Popular Crafts 1993

Well I honestly didn't realise that this was SOOO long ago 1993.  

Well I'll be jiggered.  When I did these earrings for this magazine I was working totally on my own (no internet) which goes to prove that great minds think alike as this design has been done numerous times before me and since.  Least I'm pretty sure it must've been done before me!!!  Surely?  

I know I had a lot of tatting books even back then but I also know that I was aware of copyright laws and would never have used a design out of an already published book.  So, BC 3 must've been born quite a time before this was published!!  Why?  Well because I'd already made numerous earrings before this!!!

I remember making lots and lots of these trees for friends and others around that time.  

An egg

No, I haven't laid one but some people may call me an old duck or even an old hen!!!!  

My sister (who's blog is here) is into all Christian customs and that includes Easter (whenever it is!) and so she started dropping subtle hints about it coming up soon.  An egg just might keep her busy if I designed one.  She did a stonking great little egg herself last year which is here so I've no idea why she wanted another!!!  

Anyway, I dusted off BC 3 and off I went.  I was left with approximately six really, really naff eggs before we were both happy with the shape.  I googled 'eggs' looking for a good outline image but there were so many and they all slightly differed.  I guess everybody has a different idea of what an egg shape is!!!!  Well, except for the mother 'whatever' who laid it!!!!

Anyway, here it is in all it's 'eggness'!!!

Octopus!

First of all a reminder that the shuttles and hooks will be in my Etsy shop here at 20.00 GMT this evening.  I've set an alarm to remind me!!!!

Beware - there's an octopus about.  This is one of the doodles that was on the Palmetto Tat Days agenda last year.  Here he is!!

I'm desperately trying to get all the C @ * P off my computer and onto the pattern pages but it takes ages to do each one so please bear with me.

I'm currently working on the doodles but meanwhile playing with an Easter pattern too - in my spare time!!!  In fact the Easter egg may well be ready by tomorrow - if life doesn't get in the way!!!!

New lock chain block tatted motif.

I must apologise for the delay (yet again!) on releasing this pattern.  Don't know why it is but it seems to take me ages to remember to do the links and uploads etc.  There's an awful lot on this computer which is ready go go 'live' and I'm working on that at the moment.  All the remaining patterns (doodles etc) which I taught last year at Tat Days.  Don't worry - they'll be 'there' soon.

OK - I'm done with this!  Here's the link.

A cedar shuttle

This is the cedar shuttle I spoke about yesterday.  It's a tad smaller than the others that 'im in the garage has made and thinner too.  It's really lovely.  Sadly there's only one this time.

Don't forget I still have two bobbin holders left too from last time.  They're already listed.  

I was hoping to make more of the new season's bags before I listed the shuttles but it's been SOOOOOO cold that the brass monkey has left the UK!!!!!!

New shuttles and hooks

I spent ages getting a new lot of shuttles and hooks with hats on into the shop yesterday.  They will be released on Thursday 14th at 20.00 GMT in my Etsy shop which is here.  This time some of the shuttles have been oiled with a Danish oil.  When 'im in the garage came round with them all on Friday he told me that they were oiled and later thoroughly rubbed to remove the excess.  I'm totally in love with them.

3 COCOBOLA ROSEWOOD $33.60 each

3 PURPLEHEART $32.70 each

1 EBONY $36.25

2 ZEBRANO $32.70 each

3 OREGAN MYRTLE $28.00 each

3 MAHONIA $33.60 each

2 AMERICAN BLACK WALNUT $28.00 each

3 CHERRY $28.00 each

2 APPLE $28.00 each

3 PEAR $28.00 each

1 LABURNAM $28.00

2 SEQUOIA $28.00 each

2 MAHOGANY $28.00 each

2 ROSEWOOD $28.00 each

3 EUCALYPTUS $28.00 each

Then there are the hooks.  These vary too with many different woods.  Some are 0.4mm and some are 0.5mm.   They now have the plastic caps which came with the original hooks.  'Im in the garage said that the wooden ones took him far too long to make and he felt his time was better spent making more shuttles!!!  I agree.

18 Hooks with plastic caps will be available at $10.00 each.

Oh, there's one gorgeous post shuttle but I'll tell you about that tomorrow!!!