A Happy Bluebird

Shuttles and . . . Doorknobs?

2012-01-30T19:55:00.000-06:00

I have too many shuttles with leftover thread on them just waiting to be used. Sooooo, I've been making hearts to keep ahead of Valentine's Day with whatever thread is on the shuttle(s) I grab. This is making for some odd colored hearts, but I will certainly have a nice stash to add to Valentines. I have sort of been on a mission to find and save small heart patterns too. Wow! There are so many wonderful patterns out there.

This is the Tatted Heart found HERE.

I really like this pattern - found HERE.

And this is one from a 1988 Workbasket. Looks a little lopsided!

I like that it looks lacy with all those picots.

(Too bad I didn't try a little harder to keep the picot size uniform.)

I've been tatting little hearts during my lunch breaks too.

I think I'm just excited to be AHEAD of the holiday for once :) Ha.

**************************

Remember those old doorknobs I have ? Diane was right. Wine bottle stoppers. Just something I saw for a ridiculous price and thought "I could make those!" So, of course, I was on a mission to figure out how to make them. Hubby and I looked at pictures and visited the hardware stores until we finally got it, and then voila. Another project for hubby - much to his ~~dismay~~ delight. He loves it when I come up with new projects. (Well, projects for me, anyway.) We have about 15 of these now. I craft in bulk, remember?!

**************************

I got these from a very good friend in the mail last week.

She said they just reminded her of me.

She knows me well, don't you think?

I Craft in Bulk . . .

2012-01-26T19:49:00.002-06:00

Even though it seems like books and bookmarks are being replaced by e-readers, I felt the need to get another bookmark done for my stash. Since I love the Lizbeth Island Breeze, I dug out one of my favorite bookmark patterns found HERE, and whipped this one up in no time. Michelle also recently used this pattern for a great bracelet HERE. What is it about bookmarks? I think I love to tat them because they are a quick accomplishment!

While I was sitting in my "woman cave" sewing in the thread ends on my bookmark, I used my little needlekeeper. I love this little thing because it's so small, and easily fits in the smallest of tatting containers. And while I was taking photos for my last post, I realized that Island Breeze thread matched some felt I had purchased to make some more of these needlekeepers. I always seem to have to make everything in BULK. Why? I dunno. I just do! Does anyone else do that? I think the habit lingers from my days of being a daycare provider and having craft supplies to make everything in multiples. I won't say how many years it's been since I did that . . .

So, I quick sewed up a few needlekeepers! And then tatted a short section of the bookmark pattern for one cover.

And then on with another heart pattern for another cover. Ah, something I can use these little motifs on! This is the Peacock Heart, and is done in Size 20 Lizbeth Tropical Punch.

So, I now have a little stash of needle keepers. Ha! I need one for every tatting bag, right?

Either that or everyone is getting one for Christmas!

Hearts and Shuttles

2012-01-21T11:40:00.001-06:00

My teardrop pendant gets better each time! This is a wonderful learning piece for me - the pattern is fairly simple, but I'm learning about tension. I seem to pull rings closed nice and tight, but I have trouble keeping the chain tension consistent. I won't post another picture until I get it the way I want it :) In the meantime, I've taken a break to tat some other small motifs.

Frivole posted this wonderful diagram of Irene Woo's Butterfly Heart. I had to try it - such a pretty little heart to have on hand with Valentine's Day coming up. I think this may lead to more hearts, as I've been digging in my patterns for every heart I can find. Frivole also posted another wonderful diagram of Susan Fuller's Hearts Desire - a big favorite also. I am so grateful for diagrammed patterns after looking through all those wonderful old books and having my eyes cross trying to read the patterns!

Here's the Butterfly Heart in both Lizbeth Size 20 Island Breeze & Size 40 Mocha Swirl. Not bad except for the final join and hiding of ends. Sigh.

I really love the colors in that Island Breeze thread. It just happens to match several pieces of felt I have in my cave. Hhhhmmmm.

And something else I've been waiting for from Frivole's Etsy shop . . .

Ta Da! My new shuttles. I was jealous of everyone's beautiful shuttles from LaCossette, but now I have some of my own. My first request was . . .

A BLUEBIRD (what else?!)
He looks quite happy!

And then I saw these gorgeous PANSIES and had to have one also:

I think the pansies will live in this cute shuttle sock (that Teresa was so kind to gift to several of us way back in December) - they match! Knitting something this tiny is just amazing to me. It could be a new . . . NO . . . I don't need any more hobbies.

OK, I will stop admiring my new shuttles sometime today, and start using them :)

I Wonder about Her

2012-01-17T06:54:00.000-06:00

I wonder what she was like. I mean my Great-Grandmother Rise, who came to the U.S. from Norway as a young woman in the late 1800's. Who was she?

I have the spinning wheel that she brought with her to this country in 1880. It must've been very important to bring with in order to haul a piece this large all that way on a ship. I would love to know what else she had with her.

The wool carding tools are handmade and came with the wheel, and the ball of yarn was supposedly made with this wheel too. I am not sure where the bobbin or the darning pieces came from, but I keep them just the same.

I also have her Autograph book - it looks like she received it for Christmas.

Did you notice the year?

Here's a closer look:

It amazes me to have this little book. It makes me wonder about her, her friends, and what her life was like in this new country. I've often thought of my various ancestors and what they were like, but having these things that once belonged to her make me wonder even more about her.

The autograph book is interesting to look at. Most of the entries are in Norwegian, and the cool thing is that there are a couple of entries by my great-grandfather from before they were married. Signed "your friend". This entry is on Christmas - the same date written inside the cover. Maybe he gave this book to her when they were dating?

And another entry by my great-grandfather is about a year and a half later.
It says: "The world is round and has no end, and so is my love for you my friend."
How sweet is that?

I can't find the date they were married at the moment, but their first child was born in May of 1890. That child even made an entry in this book! I wonder if Rise chuckled at her little girl's entry to Mama:

I remember my grandmother used to wear this locket containing pictures of her parents when I was a little girl. I am lucky to have this locket now also - my great-grandparents Rise and Thom. Another connection to the mysterious Rise.

I plopped it on a new chain, but it wouldn't pass over the little pearls on the chain.

So, I added a beautiful old clip on earring of my mom's to cover up the clasp and voila!

I have a beautiful new necklace to wear, and carry my ancestors with me.

And every time I look at the pictures, I just can't help but wonder what Great-Grandma Rise was like. Obviously she spun yarn. So, did she knit? Crochet? Did she tat? Did she sew or quilt? Certainly any of those things would have been done out of necessity - not for pleasure or crafting like we do now.

I wonder if there will be anything I have now that will make MY great-grandchildren wonder about me?

Better?

2012-01-08T20:59:00.000-06:00

The third time is NOT a charm, but it is better. This try has much looser tension, but maybe it's too loose now? I tatted slowly and really tried to pay attention, but it still isn't just quite right. I know the jump ring isn't attached correctly, but it doesn't matter until I get the whole pendant right. Right? Ugh.

I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong other than tension, but I am going to keep trying. It's the only way I can learn what it is that isn't working! Too bad I have to work tomorrow :(

Saturday Tatting

2012-01-05T21:17:00.004-06:00

Michelle, her daughter, and I met today for some tatting time. We have such an enjoyable visit that the time flies by as we sit with our coffee/tea and tat. I was quite confident while working on my pendant that it would be soooooo easy to complete - now that I had the correct size (and shape) bead. Oh yes, it would be no problem!

So, I tatted on. And tatted some more when I got home. I was going to finish this! And here's how it ended up:

Ugh. A re-do for sure. I think Marilee needs to move to Minneapolis! What the heck is wrong here? Is it my tension? The pattern does state to check tension, but I thought it was pretty good. I have always crocheted very tightly, so maybe my tatting is following that trend . . . ?

In any case, I got to practice the V-stitch/Victorian sets/Zig-Zag/Ric-Rac stitch that I practiced and explained back HERE. And, I worked on the Catherine Wheel Join according to Yarnplayer's great instruction video HERE. I had never done that join before, so it was good to work on another new technique.

Now that I have worked on the techniques, I need to figure out why this is so wonky. Is it the tension? How do you monitor your tension? Your critique and advice is welcome! Dang it, I thought I was doing so well. I will keep trying :)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

And guess what I'm going to do with these old doorknobs?

Another bright idea on my list of things to do.

New Year, New Ideas

2012-01-05T08:11:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year! Did you make resolutions? I don't make any kind of solid resolutions, but instead try to remind myself that I need to be the best I can be. Which means eating better to have a healthy body, and keeping a positive attitude to have a healthy mind. Everything else will fall into place!

With some wonderful time off from work, I've had ~~waaaay too much~~ ~~ample~~ a little time to get the creative juices flowing. I finally had an evening to try Marilee's teardrop pendant. I didn't have the right size bead, so I thought I'd try to use something I had. Well, that was a dumb idea. Kinda ruined the "teardrop" look, eh? Plus my thread split and made an even bigger mess when I tried to make that join. Tension, tension, tension. (In more than one sense of the word!)

So, I'll be heading out to get some correct beads to try that again :) With a positive attitude, of course.

Michell'es snowflake earrings and pendant inspired me to get going on the jewelry ideas. She even gave me a set of my own - such pretty tatting with such tiny thread! Aren't these beautiful?

Another jewelry idea I love is spoon jewelry. So, I'm going to try a little of that too . . . once I figure out how to cut and drill holes in the silver. I made a spoon ring back in the 70's out of my baby spoon in an art class, and I don't remember it being too difficult. In any case, I found some old flatware I have had for years and cleaned it up to see if it would work. I can see a couple of pretty rings and bracelets here . . .

And I think I'll try some glass tile jewelry too. Maybe combine it with some flatware. (When the heck will I wear all this jewelry? Or a better question might be when will I have time to make it?) Hehe. Maybe Pinterest wasn't a good idea . . .

Bright and Beautiful

2011-12-24T18:00:00.000-06:00

Have a beautiful,

bright,

Merry Christmas!

Thoughts of Poinsettias

2011-12-20T21:23:00.000-06:00

OK, so it needs blocking. Not my best tatting, but I had this idea and I had to try it. A bug you-know-where.

When I saw Fox's post (HERE) with this motif and beads in the center, it just screamed "poinsettia" to me for some reason. My tatting technique has not improved as hers has, but I had to try a poinsettia.

So, the beads are too large for this size 30 thread in the center, but I kind of like the way it looks - like a flower center. A Christmas poinsettia! Not sure what I will DO with it, but I like it. Thanks for the inspiration, Fox! Now I just need a shuttle that gives me those Houdini digits :)

2nd 25-Motif Challenge Done!

Motif #25

Wheel of Nine Rings

Christmas Angels and Other Tatting Patterns

by Monica Hahn

Size 30 Red Cebelia thread

So now that my 25th motif of my 2nd 25-Motif Challenge is done, I am going to get back to my T.A.T. program for 2012. Hopefully. I continue to procrastinate on that!

AND . . .

Remember when I brought home that old tin from a junking expedition? (HERE) Well, it's finally done. A few clear coats to preserve that "chippy" chipping paint look and a frame on the back to square it up. It's a new decoration in my living room, and goes well with the antique-y, vintage look I have going. I love it.

I don't know why, but I just love old stuff. Old stuff has character, and is unique. Like me. (Well, the unique part anyway!)

Are YOU Enjoying the Season?

2011-12-16T19:18:00.000-06:00

I love gathering with girlfriends to share decorating and crafting ideas. I think I am the biggest crafter - I just want to make everything I see - from tatting to sewing to jewelry to home decor! It's fun to be able to share with friends, yet appreciate all of our different tastes. I am always the drip taking pictures - after asking permission of course - but my friends tolerate me :)

It's a busy time of year, but it's so important to enjoy time with friends and family. I really have to tell myself to quit worrying about what I "should" be doing, and enjoy the moments I can share with those people that are important in my life.

This week we shared a girl's evening of Christmas snacks and decorating talk (I do more talking about it than actually decorating!) and I thought I'd share a few pictures. I love this look, but I know my home will never be this way. I have too many projects going to get any specific "look", no matter how much I love it.

And that's just the front step so far . . .

I'm so doing this for our family Christmas gathering.

It's in the freezer now and I can't wait to see how it turns out!

I could sit here and read a good book or tat for hours.

Growing up visiting relatives on farms, I should be able

to get my hands on some chick feeders . . .

I love the neutrals in this living room.

And the antiques.

Happy Holidays!

I hope you are taking the time to slow down and cherish

every minute with family and friends. I am!

Bead Intimidation

2011-12-04T20:08:00.001-06:00

I was procrastinating trying to add beads - why, I don't know. I guess I was just a little intimidated by adding another step. Remembering how to join, where to join, which join to use, and how many picots confuses me enough sometimes :)

This is why it's so nice to have tatting friends to tat with in person, and try new techniques. Michelle and her daughter and I met yesterday to tat, and we worked on the Mary Konior "Posy" as a wreath. I asked Michelle for some help on adding beads, and she brought some beads and her bead spinner and got me started. (That bead spinner is a worthwhile little tool if you use beads - I think I need to get one!) Once I got the hang of where to place the beads for this particular project, it was a piece of cake. I finally finished this cute little wreath tonite:

I'm so over being intimidated by beads!

Technology Rant

2011-12-02T18:42:00.001-06:00

So, I have a blog. I try to keep up with it and remember that I'm doing it mostly for me. You know, to look back and see all the things I've done when I don't feel like I'm accomplishing anything. And best of all, to make new friends with similar interests. And I have many interests, so I can't concentrate on blogging about just one thing. I'm all over the place :)

As far as the blogging goes, I've tried to put blogs that interest me in my sidebars since this is the way I've found many from other blogs. Only then I began using Google Reader when I had so many blogs to follow that it was hard to keep up. So now, I don't keep adding blogs to my sidebar, only to my Reader. PLUS, there's that following thing. So, now I publicly follow some, but have many more in my Reader. How do you keep track of all that stuff? Which features do you use and keep up with?

Then there are the forums. InTatters and Tatting Forums. and Ravelry. I love to read them, but I can't keep up with interacting on them. Oh, and Etsy. I looove looking on Etsy.

I love Facebook and keeping up with friends and family, and seeing everyone's photos. And NOW, we have Pinterest.com. Do you do that too? There are a million and one things to love on there - from recipes to repurposing ideas. So, I started that too - it's a handy way to keep track of ideas and links. There aren't enough hours in a day to soak up all the information and ideas that interest me. Not to mention time to pursue any of those interesting ideas!

Oh, and I have a smartphone now too. I believe it's smarter than me, but I'm learning. Wow! Calendar sync, apps, GPS, camera & photo tools - you name it. And my NOOK for digital books and magazines. I am loving all this technology, and I'm hoping that we may FINALLY be getting to the "paperless" age we've been talking about for 20 years :)

I think my goal for the new year is going to have to be to learn how to keep it all under control. I still need time to read, sew, tat, garden, shop, bake, decorate and craft. Laundry, housecleaning, family, friends, dogs . . .

I never thought I'd be plugging in my laptop AND my phone AND my book. (Especially funny for me - lover of antiques that I am.)

Follow me on Pinterest if you like - I'm putting that little button on my sidebar too.

That is all :)

On with Christmas Preparations!

2011-11-29T17:44:00.001-06:00

Now that Thanksgiving has past, deer hunting is done, and our boutique is over, I am ready to get on with Christmas! Music, baking, shopping, etc. I never enjoy any of the Christmas stuff until AFTER Thanksgiving. The commercial-ness of it is irritating.

Mom and I held our "Brunch Boutique" this past Saturday. We decided early in the summer to try it this year, since Mom has many beautiful quilts, bags, table runners, etc. that she has made. I make a lot of things for gifts for coworkers, and it snowballs from there. I have many crafting interests, and the internet sucks me in with instructions to make anything and everything I could want! In any case, the past few months have been spent working on various items for the boutique.

We planned our boutique for the Saturday after Thanksgiving because Mom always comes to stay for the week. Hubby goes with my Dad, brother, uncles, nephews, etc. for the week of Thanksgiving to deer hunt. Most people think it's odd to spend Thanksgiving this way, but it's a family tradition. We girls have fun shopping, eating out and crafting all week, while the guys are in the woods hunting. We make a traditional turkey dinner, and the guys deep fry turkeys and make all the fixings in the woods. I couldn't be more thankful for this tradition!

Ironically, our boutique ended up to be on "Support Small Business Saturday". It was fun - here are a few pictures:

Wine bottle Tiki Torches, Cup & Saucer Garden Art

Table Runners, Centerpieces, Potholders, Casserole Carriers

Quilts, Bags, Greeting Cards and Tatted Bookmarks

And brunch upstairs - it was fun! The house was buzzing with visiting, coffee, mimosas, and egg bake upstairs, and shopping and chatting downstairs. I never did get pictures of everything.

We were TIRED - and went out to eat afterward to relax. A successful, fun try at having a boutique. Should we do it again? Pondering that while I think about what to do next right now. Bake? Read? Sew? Tat? So many choices, so little time.

Another Oovoo tattogether tonite should give me some inspiration!

Virtual Tatting

2011-11-12T20:15:00.001-06:00

We had some fun this morning with our Twin Cities Tatters gathering. Michelle had a great idea to invite some blogging/tatting friends to our gathering by Skype. Teresa suggested using Oovoo, a free video chat software available. (My contribution to this conversation was idle - I've only Skyped with my daughter in my own living room for practice.) In any case, Michelle got us all organized, and we were able to meet for a couple of hours this morning for our first virtual tatting get-together. We lost eachother a few times, heard voices without video, and lost battery power once. BUT, we did it. An entry for the Guinness Book of Records maybe?

Michelle and I met at our usual Caribou Coffee meeting spot, and got logged in with Diane, Dena and Teresa. We shared a lesson on the SSSR, and started on the split chain. Teaching/learning is a challenge using video chat - it was fun though, and quite impressive for our first try at this. Most definitely something we want to do again.

We did have a few people at Caribou wondering what we were doing. I suppose it was an odd sight - Michelle and I sitting facing a laptop and chattering away, but not looking at eachother. At one point Teresa told us someone was behind us looking at her - the gal just waved and left, obviously curious as to what the heck was going on. Ha! Isn't the internet amazing?

Wasting Time Again

2011-11-05T19:57:00.000-05:00

Mittens are a NECESSITY in Minnesota. So, when I saw this trendy idea last weekend, I got the bug to try it. (Like I need another project right now.) I saw these in three (3!) boutiques in one day. What was I doing at 3 boutiques in one day, you ask? Enjoying the day running around with friends when I should've been working on projects for my boutique. Oh well. Sharing time with friends is so important.

Back to the mittens. I saw barrels full of recycled sweater mittens lined with flannel. Fabulous and comfortable and warm. Perfect for the snow I know is coming our way soon. They couldn't be that hard to make, could they?

I found a pattern somewhere on line (can't remember where) and got up bright and early this morning ready to try it on some scrap fabric. I had to tweak the pattern a few times to feel comfortable trying it for real.

Goodwill stores and thrift shops have old wool sweaters just perfect for this project. These were all close to 100% wool.

After washing them in hot water and drying on high heat, they did shrink up. I decided to use the red sweater first, as it seemed to be the tightest felted wool. Seems a shame to cut up a pretty sweater, but I wouldn't wear it anyway. And it was only $5 bucks. Awesome.

So, by noon I was sewing mittens, realizing I'm only getting one pair of mittens out of this sweater. And by 1 o'clock I was cleaning my sewing machine of lint. By 1:30 I was fighting with the messed up tension on my sewing machine.

%$@#@%#@$%^&*$%^#!!!!

I started panicking, wondering where I could take my machine to have it cleaned and tuned up and back within a week to sew more boutique items. Yikes!

By about 3:00, I had the tension corrected and everything was under control. Ugh. Wasted time experimenting and fixing - again! I seem to do more of this than I'd like to admit. BUT, I accomplished my task and completed a pair of mittens. Hands will NOT get cold in these babies. Not my neatest work, and not exactly the right size, but they will be warm.

I love the mittens, and I love the fact that they are recycled. The pattern is simple, but sewing on this thick wool is a bugger, and the pattern still needs a little tweaking. I believe I will reconsider making an abundance of these for the boutique, and just make a few pairs with the sweaters I have. Darn! It was a good thought, but now I've wasted a day on a whim. I'm disappointed. But whoever ends up wearing these will definitely not have cold hands :)

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T06:00:00.000-05:00

Too fun!

(glad it's the neighbor's to take down and put away!)

Happy Haunting . . . Muahahahahaha. . . .

Celtic Tatting

2011-10-23T07:31:00.001-05:00

. . . or Celtic Comedy?

Michelle, her daughter and I met to tat yesterday, and we decided to work on the Tatted Celtic Knot Pumpkin. Michelle has done some celtic tatting before - I have never tried it. Looked waaaaay too hard. But looking at this little pumpkin pattern, my gosh! It's just a long chain with a little weaving. How hard could that be? I believe the words "whiz right through it" were mentioned :)

So, we got our orange and green threads all picked out and proceeded to tat that stem and long chain. First, we found that the pattern for the stem is a little wonky. Not hard to fix - it's just a clover. I made my chain extra long, anticipating it would be easier to weave into that celtic knot. And we spent a couple of hours TRYING to weave the dang pumpkin. Michelle's daughter gave up after awhile and went back to her original tatting project. I'm sure she thought her mom and I were crazy - both chattering away trying to figure out this 1.5 inch diameter knot. Ha! We left, deciding to study this knot more at home.

It drove me bonkers. Once I got home, I had to figure it out. I watched some videos on the internet about celtic weaving, and realized that there really isn't "a way" to do it - you just have to weave whatever pattern you are working on. Ugh. That didn't help. So I looked at the pattern again, and did it with some larger cord. Voila!

I think this is it!

Back to the pumpkin. Originally, I was trying to hold the center ring of the knot at the stem where it should end up. After using the cord, I realized that you have to weave both ends of your piece around, ending up back at the top center. Which means that the stem end needs to be woven too - not held in place. That changed everything. Besides, the pattern directions state that the "green clover will weave through the knot with some care." Duh. It doesn't say hold the green clover in place and try to weave around it.

I am a very visual learner, so I took pictures of each step. Mostly so I can do it again - but also to show anyone else interested in celtic tatting. It isn't what I thought - but now I don't even know what I thought it was!

A Celtic Comedy.

I think I've got it now! I wonder if I can make another one?

Orange Snowflakes

2011-10-17T21:13:00.001-05:00

Weird, I know. I had to try out this pattern - and orange just jumped out at me for a first draft. All the Halloween talk and all :)

This is the Angels in the Snow pattern by Miranda (Tatting Fool) that I won on Lily's blog (The Eye Candy for Crafters) a couple of weeks ago. (Woo Hoo!) I really liked the look of this pattern, and it tatted up very nicely. I cringed a little bit when I realized it was SCMRs, but once I got started I realized what a great pattern this is to practice those buggers. Now that I've tatted my practice snowflake, I can make a nice one in white. Maybe even with beads :) This is a wonderful pattern that I will make again - written nicely and easy to follow. Thanks to Lily for the giveaway, and to Miranda for the pattern!

Some SCMR instructions can be found here:

pdf by Jane Eborall
Video by Frivole

This is all the tatting I've managed to accomplish lately. But I have oh, so many patterns on my list . . .

Home-Ecky Becky

2011-10-02T14:23:00.000-05:00

Yep. I was recently dubbed Home-Ecky Becky. With good reason, I guess :)

I've only managed to eek out just this little bit of tatting. Another "Flowers" bookmark from the Tatted Bookmarks book from Handy Hands. - one that I've tatted many times to keep on hand.

And it's still not finished - due to my Home-Eckiness.

I've been trying to make items for a brunch-boutique my mom and I are planning for friends & family. We'll have brunch and handmade items for sale, so I've been trying to come up with a few things I can make.

I've made a few types of jam/jelly:

Am forever playing with photo programs and creating cards:

And have sewn a few towel-toppers. Still finishing these:

Mom has been working on table toppers, aprons and bags. I still have many things I want to do, but sometimes I just can't do it after work - my eyes will not cooperate. (Or maybe it's my brain?) Or maybe it's the visits from out-of-town friends, a wedding, an office move, and the usual laundry, cooking and cleaning that is slowing me down. OK, maybe not the cleaning part so much . . .

And we stopped everything yesterday to go out for our 28th Wedding Anniversary dinner. Wow. Doesn't seem like 28 years since that exciting day. And we even still like eachother!

Back to my Home-Eckiness now. Lasagna roll-ups for the whole gang this evening.

My Favorite Season

2011-09-20T21:05:00.001-05:00

Fall is my favorite time of year. As the green turns to brown and the flowers die away, I love how the leaves change color and transition us into cooler weather before we actually get snow. I happen to love cool weather - a sweatshirt and jeans suits me just fine.

This past Friday night, Ted and I went to Duluth, Minnesota. We love Duluth, and love to see Lake Superior, one of the Great Lakes. A HUGE freshwater lake. It's beautiful, yet terrifying depending on the weather. We always visit the maritime museum, the lighthouse, and Canal Park. We did some shopping and antiqueing, and then had lunch.

The lift bridge allows the large ships to come through - a popular sight for tourists with the shipping schedule posted on monitors to always know when the next ship will be passing through.

On Saturday, we headed way up to northern Minnesota to a State Park and another stay in a camper cabin. We love the little cabins and the hiking in the parks. Bear Head Lake State Park is about 120 miles from the Canadian border. I love to pretend I'm a photographer and try for some good pictures. Hubby is patient, but gets way ahead of me sometimes while I'm diddling around trying to get just the perfect shot. No crafting, baking, sewing, or tatting. Just the smell of fresh, fall air! This is the rest of the weekend from my camera:

This glacial area makes for very rocky hiking!

The leaves are beginning to change

Tall Norway Pines

He thinks he's so funny . . .

These trees just intrigued me - orange, red and yellow all right together.

So beautiful.

Clunies and Junk

2011-09-11T20:30:00.001-05:00

Clunies. I've been trying. Really. Michelle and I thought it would be fun to try clunies at our last Twin Cities Tatters gathering. I have the idea, I just can't quite get the shape right. These look absolutely terrible, I know. Need. More. Practice. (And more coordination, apparently.)

I thought I'd take a little break from the clunies and make some of Elizabeth's cute little cross bookmarks.

These are in Size 20 Lizbeth, and were a quick, feel-good accomplishment after the frustration of trying to get those clunies! That's my little bit of tatting for this week. I got a little sewing done and made some hot pepper jelly, but otherwise the weather was just too wonderful to be inside. My kind of temperatures - upper 70'sF/low 80'sF during the day, and 55-60F at night.

Junk. I did spend a day this week 'Junking'. Yes, Junking. Can you believe it? I didn't know there was a name for my fascination with old stuff. Some friends and I went to a Junk Market held in a garden center. The "junk" is all old stuff - either repurposed or ready for one to do it. Old architectural pieces, frames, doors, ceiling tins, pulleys, pails, keys, license plates, doors, burlap sacks, bird cages - the rustier the better! (The 'Shabby Chic' look has gone to a new level.) I've always loved vintage/antique things, but I never really thought about repurposing a piece or (gasp) cutting it apart to make something new. Most of the things really have no value anyway, so why not? It's different than antiqueing. It's junk made new again :)

These are the few things I came home with:

A couple of old wooden drawers from some old cabinet, and a burlap sack. I can see thread in these drawers, and I'm not sure what I'll make with the burlap.

And this old tin:

Crazy, right? We'll see what I come up with.

Here are a few "junking" blogs I've seen if you're interested in seeing more:

Cottage Elements
Funky Junk Interiors
Artsy Fartsy Junk Finds

I do NOT need another hobby. Hehehe.

Marines and Baseball

2011-09-05T19:49:00.001-05:00

Today we took the train to downtown Minneapolis to watch the Minnesota Twins play baseball. Hubby, me, daughters and one boyfriend waited for the train.

We are Twins fans, but they are NOT doing well this year :( However, today was a special Twins game for another reason.

Today, 24 new enlisted Marines were sworn in just before the Twins game in a pre-game ceremony. This is significant to us because my brother-in-law was a member of the original "Twins Platoon", 150 new Marines sworn in at a Twins game in 1967 and whisked off to boot camp before the end of the 4th inning, and heading to Vietnam by Christmas. The 24 new Marines are a "new" Twins Platoon.

My brother-in-law threw out the ceremonial first pitch after the swearing in of the new Marines. There were 6 original Twins Platoon members honored there, and a moment of silence held for one that passed away just recently.

One of the original Twins Platoon members wrote a book (titled the same) a few years ago, and the group was honored at a Twins game we attended back on their 40th anniversary in 2007. It's very emotional - my brother-in-law was in some of the biggest and worst battles of Vietnam. We are glad he's here and able to be honored all these years later, as well as welcome and encourage the new, young Marines.

There was a little teasing that the pitch might not make it to the plate, but when all was said and done, the pitch was in there! My hubby (on the left) and his 'famous' brother enjoyed a few laughs during the game when the pressure was off.

And we enjoyed the rest of the game on a beautiful, sunny 70 degree day.

The bottom of the 9th kept us hoping until the last out, but we lost. Boo.

Then we hopped the rail and headed home. Being silly, as usual. Well, two of them were being silly. Why do kids ALWAYS make faces in family pictures? LOL.

All blessings to our soldiers everywhere. We know your sacrifices. Best wishes to the new Twins Platoon - we hope to see one of you throw out a ceremonial first pitch someday!

~Cindy

Purl-Pearl-Picot?

2011-08-28T12:36:00.000-05:00

At our last Twin Cities Tatters gathering, Michelle and I were looking at the different chain stitches, which prompted my Study of Chains a couple of posts back. While looking at the Node Stitch, we saw further explanation of up and down picots. I've been looking further at those picots in my Elgiva Nichols books on technique and history.

In the Elgiva Nichols books, the Node Stitch is described as sets of half stitches, i.e. three first half stitches and then three second half stitches. Naming the stitches is suggested as first halves "plain" and second halves "purl". Like a reverse stitch in knitting. The nodes end up on upper and lower edges, or where the direction of the stitch changes. Picots will end up as "up" or "down" by making them between the sets of half stitches.

Picots are formed by whichever stitch follows them - a picot just prior to a set of first half stitches (under) will be "up", and a picot just prior to a set of second half stitches (over) will be "down". (The books suggests memorizing this: Plain drops down; Purl stands skyward - however, that will depend on what you consider first half and second half. The 'Purl' will just be the reverse of the 'Plain'.) I practiced. It's hard to remember which half you're on :)

I was all excited about the "purl" part and thought to myself, "Oh - this is what purl tatting is." WRONG. This is a purl STITCH. Purl/Pearl tatting involves (gasp!) 3 shuttles. So, just for fun, I looked up purl and found Wikipedia says: In older tatting and crocheting patterns, picots were sometimes specified as purls, purl stitches, or pearl stitches. These specifications are not to be confused with the reverse stitch known as a purl inknitting. WHAT? I thought I just learned that the purl stitch was exactly the reverse of the plain. Like in knitting.

No wonder tatting is so blasted confusing! Or is it ME that makes it so much harder to understand? I always need to understand things backward and forward. I do tend to make things more difficult than they need to be.

In all that trying to study and understand, I didn't get any actual tatting completed. But I did spend some time sewing more armchair caddies:

and devoured this wonderful book in two days:

And to finish my weekend, I will spend this afternoon celebrating the 50th Wedding Anniversary of my dear Godparents. This will be the sixth 50th Anniversary celebration of 7 brothers/sisters in my mom's family. How wonderful is that?

Crafting at the Pet Store?

2011-08-21T15:07:00.000-05:00

While working on this:

I found myself in the reptile section at the pet store. Yes, the reptile section. For pincushion filling. Yep. It was suggested that I use crushed walnut shells for filling, to be found as bird or reptile bedding. I ttried Wal-Mart's pet section first, but ended up at two pet stores. Who would've thought I'd be spending my craft money at the pet store? My only concern is making something for anyone with severe nut allergies. If I didn't use pins from this pincushion for any reason on my tatting, do you think it would be an issue using items from the pockets for someone with nut allergies? I could substitute with brillo pads or wool roving, but the weightiness of the crushed walnut (similar to sand) is really nice to keep this caddy in place.

In any case, I wanted something to fit on my chairs to keep my tatting or sewing supplies in. AND, it had to work on a regular stuffed chair arm too. Luckily, I can use it for both! I just added some ties on the back side to be able to tie to wooden armchairs. Those pockets will be handy for all my tools and supplies :)

Now I just need to use it awhile and see if there's anything I need to change for my own use. The original pattern has crazy quilted pockets that would be fun to try decorated with tatting. But for now, I went for quick and easy.

*****************

And now, a peek at my office wall at work. I will miss this wall - my motivational wall that coworkers stop in to read. Our building is being renovated, and I don't think special accomodations will be made to save my wall.

Kids that visit help decorate:

For this week's creative inspiration, I'll leave you with this one. I think it applies to work AND personal life:

Use the talents you possess -

the woods would be silent

if no birds sang there

except those that sang best.

-Henry Van Dyke

Bluebird Babies

2011-08-17T18:10:00.000-05:00

What kind of a Happy Bluebird would I be if I didn't show you pictures of our bluebird babies?

These are not the best pictures, but pretty good through the kitchen window. The babies have been hanging out on our deck eating the mealworms we leave out for them.

It's kind of hard to tell they are bluebirds because they are just "wanna-be's" at the moment, with just a little blue starting to appear. Their landings are somewhat unstable as of yet, but they are so cute to watch!

They are sweet little birds with big eyes.

And they've already taken after the adults by finding good spots to perch. They seem to perch on anything to take in the view.

We have lived in this particular house for 6 years, and only since then have had bluebirds in our yard. We are happy to see that their numbers increase each year - we are up to 3 houses with bluebird pairs, so hopefully they will continue to return each spring.

I really love these little birds - and I consider them my own personal little bluebirds of happiness.

There. I've shared the baby pictures like a good bluebird would :)

Chain Study Continued

2011-08-14T08:01:00.000-05:00

I wanted to explore tatted chains a little bit further, and re-look at that lock-stitch chain after Gina's comment on my last post. I found the biggest threads I could so I could really see the stitches - unfortunately they weren't the same size . . . Oh well. I could still see what I needed to :)

Lock Stitch and Lock Stitch Chain

Since the lock stitch is composed of one unflipped half of a ds, and the second half of the stitch flipped, it only makes sense that the lock stitch chain continues in this way. First half ds unflipped and second half ds flipped. Here's my testing:

I think it looks sort of braid-like.

What I was doing in my last post is really considered an "S" chain, according to THESE INSTRUCTIONS.

"S" Chain

Another practice with the larger threads produced this, using both halves of a ds unflipped, followed by both halves of a ds flipped. This is the "S" chain:

The "S" chain shows a bit wider color band as Gina mentioned, with a bit more texture and forming a sort of "S" shape, yet remaining in a straight line. Here's the difference:

"Z" Chain

Taking that flipped/unflipped ds a step further with more stitches, you get the "Z" chain. I tried 3 complete ds flipped, then 3 complete ds unflipped to get a small "Z".

(Remember, the threads aren't the same size - but you get the idea.)

Then I tried 6 ds flipped, and 6 ds unflipped to produce a wider "Z".

If I am understanding these chains/stitches correctly, this one is also called a "Zig-Zag" chain. Which makes more sense since the Z is so visible - unlike the chain made up of a "Node" stitch being called a zig-zag chain. No wonder I get confused. (Am I missing a larger piece of that zig-zag chain description?) Here are both sizes:

Which brings me to another new discovery. Duh. I never really knew what a "Lark's Head Knot" was. So, a Lark's Head Knot is just a complete, both halves unflipped ds. Why didn't that ever click before? Maybe I just didn't memorize it.

So my tatting accomplishments this weekend consist of practicing and testing and studying. Hopefully I will remember my findings!

Studying Chains

2011-08-12T20:21:00.000-05:00

Have you ever noticed how MANY different decorative chains there are to tat? I didn't really notice much before I saw Yarnplayer's Trendy Teardrop jewelry pattern. The pattern has a beautiful look to it, but I didn't know how to make the stitch to make that 'bumpy' look. This spurred me on to a little study of stitches.

The stitch on Marilee's pattern is referred to as "Victorian Sets" or "Zig-Zag" tatting. The further I looked into it, I found it's also called the "Node" or "Ric-Rac" stitch. Sheesh! A very simple stitch, but when I was looking for instructions I found varying descriptions that only confused me. I have a couple of books that I decided to actually read (imagine that!) and really got into the descriptions. Rebecca Jones "Complete Book of Tatting" and Elgiva Nichols "Tatting Techniques" have great technique instructions - I should probably set aside some time to read more, because some of the reasoning behind the stitches is what made it "click" for me. This is probably basic for accomplished tatters, but I'm excited to have learned a few simple, new to me tatting techniques when making chains.

Node / Victorian Sets / Zigzag / Ric-Rac

OK. I tried to get some pictures of this stitch once I accomplished the 'look'. This is what I was practicing:

See the little "nodes"? A bit of a ripple effect, if you will. Very attractive stitch! The NODE STITCH name makes sense now. The "nodes" are created by making "sets" of stitches - two first halves, then two second halves. That is considered one "set". Aha! That's where the name VICTORIAN SETS comes in. A set can be any number of first halves followed by the same number of second halves. Two and two seems to look the most attractive to me. This bumpy, node look is on both of what I would call "sides" of the tatting. (I'm thinking frontside/backside.) I couldn't figure out where the ZIG ZAG (or RIC RAC) look came from. Until I looked at what I would call the TOP.

NOW the ZIG ZAG (RIC RAC) name makes sense! Simple but oh, so confusing for some reason. But now I get it. And this discovery made me curious about other chains. (Well, OK, the books went into descriptions of different types of stitches, and it just intriqued me.) So, I decided to continue my study of chains, since I'm working on a few bookmarks to have on hand.

Spiral Chain

This one I've done before, but I really tried to concentrate on it this time. I like the look, and it's SO easy. I use the second half of a ds only, keeping the stitches snugged up and allowing the twist to emerge naturally with just a little coaxing. I ended my spiral with a lock stitch.

Lock Stitch

OK, so now I had to look into the 'lock stitch' a little more. Sounds dumb, but all these terms are assumed - and I sometimes forget to actually "think" about what I'm doing and why it does what it does. The lock stitch is handy to be able to really lock stitches from moving and losing the shape you are trying to create. And all it is - is a ds with an unflipped first half and a flipped second half, no longer allowing stitches to slide - thus "locked" in place.

And so, this brought me to another type of chain . . .

Lock Stitch Chain

This one was perfect for my next bookmark with two colors. The lock stitch chain gives a checkerboard look in my mind - and you can see both colors nicely.

This chain is made by making double stitches alternately flipped, then not flipped. (I lose my place easily and often!) A full ds (both halves) flipped, and then a full ds (both halves) unflipped - over and over again.

More studying and practicing needed! For now, here are Motif #s 23 and 24 of my 2nd 25-Motif Challenge:

These two are a couple of my favorite bookmarks to tat up quickly. On the left is the SPIRAL BOOKMARK, with a lock chain tail and a charm. Size 12 pearl cotton in brown and pink.

On the right is the BOOKMARK PATTERN from Jane in South Africa, done in a dusty pink size 8 pearl cotton with a spiral tail and a charm.

On with my studies. Up picots. Down picots. Purls? Nothing like standardization! There are so many great technique instruction pages online - but my recent searches went here first: Jane's Pattern and Technique Pages, and a reference guide to various lacemaking youtube videos here: LaceNews

And a final note - my little froggies have stuck around all summer. One last shot before the lilies were done blooming:

Dr. VonThreadmore Sighting

2011-08-04T19:00:00.003-05:00

I was stunned to see Dr. VonThreadmore in Minnesota early thismorning - out in my garden, no less! Shewas nibbling cilantro and inspecting the tomatoes when I found her. She deniedthe nibbling, but was impressed with the healthy looking tomatoes and zucchini.After a somewhat snarky comment about my weeding abilities, I convinced her tojoin me for some tatting chatter and tea in my air-conditioned kitchen.

While I brewed us some Ginger Pear tea, the Dr. told me ofher recent globetrotting in search of laboratory inspiration. She had been feeling down and uninspired, butI could tell she was gaining renewed enthusiasm for creating some beautifulcolorways. She didn’t want to elaborateon all the places she’s been so far or where she was headed next; she justwants to enjoy Minnesota while she’s here. I had to explain that we are having an incredibly hot, humid, rainy,stormy summer here, but we have many beautiful lakes and rivers to cool off in. Unfortunately, she didn’t have time for atrip to the lake - she wanted tocontinue her travels for all the inspiration she could soak up before returninghome.

Over our early morning tea, she shared with me some of hercolorway ideas from my neighborhood, and I showed her my fair ribbons and mystart on a handkerchief edging. We had awonderful chat, and I assured her that I would forward her notes to Krystle sothat she could confidently be on her way to her next stop.

I can’t wait to hear where she is next!

Seeing Size 70 . . .

2011-08-02T22:45:00.003-05:00

. . . is a real feat for me. I haven't tatted with such small thread before, but I really wanted to use this beautiful turquoise thread on this hanky because it matches so well. I was thinking I really wanted to find a pretty edging that wasn't just a simple ring and chain. Then I re-thought about that, and after considering my lack of experience with such small thread, I decided to go with a fairly simple edging from one of my favorite books - Mary Konior's Tatting with Visual Patterns. This is the Clover edging on page 36.

Size 70 thread is so dainty looking when tatted - but I don't know how I would ever pick out a mistake. I can barely see the stitches, but I think I can tell that the more I tat with this size, the more comfortable it will be. And it's even MORE portable than usual.

This edging is going to take me awhile . . .

Another year . . .

2011-07-28T22:02:00.003-05:00

OLDER. Yep. But when I consider the alternative, I'm happy to add a digit to my life!

In our office, we have a traveling birthday frog that sings an annoying rendition of Happy Birthday. Everyone pretends to hate the frog, but really he's a fun office tradition. (Fun when it's someone else's birthday.) Here is how I expressed my "love" for this guy today:

OK, so there's my sick sense of humor again :)

I spent part of my day working our fair booth today. Every year I enjoy seeing the kids' faces intrigued by the clown making balloon animals, the teens wandering by thinking they are so cool, and the 4-H kids wandering the fairgrounds until it's their turn to show their animals. So much involvement on so many levels.

For some reason, today I was getting a kick out of the various footwear. I didn't get pictures of all of them - because it was weird to be taking pictures of people's feet and shoes - but I got a few. I wish I would've gotten some pictures of the chubby little kids feet in sandals - they are the cutest! It's fun to notice the trends though, and this year it seems to be cowboy boots with shorts. Great on some people, not something I could pull off!

And, I saw my tatting entries and received a blue ribbon on each of my 4 entries. I love the ribbons, but once again, there wasn't much competition. Only one other tatted item! My goal is to keep entering, year after year, and hope it sparks some interest!

Now I can get back to tatting. Wonder what I should start next?

A Win BEFORE the Fair :)

2011-07-24T09:30:00.003-05:00

While I was finishing this edging:

and preparing my fair entries:

The mail was delivered. And my PRIZE arrived:

I WON LadyShuttlemaker's Bookmark Hook Pen :) I've been wanting one of these as my hook is forever rolling off my lap and either in between the cushions or onto the floor. And Hubby regularly says, "Drop your hook again?" as I stand up balancing shuttle, thread, tatting and pattern in two hands looking around like an idiot. Woo Hoo! Thank you Sherry for helping me look somewhat more refined while I tat.

And of course, I NEEDED some of her beautiful thread. You know, as long as she was mailing something to me anyway. I decided on Helms Deep (blues!) in size 20, and Kopper Patina in size 50. I am looking forward to planning out what to make, but I will probably hoard these while I make the perfect choice :)

No tatting today, though! I'm off to get my fair entries submitted, and then I will be enjoying this beautiful day celebrating Hubby's birthday. Family fun and steaks on the grill on a very perfect July day in Minnesota :)

Frog Break

2011-07-21T21:10:00.001-05:00

I realized last night that I need to get my county fair entries ready to submit this weekend. Yikes! So I'm scurrying to get just a few tatted items finished and ready to go. Nothing too fancy, but I'd really like to keep entering what tatting I can, since it has historically been so scarce at the fair.

I had to take a little break tonite and get outside though - we have had record-breaking heat and humidity this week, and today was back to a normal summer temperature of about 85 F. Finally, a beautiful summer day - and weeding was calling me once again. (Stupid weeds love that humidity!)

We have these teeny-tiny little frogs outside. They are everywhere! Barely as big as my pinky nail, a couple of them made it all the way up onto my living room window - about 20 feet in the air. Peeping frogs!

They are cute, but they sure made me jump when they jumped from flower to flower as I was weeding. (Cute as they are, I don't want them to TOUCH me. Ick!) I had to get the camera last night though - I just had to get some pictures of them in the lilies. Arent' they cute?

Back to thinking about fair entries rather than frogs :)

Stay cool!

~Cindy

Zinfandel Obedience

2011-07-14T21:17:00.003-05:00

Finally! Once I got one wing tamed, the other one fell right into place! A little obedience training goes a long way :)
Introducing my first dragon, Zinfandel.:

He is the 22nd motif of my 2nd 25-Motif Challenge, in size 20 Lizbeth Vineyard Harvest. (Or she? No, must be a he with all the obedience training he needed.) In any case, I missed Wine Wednesday, so "Thankfully Thursday" rolled in :)

It seems as though once I accomplish a pattern, it all becomes so clear. All I need to do is pay very close attention to the pattern, and do exactly as it says. (Duh.) Somehow I always end up trying to turn, reverse work, switch shuttles, etc. when I don't really have to. (Who is it that needs the obedience training?)

Finishing this dragon feels like an accomplishment - and gives me more confidence to keep trying new patterns. But the perfectionist in me wants to make another dragon so I can do it right the first time!

A Well-Kept Secret?

2011-07-12T21:15:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned my frustration with continually breaking needle threaders. I'm not sure how many I've destroyed, but it was getting frustrating to think I had to keep spare threaders on hand - as if sewing in ends on my tatting wasn't already the worst of tasks.

Fox mentioned using Calyx-eye needles (per a tip from Jane E.) or trying Chenille needles with a longer eye. Well! I set out to find those calyx-eye needles, and found they have them at JoAnns. Only they didn't specifically say "calyx-eye", so my oh-so-specific brain was having a bit of a time finding them. They are simply referred to as "self-threading" needles, and I found them in both the quilting tools and the general sewing tools.

I can tell these will be a definite improvement over using those flimsy needle threaders! With all the sewing I do, I can't believe I never paid attention and noticed these.

Just pop that thread into the top of the needle, and ta da! Ready to sew in those ends.

Is this a well-kept secret, or am I the only one that didn't realize this option existed? The secret is out on this one now - I had to share my enthusiasm for this alternative to those blasted needle threaders! The companies that make needle threaders will probably go out of business without me.

Oh, and I found the chenille needles too - on the other side of the store with the embroidery floss. I believe those long eyes will work well with my bifocals too :)

Great tip - thank you Fox!

It's Wednesday . . .

2011-07-06T21:29:00.000-05:00

I really thought I could get a dragon done by today. Wine Wednesday. I have the wine, and a beautiful evening to sit and enjoy it.

Last week it was mentioned that maybe I would use a "wine" color thread to tat my dragon. Ha! That gave me a chuckle, and when I went digging in my thread for the perfect color, I found a beautiful variegated Lizbeth. I started thinking about what I would name the dragon, etc., etc., and looked up the name of the thread color. Guess what color Lizbeth #131 is? VINEYARD HARVEST. Totally unintentional! But totally funny, if you ask me!

So, I got to work on this dragon. I thought I would name this one Zinfandel, since it's one of my favorite wines. I got this far only starting over once:

Not too bad, I thought. I only have a little glue on the neck. Oops. Not sure what I did, but one of the threads I had already cut somehow became un-hidden, and of course now the thread was too short to re-hide. Zinfandel was beginning to get a little feisty, but I was ready to start on the wings. (And by the way, I'm still trying to find those self-threading calyx-eye tapestry needles Fox mentioned.)

On with a wing. Well. I was moving right along, and then attached something wrong. Then I did the chain so it curved the wrong direction. And then I attached a ring to the wrong place. It wasn't going so well. I started to do more retro-tatting than tatting. More picking than I care to admit. The dragon has been renamed several times - "Oops" or "Retro" were becoming more appropriate than a good Zinfandel.

And then, just when I thought I was on a roll, I realized the chains were going the wrong direction again.

Aaaarrrgghh. I only had one glass. Really. I believe I shall start this wing over. And reconsider the name of my dragon. Any suggestions?

Not a Fairy Tale . . .

2011-07-05T20:33:00.000-05:00

Once upon a time, four tatters met at a Chinese restaurant for lunch. Two of these tatters know eachother after getting together every month as the Twin Cities Tatters. And one of those tatters is lucky enough to have a daughter that tats. Now, the fourth tatter traveled a looonng way to meet up with the Twin Cities Tatters.

Well, I guess the fourth tatter really had other reasons to travel such a long way, but it was a good start to the story.

It was a pleasure to meet Diane, the Lace-Lovin' Librarian today as she & her husband rolled into town for a visit with her daughters. She agreed to meet Michelle of Tela-Magistrae and I for lunch. Michelle brought her daughter also (who is, by the way, a great new recruit to the Twin Cities Tatters.) And Diane is now officially an honorary member of the Twin Cities Tatters.

Here we are - proof that this is not a fairy tale story!

Michelle, Cindy & Diane

In true tatter fashion, we shared show & tell, ideas, techniques and tools. Honestly, it is so much fun to meet other tatting bloggers in person! (I'm sure the restaurant proprietors wondered if we would ever leave . . . )

Diane brought this - all that way - for me. What fun to get such goodies!

An All-American Diane-made shuttle (woo hoo!) with matching thread and patriotic beads, and a Diane-made scissors fob - all in a great little tatting pouch. As if she didn't have enough to remember traveling to visit her daughters & grandies!

And, Michelle brought some of her Aunt Rose goodies to share. I certainly came home with more than I left with.

What a fabulous day!

Now, I think I should tat.

Guess . . .

2011-07-02T11:34:00.000-05:00

. . . what I did this morning?

and with those, some peaches,

and the remainder of my rhubarb,

I will be doing some of this:

AND . . .

I've started this:

I believe it's going to be a productive weekend.

Wine Wednesday!

2011-06-29T18:14:00.000-05:00

As planned, I'm back with a finished doily and a glass of wine for Wine Wednesday! Woo Hoo! It's done. It's almost embarrassing that it took me so long to finish this - good thing I blogged about it or it might not be done yet. I really like this small doily and its bit of color, and I always seem to enjoy Mary Konior patterns. I will count this doily as Motif #21 of my 2nd 25-Motif Challenge.

Motif #21

Mary Konior Flowerpiece from Tatting With Visual Patterns

Ecru and Mountain Breeze Lizbeth Size 20

I got home from work today and got those last ends woven in. I used my Best Press to give it a little starch before I pinned it to my blocking piece of foam core. I decided to take it outside and get pictures of it before it's completely dry so I don't totally miss Wine Wednesday again :)

It's hot here today - about 86 degrees and sunny. My deck provides me with a nice place to sit after work and enjoy a little breeze and some shade. It's my favorite spot to sit and relax, and enjoy the birds and flowers and the sound of Little League bats cracking the ball at the little park next door. Very relaxing.

I am used to sewing and crocheting, which produce a finished project much faster than tatting, so it frustrates me that tatting is so slow going. I very much enjoy tatting though - I think it's much prettier than crochet. And even though I love to connect with other tatters and have a tatting group to share with, I like the fact that tatting is a unique craft that not many people do. It's not a "fad". It's a true art that takes skill, determination and concentration! I always tend to like unique stuff - I'm so NOT a conformist :) I'm just slow!

I continue to destroy my needle threaders. Does anyone else have this problem? Or maybe it just happens when I'm using larger threads - like size 20. Sheesh! I think I've been through several now, and need to stock up again. See? I pulled the threading wire right out of it. Again.

OK, it's Wine Wednesday, not Whine Wednesday! My wine today is from a local winery. (Yes! We have wineries in the midwest!) I usually enjoy red wine, and this is a Temperanillo from Spain that our local winery distributes. The wines that they actually make on-site are made from grapes grown in Minnesota (can you believe it?) that were developed at the University of Minnesota, mixed with grapes from California. This particular wine was on sale and within my budget :)

I think my next project will be a dragon - I've been wanting to try one! I think Michelle has talked me into it with her pretty Anne Bruvold dragons. Think I can finish one by NEXT Wednesday?

The NOOK did it . . .

2011-06-25T17:00:00.000-05:00

I'm ALMOST done. (Pitiful when I look at the accomplishments of others, but I'm really not comparing.) It's getting there, but there's just so much LIFE to live! Here is my Mary Konior doily - almost done.

It's not a difficult pattern. I tat a little at lunchtime at work, a little at night at home. I said "a little". I meant that! A few minutes here and there. I have so many excuses . . . but for the past week my excuse is my new NOOK Color. A fun little gadget that is proving to be worth every penny.

While figuring out how to get books from the public library, I chose one of my favorite categories to search for a book (Historical Fiction) and proceeded to just pick a book and request it so I could "practice" downloading a library book. I started reading the book while just playing with the NOOK, and couldn't believe what I stumbled upon.

First of all, not only is the book historical fiction, but the story is based in Minnesota/Wisconsin, so the locations are all familiar to me. As I read, I found the main character to be a young woman photographer - another interest of mine. And 15 pages into the book, a photographic subject had TATTING on his baptismal gown. I thought that all was quite amazing since this was a book I just plucked from nowhere to "practice" with my NOOK! Ironic. A sign. I believe I will have to finish the book. AND finish my doily! Only 2 more motifs to go to finish this small doily. Join me on WINE WEDNESDAY for the finished product! I will be enjoying a glass of red and showing proof of a finished doily :)

Another excuse is the gardening. Well, rather the weeding. I love my flowers, but hate the weeding. This is the view from my patio:

The vegetable gardens are way in the background with my lovely toilet planter that was part of my excuse for not tatting much the LAST time I posted. So I get sidetracked easily.

And this is the view toward the patio:

I'm not so good at planning out the blooming, so all of the yellow will be gone soon, with very little to replace it. Another WIP (work in progress) I'm afraid :)

See you Wednesday. With some wine.

No Tea, No Wine, No Tatting

2011-06-11T16:42:00.002-05:00

I missed tatting on Tuesday with Tea, on Wednesday with Wine, and on Thursday, Friday and today. I actually accomplished some other things though.

I made a batch of Strawberry Rhubarb jam.

I did a little sewing.

I spent some time with a cute 2-year old.

And I made a little humorous art when the bathroom toilet had to be replaced. [Imagine questioning look from hubby when I said, "Wait! Don't throw that out!"]

It adds some color to the edge of the vegetable garden :)

I did some planting to brighten up the deck.

And added some color in the yard until the perennials start blooming.

And I finally accomplished some weeding. Which is still not done.

But the weeding is never done. Yuck. I put the weeding off as long as I can.

Weeds are easier to pull when they're a foot tall anyway.

And tonite we'll watch some fireworks over the Mississippi River during the annual Father Hennepin Festival. Father Hennepin crossed the river here in 1680, and was captured by Sioux Indians. The area was settled as the City of Champlin, and they celebrate each year with this 3-day festival. Father Hennepin was a priest and explorer who explored the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. He brought Niagara Falls to world attention, and our own St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis - which are the only waterfalls on the Mississippi River.

And that's why I STILL have not completed my doily.

Soon. Very soon.

Irises vs. Finches?

2011-06-04T08:35:00.000-05:00

My funny "Aha!" moment story. (Well, maybe it was a funny "Duh" moment.)

I love seeing the birds in my yard, and I'm always trying to capture good photos of them. So, when I saw 3 or 4 pretty little finches in my irises, I grabbed the camera to get a shot of them.

I slowly crept around so as not to scare them away. Can you see the 3 finches? I was rather proud that I was able to snap a few photos before they flew away.

Once they flew away, I went to see what they were so interested in. Bugs in my flowers?

Upon closer inspection, I found this:

Duh. While I was snapping photos of these "cute" little birds, they were destroying the iris buds, pecking to get to the tender center. And to think I was carefully sneaking around to not scare them away while they were actually ruining the flowers! I guess the joke is on me. If it's not the deer, it's the finches!

Handmade Tags

2011-06-02T12:00:00.002-05:00

Since I usually make many things to give away as gifts, my daughter suggested I start putting tags in these handmade things. The idea sort of inspired me, but I really don't make things for recognition, or to have a business.

Still, the thought intrigued me, and what the heck? It shows I put my heart into making something. Besides, why not? It gives each item a little extra flair :)

I started looking on Etsy for tags, (I LOVE Etsy) but then I thought, "hey, dum-dum, you make everything else, why not make your own?" Besides, it would be a little more cost-effective, since I'm not doing it for business purposes.

Easy-peasy. Get some transfer paper to run through your printer and buy some twill tape by the yard. Set up a Word document to print columns of whatever you want your tag to say, and print - remembering to print the MIRROR IMAGE. Iron onto the twill and Voila! Tags for your handmade items. Now I need to figure out some kind of tag for tatted items, since clearly I will not be adding this kind of tag!

So then I had an offer for FREE business cards. (The F-word that gets me every time.) So I thought again - why not? I put my blog address and my email on them. What for, I'm not sure, but they're fun to have.

What will I do with 250 business cards?

Wine Wednesday?

2011-06-01T16:46:00.000-05:00

I LOVE having vacation with no plans. Just staying near home and doing whatever I want. Well, anything I want within reason.

Yesterday I took a little trip to visit my folks, who live about 2-1/2 hours away. I brought along my Glee CDs and my new Adele CD, and sang at the top of my lungs for most of the way from eastern Minnesota to northwestern Wisconsin. I brought tatting to share and we spent the day digging in fabric and thread and doing a little sewing. And yak, yak, yak. It was a fun visit with no real schedule.

Mom quilts. A lot. All the time. She makes beautiful quilts, and has an abundance of finished quilts and oodles of fabric. (I follow in her footsteps with my oodles of thread.) She was showing me some recent quilts, and I expressed my love of a Christmas lap quilt's fabric. "The binding isn't done", she said. "If you want to finish the binding, you can have it." Didn't take me long to say "Really? Heck yeah, I'll finish it!" It's a beautiful lap quilt that will be fun to have out at Christmastime. I was really attracted to the lighter green for some reason - it adds a shade of color that isn't typical of Christmas.

And it's quilted beautifully. It will be a treat to get this finished - and better yet, I have until December to do it!

So, my doily needs finishing and I have hankies to tat edges for. Not to mention some other various sewing projects and this quilt to finish.

But hey, I'm on vacation and I can do anything I want.

Right?

Maybe it's time to start Wine Wednesdays.

Progress

2011-05-30T14:13:00.000-05:00

I am making progress on the Mary Konior Flowerpiece doily. The pattern seems pretty straightforward and easy to follow - and I think I'm getting more confident in my tatting ability.

I was concerned that I couldn't get the chains very even, so I tried to be very conscious of my tension. Improvement is always possible, but I am pretty happy with how the chains look.

The only thing I really wish I would have done is put Jane's "blipless join" to use on the chains. I don't like seeing those little blips! Otherwise, I'm really quite thrilled at how this doily is looking. And I do like the look of ecru thread with a color accent :)

Being successful at a doily that I truly think looks nice and neat really makes me much more interested in trying more patterns. I really recognize the new confidence when I find myself saying "I should have" or "it would look better if". Doily patterns are not looking so daunting anymore.

Next is a hanky edging - with beads! I am forcing myself to finish this doily before starting anything else, however. I really don't like having too many unfinished projects waiting for me - it's just too overwhelming!

Parasols?

2011-05-27T07:43:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure why I was keeping these, but it was hard to finally decide to take them apart. Silly to keep them, I know, but they were kind of cute.

A craft project of sorts. My aunt gave them to me with some other hankies that had crocheted edges - she just knows I like these things, so she saves them for me.

For each parasol, there was a hanky wrapped around a pencil for the handle. Then one hanky for the parasol part, stuffed with rolled up kleenex/toilet paper for filling. The edges were pinned tightly into the hanky handle around the stuffed areas. The tip had a little thread wrapped around it, and one of them had a ribbon handle. Very simple and cute! I can only wonder if they were made for something special or just a cute little craft.

With all of the hanky tatting I've been seeing lately, I couldn't resist taking these apart to be able to see the hankies!

I was happy to find them in good condition, and washed and ironed them up. The only color for edging that seems appropriate to me is RED. Now I just need to find some spare time to tat some edges :)

A Great Find

2011-05-20T14:15:00.000-05:00

My Mom happened across this great tatting find, and snapped it up for me. I rarely see any tatting in antique shops, and certainly none as wonderful as this set. When I unrolled this, I couldn't believe it! The set is beautiful, and is hours of someone's embroidery and tatting.

The tatting is with teeny-tiny thread, and lays nice and flat. I have not tried tatting with anything smaller than size 40 thread, so this is just amazing to me. I can barely see the stitches with my bifocals!

What a great find! I just don't know where to put it. Other than framing, any good ideas on how to display beautiful linens?

Since I showed winter photos into April, here are some spring shots - finally!

The tulips that didn't get eaten by the deer:

Clouds during a thunderstorm/tornado warning last night:

And an Oriole arrived today.

They don't stay long, but they are beautiful to see and have a beautiful song:

No . . . I need another day!

2011-05-15T21:19:00.000-05:00

Is it really Monday tomorrow? Dang - I've been on a roll!

I finally got a start on the Flowerpiece doily from Mary Konior's Tatting With Visual Patterns. (OK, I got more than one start.)

Took me a few tries to get it right. The pattern is quite simple, it's my brain that didn't comprehend an extra picot and join from the diagrammed pattern.

Once I read the instructions and followed the pattern correctly, I got the center done. Whew! I really do make things difficult sometimes.

I'm using an ecru Cebelia size 20 for the main motifs, and I've started on the chains in Lizbeth size 20 "Mountain Breeze". I really like using beautiful colored threads as an accent vs. an entire doily, so "ecru" is not a swear word for me. (Hate to admit it, but I know and use plenty of others anyway.) I'm liking the look so far.

My plan is to continue the next 4 rounds of chains in the Mountain Breeze, and then do the final round of motifs in ecru again.

On top of the tatting, I've been sewing like a madwoman this weekend. Again. You know those bags I love to make? And the large purses that are so popular? Well, stuff ends up in the bottom of the bag, and I hate digging for everything. I started putzing around trying to come up with a purse organizer, and eventually found the perfect pattern. (Lazy Girl Designs.) I met up with some friends on Saturday, and everyone agreed that a purse insert is a necessity! So, these will make some purses smile:

My life is much easier with the contents of my purse organized and ready to move to the next bag at a moment's notice.

Need. Longer. Weekends.

A Special Mother's Day

2011-05-08T22:19:00.000-05:00

I spent Mother's day with both my Mom and daughters. I can't believe my youngest is now a college graduate! A special day, indeed.

Upcycling & Repurposing

2011-05-06T21:45:00.002-05:00

I love old stuff. I don't know why, but it has always been interesting to me to explore, find and wonder about things from the past. When I was a kid, we used to hike in the woods by our cabin, and find old logging trails and old garbage piles. There were rusty old cans, cool old bottles, etc. Just junk, but interesting junk. And I love the repurposing I've seen lately, and wish I had more time to be creative. Or at least copy some great ideas :)

My friend recently gave me this old printer's drawer. I debated for a bit whether or not I should try to clean it up, or if I should leave it alone and just hang it on the wall. Hanging it on the wall in my new woman-cave to display sewing and lacemaking items just fell into place. It really feels like a "me" thing. This is my contribution to today's repurposing. Not original on my part, but it's my own version.

I have old shuttles, old crochet handles with screw in hooks, old wooden thread spools, a piece of hairpin lace in progress, and I threw in some new collectible thimbles. Some of the openings are too small for anything I have at the moment, but I'm sure I'll find something to fill them up eventually.

I also did some of my own "upcycling". I've seen plenty of cute needleminders out there, and only recently realized they are not just attractive, but how really very useful they are. I was forever stabbing needles into a coaster or the arm of my chair. I had some cameo jewelry that I had given to my grandmothers years ago for Christmas. My Mom gave them back to me after my grandmas passed away, and I have had them in my jewelry box. Coming to terms with the fact that I'd never wear them, I dug them out of the settings and glued a very strong magnet on the back of each one. Voila! Perfect little needle-minders. Making these from old jewelry is a great way to upcycle, and I think they'd make a great gift for any needleworker. I didn't do anything to cover up the magnet - I think they are just fine the way they are. And a sweet reminder of my grandmas everytime I use them.

And with that, I'll show you the two bags I made this week. I found this fabulous pattern I just had to try, and ended up making two. This one I'm using for a purse that I can load my tatting bag and my lunch into for work:

And this is the same pattern, but I didn't use the thicker interlining and interfacing. I'm very pleased with this pattern - a quick and easy bag!

And that was my week. Oh, and I've started another tatted doily. Mostly ecru, but it will have some color accent. More on that next week!

Too Much Surfing

2011-04-30T15:50:00.001-05:00

. . . to accomplish much lately! I get so involved in finding great ideas and patterns online, that I run out of time to actually make anything. And then this morning I went to the St. Paul Craftstravaganza - an annual urban art fair with great handmade work by many who also have Etsy shops. Talk about creativity - I love upcycled artwork and all things handmade, so it was a great way to spend a Saturday morning. (And avoid housework - hehe.)

Actually, this week I have been working on these two bookmarks for a bookmark exchange through the Tatting Forums. Mainly I was trying to get that spiral tail to work as wonderfully as I've seen others on blogs - but I just don't get it quite as even as I'd like to. Here's just a peek until I mail them off to my partners this week:

I just made a chain of the 2nd half only of a double-stitch. Some directions I have say to do this, only stitch over either 3 strands or a thicker piece of thread creating a "padded" spiral. I tried using a thicker piece of crochet cotton, but I couldn't quite figure out how to make that extra piece of thread stay put, and without the ends showing when I got done. Is there a trick to that? Or maybe a good source for directions? I'm sure I am once again making it harder than it really is :)

I received one bookmark exchange this week - it's so much fun to get this kind of mail:

And in my favorite color - blue! Size 80 thread no less - it's really quite delicate and pretty. Many thanks to Tattabugg - she was so prepared for this exchange!

The only other accomplishment I have for the past couple of weeks is emptying shuttles. I have been sitting in my new woman-cave making butterflies to empty shuttles and have plenty of business cards ready to hand out. Not that anyone is knocking down the door to join us, but I'm prepared for when they do!

Call Me Princess

2011-04-29T18:19:00.000-05:00

The royal doings are fascinating, though I didn't get up early to watch the wedding. I did, however, turn the coverage on when I got up. "The" dress was beautiful, the event historic and the hats . . . well, the hats were interesting. The dollars spent, the crowds of onlookers and the media masses are all incredible. I can't imagine the life they lead, but I hope they use their status in the best way possible and enjoy a happy marriage amid the royal scrutiny. I am glad I can sit on my deck with a glass of wine and watch my bluebirds without security guarding me and people trying to get my picture! (And what a picture it would be of me with bare feet and in my sweatpants . . . )

I did have a little fun with the Royal Name Generator. Yesterday I informed my coworkers that they could address me as "Princess" Cindy. Unfortunately, my paycheck today did not reflect that title.

OK, so there's really no royalty here. I am about 1/8 English, way back there somewhere, but otherwise I'm a mere peasant. Back to reality. My security is two snoring dogs by my feet as I enjoy a glass of $10/bottle wine. Back to being the chef AND the maid.

All Things New

2011-04-24T06:59:00.001-05:00

For I remember it is Easter morn,
And life and love and peace are all new born.
~Alice Freeman Palmer

Need I Say More?

2011-04-20T06:38:00.000-05:00

SUNDAY

APRIL 17, 2011

TODAY

APRIL 20, 2011

Crosses & Coffee Shops

2011-04-17T09:59:00.000-05:00

With Easter coming up, I've been working on some cross bookmarks for a friend that requested some for Easter gifts for her family. She chose some thread colors, and I got busy with the tatting. I made Mary Konior's large cross once before, but promptly sent if off as a gift - so I forgot that it really is 'large'. It's a beautiful cross, but maybe a bit too big for bible bookmarks done in size 20 thread.

2nd 25-Motif Challenge

Motif #s 16 & 17

Lizbeth Springtime and a Variegated Blue

They take up the whole page of my regular sized bible. It works, but do you think they're too big?

I'm working on getting a couple more crosses done in some size 40 thread, in case she would prefer the smaller size. I've used Lizbeth size 40 in mocha swirl and mocha for a slightly smaller one. I like this size better, but I know my friend was loving the thread colors of the larger ones. I have one more small one to make, and then some tassels. I should be done with these just in time!

2nd 25-Motif Challenge

Motif #18

Lizbeth Mocha Swirl & Mocha Size 40

I also made two of the Hearts and Flowers Cross by Julie Patterson - one of my favorite quick & easy patterns. These are also done in size 20 thread. Quite springy colors, don't you think?

2nd 25-Motif Challenge

Motif #s 19 & 20

Yarnplayer's Summer Trail & Lizbeth Turquoise Twist

I would like to experiment with some different types of chains and tassels, but for the crosses to get done in time for Easter, I'm keeping them simple. At our Twin Cities Tatters gathering yesterday, Michelle steered me to this video on tassel-making. I will be trying this today - she makes it look sooooooo easy!

Speaking of our Twin Cities Tatting gatherings - we meet at a local Caribou Coffee shop. Michelle and I met through blogs and forums online, and have become good tatting friends setting up our gatherings. Michelle has decided to join the world of blogging to show her beautiful work - see her new blog "Tela Magistrae".

Here's proof that we really do get together:

Michelle

Cindy and Carla

Join us if you're in the Twin Cities :) There's plenty of room!

My Woman Cave

2011-04-09T20:36:00.001-05:00

I've been planning a sewing/craft room for awhile now. I knew the day was coming that Uptown Girl would fly the nest (again) and her bedroom would become a "spare" room. I figured the next time she moved out would probably be the last time. Like most young adults, she's moved out and home again a couple of times. Now it was safe to create my Woman Cave.

So, for the past week I've been moving my ~~junk~~ craft/sewing/tatting supplies from an office/sewing/den to my new space. My stuff was crammed into bins in a cramped closet that I had to completely unload to find anything. I would unstack 4 bins of fabric to get to what I knew I had in there somewhere. And then for some reason the bins didn't always get put away - just in case I needed another piece. But that's over!

There's still a LOT of organizing and sorting to do, but this will be soooo much easier in here. It doesn't look like I am nearly the hoarder I thought I was. (Unless you consider that I do have an entire room for my stuff.)

Tatting thread and supplies in one 9-cube cubby and fabric and sewing stuff in the other. Those things hold a lot of supplies - very convenient. Yes, the bookshelf still needs some organizing, but it will be pleasant to do in here :)

My sewing corner. The Ott Lite can easily move down to the chair end of the cubbies for tatting or other handwork.

Yep - fabric in these cupboards too. Don't dare open them just yet.

Is that a neat closet, or what? I can only hope it stays that way - it looks so bare and easy to keep clean at the moment. (I'm sure that will change.) Now maybe I can make some curtains and put some things on the walls to really get comfortable. I'm so glad to have my own Woman Cave! Aren't you jealous?

In between moving and organizing, I've been tatting some crosses for Easter. More about that later. I'm enjoying my cave!

Really?

2011-04-01T06:45:00.000-05:00

It's April? There IS hope that Spring will arrive in this frozen tundra called Minnesota!

In honor of that thought, AND the fact that it's International Tatting Day, I finished a bookmark with the beautiful HDT I had left from my doily. Thinking about the doily as an Easter decoration with a vase of pretty spring flowers on it is a wonderful thought, and I decided I needed to make a springy bookmark too. (And I was feeling sort of guilty for not totally loving the doily, because I really love the thread.) I just added a long chain with a little charm on the end for the tail. I kinda like how that came out - sort of unique.

2nd 25-Motif Challenge

Motif #15

Flowers Bookmark by Jill Hanna

Yarnplayer's Summer Trail HDT, Size 20

There was a bluebird sighting in the backyard this week. My tulips are popping through the ground. The snow is melting and the sun wants to shine. Yahoo! There is hope that this endless winter will be done soon!

Live and Learn

2011-03-27T13:48:00.001-05:00

Thanks for all the input on color choice for the last round of this doily. It really helps to hear other opinions, and I did think about it a little differently after reading the comments.

My first thought was the lavender because it would probably blend in subtly, exactly as some said. But then I thought about the comment saying whatever color I chose would be the main color of the doily overall. Lavender didn't seem like a good choice then. Green was good too, but it seemed like it would be too dark.

I did really like how the yellow/peach thread matched the color in the Summer Trail, so after thinking about what the overall color might be, I went with that one. It matches very well, and doesn't stick out as dramatically as I thought it would. Finally done! It's good to turn that To-Do into a Ta-Da.

That said, I'm going back to making doilies in mostly ecru, cream or white, with just a little color accent. Who in the sam hell would use a doily this color? The thread is beautiful, the pattern is beautiful, but really, as a whole it is not appealing to me. I'm not sure why I thought this variegated thread was a good idea - I've always crocheted doilies in a cream, white or ecru, with possibly a hint of color using a solid thread. Is it just boring old me? I think this would have been better in a cream color, with or without the color on just the last round. Disappointing that I won't ever use it, but a good lesson. Sometimes it doesn't work to think outside the box! Live and learn. I'll save the beautiful HDTs for bookmarks and motifs!

Thread color choice is so important, just like it is with fabrics for quilting. It is definitely personal preference, but it is amazing how patterns can look so different with various color choices.

I am already choosing another doily pattern to work on. It will probably be in boring old cream this time :)

Which one would you use?

2011-03-26T10:10:00.000-05:00

I got on a roll to finish the Starlight Doily this weekend, and now that I'm down to tatting the final round I am positive I don't have enough thread. It might be close, but I don't want to get 7/8 of the way done and run out! I'm disappointed in myself for not thinking a bit more ahead for the doily and using the Summer Trail HDT on something different, but here I am pondering what to use for the last round. The threads I could use are Lizbeth and perle cotton, but since the doily is just going to be for personal satisfaction, I'm not worried about mixing the types of thread. What would you use for the last round? I have a choice, but looking for other thoughts.

Here are my choices:

Cream, lavender, green or yellow/orange. They all match well, I am just thinking about how I might ruin it with the wrong color choice.

I'm almost here . . .

So which color would you use?

Bookmarks and Threads

2011-03-20T14:40:00.006-05:00

More bookmarks for my stash! These will be Motif #s 13 & 14. I have recently given away more bookmarks - it's so nice to have them on hand to give to friends that are interested in seeing my tatting, and also to include in birthday or get-well cards.

2nd 25-Motif Challenge

Motif #13

Za-Woalka Bookmark

Salmon colored size 8 cotton perle

2nd 25-Motif Challenge
Motif #14

Yarnplayer's Tourmaline HDT, Size 20

I made the second one to practice my own stitches and get it a bit neater, and I also thought it would turn out a tad smaller using this thread. I was surprised that it is very much the same size, if not bigger, than the size 8 perle cotton.

I've also found that when going from using thread sizes 20 to 30 to 40, the change isn't as significant as I thought it would be from one to the next. I am liking the sizes 30 and 40 best right now, though I use a lot of size 20 for bookmarks. I may be brave enough to try some of those finer threads soon - like the Sizes 70, 80 and 100. Yikes! Better try size 50 first, and then gradually try each one in succession.

********************************
Another question crossed my mind recently as I've been emptying shuttles while practicing various techniques. I came across some shuttles that I apparently wound a long time ago, and I wondered if anyone else still fights with putting the thread through the hole on the post of the shuttle and tying a knot? I learned to load a shuttle this way, and never gave it a second thought until I saw Jane's post over a year ago. After I read this post, I chuckled at myself for being so particular about doing it "right", and have never once put the thread through that hole and tied a knot since. I am a very procedural person - which is a hindrance at times!

Too Many WIPs?

2011-03-13T16:26:00.000-05:00

Once again, I have many projects in the works. Is there such a thing as too many WIPs? This is a lovely bookmark pattern that is shared here, and I really wanted to make. I have a hard time with patterns that are just diagrammed with no written instructions, and tend to make them harder than they really are. After some insight given to me at our Twin Cities Tatters gathering yesterday, I think i have the idea now so I can keep working on finishing this one. This is done using some perle cotton, size 8.

And then I have this doily I have taken back out to work on. I started this one last year after winning Yarnplayer's beautiful Summer Trail HDT. I'm very used to whipping out a crocheted doily, so when a tatted piece takes me longer than I have patience for, I have to put it away for awhile and work on something small that I can complete. I'm ready to get this one done - it's such a pretty pattern. This is the Starlight Doily from the Tatter's Treasure Chest, using Yarnplayer's size 20 HDT.

I've also been playing with blinging a few more shuttles after receiving some of Diane's shared papers. Tatters are so incredibly generous! I also received a trade package last week from Sue Anna for a bag I offered that included waaaaay too many things for just one bag. HDT, a Pop-a-bobbin shuttle and bags by Jane E., and some Lizbeth. It felt like Christmas! That has happened to me a couple of times now - I am embarrassed to receive such wonderful gifts, but hopefully I can do that in return for someone else someday.

Back to the shuttle-blinging - no wonder I don't get anything completed - I get sidetracked easily :) You can't see it so well on the pictures, but I've glittered these shuttles and am layering on the Mod Podge to get them finished properly.

I especially love this little matching tin and shuttle. Now I have to buy some more Altoids so I can make more tins to match my shuttles!

And finally, I am staining this little wooden box that I've had for years. It's something old that my Dad gave me years ago, and I've always intended to finish it. Maybe when I get this done I can store my shuttles in it?

In any case, I have projects all over the place. Nothing is done. I lost an hour today with the daylight savings turn-back of the clock, and the afternoon is really getting away from me now too. I need to make supper and get ready for the work week again. The projects will have to be squeezed in where they fit. Did I mention I've been motivated to get working on that Artisan Phase II of the T.A.T. program also? I can't possibly work on just one thing!

My Own Rules Don't Work!

2011-02-27T10:15:00.001-06:00

For some reason, this lovely little heart made me crazy! I started several times, making up my own rules as to when to reverse work. That was dumb. Do other tatters make up their own rules until they figure out how a pattern REALLY goes? I'm not always sure I interpret patterns correctly, but I know I've read a lot of things about designers all writing a bit differently. Problem is, this pattern doesn't have written instructions, just a diagram. In most cases, that seems easier to me. Apparently not this time!

I finally realized that I was making it so much harder than it really was, and got into a rhythm that seemed to be going pretty well. Until I got done and realized I missed a join or two. Oops. Dang, that makes me mad when I do that. I know I can go back and stitch those missed joins, but I want to do it right the first time. That's the perfectionist in me rearing its ugly head again.

I was determined to complete this heart - I've seen it many times on others' blogs, and I think it's so pretty. I finally got it! Not the best work I've ever done, but at least I quit trying to make it up as I went :) A little beyond Valentine's Day, but it is still February. I am going to count this as Motif #12 of my 2nd 25-Motif Challenge. Just one motif. (Seems like it should count as about 4 after all that work!)

Motif #12

Mary Konior's Queen of Hearts

Tropical Punch Lizbeth, Size 20

Ta Da!

The Drawing

2011-02-26T07:19:00.000-06:00

Thanks to everyone for the congrats on my 100 posts accomplishment! On to another 100.

OK - so I typed up the names, put them in the appropriate bags and drew these:

~TATTIN' KAT wins the drawstring bag and an assortment of perle cotton~

~TAT19590 was drawn to trade something tatting related for the Dorset Bag~

Congrats to you both - quick - go & get lottery tickets! Please email your info to me at ahappybluebird (at) gmail (dot) com, and I will get these in the mail to you :)

100 Posts to Celebrate

2011-02-20T11:14:00.000-06:00

It's taken me almost 2 years to post 100 times. I started this blog thinking I would just write about my life and things I like to do, and I had something to write about 2 and 3 times a week. I had no idea I would meet so many kind, generous people out there! I've slowed down to posting only once every two weeks or so - maybe it's that winter is getting OLD around here! Once again, there is a winter storm warning that will dump 10-15" or so of new snow on us by tomorrow. Enough already.

I haven't been tatting much the past couple of weeks - a little here and there, but I ended up with mistakes and missed joins. My heart just wasn't in it - too many other things going on. Busy at work, and busy at home too. I did have a chance to work on practicing the SCMR with this Very Small Butterfly, and the Gr8 Butterfly.

I am inspired again, though, after our tatting gathering yesterday! As great as it is to have tatting friends online, it's so good to have other tatters to talk to and bounce things off of in person also.

I thought I'd celebrate this 100th post in some way. The tendency is to celebrate the blogging accomplishment with a giveaway of some kind, so I thought I'd give away this bag with an assortment of perle cotton thread. Just leave a comment on this post (with the number 100) telling me what you like to read about on blogs (tatting or not!) Here's the giveaway bag:

The drawstring bag has 8 interior pockets. (The ball of Lizbeth is only to show size.)

AND

I thought I'd add a trade also - to celebrate all the talented tatters out there that have shared ideas, patterns and tips. I would love to trade this bag for something (of course it's another bag - what did you expect from a bag lady?) Let's trade anything tatting related - like HDT, shuttles, pattern books. Just comment on this post with your favorite tip on storing your tatting supplies (and the word TRADE). Here's the trade bag:

This bag is the Dorset Bag - a free pattern provided by a generous crafter.

I will draw both winners on Friday evening, February 25th and post them on Saturday morning. Make sure there is a way for me to contact you.

It has been a pleasure meeting so many inspiring crafters, and reading everyone's blogs for instructions, patterns, tips and techniques. Here's to 100 more posts :)

My Tatting Story

2011-02-05T07:05:00.000-06:00

After reading Tatting Fool's post about how she started tatting, and The Tatting Whisperer's story, I thought I'd share mine as well. Mine's not nearly as interesting, but it's mine, nonetheless.

I tend to like things that are unique - things that no one else has or does. I also love antiques and heirlooms and thinking about the women that crafted quilts and socks and doilies more out of necessity than for fun. I suppose the doilies were considered fancy, but the quilts were definitely made to serve a purpose.

Honestly, I don't even remember where I saw tatting to begin with, but it was probably the vintage magazines and pattern books given to me by an aunt that was aware of my interest in antique sewing and lacemaking. She has given me many shuttles and balls of tatting thread from various treasures she has come across. My aunt is very talented with sewing and crafting and quilting, but she says she never was able to learn to tat - it was just too hard.

At some point in the early 1990's, I saw a Community Ed 'Beginning Tatting' class offered. I think I was one of about 4 women in the class, and learned to tat rings and chains in about 2 or 3 classes. I made some small wreath Christmas ornaments after that, and began looking for groups or classes to learn more. At the time, my daughters were about elementary school age and I was a daycare provider. I ordered a couple of current pattern books, and admired the things in them. There were no classes or stores or groups to learn more, so knowing not another soul that tatted, the craft was put aside. Every so often I would look on the internet for tatting groups or information, but there wasn't much out there.

Fast forward about 10 years. I thought I'd better work on remembering how to tat, or I would have to start all over. I got the rings and chains down, but when I started looking at those pattern books to make something, they didn't make sense. I didn't know how to read the patterns! I could whip out crocheted doilies in a snap, but it irritated me that I couldn't make a beautiful tatted doily. More internet searching led me to the InTatters forum. Aha! A place to ask questions and learn from other tatters. Then I found some tatting blogs. Still no local tatters or groups, though - darn! - and I'm such a visual learner.

A couple more years went by as I read with interest the blogs and information out there. Then, a friend of my mom's lost her mother who was a tatter/lacemaker, and didn't quite know what to do with all that tatting and lacemaking stuff. This is when I inherited a large amount of books, thread, shuttles and crochet hooks. It was like Christmas for me! Talk about inspiration - this made me determined to master the art of tatting. I found the T.A.T. proficiency program, and promptly ordered Phase I. It took me a couple of years to get it completed, but I did it after a little challenge was put out there on the InTatters forum. Now I know how to read the patterns, and have been enjoying tatting and trying new techniques.

I've met tatters from all over the world through this blog and participating in exchanges and challenges through the InTatters forum, and more recently the Tatting Forums and Ravelry. My search for tatters in Minnesota led me to the Minnesota Lace Society, and most currently getting a local tatting group started.

And here I am. A tatter inspired not by a family tatter, but by an aunt and friend that don't tat and tatters I didn't even have the pleasure to know. I'm grateful that the non-tatters passed on the books and supplies. I'm sure the original owners would be thrilled that their tatting supplies are being enjoyed and the art is being shared and passed on.

I'm also the proud owner of a T.A.T. Phase II binder (but not proud of the fact that I haven't been working on it.) Amazed, however, that I've come this far with the internet!

That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it. What's YOUR story?

If You Can't Beat it . . .

2011-01-29T19:48:00.001-06:00

Join it! Yes, we love to complain about the weather here, but there's nothing we can do about it, so we might as well get out and enjoy it when we can. No tatting today - just some good fresh air.

Our local parks have rentals for things like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and kick sledding, and today was a "Snow Day" to try out that equipment for free. I grew up snowmobiling and cross-country skiing, but I've never tried snowshoeing - so that seemed like the thing to try.

I was pleasantly surprised at how easy snowshoeing is. You just walk, being mindful of how far apart you are keeping your feet so as not to trip yourself, and enjoy the scenery. You don't sink down into the snow too much, so it really makes walking much easier than normal in boots. Then to turn around without tripping yourself, you just have to make a wide circle. Good exercise!

There were tons of people there - it was great to see all the families out enjoying the snow. Temperatures were decent in the upper 20's, so bundled up,it was actually quite comfortable. (And when you are out of shape and huffing and puffing around on snowshoes, it's plenty warm - I was sweating!)

The kicksledding looked fun too - these dads were pushing small kids with a running start, and then riding the backs of the skis once they got going:

And of course, outdoor fun isn't complete without a bonfire and some s'mores - no matter what time of year it is. Does everyone make s'mores? Graham crackers, chocolate bar and a roasted, melting marshmallow. Yum!

And home again, home again, jiggety jig. Since temperatures are dropping tonite, and it is supposed to start snowing again, I will be back to indoor activities tomorrow. Hopefully my legs will not be rubber!

SSSR Success :)

2011-01-23T21:05:00.000-06:00

Another technique that has been eluding me is the SSSR (Single Shuttle Split Ring). There are great online learning tools - a YouTube video, and written instructions. But the best way for me to learn is hands-on. Yesterday we had our 2nd gathering of the Twin Cities Tatters, and the SSSR is the technique we focused on. Sooooo, I've been practicing.

I think I've got it! No more cringing when I see a pattern that includes the SSSR. Another technique under my belt. And another success - our TCT gathering more than doubled from our first meeting with 5 tatters this time. Imagine spending a couple of hours on a cold winter day in a warm coffee shop with 5 talkative tatters!

I've also gotten a couple of bookmarks done that I will count toward my 2nd 25-Motif Challenge. This is a pattern I tend to do over and over again from Jane Eborall's blog.

Motif #10

Lisbeth Mountain Breeze, Size 20

And this bookmark is a pattern I saw quite a while ago (couple of years?) that I thought I would remember. Of course I forgot where I saw it, and never came across it again until a few days ago on Peachtree Cottage Creations.

Motif #11

Julie Patterson's Spring Flowers

Lizbeth Jelly Bean and Spring Green, Size 20

The past week has been incredibly cold here - it was -22 degrees below zero when we got up one morning. And we continue to get snow about every other day it seems - even if just an inch or so - so it's piling up. In fact, my picnic table is . . . well . . . a bit under the weather. Literally.

Another Bag and Snow, Snow, Snow

2011-01-15T19:26:00.139-06:00

I can't believe we are halfway through January already! I've been cleaning out cupboards, donating plenty of unused items and tossing some things that I have no idea why I've been keeping. Haven't gotten to my sewing/craft room yet - I USE most of that stuff! It is inevitable though - that room definitely needs a cleaning. Maybe I should give away some of that inherited perle cotton to good homes!

I saw another bag pattern I had to try. (Surprise, surprise.) I think I've been making tatting bags too large. One only needs a fairly small bag - silly me - and I wanted to make a tatting bag that I could add a little tatted motif to. I have several bags, but I should probably have a tatting bag for each project I'm working on - ha!

This is Joy McKenzie's Dorset Bag Pattern

An easy, perfect little drawstring bag with pockets for tatting projects.

The flaps cover the outside pockets to protect whatever is inside, and are also the perfect place to add a motif. I tried the pattern a few times, making it smaller each time. The pattern uses 20" squares, so I started with 20" and tried 18" and 16" also. I liked the size of the bag made with 16" squares, so I made this little heart to stitch onto the flap.

This will be Motif #9 of my 2nd 25-Motif Challenge,

using light pink/mauve perle cotton size 12.

Tatted Heart pattern on page 36 of the new Handy Hands catalog.

And our weather here continues to provide us with record-breaking snowfalls. It seems like it snows every other day! Road conditions continue to be the worst during rush hour (of course) or on Saturdays (go figure).

Our average annual winter season snowfall is 56.3 inches. We are already at 52.6 inches, and we have a good 2-1/2 months left of our snow season! I think we will be shattering the record. It's been crazy - snowing a few inches a couple of times a week. Since I have to endure the snow, I am going to explore snowshoeing in a couple of weeks. Now THAT should be interesting.

***TWIN CITIES TATTERS GROUP Update

For our January gathering, I've been pleasantly surprised with more inquiries. I knew the holidays would stop people from starting a new thing, but I didn't think there would be so many inquiries right away in January. This is great - our gathering next Saturday should include about 5 this time - pretty good to double the group at the 2nd meeting :) We will work on the SSSR as well as teaching beginners.

Refreshed and Renewed in 2011

2011-01-08T21:17:00.001-06:00

Here we are, already a week into the New Year 2011! I always love the start of a New Year - it's an opportunity to try new things, make a new start in some way, and work toward some new goals. I seem to be having a hard time making solid "resolutions" this year - I would prefer to make life changes and just do what's best for me on a day-to-day basis. Resolutions are really goals - and can be made at any time anyway. The New Year just brings the opportunity to examine what is truly important in life, and worth working for. What do I want to accomplish? What problems need solving? What decisions need to be made? What changes can I make? What can I do to make someone else's day? The New Year is a nice time to reflect as well as move forward.

One thing I need to do is slow down with those goals. I always think I can accomplish 3 times as much as I really can! There are a million wonderful patterns and ideas to try - I really don't need to do all of them. And I don't need to do the ones I choose to do in record time, either :)

The first thing I have accomplished this year is Mary Konior's Large Cross from the Tatting with Visual Patterns book. I made this cross for my aunt that always remembers me when she comes across shuttles or vintage books, threads and patterns. I mailed it off to her with a note - I think of her every time I'm admiring my tatting collection. This is my 8th motif of my 2nd 25-Motif Challenge.

25-Motif Challenge #2

Motif #8

Mary Konior's Large Cross

Lizbeth #106 Spring Fling, Size 40

I also need to slow down and pay attention to the tatting techniques I'm trying to learn - even what seems like the most simple ones. I don't even remember if I learned this way, but I've always completed joins by using the 2nd half of the double stitch. I've recently read that some people consider the join somewhat like a picot, and complete both the first half and the second half of the stitch after the actual join. I have been trying that, and have decided I like the look better. You can really see the definite stitches.

I used some size 10 thread to make one join with just the 2nd half of the stitch (on the left) and one join by completing the entire 1st and 2nd halves of the double stitch (on the right) to see how it looks. I guess just anyone can't tell the difference when looking at a complete piece, but I like being able to see all of the stitches. I would love to know how others complete joins. Is there a "correct" way or a usual way? It seems to be just a personal preference.

I hope your year has begun as fabulous as mine has - refreshed and renewed and ready to move on!

Goodbye 2010!

2010-12-31T17:42:00.003-06:00

Saying "goodbye" to 2010 doesn't hurt my feelings one bit! It's been a year that has pulled me in a million different directions, and I'm ready to get on with some new normals.

I have accomplished a lot more than I realized, however. I joined the 25-Motif Challenge to practice techniques and keep track of how many things I really do tat. It doesn't seem like I accomplish much tatting, but I have completed one challenge, and have started another. I actually tatted a doily, entered it into both the county fair and the state fair and earned ribbons at both. I have given away numerous bookmarks, and even found a couple of tatters that are interested in getting together as 'Twin Cities Tatters' to have a group devoted to tatting. As far as my tatting life goes, 2010 has been a good year!

I will end 2010 with motifs for my 2nd 25-Motif Challenge. The first one is my #6 - pattern is 'Snowflake 7' from Festive Snowflakes and Ornaments, in Lizbeth Jelly Bean thread, size 20. I really love this pattern - it tats up so nice and neat.

Motif #7 is the 'Wheel of Nine Rings' from Christmas Angels and Other Tatting Patterns. I have looked at this pattern many times - the look just appeals to me. This one is in DMC white perle cotton, size 12.

I started both of these motifs with intentions of putting them on some satin Christmas balls. I never did figure out a small bottom motif to use for connecting it all to a ball for a pretty ornament - maybe next year!

Farewell 2010!

I'm really looking forward to all the good things I know are coming in 2011.

Happy, Happy New Year!

Peace & Joy

2010-12-24T06:34:00.004-06:00

May the spirit of Christmas bring you

Peace

and

Joy

wherever you are.