Thoughts of an OG!!

Now when I listed the last lot of bags in my Etsy shop I wondered which would be the most popular.  I have little guessing games with myself!!!   You've heard that the first sign of madness is talking to yourself - well the next stage is playing games with yourself!!!

It's well known in tat land that chocolate goes with tatting (being careful, of course, not to get it on your work) so I naturally thought that the fabric with chocolates would fly out of the shop.  DUH, I was SO wrong!!!  It's a lovely fabric and one I love using.  Is it 'just me' that likes it?

I also thought those with the tatting shuttles (well, they look like that to me!!) and pansies would go fast too but they're still there.  

Isn't it a good thing that we're not all alike!!!

Spring is in the air!

Before I start today - just to let you know that blogger (bless them) are having problems with scheduled posts.  A lot of us are finding that our posts (which we've set to go at certain times) just ain't behaving.  Easy to get around if you've got a brain and are near a computer at the time or shortly after - but ..........

Even OG's like me get mildly excited when Spring shows itself!!!  

After the flurry of sorting out all the patterns I submitted for a teaching job at Palmetto I wanted/needed pure relaxation and a thought occurred to me!!

I usually (as  you've probably noticed) use number 20 threads for most things as this is what was readily available in local shops when I was a kid.  I also think it's ideal for most of what I use my tatting for - throwing in boxes in the cupboard!!!  Seriously I do wear/use a lot of my stuff and I find this thickness is wearable and washable.

BUT I DO love using size 40 and finer and love size 80 too.  So for pure relaxation I turned this time to size 40.  I have been a very spoilt old git over the past few years by people sending me lots of lovely HDT.  I had quite a few eazy bobs with size 40 on so out they came along with my container of 'all 40's').  So this wee mat was made with - HDT, Omega, Coats, Lizbeth and probably  other threads too!!!  I finished it a few weeks ago then forgot it - as usual!!!!

I think this has turned out to be very 'Spring like'.  Oh, the pattern is this one.  The version without the SCMR.  It's the same as the HWT one that I showed you yesterday but this probably 'needs' a finishing row.  Not sure.  Maybe.  One day.  Perhaps!!!!

HWT finished

I've just realised - I haven't shown you what happened to the motifs I was fiddling with - those made with the Hand Woven Threads (HWT)!!  Here it is finally finished.  I actually did finish it last week (or the one before - probably) and then did what I usually do - flung it in a storage box!!!  

I'm not too sure about the final round so it may well go 'under the scissors) when I'm next in the right mood for it.

Hanky again

Well here is the edging on the handkerchief.  I sewed it on with the usual invisible thread.  Boy that stuff drives me MAD.  Well, that's not strictly true - I should say madder!!!

I used the 'Oh, so simple' edging again - probably because I'm getting boring in my old age!!!!

I gave the hanky to Julia on Monday and she's now thinking of embroidering the bride and groom's initials on there - or something to make it even more special. It's just the right size to be framed too.

I used size 80 (ish) thread for it.

Now what is this?

Let me tell you.  It's a handkerchief.  It's for a very special wedding next month.  BUT you may ask why is the silly old git showing you THAT?  Well, let me explain.

Remember Julia my star tatter who I met at the Buzz?  Well she asked me if I'd make her a hanky edging for a wedding gift.  Of course I said yes as I love people asking me to make things.  So, we had a discussion and I said it would be easier for me if she gave me a hanky to work from (size is the thing with edgings!).  

The next time I saw her she brought me the one you see below.  BUT what you don't know yet is that she MADE it.  Yes, honestly this is what she made.  It's beautifully sewn too.  It's drawn thread work and the mitred corners are perfect.  I DO hope you can see how well made it is.

Final version!

Now you've seen the original done on the CD and the one with the gaping hole in.  So, here's the new version done round a bead!!!!  Bit of a change, eh?

The pattern is now available here.  It's a really, really simple one with just rings, chains and the 'odd' split ring.  This design just begs to be used with colours.  Any and all colours.  These have been done with just two but you could easily use four in each motif and I've a feeling that's what I did with some of the original ones.

Naturally these are using Lizbeth colours too.  I'm hopeless at putting the names to them but I assure you that they are Lizbeth.  

More about the CD idea!!!

Sorry that the last two days posts 'didn't happen'.  I'd scheduled them but something went wrong!!  I checked both posts later on each day and both were stating the date and time I'd set but on both occasions they were still not 'out there'.  Anyway, here's what you should've had on Thursday!!!

So off I went into the tatting cupboard and I emerged with these two colours - I just LOVE these two together.  This is what happened.  The top picture is the front and the bottom is the back.  

So, this got the old brain ticking over (after a gallon of tea, of course) because I DON'T LIKE the hole in the middle - it needs filling!!!!  To me it looks like a missing tooth so perhaps I should take it to the dentist at the end of the road!!!!  Yes, there really IS a dentist at the end of our residential road and a doctor at the other end!!!

Certainly needs a second opinion!!!!

Looking at another old pattern

Now I was searching around a week or two back and came across this pattern which I immediately thought looked outdated!!  When I did this design it was at the time when everything that came through our letterbox had a CD in it and, of course, this was a challenge to me to use them!!!

I'm not going to take this pattern down but I did think about re-tatting it.

Below is what I did with some of the CD's and I had these hanging in our front windows for a few years - until they started to fade!  Not sure where they are now but they're in the house somewhere!!!

Technique for Georgia

Georgia asked me a few weeks ago to do a technique for her.  Apparently a few people are having trouble doing this idea.  So, me being me off I trotted to do it.  First problem was understanding how to do it myself!!!

I'm not totally sure where this technique originated from but I found it here and here in my search and I THINK that what I've done HERE is the same.  If not then I'm totally lost which isn't a new thing!!!!

It's a way of making another ring on top of one already being worked - bit like working a ring on top of a chain but this time working a ring on top of a ring.  At first I found it confusing (not new for me to be confused - it happens easily!).  Now I really like this idea but I'm not sure yet whether I'll ever use it!!!

Have you ever thought about how I do the drawings when I'm doing a technique?  Probably not!!!!

I reckon if somebody was to stand behind or beside me and film it then it would be hysterical!!!  I have a graphics pad to draw with (like a pen and paper) and this relieves the strain of using a mouse on my hand.  The pad sits firmly on my lap while I hold the pen.  BUT I also have shuttles, beads, threads to contend with as well.  I make and study each movement as I draw which, I promise you, isn't easy.

Oh, IF this was ever filmed it would have to be a silent movie as the 'talking to myself' and the 'cussing' are unbelievable!!!!

A new shuttle

Look what arrived the other day.  Whoooopeee - a new shuttle.

BUT inside the shuttle are a couple of MY doodles!!!  How's that for customised, eh?

This is one of the popular Hinton shuttles and is certainly unique.  Thanks Erin.  It's in my collection now which I really ought to sort out.  I'm pretty lax at keeping track of what's there!!!

Last session at the Buzz

This was my final session of demonstrating at the Buzz until I'm contacted next.  Again it was quiet but Julia came back again to tat with me.  What a fast learner she is.  We WILL meet up again as I feel we'll have a few other points to continue with and the Buzz is a wonderful meeting place.  Comfortable sofas, lovely atmosphere and a GREAT cup of tea!!!

Here are two pictures of her hands again.  First we are choosing a pattern from her only tatting booklet - (so far!!!) and secondly learning the 'slip and slide' method of manipulating the shuttle.  I did a page on this a while ago which can be found  here if  you want to take a look.

There were two other ladies there (one an old friend from many years ago) who were doing weaving (tapestry), rag rugs, felting and most fascinating of all - braiding of all types.  Sally (the lady I didn't know until yesterday) demonstrates these types of crafts at Mary Arden's Farm here.  So, an interesting day for me too!!!

I'm very interested in the braiding idea - such pretty, pretty braids made in Tudor times.

Old necklace starts new 'thinking'!

Well while Ros and I were doing our weekly tour of the charity shops I found this necklace.  

Two things attracted me - the beads themselves (that's the flat ones, not the smallish black ones) and the price!!! 

Look how many are on the necklace!!!!  I got them home and a day or two later they went 'under the scissors'.  I'll show you what happened to them in due course.  I need to finish it off first and as usual I've got several things 'on the go' at the same time!!!!

Gossip and the HWT

This first part isn't about tatting but I thought you'd like to hear about this small adventure.

On a Monday my friend comes round to my place and we go down the town and round the shops - mainly the charity shops!!!!  I do a 'bead hunt' of the jewellery in the charity shops - more about that in another post.

Well the Monday before last I asked her if she'd seen inside the newly re-vamped theatre and she hadn't.  I just LOVE our new/old theatre so suggested we go there for our usual 'cuppa' after the shopping.

After the cuppa I took Ros around the inside and I found an 'open door' which took us into the auditorium.  Nobody was around so we snook in!!  We were up in the circle area and it was DARK as there was a rehearsal going on.    We watched the rehearsal for ages - keeping very quiet!!  Now I'm talking REAL famous actors and actresses in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.  Are you impressed?  I love that new old theatre.

Well, here's number 5 of the wee motifs and things are going really well.  Will I finish it?  I think so now I've got this far!!!

Here's the bling!!

Before I have a complete meltdown can I ask for some help, please?  A week of two or more ago somebody posted on their blog a slightly different way to start tatting and at the same time hiding the end.  It's similar to the way I do it and I tried it but went back to my old habitual way!!!  I would like to look at it again as I am currently discussing this with somebody else.  BUT - do you think I can find it?  No, way!!!  So if the person who blogged this or anybody else who knows where it is could send me the link I'd be very grateful.

Well, as promised here's the bling to go with this tshirt!!!

I WAS going to make a pendant to go with the 'ensemble' but I found the flowery pendant in a charity shop.  It was such a good match I treated myself to a bought bit of 'bling'.  

I've put it below the earrings I made.  That small 'mark' on the top right isn't actually damage - it appears to be part of   it.  I love this pretty shell type thingy.

Also I was surprised to find out yesterday that a lot of people didn't know what a Tombola was!!!  Well it's a sort of traditional way us English hold raffles of a different type.  The things to be won are displayed on a table with a raffle ticket attached.  The other half of the raffle ticket is put in a big round bin thing which is then twirled round.  You buy tickets and pick them out of the bin and if they match an item on the table you win it.  Of course, to make more money a lot of the tickets don't have matching numbers.  Usually the tickets have to end with a 0 or a 5 to win!!!  Great fun and a great way to raise money.

Yesterday's visit to the Buzz

It was a wet, cold and miserable day here in my neck of the woods.  I trotted down to the Buzz cafe again and met up with Julia to take her forwards on her second adventure in tat land.

She's doing SO WELL.  It's wonderful to find I can still teach new tatters and that they'll even come back for more.  Yesterday we did chains, picots and joining picots.  We'll meet again on Friday (my last official visit to the Buzz for now) and hopefully 'tidy her up'.  After that I've suggested we meet when she needs me - still at the Buzz.  I didn't take any photos at this session but I will show you 'wabbit'.  

When I was leaving last Tuesday I noticed they'd got a tombola near the door so I bought a few tickets - I can never resist a tombola!!!  This is what I won and took home in the pouring rain.  The second and third pictures were taken over the next day or so when Nick had 'been playing' with wabbit!!!

Then wabbit met bear and I'm NOT going to say what happened next!!!!!

Easter eggs

Now sometimes having a little sister can be a pain in the - well, you know what!!!  Now, what's she done wrong, you may well ask?  My reply would be asking me to check her egg pattern out.

I never mind checking out stuff so I did this for her happily but the problem and the reason for me silently cussing her is that I then got flipping addicted to making them!!!

Aren't they lovely?  Here's the pattern in case you missed it.  I gave most of these away yesterday but kept two back to give away today.  I suppose that if I was a mathematician I would be able to work out that that will leave none left for ME.  So, back to the button tin and the HDT and HWT!!!!

Thank you, Sally, for a smashing pattern - you're a clever little sister.

Back at the Buzz

I was back at the Buzz cafe again yesterday.  A VERY quiet day - BUT look  what happened.

The lady who's hands you can see (she's wearing a white top) came in on Tuesday just to see what was happening.  When she saw me tatting she was thrilled as she'd inherited her grandma's shuttle.  She brought it back with her yesterday to learn.  BOY is she a fast learner too.  

The other lady is another demonstrator who came over to 'play'.  She didn't come til later on but picked up the principal of the 'flipping flip' very quickly too.  Tell you what - I THOROUGHLY enjoyed the morning.  I'm meeting the first lady (Julie) again on Monday to have another 'go'.

Watch out tat land - here she comes.

Nearly done!!!

I don't like using my blog to advertise very often - it's not why I have it but this time I'm going to break my rule to tell you that I've got a load of stuff to go in the Etsy shop later today.

Now can you tell me if I'm bonkers or not?  I sit for hours and hours making all this 'stuff' and then I don't want to sell it!!!  I'm very reluctant to part with it and I don't want anybody to buy it for a while!!!  Is this normal or have I truly 'lost the plot'?

A few days after stocking the shop I then start fretting if nothing has sold!!!!  How weird is that?  NO, don't answer, please - I know I'm not normal!!!

Bit of a crisis going on here - the foot pedal on my sewing machine is playing up again.  Nick's sorted it twice but suggested I order another 'just in case' next time he can't fix it.  I think  he said there's a loose connection but, of course, he could've been referring to one in my head!!!

Now, trying to find something like this (a foot pedal) is like looking for hen's teeth.  In the end I found a new replacement on Fleabay.  Oooops, sorry, I mean Ebay!!! £60.00 or thereabouts it cost me but although I reeled at the price it's a small one to pay to keep me quiet and out of mischief!!!!  

Here is some of the stock going into the shop!

More sewing!!!

What I want to show you is what I made for myself more than twenty years ago - long before the 'four bad years'!!!!  I still carry this rather scruffy looking object around in my roly poly bag which is in my handbag.  It's a bobbin holder - the top two pictures are my scruffy one!!!!  SO useful to have pre-wound bobbins to use when I'm 'out and about'.  These are easy to use as you just 'squeeze' the bobbin out from the bottom and you can easily see what colour thread you've got on each too.

So I decided to make a few for the Etsy shop (well, only three so far - all in the same fabric!).  They're not listed yet - I want to get all the sewing done and then they should all be in the shop tomorrow, I think. 

The ones that I'm going to list are below the scruffy one and also hold six bobbins.  I have put a piece of velcro just to keep them folded over.  Not sure that it's really needed but it added a little 'something' to the whole thing!!!!  I'm forever trying to improve things!!!

Yesterday!

OK, not very good pictures but least the OG tried!!!

We have a community cafe in town - right opposite Shakespeare's Birthplace and a mere three minutes walk from home.  This week and next they're running a community arts project and they asked me if I'd like to come and take part.  Well, any excuse to sit on my ample backside and tat DURING THE DAY is very welcome so off I trotted.

Last year it was cold and miserable there and nobody came near me to see what I was doing.  This year I set off rather unenthusiastically and expected the same.  BUT it was totally different.  For starters here are two pictures of ladies who were spinners/weavers and knitters etc (there was another lady but I didn't get her picture) and they were smashing - very friendly.  

Then there was the little nine year old girl who came in to learn to do anything 'crafty' and she really took to tatting.   She soon learnt the 'flip'.  Later there was another lady who'd got her grandma's tatting shuttles at home and she's coming back on Friday to learn to tat with me.  She'd got her husband with her yesterday so couldn't stop long.  So, all in all an excellent day - especially when I won a prize on the tombola - a BIG fluffy wabbit!!!! I know a little girl who'll love that!!!

Oh, there was a downside/upside to all this - as I left the hall the heaven's opened and we had RAIN.  LOTS of it.  We're desperate for rain round here and this was very welcome although we do need loads more.  I arrived home with a dry wabbit (he had his own plastic dustbin bag) and a very soggy body!!!!

The end is nigh!!!!

Phewwwww, the end is really nigh!!!  The situation on Sunday was that the bags were finished.  Twenty 'sets' of Roly Poly Tat Bags with matching Poke Proof Pouches.  When I started making these some years ago I did wonder whether to sell them as sets or as individual items.  I'm glad I went with the latter as it gives a lot more choice.

Oddly it seems as if the pouches are more popular than the bags which I didn't expect.  I'm going to make a few more of the pouches over the next few days - after I've photographed, cropped the photos, re-sized and listed these.

Also I've bought some spanking new ziplock bags for each item and along with new inserts they'll make wonderful gifts.  I've NOT made the bobbin holders this time as they are SO fiddly and time consuming.  Also research showed that not many people wanted them.  BUT I am going to make some 'six' bobbin holders too.  I'm hoping to get all these things listed by the weekend - keep your fingers crossed that this actually happens!!!

I'm feeling 'sewn out' now - I've spent hours and hours making these and put such a lot of pressure on myself to get them finished.  Why?  Well I think it's cause I'm stark staring BONKERS!!

Not ANOTHER?

First today I'd like to put out an appeal.  Jane of janemactats has the sort of problem we all dread.  Well, I know I do.  

She's not going to have enough thread to finish her project.  Here's her initial post about it.  Now here is the thread she's looking for - please leave her a comment if you can help.  Also do take a wander round her blog and have a look at her designs.  Stunning.

All I've got to show you is another motif!!!  A new variegated and yellow in the centre and the light green with the same variegated green that I've used on the other green ones on the outside.

Tomorrow something else - promise!!!!

3rd motif added HWT

Upwards and onwards and another motif added.

This time I used a different plain green!!  This was a darker green and another variegated thread too.

I've also been sewing and doing some drawings for Georgia so I've not been up to any mischief whatsoever!!!  Mind, Nick's happy as it's keeping me quiet!!!

He should be so lucky!!!

2 motifs in HWT

Continuing along the same 'theme' here are two of the motifs joined.  Again with the green I have used a size 70 or 80 and the same sort of sewing thread.  

You wouldn't believe but the centre of the new one is a variegated yellow, lavender and very pale tan coloured thread and the sewing one is a plain green!!!  It's strange the way it's worked out.  

Sewing is progressing slowly.  The reason for that is mainly cause I've been sidetracked by other things!!!  No, not the dreaded H word but other things!!!

Ah, I'll let you into the 'secret life' of an OG and one of the 'other things' which gets in my 'way' (happily).

Something that I believe passionately in is helping other old people like me get a life online.  I feel it's vital as they can then (hopefully) remain independent (ordering food, clothes etc) in their own homes for longer.  So on a Wednesday morning I teach 'Silver Surfers' (along with 4 other volunteers) in the local library.  I've been doing this for many, many years.

Naturally there are people who you befriend and then I find myself going into their homes to help them there!!!  Nowadays with WiFi in the library they tend to wander in with laptops which makes us able to help them even more.  I love my little 'job' and I love the people I meet.  Part of my approach to teaching them is to laugh a lot.  That's easy.

There you are - that's the 'not a lot else' bit from the title of my blog!!!!

Playing again!!!

I can't seem to get back to designing at the moment - I wanna/need to play!!!  This is the start of my next 'game'.

Here I've used HWT made up of a size 70 or 80 variegated thread and a plain sewing weight one too.  I haven't pressed it so you're seeing it 'raw'!!!  So this time just the two threads.  I love the subtle changes using HWT.

My 'aim' is to try and get it into my thick head how the combinations of threads turn out size wise.   I don't believe you can do that with just the one motif so I'm aiming to join a few more to this to 'test it out'!!!!

My Daytime Job

All shuttles and hooks were in the mail by half past ten yesterday morning.  Wonder where they are now?  Hopefully on a plane?

Heee, heeee, no I haven't gone back to work.  The word W O R K is a four letter word and should never ever be used in our house!!!!

These are two pictures of what I'm hoping to get cracking on over the next week or so.  That's after I've cleaned all the windows, the kitchen and other very boring H type word jobs.

What are they?  Well the top picture shows the backsides and the bottom picture shows the top sides of - roly poly bags and pouches!!!  I've got 20 sets cut out and ready to sew.  That took me about four hours to do.  Not my favourite part!!!

I bet a few people will recognise fabric they've sent to me in the past!!!  It's like going back and visiting friends when I get the fabric out.

New tshirt

Well that was a hectic day yesterday!!!! I awoke to find all the shuttles and hooks had sold so set about sorting and packing them.  That took all morning so I only managed a bit of sewing in the afternoon!!!!  They'll all be on their way to their new homes this morning.  Interestingly they are posted at our main Post Office in town which is 100 yards away from Shakespeare's Birthplace and a five minute walk for me.  Well, you probably didn't need to know that but I do like to brag from time to time!!!!

A week or two ago I showed you a post about HWT which is here.  Well you probably wonder what I was going to do with it.  There again you probably thought the old git was just playing around!!

Well I wasn't!!  I was making another edging for another tshirt.  Here it is in all it's glory!!!!

Off to make the bling to go with it now!!!