Got there in the end!!!

I finally finished Mimi's square and this time it actually turned out square which is great progress!!!  Perhaps BC3 is back on form again and is now reading patterns properly!!

I'm still not happy with clunies but am now ready for Mimi's improvement class at Tat Days - that is, if I haven't forgotten how to make them again by then!!!!  Must thank Bernice properly (without teasing) for inspiring me to make this journey.  If she hadn't blogged about the clunies here a week or so ago I would STILL be 'thinking' about doing some before I meet Mimi.  I didn't want to be in the situation of having to do mind boggling things like this mid Atlantic in a panic!

Mine aren't very good even though I did them (as I thought) very, very carefully but at least they're done. Not being a 'fan' of picots I took them out of the outer chains. Didn't want to detract from the sheer simplicity of the pattern. 

The birth of an idea.

Well, not quite the birth as there were a few labour pains getting this far!!! 

This is the Fandango butterfly. Will it ever end - this obsession with a 'bit of a pattern' that I designed a few years ago? 

I'm hoping to get a few more done to test the stitch count before I put it on my site. So far, so good but there's always room for improvement!!

Grumbling along

Well the reason for my minor grumble is somebody I'm about to 'name and shame' for getting me involved in the clunies. Not just Mimi (see yesterday's post) but also Bernice from Knotvortex. 

It was this blog post a few days ago (by Bernice) that caught my attention. I thought - well, if Bernice can do it then surely I can too!!!!! 

Well, how wrong, wrong, wrong can you be!!!! It all started off well - but finished quite badly!! I only realised things were going haywire when I noticed I wasn't heading back towards the first cluny!!! That's why mine has turned out to be an inferior rectangular shape instead of a square!!!  Ah well, there was only one thing to do - finish it and mark it down as a 'lesson learnt'. What lesson was that? I can't read patterns.  So, the only thing to do now is kick BC3 up the backside, tell him off and start again!!!!

Least I got lots of practice with the wretched clunies!!!

While I was slogging my way (badly) through this piece I was thinking of all the tatters I see on Facebook who are always asking for quick, simple patterns.  Loads of people only do small things which take an hour or three.  Why do I INSIST on tackling huge projects which sometimes take days, weeks or even months?  Well I think I like the challenge and the pride in something that takes a lot of time (and patience).  That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!!!

About Clunies or whatever they're called.

Personally I've never been attracted to tatting with clunies or tallies. 

Many years ago when I was out and about with Rosemarie Peel we talked about this tatting technique and I remember what she said. She said (and it's stuck in my mind ever since) that clunies belong to bobbin lace. I tend to agree with her and have never been that bothered about trying them.

That is until a magical time in South Carolina about ten or more years ago when I was at a Palmetto Tat Days. I managed to sneak into a lesson by Mimi Dillman on clunies. I was so impressed with the way she taught the lesson so gently and clearly that I 'got' the cluny down. Well, as I said, that was around ten years ago and my last foray into them. 

A few days ago was the day to try them once more. Not a pretty sight, eh?

Bracelet - purple

Now for a purple one!!! I like this one a LOT. The variegated thread is a Yarnplayer one - probably called pansies and the outer chain thread is a Lizbeth. The beads? Well just suffice to say they're size 11 seed beads and are gorgeous.

I've started on another Fandango based pattern - one which I sort of started before Joanie kindly sent me off on the heart ideas. Not sure if you'll like this next one but I hope to show you some samples in a few days.

Black and gold bracelet

I couldn't find a way of doing this justice either with the camera or the scanner. 

The problem is that the beads are just SO shiny. 

This is one of two black and gold Starry Button Bracelets I've made to take to Tat Days. They're another addiction as I do love making them.

I also love wearing them too as they keep their shape forever.  That's down to having the buttons as the 'base' and the beads too.  I see so many very pretty bracelets and earrings online and they look gorgeous but I worry that after only a few times of being worn they'll bend and become 'floppy'.

Back to the Fandango hearts again

My good, good friend Joanie came up with another idea. Remember it was Joanie who'd 'spotted' the heart in the Fandango design. 

I'd sort of thought of doing a bracelet or bookmark but couldn't see the way round adding findings to the dip at the top of the heart. You can see from this remark that BC3 isn't very bright at times!!! 

Well, Joanie rode in on her white horse with a diagram she'd done showing me how it could be done. Why not put two hearts 'head to head' and work from that!!! That lass is a star. 

This is what happened (picture below) and here's the link to the pattern. Yes, it's already finished because BC3 is hot foot away on another idea involving the Fandango!!!

This is what it's all about

There are very few things in life which really, really annoy me. One of them is blatant theft of copyright which fortunately doesn't affect me very often and the other is Pinterest!!!! There seem to be people who delight in finding ideas there and copying them. Clever of them, I'll admit and necessary if there is no direct link to where to find the pattern but still it's a type of theft.

Hang on - maybe I should use Pinterest to put all my pictures of work done there WITH THE LINKS. Good idea, Jane. BUT life's too short when you're an old git.

Now, what I LOVE about the tatting community is the occasions when somebody finds something of mine that they like and then expands on it. Like Martha has with the Fandango heart. I love that buzz of working with somebody to achieve something that came from BC3. I've updated the original pattern now to add this new idea.

I've done this before with Pamela Myers over the Flamingo and the Meerkat when she's made suggestions and I've said 'you do it' and then I've added her part to the original pattern. It makes for a better product and saves ME from working the original again which, by then, I'm thoroughly bored with!!!!!

This is what happened next!!!

This is the new bracelet I've made for myself. Least that was the plan!!! I love making this pattern as I just know that it will keep it's shape whatever happens to it. That's including taking a trip or two through the washing machine. No, don't ask how they get there but let me just say - I oughtn't to put them in pockets!!!

Having mislaid my blue starry button bracelet (I'm sure it's somewhere in the house or garden) I decided it was just faster to replace it with another. So on Monday evening I started a new one. 

On Tuesday morning I took it to the craft group where I sold the other two bracelets and another lady asked me what I was doing. I showed her the part made bracelet and she said she liked it a lot. So, this one isn't mine anymore - it's 'spoken for' and will be hers next Tuesday. It's lovely to make to sell particularly when asked for something. 

What am I going to do next? Why - make myself another one just like this!!!

No apologies!

I refuse to apologise. You can say what you like but I REFUSE!!! 

I need time off from designing new sillies so that I can play and my favourite 'play' pattern at the moment is the Fandango square. 

I started this one a few weeks ago before the hearts were born but forgot to scan the centre and round one. This is where I was a few days ago. 

BUT I have also been playing with another heart idea too and that's getting towards completion as well. Busy, busy, busy old tatter - that's what I am!!!

That was close!!!

Well I managed it. Just about. I finished the second bracelet and will be taking it with me this morning. Lovely to have something to make that won't just go in the box in the cupboard!!!

Now I'm thinking of making some of my favourite bracelets (the starry button ones) to take to Palmetto. I'm taking the last of my little square tatting bags and some lovely brooches but really fancy making bracelets now. 

I looked up the exchange rate yesterday and nearly fell through the floor (that would've made a nasty mess in the downstairs room) when I realised how few dollars I'd get at the current rate. That's 'inspired' (or frightened) me into getting stuff together to sell in vending.  What do people 'out there' think of the idea or is it just plain silly to try and sell tatting to tatters?

An order!

This rarely happens to me. I have an order for two Ring of Roses bracelets. This is the first one done and I'll be taking it to the lady tomorrow morning along with the other one - IF it's finished in time!!

I go to a craft group in town on a Tuesday and I was wearing my bracelet last week. Two ladies spotted it and wanted one each. I love it when people want my work - not because I want to be paid for it but because it feels good to know that others like wearing tatting. 

When I got home after last Tuesday's meeting I dived into the tatting cupboard and got the threads and beads out ready for the evening. So relaxing allowing myself to 'just tat'!!!!

Finally got it sorted

Well it's been a strange week here with many emotions kicking around in BC3's head. There's a lot of space in that head, you know, so plenty of room for things to rattle around.

Anyway, between this, that and t'other I managed to get the Fandango hearts put together into a small coaster sized thingy. This time in better colours. I also managed to get the pattern up on the pattern site too so here's the link.

An experiment!

Now I really liked those little Fandango hearts. So much so I decided to stay and play a bit more!! 

I wondered what would happen if I tried to put them together. I took six of the ones I'd been making to test out the pattern and carefully tied them together with bits of thread. Then I got another colour and wiggled and waggled a flower for the centre. Once I'd finished wiggling and waggling I made another flower and started on the hearts joining according to what I'd learned from the wiggle waggle game!!! 

I'm pleased enough with the 'fit' but not so happy with the colours I used although the hearts themselves are fine - I just chose the wrong colour for the flower!!!! That means you'll have to wait for the pattern until I've done another little mat!!!!! Sorry but I can't put this one on the pattern page!!!

Last round of the latest Fandango doily!

That was a good idea to use the oranges on the last round so I thought I'd try another similar combination. This is the result.

I'm stopping here as I want to start another square doily. I know - I'm stark staring BONKERS but what do you expect of an old git like me?

My blog posts are getting a bit monotonous lately but I promise you I do have some better ones coming up in due course. Part of the problem is the season of the year. Although it's not been 'good weather' it still generates a lot of distractions which take me away from crafty/tatting things.

I was hoping

REALLY hoping to get the heart off my computer earlier this week but life decided otherwise!!!! 

I did, however, finally get it sorted yesterday evening - on the way to bed. Having said that there may be missing links or something as BC3 was already half asleep anyway!!!

Here, however, is the link to the pattern which is in (obviously!) the Hearts section on my web site.

Another heart or two!!!

This time I experimented with TWO colours. Yes, TWO colours!!!! Am I being silly? You bet I am!!! 

I think this makes the pattern a whole lot better and more pleasing on the eye. 

It's nearly ready to be put on the pattern page but I need to settle down and put all the links and 'stuff' into the document. I'll happily design, tat, draw and put things like this together but then happily forget or just put off finishing the page and uploading it!!! 

Maybe it's time to go hunting. It must be the hunting season for brain cells soon. What do you think of a BC4 to help me finish things off BEFORE I start something new?

I forgot!

To show you this round of this Fandango doily.   I completed it a week or two ago. 

After agonising over the green round I thought I'd take another risk and use orange colours. This is the result!!!

More about the heart idea

Looking again at the heart that Joanie pointed me too I decided that it needed an 'outside'!!! It took a few tries but in the end I settled on the 'outsides' below.

I've already started to put this together as a webpage pattern but I've also been playing with it to see what else I can 'turn it into'!!! You'll have to wait a day or two to see 'what happens next' as I've been busy doing other things was well.

These look quite good in one colour but now I'm wondering about using two colours!!! As soon as I've decided on one thing - another idea pops into my head!!!

A Fandango heart?

Now the blame for this lies firmly on Joanie!!! Bless her cotton socks. 

She sent me a picture of part of the Fandango 'series' of patterns (see below) saying that she and her husband thought this looked just like a heart. Here's what she sent me and YES she's right.

I didn't dream that when I started the first Fandango idea that one small part of a pattern would lead to so many other things. This is quite an adventure and it continues.  Watch this space.  No, THIS space and not the space between my two ears where BC3 lurks!!!

Placemats

I forgot to show you these placemats which I made a few weeks ago. Our placemats were looking rather sad and dated so I made these to replace them.

I found the 'wonky' log cabin online but, typical me, I can't find it again to show you. 

All I can tell you is that the pieces aren't straight lines which added a bit of 'fun' to making them. Also I added some side panels and top and bottom ones too as they hadn't got those. Again I really enjoyed this sewing project. Wonder what the next one will be?

Another Martha test tat

Whoopoeeee. I had another chance to test tat another of Martha's patterns. I adore this little pegasus. Well, actually he isn't really that little but he's adorable. 

The beads are easy to add and the directions are very clear particularly with the changes of direction. 

What intrigued me is how Martha managed to make the leg chains so straight by switching shuttles. I'm going to HAVE to try that for myself when I next do a critter.

Can't wait to get this book.

A new tatter

You can live in a town all your life like I have and in all that time I've probably only taught around a dozen people to tat. 

Of those - none kept it up. That's 60+ years of tatting myself and even when I learned my school friends didn't want to learn as well. They all watched me and realised that wherever I was I'd always have a shuttle with me but still they didn't want to learn. It was a hobby that I could afford out of my pocket money!!!

Since January we've had a little craft group meeting at Lifeways - we originally   got together to make the bunting for the street party but enjoyed our chatting, coffee drinking etc so continued.  I've now got two people learning to tat which is amazing. I NEVER offer to teach anybody - I have to be 'persuaded'.  I work on the theory that if they really, really want to learn then they'll keep asking and I'll then 'give in' and teach them.

This is Beryl who came for the first time yesterday and who is picking it up pretty darn quickly.  She's also a Silver Surfer student and that's how we met and how she learned about our wonderful little craft group.

I got excited

At my age even waking up in the morning is exciting. Never know what the day will bring and I certainly didn't on Saturday when I saw Carollyn's blog post.

It got me thinking and getting the beads out too!!! I had to try this idea. I did find some extra hints that I found useful like making sure the loop was behind the core thread etc. Anyway it was a good excuse not to weed the garden (also it 'looked' like rain yet again) so I sat down and did a technique page on it. 

Here's the link if you want it.

Hope you don't mind, Carollyn but couldn't find an email address on your blog to contact you!!!

Just a t-shirt

Don't you just LOVE a bargain? I do. I found this t-shirt in a charity shop a few weeks ago when Sally was staying with me. She's SO good for me as she really knows how to 'shop'.  I'm pretty hopeless at shopping as I dither and dither!!!

This was a good example of my dithering.  I liked the t-shirt but it was boring. REALLY boring so left it there on it's hangar in the charity shop!!!

Roll on two weeks later and I'm back in the same shop (dithering as usual) when I spotted the t-shirt still hanging there. Well as it was NWT I thought I might be able to take it home!!! Four pounds later and it was mine - still boring but mine!!!

I'm teaching the little flowers at Tat Days in September. They are not hard but there are several techniques involved. I simply love making them so they were the answer to the boring problem - I think.  Now I have a 'not so boring' t-shirt which I've fallen in love with!!!!

Yesterday

When I looked this morning there was just one shuttle left in the Etsy shop.  Just saying!!!!

Number 90 arrived!!!! 90 what you may ask!!! 

Well, the 90th rabbit for the TIAS 2016.

Here he is but I'm not going to tell who sent him in. You'll just HAVE to click on this link to find out!!!

Ready and waiting!

I wasn't sure if this was a pattern or a technique - perhaps both. I didn't split up the necklace from the earrings either as it's really a 'pattern to play with'. I did, however put two links from the 'jewellery' page on my site - one in the necklace section and one in the earring section so the same pattern has two chances of being found!!!

After playing with the 'jewellery' I decided to make myself a new lanyard for Palmetto.  I do love 'sparkly' and this one certainly does that!!!  Just got to find some clips to put on the ends and that's a 'good job done'!!!!

Here is the link - almost forgot!!!

New batch of shuttles

I have a new batch of Pop A Bobbin Shuttles to be released on Thursday or Friday.

There's just one with a new wood - Bocote. You can see a picture of it below. It's slightly more expensive as it's an unusual wood - it's £20.00.

This is a list of what's available and they can be found here in my Etsy shop.  I have only got the shuttles in the shop at the moment and am considering changing to another platform but I'm actually too lazy to do that at the moment!!!!

1 COCOBOLO ROSEWOOD £20.50

2 CEDAR £18.00

1 KINGWOOD £18.00

2 ASH £18.00

2 CHERRY £18.00

2 OAK £18.00

1 PURPLE HEART £20.00

1 BOCOTE £20.00

Martha's doll

I'm so, so, SO excited. I was asked to test tat for Martha's new book which should be available in time for Palmetto Tat Days. 

The theme of the book this time is toys and I've had the privilege to see some of them.  Then Martha asked me to test tat this little darling. It says 'Abbi' (my granddaughter) all over it so she'll be getting this - IF I can part with it!!!!

It was a delight to make and the pattern was so, so easy to follow too. It makes a pleasant change to see innovative patterns like Martha's as I'm bored to death with jewellery as it seems to be the only thing a lot of people make and show on Facebook!!!  

Facebook?  A place I visit once a day to post a link to this blog and which I steer clear of as much as possible as I find it a dreadful distraction.  Useful at times when I needed to post about a local problem I got involved with quite by accident at 3 a.m. the other morning but apart from that - a place I can live without.

I'm waiting now for another pattern to test for Martha - can't WAIT.

Look who's arrived!!

Now we've had mice of many colours but I'm not sure we've had a yellow one before!!!

Now residing in the Exclusive Tatting Club is IsDihara's cute little mouse. I'm not going to tell you what she says as it'll spoil today's surprise. So, if you want to know you'll just have to pay him a visit here!!!!

More pictures arrived of Nibbles later in the day (actually overnight on Saturday) so I've added them.  If that cat were 'real' then I don't think Nibbles would survive!!!!

Hearts and stars earrings

I bought some lovely beads when I was in - hmmmmm, not sure. Well it was either in America on my last trip there, or in Canada last year. They're really pretty hearts and some stars too.

I've been wondering what to make with them as I didn't buy that many.  Eventually I decided it just had to be earrings. 

There isn't really a 'pattern' as such (or rather - I'm not intending to write it down) - it's simply a variation on the Winsome Drop earrings which you can find here.  Least unless I'm nagged to put the pattern up. I've written it down but only in my 'Jane way'!!!!

Fandango Square

Finally I've finished.

Not sure what took me so long but it was probably due to life getting in the way and me getting distracted with test tatting for Martha Ess!!! That's it - I'll 'blame' Martha!!!  I'll show you another day what I did for Martha and I hope you'll like it as much as I did.  In fact I LOVE her new book already and it's hopefully going to be ready in time for Palmetto Tat Days.  

Now I expect you want to know where to find the new pattern?  Shall I tell you or shall I keep it a secret?  Hmmmm, decisions, decisions!!!

OK, you win - here it is!!!

Decision made

I finally decided to 'go' with two greens for this round of the Fandango doily. I think it's a bit 'stark' at the moment but I'm sure it'll calm down when I get to the next round. It's unnerving when you take a route you're not comfortable with but I'm going to go with it!

What do you think?

I've made this a month or two ago. It's designed to hold a credit or store card. The 'strap' part may look a little odd as I left out the beads that will sit at the back of the neck. They may have been a bit 'scratchy'. 

I loved making it and am sure it'll be useful too.

A conversion

Now these two little brooches were originally three pairs of earrings!!! 

I found I wasn't wearing the earrings for some reason so decided that it maybe a good idea to convert them into brooches. A little bit of fiddling around and this is what happened!!! I'm actually wearing the one regularly and the second one will become a gift. Just hope the person likes it!!!

Last chance

Last chance (just a few hours) to buy from my Etsy shop. 

I doubt I'll be re-listing in the shop again as I really don't like the way I now have to view it.  I used to be able to see things in a 'list' view which I found so much better but now it's defaulted to a gallery view only.  In fact I rarely go browsing in Etsy anymore because of that.  

I'll be taking the shop items to Palmetto Tat Days and will be selling in the vending room. After that - maybe I'll open another shop but I'm very reluctant as it takes so much time to do that.

Anyway, before they disappear - here's the link to what's in there.

Shuttles will appear somewhere at sometime but probably not in Etsy - most likely I'll move to Folksy but we'll see!!!

A few days later!!!

In case you didn't know - registration is now up for Palmetto Tat Days.    I've sorted mine out and now need to start packing.  YES, I do start early as there's so many odds and ends to think of!!!  The bestest news is that Martha Ess has agreed to room with me again.  I can't have been too bad a roommate last time after all!!!

A few days later and I have another seven brooches. They just need packaging and putting in my 'going to America' (or Canada!) place!!! Not the best of photos but I can assure you they sparkle and twinkle. 

Now to find the zip bags and card to pin them on.

Anybody?

Anybody out in Tat Land want to try out the destructions for the necklace that I showed yesterday? Only needs an hour or so to see if you can follow the idea. 

Not so much a 'pattern' but more a technique which has been used in the past and can be taken further. Involves a bead in the centre of a SCMR.