Christmas is coming!

Well eventually! You can say that even on December 26th can't you as it'll be true even then!!!

Anyway I've decided to make some Christmas tree earrings for the October sale. Mainly as a friend who's organising it asked me to and another friend already wants a pair!! 

There's an interesting story behind this pattern as some years ago I had it published in a weekly magazine here in the UK. I've just had a search and found that I spoke about it here.

Well since then I've found that several other people must've had the same idea and this pattern appears from time to time as somebody else's idea and I think I've even seen it in a book too. 

Great minds and all that. Anyway I decided a few years ago that I could re-visit this pattern and 'do away' with lots of the cuts and ties which is what I did. Well, you know how I love split rings and split chains!!! Then I decided recently that I'd write/draw this up. 

My problem is that this may well be somebody else's copyright which, when mine was published, I wouldn't have known about as it was pre-internet days. Do you remember those? So I'm concerned about putting it on my site. What do you guys think? Would I be committing a heinous crime if I did publish it again? But improved?

Thinking about packaging

This is the part I hate. Why? Well because to me it shouldn't be that important as it's the product itself that people are buying and that should be the main thing.

BUT I know that everything has to be packaged prettily and attractively. I know this because even when I go to out to shop I'm aware that my eyes stray to a pretty package sometimes instead of the quality of the product in the package.

So, my conundrum. How do I package my tatting?

I'll have a variety of things to take to the craft sale in October so I'll have to address several challenges on this score. The first one was the button brooches I've made.

I was lucky to find some dear little clear boxes in The Works here in town but they provided a challenge in assembling them as there were no written instructions and a very hard to follow diagram. In the end BC3 managed to make them up. Here are a few of the brooches.

Found!

Now why on EARTH did I put them there? I give up on how my brain works (or in this case - doesn't). 

I found the bookmarks. Where were they? They were in one of my boxes of finished tatting. I've no idea how they got put there but I know I must've put them in the box!!!  There are several quite large boxes around the house which have finished tatting in.  Over the years I've not known what to do with stuff so it's just got put in boxes.  One day somebody is going to have to either throw it away or do something with it.  I'd love to get rid of the stuff now but it's all too much bother as I'd rather be making more!!!

Anyway, here they are in all their glory and waiting to be packaged and logged in my 'selling book'. 

I'll make a few more soon so I've got a 'round dozen'.

More button earrings

Once I get a bee (or a pattern!) in my head I just love to make several. Again this is for the craft fair and I love working with buttons and beads. 

My next 'problem' is how to package and present the stuff I've been making but I think I may have a solution - or two!!! I'll show you as I get them underway.

I've used that new technique from the other day on this pair and it really does 'lock' the beads more firmly onto the top of the buttons.  This is one of my favourite earring patterns as they hold their shape indefinitely - I do lightly stiffen them with PVA glue, though.  This also adds as a protection against skin oils and muck!!!

If I had a brain

I'd be dangerous! 

Some weeks ago I made several bookmarks like this one. They're for the craft fair I'm going to do in October. It might seem a bit far ahead but I have a lot of preparation to do for this event so I thought I'd start early. 

I think I made four or five bookmarks and I put them away safely. So darn safely that I can't find them now. This one is another I made while I was trying to remember where the originals had gone but BC3 is still thinking and nothing has come to him yet.

Well it had to happen!!!!

I'm still making these hanky holders!!! There's something so satisfying in starting and finishing something quickly. 

Normally that never worries me. I love, love, love long term projects and puzzling ones too. I never mind pulling out my work and starting again or putting things right - to me that's what makes the whole thing worthwhile.

If I just picked up a pattern, made it without a hitch then I'd be bored, bored, bored!!! I guess I love a challenge but these little holders are easy and fast to make so bring about another sort of pleasure which I'll admit I've enjoyed for once!!!!

Here are the others I've made.

Starry button snowflakes

Now following on from yesterday's post (I'm too lazy to put a link in here so you're just gonna have to scroll down a little bit) I thought I'd try out this 'new' technique on one of my favourite patterns. 

Why a favourite? Well it includes buttons and beads which sit ON TOP of the button (as well as elsewhere). If I had a pound for every pair of starry button earrings I've made I'd be rich and be able to retire from tatting. Well, tatting is (to me) a full time occupation even if I don't get paid anything for it except through advertising links on this blog which pay for the web site - hint, hint to click, click!!!

Anyway, I'm digressing as usual - old gits tend to do that!!!! What I wanted to try this time is how yesterday's join affected adding the buttons. Well it does and it's a definite improvement as it 'sits' the ring firmly at the side of the button.  Below is a pair of Starry Button Earrings.

Oh, there's a matching bracelet for the earwigs too which can be found here.

Joining to buttons

Thanks to a misunderstanding whilst test tatting Martha's button patterns I made a technique page to illustrate what I thought she'd come up with.

Obviously I ran it past Martha when I'd done it but she said she didn't do it that way and then realised that she did!!! By the end of our conversation I think we were both confused!!!!

Anyway, I thought it was a great idea so I've added a new technique page to the pattern site. Here's the link to it.

Anybody for tea?

I've not been drinking tea or anything during this hot weather. Well, only water seems to be drinkable!!!

I did have the pleasure of tatting this teapot for Martha's new book. Isn't it lovely? 

I have been so lucky with this test tatting as I've managed to have the right sized buttons and the thread to match too. 

All done and dusted

I've done all these sets of coasters and am really pleased with them.

This is my previous post about them.

They are for the sale thingie in October and I thought I'd tie them up with some ribbon. They need some labels etc but I'm not doing those until the sewing stint is over!!!

More ballerinas +

Three more ballerinas also went to my granddaughter on Saturday.

The performance was actually amazing in that it covered ballerinas (and other types of dancers) from three counties. The show was slick and extremely well choreographed with the most amazing costumes. 

A lovely day out with my daughter too as we managed to find some good charity shops. Two new dresses were bought but sadly they were too small for me. They fit Abbi a treat, though!!!! I really should look at labels first as they did say '10 to 11 year old' on them!!!!

Oh, I've treated you to a picture of the real ballerina today too!!!

Another test tat

I just LOVED making this design. Martha calls it 'Marquis' and it was a delight to make.

I was pleased with the colours I used - the buttons are some I've had for a while and are really lovely.

I've still got one more test tat to show you but that'll have to wait til next week.

The ballerina - again!!

Well here she is!!! The 'other' ballerina. 

I'm hoping to make a few more so Abbi can give them to her friends if she wants to. She has one special friend that goes to ballet classes too so I'm hoping Ava will be 'allowed' to have one or two. 

Better get back to making more!!!  Time is running out.  I made a couple a few days ago but they've gone AWOL!!!!  Oh, to be a tidy tatter!!!  Where DO things hide?

A trip to the ballet

I'm off to the ballet on Saturday. Not Sadlers Wells but a VERY important ballet. 

My ten year old granddaughter is taking part in her first performance and I'm really looking forward to it. 

So this was a good excuse to pull out the Katrina Ballerina pattern to see if it needed improving. Of course - it did!!!!

I also had to re-draw it too as it was done on a PC and not on a Mac. Darn!!! Still it's done and dusted now. I'll show you the other view tomorrow when I've sewn in the ends and pressed it!!!

I didn't know I could still do it!!!

Just before my 'bad patch' a few weeks ago I went with my friend Sue to Birmingham. We went to our favourite fabric shop and she noticed that there were patterns on sale (half price). 

We both came away with patterns but I couldn't find any fabric I liked so I was doubtful this pattern would ever be made up!!!!

The local fabric shop (last remaining decent shop in town) is closing shortly and has fabric on sale. I found this (below) and decided I'd give the pattern an outing!!! 

Actually this is a navy background and I'm reasonably happy with the finish. I wonder if I'll make any more?!?!? It must be around thirty years since I made any garments!!!

Not the best photo as it looks sort of 'scrunched' at the front but it isn't.  Honest!!!  There's a pleat at the bottom of the neckline at the front and another at the back.

A few more hanky holders!!!

You'll maybe recognise the cat hanky holder as being the same fabric as the coasters I made. 

I love the ladybugs too. Finding contrasting fabrics for the lining/edges is not easy when you've got limited supplies!!! 

I'm afraid I'm thoroughly enjoying doing these!!!

Lotsa snowflakes in gold

In those 'odd' moments and while I wasn't feeling too good I made these snowflakes using the new Liz metallic thread.

They actually look better than this picture shows!!!

I'm now back to 'normal' thankfully so am working on other bits and pieces until I can decide what I want or need to do next. All suggestions very welcome.

Just for a change!!!!

If you've read my blog in the past you'll know I have a love affair with Rosemarie Peel's design in her book called 'Tatting Basic Patterns'. 

When Sue (Pigmini) and I were talking at some point last year about travelling and tatting I suggested she tried 'Rachel' as a relatively easy tatting project to take with her. 

I always measure out the quantities I need and wind that onto Ezbob's and I can get two 'lots' of size 40 thread on each. That's two Rachel's!!!

This Rachel is made with HWT.  Two strands of sewing thread wound together on shuttles.  

Martha's smaller butterfly

Today's blog post is to show you the other butterfly that Martha asked me to test tat for her.

This was a delightful tat and I love, love, love this design too. 

The great thing about doing all this test tatting is that I'm finally getting some of my buttons out of their containers and doing something useful!!!!  

I MAY have to source more buttons within the next 100 years!!!!!

Hanky holders

I always carry a small packet of tissues in my handbag and they ALWAYS get scrunchy/grubby looking. 

A friend was making these covers and selling them successfully to raise funds for our Tuesday group so I thought I'd make one for myself. 

I searched the internet for 'how to make them' (as you do) and found this great site.

This is almost the end of this great fabric and I'm going to miss it SO much. Always cheers me up!!

Saved!!

Not probably from 'extinction' but certainly likely to be thrown away. 

I found these two shuttles in a charity shop in Alcester just over a week ago. They simply HAD to be saved. Well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!!! The lower of the two is actually a lovely shade of yellow which seems to be lost in the photograph. 

I'm already overrun with Milwards and have probably still got in the collection the ones I bought 60+ years ago with my pocket money!!! As I've tatted for so long and never been sidetracked I'm sure some of the originals have survived. 

I now use mainly the Aero bobbin shuttles (or the new Clover bobbin ones) but when the Aeros first hit the shops and I tried them I couldn't get on with the design at all. Eventually (as Milwards were becoming hard to find) I decided it was the 'Aero bobbin shuttle or nothing'. 

It always tickles me when I see people blogging or talking on Facebook about how you have to wind and hold the Aero to tat. Particularly which way the hook has to point (up, down etc). I once bought a French Aero which actually showed how the thread was loaded into the shuttle and which way the hook should 'point'. I adopted this method and have 'hooked' on Aero ever since. 

I will add here that the way the shuttle is held is entirely up to the tatter but I would suggest just persisting at finding your comfort zone.  There is no 'right' or 'wrong' way!!!

Finally and finally!!!

Well you're going to fall off your seats today. I've actually finished the beaded version of the square motif which you can find here. 

The link is here.

Obviously this can be played with too with variations using the SLT and also three colours (or more?). I leave it to you!!!

Yet again!!!

Sometimes test tatting can lead to a 'what if' situation!!!

I love the angel that I did for Martha a few days ago but I 'needed' to see what it looked like without the picots on the rings!!! I'm not particularly fond of lots of picots as when I started tatting (back when the dinosaurs were around) everything had lots and lots of picots. I think I outgrew them.

So, I decided to do this lovely angel 'naked'. Of course I'm now regretting not adding beads to the picots that I did leave in!!! Do I feel another angel approaching? Maybe, maybe!!!!

More coasters.

Just thought I'd show you another set of the coasters I'm making. 

There's something so relaxing about making these!!!

I love the pink ladybirds (or, as they're called in America - ladybugs). 

Actually I think that's a far better name (ladybugs) than ours as they're just NOT birds.

Another treat for you

Another treat from Martha. 

This is a button angel which I test tatted a week or so ago. A delightful tat too. I'm sure you're all dying to get your hands on Martha's new book but it'll be a while yet as there's so much work involved with putting a book together.

One of the toughest jobs must be putting up with ME as a test tatter!! There's very little to do with test tatting Martha's work as you can guess but concentration is essential as a tester. BC3 really has to turn off the rest of the world when he's at work.

Revised pattern finished.

I had to keep this back for a while so I could play with it a bit further!!! I do like to play!!!

This is the revised square pattern which is here and here.

I decided I wanted to know what it would look like if I used three colours of thread and so I've been playing as you can see!!!! It's thrown up some different patterns within the whole thing but I'd still like to experiment more with some SLT's!!!!! 

Anyway, before I forget - here's the link to the re-vamped pattern (no beads on this one) and you'll see that the original has seriously been consigned to the bin!!!! Now I've got to work on the beaded one!!!

Another!!!

Martha sent me a heart to test for her this time. 

What I LOVE about this design is that you get all the buttons onto the tatting within the first few elements. Why do I like this idea so much?

Well, I'll be honest. I go to the tatting cupboard and source the thread, beads (if required) and buttons needed for a project. Easy. I then take all back into the living room (a few steps away) and into 'tat corner'. Easy. So, what can go wrong with that? Well nothing, you'd think, but it invariably does.

How on EARTH 'things' can get lost when you know EXACTLY where you put them and you know darn well that they've not been moved. I swear I could lose my head if it was loose.

Nick knows what I'm like and often says (as I walk out of the front door) - beware of those big red things called buses!!!!

Something relaxing

In October I'm having a 'table' in a craft/artisan fair. 

This will only be a small one (table and fair!!!) as it's being held in an upstairs room at the local library (where I help teach silver surfers). I'm going to make several of these snowflakes as it's going to be quite close to the festive season. 

As we're a hundred yards away from Shakespeare's Birthplace we may get some footfall as long as we're well advertised. 

I'm not sure what this thread is but it's pretty sparkly. I'm sure it's not the Lizbeth metallic as it came in a box of wonderful odds and ends that I bought off Sue Hanson.

More coasters

These were finished before I was 'struck down' and I've just found the pictures on my phone!!!

Sadly I no longer 'own' them as a neighbour fell for them and insisted on buying the set of four off me. Bless her as that's an incentive to carry on. I no longer have enough of this cat fabric left to make more BUT I do have some scraps which I'm considering using for another project!!!

Being a 'war baby' (born towards the end in 1943) I never throw anything away and all the offcuts get used until the 'bitter end'. Remember the tatting bag I made?!?!?!? Here's the link to the small amount I finally had leftover!

A new book in the pipeline

Sometimes what you need to enable you to recover from something nasty is a challenge. One of the nicest things that could happen to me was that Martha Ess wrote to ask if I'd test tat this butterfly for her.

Now I LOVE Martha's work and test tatting for her is a real pleasure. She's working on a new book which will be tatting on buttons. I love using buttons in tatting too so this was a delight to get my 'teeth' into.  Sally is quite jealous when I've shown her what I'm up to as she loves buttons too.

One thing which she mentions in the introduction is a method of joining to the button that I'd not thought of so this is on my 'to do' list to add to the techniques pages. It really makes for a much sturdier join and I wish I'd thought of it before her!!!!!

I'm BACK.

Well, sort of!!! Just not used to being ill as it must be 20 or more years since it happened. Still, that's behind me now and it's a case of 'upwards and onwards'!!!

This is another rendition of this motif that I had done before I stopped blogging last week. 

If you remember - I'm currently working on a re-write of this pattern. You can see the motif (naked) here, but today I can show you the same little stinker with 'clothes' (aka beads) on. Of course there could be many variations on the use of colours but this is what I've done so far. Keep watching for further progress - or not!!!!

A new member of

The Exclusive Tatting Club

A couple of days ago Lou sent in her dear little mouse. Now it's taken me a few days to get to put it up in the Exclusive Tatting Club but it's there now. 

As a teaser I'm going to show you the picture but 'make' you go to the page to see what Lou says.

Blogging might be a bit intermittent for a while as I've not done a lot the last week except cough and not sleep. Now (hopefully) under control with antibiotics for a chest infection.  

It's OUT again

That's my sewing machine!!!! 

It's been in hibernation for a while as I've not known what I want to sew. Time is creeping on and I've got a table in an exhibition/sale in October so thought I'd better make some things to sell - that's if we get many customers, of course!!! 

The exhibition is going to be in the library in town which is a few steps away from Shakespeare's Birthplace so just MAY attract a few people if they know it's happening. 

This is the first of a set of four coasters that I'm making which I really love so has provided a good start to this foray with the machine.

Obviously I will be taking some 'tatty bits' to sell too but need some sewing things as well.  I've got a few tote bags (Japanese prints) which will go with me too.

CTB again!

Well as you know I'm going to consign this pattern to the bin shortly (CTB) so I thought I'd better get on with the re-write!!!!

I'd like you (if you've got time) to take a look and see what you think. To me it seems a lot clearer but then I'm living right on top of it so it's not possible to take an unbiased look.

I'm next going to try putting a few together to see what that brings out in the design and may try one or two with SLT's in to vary where the colours appear.

As promised yesterday!

I took the photos as promised yesterday and here they are.

The one on the left is the first square I did. That's using what the Tunisian crochet sites call 'simple stitch'. It gives a firm, dense fabric.

Having tried that one the yellow is a variation where I've pulled the thread through (as with the simple stitch) but then done a double crochet (English dc) and then carried on. 

This grew a lot faster but gave a looser fabric which is fine.

A new 'toy'

At one of the crafty groups I go to there was a lady called Jenny who had just bought herself a Tunisian crochet hook. 

I've often been tempted to try this type of crochet but could never quite see the point of it. Having seen the type of fabric it produces I was sorely tempted to have a go. So, off I went to try and find a hook.

No shops locally had them (not even the charity shops) so in the end I bought one off Ebay. Thus the adventure began. 

I decided that I needed a project to make BC3 more interested so have decided that a cushion cover would be a good idea. If that goes well then instead it might grow to something bigger - like the tatting I showed you yesterday!!! 

Actually this is my third square - I'll take photos in a minute of the other two to show you. I'm not sure what this stitch is called but I like the fact that the fabric is growing a lot faster than it does with the original 'simple stitch'.

In case you think I'd given up!!!

Do you remember my 'big' project with the diamond motifs? Well if not then here's a reminder of where I'd got to when I last blogged about it.

As you can tell from that post I was dithering about whether to continue or not but in the end the temptation of the threads and the possibilities got the better of me and off I went on another round. It's taken me roughly three months to get this next round on as I only work on it when I'm 'out and about' and not having to concentrate on what I'm doing. As you can imagine - I know this pattern off by heart by now!!!!

For this round I decided to use the same colours all the way round. I've used a variegated and plain together for both the inner part and the outer and they're all different. 

Again I'm now wondering if this is the end of the 'tale' or whether I may 'fill in' the outside to make it straighter or not. Time to sit and think and try out ideas for a while. 

Meantime (as you know) I am always up to other things too so that BC3 doesn't get bored!!!!

Simply STUNNING

Now I really, really, REALLY wish this was my idea and my execution but it's not. It may happen sometime in the future though that I'll get round to trying it myself. 

Thanks to Patti Duff and Heidi I do have the pattern and just need to settle BC3 down to give it a whirl. 

OK, I know I've worked the pattern before but not like Heidi has with two colours. This is her work which she's kindly allowed me to blog.

Now the pattern is on page 22 of Dora Young's 'All New Knotless Tatting'. So, where do you get the book from? Well from Heidi or any of your other tatting suppliers including Tatting and Design here in the UK. 

Having recently completed this in 'just one colour' I'm going to HAVE to do the same again in two!!!

Finally!!!!

I bet you're sick of hearing and seeing me fiddle around with this by now and have been put off actually making it!!! I can still see so many different colours in my stash that I could make this with but really need to get on with other things. 

Anyway, here's the link with thanks once more to Sue (Pigmini) for the name. I always struggle for names!!!

CTB

Now I bet you're wondering what that means!!! Well in this household it means 'consign to bin'!!! Simple, eh?

Now what do you think is going to be CTB'd? Well I'll show you. This. 

Why? Well I'm just not happy with it and if I was to be honest I've never really been happy with it. So I'm shortly going to take it off my site BUT I am going to replace it with a much better (I hope!) updated version.

With the new version I've tried and tried to get it to work in one pass but failed dismally!!! Still it'll certainly be a lot, lot better and a lot, lot squarer too, I hope.  

Just hope that BC3 will stick with it long enough to get it done!!! I'll do two versions - beaded and non beaded while I'm playing with it.

Cuff with clasps

Well in the end I decided to go with two clasps which will keep the bracelet from twisting round my wrist - well, that's if I wear it of course!!!

I did wear it for a couple of days and it really really works well. Not sure I like those clasps but as they do stay on the inside of the wrist that's fine by me. 

I'm very open to other suggestions if anybody has them. It's an ongoing problem knowing what clasps to use or make that look good and work well for an old git to put on easily. Comments on this problem will be very welcome.