Tatted Mat is NOT finished!

Okay, I'm committing to making the Pyramid Orchid mat larger. I sat down and picked out colors last night and swapped them around the center until I got a good layout for the next round. In order to keep up with what color goes where, I made a picture of the arrangement. Then, I got a better idea. I cut a small piece of each thread and tied it to the adjoining motif. I was going to tape them to a piece of paper in order, but I thought tying them more convenient. Now, I am mobile!

My only concern is that I will have to tat with Cebelia and Flora threads to have enough colors. I hope it will stay flat. I didn't have any trouble doing this on the friendship doily, so I'll cross my fingers for success.

Updates to follow as I tat.

Finished? Tatted Mat

Am I finished, or am I not? I really like this mat and might just keep on going! I might be like Jane with her geckos....
There is, of course, one glaring error. I probably won't take it out, but I think it is on the finishing chain, so I could if I get ambitious.

Layered Tatted Snowflake

This is Nancy Tracy's snowflake from the Be-stitched newsletter. The pattern can be obtained by following the link on this page to subscribe. It is tatted in size 30 DMC Cebelia. I really like this pattern and the resulting snowflake. It worked up real fast and with no headaches. I might even be tempted to make another one, maybe in an ice blue with white beads..... Thanks Nancy!

New Tatting Thread

The new thread is here to finish the pyramid orchid motif! It is a beautiful blue and I can't wait to get to it. I am in the middle of a snowflake that I hope to finish tonight. I can't wait to see how it will look and if I want to make it bigger.

Happy Birthday To Me!

My sweet friend, Madeline, gave me these pillowcases for my birthday on Thursday. She is not a tatter, but is very proficient with needle and embroidery floss! She also crochets and is a good seamstress. I was so pleased and touched that she would share this hard work with me. I had to promise her I would use them and not just put them up! I had been trying to convince her to learn to tat, but I think I will leave her to her embroidery from now on! Thank you again Madeline.

Also, check her blog. There is a link on this page titled Karl and Madeline. There is an interesting surprise there!

Pattern Identified

Lady Shuttlemaker is pretty sure the Pyramid Orchid design is by Cathy Bryant of Scotland. She says the same identical motif is in book number one of the "Tatters Across Time" proficiency program. I am so glad that she is participating in this program and recognized the motif. I wonder how many others are participants? Also, if any of you know how I can find Cathy Bryant, please let me know.

Tatted Motif unfinished

I just couldn't wait to share this motif! I have ordered some thread for the 4th square and I'm too impatient for it to get here. I saw this motif on Snowy's blog and I've been trying to contact her about it for several days. She said it reminded her of the Pyramid Orchids that grow near her. I don't know whether she designed it, or if it was from a book. If she designed it, I hope she will be flattered that I love it so much. If someone else did, or if you know who it was, please let me know and I will be glad to give them credit or pay for the pattern. I always try to do the right thing. I was just so taken with the design that I had to try and reproduce it, even if only from the picture. So, this is my interpretation of the motif with three, so far, joined together. I haven't blocked it as I want to wait to tat and join the 4th motif.

Also, I have finished blocking the wedding hanky. It is "done and dusted" as Jane put it. I am so excited to give it to my daughter that I have had to hide it from myself! LOL It is wrapped in paper towels around a tube right now. I am going to try and find, or construct, a box just the right size for it before the presentation.

Introducing... The newest member of the tatting world!

(And, probably, the next tatting addict!)

This is Susan Martin, a young lady I met on a rare trip to Michael's Tuesday afternoon. I seldom get out due to the heat and my migraines, but I just had to go to Michael's! I was looking at the notions wall and there, to my disbelief, were new tatting shuttles. I mentioned this to DH and heard, from behind me, "Oh, there are some over there too?" It's amazing how fate works to bring us together, huh? She was hoping to find shuttles and a book so she could learn to tat. Of course, I gave her my name and number and offered to teach her. She was here at my house by 9:00 A.M. this morning. (After being up working the 11 - 7 shift. My brain would have been mush.) What a quick learner she is. Within 10 minutes, she had completed her first ring, and not too shabbily at that. She did a couple more and then we did picots and joined rings. When she got enough rings tatted, we joined them together into a circle that I have a feeling she will always keep. I proceeded to teach her a chain and she left to go home and chain around the rings.

I am so excited to have shared our love of tatting with a newbie! I expect great things from her. She is already skilled at several other arts and crafts, but I think she will devote a lot of time to tatting!

Congratulations Susan!

Tatted Gerbera Daisy from Tatted Lace Pattern Collection

At long last, a new picture to show off! Sharon did a great job on this pattern. Even DH whose appreciation for tatting is severely limited, loves it! I have to make a couple more if I am going to put them on a hat with a band like in the newsletter. I enjoyed tatting it, but wasn't sure how it was going to look until I got it blocked. It looks pretty messy as you are tatting the petals, but I like the finished results. It is, of course, in my old standby DMC Cebelia size 20. I think I will see if I have some good colors in Flora and try that next. It will be much more crisp.

Thanks Sharon!

Tatted Wedding Hanky - At Last!

I'm finished, I'm finished, I'm FINISHED! It is so pretty. I wish I could show it to you! You'll just have to wait, like my daughter - the bride. It will be difficult to save it until September, but I must try.

Now, I can go on to smaller things that I can finish and post more quickly. I just love tatting!

Posting Pause!

I really am tatting - I promise! I just can't show you a picture at this time. I'm almost finished with the wedding hanky but will have to keep the picture hidden until after I give it to my daughter. I will say that it is going to be her "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue."

Another reason for the posting absence is we had a fire in my mother-in-law's house. Thankfully, no one was hurt and one of the fireman saved her little dogs. The damage is no where near as bad as it could have been, but it still has her misplaced as there will be no power until after all of the repairs have been made. It has been two weeks and we have made very little progress. The old heating/ac system has been removed with some of the duct work, all carpets removed and some cleaning done. The rest will have to wait until we get a contractor in there to make the structural repairs before any of the other trades can do their work. Still, we are very blessed! Any and all prayers would be appreciated during this difficult time for MIL.