New technique

Today I'd like to tell you a bit about a 'sort of' new technique but first of all I want to thank everybody for their birthday wishes.  To say I was overwhelmed is a total understatement.  I was, in fact, gobsmacked.  Thank you everybody everywhere.

Now I was talking to Sharren Morgan at the Palmetto Tatter's guild meeting a week after Tat Days and she showed me the Half Double Double stitch which I think is STUPENDOUS. Why didn't BC3 think of that?!? 

As Sharren is such a generous person she's allowed me to share this with you. Here's the link.

Now, you may think this isn't an earth shattering change but, personally, I think it does outweigh Rhoda Auld's (1976) original idea of the Double Double Stitch  (also known as the Balanced Double Stitch) as this variation uses a lot less thread and is easier to do - specially, as Sharren points out on the page that  I've done, - you can use whichever half you want to do as the half double double.  'Choose your own method'!!!

Anyway, here's a 'taster' from the technique page.  Please do visit the link and try it out.  I LOVE it.

A quiz

Before I start the quiz I'd like to draw your attention to a new associate member of the exclusive tatting club who joined yesterday. A warm welcome to JB who has sent in her bauble.  Next mission is a mouse, isn't it JB?

Right - now for the quiz.  Please no cheating or you'll have to go and stand in the 'naughty corner'. 

The quiz is simple, really - there's only one answer and the question is 'who did I spend a lovely afternoon with yesterday'?

First clue is here.

OK, have you guessed yet?  Think - pretty hand spun and hand dyed wool.  No?  Right - second clue coming up.

Not yet?  You lot aren't very good, are you?  Think - Tunisian crochet, persistence and loads of patience.  No?  Third clue then.

Shall I tell you or shall I wait to see if anybody knows?  

Oh, OK I'll tell you.  It's Jane McLellan who I met up with.  Her blog is here.

If you ever get an offer to spend time with Jane (and her lovely friends) then please take up the chance.  I spent about three hours in her/their company and they fled past far too quickly.  We did, of course, talk about tatting quite a lot!  Well, that's what you do, don't you?

Sorry!

I apologise that again I am showing another small motif. Well, Crazy Mom did want 8!!!! I like this design element as the daisy centre is so often seen on earring patterns or even bracelets.

This pattern is what I'd call a 'generic' one. Something that has probably been done time and time again and the copyright probably belongs to somebody 'out there' in Tat Land. If it does then perhaps somebody could point the old nose (the one in the middle of my face) to it.  The one novel (perhaps!) thing I've done is to use lock chains on the outer part.  Now because of this and IF this belongs to somebody then that makes it still theirs.  Do you follow?  Just because I've changed this design a little bit doesn't make it mine.  Well it doesn't really matter as I'm not publishing it but I'd still be interested in the owner (or another tatter) contacting me with their information.

Another bit of news which is causing me great excitement is a meeting I'm going to tomorrow. You'll NEVER believe this but another of Tat Land's residents is coming to town. OK, I'll not tell you who - but can you guess?  

Answers on a postage stamp, please to my usual address.  Now, what IS that you may ask?  Here it is in full.  Jane Eborall, The Mad House, Tatters Lane, Tatlington, Tat Land.  Or my email address will do!!!

Ship Ahoy!!!

Yes, seriously, watch out for another ship just sailing into harbour. This one is from Linda and I'll leave her to tell you the rest of the story if you go to the TIAS page here.

There are still more mooring places in the harbour so if anybody has anymore to send in do feel free to do so!!

The worst part of next January's Tat It And See is now over. 

NO, I've not started the design of it yet BUT BC3 has decided what it is to be!!! That's always the biggest hurdle. Mainly because I like to do things which really keep you guessing for at least five days!!! This one will hopefully do that! I just need to be in the 'right mood' to get cracking.

Meantime I have 3 new patterns to get finished and onto the site. Shouldn't be long now as the days are shortening, the night's lengthening and my brain is getting geared up too!!

Another!!!!

Another motif and things are 'looking up' as this one caused the certain 'person' known as BC3 to wake up and take notice!!!! 

Again this the basis of this pattern is stolen from my own work. I'm going to write and draw this one up and get it on the web site soon. I like the way the centre looks but it's going to take me a short while to complete this.

Do you remember?

Before I start - Jeff has become an associate member of the exclusive club so maybe you'd like to visit the page - the tab is above this post.

Do you remember?  Perhaps you don't but I do!!!!! I was playing with motifs a month or more ago.  Here's one of the motifs.

This is another one (below) that I've been playing with too. I don't think I ever told you 'why' I was into small motifs so here's the story. Sit back, put your feet up and you'll probably go to sleep before I've finished!!!!

It was about three weeks before my trip to America when Crazy Mom Tats asked me if I could make her some small motifs. I was going to stay with her in Atlanta for a few days so I was delighted to help.  She needed 8 for a set of coasters she'd bought. Remember - she lost everything in a house fire earlier in the year.  Thankfully she sent me a template which I printed off so that I knew the exact size they should be.

Well I set out to make some for her using the centres of other motifs I'd got on my pages but then branching out and using my rather aged imagination!!! Here's another that I did but one which I wasn't at all happy with. Not sure if I gave it to her but it was to prove a stepping stone to something else!!!!

Gina's patterns.

A quick post today to tell you that I've managed to upload a few more of Gina's patterns onto this section of the web site.

The last few are thanks to Sue and Grace who kindly sent them to me. I'm sorry, Sue, that you've had to wait so long to see them appear but life and travelling got in the way!!! As it does!!!

Brooch finished

So after the day before yesterday's failure I tried another attempt at covering the pin and this time I was satisfied. 

If you look closely at the first picture you'll see that I covered the pin with some tatting at both ends so the only part that shows is the head of the safety pin. Now some people may find that annoying but I think the baubles will attract the attention away from that. Anyway I can live with it as it is!  I'm easily pleased!

I put the pin on some denim to show up how it'll look on the coat and then took it to Tat Days to show off!!!! 

 Before I put it in it's travelling box I sprayed the brooch with Scotch Guard so it won't pick up dirt.  This is a trick I sometimes use with earrings too so they don't get the oil off off my scrawny old neck!!

Meet a purple possum!!!

Now this is my sort of tatting - whacky!!!! 

Two new members of the exclusive tatting club arrived yesterday and you can now see them here. Ah, you can also find out who they belong to too!!!

A bauble brooch

I have a black winter coat. It's a lovely coat and very warm too - an advantage some winters!!!!

Some six weeks or more ago I decided I 'needed' a new bright brooch to wear on this coat so set off making baubles. Well, that's a bit of a fib as I think I'd already done one or two before deciding what to use them for!!! Remember the 'gecko phase'? Well baubles are currently sort of like that for me as I love making them but never quite know for what purpose.

I got them all done and then needed to add them to a pin (or something). I tried to cover the coilless pin with a length of the leg pattern from the flower fairy which you can find here but that was an unmitigated disaster as so many of my unplanned tatting 'episodes' are!!!!

Unpacking.

Yesterday was spent unpacking. Not the clothes which were easy to get out and put in the appropriate places but the tatting 'goodies'.

I thought of taking photos of all the wonderful things I was given but some of those got eaten (like the honey) and there were so many gifts that it got a bit overwhelming. Actually I was so spoiled that it was embarrassing - but I'll cope!

There was the purse of 'bribes' (including shuttle earwigs and other shuttles) from a group who want me to teach there, a huge bag full of HDT (along with ezybobs to wind them on), the new Marilee Rockley book, beads and many, many other things.  I was given a shuttle that had belonged to Gina which was a lovely thought.  Then there were more beads, an angel given to me later on during the trip, the beautiful bright dangle (now residing on my handbag), a leather shuttle holder that you wear round your neck, a lanyard which I didn't get to wear at Tat Days but which has now become a super necklace by changing the latch hooks and putting another finding on.  Pens which are really bright and hopefully won't get lost in the household clutter.  Actually they're now by my keyboard so should be 'safe'!!!  Did I mention beads?  More beads than I'll use in a lifetime so Sally will get some of those.  Buttons too.  Sally, are you listening?   and many, many more goodies. THANK YOU to everybody I really, really appreciate everything.

I'd also like to thank my hosts.  Crazy Mom in Atlanta, the Palmetto Tatters in Toccoa, the 'gang' at Lake Junaleska (lovely to spend time with y'all), Gloria and Bob in South Carolina (Lake Murray) and finally dear Joanie who has put up with me so many times.  Love y'all and can never thank you enough.  What a fantastic three weeks.

Yesterday we reached the magic 100 in the Tat It And See.  WHOOPPPEEEEE.

Also another new associate member has joined the Exclusive Tatting Club - welcome, Phyllis.  Please visit her bauble here.

More catching up news!

I just need to let y'all know that I've added Sandy to the list of exclusive members of the Exclusive Tatting Club. Thanks, Sandy. Here's the link.

Also there's a new addition to the January 2014 Tat It And See which now puts numbers up to 99!!! Almost at the elusive (not exclusive!!) number 100. Wonder if there'll be another one to take us there?!?!? Again, here's a link for you to see.

Now I'm home

Back in the old routine, I guess, but first I have to catch up on sleep. 

I promised to show you pictures of the first part of the trip which was to Atlanta for a few days with Crazy Mom who I STILL insist isn't crazy at ALL but probably a tad silly for putting up with me. 

While I was with her she arranged a tatting get-together at her new temporary home. What a fun evening that was. Lots of gossip and a new tatter was 'born' too.

The first day we visited the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta which was sooooo interesting and which I can recommend to anybody passing that way. 

On Wednesday we visited CNN studios and did the full tour. Again that was interesting and Crazy Mom even got to read using a teleprompter. She did a great job too. The escalator which you can see in the one picture is the longest unsupported escalator (elevator to Americans!) in the world and we went up it. There's a link about it here.  Such a lot to do and see in Atlanta.

Final week but more to come soon.

This last week in Florida has flown by far too quickly.  I've been very lucky to have been staying with my tatting mate - Joanie and her husband who, like Nick, appears to tolerate our tatty addiction!! 

We have tatted a little and talked a LOT!!!!!  They kindly took me out and about like Crazy Mom did when I was in Atlanta.

So, to almost end my reports on the trip I'll show you some pictures of another part of Florida.  I'll be travelling home over the weekend so you'll maybe not hear a lot from me till Monday or Tuesday when I hope to get the pictures of Atlanta off my camera and onto the blog.  Meanwhile here are a few pictures of Lake Placid where many buildings have murals painted on them.  I LOVED the trash cans too.

Tatting with the Palmetto Tatters

On Saturday (well, that would be last Saturday) I had the privilege of teaching at the guild meeting which is held at Lexington Museum.

I've been there before and remember the wonderful surprise on finding out that this wasn't a 'regular' museum but a collection of old American buildings.  

The lesson was teaching the pearl tatted snake which is on my pattern pages but I will be adding to this pattern and will be making modifications when I get home.  The reason?  Well, my dear friend Riet suggested another way that this little guy could be worked!!!!  Aren't tatters the best?  We get together and talk and more ideas emerge.  Thanks a trillion, Riet.  More work for BC3!!!!!

A few more photos

Last week was spent with another friend at her house in South Carolina.  Joanie and I had the privilege of spending a few days with Gloria and Bob who live right on the edge of Lake Murray.  

Of course tatting and Tat Land were part of our many conversations as we exchanged tips and gossip!  Here are a few pictures taken on a walk around the garden and including some beaver damage which fascinated me.  

So, what next?

Well BC3 let me down so action had to be taken when I arrived in Florida to stay with Joanie and Rick!!!!!  I'd meant to do this last week but obviously BC3 was on holiday too.

The slippers that Kerianne 'kindly' returned to me after the white elephant game would not fit in my suitcase so I decided to pass them on to 'someone else' in the hope that they would either use them or, in some way, continue the joke.  

So, who has them, en route, to them right at this very moment?   BEWARE and VERY AFRAID, all Tat Days participants as the mail man could be visiting YOU shortly!!!!!

More random pictures

Just as the title suggests - these are random photos including some of the origami lesson which was great too.

After Tat Days

A trip to Lake Junaleska with some very good friends was the next 'happening' on the trip.  Naturally they were all tatters except one who used to tat but now makes amazing baskets.

I would have shown you some pictures of the beautiful landscape we saw but the pictures are all on my camera so you'll have to wait for those!!  Below are some of the flowers we saw and a picture of the deck.

Lots of tatting talk happened, of course!!!

A few quiet moments

There is a pretty lake at Tat Days which is well worth taking a stroll down to.  Pictures below.  I got down there when thunder was rolling around in the distance so didn't stay long before scooting back up the hill!!!!!

The last picture is a view of the building where it all happens.