What I'm working on at the moment!!!

Do you remember this jacket?

Well I HATED it and hardly ever wore it.  Not sure if it was the colour, the fabric or the design but I can tell you I was never ever comfortable in it.  So it's confined to the bin (trash) or the local charity shop.

Hang on, who shouted about the animals?

They're fine, promise.  I'm currently sewing them onto another DENIM (oooooh, I LOVE denim) light blouse weight jacket which I found in our local Debenham store on Saturday.

I've been searching for three years for another similar to the gecko jacket and have 'haunted' our local Edinburgh Woollen Mill shops from where the original came.

I'll try to get a photo of the finished item later.  Nick says there are too many animals on this one but I couldn't make up my mind which ones to put on and which to leave off AND there are a few newcomers since the last jacket was made!!!!  

Why I've not shown you

This is why I've not shown you anything new for a while.  I've been asked to do more strips of random tatting for Nicole - see this link.  

As you can see there were three strips needed of roughly 4 cms in width.  Each strip had to be 65 cms long.  Now in a number 80 tatting thread that's a lot of work!!!  

There are two things about random tatting which are worth noting.  Random IS random and it's hard not to repeat yourself.  Also the stricture of the width means that you have to constantly check which direction you need to be going!!!!  Nonetheless - it's fun!!!


These will go in the post today and wing their way to London.  That's the London here in the U.K!!!!!!!!

Now back to more 'normal' stuff and I will have something to show you soon.

2 close ups below

The cow again!!!!

I've had such fun reading all the comments on the cow and the suggestions for her name.  Thank you SO much for popping by.  Some of the remarks made the cow's milk curdle with giggling!!!

I rather liked deanna7trees suggestion of Jaisy as it's my cow (AND I'm a silly moooo too as Tatskool and Maureen both said) but then I also loved Daisy too.  

Anne hit the proverbial nail on the head when she said that she looked like a Jersey cow as it was a picture of a Jersey that I worked from - thanks, Anne.


The unusual name of Iphigenia suggested by timneh's offspring was a close call as it was so very different.  

In the end I've decided that she will remain 'nameless' as then anybody who has the courage to make her can call her what they like!!!  

If anybody's got the time do read through the comments on the previous post - they are SO funny. 

Name that COW!!!

Last year I was having a natter to a few people and we were talking about somebody who I (and others) had tried to help some years ago.  This help was not only rejected but worse!  Anyway, I said to the others that this person was a real COW. 

Ah, that triggered off brain cell number 3 and off he went on this idea of a cow.  Well, once finished, it turned out to be far too pretty to be called by the inspirator's (is that a REAL word?) name.  Thus I have a 'cow with no name'!!!"

SO, name that COW!!!!!

Oh, just looked up 'inspirator' and it is a real word - which proves (sort of) that brain cell 3 is waking up from his winter's hibernation!!!!


Here's the link to the page on my site.

Just before I quit this post and start picking up today's suggestions I must show you what Mark Myers (Tatman) sent me on Wednesday.  Isn't he a little STINKER?  He's just too clever at his graphics!!!!

The last part.

This is the last part.  Tomorrow all will be revealed and the naming can begin!!!!

There will also be an explanation of the reason for the design too!!!!

Part 4

This is the penultimate part!  There has been one close guess but I'm NOT telling who it was!!!! 

Tomorrow - well, tomorrow's another day!!!  Although you may not get the answer!!!!

Part 3

Here's part 3 - keeeeeep guessing!!!

I think I'm drop dead naughty.  I'm SO enjoying this as it'll be even funnier when it's all over.  Shall I give you a clue along with the picture?  

OK, here's a clue.  It's not been guessed yet!!!!  There again - am I telling the truth or trying to put you all off? 

Next part of the puzzle!!

Here you are - the next part of the puzzle!!!


A few good guesses already and I'm now waiting for more!!!

Well?

What do you think this is?  I'm taking a leaf out of Martha's blog here and asking you to guess what this is going to be!!!

There will be five parts and at the end of the game there will be a task.  The task will be to name the pattern.  Tat's all - just 'name that pattern'.  


Well, actually that's not strictly true as you'll need to give it a lot of thought too!!!  So, you're going to have to work for this free pattern - hard!!!

An endangered species!

The title could of course refer to me.  I'm a danger to myself at times and certainly shouldn't be let loose on the world some days.

Last week I was asked by a lady (via my Etsy shop) for a butterfly.  One like the lilac one I'd recently sold. This one, in fact.

Of course I said 'yes' straight away.  Easy peasy thought I!!!  So, off I went in search of the pattern.  It just HAD to be somewhere on my computer.  I've changed computers several times over the years and have never lost a thing.  

Well, do you think I could find it?  NO WAY.  I searched my printouts too.  I searched the wayback machine.  I know it's MY pattern as I remember doing it but it was nowhere to be found.

So I had to re-write it from the scan.  Then, of course I had to re-draw it too.

That's why it's got a name.  It's called 'The Rescued Butterfly'!!!!  I've added it to the web site in the hope that it doesn't escape again.

Actually the butterfly can be worked with the outer part in another colour.  Just needs a bit of 'jiggery pokery' to do it.  Namely 1 very small split chain and the last SR worked as a ring with a VERY long picot.

Tatting day and what a surprise!!!

A month or so ago Heather wrote to ask  if she could use one of my technique pages in her book.  As I'd nagged and cajoled her to kicking the needle into touch and taking up the shuttle (which she's done SO well) then how could I refuse?!?!?!?

Anyway, she promised me a copy of the book so when a small packet arrived yesterday (yes, April 1st) I was dead chuffed.  

BUT something puzzled me.  I scratched the aged head but I was still puzzled.  How COULD a packet containing a BOOK be so - well, for want of a better word, bulgy?  So the fingers got working on opening it and LOOK what was inside.  Do you think there's a rumour going round Tat land that I MIGHT just be getting round to liking HDT and shuttles?  Aren't the shuttles a hoot?  Can you see what's written on the label above their heads?

Catching up with myself!

A bit late but as 'they' say - better late than never!!!

A quick report on the show at the NEC on Sunday!!

There were only two of us on the stand all day which meant we were kept busy, busy, busy.  A good thing as those who know me will appreciate that if I'm not kept busy I get myself into trouble.  BIG trouble!!!

I managed to get a few pictures of the stand before the show started and also a picture of Barbara too.  We had time for a natter too which was good.  Barbara is really, really good with the many children we had who wanted to have a go at tatting.

I did it AGAIN!!!!

Two things, actually!!!  I won the Palmetto logo competition for a second time AND lost the pieces I used - for the second time too!!!!!

Who did I hear say 'typical'?  Well, yes, you're right!!!

Thank goodness they didn't want them re-scanned as I'm honestly not sure where they are in the 'jumble' we call home!!!!  They did ask for them to be re-tatted in autumn (that's 'fall' in American!) colours which I've done and sent to them.  


They've got them up on the site already.  Here's a link to their page.  I'm honestly SO proud to have 'done it again'.

Now all I'm going to do is keep my fingers crossed that the person I've offered the pattern to to teach at tat days gets the 'job' of teaching it.  

The packet from Sue Anna

As promised - the packet which arrived from Sue Anna.

This was full of number 80 threads and some Eazybobs (or whatever they're called)!!!!

Can you see the two at the front?  The pinky one?

Ah, here's a close up.  That one on the right has got earmarked for something already!!!  Not sure quite what but aren't the colours fabulous?  

The colours are fabulous but I will share with Sally - promise, Sue Anna.  I really, really will.  BUT she's NOT having that one!!!!  I'm the big sister and what I say GOES!!!!  She's NOT and that's all there is to it.  Actually, she's not a 'pink' person so there'll be no arguments over it!!!

Am I spoilt or am I SPOILT?

I had another package on Thursday from Sue Anna which I'll show you tomorrow. 

Today I want to show you a package that Ridgewoman sent me which arrived on Friday.

Now this lass has spoilt me rotten in the past and she's been telling me about this package for weeks.  Then after all the teasing there was a hiccup with it even leaving the Post Office where her DH mailed it!!!!  I've been nearly 'wetting my knickers' waiting for it to arrive.   Well, it did on Friday.  WOWWEEEEEE.  Can you believe what was in it?  

Beads, beads and more beads.  PURPLE delicas which I've never owned before.  Did you know that it's difficult to make purple beads cause the colour fades?  I learnt that when I was 'kidnapped in Cincinnati'.

I'll show you some pictures in a minute BUT you must see the pen hook that was in the packet.  NOT just ANY pen hook.  This one was commissioned by BJ and has on it a NORMAN.  Can you see it?  Made by Lady Shuttlmaker too.

Oh, there was thread in there too!!!  HDT.  WOWEEEEE.  Now all I need is time and more time to play!!!

     

This last wee package has some tiger eye beads in for my sister.  Isn't that super?  There were some more for me too.  I will make a bracelet or a pair of earwigs out of mine.  Probably both!!!

A day in the life of an old git!

On Thursday I spent the day at the National Exhibition Centre which is some 24 miles away from where I live.  The Ring of Tatters are given a courtesy stand at the Sewing for Pleasure and Hobbycraft Exhibition.

This is a long day but we're always kept very busy with people showing a lot of interest in our craft.

One of the demonstrators this year was Lyn Morton of Tatting and Design - the author of several  tattiing books.  Here she is telling me off for taking her picture!!!!  You can see her latest book just under her left hand and also her Christmas book is there too.

Now, one of the visitors to our stand is a lady whom I'm sure you've all heard of but have probably never seen.  Like Lyn she's a lady who is a terrific and talented designer.  I'm sure that if Carol Lawecki is reading this she will be pleased to see her.  Any guesses?  No?  Well I guess I'll just have to tell you.  It's Pam Palmer.  She remembers (like me) taking photographs of my back some twenty or more years ago.  My better side is my back.  Why?  Because I had her elephant, dragon and peacocks on jackets I used to wear!!!!

Here are the rest of the gang - also fabulous tatters and great friends to have on a show stand.

Hang on, there's one missing!  Elaine, how did you escape?

Another gift

I'm not sure when I'll get to play but this is a package that Sue Anna sent me two days ago.  Isn't that just the kindest thing?  Lizbeth threads AND some wonderful HDT in leafy colours.  They're Yarnplayer's 'leafy' green and in sizes 10, 20, 50 and 80.

Also some chocolate which I'll TRY to keep until April 1st though I can't guarantee it!!!!  When I got back from my day at the NEC last night there was another package from Sue Anna full of other goodies!!!  I'll show you those next week.  It was a looong and tiring day not helped by the torrential rain that I drove home in.  We call it 'Cincinnati rain'!!!!

Hopefully I'll soon have time to show you some photographs that I took yesterday too.  One is of somebody you've all heard of but probably have never seen.  Watch this space - particularly Carol Lawecki!!!!

The motif in colour!

I'm really quite pleased with this now!!  Takes a LOT to please me, though!!!

I've changed my mind on what I'm going to call it and also I'm only going to put the one version on this page as something is 'brewing' in the depths of brain cell's murky depths as to something else which could develop from this!!!  He's not told me a lot but I can imagine a bit of what he's plotting!!!  Sally, you were right about this version - THANKS.

The colours are from the samples that Sue Anna sent me and which I'm SO enjoying using.  Still can't wait to get to the HDT I've won too.  

Time and tide wait for no tatter so this one's going to have to turn the tide and do a King Canute with time!!!!!

Bad news and good news

Let's get the bad news out of the way first.  I've had quite a few emails from people who are telling me that the pattern page here isn't working.  I think I've tracked the problem down.  It's only happening in Internet Explorer and (so Nick tells me) they did an update yesterday.  What a relief - I thought I'd done something wrong!!! It's working well in the two browsers I use - Firefox and Safari.  


Now for the good news.


Remember Nicole?  She emailed me yesterday and she wants three MORE lots of random tatting!!!  That's a lot of tatting!!!

I'm off to the NEC on Thursday and again on Sunday for two days of demonstrating.  That's the 'National Exhibition Centre' near Birmingham.  It's the Sewing for Pleasure exhibition and the Ring of Tatters always has a spot there (courtesy of the organisers) to demonstrate our addictive craft!!!  In fact, here are some photos I took last year of our stand on the days I was there.

So, I'm hoping that we can sort out exactly what Nicole requires (colours, width and length) so I can take it with me to do.  'Random tatting' sounds just the thing when you keep picking it up and putting it down all day!!!

The reason behind the new motif.

The new motif that I showed yesterday will, or may, or even may not become a large project.  There's a degree of psychology behind a large project and one that I did about thirty years ago is how I 'manage' myself when contemplating one!


I start by telling myself that the 'thing' is going to be 'just a few motifs' - maybe a glass mat.  When that has been achieved I then tell myself that it could become a small placemat.  I usually think I could make a small placemat - no probs.

I think I should show one of the large projects that I'm talking about - it's the jacket below.  After I'd done the small placemat on this project I told myself it would make a lovely tray cloth (well, this was a loooong time ago when a tray cloth would've made a great gift for a grandma).  After that the next target was turning it into a coffee table cloth and so it progressed.  I always had a secret thought at the beginning that it was going to be a jacket but that was never ever spoken aloud.  


I didn't even have to commit to the jacket until the back was done and then it seemed as if it would be just a small step onwards to finish the whole thing.  I remember that I used to sit and make the black centres evening after evening and once I was bored with that would then make the white surrounds and join as I went along.  Those evenings the jacket grew fast!!!  

It's made in a sewing thread - polyester which actually came from the needle factory where they made the Aero shuttles.  My ex found it (and 2 shuttles) abandoned in a cupboard and so he released them into the world (namely my hands!).


I still use the same psychology on brain cell number 3 when tackling a 'maybe this will be a big project' idea and thus the motif that I showed yesterday becomes a 'big project' - one day!!!!