Tying up Loose Ends

Well, you do when you're tatting, don't you?!?!?
I managed to resolve one of my zipper pulls yesterday evening and will certainly get the other versions done this evening. They can then go to the group I've sort of promised them to for consideration for their newsletter. I also made a pair of giraffes to send to a friend but they've worked out too big for earrings - I'll do some smaller ones by jiggling with the stitch count. I don't have any finer thread in black and I don't think they would make good earrings in a finer thread!!!
Third thing - another heart. Realised that the ones I'd made were now sewn onto tshirts so I didn't have any for my sample book! Duh, am I stupid, or what?

A simple bookmark idea

This has been on my mind now for weeks and I found a 'space' to play with it last night. Just need to check whether it's been done before!!!

After a hectic few days with family problems I finally got round to playing with this idea again. I've started off on a new 'tack' and these are the results. The first one on the left doesn't match from side to side as after the join to the nose I thought of a 'better idea'. The one on the right is much better. I shall now play around with ears, hair and other enhancements on both designs!

Changed it slightly but think it's more to do with colours. Probably larger beads for the eyes would help. Now I want to do one with a tongue sticking out and play with hair!! Perhaps that would help too. Below is a 'big ears' version and a 'small ears' version.

Not sure about it now. Probably start all over again on this one!!!

Another day, another play!!

I think I've cracked it!!! Forgive the nasty colour but I use up old and much hated threads when experimenting with new ideas. Here are the latest attempts. These faces will be for zip pulls for kids. Takes a kid to make these!!! I will next use bright, bright colours and beads. Keep watching for the final versions to be shown on a blog near you!!

Experimenting with a new idea!!!

Three false starts but I had a better idea during the night. Yes, even dream tatting - sad, isn't it?

New Heart

Now this one just 'fell' off the shuttle!! The pattern is being offered to a tatting group first and will eventually appear on my site. I've been playing with the idea of clovers on the second side of a split ring but this time I've used beads to move them further away from the ring.

More finished Star Catchers!!!! (click here for the pattern)

Even MORE of the same but each one is different

Oooh, I'm definitely going to make more of these for my Christmas giveaways. I love playing with the colour combinations of threads and beads. Got to use up some of my beads as Sue and I have bought yet more off ebay!!! Are we beadaholics?

More of the same but different!!!

Two more pairs of earrings and some other 'stuff'.!

Another version

Second, and last, version of this suncatcher. There, I've even got a name for it!!! It actually fits in a bangle so I shall mount them all in those as Christmas giveaways. Quite pleased with this one!!! The unfinished one on the right is just me playing with bead and thread variations.

Another attempt

I had another 'play' with this motif last evening and it lies flat now!!!

Playing

This is an idea I'm playing with now!!! Not sure if this will be useful or not. The stitch count needs 'jiggling' and perhaps the 'spokes' need to be separated and not joined at the outer green places. I shall play with this later and also not use the very long picots with loads of beads. It may look a lot less cluttered with beads on the actual SR's and chains. Back to another re-tat!!!!

3 Pairs of Earrings (click here for the pattern)

My dear friend Sue sent me these earring hoops and I just HAD to make something to go in them. I used my own pattern which and when finished 'tied' them into the rings using some invisible thread. I just can't wait to wear them but MUST go get a shower, dressed before I do!!!!

Play time with new ideas!!!

This looks pants at the moment but it MAY turn into something pretty in the end!!!!

Also I've started back on Motif 7 and at Gina's suggestion I am now doing 'tatted middles' to the different versions so that if people don't have small plastic rings they can still use the motifs!!!
Here's one already done.

Finished the MAT!!!!

At long last and this is the final round. The garden mat is finished. It measures 26" from 'point to point' and 22" from side to side.

YIPEEEE

This afternoon I finally finished the garden mat. I hope to take pictures tomorrow and then I'll post it on here. I'm now going back to check over motif 7 and to make alternative centres so that each version can be made without using a plastic ring.

Good News/Bad News

Finally found the missing elephant - that's the good news. Bad news is that he/she suffered many washes in the pocket of my favourite jeans!!! This is the one I'm talking about towards the bottom of this page - http://janeeborall.blogspot.com/2006_06_01_janeeborall_archive.html . A dead elephant. Still the finished one is happily on my web site now!!! http://www.e.n.e.btinternet.co.uk/elephantonion.htm

Version 5 - my favourite and last (I think!!!)

This is the last one. I don't feel another one popping into my head at the moment. VERY pleased with this one and it's just the right size for the Christmas giveaways. Again I've used three rings on the second side of the split ring to form a clover. It'll need stiffening slightly with the beads, I think.

Version 4 - finished (with beads)

This is the finished five pointed version 4. I'll do a six pointed version and I think I'll have run out of ideas after that! We'll see, though!!!

Version 4 - five point

This is the latest. Still based entirely on the original. Where will it all end? This evening I'll do it again in the pink and blue and add beads. Also want to do a six point version too. Time will tell!!!

version 3 - fiinished!

Here it is version 3 finished with beads. This one I quite like. Love doing the clovers on the split ring. I think it could do with being pressed to make sure the long beaded picots lie in the middle of the points but that's all that needs doing to this one.

Version 3 - trial!

This version uses the same basic idea on round 1 that I used before. I've had to slightly alter stitch counts. This version will be a five pointed star (yes, Sue, I do listen!). The interesting part of this is the clover on the split ring. I wondered if it would work and it does. Lies very well too. Need to now add beads and 'play' with stitch counts on round 2. I'm not happy with the chain coming out of round 1 so will try another idea. Can't wait to use beads on this one!!