Strawberries and Cream

I'm starting to get ready for the trip in September. I can feel the horror from people when I say that as I know it's a long time to go but I HAVE to start preparations really early for peace of mind. My life seems to get chaotic at times and to avoid being panicky if this happens, I start preparations really early. There is also a lot to prepare too.

When I travel I take something that I can pick up while waiting in airport departure lounges and in other odd moments.  One of my favourite patterns is Rosemarie Peel's Rachel. It's from this book which I blogged about eight (REALLY?) years ago.

This time round I'm using size 40 thread with beads on the chains. I've worked out how much thread I need for one 'Rachel', added the chain thread (with beads on) to an EZ bob and then wound on the shuttle thread to the same EZ bob. I can get two 'Rachels' onto an Ezebob so I'm a happy bunny.

Where IS my brain?

I know it should be easy to find it as there are only three cells to look after. BC1, BC2 and the ultimate BC3 but they do seem to get me confused at times!!!

Thankfully there are a few people 'out there' in Tat Land who keep my brain in order and tell me (very kindly) when it's gone on a 'holiday'. Last week Carla wrote to tell me that she was confused. When I worked it out it wasn't only Carla that was confused - so was I!!!

I had put two patterns on the web site over the space of a few years and they'd got in a muddle as I must've at one point (probably in 2014) uploaded and 'overwritten' another square pattern. This is the one Carla was looking for (link) and this is the one she got due to BC3 falling down on his 'job'.

You'll be pleased to know that BC3 got a slap on the wrist and had to go and sit in the naughty corner for an hour!!!

Another purple!

OK, now you're wondering if I've gone completely bonkers!!!

Yes, it's another of the hearts in purple and green!!! 

Can you tell me the differences between this one and the last purple and green one? 

I know I've used the colours in different places but there is another tiny difference which makes me think this is definitely the FINAL version!!!

Just for a change!!

I 'need' a new colour combination!!  After using the red and white for the previous attempts I started getting bored!!

I'm beginning to get comfortable with this design but it's still not 'quite' right. I'm sure nobody I gave this to would notice or even care!!! 

I've made the very small picots on the 'inner outer' round into picots of a 'regular' size and I think that's helped a bit. 

As 'they' say - onwards and upwards!!!!

Forever young finished

Finished.

To say that I'm pleased with this would be an understatement. It's a delightful pattern which I've thoroughly enjoyed making. I'm off to explore Teri's blog again to see what else I might like to make. She's certainly an amazing designer.

I remember when we used to talk a lot and she was always singing the praises of Dora Young and this is reflected in this pattern.  As I'd never seen Dora's book I hadn't much of a clue why she was so intrigued.  Now I thoroughly do understand and am finding that Teri's work has ME very interested now.

Heart again

Back to a second attempt at the heart. 

I really am stuck on what to call this one so any suggestions would be very welcome. 

Bet you can't see any differences between this one and the other day's!!!! There are, though. Minor ones but (to me) important too.

Change of thread.

So I did as I thought I would. I started again on the Forever Young doily.

I think the thread was the problem as it was very 'soft'. Lovely for lots of things but for what I consider another iconic design I wanted the best I'd got. Well, I've got lots of 'best' thread but this time the 'best' was a Coats one.

A new experiment

Remember this ring and how it turned out? 

Well, as I said in one of my posts - I got really bored with the Ring A Ding Ding design. As anybody knows - a finished design isn't the first time an OG has tatted it and it's probably been a pain in the 'whotsit' for many weeks before the final version gets put on this blog and even then it takes longer to get it on my pattern pages.

Well, here's the first of a new 'start' using those same rings. They're the size of a curtain ring (cabone ring) and measure ¾" in diameter. A lot of people use them in necklaces as features although those are usually made of much nicer metal. As the metal ring is covered in tatting it doesn't matter what the metal looks like - to an old git like me!!!

I'm not happy with this first heart so will work on it more.

Whooooppppeeeee

Another TIAS has arrived in my inbox. 

I'm not going to tell you who it is or what she says as I'm making this a teaser post!!!!  You'll just have to take courage in both hands, click on this link and go and see for yourself!!!!

I will, however, let you have a preview of this really, really lovely lady with her pet.  Before anybody asks - I don't know who the owl design belongs to  but I really, really, REALLY wish I could say it was mine.  

Well done

Well done to Kathy who guessed exactly right!!! I'm working on Teri Dusenbury's wonderful Forever Young pineapple doily.

Like Dora's patterns it's a bit of a learning curve and I'm not really happy with what I've done so far so am treating this as a trial piece which I may abandon and re-start.

Part of my problem is I'm not that happy with my choice of thread. Nothing wrong with the thread really but I've sort of fallen out with it's softness and the colour!!! Typical me. Even after well over half a century I still find it hard to choose colours. OR is it just that I'm a tad too fussy? Who knows!!!

A guessing game

Now I've started something new. 

This is NOT my design but it's one I've wanted to do for many, many years. Any guesses as to who the designer is?

In case you're not bored!!!

I did do another Ring A Ding Ding before boredom totally set in. I'm now playing with another idea for the smaller ring.

Finished and on my site

I finally, finally managed to get my aged act together yesterday and did a final proof read of the Ring A Ding Ding motif. My main problem is a total lack of interest once a design has been done and I wander off and start on something else and forget it!!!

This time round I decided I really MUST get to grips with Pages. I've tried that software time and time again and got totally in a mess with it. Now it's my FAVOURITE. The only thing I can't seem to do is add hyperlinks to the images but I'm hoping some kind person who reads this will be able to tell me how to do that.

The last major problem I had with it was blurry drawings. Really strange as I couldn't for the life of me work out what I was doing wrong. So, the other day I forced BC3 to just sit at the computer until he'd found out how to solve this major hiccup.

I tried larger pictures, smaller ones, standing on my head, getting drunk (not really!) and then the light bulb went on!! Well, more a small candle, really. It occurred to me that throughout my time on the internet and putting 'stuff' up on the internet I'd always used jpg files for images and drawings. So I experimented and within a WHOLE five minutes got the answer!!! The thing I now have to do is to export from EazyDraw as a pdf and NOT a jpg!!! Just have to remember that and the whole world starts turning again. I'm a very happy bunny. I rewarded BC3 and carried on.

Whoops. Nearly forgot - here's the link to the motif.

Another task done and dusted

Well here it is finally. I'll get the pattern sorted and onto the pattern pages over the weekend. 

I doubt many people will use it as it does mean two sizes of rings need to be found. The inner ring is easy as it's a standard sized curtain ring. 

This leaves me now bored with this project but still with more rings left to 'use up'!!!!! I wonder what BC3 will do next?!?!?!?

Dora finished - again!

Finally!!! Done. Am I fed up with it? No. Will I do this pattern yet again? YES. 

I had no idea how it would look using two colours before I started but now I do know!!!

My Dora obsession continues.

Tim's Ring A Ding Ding

When I met Tim in Georgia at last year's Palmetto Tat Days I was most impressed with his dedication to tatting and Tat Land. He kindly gave me a cluny loom which I haven't yet used on a project although I have had secret playtimes with it.  A friendship was started.

Anyway, we were talking about something tatting related a couple of weeks or so ago and I mentioned this motif to him. He kindly offered to test tat it. 

I really must recommend you read Tim's post about it (and follow his blog too) as I just LOVE that bright pink ring he made.

What a SHOCK

A lady arrived at Crafternoon with a blouse that had a tiny hole in it and some marks. She'd been recommended by a lovely 91 year old friend who'd had a hole in a garment which I covered up with a tatted butterfly a month or two ago. 

The blouse is a beautiful silk one and so I first had to find some thread to work some 'magic' with. I found some silk sewing thread that I've had for years and years. Deciding what to tat was also hard but in the end I did a tiny flower like motif and a couple of butterflies. The pictures are below.

After I'd finished the project I decided to look up the designer's name on the label.  I nearly fell flat on my face when I found out that it's a VERY expensive range of clothes.  Glad I didn't know before I started or I'd have been even more nervous.  Just hope the lady likes it but if she doesn't I can easily snip it off.

Ring a Ding Ding - another episode

The wavy piece I showed the other day has now been woven into the centre and the next round is now complete.

I actually like these colours and by the time it's finished I think it'll look OK.  

After yesterday we have today!

This is the part that will be woven into the part you saw yesterday!!!

It's really good fun choosing colours for this project as you can be very brave, take risks and sit back and watch the consequences!!!

Well, that's what I do!!!

Ring A Ding Ding

Well I really need to try out this pattern a few more times before I'm sure it's ready so I'm off to another start!!! Just love these colours together.  Bet you recognise them from yesterday's post!!!

The title of this post? Well that's what I'm calling this as it involves two metal rings!!! Well, I thought it was clever - ish. 

To me the hardest part of any new idea is thinking of a name for it. I struggle and struggle and have decided in the end that the sillier the name the better!!! Least I'LL have a chance of remembering it if it's silly!!!

Further progress

This is now heading outwards again with the next row of chains. Again this needs careful attention which BC3 seemed to be unable to give it at first!!! I sometimes wonder why at my ripe old age I can't count!!! 

Anyway, I think I've got it sorted now. Silly really as I've done this pattern twice before.

104

One hundred and four.  No, that's not my age but it is the current number of finished TIAS's that I've received!!! I hope some more will soon come trotting in too. 

This one is from Dee but you'll have to go and visit it on the TIAS blog which is here!!! 

I know - I'm a horrid tease. 

Finally decisions have been made!

I've dithered and dithered over this design. In the end I used another metal ring to finish it off and thought about the suggestions made in previous comments but decided that they wouldn't work as adding anything else to the chains would then make the motif too big for the ring.

I simply worked rings and chains on the next round joining to the picot on the chains and the metal ring when necessary. I'm really chuffed with this now which is surprising for me.

The 'right' side is on the left and the 'other' side is on the right of the two pictures below.

The last three

Here are three more of the pillowcase dresses. This makes six that I've made and they'll be the last. Why? Well I'm easily bored and also my friend down the road and others have made them too so I think we'll have enough for now. Having said that and having put away my machine and all the mess I tend to make, I'm now beginning to wonder if I will make more!!!

Back to experimenting

So, this is where I've not got to with the motif I abandoned to go off on another Dora adventure.

This is where I'd got to. The top picture below is (probably) the front and the bottom one is - well, you can guess!!!

Actually it doesn't look too bad in the pictures but I'm not happy with it in 'real life'. 

I've now decided what I'm making - it's a sun catcher 'thingie'. Least that's sort of progress!!! 

I liked the idea before I added it to the ring but it's that last round of chains joining to the metal ring that really doesn't please me. Back to BC3, I guess!!!

Another sewing project

On a Tuesday morning we have a craft group in our road - well, not in the middle of the road but in a large house which is run by a charity and in which we rent a room for two hours. The group consists mainly of people who live in our road and the next one.

We got together last year to make bunting for the street party to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday and we all enjoyed getting together to make things that we've continued. Recently we had another party (midsummer was the excuse this time!!!) and we made a patchwork quilt which was raffled. The money we raised was donated to the new local hospital. We've made fiddle muffs for the dementia units in and around the town and blankets too. 

Our next project is going to be more bunting for another hospital towards their new midwife run baby unit. Work started on that this Tuesday. We're also making pillowcase dresses to send to Africa via another charity and this is what's been absorbing me in the afternoons. It's an interesting project as they are very simple to make but once you start on them you (well, I do) start to think of what the little girl who gets the dress might like on it. I've done one with flowers, one with hearts and another with balloons. It's great fun to do but I'd love to see the kiddie's faces when they get a little dress made from a pillowcase.

A little progress

This is probably the most complicated part of this pattern but once you've done it once it's really quite straightforward. I puzzled and puzzled over this for ages as it's incredibly clever. 

I'm also working on that new design I showed you but this Dora pattern keeps tempting me away from it!!! I MUST have a word with myself and get back on track with it!!!!

That word 'digital'

Why is it that word always pulls me in? If it's 'digital' then it must be interesting!!!

I saw a 'digital' row counter advertised on one of my regular emails from 'The Wool Warehouse' so decided to investigate! 

I'm always getting in a muddle over counting rows particularly when crocheting but also with some tatting patterns. So for just a VERY small amount I bought this one to try it out. I LOVE it. That's not just because it's bright pink!!! It fits comfortably on a finger with an adjustable strap so (in theory!) I won't be able to lose it!!!

Mrs Beeton's Book of Needlework

Mrs Beeton as you've probably never seen her before!!!

This is the original Mrs Beeton Book of Needlework that I inherited from my gran many, many years ago. I treasure it immensely. 

First of all the cover which is still amazingly in good condition. To the side of it is a view of the gold edged pages. Gorgeous.

I must admit I rarely get the book out as it's in a bit of a fragile condition.  About thirty years ago a friend who was a book binder at a local university offered to mend a couple of pages which were damaged.  There is one loose page now which I really would love repairs but I've lost touch with him.  If I had to rescue anything in a fire this is the one book I'd take along with my signed Elgiva Nichols book.

The start of the tatting section.

Coloured plates.

A certificate which helps date the book and is a treasure in itself.  

The final two pictures are of pages which unfold from the book.

Have you guessed?

Have you guessed which Dora pattern this is?  Perhaps not if you haven't got the book!!!

I think it's the prettiest and, in my opinion, the hardest pattern in the publication. The first time I did it I was severely challenged but I'm very glad I made notes on the laptop as I went along!!! You can't beat a few notes!!!!

Even on my third attempt I still have to count, count and re-count!!!!

A letter to Dora

Dear Dora 

I received the reprint of your book (thank you, Heidi) yesterday in the post. How DID I miss it the first time round? Ah, probably because in those days I had difficulty finding tatting sources in America (I'm still here in the UK)!!!

When you were avidly tatting in the 1970's I'd also been tatting for many years too. If ONLY the internet had been around then we'd have probably been Facebook friends (or something) and enjoyed each other's tatting company via cyberspace. 

I can't thank you enough for 'birthing' the split chain and split ring which gave me such freedom for my own design work.

Since stumbling across your book via a friend in South Carolina last September I've been totally addicted to your patterns. 

Your friend in tatting and in awe of your talents

Jane

To my other tatting friends - I want to say what an interesting addition of Dora's background Heidi has added to the reprint.  I LOVE finding out about this iconic tatter.

I have notes I've made which I have added to this blog (see the pages at the top) or which you can email me for which may help with some of the patterns. 

Also orders are now being taken from Heidi Nakayama, Tatting Corner, Handy Hands in America and anybody in the UK who wants to avoid postage costs from the States can email me and I will bring you back a copy from Canada later this year and mail it at UK rates when I return.

Does anybody?

Does anybody recognise this pattern yet? 

I did say who's it was in my last post about it but I bet you've forgotten!!! 

I hear people agonising about their 'blips' of colour when doing lock joins but don't you see how they can enhance a design? Mostly I don't care about them but in this case I embrace them.

Thank you Andrea

This is a thank you message to Andrea who left a comment on yesterday's post which included this link to a slide show.  This is what she said in her comment.

"I found it to be a very inspiring display of both traditional and contemporary approaches to tatting. I really learned a lot from seeing the work of so many stars of the tatting world, whose work I had only ever seen in books or on the Internet."

I loved watching the slideshow and I'm also intrigued to read what was said on other people's bio's too. Particularly the spelling in some cases!!

Just to pretty up today's post here are pictures of a few of those pieces which travelled to America and back.

Hmmmm

About two years ago several UK tatters were asked to submit some of their work for an exhibition in the USA.  I was very flattered to be asked.  I duly sent my work off and had an acknowledgement when it arrived.  Although I asked several times for pictures of the exhibition I never saw any which was a great disappointment.  

I was lucky enough to get my work back safely a month or so ago but one  poor lady didn't because hers was seized by customs and they wanted around £70 import duty. This was MOST upsetting and it really made her life miserable for weeks until she finally paid the money and got her work back.  The good news is that she did get reimbursed eventually by the customs and excise people.

Now I'm showing you this label (below) because I don't think it's an appropriate thing to put on an exhibition piece. I know and admit I have a bit of a wacky sense of humour but this has quite upset me.  The pictures below the label are of the piece it's referring to.  

First of all I don't 'typically use one shuttle' (quite the opposite, in fact).  I've never done a one shuttle design either.  This doesn't make sense as in the same sentence it also mentions split rings which we ALL know needs two shuttles!!!  

I know I don't like needle tatting and am not backward in coming forwards with saying so but to use this as a description of ME on a piece of exhibition work is rather odd. Also there's no mention of my pattern site either and the blog url is wrong!

All comments (whether you agree or not) are welcome as usual.  Normal service  will be resumed tomorrow.