Snowflake #1 for 2007

This snowflake is from the same book as the Pyramid Orchid motif. It is, in fact, on the same page. "Tatting Patterns And Designs" by Gun Blomqvist and Elwy Persson is the book. I tatted it with DMC Pearle Cotton #12. Fooled you! Not my usual Cebelia. This thread is part of my purchase when Hancock Fabrics closed in my neighborhood. I decided I would give it a try and justify my spending. I'm not disappointed with the results and it wasn't hard to tat with. It's a little soft and I will have to starch the motif before using. The snowflake is 2 1/2" inches point to point.

Now, I have to decide whether to add to my Christmas decorations or tat a doily from a 1960 Workbasket. Decisons, decisions!

My Etsy Shop

I opened an Etsy shop today. It might be temporary, might not be. We are trying to downsize and I might as well make some money in the process! I have so many things that I have crocheted over the years. Almost without exception, they have been stored in tissue paper for the duration.

What started this venture was a needlepoint piano bench cover that my mother just had to have. I worked for ever so long and then she never did anything with it! As there are very few things DH likes hanging on the walls, I have no use for it. We are "sans piano." It is a lovely piece worked in the basketweave stitch. I hope you will go to the shop and look at it.

I will probably put a few tatting pieces in there as well. I am so addicted to my tatting that I can't stop and I'm running out of places to put the finished products.

I don't know if any of my woodcarvings will end up there or not. They are too dear and take so long.

A knitted piece might pop up occasionally. I have made several baby blankets and some tiny little hats that I might not need. As a matter of fact, that would be an excuse to buy more baby thread! I love to knit with that Baby Clouds thread and size 11 needles. Fast work and nice results.

Anyway, just wanted to tell you a little bit about what I did today. Have a look!

Old Tatted Ensemble

This dress, hat and purse are owned by The Mobile Tatter's Guild in Mobile, Alabama. They were found in an attic and purchased by the guild. Unfortunately, they are of unknown origin and date, but appear to be very old. Can you imagine all of the hours and hours of work that went into these three pieces? I don't think I could muster the courage to start a project as big as the hat or purse, let alone the dress. What a treasure for the guild.

They are being modeled by my friend, Elizabeth, who is a member of the guild. She was good enough to share this picture with me, and thus with all of you.

I have not seen them in person, but hope to one day. Mobile is about 4 hours South of my home in Birmingham, but we hope to move to the coast eventually. Maybe then I can become a member of the guild! They have their meetings on Sunday afternoons, which has, so far, made it impossible for me to attend. I can't drive that far by myself.

Elizabeth and J.B. are the two friends who participated in the friendship doily earlier in the year.

Thanks to Elizabeth and the guild for allowing me to share this photo and information.

Candace Marino, R.N.

She passed, she passed - my daughter passed her test! She just called to tell me she passed her state boards, which is no small feat! We are so proud of her and excited as she starts her new career and marriage. Good luck Candace. Thanks so much to all of you who have been praying for her.

Jon's Rosette Doily tatted by me!

I told all of you to expect something special! Jon was so good to share this tatting pattern with me. When she posted the picture of hers, I told her it reminded me of the crocheted doilies my grandmother used to make. I was so pleased when she sent me the pattern so I could tat it. I plan to make some pictures of my grandmother's doilies and post them so that you can see my inspiration. In the meantime, I just couldn't wait to share this with you. It is "hot" off of the ironing board!

I tatted it with Flora size 20. It is such a joy with which to tat and needs almost no blocking. No starching for this thread!

The shuttle is, of course, my first from LadyShuttlemaker and I love it! I didn't get to tat the whole doily with it because it only arrived last Friday and I already had all of the rosettes done. It did a great job on the green though. It is such fun to use and makes a lovely sound as you wind and unwind the thread. I will use and treasure it always!

Lady Shuttlemaker

I just received shuttle #77 from Lady Shuttlemaker in the mail! I can't wait to sit down with it and some thread and see what beautiful music, and tatting, we can make together! Keep watching!

The little card she sent with it has a precious yellow daisy on it and her information on the inside.

Thanks Sherry!

More wedding pictures!

I just uploaded more pictures to Flickr of the wedding and wanted to put these two here. They are from real mom's camera and much better than the ones I took. I wish the Mignonette tatting that is wrapped around the bouquet showed up!

Wedding pictures!

Well, at long last, the wedding has come and gone. Here are a few pictures I took with my camera. I hope others got more, and better, pictures. That's me in the navy blue with my daughter. Then, there are two of Candace and Michael and one of her and her attendants. The one on the far left is her new sister-in-law, Nina, the one in the middle is her friend from childhood to now, Emily who is expecting a little girl soon. The one on the far right is our oldest daughter, Krista. She is the mother of our precious Isaac.

We had a wonderful time, everyone was on their best behavior, little Isaac did his part of Daddy carrying him in very well, and the reception was nice. It was a great day, but a long one and I am glad to be home and off of my feet!

In the end, she used the Mignonette tatting hanky. I had taken it just in case and it was a good thing. She wanted to wrap her hanky around the stem of her flowers and the one with the blue just didn't look good. The other one was perfect! Now, I have two to wash and press and put away for her.

Congratulations to Candace and Michael!

Battatter's Heartline Edging

This is the sweet little edging that Battatter shared. It tats up real quick. (My DMC thread, of course.) I think it would be perfect for Valentine cards. Another thought, it would be sweet around votive cups for Valentines or to decorate a room with a heart theme. So many ideas. If only I could imagine my way into designing my own tatting!

Thanks again for sharing.

2nd tatting of Sharon's Chatelaine

I tatted this chatelaine in Altin Bazak instead of my usual DMC Cebelia. I also only tatted one accessory arm, as I am used to wearing this crochet hook around my neck whenever I tat. I don't know if I will ever use the red one or not. I don't like the weight of the scissors, even though it would be great to have everything attached together. I have a purple cord that I will attach to this one to use.
Can anyone tell that while everyone else is out enjoying their Labor Day holiday, I am cloistered in my home trying to hide from my migraines?

Thanks again Sharon for the lovely pattern and we are still praying for you and your family.

Needle lace sampler

I thought I had lost this piece of lace for good, but found it yesterday. I did this in 1999, right before I finally figured out the tatting thing. Once bitten by the tatting bug, no more needle lace! Still, I enjoyed doing this and was upset that it had gotten misplaced in the move. Now it is hanging up in my bedroom. I will need to change the background color to green, but it needs reframing anyway.

I will now have to find the book from which I got the pattern. It is a big book, I think from Reader's Digest, on all kinds of needlework. There is a tatting pattern in there I have been meaning to use too.

Isaac brushing his teeth and Daddy's leaves

I know the color on this picture is terrible, but I just had to show you Isaac brushing his teeth. If you go to Flickr, there are several of him and his granddaddy.

The other two pictures are of some of my dad's last woordcarvings. He loved to carve these little leaves and give them to the women at the nursing home. These are earrings, about 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" long. The pictures don't do them justice, of course. He painted every little vein, they just dont' show up.

This is the kind of thing I used to do before I became addicted to tatting! I wasn't as good as he was, but I enjoyed it!