Coral Reef Doily Finished!

My grandmother always said it was bad luck to take old work, among other things, into the new year. In that spirit, I was determined to finish this doily and get it posted today. It needs a good blocking, but a light pressing will have to do for now.

This is Pamela's Coral Reef thread, of course. I had a set of the solids to mix with it. I was very fortunate that she had saved a skein of the batch I bought. I ran out of the variegated! Now I know what some of you felt like in this situation.

 

Wishing you and yours a safe and prosperous New Year!

Laura, Bill, Isaac and Oisin

It's A Leprechaun's Life

Pamela, Fergal, Oisin and I decided the Leprechauns needed a blog of their own. They all have so much to say. This way those of you who are interested, which has to be everyone, wink wink, can go there to follow their persuits. Of course, there will be tatting and hand dyed thread involved. We hope you will visit often!

Jon's Quantiesque Snowflake #3

 

This one counts as this year since I finished tatting it last night and I'm getting it posted on Christmas day - right? I just love this pattern and tatting it in Sherry's Old St. Nick and Country Christmas hand dyed threads was a true pleasure.

I will now go put snowflake #74 on the Rainbow Christmas Tree.

Merry Christmas to all!

Quantiesque #2

 

I liked the way Heather used her own HDT called Many Colors with white to tat one of her snowflakes, so I did it with this thread. Trouble is, I don't know what the thread is except size 20. I thought it was Sherry's Grapefruit until I started tatting with it and realized it I was wrong. If you dyed this thread, please forgive me and let me know so I can give you credit. It kind of looks like a store bought variegated, but I just don't know!

By the way, I want to thank my friend >Jane for a wonderful favor. She has given me the rank of "stark staring bonkers." Now I can forget all kind of things and not have to worry about it! Come to think of it I can proabaly get away with all sorts of mischief too. Thanks Jane! No, really.

Quantiesque #3 halfway done in Sherry's Old Saint Nick and Country Christmas. Thank you again Jon for this pattern. I love it.

Quantiesque Snowflake #1

 

Yes, there will be more of these. Probably lots more. It is Jon's Quantiesque Snowflake that she so sweetly shared with us as a gift. Thank you so much Jon. I love it and can't wait to see how many color combinations I can find. The thread is Pamela's Coral Reef with the solid blue to match for round 2. Both are size 20.

Way to go Jon and Pamela!

Oh, this is snowflake #72 on my tree.

Oisin the Exchange Student

Oisin went to class with his new dad, the college instructor today. He had two choices for subjects - Economics and Personal Finances. He chose wisely - Personal Finance! He is posing with his fellow classmates in this picture. They were a little hesitant at first. Oisin soon won them over with his Leprechaun charm!

 

Here he is with Dad after his exam has been graded. Yippee! An A+ on his first exam!

 

A close up with his test. He is so pleased with himself.

 

Another picture with Dad in his office. I had my concerns about these two bonding, but I am sure now that my fears were unfounded!

 

Here he is in front of Dad's computer screen. He wants all of you to see where is going to be taking classes now. He is used to a big university, but this is a interesting change for him.


One last picture in Dad's office. I hope you all have enjoyed this little glimpse into Oisin's new world. He is excited to hear comments about what you think!
Tomorrow he will stay home and tat with Mom. She has some new HDT's to unwind from skeins and he is sure to be a big help.

New Tackle Box for Laura!

 

 

 

Most people would wonder why in the world does Laura need a tackle box as she never goes fishing. Those of you in my tatting world know exactly why! I saw this last weekend in our brand new Bass Pro Shop very reasonably priced. I waited a week to see if I really wanted it and, obviously, I did. The four trays can stand on end of on their bottoms. They are divided long ways and have partitions to set more dividers as needed. I know you can buy boxes like this several places, but not four of them together in a nice bag like this one. It has a shoulder strap and compartments on each end as well.

This will be my "mobile tatting cabinet." Now I get to see how much stuff I can fit in there.

If you don't have a Bass Pro Shop, I bet you could find one on line!

Rainbow Christmas Tree 2008

 

 

 

 

I couldn't wait until tomorrow. I wish there was some way I could get pictures from every angle. I also wish I could make it look as amazing in pictures as it does in my den. No brag. Just fact!

By the way, there are 71 snowflakes on this tree, 61 of them tatted by me. Just in case you were wondering.

Oh, the reason there is no tree skirt can be explained by the little boy who eats apples by himself!

Snowflakes, Stars & an Angel

 

These last 13 were tatted by others. I received them, either as gifts, or in trade. The snowflake on the top left was given to me by my friend J.B. when we first met in person. This was before we did our friendship doily with Elizabeth. Thank you J.B.

The off-white snowflake, angel and star were from an older man on the other side of Birmingham. I don't remember how I got in contact with him. This was back when I was first learning to tat. We never met in person, only on the phone. He was of great help to me and these are precious gifts.

The four variegated blue snowflakes were tatted by Tattingchic. I just had to have them! Thank you Tattingchic!

The golden colored one at the bottom was tatted by Jon. She surprised me with it and I like it very much. Thank you Jon!

The purple variegated is from Diane (Lace Lovin Librarian). This is one of the lovely gifts she gave me when she and her mother met me for lunch and came back to my house to visit. I am blessed to have met Diane. She is now planning for Ella and Isaac to grow up, meet, fall in love and make us grandmothers-in-law! Thanks Diane!

The three beauties on the right were tatted by Clyde. Clyde is a dear friend and we just surprise each other occasionally. Thank you Clyde!

If I have any of these mis-labeled, please let me know so I can correct it. If you have given me a snowflake that I haven't credited you with, please let me know that too!

I am truly blessed with my tatting family. I love you each and every one!

Now, everything made so far is starched. Most of them are back on the tree. I will put these on tonight, along with the non-snowflake ones and get pictures made. Maybe tomorrow!

16 more snowflakes

 

Here are the last of the snowflakes that I tatted myself. Some of them are several years old and it shows! I put the blue paper under the white ones to try and make them show up. I think this makes 61 tatted snowflakes on my tree. Of course, that doesn't count all the ones I have made and given away over the last couple of years. Guess that makes me a "snowflake-aholic"!

Ferris Wheel in Old Saint Nick and Country Christmas HDT

 

Lady Shuttle Maker's custom hand dyed thread in size 20 Old Saint Nick and Country Christmas really compliment this snowflake design of mine. The yellow is Flora. As I was tatting, I kept thinking I had made poor colour combination choices, but now that it is done I really like it. I used the second variation at the bottom of my pattern which can be found by clicking on the Ferris Wheel snowflake at the top of my blog. That will take you to my pattern page. Please let me know if you tat any of my patterns. I'd love to see pictures!

Isaac eating an apple by himself!

 

 

 

Just had to share these. The one in the middle is my favorite. He is growing up so fast and talking more and more. I wish he could give all of you a great big hug. There is no way to be sad when this little boy hugs you.

Presenting Oisin!

Look who popped out of my mailbox yesterday all the way from Ireland! He had already freed himself from his "accomodations" as he was tired and a little breathless. He said he had no idea why it took him so long to get here, but he'd had it with that box!

Here he is showing me his hometown on the globe. He is very knowledgeable about geography. That's where his mum lives but he says it is much warmer here!

 

Then he jumped from the globe to my tree covered in Hallmark miniature ornaments. He love it! They are just the right size for him to play with. I had no idea Leprechauns could move about so quickly. I never actually saw how he moved from place to place except when he jumped from the globe to the tree. I think he must wiggle his nose and "Pop" from place to place.


After that he spotted his "birth" mum's Rainbow Bright thread on my snowflake tree and had to be sure it was being properly displayed. He did give me his approval, thank goodness.

 

As you can see, he has now found suitable accomodations. He had heard about Southern living and always wanted to see a real log cabin. Now he has one of this own. It is a little small, but according to Oisin it is just right. That is very good because he is just right too! He is the cutest thing and has a string of shamrocks tucked into his belt. I just know we are going to have great adventures together.

 

Here is a picture of the card his mum sent me. It is a beautiful handmade masterpiece with one of her Rainbow Bright tumbling snowflakes on the front. She also sent me a skein of Coral Reef hand dyed thread. I ran out before I could finish my doily. Now I can complete that UFO!

Thank you Pamela. You are a doll.

 

3rd batch 21 snowflakes

 

This is the 3rd batch stiffened. There are 21 in this lot. I took Jon's suggestion and used a paint brush to do these and I like it much better. They are not quite as stiff as the others which is good! Thank you Jon! I did not dilute it as I wanted to see if the brush would make the stiffening a little lighter and it did.

More tomorrow.

Stiffened Snowflakes

 

 

This is one of the reasons I have been so quiet. I finally gave in and started stiffening snowflakes. This is the first time I have done this to any of my tatting. I had great misgivings until I got started, but now I like it a lot. I'm going to try and get them all done before I put any of them back on the tree. Poor little tree looks so sad! I am using "Stiffy" from Michael's and a piece of 3/4" styrofoam covered in plastic. I did the first ten last night and didn't wear gloves. My hands are sooo dry. Today I wore gloves!

I can't wait to finish them and get the tree decorated again. I'm not going to tell how many more I have to go!

Spinning Wheel Glass Mat in Fern

 

I just finished this last night. I think/hope this is my last mat. No, I'm not trying to catch up with Diane!

I tatted it in size 20 hand dyed thread called "Fern" by Yarnplayer and I think it turned out beautifully.

Tomorrow it will be off in the mail!

Royal Diadem by Sherry Pence

 

Now that the book is published, I have Sherry's blessing to show you the doily I tested for her. This is one of the reasons I had little tatting to show in regular intervals. It is an intricate, and lovely, doily and I hope it will be treasured by one of my children one day. Please don't let the intricate look stop you from trying it. It is amazingly simple when you take it one step at a time, especially with the way Sherry has it laid out in the book.

This doily is tatted in size 20 Flora thread. I will go back and tat it again in HDT now that I know I can do it!

Royal Diadem was an absolute joy to tat and I have been so anxious to share it with you!

Isaac's surgery

For those of you who have watched Isaac grow up, here is an update. He had his tonsils removed this morning and new tubes put in his ears. He has not been really well for months now and keeps spiking fevers. I do pray this solves most, if not all, of the problems. He came through the surgery fine and is probably back at home by now. Thanks so much to all of you who knew about the surgery and have offered up prayers and good thoughts for him.

Ruth's Celtic Snowflake in Rhubarb Pie

 

You had to know I would get around to tatting this snowflake in Rhubarb Pie! It is hanging in one of my Bayberry bushes. Now my hands smell like Bayberry! Thanks again, Ruth for sharing this pattern with us. Of course, Yarnplayer knows how much I love her hand dyed Rhubarb Pie.