A tale of two naughty ladies

Day two link is posted above this blog post.

This is a tale of two naughty ladies. Lovely, lovely lasses but nonetheless naughty. Why?

Well, remember this post here? 

Well the thread concerned was a hand dyed thread from Marilee (our one and only Yarnplayer) and I'd run out just before the finish. Me, being me, I just put it in the drawer and thought that that was the end of the story. BUT Marilee being Marilee decided it wasn't. 

Well I think it might have had something to do with Sue Anna who is her friend too and who must've read my blog and asked her if she'd anymore of the thread. Well, bless her cotton socks (bet her socks are tatted HDT cotton ones too!) she had a few yards left and she sent that to Sue Anna who (being the most generous soul you could ever meet) then added to the life saving (no, sorry, doily saving) few yards with the wonderful collection you can see in the second picture.  Thank you my dear friends - I will finish the doily this evening and blog it on Monday.  True, true mates.

Sorry the pictures aren't that good - blame the dull dreary days we're suffering at the moment.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow I will release day 2 of the Tat It And See.

It's been a slow start this year which has actually worked well for me as I've had two busy days with today to follow in the same format. That's why I'm holding back on the next part until tomorrow. Gives me time to catch up with myself!!!

This TIAS is also being translated into Dutch on this blog too by my friend Riet.  Thank you, Riet.  

Started well

The Tat It And See has started well. A steady flow of day 1's coming in with not too many overnight ones either. That's a bit of a relief as I'll be in and out all day doing 'stuff'.

For those who haven't started - don't panic as you can join in at any time. Here's the link once again for the introduction. All links are at the top of this blog and the TIAS blog which is here.

Day 1 is now available

If you look above this post you'll see the links for the Tat It And See growing over the coming weeks. Here is today's link.

A bit more eye candy to show you. I really hope to sell these as I'm bored with putting things in the box in the cupboard. Well, there are two boxes and they're overflowing now!!!

Just another 24 hours

That's all there is until the start of the Tat It And See.

Meanwhile over the past week or two I've been making more Starry Button Bracelets and matching earrings. They're all in my Etsy shop right now.

Well, that's not strictly true as one bracelet is already on it's way to America - the beautiful blue one. So, if you look and say 'HOW much' then please remember the bracelets take an evening and a half to make and use a LOT of beads and six buttons. They really, really sparkle too.

I've added adjustable findings to them so they fit from a 6" - 7" wrist. Just thought I'd let you know they're there.

Oh, forgot to mention too that ALL the beads are included in the tatting and NOT sewn on afterwards. I never sew on after as I'm always afraid the beads will come off.

Updated pattern

Now some of you may have seen that I got a bit carried away with the button snowflake (Fandango one) just before Christmas. I've added a picture below. 

So as soon as I'd got the pattern pages sorted (yes, they're all done now) I decided to add the new version to the bottom of the page and you can find it here.

Two more 'sleeps' and it'll be time to start the TIAS.  Hope you're ready - I am!!!!

I just LOVE

Love, love, making these Starry Bracelets. I'll be listing this in my Etsy shop sometime soon - probably even today.  I'm not sure why but once I start on one I get addicted to making them and have to make more!!!! This is one I made last week.

Meantime my daytime job continues and today I can tell you that the 'odds and ends' page is finished on the web site. This is such a silly task I've set myself but at least I can find things easier now!!!  I'm receiving the odd complaint about it - mainly from Pigmini who is adding things to her 'to do' list that she's not seen before.  I'm adding things that I need to change or improve to MY list!

Finally today I must tell you about a tatting get together that I joined yesterday evening.  It was great.  I didn't even have to travel too far to get to it.

Well, I did walk from the front room to the back room!!!!  How did I do that?  Well Sue Anna Face Timed with me and she was with the Tollway Tatters.  Diane was there, Marilee and Barbara (think that was who I was pulling faces at as she tried to take a photo).  The wonders of this digital world are truly amazing.

Finally and just as I was heading for bed number 104 of last year's TIAS arrived.  Thank you, Adrian.  Here's the link to his sailing boat.

Another mouse

Well look what arrived JUST before the end of the year. A mouse from Davina-Marie. 

I'm not going to tell you all about it here - you'll just have to hop up to the Exclusive Tatting Club page which is here.

Yesterday was another long, long day sorting out the pattern pages. I've now finished the Motifs and Snowflakes page which took nearly all day yesterday (apart from a quick walk and a visit to a friend in hospital) and some of the day before too. My 'psychology' behind working the pages (in case you're interested) is to do the biggest first in the hope that the smaller pages may make the project go faster!!!

Happy New

Well, I do wish everybody a Happy New Year BUT I'm hoping that I can offer a bit more than that!!!  A Happy New Pattern Site too.

For the past week or so my poor nose (which is only small!) has been glued to the computer. Why, you may well ask. Or, there again, you may not be in the least interested.

Anyway - you're going to hear why whether you want to or not!!!

I've been re-vamping the pattern site. 

This has taken ages as I've had to upload thumbnails (after creating them) and then putting in all the links.  It's been quite a trip down memory lane too and some of the pictures aren't that good but over time I may well replace them.

This is what the first page looks like - well, part of it!!! I'll replace the usual url today - if I remember, of course. Meanwhile I'll continue with the other pages and will let you know when they're done.

Countdown

Just one more week until the start of the TIAS 2015.  Starts on January 7th.

Are you ready yet? 

Have you read the introduction here yet?

Are you taking part?

Suitable for beginners and upwards as long as you know how to do a split ring but as the game gives plenty of time it's easy to keep up and learn something new as you go.

Final Valencia

So the last few days have been quiet so I'm taking the opportunity to re-vamp my pattern site. 

It's a major overhaul so this blog may get neglected on and off for a short while. I am a terror when I get an idea in my head like this re-vamp. I simply HAVE to get it done and dusted but it's a huge task so it may take several weeks. I will update the live site as each part gets done and will let you know too.

In the evenings I've been plodding on doing several things - one of which was finishing Valencia.

There will be a short break!

Here on this blog there will be a short break over the next few days while the OG eats too much, drinks too much (maybe) and (more than likely) tats too much!!!! The diet will continue after the weekend (but tatting won't be on the diet)!!!  Spent part of this morning chasing the 'part of' a turkey we'd ordered round the car park at the local 'slightly out of town' shopping centre.  Caught the little stinker and pushed him home in my shopping trolley.  Hard work chasing 'parts of' turkeys I can tell you.  Fortunately it had been plucked and prepared for the oven.

BC3 wishes you all a Happy Christmas. May all your tats be successful during the season and the New Year.

Although I'm not a believer in anything (except waking up in the morning alive) I hope your beliefs (whatever they are) satisfy your souls.  

Last round

Gosh - forgotten I'd still got this in drafts!!!! 

This is a doily that I finished a few weeks ago and totally forgot about. I wanted to play with colours as usual and this is what happened!!!! I'll be giving this to a friend for her birthday which is soon. Poor lass - she'll have so many bits of tatting in her house that she'll soon freak out!!!

Even MORE!!!!

Well that change of direction from the Inside Out Snowflake to the Fandango one - stuck!!! Well and truly stuck. 

There's something about buttons and beads that attracts BC3 who likes the stability they provide.

Not sure what the one at the bottom on the right was doing barging it's way into  the picture but I do remember thinking it was a 'good idea at the time'.  Then I started on the others and couldn't find the brakes!!!

When will I ever learn?

That people are wonderful. Look what arrived in the post on Friday. Doodads. All the way from Miranda - here's her blog.  Thank you SO much, Miranda.  

At the moment I'm making starry button bracelets and matching earrings. Why? Not sure really but I think it's a lot to do with having such lovely beads and threads at my disposal. So, looking at the first one I've made and having more doodads this has now made me wonder if I can use them in bracelets (as well as earrings).

There - a new project for after the silly season is over (I blame Pigmini for that terminology). Just what I need although a critter has been haunting my brain for ages and I must do that too before it sneaks off again!!!

A horse, a horse

My kingdom for a horse.  Well, about two/three yards of thread!!!  For the sake of about two/three yards this doily has failed. Totally and utterly.  You can see where on the lefthand side.

In all the years I've been tatting (around 58) this has never happened to me before. Oh woe is me. Woe, woe and triple woe. 

I've plenty of the plain which is Lizbeth 635 but I ran out of Yarnplayer's Hot Pink and Lime with just 5 rings to do. So this is one for the box which will never get finished.

Sue Anna gave me this skein of the thread when I was at Palmetto and I couldn't wait to try it out. Love this colour way but now out of love with the unfinished doily. That'll teach me not to think about things before I start them!!!!  No more in her shop either and the cost of a whole skein when I still need to use up (and WANT to play with) my other HDT just isn't worth the postage either.  I suppose I could use the plain thread on both shuttles for that last bit.  Ah, there's an idea and perhaps all is not lost yet!!!!

Oh, the doily is this one.

Another bauble in the Exclusive club!!

Here's another member of the Exclusive tatting club. I'm so glad Anita has popped in with her bauble as I'd almost forgotten about this club. Also as I'm nearly finished on a current project I'm looking for something else to play with. As you know I'm addicted to this technique!!!! Here's what Anita has to say:-

"Dear Jane:

Here’s my trainee Bauble!

Hopefully this will get me in as an associate Exclusive member to your mouse/bauble tatting club.

It’s my very first attempt. It’s sort of…well….it’s the first attempt :D

Have fun with it!

Cheers,

Anita Barry, tatter

Amissville, Virginia"

Actually, Anita, I wish my first attempt had looked as good as that.

Another arrival

What a lovely surprise. A sailing boat from Axa.

You can read all about it here.

Finally got bored!

I finally got bored with the inside out snowflake so changed my allegiances and set off on the Fandango Button Snowflake which you can find here.

Well I lie. You can't find this version there as it hasn't been written down or drawn yet!!! Actually it's a simple modification to the original. All I did was switch shuttles and put a ring on top of the chain making it more 'snowflaky'. As I'm very fond of locking my designs into place I used very small picots to stop that pesky ring from twisting and turning every time I turned my back on it!!!

I will add the alterations to the pattern when I get time. I seem to be chasing my tail at the moment and that's got nothing to do with the 'silly season' as Pigmini calls it. Just life getting in the way of tatting stuff.

Continuing with the doily!

Well the Valencia doily is progressing but I'm changing the final round so that it stands out a bit more than just a round of chains. Not totally sure it'll work but we'll see.  This is where I'd got to when I last showed you.  

The light creamy rounds had to be done in a different colour than the centre due to the ball of thread having an untimely meeting with a cup of coffee!!!!  Even though it dried out just fine I decided to ditch the rest of the ball.  Well, I'd had it hanging around for probably fifty years so I thought it didn't owe me anything!!!  It had gone quite hard too.  It was a Coats thread.

Here's the progress so far.

Lots of earrings

Well just to finish the week off - here are a few of the earrings that I've made. In this picture you'll see that I've actually finished them off properly - a miracle in itself!!!!!

I've sent the pair I blogged the other day to Crazy Mom Tats. Well since her home burned down at the beginning of the year her ears have been almost naked and we can't have a tatter with naked ears, can we?

Pigmini and I have been talking about our rather large collections of tatted earrings and how we're going to have to do something about them.  Not sure what but some of mine must be roughly 25 years old!!!!  I'm dreadful at throwing things away.  

Same earrings but without doodads!!!

So having used up all my doodads on the earrings I had to go and think again about the pattern!!! I realised that I ought to do a 'without doodad' version so that's what I did!!!

This pattern is worked all in one pass. NO, SILLY, not the two earrings but each earring separately is worked in one pass. I'm not that clever!!! I really, really like this pair.

As some of you know I volunteer at two groups (or is it three?) teaching people in their 'later years' how to use computers, laptops, tablets and even phones sometimes. Well we've a relatively new volunteer who has joined us and he looked at this pair which I was wearing last week and said - 'I like your earrings'. I grew six inches in two seconds.

Well I suppose there may be one or two people who may want to make a pair like this so I suppose I'd better give you the link to the pattern!!!

I had two purple days!!!!

Still plodding on with these - in between other things!!! You've probably gathered by now that I tend to have a few things on the go at the same time - or it appears I have!!!

Actually I rarely have more than two on the go. A project and something to go to when I fall out with that - often a hanky edging. 

So the reason that I don't show you all of a project at once is so I don't frighten you all away with boredom - oh, and myself too!!! I get terribly bored with me so don't want to inflict that on others too.

So, today, two purple Inside Out Snowflakes!!!  That was definitely a 'purple day' when I made those!!!

Earrings with doodads.

Now I already have a pair of earrings like this in cream and black with the same beads and which I LOVE and wear a lot. The doodads are some that were given to me but I'm very sorry I can't remember who sent them. If anybody wants this pair (for the cost of postage + a little bit towards thread or a swap) then please shout. 

I've very few of these findings left and I'm going to make more before the mood leaves me and THEN I'll devise a way of making the same pattern but without doodads!!!  Watch this space!!!!

Another start!!

Having made the Once in a Lifetime Doily in green and red I decided that I really wanted to see it in other contrasting colours.

So, off I went again on another one!!! This is the centre.

Ready, Steady ....... not yet!!!

Not quite yet!!!!

So does anybody want to play with the new Tat It And See (TIAS) in January?

If you do then here's the link to the introduction. Please read it carefully to the end as the start date is there!!

Oh, yesterday I changed the layout of this page - just because I didn't like it when I read it again!!!!  Here's yet another snowflake!!!

Back to the giveaways

I know snow is white but I've always been contrary and I suppose you can't teach an old dog like me new tricks - like being 'normal'!!!

I must admit I love this one and may actually keep it. 

There again I never get round to putting my tatting on a tree or even around the house except for the odd thing here and there!!! As for doilies - I haven't the sort of house that would ever have a space for them. Clutterful is a good description!!!

Many years ago I used to have a tidy house and I did have the odd doily out too but nowadays - no way.  I love clutter!!!

Doily finished

I finished this Once in a Lifetime doily a few days ago. 

This will be a present for a friend.

Now I've made it in this colour I want to make it again - still experimenting with colours and climbing out with the lopsided sort of SSSR.

Earrings

Two years ago I made these earrings. I haven't worn them a lot until recently when I found that I kept going back to them and wearing them a LOT. I must admit I now love them. So, a few days ago I made myself a pair in black and cream.

THEN I decided to go for more cheerful colours and finally I ran out of doodads!!!!

Interestingly I suddenly remembered that back two years ago I'd started doing a pattern based on this idea but without doodads as people wouldn't always have those at hand or be able to get them. Here's a link to the pair I made then. 

Obviously I wasn't happy with them as I didn't finish the project!!!  So over the past week or so I've been working on a better design which I'll be able to share soon. Watch this space!!!!

Bessie Attenborough

A few days ago I was wandering back through the town after my walk round the rec and I decided to pop into a second hand book shop.  I go in there every two months or so 'just in case'!!!!!  

Well I found this book.  The hardback version of 'The Craft of Tatting' by Bessie M Attenborough.  Now I really should've left it there as I've got a copy which I bought in 1972 or thereabouts when it first came out.  In fact mine looks much the worse for wear even though it's only been used by me.  It was one of my favourites as in those days pattern books were few and far between.

Having liberated this book which has hardly been used (it's an ex library copy as you can see by the second picture) I now realise that I must part company with it.  I do NOT need any more clutter round me than I have already!!!!  So, if anybody wants it they can have it for five pounds plus postage.   Just email me and the first person who replies gets it!!!!!  

Getting on with

I'm still doing other things but every so often I make a snowflake for my giveaways.   I like this pink one most of all - so far!!!

It's very strange but my tradition of making snowflakes for the giveaways has been going on for probably 12 - 15 years but I never EVER put any on our tree!!!  I've got loads I could put on but never bother!!!!

I do have my range of Christmas solar jigglies which will go in the windows later today with a bit of luck.  This year I found four new ones in Poundland.  I'll show you another day.

A sort of technique!!!!

Not sure if you remember the phase I went through of making magnetic bookmarks?  Anyway, I did and loved making them before BC3 came up with a better idea - the Wrap It, Flip It and Mark It bookmarks which are impossible to lose.  

So, when making those bookmarks I enclosed a magnet with a tatted edge which covered over and lay on each side.  I've put a picture on here using a curtain ring to show how it sits.

Anyway, to get to the point - I decided that this idea needed sharing so that others may use it.  I wasn't quite sure whether to call it a technique or a pattern but in the end decided that it was really a technique as it can be easily adapted to whatever the  user requires.  Here's the link. 

I became 102 yesterday

Aha, bet you thought the old git meant herself then, didn't you? Well I actually felt I was 102 yesterday as I had one of 'those' bad nights sleep the night before. 

No, what I'm talking about is the fact that I got number 102 sailing boat in to my inbox yesterday. Here is the link to the story about where it came from and who sent it.

This also gives me the opportunity to say that the introduction to Tat It And See 2015 will be available before the festive season gets underway. Mainly so you can be sure you've got all the equipment needed!!!

Nothing exciting today!

Sadly all I have today is another snowflake.

I really ought to sort them out before I blog them (one of it's arms is wonky) but if I did that I'd lose them on the way to the scanner. Well there's another problem too as I'm always losing things UNDER the scanner too!!!

Do you ever do that? Scan something and then walk away and leave it there. Then a few days later there's a mad search of the entire house looking for the 'missing item'. Well I do and all too regularly.

Wonder if there's a cure? Are there any tablets you can take for it? Please let me know!

Pointless technique?

So, having discovered that I could get out of my predicament I worked the second attempt again (no I won't give up!) up to the first SSR (hiding one colour in it).  Then I went to bed.

The next morning I sat down with my graphics pad on my lap and shuttles at the ready.  Of course you can guess the next part.  I'd forgotten overnight how I'd done it!!!

A few hours later and a lot of cussing to myself I'd managed to remember and draw it out.  I then did a technique page.  Not that I feel it would be a lot of use to many people but I know I'll certainly use it myself in future!!! So, I should probably call it my 'reminder' page.  

Well after running it past Georgia (won't tell you what she said!) I thought I'd better finish it properly and put it up on my technique pages 'just in case' there was another soul who may one day come across the same problem.

Here it is and here is the centre of the doily once more.

Vive la difference!!!

Here's the answer to yesterday's question although lots of you spotted it - well done.

If you look at the first one closely from yesterday you'll see that where the A arrow is pointing I have a split ring that's wrong. This was simply because I was trying to climb out from the centre ring. It was latish in the evening and I carried on as obviously parts of me were - well half (or more) asleep!!!

Oh, this is the centre of this doily which I originally worked in one colour. Me, being me, had forgotten why I'd done it in one colour and just got out these two threads as I want to make it for my friend who has a birthday right after Christmas.

So, what did I do after I realised this boo boo? Did I carry on or throw it away?

Can you tell?

Can you tell the difference between these two motifs? 

If you can't then I've wasted a lot of time drawing up a new technique!!!!  Well I think it's new and I think I'd rather call it a cheat than a technique. 

I'll wait for comments and then explain all tomorrow!!!

Not quite!

Not quite what you'd think of as Christmas colours but these two work so well together that they're irresistible. I'm chugging through the snowflakes with odd 'spells' of stiffening them in between!!!

I think I need about 15 - 20 but I'll try and do a few more than that.  The problem is that I have an earring urge coming over me.  I haven't made any for a year or two mainly because I've got so many!!!

Another snowflake

Sorry about yesterday's post but it takes an awful lot for me to get cross - I really don't have the energy for it but when I do I act on my feelings nowadays and face them head on. 

Well the issue that had upset me such a lot ('almost' copyright theft) seems to be slowly resolving and I hope not to have to blog about it in the future. Be sure I will and will also name names if the small thing I asked doesn't happen.

So today I have another of the Christmas snowflakes that I'm making for giveaways. I used a darker green for the inside bit just for a change.

I've quite a few to make so will be getting on with them over the next week or so.  Also I'm now chopping up the TIAS ready for 'future consumption' after Christmas!!!

Too cross

I'm not posting today.  

Another tatter has made me so cross that I've got to think out a post to tell you about it.

I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.

Oh dear what is the matter

What IS the matter with me? Every year I have this urge to knit. To knit socks and socks only!!! 

I usually ignore the urge but this year I gave in and got a pattern and some wool. Then there was the problem of knitting needles - none fine enough to be found in this town but I suddenly thought of the charity shops and found a set of four needles that were 'just right'.

Here are the socks. Now will I ever wear them? I doubt it very much but I got that urge out of my system and hopefully it won't return for a few years!! I did enjoy knitting them but that's led to other things - more to follow another day!!

Snowflake 4

Before I start - there are still some shuttles left in the Etsy shop here.  This way of listing made life a lot easier for BC3!!!!

Right - panic is setting in. Somebody said something about a festive season coming up the other day so I thought I'd better get back to these - my giveaways for this year. 

As soon as the Mop is over in our town the local council start putting up the Christmas lights. Must admit that they are rather splendid each year and, added to that, there will be another laser light and sound display show being displayed  on Shakespeare's Birthplace. Even though we don't do much at Christmas some things are worth getting the aged body out of the armchair and out in the dark to see!!!