A commission

My day at the Medieval Fayre was my first ever (as far as I can remember) attempt at selling tatting 'live' and was for me hugely successful.  Here's another link.

While I was demonstrating one elderly couple spotted this dangle which wasn't for sale but was on my display.  The lady insisted she wanted two similar ones made for her granddaughters and I took details of the colours she wanted (orange, red, yellow with a little blue and green).  She said they must be exactly the same or they'd argue!!!!  I'm sure we all understand that!!!

Now whoever designed this pattern is either totally and utterly certifiable or mildly bonkers - I go for the first option!!!  


It's not hard but it does need to be read carefully as it's worked.  I thought of re-writing it but in the end decided that IF I could follow it several years after designing it then it would stay as it is!!!  I'm the world's worst at following my own patterns!!!!

A diversion!!!

Not tatting at all but a slight diversion!!!!  

I took this movie while on  holiday - yes, real live wild badgers.  I LOVE badgers. 

Here are a couple of photos too.  They came up to within a foot of my feet each evening.  The wet marks are made by their noses as they were eating the peanuts we put out for them.


Badgers don't have very good eyesight or hearing.  They do rely on their sense of smell and as I was sitting just inside the cottage they couldn't smell me.  In the short movie clip you can see and hear that we have lights on both inside and outside in the courtyard and the television can be heard too.  


SUCH a privilege to be 'up close and personal' to these animals who hurt nobody.  

Hmmmm

There are some people living in tat land who think I've got a good sense of colour.  I'm now going to prove them wrong!!!!

I took these threads on holiday with me - roses (an HDT that I was given) and a plain thread which is probably a Coats.  Both  are size 80.  I made this hanky edging which I FORCED myself to sew onto the hanky yesterday.  

I love the threads (particularly roses) but I'm not sure they show up this pattern very well.  The plain pink is lovely with the HDT but it's tooooo close in colour.  The pattern?  Well it's not on my site yet but may eventually get there!!!

I reckon I'm going to keep this hanky for myself.  The first one in 53 years of tatting that I've ever made and have kept.  


Hang on - I've got probably two in my exhibition stuff but wouldn't dream of using those or giving them away.  This is going to be my treat to ME!!!  Happy UN-birthday, old git!

Still sorting out

Nothing to show but something to report!!!

I finished off the hanky edging I took on holiday with me.  Actually it didn't get touched until the last few days when my 'rest' from tatting became a 'need to tat' feeling!!!

I may get round to attaching it today but it's doubtful as it's a full day ahead.  

Two commissions to do next but I'll show those as they are done.

After that?  Who knows - certainly not me!!!!

While I was away

Life is amazing sometimes.  There I was on this small island off our south coast, in a small seaside town with plenty of charity shops when I turned a corner and found a BEAD SHOP!!!!  What a wonderful surprise!  Not only that but it was a GREAT bead shop too!!!!  

Unfortunately we were parked on the street with only half an hour's free time.  I came away with this little 'stash' which (of course) I didn't really 'need', did I?  Anyway I asked the guy if he'd got an online shop and he gave me his card so I could find it easily - here's the url.

So, what have I got here?  There are two strands of 'beads' (well they have got holes through the middles!) which were 'cheap as chips' at £1.50 a strand.  There are some rings which are rubberised and which got my old brain cell # 3 woken up!!  Next are some clasps (top left) which could be very useful for hanging things onto my handbag - like keys etc and two more cell phone lanyards for putting dangles on!!!  

Finally there's a kilt pin with three loops (top) which will be used to make a brooch for my winter coat.  Not sure yet quite how this will work out but just 'watch this space'.  NO, not the space where my brain is - THIS one on my blog!!!!

Did you miss me?

I've been on holiday for the past two weeks so wonder if you missed me?

I've done very little tatting during this time so you'll probably find that there are a few 'blank' days over the next week or two until I get back into the swing of things!!!

I managed to read and moderate the comments while I was away as I had about two hours internet access each week - in the local library.  This is where I was - on the Isle of Wight.  Here's another link too.


I've re-opened my Etsy store and hope to be adding more to it over the next few weeks - watch that space!!!

Oh, I forgot!!!!

I forgot to tell you what I'd decided to call this motif.  Who was that who said 'typical'?

About halfway through I decided it was to be the 'Joseph Motif'.  I've nearly got the page done so should get it sorted by the end of next week.

Having got THAT far

Well having got the six done I did complete that round of the 'goodness knows what this is' piece.  

In a very, very rash moment and, after receiving the last package from Sue Anna, I decided that perhaps this little experiment to show off HDT could go on a bit longer.  The original plan was to make a wearable piece like a tunic or something.  Who am I KIDDING!!!!  My eyes have always been bigger than my stomach - as the saying goes!!!!!!

After this round I'm calling it quits - my mind has wandered off onto other things which really, really need doing.  Like?  Well, you wait and see!!!

The END

Here's the final piece!!!  Seven altogether!!  

Good news is that I still like this pattern and the idea.  Wonder how long that will last!!!!

SIX!!!!

Having got this far I was totally committed so here's day 6!!!

Now during this I'd been sliding off and doing other things - well, I'm easily distracted!!!

Then there were five!!

This was a hard day - I did have to decide which was going to be the central motif and I went for the blue!!!  

Now we have four!!!!

Next time I returned to this project I added a further motif.  

I'd still not decided how big this project was going to be OR which would be the central motif!!!  All those decisions are wearing on an old brain.

Three little pigs!!!

No, not pigs but three of the motifs together.

This was the day I really, really did wonder if it would work!!!  Two's OK but three could've been a problem.

The negative space looks good too.  I think I can carry on to make a small mat of some sort.  Originally and secretly I plan to make something bigger but .....................

They're driving me MAD!!

A small break in the saga of the motif!!!!  

The title for this post is referring to the dangles driving me mad - BUT one could ask whether I wasn't already mad anyway!!!!

I'm going to make more of these in the future.  

Progress

So, after seeing yesterday's attempt I had to find out if this motif would join to another!!!  

The easiest way to do that was to make another and then put them together.  Now anybody who lives in tat land will know that this isn't 'fool proof' as tatting does change when you get to work another round or start to put things together!!!

This is what it looked like - promising!!!

The starting point!

I think it was about two/three months ago I started on this design.

It's actually worked in one 'hit' but you do have to swop out the one shuttle and replace with another.  

Originally I designed it to act as a 'showplace' for all the lovely, lovely HDT and Lizbeth threads I've been given.  This doesn't really do it justice with these colours.

I'm addicted again!!!

I thought I'd make a couple or more of these dangles just to show how they can be played around with.  All these two need is another half yard or so of thread before starting and then (of course!) more beads.  

I'm 'wearing' these now on my handbag!!!!

Following on from yesterday!

There was one comment on yesterday's blog that made me stop and think!!!!  I tend still to do things without wondering whether anybody else does them the same way!!!

The question was from TAT19540 who asked  "how do you finish the end so there is no thread dangling?"

I have two ways of doing this.  If the seed beads are too small to allow the threads to be taken back through them (that's 4 thread widths) then I just tie a knot.

If the centres of the seed beads allow it I take the threads back up through them and tie below (or even above!) the last large bead.  Ah, you don't take them up through the very bottom bead, though or you will 'lose the lot'!!!!

Here's a diagram I drew to try and help explain the ramblings of an old git!!!!

Am I enjoying these?

I decided that while I've got the beads out and before I have another 'grand tidy up' I'd make a few more of these earwigs!!!

Then I decided on dangles for my handbag so here you go!!!

So, while I was in the mood!!!

Once I get out beads etc for one project it usually leads to another!!!  So I thought I'd make another pair of the Winsome drop earwigs.

The heart shaped beads for this project came from a bracelet I was given a looooooong time ago.  I always 'meant' to wear the bracelet but never quite got round to it!!!!  SO, making the beads into earwigs means I'll get lots of pairs of my favourite jewellery!!!  

How's that for a great idea?

Repercussions!

When I was at the Medieval Fayre last weekend I was selling a few pieces that I'd made for the event.  There were bookmarks, button flowers, Winsome drop earwigs, butterflies and other 'bits and pieces'. 

One of my customers spied a pair of my own earrings on the display board at the back.  I told her they weren't for sale but she insisted she wanted them.  I pointed out that I'd worn them (they were a pair I was particularly fond of) but that didn't deter her!!!  So I finally sold them to her!!!

I managed to 'replace' them yesterday with a similar pair which you can see here.

OK, here it is!!!

I did it, I did it, I DID IT!!!!!   I managed to get the page done.  Been a busy week last week but I managed to find a few minutes!!!

Here's the direct link to the page but you can get to it from the home page too.

What am I talking about?  The re-visited hearts on buttons!!!

That's amazingly fast for me to get the whole of my act together.  Next project?  Wait and seeeeeee!!!

I wasn't going to bother!

I wasn't going to bother with the earring on that pattern but I DID!!!!

Here it is in all it's 'glory' (or should that be GORY)!!!

All I've got to do now is the page with them on.  Won't take long so keep your eyes on 'this space'.  NO, not the space where my brain should be but THIS space on my blog!!!

What IS the old git up to?????

Is this a case of copyright theft??!?!?!  Ah, don't think so!!!!

Using the wayback machine I've had to work out how long ago I did this pattern.  It's GOT to be pre-2001 from my searching.  Isn't it the messiest page and design you've ever seen?  Mind, it's been around a long time - a bit like me!!!!

So the time came to take another look at it!!!  IF you want the original pattern (heaven forbid!) then please take it soon as it will disappear.  

It will be replaced with the updated instructions and drawings with these 'modernised' ones.  

The thread is a plain red Manuela on the outside and Tatskool's Flame Lantern on the inside!!!!  Don't these just call out to be made?  

Another two on the block!!

Two more of Martha's dear little critters.  I fell for this one as soon as I saw the picture.

Steph got a ferret and I got this racoon.  Isn't he SO CUTE?


Next day along strolled this alligator - look at that grin!!!  Reckon he's got me in mind for his lunch!!!

Whooops, forgot the gator earlier!!!!

Medieval Fayre - part 2 (or 'the end')

I must mention here that this church is world famous as the burial place of the bard - Shakespeare himself.  Here's a picture (taken in a hurry) of where his tomb is high up on the wall (over on the left here).  As a kid it always puzzled me how those ancient guys dug a hole so high up on a wall!!  Actually, if I'm to be honest - it still puzzles me but I don't lose any sleep over it!!!  The inscription on the tomb says:-

Good friend for Jesus sake forbear
To dig the dust enclosed here!
Blest be the man that spares these stones,
And curst be he that moves my bones. 

Rumour has it that there's nowt in there and that it's just an 'empty space'.  That's Stratford for you - full of rumours!!!!!

Next I have a picture of a really, really nice guy.  I often see him parking in our road when he comes into town and yesterday I took the opportunity of getting his autograph for my 3 boy grands.  He's a fantastic actor and appears in a lot of television programmes here in the UK.  Others might recognise him better for his part in Harry Potter as Filch.  In this picture you can see him opening the Fayre at eleven o'clock.  His name?  David Bradley.

One thing which amused me was that one young lady looked long and hard at my winsome drop earwigs and then decided adamantly that she wanted a pair which were MINE!!!  I'd worn them quite a few times as they were my favourites for a while, and I told her this.  She still insisted she wanted them.  So, on Sunday afternoon I had a rummage around my tatting cupboard to find the 'makings' for another pair (or two, or three)!!!  Just need that other commodity - time!!!

I also had a commission to make two of these flowers with no timescale on making them, either.

Just as I was packing up a young lady came over and we started talking.  She was thrilled to see a tatter and said she tatted too.  She came from Kentucky and told me she didn't know of any tatting groups.  During the conversation she mentioned she travelled to South Carolina regularly so, of course, I told her about the Palmetto Tatters!!  It would be great if she joined up with them sometime.

Oh - one final thing.  The shuttles I listed in Etsy flew out of the shop yesterday!!!  There will be more but not for a few weeks and when there are I'll let you all know on this blog.

Medieval Fayre - part 1

Sorry I missed putting this out yesterday - life 'got in the way' early in the morning so I didn't get the chance to read it and finish it off before posting!!!

I think it's easier if I intersperse the boring old text with pictures today rather than leave them to the end!!!

I got to the church about three quarters of an hour before the public were due in.  First I met a donkey called Kevin out in the churchyard!!!  Kevin DID NOT want to go into his enclosure!!!  When the owner finally got him in Kevin decided to 'pose' for the second photo!!!

Then I took these two pictures - just for Anitra Stone.  Again these were in the churchyard before I even got inside!!!!

OK - here in the church are a few pictures of the stalls being set up.  All the paraphanalia (think they're called pews!!!!) were removed on Friday. 

YIKES - this is Tim dressed as a knight!!!!!

This is 'tat corner'.  Between the spinners and weavers (one or two of whom I'd met before) and the face painting which was great as the kids were a joy to chat to.  I doubt you can read the lower sign which says 'Original designs by Jane Eborall (a local yokel).  Gave a few people a giggle!!!!

OK, that's it for today - there'll be one or two more pictures tomorrow.

Oh, before I toddle off into another manic day I'm going to add three pop a bobbin shuttles and two post ones to my Etsy store too.   Sally and I decided that now the list has gone (almost!) it would be easier to list them that way.  The problem with the list was getting them to folks in the right order and then sending out invoices.  This way all I have to do is list them and RUN!!!!!!!  Hopefully to the Post Office too!!!  We've now got to persuade 'im in the garage to get back into the garage as more shuttles are needed!!!!!

This is a peapock

That's right I have it on good authority from 2 1/2 year old Abbi that these birds are called peapocks!!!

The pattern is from Pam Palmer's 'Tatting Treats' and I first made this little critter shortly after buying the book directly from Pam in 1994 (or maybe 5).  That time I worked the tail as the pattern stated but this time I used exactly the same stitch count but worked it without any cut and ties - well, until the end of course!!!  

The tail thread is from Tatskool and is called Coral Reef.  The body is worked in a Coats thread.

The guy underneath is a crocodile.  OK, I know the original was an alligator by Kate Plummer but Nathan wanted a crocodile.  I took liberties with this pattern as I was tired and so changed the bottom part.  My apologies to Kate who's work I SO admire.  If you're out there, Kate, I'd love to find you.

My lucky streak!!!

Very lucky, I might add.  

Gina's been running giveaways for years - and very generous ones too.  I know this because I follow her from the dashboard on my blog and love reading her contributions.  Also I've been entering these giveaways too.  No luck at all until two weeks ago when I WON!!!

The parcel arrived and when I opened the box there was this dear little bag inside.  Immediately it reminded me of a jester's hat.  I emptied it out (as you can see in the second picture) and tried it on.  It will remain a bag and not a dual purpose bag/hat as it was too small even for my little head.  Small it might be (as a hat!) but it was stuffed full of goodies.

Thanks, Gina.  SO glad I won.


Tomorrow I will be here all day!!!  I'll tell you all about it (whether you want to hear or NOT) on Monday!!!!

Another two cracking design

Yes another hopping design from Martha.  Isn't this wee grasshopper so cute?


Under the grasshopper is a koala which I love too.  Wonder what I'll get tomorrow?  Hint, hint!!!

Test tatting

One of my very, very favourite designers is Martha Ess.  Her books are the ones I go to time after time - mainly (I'll admit) for her critters as the grandkids love them almost as much as I do!!!!

I'm honoured yet again to be asked by her to test tat a few patterns for her.  Here's one I've just done.  Isn't it just SO CUTE?


When I stay with Joanie in SC my greatest joy is being with her and her DH but the bonus is to have the time to watch the birds at her feeding table and even more entrancing is watching the hummers.  Just WISH we had hummingbirds where I live - but on second thoughts I'd never get anything done if we did!!!!

I won another giveaway!

I entered TypsTatting giveaway a few weeks and I won - just because I'm STUPID!!!!

That's what I like about living in tat land - I can be as silly as I like without people looking down their noses at me like so called 'normal' people do!!!!!

This is the Yoyo maker she sent me (purple thingy on the right).  See the fabulous instructions?  Loads of them and easy to follow.

BUT at the top left is what I came up with on my first attempt!!!!  Sad,  isn't it?  I think the fabric I used was maybe a bit stiff so I'll have a go with another flimsier piece. 

Also in the packet was a delightful cloth which is now on an antique (yup, even older than me!!!) table.  Looks SO pretty as it's a very fine cotton with pretty embroidery on.

Don't you just LOVE my bum?

That made you sit up and notice, eh?!?!??  You'll have to wait til the last picture, though!!!!

Right, since the arrival of Tatskool's gorgeous HDT last week I found I'd run out of Eze-bobs!!!  

Now spelling counts a LOT when finding these little gems which Rita Cochrane first introduced me to waaaaay back during my first (think it was the first) visit to Palmetto Tat Days or just after.  It's not easy to find them as they are spelt differently by people.  If you do a google search you'll find Ez bobs, Eze-bobs and Ez-bobs which doesn't make life very easy for an old git in the UK.  Not sure where to find them in the USA but I did find a fabulous supplier in Ireland (are you there, Tatskool?).  The company is here and they're called Arabesque Braids - look on the Knitting Nancy page - their delivery is FAST too.  Just a hint when ordering - the size 2 (my favourites) hold 50 yards of HDT easily.

So, when I'd wound just one of Tatskool's skeins onto an Eze-bob I realised I'd run out so back to the drawing board - aka Arabesque Braids for more.  I'd decided to try and tidy up my messy balls of thread which had already decided to unwind themselves in storage and put them on these wee gismos so I ordered 8.  

Well, since the arrival of Sue Anna's gift I've had to order MORE!!!!!  I just LOVE having packages arrive through the post!!!  Here's a few pictures of them.  

First picture is entitled 'now you see me'!!!

Second is 'now you don't' - bet you guessed that already!!!!!

The last one is 'bum's up'!!!  Actually to prove that I can be organised from time to time I've written on the bottom of each the name of the thread, size and (where I know it) origin.  Mind, I think those with no names are most likely Yarnplayers as I recognise them from her Etsy shop.

This has got to stop!!!

No, honestly, not really because I LOVE it.  Another package in the post today!!!

I think Sue Anna's out to make me the 'most spoilt tatter' in the world.  Look what she sent me yesterday.  Can you believe it?  All those HDT's!!!!  Guess what too - I was running short on black too.  

Where DO I start with all those threads?  Actually I do have something 'on the go' which was designed purely to 'show off' the beauty of the HDT's.  I'll 'reveal all' in a week or so.

This 'something' is a 'something' that I've been doing at odd moments and hope to take with me next week when I do the demonstration in the local church.  Also I'll be taking it with me on holiday in a few weeks too.  

The blog will be 'dark' for a couple of weeks - just be reassured that I will be back!!!

Latest project

This is what I've just finished.  I do like to have a simple project on the go so that when I get foxed by a design I can go and do that.

This is one that really grabbed my interest - I was going to keep it for when we are on holiday but it just kept calling me to get it finished!!!!

I used the tiger eye number 80 from Yarnplayer that Ridgetatter sent me.  Love that thread.


The plain thread is an old Coats that I've had since the dinosaurs roamed the earth.  The pattern?  I'll leave you to guess!!!!