People earrings

It's probably 30 years since I started designing earrings to amuse the kids I was teaching. I had the reception class in those days and started wearing daft earrings to encourage the children to settle into school. The parents used to encourage the children to come to school to see what the teacher was wearing in her ears.

I used to wear anything - from teabags, dog biscuits, sweets, bath plugs and also the  children's homemade earrings (often made out of toilet roll middles) that would fit onto ear findings. Then I started to design my own tatted ones which formed a lot of my doodles (seen here).

I DO wear 'normal' earrings nowadays but I was feeling a tad boring recently so decided that people earrings would be something to cheer up the winter months. I used the tat beads as inspiration and only slightly shortened the arms, legs and skirt to achieve these earrings below.

Pattern uploaded!

Thanks to Sarah for the gentle reminder about the rabbit - I've now uploaded the full pattern to my site. 

Here's the link.

There are now 74 rabbits on the TIAS site here.

Playing

That's right - playing - just playing!!! 

I wanted to try out the diamond pattern to see how small it would be when worked in a size 80 thread. I wanted to know just in case anybody asked!! Not that they have and probably never will!!! Anyway, after I'd made this a few weeks ago it went missing!!!

No, this time it wasn't under the scanner - it was put away 'safely' as it may be needed for another day. More about that when I know more about that!!!!

This is the diamond pattern which can be found here. There are six of them joined together and the little doily measures (from point to point) 3½".  I did think it maybe useful to know what each single diamond felt like with regard to making earrings from the pattern but have decided that number 80 may be just a BIT too fine and 'bendy'.  I like earrings that will keep their shape and not be so flimsy that after a few wearings they will bend.  Heavily beaded earrings do tend to keep their shape well but it would be too fiddly to add ears to this pattern in too many places without taking the thread off the shuttle in at least one place.  

Beaded Shuttle

Today I've managed to get my act together and finally upload the shuttle design that I did for the Fringe Element lessons last September. This is a derivation of the one I did before and if you go to the web site and to the Motifs and Snowflakes section you'll find the original sitting right next door to the new beaded one!!! 

It may sound easy to 'just add beads' when designing but you know me - I don't like cutting and tying after each round and wherever possible will design in one 'hit'!!!!

Anyway, here's the link in case you want to try it at any time. I think it would make a lovely brooch but I haven't 'quite' got round to doing that, yet.

Two hearts

A friend 'round the corner' sent me a text a couple of days ago asking if I'd make her a couple of hearts to give as gifts. I'd given her one at the bunting making session a few weeks ago. I asked her what colours she'd like and she said one in silver and one in purple. 

The purple is some of Eda's thread (think it's Penny) which I HWT'd with another fine purple thread (origin unknown!). The silver is one of the Altin Basak range which is called Nakis Simi and again that's wound with another fine filament. I really like the Nakis Simi. So, both done and dusted as the saying goes!!!

Rabbits

People say that some things 'breed like rabbits'!!! Well they're certainly breeding in Tat Land!!!

So far we've got 56 of them on the Tat It And See blog which is here.

Wonder if there'll be any more before the end of the week?

Lovely surprise

A hanky. A pretty, pretty little hanky.

Now you're dying to know where this came from, I'm sure. Well it came with my latest copy of the Handy Hands newsletter. That's where it came from.

Now, about 35 years ago when there used to be a market stall on the Friday market which stocked hanky blanks I bought a load. In those days they were like hen's teeth and really hard to find. I've gradually worked down my stock of these although I do have a few left. I'm now no longer 'liking' them as a lot of them need to be 'squared off', cut down slightly and re-hemmed to make them useable. It's really nice to have a hanky like the one below which is beautifully hemmed and just 'ready to go'. I'll be looking through my stash of Lizbeth 80 soon to find the 'right colour' to use on it. 

Of course with the Newsletter came a chart of all the Lizbeth colours and the books that Handy Hands stock too. That company knows how to keep an old git happy for hours studying it!!!!!

By the way - I'm not an employee of Handy Hands but have been lucky enough to have had a colour or two chosen by them for the Lizbeth range. I think that's why I get the newsletter and it's a lovely surprise when it pops through the door. I rarely, rarely get post nowadays as I do everything online so a big, big letter like that is cause for celebration. Well, Nick celebrates too as it keeps me quiet!!!!

Good news

Well, I think it is!!!

I remembered to re-stock my shop on Saturday. The poor old Etsy shop has been neglected for a month or so while I've been busy 'playing' rabbits!!!

Here's the link to the shop - please feel free to browse.

Four years ago

A family and Tat Land lost a dear lady.   Gina fought her cancer throughout that long winter and came out the other end being told the disease was in remission.  Sadly, so sadly pneumonia set in and she died.

I miss her and always will. We chatted lots (via email) throughout that winter and she was always cheerful and never complained.  Her blog is still live but obviously not updated since. For those who have never heard of Gina - do read her blog.  This will give you the sense of who she was.  Kind, gentle and such a clever, clever tatter and artist.

A last heart

I think this is the last of the 'Abbi's Hearts' that I've done. I scanned them all and gave them away to friends at the 'bunting making' group. 

This one was done using Eda's thread. It was her Penny thread that I've had for a while. It's delightful to work with and gives a lovely firm finish. 

Oh, the bunting group. That's a group of us who are getting together on a Tuesday morning to make bunting. Our two roads are great at having street parties and any excuse will do - usually a Royal one. 

We're going to string the bunting up and down the street. We're hoping to get a closure notice so that we can bring tables and chairs out. Oh, the excuse this time is the fact that it's the Queen's 90th birthday in June. Let's hope she doesn't let us down!!! 

More of the same

Well I say more of the same but these are different, of course!!!

Just two more HWT motifs. A couple of people have said that it's also known as 'blended' threads but that makes my poor old brain think of them being put in a kitchen blender and zapped. YIKES.

Whatever anybody likes to call them I think they're lovely. In just a few balls or cones of threads I've got enough to make zillions of motifs.

HWT

Now having spent days playing with Eda's threads I decided that I needed a change. Still haven't decided what I'm going to do in tatting as my next project!!!!!

This time I'm using HWT threads. Now, anybody who's just got into tatting may ask 'what the heck are HWT threads'. Well sit back and I'll tell you!!!

The answer is simple - it's Hand Wound Thread and in my opinion, gives a much subtler variegated thread than a lot of the 'normally' variegated ones. Sewing thread is what I've used for the two motifs below although any threads can be used and even different thicknesses.   

I take a plain colour and a variegated one and then I wind them TOGETHER onto the shuttles. There is a certain 'skill' to this although it really is simple. The way I do it is to hold the two threads together.  The knack is to make sure you hold the threads firmly while winding so that they wind onto the shuttle without leaving any slack in either thread. The effect this gives is stunning. I love playing with HWT!!!!

It's a RABBIT

This is the last day of the TIAS 2016 and the link is here. Please - even if you haven't taken part publicly and even if it's months since the TIAS started I would still be grateful to receive your completed rabbit. By gathering them all in it gives me a 'certain incentive' to run another TIAS next year. 

Well as you all know now - the Tat It And See turned into a rabbit this year. Why a rabbit? Well I was getting to the end of my tether hearing Maureen going on and on and on about the result of the TIAS each year being a rabbit!!! Teasing you, Maureen. Thought I'd give her a shock and make her one. Maureen had what can only be called a 'bad year' last year resulting in the fact that we didn't meet up in Canada as hoped by both of us. So - she double deserved a rabbit. 

These are two that I made during the process of finalising the pattern. The reason I was able to go ahead with the pattern is because one day my granddaughter came over one day and saw a green trial on my table. She looked at it and said 'I like your rabbit'!!! Result - if a seven year old can recognise a green bit of tatting as a rabbit then it IS a rabbit!!!

Hearts Edda threads Master

Here are two more hearts. The top one is made with Edda's Master thread. Really do love how easy this is to use. 

The silver heart below is a slightly finer thread but equally as lovely to use. Once again here is the link to where I bought them. 

Day 13

Here is the link to day 13. 

Please note - this is NOT the last day!!! The next part will be available soon. 

When day 14 has been done I would love to hear from everybody who has taken part with their country of origin (that sounds posh, eh?) and the threads used - if you know them.  Even if you haven't posted before I'd love to hear from you so I know roughly how many have taken part.  Pure nosiness, really!!!!  

Threads to play with

First of all - tomorrow will be day 13 BUT it's not the end.  There will be one more on Tuesday.

Here I'm showing you some more of the Abbi hearts that I made in between downloading and uploading the TIAS days!!! It's kept me busy this past month!!!! 

These two are again made from Edda's threads which Sue sent me. My order from Edda has now arrived but I'll use the samples first - as the saying goes - waste not want not!!! The top thread is Heart Sunlight 60 in silver and the one below is Master.

Day 12

Here is the link for day 12 of the TIAS.  Only two more days to go!  Not sure yet when I'll post those.

Meanwhile my sister (Sally) hasn't had time to take part in the TIAS.  As you know (some of you) I do have a love of jigglies.  That's what I call the little solar objects that I first found on a trip to America a few years ago.  They are not so easy to find here in the UK but the dollar stores usually have them in the U.S.A.  

Anyway, I digress.  Sally found me a jiggly which is on it's way to my house today (or tomorrow).  Can't wait to introduce this rabbit to the others on my windows.  We have sash windows and they sit on the ledge that slides up and down - WHEN we have hot weather.

Name and shame

I name and shame Sue Hanson.

I've told and told and TOLD BC3 - NO MORE THREADS. Does he listen? Well, some of the time but not when it comes to spending my money!!!!

Sue mentioned Edda's threads which you can find on this link and, of course after her report on how well they work up, I had to have some!!!!

Sue kindly sent me some samples before the threads arrived from Italy (still waiting for them to get here) so I had to have a go myself!!

Here are my first two. 

The top one is done in Master brown. Think that's what the thread is called! The second one (LOVE the sparkle) is also Master.

Flowery Cross

Having done the one cross (see Monday's post) I decided I was bored with that so chose the Flowery cross instead this time.

The thread I'm using again is one of the few glittery ones I really, really like. It's an Altin Basak and is called Nakis Simi.  I got mine from Tatting and Design who can be found here.

Day 11

Day 11 of the Tat It And See can be found here.  Have fun!

Iona Cross

At the moment life is a bit different. We have a car which I use most of the time which isn't often!!! I use it when I have a big shop to do, sometimes for visiting friends and also for going to Crafternoon in Alcester.

The pavements and road outside our house has been diabolical for ages and a lot of people walk up and down to and from the train station, schools, a college etc. Finally the County Council decided they'd had enough of me taking pictures of potholes and posting them on Facebook and that they really ought to do something about it. The pothole pictures kept me amused as I planted plants in them, had ducks swimming in them and then finally a Christmas tree.  To be honest I'm sure it had NOTHING to do with me at all!!!!

The past two weeks (and for at least the next two) the workmen have been digging up the paths and laying us new ones. I asked a couple who live about ten minutes away if I could leave our car on their driveway and they kindly said 'yes'. 

In order to pay them back for this I've found out they're great church goers. A place I avoid at all costs!!!! I decided that I'd make them a little cross each so here's the first one. It's the Iona cross which can be found here.

Geraldine's Angel

First of all - here is the link to day 10 of the Tat It And See.

A VERY big apology to Geraldine. I asked if I could blog this ages ago but then forgot it was in my drafts - another 'tidy up' of my blog led me to find it. 

This is what she told me about this lovely angel of hers.

"This year in November Charnwood tatters are putting Angels on our Christmas tree in the parish church festival. I decided that I would do this Angel as one of mine. Very fiddly but so, so beautiful. Tried to stuff the head with cotton wool to keep the shape, but that did not work. But this is not a bad effort as not done baubles for a long time."

Mystery solved

Thanks to Robin the mystery of the 'missing' blog followers has been solved. It was very reassuring to find that I'm not the only one bereft of followers. Although it's a very minor thing the number of followers on the dashboard does give some indication of whether a blog is being useful, boring or whatever. 

This is what Robin found out - just follow the link. 

So this means that if you don't have a Google account and want to follow blogs then you'll just have to get one!!!! OR if it's my blog and you don't want to have a Google account you'll just need to bookmark the page or say 'bye bye'!!!!

Thank you Robin for taking the time to find out what's going on!!

 

Well, that's better!!

First of all - today's the day for day 9. Here's the link.

Yesterday as it was a quiet day for the TIAS I had a great BIG tidy up. I'd noticed that on my dashboard the number of followers of my blog had dropped quite a lot so that made the old git stop and think. Ah, maybe I need to do something about all the blogs I follow. 

I believe there's a limit of around 300 that you're allowed to follow on the dashboard so I decided to have a look at those I've got there. Now these are not the list that you see on the front of my blog but those that are hidden away. So I had a grand tidy up and took off all those that hadn't been updated in a year or more. This means that now I've got room to follow more active blogs so am open to suggestions from those who have got blogs but which I probably haven't got on my 'secret' list!!!!

So, there's your 'homework'!!! Send me your link and I'll see if I've got you on my list and if not - I'll add you. Keeps me busy blog hopping which is part of my relaxation!!

New pattern

Tomorrow is day 9 of the TIAS.

Now I have a bit of a story about this pattern!! I had a message from Ruth about two years ago asking me if I'd design a Motmot bird. Well I thought that was a joke at first so went and asked Mr Google (or, could it be Mrs Google?) about this bird I'd never heard of. I found a LOT of images of Motmot birds which were useful and the web pages were very interesting too. Here's the wikipedia link for starters.

So I thought about it and put it on the back burner for a while. 

Then when I was approached about going to Canada to teach at the Fringe Element Tat Days last September I realised that one of the people inviting me to go and annoy them was Ruth who'd asked for the Motmot. That made a GOOD excuse to design one - so that's what I did. 

In the pictures below you can see the resulting picture I took over for her as a small thank you for the great hospitality shown to me.

Then I got home and - well, those who know me will guess what happened next. NOTHING. Why? Well I forgot it was on my computer!!! So a few days ago I was searching for something else and I found the pattern. Yesterday I decided to settle down in the afternoon and put the web page together, do the links, etc etc. Imagine my surprise when I found I'd already done them!!!! Sometimes I can be efficient although thankfully that's not very often. I couldn't live in my skin if I was efficient. In fact all I had left to do was upload the 'animal' page so I did that. Here's the link to Ruth's Motmot bird.

Day 8

Day 8 of the Tat It And See is now ready for you on this link. 

I'll be waiting for the inbox to fill up!!!

Day 7

Here it is - day 7. 

Remember that after day 6 you switched shuttles so the one you are starting off with today is the one closest to ring 15 or the one you weren't using yesterday!!!! Also you do not need to SS after SR16. Happy tatting and I'll be waiting for the pictures and comments!!! As always - please email me if you need help.

Previous Tat It And See designs.

Before I start wittering on - tomorrow will be day 7 so get ready!!!!

Christine sent me a message earlier during this year's TIAS showing me these two pieces which are on my pattern site. The pram which is here and the sailing boat here.  I just LOVE the colours she used and asked her if I could share them with you all. This is what she said. 

"I recently finished tatting the pram and sailboat and thought you might like to see them.

They were fun to make, and good practice for split rings and SCMRs.

Thank you!

Have a great weekend!"

As you've probably realised, over the years, I LOVE bright colours but these really, really appeal to me big time.  Thank you for sharing, Christine.

Heart bookmark

This is one of the things I've made with the Abbi Heart pattern. A simple bookmark. 

My problem is I keep making these little hearts and don't know what to do with them!!! 

I've been truly amazed at the response to this pattern. Perhaps I ought to remember to post in the groups on Facebook (not a place I'm comfortable in!) more often!!! 

The strategy (if that's what you call it) of posting in the tatting groups did lead to an 'interesting' discussion with a Czech tatter who tried to 'strongly persuade' me into putting her copyright on the way the beads were added in the beaded version.  She claimed that in 2007 she'd put this idea on her website and it was therefore hers. I did send her the link to this pattern which was uploaded in the same year but even that didn't convince her. Least I don't think it did. Very difficult to discuss such matters when neither party speaks the other's language. Anyway I heard no more yesterday so it must all have blown over!

Day 6 of the TIAS

Today it's time to get back to the shuttles because here is day 6 of the Tat It And See.

New pattern out today

Tomorrow will be time for day 6 of the TIAS.

Well this should actually have been out loooooong before Christmas but I've only just remembered it!!!! 

Thanks to somebody somewhere on the internet yesterday selling a heart pattern it woke up BC3 to the fact that he'd never got round to uploading this one!!!! I've several patterns which need to be finished and put on the site but I tend to go wandering off on a new idea before the links and other 'stuff' has been done!!!

Anyway, enough rambling - here's the link. Oh, and here are some pictures of the heart. It's actually quite good value for money - except there's no money involved, of course!!!!

Come dance with me

Look what arrived a week or so ago in my inbox. Isn't this cute?

This came from Elizabeth - least I think it was her but stupidly (I 'do' stupid very well, I might add) I've lost the email with the name.

I love this because I'd never have thought of putting pink tatting on a pink background but it works - and works well in my opinion.

Oh, the pattern is here if you should ever want it.

Day 5 now available

Here is the link to day 5 of the Tat It And See.

Remember to read the instructions carefully!

Day 4

It's Friday so it MUST be time for Day 4 of the TIAS.

Here's the link. 

Day 5 will be available on Sunday so keep those shuttles on standby!!

About the TIAS

First of all tomorrow will be day 4. It was going to be today but it's going to be a VERY hectic day for me so I can't give it the time it needs.

Just thought it was worth sharing a few thoughts about this year's Tat It And See and the progress so far.

Firstly it's going really, really well from what I can see/feel. 

I see a lot of people taking part on my odd visits to Facebook but who don't send pictures to the blog. That's FINE. 

I'm also learning about the 'secret' TIAS tatters who never get publicly involved or ever make contact with me. Again - that's fine. Hope they are brave enough to join in publicly one day.

Another pleasing thing is the guffaws of laughter that the game generates for the two of us back here in our part of the world. Thank you to those who go the extra mile to cause that with their pictures and comments!

From being a possessive parent of this daft idea - nowadays I'm becoming a proud parent who honestly is enjoying every minute of it's growth during it's teenage years. Because of this I'm looking forward to doing another next January. 

Maybe I'll use the idea I had for this year but changed my mind about!!! You'll hear why at the end.

Another day and another link!

That's right - another day and another link. 

Here's the link to day 3 of the Tat It And See.

More playing with baubles

Tomorrow will be day 3 of the Tat It And See.  The link will be on this blog and the TIAS blog too.

I'm back playing with baubles which isn't easy while dealing with BC3 and his lack of memory as to 'what did I do last time'!!! 

The problem with these is the difficulty of taking pictures. Not easy. I normally tend to scan rather than use the camera. Still here's one of my experiments.

I'm interested at the moment in how to add beads to the edges of the finished open baubles. I think I've solved the problem now but it's hard to explain how I've done it. I'll try, though one day. The top picture below shows another row added after the beads. 

Day 2

We have just over 50 people now taking part in this year's Tat It And See. Of course there's always time to start so if you haven't then just follow the links at the top, left of this page or the TIAS blog.

So, here's the link to Day 2.

Patchwork finished.

Tomorrow will be Day 2 of the Tat It And See.  Links will be on this blog (top left of the day's post) and on the TIAS blog too.

Why oh why do I yearn to finish things and then (a) forget I've done them (b) immediately want to start a new and similar project?

I finished this project over the weekend and promptly forgot to tell you!!!

The top photo shows the finished piece before I put the border on. Then below is the totally finished cloth. The backing is the same fabric as the outer rose diamonds. It's now on Nick's table and he's dead chuffed with it. 

Now I've got to decide whether to start another patchwork or not. I fancy making some placemats using just the hexagons and the same sized ones as this cloth. It'll give plenty of scope to play with each mat as the pieces will be relatively small - unlike those in the large throw. Which reminds me - wonder where I put that too?

We're OFF

Day 1 of the Tat It And See 2016 is now available on this link.

Any comments or photos you want to send in then please send them to this email address - love to tat @gmail.com (take out the spaces)!!!

All links will be available at the top left of this page and on the Tat It And See blog which is here.

Bauble earrings

Sometimes I just HAVE to play and this is one of the ideas that stemmed from the bell the other day. I've jotted down very rough notes on this but need to get them properly written up - mainly so I can understand them!!!

From tomorrow onwards this blog may become a little quieter. I hope to be busy with the Tat It And See (TIAS) so won't have a lot of time to tat!!! It'll give the old hands (and BC3!) a rest though.

Count down.

It's Monday - the first IN January.  Um, I suppose you all know that already. 

BUT did you all know that the Tat It And See starts on Wednesday 6th?  That's two days away?  If not then you've not been reading my blog lately!!!  If you haven't then you'd better go and stand in the naughty corner or sit on the naughty step!!!

For those one (or maybe two) people on planet earth who haven't heard - here are the links.

First of all to the Tat It And See (TIAS) blog. Then the link to the introduction.

So, if you want to join the fun and mayhem then please do. No sign up, no rules, just tatting fun with a bit more knowledge to add to your repertoire!!! I hope!!!

Ah, also it would be lovely to meet new tatters to the game.