Another for the collection!

Now this one I really like. OK perhaps not true gecko colours but now I know that they're going on a dark denim base then I want colours that show up!!!!
I'm going to replace the buttons on the jacket with bright ones. Each one a different colour - I hope!!!

They just keep arriving!!!

Yesterday I found a denim shirt style jacket/cardigan that I'd forgotten I'd got!! It's a lovely soft denim but unfortunately one of the buttons has broken (not very nice buttons either) and the sleeves are far too long which is why I probably stopped wearing it!!! Anyway, It occurred to me that if I replace the buttons and shorten/alter the sleeves it might be ideal for traveling in. I do like to be comfortable when traveling!!! Then, as I tatted yet another gecko, I thought - why not sew geckos onto it!!!! So, tat's what I'm going to do. The speed at which these tat up makes it a viable project. One an evening. I shall sew one on each sleeve, one on each side at the front and probably three on the back. I MAY even tackle a couple of teeny tiny ones for the collar in a no. 80 but I'll decide that when I get to it!!

Anyway, here's yesterday evening's rendition - this time in a no. 20 instead of the usual no. 40!!

And Yet Another!

I did another gecko last night whilst babysitting. I used two colours, beads and lots of SLT's!!! Here's the result!!

I also found a 'better' way to do the head but still need to double check which shuttle the eye beads need to be on!! Really enjoying doing geckos so may well do another AFTER the one I started late last night!!! I may even do more to sew onto a denim casual jacket that I found lurking in the wardrobe!!!!
Oh, two very interesting points. Firstly this is a 'slap and zap' design. By that I mean you slap it on the ironing board and zap it with the iron. No blocking or anything. Secondly you'll see that in this latest version the 'toes' are nicely rounded. How DID I do that? Well I reverted to normal and to instinct (to be honest I forgot to take a picot gauge with me when I went next door to baby sit) and just 'eyeballed' each picot. I did this for nearly fifty years before deciding that I 'ought' to use one. I won't be using gauges again in a hurry!!!

Another Darn Gecko!!

This is my final version of the gecko. Hopefully!!!
I've re-designed the face. In this version I've added beads to the centres of the SR's using Tonya's method - http://tinyurl.com/34c4c7 and stuck to just one colour. The next one will be two colours plus beads!!!
I've actually got to the stage of enjoying this pattern and it doesn't take tooooo long to make - perhaps an evening without changing the text as you go!!!
Once the body's done it's mainly chains. I used that 'new' way that Julie Patterson and I independently came up with of doing the block tatting (the lazy person's way to block tat!). Here's a link to that too http://tinyurl.com/3yefre

Birthday Card & MORE Gecko problems!!!

Here's the birthday card I've made for my next door neighbour. It's actually much prettier than the scan shows as the seahorse is done in VERY bright colours. I'm also going to be babysitting her two boys on her birthday which is tomorrow. I love sitting for them as they're such smashing kids.

Yesterday evening I decided to 'bead' the gecko. I used Tonya's method of adding beads to the centre of the SR's see the link below. http://janeeborall.freeservers.com/tonyabeadsr.htm I've just realised that somewhere and somehow the link to her idea is missing off my home page. SORRY Tonya - I'll put that right later (after breakfast).
I also wanted to put beads in the centres of the rings but that looked absolutely dreadful. See first picture! What a MESS!!

I started again and just put beads into the SR's and it's looking a lot better. Stopped at ten o'clock and just before reaching the head as I want a clear brain to sort that out!!!

Another Gecko!

Spent ages yesterday afternoon sorting out ebay (see last post) and then I finished the birthday card but still have to 'put it together'.
I went back to the gecko again in the evening and the new one is worked in a plain bright green with a variegated rusty/brown colour. I used lots and lots of SLT's to make it. Still not happy about the nose but I think I've another idea for that - will try it out later today!!!

This evening I am going to see if beads will look good in a plain coloured gecko. I've got the most outrageous bright turquoise blue and green in no. 40 Olympus with the brightest pink beads. Hmmmmm, wonder if tat'll work!!! We'll see!!!!

Just when you thought you'd got it sussed!!

Nothing about tatting today except to say that the birthday card I'm working on should be finished this afternoon.
No, what I really wanted to mumble and mutter about was ebay!!!! As you know I do like listing stuff and have got it down to a 'fine art'. I work everything out in a text document and then when it comes to listing all I have to do is 'copy' and 'paste' into the relevant 'bits'!! Easy. So me and my big mouth offered to sell a friend's motorbike headlamp set! No probs, says Jane to Dave and Doreen - I'll do that for you!!!
Hmmmm, well ebay pulled a flanker on me and changed it's format!!! That really screwed me up for a while. Still I finally got the old brain round it all and listed the headlamp. Actually it's now easier to list and much 'prettier' too.
OH, I also listed some more Aero shuttles, a lovely Teneriffe lace book and some more tat bits!!!!