First box finished.

Here is the finished box which I showed you with this dreadful photo back here!!!

I was really ashamed of that picture but I'm pleased now with the finished box.  I do have a plan for all these but I'm not going to say what it is yet!!!!  

An added advantage of making them is the fact that it keeps me quiet for hours and gives lots of practice sewing with the invisible thread!!!

Please take note of the diamond (cough, cough, splutter, splutter) right in the middle and the fact that with this Lizbeth thread I have actually re-used some of the beads and sequins.  

Right - onto the next one.  What thread will I use and how long will the geckos be kept at bay?

Another play!

As I promised on Saturday - another play with Frivole's Celeste pattern!!  

Has anybody EVER told y'all in Tat Land that you can NEVER have enough beads?  Well, if you haven't been told before then I'm telling you now!!!!

Since the birth of the long beaded picot life is so much easier.  

With Celeste I only had to work out how many to put on the threads for the beads on the core thread.  When it came to the LBP's I added the lavender intermixed with clear beads.  Job done!!!!

Playing with Celeste

I was lucky enough to win a copy of Frivole's pattern - Celeste in her recent giveaway.  So pretty.

Well I looked and looked at it but just couldn't pluck up the courage to make picot gauges.  I tatted for all those years (pre-internet) without ever using one (because I'd never heard of them!) and couldn't see why I'd need them for regular tatting.  Actually I wonder when gauges were invented - anybody got the answer to that?  

Anyway, the answer to my problem (with apologies to Frivole) was to make the long picots into long beaded picots as they act as a foolproof (well it is an OG tatting it) gauge without the hassle of finding an old credit card to make a 'real' gauge!!!

I think this motif (see below) is stunning.  I'm going to make another with beads in the centre too and more on the outside instead of picots.  Just need BC3 to help me work out the numbers on each shuttle but I'm sure he'll manage that!!  The beads mean that it keeps it's shape very well too - I haven't even pressed this one yet and honestly don't think it really needs to see an iron either!!!!

Progress on the latest box

This is SUCH a bad picture.   I apologise.

This is for the top of the box that I showed you here.  You can't see in this lousy picture that I used the beads that I cut off the original.  I also used a doodad with a 'diamond' in the centre for this design.  I 'rescued' these from pairs of earrings that I bought from Asda a few years ago.  Bargain too as they were in the sale.  Right sort of 'diamonds' for me too - fake!!!!

Promise I'll make sure the next picture is a lot better.

How to keep an OG stimulated!

So, it's nearly Christmas but it came early yesterday!!!!  A package I'd ordered from Amazon for my grandson, another I picked up from Lakeland to replace the gift for Nick that I returned last week etc etc.  

BUT there was also a package for MEEEEE.  All the way from America too.  Thanks, EttaJ - that'll keep an OG inspired for ages.  Just having a few problems with Nick, though.  I gave him a Mary Jane sweet (they're yummmmyyyyy) and he's now convinced they also say 'Nick' on them.

Before I finish.  I must tell you the story of Nick's returned present.  I bought it last Saturday and smuggled it into the house.  He came out of the kitchen with a big grin on his face to show me what had just arrived from Amazon - it was the same as I'd just bought him.  

I took it back to the shop and asked the girl if I could have a refund as my partner had bought himself one off Amazon.  Of course, she said.  What is it?  I produced the sink plunger out of my bag but she was lost after that in a fit of giggles.  You can tell I think a lot of the guy - it's not everybody who buys somebody they love a sink plunger!!!

Little boxes once again!

Wandering through the shop in town a few weeks ago I spotted more of these boxes.

Well I succumbed as usual and came home with a few.  They look lovely as they are but the scissors came out and the first one 'got naked'!!!

Now, what shall I do next?!?!?

Must say that I've kept the beads and sequins (well, those that didn't take a dive off my lap into oblivion and finally the hoover) so they could well be re-used.  Watch this space!!!   

Well, the space between my two ears where BC3 lives!!!

Another snowflake in a flurry!!!

This is another almost the same as this one but that had gold beads and this has clear ones.  

I have a son in law who nags me unmercifully for tatted bits to go on their tree.  Bless his cotton socks as he and his mum are the only ones who display my work at Christmas!!!  I certainly don't as the bits and bobs are somewhere in 'that' box in a cupboard somewhere!!!!  

So pleasing that somebody can be bothered to use them!!!!

Hanky

I have a  habit.  No, not a nasty or unpleasant one, even.  It's a habit I simply can't seem to kick!!!  

When I first started tatting the only thing my gran could suggest was doing hanky edgings.  Wonderful for practice but not very inspiring for a 13 year old!!!!  In fact they're just plain BORING!!!

BUT that's now my 'go to' thing when I've finished whatever task I've set myself for the evening.  I seem to always have one at the side of my chair.  This is the latest one.  

They simply HAVE to be done in a size 80 thread.  Nothing else will do.  This is the 'oh so simple' edging which can be found here.  It really is simple and grows pretty quickly too giving a good depth to the hanky as well.  So, this one's finished and I've already got out colours for the next one!!!

Just when you thought it was all over

Yet another gecko!!!!

This one's for Sharren Morgan who asked whether I'd used this colour of thread.  Well I hadn't - but now I have!!!  It's Lizbeth number 164 - Blue River Glades.  

I'm still doing the geckos with no real idea on what they're going to be used for - but plans are now beginning to form in BC3's little bit of my brain.

I'm wondering whether to put them on clothing as I've said before - OR to explore the possibility of making bags for them to live on!!!!  Those would have to wait for the 'sewing season' which starts again in the Spring when it'll again (hopefully!) be warm enough to have the sewing machine out in the conservatory again.  The problems of living in a 'not very big' terraced house!!!!

Snowflake in a flurry!

Now it's on to snowflakes.  So many choices but as usual I thought I'd check over another of my older patterns.  There were two or three spaces missing on this one which have now been corrected!!

This one was designed with two colours in mind but I've always been meaning to try it out in just one colour.  Thus a white snowflake with gold beads.  I quite like it but prefer colours - an OG can never have enough colour in her life!!!

Two more.

AHA, that fooled you.  Bet you thought it was going to be 'two more geckos'!!!!

No, I've succumbed to the season which is now upon us!!!!  I'm making trees yet again!!!  These will be given away as long as I get roundtoit and find them again as I'm a top notch loser of everything - including my marbles!!!

The pattern is on my site as you know.  Just needed to test them again - well, that's another of my excuses!!!! 

Almost running out of steam!

Another gecko made this time with Lizbeth 133 - Razzle Dazzle!

I'm also making other things too but usually manage to forget where I've left them.  

I spent nearly all day on Sunday uploading the new TIAS (Tat It And See) onto my web site and checking all the links.  A major task which I was SO pleased to see finished.  NO, I'm not telling a soul what it is except that it's not hard!!!!

Talking to trees!!!

Well it's 'that' time of year again - Christmas.  Although we don't do much on that day or two of the year it's always a good excuse to eat, drink and - well, do not a lot!!!  

I usually send out a few cards and a few letters, although I must admit I tend to put those off til the last minute and often forget altogether!!!!  So yesterday I decided to get things done early this year.  I started with counting trees as they'll be going in with the letters.  Whoooops - not enough!!  So time to make a few more from this pattern.

The first one below is now a brooch - OK, not what I intended to do but that's the way things work in this part of Tat Land!!  All I did was tie the finishing threads behind the star, stiffen and then tie a safety pin to the back - behind the button.  Job done!

The second one was - well, as I intended!!!!  Looks like I'll have to pay attention to the star button as I've not tightened it up yet.  Too late in the evening when I finished it I guess!

Yet ANOTHER!

Here's yet another gecko.  They're all lining up glaring at me as they have no purpose in life - not yet!!!  I've still no idea what I'm going to do with them!!

This one is made in Lizbeth's Arctic Waters.  Makes you feel cold just thinking of icy water, doesn't it?

When I'm over this phase I'll pop them all together on the scanner or take a photo of them.  I'm still not over the addiction yet, though so be warned - there are more to come, I think!!!

Another ordinary day

Just another ordinary Thursday in my part of Tat Land.  The usual 'stuff'.  The weekly grocery shopping, avoiding housework and trying to keep warm!!!

Over in America it's Thanksgiving.  Hope you all have fun, lots of lovely things to eat and time with family and friends.  

Remember those in the back of beyond here in England who don't have any fun all day!

Another box!

This is the second box.  I forgot to scan the heart before I sewed it on - stupid old git!!!  The thread is another Lizbeth one but I can't remember which one - sorry.  All I can tell you is that it looks a LOT better in real life than on these pictures.

I was walking through town the other day and wandered into the shop where I got the boxes from.  Lo and behold - more boxes but in a wonderful deep green colour.  You can guess what I did - yes, bought more!!!  Now I've set myself an even bigger task.  

I'll show you the new ones sometime.

What I tat

Somebody mentioned to me the other day that I only seem to tat my own patterns.  Well, that's not quite true as I do venture off to 'pastures new' and I do help out with test tatting quite frequently as well.  I'm also regularly tempted back to do things I tatted in my teens as those intrigue me.  They pull me back as I want to see if I still like them and also love to see them done in colours - there were no colours when I was a kid or a very limited selection!!!

I spent over thirty years tatting anything I could find before I started out on my own 'stuff'.  I also (sad to say) like the way I write patterns down and don't like old fashioned notation or some of the new ways when patterns are written using 'new' names for well known techniques.  'Just diagram' patterns annoy me intensely so those I avoid like the plague!!!

Another reason - I don't like to spend too much time looking at other designs is in case they influence me and inadvertently cause me to step on another person's toes!!!!

So, what to do next?  Well I'm playing.  Playing with something that I've been drawn towards for a month or so.  More later!!

Two snowflakes

Well I suppose it had to happen to me one day!!!  Conformity is the word I'm looking for!  I'm conforming to the traditional idea of white snowflakes!!!  It wasn't too painful either in the end.  Just had to have a serious talk to BC3 and persuade him that it wouldn't hurt too much.  

This is the pattern I used.

Well yesterday was spent packaging up the shuttles and after I've had breakfast in a few minute's time I'll be trotting off down to the Post Office.  Nick's offered to make me a flask of coffee and a cheese sandwich to keep me going while I'm there!!!!  

Shuttles

Just a quick post today to remind anybody who's interested that the shuttles seen here (plus more - see this list) will be on sale today at 20.00 GMT.

That's all I've go to say today.  Tomorrow I hope to be packing, labelling and sorting shuttles to go to all parts of the world.

Another gecko

First of all I'd like to announce another pram - number 125 on the Tat It And See blog.  You'll  see that I've been fiddling with that blog as I got bored with the colours and thought it needed a new paint job!!!!  I may change it again, though!!!  Watch that space!!!

So, today I have another gecko.  I'm still in a gecko mood although I'm trying to kick the habit!!!  This one is done in Lizbeth 108 - Sherbert Delight.

My finished box.

Back to talking about this, this and this!!!

So, here's the finished box.  Number one of two.  I used the Flurry Heartache for the top and a simple edging.  On the sides are small motifs which I stuck on.  

To put everything together I first stitched the heart onto the piece of black fabric.  

Then I stitched the inner edge of the edging to it too.  

Finally I sewed the picots on the outer edge of the edging to the actual box.  Fiddly and not helped by my usual self punishment of using invisible sewing thread!!!  One day I'll learn NOT to use that but use something I can actually SEEEEEE!!  It needs to be done during daylight hours and also with a good light on too.  Still it's done - now to find the other box and do that too!!!!

For those who asked!

I apologise to anybody who doesn't know me and my blog very well but I tend to ramble in my own little world on here and forget that people actually take the time to read it!!!!!!

I've had a few private emails plus a comment on yesterday's blog post asking what the Pop A Bobbin Shuttles look like.

I'll put one or two below but if you look at the page tabs above this post you'll see that there are pages with those and the hooks with hats on etc 'up there'.

A box full of goodies!!

'Im in the garage arrived 'Chez Eborall' on Friday afternoon with a box full of 'goodies'!!!  

Shuttles GALORE with some that are to die for.  I kept the drool off them with difficulty!!!

This is a list of what I've got:-

POP-A-BOBBIN

2 COCOBOLA ROSEWOOD $33.60 each

2 PURPLEHEART $32.70 each

3 ZEBRANO $32.70 each

2 AMERICAN BLACK WALNUT $28.00 each

5 CHERRY $28.00 each

2 PEAR $28.00 each

2 APPLE $28.00 each

3 OREGAN MYRTLE $28.00 each

1 SEQUOIA $28.00 each (no hook)

1 IROKO $28.00 each (no hook)

1 IROKO $28.50 each

POST SHUTTLES

6 HOLLY (3” long) $21.50 each

6 PEAR (3” long) $21.50 each

FLAT SHUTTLES

7 TEAK $10 each

6 ROSEWOOD $10 each

5 ASH $10 each

HOOKS WITH HATS

Ebony (0.4) $10

They will go 'live' in my Etsy shop on Saturday 23rd November at 20.00 GMT.  This will be the last batch before Christmas and the New Year.  Sally couldn't keep him locked in the garage any longer as he was trying to burrow a tunnel under the garage wall!!!!!

Back to geckos again!!!!!

Just for a change - another gecko!!!  Sometimes 'a change is as good as a rest' when I've had a spate of sorting other stuff out.

I've become addicted to this way of block tatting so am seriously thinking of doing more things 'on the block', as Martha would say!!!  

In case you don't know where the gecko is - here's the link.

This one is worked in Lizbeth Mountain Breeze.

Final snowflake - I think!!!

Why is it that when I first designed this snowflake back in 2002 I didn't make many?  Perhaps I should never have put the pattern on my site back then as it's sort of haunted me as I knew it wasn't 'quite right'!!!

It's taken me all this time to get back to sorting it and now I've done it I've got into a rut of making them!!!!  

Maybe this will be the last - there are two others you haven't seen as they were 'trial' ones.  Anyway - here are a couple of pictures - just for eye candy. 

Now, what shall I play with next?!?!?!

3D Snowflake sorted

This must be a first for me.  I've actually got the new version of the 3D snowflake finished and ready for you all here.

The alterations have caused it to grow to a decent snowflake size!!!  I removed the annoying beads from the very long picots in the centre and added more to the rings.  Instead of loading all the beads onto the chain thread I've made those to be added as you go (LBP).

This is a simple pattern - rings and chains only.  Oh, except for beads for those of a sensitive disposition!!!!  Even if you don't like beads - do try this pattern.  It looks even better in real life and it's a total stinker to get a good picture of it.  Remember the tips on stiffening it?  Here's a link to those.

The main challenge is joining the last three rings (10, 11 and 12) to numbers 7, 8 and 9 but just think of the designer - she does 'simple' and it's only a matter of joining through those aforementioned rings!  I've added further new drawings too to help with that part.

Stiffening tatting

I know this is an old 'chestnut' when it comes to talking about stiffening tatting.  

I NEVER use sugar water - did that about fifty years ago and that tatting looks dreadful now and in fact a lot has been thrown away.  I've never tried hair spray  either as I've never owned any (well I had a can in my teens once) - perhaps I should buy some just for tatting? 

So, on the whole I try NOT to stiffen anything.  

A few days ago (Sally 'persuaded' me) I thought I ought to look once more at this pattern which I did back in 2002 to see why I didn't make many.  First of all that's a totally HORRID snowflake on the page which would NOT appeal to me (or anybody else) as something I'd want to tat!!!  

Yes this is a design that does need stiffening.  I think I've found the answer now and will share it with you as it's useful for anybody who wants to stiffen with PVA.  I do like that glue for stiffening but I usually water it down.  In this case - well, read on..........

First of all before stiffening I feel that any tatting needs to be pressed.  I can hear somebody out there (can't quite fathom out who it is, please speak up) saying - 'how the heck can you press something 3D?

Well my solution is to wet the finished item thoroughly and then place it flat on the ironing board.  I then put a cloth over it and press firmly.  I do this again  moving the 'arms' over and pressing it the other way.  It looks almost as flat as a pancake by then but when you move the 'arms' into 'snowflake position' it looks GREAT.  Then to keep it looking good I get 'neat' PVA glue (white school glue) and squidge it in with my fingers into the now hot and damp thread.   Actually this is a method I've been using now for the past few months.  I think it's having the piece really wet before squiggling that helps.  Let me know if you've every tried it and how you get on.

You can see one of the 3D snowflakes that I did a few days ago below my ramblings.  It's not easy to photograph these little stinkers!!! 

I've changed the pattern quite a bit so will get the improvement up within a few days.  Please bear with me.

Now to dress up the ears!

As promised yesterday -  here is the pattern for the earrings.  

These are very similar to the bigger trees that are here and could be worn together - as a brooch and matching earwigs!!!  

I used a clear button for mine as they happened to be lurking in my button stash.  I prefer to have a more 'solid' earring as that stops the dreaded 'bendy disease' which can happen even in spite of megga stiffening!!!

A forest!!!

Here are the trees that I found lurking around the house.

Sally and I have inherited the same genes from our ancestors - we both consistently lose things, especially bits of tatting and beads.  We're both good at putting things in an 'obvious' place or even a 'safe' place but then we can never find them again!!!  I found a bag of trees yesterday and here they are!!!

Anyway, this is just a 'filling in' blog post to give me the time and the 'nudge' I need to get another version of this pattern ready and available for you tomorrow.  It's going to be the earring version.  That one is done solely on a button (shirt button sized) as it really does need a button to keep it from going 'bendy'.  

There's nothing in Tat Land worse than spending time making earrings only to find they 'bend' even when stiffened.  It's one reason my earring designs have a more 'solid' appearance.  I either load them with beads (which helps) or make more dense ones which solves the problem of the 'bends'.  No, I don't go deep sea diving either but I know about bends in earrings!!!

So, tomorrow, hopefully there'll be another 'dose' of trees!!!!

Trees without buttons

Well that was a busy day yesterday!!!  I managed to get the 'buttonless' tree done and you can find it here.

As it rained nearly ALL day I was stuck in the house and so got back to doing more to the TIAS.  I managed to finish the drawing which has been ongoing for a week or two and then I started the 'big chop'.  Obviously I have to have a clear head for this as it's too darn easy to lose track and delete the 'master copy' of text.  I've got four days done so there's still a lot to do.  

Once the 'big chop' is done it's a matter then of 'pdf ing' the files, uploading them, adding links and re-pdf ing them, checking the links etc etc.  

It's all really a way to keep me busy and out of trouble.  Not that I go looking for trouble - it finds me!!!!

More button trees!!!!

Once I'd started I couldn't stop back in September/October when I started on this project.  They'll be my little additions to a round robin letter I send out to a few friends in December.  I really don't like Christmas cards as they're so impersonal.  All you do with those is stick a stamp on them and scribble a quick message - I always make life more difficult for myself!!!

Anyway today will be spent finishing off the version without a button in the middle.  You may see more of these over the next few days - or until I get bored!!!!

Before I wander off to get breakfast - here's the link to the pattern.

Did somebody mention?

Thanks for all the comments on the TIAS - it'll go ahead as a slightly longer one than other years!!!  

So who likes Christmas trees and who likes buttons?  Answers on a postage stamp to:-

The Old Git

Somewhere in England!!!!

New pattern coming shortly - yet another I nearly forgot to add to the pattern pages but I'm working on that part of things NOW!!!!  There'll also be a 'buttonless' version for those who don't like them AND another very small version which are just right for earrings.  Those are made on tiny shirt buttons.  Just give me a few days to get the links etc done, please!!!

Lots more patterns!!!

Sorry, not mine this time but look what arrived yesterday - the Palmetto Tatters CD of all the patterns from last Tat Days.  Now, where do I start?  

Sadly, nowhere at the moment as I'm having a TIAS crisis.  Well, more than one, it seems.  

First of all I'd got a pattern ready and was about to 'chop it up' when I saw that somebody had done something along the same lines.  Now there wouldn't have been a copyright problem with it as mine was a lot different but it put me off continuing.  

So off I went on another idea.  This one has proved a nightmare.  I like how it's looking and it's not complicated (mainly SR's and 2 SCMR's) but it's a much longer one than I usually do.  Thing is - would you all be prepared to tat a longer TIAS?  If not I'll just finish it and put it on the pattern page.  

It's a design I've been asked to do several times so I know it'll be acceptable.  I suppose I'm sort of in the doldrums with it at the moment!!!  It's also taking a long time to draw and check too.  It'll be another week or so before I can get it ready for the 'big chop'!!!!  Please let me know if you think a longer pattern would be OK.

Heart for box

Well this is what I decided on for the little boxes.  You can see them here.  

Naturally it needed beads and there's one big one in the middle too.  Next task will be assembling them and also making another heart for the other box.  This is another of my patterns which I remember calling 'heartache' cause it was a pig to design!!!!  Easy and fun to make, though!

Isn't life fun when you've got these sort of things to play with?  

Makes you want to spit

Must tell you about a shock I had yesterday.  I was trolling around looking for something tatting related on the internet and came across my pattern on a blog.  This blog, actually.  No mention of where the pattern came from or who designed it.  I found something of Jon's on there further down the blog - but that has her name on it.

I've left a comment on one of her other posts about it but cannot find any way to add one to that particular post or any means of contacting the blogger.  I would appreciate it if a few more people would point out to her that the design can be found on my site here and that there are diagrams that go with it too.  if you can find some way of doing that!!  

Something that really annoys me is that it's been copied from the pdf file (not easy to do) and copied BADLY with spaces and repetitious RW's even and no diagrams.  Any help would be appreciated by BC3 and meeeee.  It's not the end of the world but it's mildly annoying and needs stamping on in case further stuff is taken!

Another little gecko today this time made in Lizbeth Ocean Sunset - number 155.

Just another gecko today

Well I've a bit more than that to say!!!  

On Thursday I met up with another online tatting/lace friend.  Andrea is from Wigan and was in Stratford for a few days with her husband and smashing grandson.  

I usually avoid churches and anything to do with religion but Andrea's grandson wanted to see Shakespeare's grave so that's where we went.  I don't think I've ever sat in a church and tatted before Thursday but that's what we did!!!!  I rarely set foot in a church anyway as I feel very uncomfortable in them!!!!  It was somewhere to sit on our walking tour!

The thread used for this little guy was Lizbeth 172 - Pink Marble.

Boxes again, YIKES!!!

Remember this?  

Well it's when you get to this stage (below) that you start to say to yourself - 'why DID I do that'?

Here is one of the boxes after the scissors!!!  This takes me an hour or two per box as sometimes the twiddly fancy bits are sewn down very, very tightly and the metallic cord is hard to unpick too.  I take great care not to 'nick' the fabric.  

Still, here they are ready for the next stage which is the 'what on earth do I replace those fancy bits with'!!!!!  Deciding on which pattern will fit the lid is quite a hassle but once started the OG just HAS to proceed!!!!!

I've tried tweezers to get the little thread ends out but they don't work so I've decided to mount the tatting onto another piece of fabric first.  That's the second picture which you can see below the YIKES picture.

Gecko number two!

Another gecko!!!  They're breeding like crazy over here in my part of Tat Land!!!  Isn't it strange how sometimes the silliest things can take over your life?  

I blame Tatskool for this little rampage.   After meeting her and her husband a few weeks ago I remembered that he is a gecko expert.  I named this pattern for Tatskool as I've a feeling she asked if I could do one for her and her husband many moons ago!  

I found time yesterday to update the page here so you now have a plethora of diagrams!!!  The trick, when drawing diagrams is, to draw the whole thing out first.  Sometimes I use layers and 'trace' over the original.  

Next step is to copy and paste and repeat that as many times as needed.  Each picture is then chopped up to make the diagrams needed!!!  Great satisfaction in chopping - now where's my ex husband's head?!?!?!

This little guy is made using Lizbeth Butterfly Breeze number 127.  I'm experimenting at the moment with another piece of scanning software after doing the Mavericks update on the computer.  The reason is for that is that the Epson drivers aren't yet available for the new update so I'm finding another way to scan.

Gecko improvements!

Now this is the reason for doing the new easy block tatting page.  I decided it was about time I re-visited this little gecko guy and try and improve the pattern.  I'll try and get it finished and on the pattern page as soon as possible - just need to check links and get it 'up there'.  

It was while working this first little guy that I decided to fiddle with the joins in the block tatting so here he is - gecko number 1 and he is made using Rainbow Taffy number 153 with beads in the centres of the body SR's.  

This is one of my favourite threads and I'm going to play with others so sit back and expect a glut of geckos!!!