Meeting another tatter!

I was lucky enough to meet up with another tatter on Saturday - somebody you'll all have heard of - Sherry Pence.  She lives in America but is over here for a week or so with her husband.  We met up and I took them on a walking tour of the town.  Then home for a cuppa tea and tatting chat!!!

The picture below is Sherry in the mirror maze in the main theatre.  I take my grandkids here when they visit but suddenly realised that I'd got two slightly larger kids with me who may also like to see it.  Hmmmm, same as the younger ones - a job to tear them away!!!  This is a travelling exhibition which will be gone in April.

I had a wonderful afternoon and we thoroughly enjoyed talking about y'all in Tat Land too!!!

Look what Sherry gave me too - one of her splendid new hooks.  You can find them in her Etsy shop which is here and when she gets back home later this week.

Final day of TIAS 2013

The final day and the final link which is here. 

Please don't forget to send in where you live and the threads used if you know them. The first picture is MINE. One of the many 'trials' I made while designing this pattern. NO, it had nothing to do with the Royal baby which is due sometime this year as this was ready back last November when that was only a twinkle in it's parent's eyes!!!

Snowflake morphing!

Now many, many years ago I had this pattern (one of a series) published in a UK weekly magazine.  Originally these were made on doodads which I'd bought locally but when they were no longer available I re-did them on cabone or curtain rings which is what you see on my pattern pages.

Another almost twenty years on from the original pattern I've decided to re-visit the pattern again and 'get rid of' the ring in the middle.  

So, my first foray into re-vamping the design is below.  Hmmmm, it's sort of OK but not what I'd call a good design.  

Please come back another day to see what actually happens to this idea.  Believe me - in the end it's a much improved one!!

This must be a record!!!

A record in that it's only a few days since I showed you these notes and here now they're up and floating around in cyberspace here.

Big pat on the back for the OG, eh?

Day 10

Today I am posting the link for Day 10 of the TIAS.  This is where you can use a new (I suggest plain) colour.  It may take you a little longer this time but I thought that by now you'd be bored with the game so there will be this one and just a small portion on Sunday (Day 11).

Treble clef

Thanks everybody for all your comments on yesterday's post.  I'm pleased to tell you that I'm even more confused now than I was before.  I'll put all the names in a pot and pick one out in due course!!!

I was heartened to also find out that I'm not alone on not liking music too - makes an old git feel not so odd!!!

Now I know the name of this note - it's a treble clef.  No idea why I know that but I do.  I think it's quite important in music but not sure why.  No, I really don't want to know either - ignorance is bliss and I'm truly ignorant!!

HELP needed

Now just lately I've been working on musical notes - small ones for notecards etc.  Mainly because my sister asked me to although I must admit to having been asked many times over the years.  One thing quite a few people know about me is that I utterly HATE music of any sort.  It makes me tense and angry for some reason.  Now you have the proof that I'm bonkers.  

Anyway, having done these two notes I suddenly realised that I don't know what they're called!!!    I did try googling them but still didn't settle on a 'real' name.

The top one I've called 'small note with bar and blobs at both ends' and the one underneath has been named 'small note with squiggle at top'.

Can anybody out there tell me what their real names are before I put the pattern onto the doodle page?  I don't need a long explanation of what they say to you - sheeeeeesh, it'll only make me abandon them again.  Just a name - tat's all!!!

One more to come but I know the name of that one!!!

Day 9 of the TIAS

Here is the link to Day 9. Have fun!!!

Day 8 now available

Yes, Day 8 is now available here. 

Must warn you that Day 9 will be out on Monday. 

I'm shifting it a day earlier so that I can get a 'quiet day' next Saturday - I'll let you know more about that on my regular blog after it's happened!

Lucky Clover part 2

Tomorrow will be Day 8 of the TIAS.

Well I've been quietly working away at the Lucky Clover doily that I showed you here.

Now I thought it might be a bit overpowering in just the variegated thread so I decided to use plain for the chains.  The problem is - I hadn't got any plain thread of the same sort (Perfect Quilter) so I went and dived into my stash and came up with two threads that matched - one thinner than the other.  The thicker one is a quilting thread which I picked up in Ciincinnati many years ago.  The thinner one is a Coats and Clarkes polyester.  All I really know is that they work well together!!!

I'm really pleased with this but am now wondering what to use for the final round.  Time to put on the thinking cap OR send for brain cell 3 who seems to have been on vacation recently!!!

Final suncatcher

I've just done this suncatcher which I think is my favourite.  Something to do with the colours, I think.

OK, I'm tired of this game now - I'm off to find something new to play with!!!  I like to make several of 'something or other' and then I get bored!!!!

Another two suncatchers

First of all - tomorrow will be day 7 of the TIAS.

OK so this is what I decided on next!  A session with the doodads!!!  Actually some people suggested this idea but I'd already got these done!!  Great minds think alike, eh?

They look a lot better (to me) with something in the middle although I do like negative space yesterday's wasn't very stable.  Not sure I'm into these colours at the moment but I usually love them so it must be down to the 'time of the year', I think.

Story of a suncatcher

Now I do know how old this pattern is because it has a date at the top (2005) which I never used to bother with when I first started putting up pattern pages.  

I also know it was at a time when it was intriguing to me to use rings.  These are small rings used in the making of blinds or fancy schmancy curtains.

The problem is that I now consider them rather ugly unless they're entirely covered in tatting!!  Times and ideas constantly change.  This is the original one that I made (below top)and I still love the colours.

So off I went on a journey to 'get rid of' the ring.  Here's my first attempt below.  Now, IMHO that is NO GOOD at all.  Back to scrub up brain cell 3 to see if he's got a better idea.  Oooooooh, my other two brain cells are hurting with the thought of it all!!!!

Day 6 of the TIAS

Here is the link for Day 6 of this year's TIAS.  

Another doily adventure.

Now do you remember the doily I did recently from the Penelope book - here?  Well I enjoyed re-visiting my childhood so decided to then do another of my favourite doilies - remember I'm NOT a doily person!!!!  

This is one I really took to many years ago as soon as I saw it.  I originally made it in a size 20 thread and a sort of 'dirty ecru' too.  It's called 'Lucky Clover and is on page 80/81 in the book called 'Tatting Patterns and Designs' by Gun Blomqvist and Elwy Persson (English version).  I bought the hardback edition of this book back in 1967 or thereabouts when it first came out in Swedish (well, I'm not sure what language it's in!) and remember being able to easily work this and many other designs in the book even though I didn't understand the words!!  Obviously I've got the paperback edition too - in English - an old git can't have too many books!!!

The reason it appealed to me was it's lack of picots in the days when everything had so many.  I can remember so well looking at it and seeing the clear lines of the design.  

I'm working this in a variegated Perfect Quilter 30 weight!  Well, at the moment but things may change.  Watch this space!!!!

It's OK

It's OK to wash it is the name on the bottle.  This post today is mainly for Sally and Joanie who were with me when I bought a bottle of this fabric 'glue'.

It's taken me ages to pluck up the courage to use it for some reason.  I finally found a tshirt that I didn't mind 'risking', made a heart and took the plunge off the diving board!!

It does look a bit naff on the top picture but I can assure you that it ain't that bad!!!  I'll be a bit more careful next time I use it - yes there WILL be a next time, I assure you.  Since these pictures the shirt has been through the washing machine a few times and it does look better.  I can promise you one thing - that heart will be on there until the shirt dies a decent death.  It's not going anywhere else, I assure you!!!  

So, I'm pleased with this product and wish I'd had it when I put these letters  (below) onto Nick's jumper a few years ago.  Before  you throw up your hands in dismay - he ASKED me to make them and add them to the jumper!!!  The picture is him modelling it!

Day 5 now available

OK, this is roughly the halfway point and it's now time for Day 5 which is here.

Some pictures to keep you going and to see some of the guesses too!!!

Now, why WOULD you?

Use boring needles and needle tat when you can use something like this?

I first spotted this on ebay just before Christmas and had it on my 'watch' list for the whole time it was listed.  I meant to leave a bid but at the last minute did what I'm good at - wandered off and forgot.  

Well, that was the end of it as far as I was concerned but a week or two later I saw this post on Diane's blog.  Well I turned green (not blue which is Diane's favourite colour) and not an ordinary green either but a BRIGHT one - with envy!!!  

I spoke to Diane about the shuttle and she gave me the email address of the lady who makes them.  I wrote to her and she made a penguin shuttle for MEEEE.  Isn't it lovely?  It just reminded me of all the penguin patterns I've done over the years!!!

Julie Patterson

Now, does that name ring a bell?  It should do.  I nearly fell off my perch when I saw Julie's name in my inbox and taking part in this year's TIAS.

For those who haven't been in Tat Land very long I'll explain.  Julie is a designer from Australia who has been megga busy for the past seven years and hasn't had time to do much tatting.  BUT the good news is that she's coming back home (that's here in Tat Land) to live.  

To give you a mere inkling of what she's done in the past please visit this link.  Oh, and this one, this one and - well, just google her!!!  

Julie now does pdf copies of her books and you can order them from her.  Her email address is clickable here.  She charges AUD$12/book or AUD$30 for all three bundled so if you want any or all please drop her a line.  She's sent me pictures and here are the covers of her 3 books to whet your appetite!!

Can't tell you how excited I am that she's back with us - well, almost!!!!

Heart for a hanky

Today it's time for day 4 of the Tat It And See.  Here's the link.  You will notice that we're all back together again - cautious and intrepid tatters alike!!!!  This will remain the 'status quo' for the rest of the game.  All together now, TAT!!!!

Oh, I forgot to show you the little heart I added to the hanky.  It's here if you want to take a look at it.  Obviously I didn't add beads to this one as - well, who wants to wipe their nose on some scrunchy, hard beads, eh?

Quick announcement!

Just a quick announcement to let  you know that Day 4 of the Tat It And See will be out tomorrow.  Links just above for days 1 - 3 and introduction.  Remember - you can start and finish at any time as there are no 'rules' really!!!!

TIAS blog is here.

Answer to the mess question!!!

Before I start today I just want to let anybody 'out there' who is taking part but hasn't sent in any pictures for the TIAS that if you're holding back for fear of privacy then please don't. 

I am very aware that some people don't want their names published and (as long as you tell me on each submission) then I will totally respect that. You could send in as just 'anonymous' or just invent a name for yourself. I NEVER pass on any email addresses to anybody unless asked to and then I would contact BOTH parties before doing it. I'm a great respecter of people's wishes.

Also even if English isn't your first language then please send things in - I use 'Google Translate'.

OK now for the answer to the mess I showed you here!!!  It's a hanky edging.  Actually there's a bit of a story behind this.  At the teacher's meeting before last Tat Days we were handed a goodie bag with some lovely goodies inside along with a handkerchief.  This had been added to the bag by Georgia (I think!) to become part of this year's scholarship fundraiser for 2013.  We were asked to add an edging to it - so I did!!!  The hanky is now back at Georgia's house for her to do whatever she's plotting with it.

Day 3 now posted.

Well thankfully the TIAS is taking a lot of my time but I am still tatting - a bit.  

I'm finding it a bit hard to cope with dealing with comments and questions on two blogs at the same time!!!!!  I think I'll blog on this blog when I'm not putting a new day out.  Hope you understand.

So today I am just giving you the links to day 3 of the TIAS!!!!

First of all the cautious tatters who can find their link here.

Next for the intrepid tatters (you can change your status to cautious if you like) the link is here.

Now what's this mess, I ask you!!!

Today it's Thursday (commonly known as gin and tonic day in this house!). I allow myself one on a Thursday but why that day I've no idea. I do have another sometimes over the weekend but Thursday is traditional!! OK, I'm rambling. Just meant to tell you that tomorrow I will put day 3 of the TIAS on the internet. We've already got over a hundred who have done day 1 and sent theirs in although that's not compulsory it's wonderful to see so many taking part. Thank you.

Go on, I DARE you to guess what this mess is. No, this isn't the TIAS but something else.

The TIAS is going SO well but you'll have to forgive me if I seem to take time getting to upload pictures and comments. There are many, many more people taking part this year, I think and I'm having such fun doing it. We should beat the goats which ended up being over 100.

Two more hearts and TIAS day 2

Here are two links for Day 2 of the TIAS. This link is for the more cautious tatter who doesn't want to tackle a split chain. This link is for the intrepid tatter who doesn't mind the challenge!!! You can easily change your mind if the split chain doesn't work out and do a cut and tie if you like. I leave it to you. Help is at hand if you want it and my email address can be found at the side of the blog.

Also more of the hearts with buttons on. Am I obsessing over these now? I don't think so - just need more odds and ends to put in my 'just in case' or 'just because' box. This is a box of these sorts of odds and ends that I can turn to when I want to give somebody something. I call them 'just because' gifts. No occasion or obvious reason but 'just because' I want to give them something.

I've been meaning to

First of all - tomorrow will be Day 2 of the Tat It And See so I'll be up early - well early for an oldie like me!!!!

I've been meaning to do this pattern again for ages but not on a cabone ring.

First of all I tried to make a simple middle for it but one which would allow an easy 'progress' from there to the split rings on the inner round.  No luck.  Then I decided to try it replacing the joins to the cabone ring with beads.  It actually works REALLY well just like that!!!  Maybe I'll have another go - another day but who knows!!!

I'd also got a weeeeee bit of thread left on a couple of shuttles that I'd been using for a design idea so as there wasn't enough to make anything big out of I decided to have a go at one of these emotitats.  Maybe I'll move them to the doodle page as they're really useful for the odd bits left on shuttles.  This is my favourite one for obvious reasons!!!  I LOVE smiling and making others smile!!!