An experiment in block tatting!

So, here we go on my block tatting adventure!!!  Day one saw me starting with a motif I'd done years ago called the 'small motif'.  Some people (like MEEEE) have no imagination over naming designs!!!

As you can see something wasn't right about this attempt so it stopped where you can see!!!  Another lot of thread destined for the bin!!!  

I use yards and yards of thread when designing and that's why I keep a look out on Ebay for threads just for that purpose.  I won't use my lovely Lizbeth or other 'good' sorts for designing. 

Last for now

So, this may be the last one as I've got into another project!!!

This is in Rainbow Splash by Lizbeth.

My new project has taken me over.  The reason I got so 'into' the geckos was because of the new way I discovered to make a neat join on the return chain using the 'easy block tatting' method.  

It's not easy to design anything with block tatting as you always land up at the wrong place.  Yes, you can do a slip stitch type of way to get back to another point (like in the gecko pattern) but it's not always where you want to be.  

So with this next project I decided to 'go with the flow' and see where I landed up.  As it's nearly finished in 'real time' I will show you the progress and how I 'got there' over the following days.  Well, of course, that's if I can find all my rejects!!!!

Tat It And See

It's tat time of year again!!!  Time to play and get through the dreary month of January (and part of February) if you live in the Northern Hemisphere and time to chill from the heat if you live 'down there'.

The Tat It And See (TIAS) will start on Monday 6th January - when I'm up and about in the morning (that's GMT morning!).

Here's the link to the introduction so you can source threads and prepare shuttles.  

Let the fun begin.

Did you want a sneak preview?  OK, here it is!!!  Now that didn't help, did it?

Fantasy Flower 2

Tomorrow I'll announce the start date of the Tat It And See.  Keep an eye open as the link to the introduction will be on that post.
Although both pictures are of the same motif the lower one was taken while it was still damp after a quick press under a cloth!!!!  Also it was taken later in the day when the sun (what little we see of it) had gone in behind the clouds.  Weird the way colours change.

I'm still checking out the pattern as the text takes ages for me to 'get right' - or as near 'right' as I think I can get.  I think I'll work one more as I've still got loads of beads around me in tat corner!!!

This is the front

and this is the back

The final box

This is IT.  The final box.  

Guess what?  I'm almost tempted to go and buy more of them as they are such fun to do and I know that just before Christmas there were some black fabric ones in the shop.  

Problem is that fighting the invisible thread can cause OG's to nearly meltdown!!!

Just for a change!

As I regularly do - I decided that I ought to re-visit this pattern and I'm glad I did.  This is the first of several trials I'm doing of the Fantasy Flower. 

The main reason for looking this pattern over again is to see if I can improve it's 'understandability'!!!!  I'll need to do the drawings again as the originals were done on a PC and now I use a Mac so the software didn't 'transfer'.  Mind, I do like drawing on the computer - very therapeutic but hard too when you have thread and shuttles wound round your hands as well!!!

This isn't a very good picture as it was scanned.  I'll try for a better one later using the camera!!

Final box started

Before I start I'd like to show you number 126 of the 2013 Tat It And See from Anne-Mare.  I'll shortly be announcing the start date of the TIAS 2014.  Are there anymore prams still to come?  Not that it matters particularly!!!

Roughly flung onto the scanner are the first two 'parts' of the final box!!!  Again I've gone back to using the beads that came off the original one so they're really re-purposed.  

When I pop my clogs I'm hoping I'll be thrown into the recycling box which the council collect every fortnight!  Problem is - I'll have to 'smallerise' myself first to be able to fit into the bin!!!

Two bracelets

Well I doubt you'll hear from me for a day or two and I'm not going to explain why either!!!  Oh, alright I will.  

It's because there'll be nobody around to read my ramblings as most of you will be celebrating Christmas.  I'll not be going ANYWHERE.  Not even 'down the town' to buy the milk and a newspaper for Nick.  For us it's a designated two days for eating and drinking too much, falling asleep in the chair and most importantly - the giving of presents.  Which brings me to these two below.

A couple of bracelets made for a neighbour and her daughter.  I really enjoy making these and especially for this lass who I've been helping with her crochet.  Well, here's the link if you want to make one.  Easy peasy once you know how to do the single shuttle split ring (SSSR).

A special card

Now I just had to show you this Christmas card which came from a well known tatter who lives in Scotland.

It came from Lindsay Rogers who is the author of several tatting pattern books and who is specially well known for her Tatting Collage designs in the book of that name.  I can't give you any links as she's not active online but if you put 'Lindsay Rogers tatting' into google you'll find lots of places you can find her books.

We have often exchanged letters in the past as I don't think Lindsay uses a computer.  Look at this lovely tatting and see how it enhances an already pretty card.

Another box done and dusted.

Another finished.  I was a bit concerned that this one wouldn't work.  It's not a colour that really appealed to me but then I ought to know by now that Lizbeth threads always look good if you have the courage to give them a try!!!

Yesterday I wandered round the shop where I got the little boxes from and they've still got some left in this peacock blue colour and also some new ones - in black.  Rather like the ones I did earlier this year.  

I was SUCH a good old git and I managed not to be tempted - but it was hard, very hard!!!

Another box and I'm bored!

A change from the diamond studded motifs now and onto something new.  I get bored very easily!!!

This time I took the first part of the 3D snowflake which is here and 'messed about' with it a bit!!! Well, only a bit as you can see!!  I put a bead in the middle (swarovski type) and a long beaded picot between the rings.  I extended the chain's long beaded picots too - just because I could!!!!

The next box is finished

Ta de dah!!!!!  I announce the arrival of another box - finished and ready for my plans!!!!

Now to be honest I did the top of this box a week or so ago so the edging, sides and sewing have been done a while too.  

It takes me most of an evening to do the large motif and then another half an evening to do the edging.  The sewing is done in the afternoons when I've got a bit of natural light and the concentration to do it.  Least that's the theory!

Starting another adventure!!!!

Now here's another motif (diamond studded again) ready for another of the boxes.  

This time to make life more interesting I've used a swarovski crystal bead in the second long beaded picot.  Again the picture isn't that good but you can blame my scanner for that.  Least I'm not sure it is the scanner itself or whether it's the driver!!!  I've been looking for an updated driver for that since I downloaded Maverick.  Ah well these things take time and are sent to try an OG!!!!

First box finished.

Here is the finished box which I showed you with this dreadful photo back here!!!

I was really ashamed of that picture but I'm pleased now with the finished box.  I do have a plan for all these but I'm not going to say what it is yet!!!!  

An added advantage of making them is the fact that it keeps me quiet for hours and gives lots of practice sewing with the invisible thread!!!

Please take note of the diamond (cough, cough, splutter, splutter) right in the middle and the fact that with this Lizbeth thread I have actually re-used some of the beads and sequins.  

Right - onto the next one.  What thread will I use and how long will the geckos be kept at bay?

Another play!

As I promised on Saturday - another play with Frivole's Celeste pattern!!  

Has anybody EVER told y'all in Tat Land that you can NEVER have enough beads?  Well, if you haven't been told before then I'm telling you now!!!!

Since the birth of the long beaded picot life is so much easier.  

With Celeste I only had to work out how many to put on the threads for the beads on the core thread.  When it came to the LBP's I added the lavender intermixed with clear beads.  Job done!!!!

Playing with Celeste

I was lucky enough to win a copy of Frivole's pattern - Celeste in her recent giveaway.  So pretty.

Well I looked and looked at it but just couldn't pluck up the courage to make picot gauges.  I tatted for all those years (pre-internet) without ever using one (because I'd never heard of them!) and couldn't see why I'd need them for regular tatting.  Actually I wonder when gauges were invented - anybody got the answer to that?  

Anyway, the answer to my problem (with apologies to Frivole) was to make the long picots into long beaded picots as they act as a foolproof (well it is an OG tatting it) gauge without the hassle of finding an old credit card to make a 'real' gauge!!!

I think this motif (see below) is stunning.  I'm going to make another with beads in the centre too and more on the outside instead of picots.  Just need BC3 to help me work out the numbers on each shuttle but I'm sure he'll manage that!!  The beads mean that it keeps it's shape very well too - I haven't even pressed this one yet and honestly don't think it really needs to see an iron either!!!!

Progress on the latest box

This is SUCH a bad picture.   I apologise.

This is for the top of the box that I showed you here.  You can't see in this lousy picture that I used the beads that I cut off the original.  I also used a doodad with a 'diamond' in the centre for this design.  I 'rescued' these from pairs of earrings that I bought from Asda a few years ago.  Bargain too as they were in the sale.  Right sort of 'diamonds' for me too - fake!!!!

Promise I'll make sure the next picture is a lot better.

How to keep an OG stimulated!

So, it's nearly Christmas but it came early yesterday!!!!  A package I'd ordered from Amazon for my grandson, another I picked up from Lakeland to replace the gift for Nick that I returned last week etc etc.  

BUT there was also a package for MEEEEE.  All the way from America too.  Thanks, EttaJ - that'll keep an OG inspired for ages.  Just having a few problems with Nick, though.  I gave him a Mary Jane sweet (they're yummmmyyyyy) and he's now convinced they also say 'Nick' on them.

Before I finish.  I must tell you the story of Nick's returned present.  I bought it last Saturday and smuggled it into the house.  He came out of the kitchen with a big grin on his face to show me what had just arrived from Amazon - it was the same as I'd just bought him.  

I took it back to the shop and asked the girl if I could have a refund as my partner had bought himself one off Amazon.  Of course, she said.  What is it?  I produced the sink plunger out of my bag but she was lost after that in a fit of giggles.  You can tell I think a lot of the guy - it's not everybody who buys somebody they love a sink plunger!!!

Little boxes once again!

Wandering through the shop in town a few weeks ago I spotted more of these boxes.

Well I succumbed as usual and came home with a few.  They look lovely as they are but the scissors came out and the first one 'got naked'!!!

Now, what shall I do next?!?!?

Must say that I've kept the beads and sequins (well, those that didn't take a dive off my lap into oblivion and finally the hoover) so they could well be re-used.  Watch this space!!!   

Well, the space between my two ears where BC3 lives!!!

Another snowflake in a flurry!!!

This is another almost the same as this one but that had gold beads and this has clear ones.  

I have a son in law who nags me unmercifully for tatted bits to go on their tree.  Bless his cotton socks as he and his mum are the only ones who display my work at Christmas!!!  I certainly don't as the bits and bobs are somewhere in 'that' box in a cupboard somewhere!!!!  

So pleasing that somebody can be bothered to use them!!!!