Witch

OK, here it is - the halloween pattern.  My first halloween pattern too.

Before any of you ask - yes, I did pose for it in front of a mirror.  I had to guess at the broomstick, though, as all we'd got was a rather mangy kitchen mop!!!!!  People who know me will notice that I've elongated the nose as my 'real' one is a bit small and a total failure as far as noses go!!!!

When I first started teaching the youngest kids coming into school (here in the UK they're from 4 - 5 years old), it was Bonfire Night which was of huge interest.  Now not all kids love fireworks (I still don't - well only from the comfort of my armchair and when they're on the telly!) but November 5th (Guy Fawkes day) was celebrated hugely here in the UK.  

There used to be a small mention of Halloween 'back then' which was scary for our kids.  Mention witches, ghosts or anything like that and they were scared.  Not all, but a lot of them.  In the UK this day of the year (31st October) passed us by with rarely a mention.  Then along came the Meg and Mog books and this started to make it less scary for our youngsters.  

With global communication opening up, the Halloween celebration was  gradually imported from  America and now slowly (over here) people appear to be losing interest in Guy Fawkes day - also due to the cost of fireworks too, I suppose.

Yes, THE America with their celebration of halloween finally catching on over here.  THANK you, America.  You did us a huge favour as now witches, ghosts, hobgoblins and all those things are no longer scary but fun AND associated with sweets too!!!  Oh, sorry, I mean candy.

Another of my recent projects, which I've not shown you before, is this.  A tiny, tiny doily in size 80 threads.  Again I think these threads probably came in the batch that Sue Anna sent ages ago.  Aren't they delicious?  

I made it a couple of weeks ago as I wanted something special to send to somebody and now she's got it.  Happy belated birthday, Joanie.

Oh, this is the Twirly Doily which can be found here.  The finished piece in this size 80 measures 5 ½" in diameter.

Sherry's TIAS

I'm BACK!!!!  Coming today (23rd) is a new TIAS (Tat It And See) from Sherry which can be found here.  I meant to tell you all about it over a week ago but my BC3 went on holiday with me and I forgot!!!!

So, what else do I have to tell and show you?  Well, coming soon is a new Halloween pattern but I need a day or two to finalise it.  Also a new square motif, a Christmas pattern and goodness knows what else I've forgotten about!!!

I've re-opened the Etsy shop too - somebody asked me about something that was in it but of course I've forgotten who or what!!!!

Thought I'd add a few pictures here from our week in Dorset.  Not your 'usual' holiday photos as that would be boring.  Just the sort that I like to take although I have got 'proper' ones too!!!  Before anybody asks - I managed to get past the fossil shop without them hauling me in to sell me as a specimen!!!!

Paying for web space

Just thought you might be interested in how I manage my web site.  

My web space is with freeserver.com and many, many years ago I signed up with them and used the free space that they gave me.  I also had space that Nick paid for elsewhere but we ditched that because he wasn't using it and it was expensive. I also had free space at BT too but they dropped that a year or so ago.  Anyway, about five years ago I decided to become independent and started paying for space with freeservers.com because I wanted a backup of everything I did.  I was lazy and just left things at BT until they dropped the free stuff and then I moved everything with all the links to freeservers.

I've been pleased with the space they provide and uploading 'stuff' is really easy.  They charge me $3.95 a month which they collect from me via credit card every two years.  I had the warning that my payment was due yesterday.  That's $94.80 (£60.00).  Interestingly I thought you'd like to know that people who read my blog actually pay for the web site!!!  How does that work?

Well I earn money through running ads on there from Adsense and a month or so ago I had a cheque from them which (along with another I had last November) will pay for the freeservers web space and a bit more!!  Thank you everybody and keep clicking on any of the ads that you like - you're supporting the pattern and technique pages by doing that and keeping an OG out of trouble too!!!  Least most of the time!!!

Just to cheer this post up - here's a teaser for you.  Yes, it's a Fandango square BUT I'm working on doing something else with it as you can probably see round the edges of this picture!! Keep watching this space!!!

I blame Sally

This is ALL Sally's fault.  I blame her a lot for what I do!!!!  

Sally saw that I'd finished this hanky edging and she decided to start one herself!!!  No problem BUT I then thought 'what a good idea' and have started yet another!!!  This (to me) is the most relaxing edging I've found to do.  Plenty of picots to sew onto the hanky, one round and enough depth to make it worthwhile too.  I can EVEN remember the pattern repeat now and the corners are easy peasy too.  

I do actually use these hankies (well not the last one yet) as ironing them is easy.  I just drop the iron onto the centre and work outwards.  No messing about with it.  I'm using old DMC threads (size 80) which Sue Anna sent me ages ago as she didn't want them.  Love using size 80 and, in my opinion, that's the right size for a hanky too.

Hmmm, some people!

What IS it about some people that makes you really, really love them?  Even though Kelly is a (hate typing this) needle tatter, I can't help loving her wacky sense off humour.

She and I are always having a 'dig' at each other and I know that some people who follow this blog get quite worried about this and think it goes a bit too far.  I assure you that Kelly and I are good mates and she's invited me many times to stay with her in Canada - if I ever get to Fringe Element Tat Days.  Mainly I think it's because she's a 'wannabe' shuttle tatter!!!

Anyway, when the last Pop A Bobbin shuttles went on sale in my Etsy shop she bought three of the flat shuttles.  I'm HOPING that she'll keep one to learn to tat properly but I'm not sure about that!!!

The picture below is how she announced the arrival of the package at her home!!!!  Nice toes, Kelly!!!

Martha's new book

Before I start today - I had a new pram arrive yesterday and it's now here on the TIAS blog.  Thanks, Monica.

Last week my copy of Martha's book arrived in the post.  

As one of her test tatters I'd already made three of the designs in there but I was DYING to have a go at the fairy called Frivolette, the Chinese dragon and the baby dragon too.  I really must recommend this book not only for the fantastic and unique designs in it but also for the clarity of the written patterns and diagrams.  Yes, you get both (pictures and text) from Martha which is how I like my patterns to be written too.  Mainly because they're SO much easier to follow than 'just diagrams'.  Here's the link to where to buy your copy of this 'must have' book.

All I need now is time as I'm currently trying to resolve another new pattern and finish off the TIAS (still re-jigging stitch counts etc).  

I went to Tat Days

Yes I DID!!  

I went there for a few minutes on Friday evening and I saw lots of my friends for a short while.  There was Joanie, Sandra, Randy (as in Houtz), JB, Anitra (of the owls), Nina (as in Libin), Pam, Shawna and loads more who passed by and waved.  WHAT a TREAT.

Joanie has an iPad and we did FaceTime which is like Skype.  It was great to be there if only for such a short time.  Working out time zones and then wondering who was on daylight saving is always a problem so Joanie emailed me a few minutes before so I could get ready.  

No, that doesn't mean I had to dash and put make up on (what IS that stuff?) or even comb my hair but it does mean that I needed to find a quiet place in the house to talk.

Oh, I also visited Bonnie's house on Wednesday (again using Joanie's iPad and FaceTime) for the pre-tat days meeting that a few of the gang have each year Sadly I couldn't stay for the ice cream (her own home made and MEGGA yummy) and even if I had it probably wouldn't have tasted very good via wi fi!!!  I adore Bonnie's ice cream.

Oh, before I forget, I'll be putting my Etsy shop on vacation on Wednesday as I'll be away from home for a week starting on Saturday.  If you want anything before I go away please make sure you pay the shop a visit.  Don't worry - I'll be back!!

The best laid

No, not eggs but plans.  The best laid plans of mice and men etc.  Well my excuse is that I'm not a mouse nor a man so I can break my own rules!!!

After Joanie's very kind gift I was prompted to put the beads away tidily.  Oh, did I say tidily?  Well I'm pretty good at tidying up but absolutely hopeless at keeping tidy so by now my bead stash was really untidy again.  This prompted another 'grand tidy up'!!!!

Having spent two afternoons (after my walk) on the floor in front of my tatting cupboard tidying up and sorting all my beads I realised that I certainly don't need anymore for a while.  Certainly not large 'feature' beads as I do have quite a few of those.  By that I mean ones like I used here and here.  I spoke firmly to BC3 and we reached an agreement that no more beads would be allowed in the house.

Well that lasted until yesterday when I went down to the open air market in town.  This week they had a charity stall and I really 'needed' to look on it 'just in case' there was anything that may be useful.  Now these charity stalls don't come round often and it's a VERY rare occasion when I find something that I can use so I thought it was safe to look.  

I found the top bracelet and was well chuffed and after buying other stuff I wandered home.  When I got back Nick reminded me I was supposed to get some meat from the 'meat man' so back I went and again was tempted back to the charity stall.  This time I found the necklace (second picture).  The third picture is of them both together.

Well now you know it wasn't safe to look AND BC3 was missing too!!!

A pair of earrings

I love earrings and I love making them to give away.  These will be off to their new owner today - IF I make it down the town, of course!!!

This is the pattern I used.  One of my favourites as it's got weight thanks to the beads and you can also play around with the beads too!!!  This time I actually stuck to the pattern!!!

Sometimes I make the side chains shorter and you can also do the same to the bottom long beaded picot too.  Lots of ideas to play with!!

Bob's yer uncle

Yawn, yawn, blah, blah!!!  I know you're bored with these beads but I'm not!!!  I know the Winsome pattern is fiddly but it doesn't worry me.  Actually I find a long necklace like this quite soothing to make.

Passes the time when I probably should be doing something less useful like concentrating on the rubbish on the telly!!!!!  So, there you have it - Bob's yer uncle - the final part of the trio.  

I suppose you want to see the set all together?  OK, here they are!

The rest of the goodies in the box.

OK, in the box from Joanie were other 'goodies' too.  I was intrigued when I first saw the needles (these are a different type of self threading needles which I've seen advertised but never found) and now I'll be able to 'test drive' them.  I ALWAYS sew in my ends as I go along and hope this will make life a lot easier.

Remember the hummingbird?  Why would I cut that up for beads when Joanie sent me all these wonderful Toho beads?  Can you see the two fans too?  I need those when I'm sitting in our 'office' as it gets rather stuffy in there.

The second picture down is bags of buttons.  I had to smile when I saw the note on the outer bag.  It says 'for Sally,if it makes it to her'!!!!  I posted it the following day so that I wouldn't lose it in the morass of this place we call home!!!

Finally the sewing kit.  I'll be taking that when I go on holiday in the future.  What a great idea.

Thank you so much, Joanie.  I'm a very happy tatter.

A box of goodies.

Now this (top picture) is what started my obsession with these solar 'inspired' toys.  When Sally and I first got into Joanie's car last year she had one EXACTLY like this on her dashboard.  That was it for me - love at first sight (please don't tell Nick!).  

Last Friday a box arrived at Chez Eborall which was full of surprises from Joanie.  I took the box into the 'office' (which is really a bedroom) to open it.  Nick was in the next room lying on the bed reading his paper.  He wondered what on earth was going on when there were hoots of laughter coming from me so I had to dash to him to show him my hula, hula girl!!!  She was the first thing I pulled out of the box and is very energetic too - tried to emulate her but failed dismally as my rather rotund belly wouldn't work properly!!!

Beneath is a hummingbird made entirely of beads.  I adore watching the hummers out of Joanie's window and this little red throated one is EXACTLY like those that visit her yard.  I had to smile at the little note on it saying that he wasn't to be demolished (I think the right terminology is 'bead extraction')!!!!!!  As IF I would do that to a hummingbird.

More box news soon - it doesn't end here!

Second lot of earrings!!

Don't forget - shuttles going live this evening at 8pm BST!!!!

So, after I'd made myself a pair of earrings, I decided that my friend (who had the bracelet) would probably like a pair too.  Here they are below.

Can't think of anything more to say today so I bet you're all breathing a sigh of relief!!!  Don't get too complacent - I'll be back talking more rubbish as soon as possible!!!  In fact I've got several more blog posts already lined up so don't worry - I'll be back on Monday.

Brown earwigs

Well, what do you do when you've got the bracelet?  Well, of  course you make a pair of earwigs to match!!!  Again this is the Winsome Drop pattern but this time I used fewer beads on the rings as I thought they'd look a bit better.

Oh, I guess I'd better make a pair for the friend with the bracelet.  DOH, when does it stop?!?!?

I also need to put some findings on before I go much further too or I'll not be able to hook them into the aged ears!!!!  

Oh, guess I could use a stapler to attach them to the ears?  No, too painful!!!

Please DO NOT

A sad weekend coming up the week after next (September 5th).  Well sad for me and for Sally too who had a 'taster' of the fun last year.  Why?  Well we're not going to Palmetto Tat Days this year.  I will be sitting here sulking and thinking of ALL the fun all my friends are having during that special weekend of the year.  This year is going to be their biggest ever in terms of people attending so even MORE fun and probably ice cream too!!!

There's the vending room, fantastic lessons, amazing teachers (thank goodness for the CD with all the patterns on which I'll be ordering) and the wonderful friendship, etc, etc.

BUT I am taking a meagre part in the fund raiser.  The organisers in this group do a fantastic job supporting tatters who would otherwise not be able to attend, by raising money for scholarships.

They do this with a lot of help from many people who make quilts to auction (too many for BC3 to remember) and then they auction the results at Tat Days.  Now what I DON'T want you to do is go to this link and put in a bid on ANY of the items in the drawing.  Oh, perhaps you want to see more of the quilts so you'd better go to this link too.

Why don't I want you to bid?  Well, because I WANT TO WIN!!!!  

Remember - DON'T go bidding on the fund raiser - well, unless you want to help raise loads of money for other tatters to attend next year.  Oh, I've added two of my favourites below but haven't decided which one I'm going to win!!!

More about the new shuttle.

Firstly here is a list of the shuttles which will go into the shop on Saturday

2 COCOBOLA ROSEWOOD $33.60 each

2 PURPLEHEART $32.70 each

2 EBONY $36.25

1 ZEBRANO $32.70 each

2 OREGAN MYRTLE $28.00 each

2 MAHONIA $33.60 each

2 AMERICAN BLACK WALNUT $28.00 each

2 CHERRY $28.00 each

2 LABURNAM $28.00

2 SEQUOIA $28.00 each

2 OAK $28.00 each

1 SILVER MAPLE $28.00 each

9 FLAT TEAK SHUTTLES $10.00 each

Below is a picture of the new flat shuttle which is oiled like the Pop A Bobbin ones. These are great for learning to tat and for working with beads.

I am not like my sister!

When Sally shows you things on her blog she does it properly.  She takes time and effort to ensure she gets really pretty photographs.  Me?  Well, have a look below!!!

The first picture is a shoe box.  No, Sally assures me she didn't buy a pair of shoes of this make - they are expensive but apparently very comfortable.  

The second picture shows what's inside the box - bet you still thought it was a pair of shoes!!!

The third picture is a new lot of shuttles all to be listed in my Etsy shop which is here.  As it is easier for me I'm listing these again on a Saturday.  This gives me a leisurely Sunday to sort and pack them all before mailing on the Monday.  So, at 20.00 hours British Summer Time these will be listed next Saturday.  I will show you a list tomorrow with a new flat shuttle too.

Brown bracelet 2

I saw my friend and gave her the bracelet that I showed you here.  Problem then was that I liked it so much that I decided I couldn't live without having one of my own!!!  So, off I went to make another bracelet but this time for MEEEEEE.  Here it is below.  

AND - just to prove it - I've added a picture of my friend's below.  

Now, what shall I do next?  Well back to the TIAS again, I think.  I've got to a sticky part so it's been put aside for a few days.

Once upon a time

Once upon a time somebody somewhere bought a long necklace consisting of brown stripy beads with tiny gold seed beads between each stripy one.  Now who it was is a complete mystery and where they bought the necklace is buried in the mists of time - BUT .........

One day an old git decided to wander round the charity shops in her town and visited one and spotted the aforementioned necklace.  No, she didn't buy it straight away because she told her BC3 that she had too many large beads still to play with.  A few days later she wandered back into the same shop to give them something that needed re-cycling and lo and behold, there was the same stripy necklace.  Temptation was too much and the beautiful necklace went home with her to be cleaned and cut!

Roll on a few months later and she was visiting a friend and enjoying a cup of tea in her kitchen when the friend said 'oh, what a pretty bracelet you're wearing'.  It was a blue Winsome Drop bracelet and the old git asked if she'd like one too.  Anyway, on returning home and diving into the tatting cupboard she remembered the stripy beads and this is what became of them.  

So, I give you a happy ending.  Well, not quite!!!!