late getting out of work and then I went to the pool at the gym and then Walmart and by the time I got home, I had an hour and a half to eat, check my email, and make the teabag holders.

I had already printed it out on cardstock so this part was easy....cut it out. I ended up cutting a curve on the straight side because I'm not making a card like Lollyshops did. I'm just using it as an envelope but what a sweet gift card! All I've done is glue the bottom and it wasn't quite dry so I didn't push the teabag all the way down. It could use some embellishing too!

I also wanted to make one in fleece or felt. I cut it out. But I needed to get to bed so I just scanned my idea and you will have to use your imagination! Someone asked me what I was going to do with that edging and the needlelaced motif. The edging isn't quite long enough but it might depend on how and where I put it on. I would put the motif on the front flap but it is underneath the triangle right now. Then the edging would probably be long enough! I would also need a little button or bead fastener or maybe velcro, to hold it closed. Anyway...I think this would be a fun and quick project (well, except for the tatting part) for our tea tatters! Oooooh and with Valentine's Day coming up, give your favorite Valentine some chocolate cherry flavored tea and put a tatted heart on it!

Okay...so now you're wondering....didn't she say something about a giveaway??? Yes! At the weekend, I went through a tub of patterns and...sigh...I have this habit of buying duplicates when they're on sale at JoAnn's for $1 each.

And this is a duplicate! See the tea cozies on the table? Another perfect fit for Tatting Tea Tuesday! I'll use the random generator to pick a number from the comments on this post only between now and the next Tatting Tea Tuesday on January 18th. I'll announce the winner of the pattern that morning. Another pretty thing to embellish with tatting, right?

Well, I think this is it for now. Can you tell I'm longing for Spring already? The marigold pair resulted when I was emptying shuttles. Took me forever to find the right thread for the 2nd of the pair! I didn't realize I had so many shades close to both of these colors. The lighter color was Altin Basak but the label was off of the orange and it looked slightly larger so I'm guessing it is a Coats thread in size 20. The middle one is Lizbeth Springtime but I used different colored beads on each shuttle. Not very noticable but it was a variation. The yellow and green one I tatted in the class. Size 20 or 30 but I'm not sure what brand - big balls so either Aida or Omega. When I started tatting, I could barely tell the two colors apart but once they were done, it was noticable. I had taken the Springtime loaded shuttles with me to show 2 shuttles CTM (continuous thread method) winding with one thread. And as I said, the marigold one was a result of emptying shuttles.

I sorted a lot of boxes at the weekend - only the tip of the iceberg - but I found tons of thread and shuttles and beads and partial projects and patterns that were NOT in the usual places. I have a habit of taking samples with me when I go to teach and then not putting them away when I get back home so I have a LOT of organizing to do. I found all sorts of goodies I'd forgotten about. I'll try to show some of them later. When I'm more organized. (what is that hyena laughter in the background I keep hearing???)

Now...I have to tell you about my mistake. I didn't want to, but I'm aware that sometimes people do something I've done just because I've done it. Not everything I do turns out well.

I noticed when I had to move some beads from an ending shuttle to a new thread that the cream thread at the end was showing some "pink" tinge. I suspect it was from sliding all those beads, yet again, over a doubled thread. That's not a good sign. Beads should not leech their color...good beads anyway. When I blocked the necklace, I wet it as I always do, and all looked well. All WAS well.

But remember I said I was going to Scotchguard it? Now, smart logic told me I should tat a small sample to test it on before actually spraying. Did I do that? Well....I was going to...but I got impatient...and I sprayed. THEN I set the board up vertically near the heater vent so it would dry quickly.

I was appalled the next morning to see that the bottom part of the necklace looked discolored! It had a rosy hue which wasn't even consistent! Someone in my lace guild who came in late and didn't hear the story, bless her heart, loved the effect and asked how I got that??? Now it was only near the bottom and I have to assume that since I propped the board vertically, the moisture followed gravity and that's why I see it only at the bottom. I wonder if I'd laid it flat if it would have done that at all? Was it the chemical application or gravity?

So I soaked it in Oxyclean, 2 batches of it, for hours. It helped, but I can still see it. And you'll notice the beads are all green now. Except for the earrings. I soaked them in the second batch so they would match but I notice one earring still has more of a creamy colored bead than the other. I think if I soak all of it again, it will remove all of the rose hue, but....I don't like those green beads on this color combination. Nothing can be done about that.

So now you know....ALWAYS TEST! ALWAYS!!!

In case you are wondering WHY I'm still tatting this design, I wanted to have a sample that used only picots, no beads, and all one thread. I'm now getting ready to string beads and wind shuttles for 2 more pairs, one with beads and 2 colors and one with contrasting beads but one color. I'll use them during the class tomorrow. Yea.....last-minute-minnie I am. Everything is ready - I just need to string and wind these shuttles which I will have done in less than an hour while I'm watching TV.

And oh, if you've just stumbled on this blog or don't remember seeing me post it before, the pattern is from www.free-tatting.com. It's important you have that "-" in there if you google for it. The thread is Springtime from Lizbeth in size 20. This is still my favorite Lizbeth thread. A few of the solids have caught my attention but otherwise I'm not quite as enamoured as many seem to be. Not a bad thread by any means, but I wouldn't say it's #1 either. I think the best thing they've got going for them is the huge number of colors as well as being a good thread. Fortunately, we all have different preferences and you should choose according to what appeals to you and works best for you.

Hmmm...speaking of threads...Manuela used to be much sought after, a favorite. I have a ball of size 20 in front of me...50 grams which is 400 meters. (Apparently this thread is now called Hakelgarn?) and I remember paying $6 for it. I also have a ball of Lizbeth in front of me in size 20, which is 25 grams or 210 yards (this one says yards, not meters) and it cost me $4. So 50 g would be about 420 yards. To be honest, I think I prefer the smaller balls. I got the majority of my Manuela around 1999. That means it is 10 and 11 years old. I've only used up maybe 2 or 3 balls in that entire time. I wanna run out so I'll have justification to buy NEW thread!!!! LOL!

So what shall I tat next??? Firstly, I have a few friends who want earrings so if none that I've already tatted are quite what they want, then I may need to do that. Secondly, I found I only have 2 things to tat for the T.A.T., plus maybe a redo on another and the finishing touch on another. I also have to see how it's all labeled. I realized I did my last one a little bit wrong. Nothing was said and maybe if I go back and read the directions, they changed between apprentice and intermediate. I definitely want to finish that up and send it off.

There are birthdays coming up in February and March.

I've got a grandbaby to be planning for.

I'm still sorting out the chaos from when my son moved in. It's more manageble now, only because I have it temporarily hidden, but I want to make inroads there. I refuse to take my tree down until I do. Never had a tree up in July and don't intend to start now!

I have a few projects I want to embark on this year too, the sooner the better while they're fresh in my mind.

And I found a skein of HDT from Karey while moving things around that I need to get wound on a card.

Looks like I'm going to be very busy for quite awhile now.

Tatting done! It is not blocked in the scan but is on the blocking board now and I haven't added the findings yet. I'll wait until after it is scotchguarded.

I think I like this direction best. In the earrings, the cream is the top color too so they would match. It just seems to drape better in this direction.

There is actually one more brown segment than cream because of the way it started and had to end, so that's also why it hangs better with the brown at the bottom. The photo showed it as a choker but I cannot wear chokers myself. Also, my neck is smaller around than many people's so I wanted to make sure it could go around a bigger neck, even if worn choker style. I'm not sure if I will keep it or sell it ultimately but I've got plenty of time to figure that out.

I woke up very early this morning with burning itching eyes, a continual small cough mostly from drainage and feeling exhausted even after an early night for 3 nights. I stayed home and slept a good part of the day, drinking lots of water and using my neti pot. I started using a neti pot last fall in an effort to help with allergies. My allergies are not so bad to require shots and I forget to even take the precription I have but this really helped when I did use it. I feel pretty good tonight except for the burnt place on the roof of my mouth from taking a bite of too hot dinner! After all that sleeping I hope I can get to sleep tonight!

If not....I'll just tat.

Tatting Tea Tuesday 1/5/10

As long as it is hot, wet and goes down the right way, its fine with me. ~ Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York, on tea

I don't know if that is truly a quote by Sarah Ferguson or a poke at her, but it was with a bunch of other tea quotes - with her name and "Dutchess" misspelled.

If you haven't heard yet, Jane started a new TIAS (Tat It and See) today! You can find the link to the first pattern here or here!

I'm working on this project myself:


I wanted to show my lace guild the matching necklace and I'm considering putting it in the fair or our fall exhibit at the Tippecanoe Arts Federation building. It's turning out so pretty. I believe I'm going to scotchguard the necklace when it is done. The patterns are from http://free-tatting.com/.

I have to confess that I drink tea everyday, iced tea, so it's a given that on Tatting Tea Tuesday I'll be drinking tea.

News Flash! My youngest son and his wife just found out they are having a GIRL! Ooooohhh....that means I get to tat girl things! This will be my 6th grandchild.

Monday Mirth!

Could not help myself!
Photos from the Flickr Craft pool by jek-a-go-go
Michelangelo's Sock DavidMonkey!!!

(amended ~ I thought it charecterized Michael Jackson but it is Michelangelo's David statue!)




And don't forget to check out the Sock Monkey of Willendorf and a few others!

Arrrgghhhh!  I'm using the "new editor".  It's really not that handy for photos. I work in the html mode and it doesn't even have an upload button! I hope I can go back to traditional if this doesn't work out. Way too much html to maneuver around this way.

Can't tell where to start my post either. New year. New learning curve.

This is the last pair of earrings for my friend. I actually made two pairs and reversed the order of the purple and black and used different beads. I thought the other purple was brighter but when they were both done, you could barely tell. I'm teaching this at my lace guild this month so now I have to make up a few more samples! I will be so tired of this pattern by then. I'm not one to keep tatting the same thing over and over.

These are part of the package for my secret santa recipient. I was trying to use a color she really liked and this one popped out at me. I really like it with silver beads. The top one is a pattern by Heather Johnston and the other two are from other publications and I forget if they came from the same one or two different ones now! The thread is Lizbeth size 20.

I decided to paint this wooden snowflake and turn it into a thread winder. I tried to topcoat it a bit early. The white snowflake design dragged a bit. I was running out of time so left it.

I made one more bird, this time in Christmas fabrics and added eyes and a green bow and tatted wings. I think this might be fun to do with decorative stitching too but time was at a premium this year. I had some other things for Janis but the photo didn't turn out well. These were the tatting related items.

This is annoying!  I want my text to the LEFT!  Ah...I guess I have to type it and THEN format it. Really..this is not easier.  Okay, since  I had an extra day before I could mail it, I added a brooch to Bonnie's earrings.  I doubled up the thread for the earrings, matching the color changes so they were the same. With the brooch however, I didn't try to match them up  Even so, you can see they coordinate.  The color separation isn't quite as distinct.   She lives on the East Coast and needs something bright and cheery during these cold bleak winter months!

Last night I finally finished the other motif that called for a needlelace center. I made mine different from the author's and this motif is in a finer thread too.  See the difference in size from the one I made earlier? I find thread this fine a little fiddly to work with. I like to be able to see it!  LOL!

Okay...off to publish and we'll see what I think about this "new editor".

Happy New Year!!!!!

Well, it's a new year and a new day! The winner of the New Year's Day giveaway is #14 which is Bonnie! Bonnie, please email your mailing address to me and I'll get those in the mail on Saturday.

Thanks to everyone for entering this spur-of-the-moment giveaway! I did make it to midnight, at least it's midnight here in the midwest. I really enjoy doing giveaways (entering too) and I hope to have another wonderful year full of tatting and all kinds of creative ventures.

May your year be blessed and the best yet in your life!