Marilee's Tree in White

I made an incorrect join but it's getting easier. No break this time between sides (well.....very briefly!) So maybe the 3rd time will be the charm!

The thread is size 20 DMC and the beads are silver seed beads size 11/0. Tatted in less than an hour!

Marilee's Tree

Last year I purchased Marilee's Layered Ring Christmas Tree Pattern but just now got around to tatting it. The first time I tat something, especially with a little different technique than I normally do, it's not very good, but I'm okay with that because then I know what to improve in myself.

I finished the first side and then laid it down to take a break and fix something to eat, allow myself to get sidetracked on the computer and pay some attention to the kitties and TV. Can you see what happened a hour or so later when I came back to do the other side? My tension relaxed. The rings on the other side spread out further than on the first side. I was afraid that would happen. I even blocked it, but to me, the difference is noticeable. Can I make a second earring to match? Probably not. Is it just the inner critic in me making too much of it? Maybe I should just start over and keep this one as a sample in my sheet protecter to remind me to try to tat the whole thing in one go and not go off abandoning a project mid-way. Actually I think I will try her white version. Or use some sparkly thread. The more practice, the more balanced it will look. It doesn't matter how long you've been tatting, practice also makes it look better.

I have so many people I want to gift with small tatting this year and I haven't even begun. I'm still trying to find ways to gift special tatting friends from kindnesses shown two years ago! You're all so nice and I can't keep up!

I used a small ruler to show the dimensions of this earring. Even though Marilee shows a ruler on her pattern, for some reason (aka selective vision) I missed it until I was almost done. It's much smaller than I thought but perfect for an earring! Or even a pendant. Or a gift tag or a card insert. It's tatted in Aida size 20 thread. I bought this ball of thread in Australia along with several others. I've used a lot of it but not a complete ball yet. Six years....thread lasts forever! I've moved on to size 30 and 40 more often as my preference but since I have so much of the size 20 and in colors I like, I try to tat with it as much as I can. I may have to start crocheting with it as crochet uses it up faster.

I was the appreciative recipient recently of some vintage newsletters from the 1980's, sent out by a Wisconson group and titled KNOTS & NOTES, editor Kathryn J. Johns. Each one is only 3-4 letter size pages but it's a nice step back into history that seems like only yesterday.

The first one I picked up was dated March 1985 and on the next to last page, I found a name I recognized: Marilee Rockley! She donated a pattern of a simple butterfly. So I tatted it! However, it's not right...I got the wings upside down! Even so I think it's pretty. It's tatted in Lizbeth size 40 but don't remember the name of the colorway.

I haven't tatted much this week. On Tuesday night I bobbinlaced with my lace friend and when I got home, I started an embroidery project. I worked on that project a little bit last night but I also spent a lot of time going through some magazines I found in a closet. Most of them had pages marked with projects I want to do...some day. One of them had this page of letters from readers. THREE times TATTING is mentioned! They are marked with a red star.

If you click on it, it should enlarge and you might be able to click again and get it bigger and easier to read. Look at how tatters were generously sharing their ideas even back then! Oh, this is a Needlecraft magazine but I don't remember the year, either 1915 or 1916. I'm not sure I understand what the first reader is talking about in the "second thread". It sounds like she is making a ring but if it's a second thread, that would be the ball thread. Perhaps she is saying she weaves the thread through the fingers and holds it in a pinch but I really can't tell. Can you?

I'm going to be hosting a thread giveaway on the 4th. There will be more than one giveaway but they'll all be announced and running at the same time. Since so many people might be traveling for the US Fourth of July holiday weekend, I thought it prudent to start on the 4th and let it run until the following Sunday. So this is a heads up, in case YOU are traveling! One clue...all the thread is tiny thread, probably size 70 or 80.

Whoo Hoo! Marilee's book arrived Thursday! This is a vacation day for me and my plan was to reupholster that icky chair in the living room I mentioned some time back. I'm pretty sure it will take me all weekend! But I will probably have to take a break and tat something - don't you think?

Actually, I did already. Last night was a free night so I tatted the simple stained glass pendant, minus the ring to hang the pendant from.

There is a nice assortment of projects. Marilee has been showing us several of them but I wanted to mention that the required skills vary from project to project so there is something for everyone. Some very easy ones, some with the opportunity to learn a new skill, and some more challenging. Since I rarely wear tatted jewelry, I generally only make it to give away or to use in another way. For some reason, Marilee's designs always attract me so I was anxious to try something out.

I also want to make those earrings Iris had on her blog a few months ago. Now see where my resolve for my 4 day weekend is going??? Add to that the dinner & movie and gallery walk I'm doing with my son tonight for his birthday, Dancin' in the Streets Street Fair on Saturday, and a job fair I want to go to on Monday, and check out the fair wins........and I wonder why I feel overwhelmed sometimes?

So...I started this last night, knowing today was a vacation day and feeling a little pressured about all I intend to get done. I woke up early, fed the cats, checked the computer, talked with my son a bit before he left. Then I decided to lay down on the sofa with a cold compress because my back felt a bit stiff. Wasn't a bit sleepy - but I slept for nearly two hours. Sigh....realistically, this is not a good weekend for the chair. I'll think on it before I jump into it. I DO need to mow and the temps aren't too high yet so that's my next plan. I'm sort of making this up as I go. Can you tell?

But I am SO glad it's not steaming hot and it's sunny and I have the day to catch up outside. I have a fun evening planned. I have a fun Saturday planned. Sunday and Monday might see me accomplishing something. I'll have to wait and see how it goes.