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!!