Tatting gifts from Carol L.

I wish my camera made better pictures so you could see how lovely these two pieces really are. These were totally unexpected gifts from a very sweet friend. She knows how bad I have been feeling most of this year. She said as she was tatting the lotus flower, she was thinking of me and knew it was to be mine. Sooo Sweet! It is on a lovely pink cord with pink ribbon and I love it. The heart is a beautiful pink that just doesn't show up in the picture. It is attached to the bottom of the letter printed on pretty, rose stationery.

Thank you so much Carol for these precious gifts. Please forgive me for being a while getting them posted. I have worn the necklace several times and get many questions about it. You are a doll!

The Letter Carrier brought surprises yesterday!

I received by thread order from Tatskool yesterday afternoon. I am so excited! As soon as I finish the dragon I am making, I think I will start a doily with this thread. I think it is just yummy. It is, of course, from her hand dyed Choco Raspberry collection and most of the colors will work in my bedroom with Yarnplayer's Rhubarb Crisp.

 

I had a super surprise in with my order. Along with some extra thread, I discovered I was the friend for whom Tatskool was making the heart! She is such a sweetie and wanted to cheer me up. It worked!

 

Here is a picture of the end table where I display my heart collection. I bet lots of you recognize your patterns, thread and hearts that you have sent to me. Thank you all so much for being a huge part of my family. You are all in my heart!

 

One Definition of a Good Friend

 

 

 

I knew I had a good friend in Sharon Briggs, but I guess I didn't realize how good a friend she really was. To me, one definition of a good friend is someone who does things for you that are not expected. Many times, as in this case, Sharon had no responsibility to make these hearts for me and that makes them very special. They came from HER heart.

I had tatted my first original heart and mailed off in this exchange never to see it again. Nor did I ever see any hearts from the other participants except from J.B. who felt so bad she made me a second one. (Another good friend.) Things happen to the mail sometimes.

Thank you so much Sharon. Mostly for being my friend. Secondly for all you have taught me. Thirdly for caring enough to give so much of your time and effort to replace my hearts on your own. I will never forget your kindness and this unselfish gesture.

Aren't the hearts just lovely?

Scallop Shell Heart from Tatting Chic

Last, but certainly not least, I received this lovely heart from Tatting Chic. It is Scallop Shell Heart from Martha Ess. The thread is Pizzazz from Yarnplayer. And, she used one of my thread winders while tatting it!

 

This is the card that came with the heart.

It is one of those cute pop-out cards. Even the little Get Well Soon card at the top opens to reveal a sweet message from Tatting Chic. You are a very sweet, special friend Tatting Chic. Thank you for the lovely gift and for all of your prayers.

A lovely heart from J.B.

My dear friend J.B. sent this lovely heart from "Tatting Hearts" by Teri Dusenbury. She and I were in a heart exchange last year and my package, (and Carol's) got lost. J.B. felt so bad that she tatted this for me TWICE! I really appreciate her thoughtfulness and the beautiful heart. The colors will be perfect in my bedroom.

Her sending it happily coincided with my return from the hospital. Thank you for your prayers and well wishes, J.B.

 

Victorian Heart in hand dyed thread

 

I have been asked to donate one of my hearts to The American Cancer Society by Donna at Stitching For A Cure. They are making ornaments for different types of cancer. They will be on a tree that I think will be auctioned off at Christmas.

I tatted this one in Yarnplayer's hand dyed pink from her Peace colorway. I love the suttle color differences that come with hand dyed thread, even if it is a solid color. I don't know if they show up here or not. I hope so. Now I just have to decide which one to send them.

Victorian Hearts

 

 

I had intended to finish tatting this little, red heart and post it as a Valentine's wish. Obviously, I didn't make it. Here it is anyway along with a picture of the two I tatted last year. Last year's are both in size 20. The red is size 80 on the ball thread and size 20 on the shuttle thread. I'm not sure if I am happy with it yet. I wanted a little variation in the color, which I got. I also thought the bigger ring in the middle would take up some of the negative space. I think I'm okay with that. I believe I might use the larger ring at the bottom to hold a tassel for a bookmark. This one measure 1 1/4" across and 1 1/2" top to bottom. The others are about 2" both ways.

Clover Drop Heart in "Hydrangea" HDT

 

I finally managed to get a little tatting done. Between arthritis and sinusitis, I've not been very productive. This design is by Nancy Tracy of Be-stitched copyright 2005. The thread is Lady Shuttle Maker's hand dyed thread named "Hydrangea." The thread is size 20 and the heart is about 2 1/4" wide. Happy February everyone!

Button Heart #2 in Easter Egg HDT

 

I tatted Susan's button heart again - properly this time. I used Lady Shuttle Maker's Easter Egg HDT again with another of my grandmother's buttons. This one is a pretty lilac color that is irridescent. The scans of the tatting with buttons haven't been good, so I used the camera for this one. I wish there was some way I could make the bottons show up better. Oh well. You get the general idea.

This is a great pattern that I think would be good for beginner's who want a little more challenge.

Button Heart in Easter Egg HDT

I have tatted Susan Taliaferro's button heart again using Lady Shuttle Maker's Easter Egg HDT in size 20. The button is a pretty pink antique one from my grandmother's collection. Sorry it doesn't show up so well in the scan.

This is proof there is no such thing as a mistake, just design variations! At the bottom center chain on the first round, I was supposed to tat 5-5-5. Instead I tatted 5-5 leaving me one picot short of joining two rings on the 2nd row. So... I had to design a new point. I don't know why it decided to come out with frilly picots. I guess I was thinking how pretty it would be in a baby girl's room and it just morphed into frilly! This one may go into my Etsy shop, which is almost empty now if I can decide how much it is worth.

Oh, the pattern can be found on the Tatting Pattern Calendar on February 20th. Thanks again Susan.

Button Heart #2 in Pizzazz

 

This is the second heart I have tatted using Judith Connor's pattern (copyright 2008) and I love it! The hand dyed thread is Marilee's Pizzazz in size 50. I must say I am getting spoiled to the smaller threads. My eyes don't like it, but as long as you don't make a mistake, there isn't really a problem.

I think these are the three buttons, (10mm), my friend Madeline gave me. Each one is different which, I think, suits this thread and pattern to a tea.

Happy Tatting!

Three Button Heart

This pattern was designed by Judith Connors copyright 2008. I think she did a great job! I don't know if it will be one of my heart exchanges as I don't know what the other three people want yet. Guess I will be forced to keep it if no one wants it!

The buttons are 15mm and the thread is size 20 Flora. It is 3". It is a diagram only with few written instructions, but I had no trouble.

I think I might have to tat it again with HDT when I finish working on my TIAS - or the possibility of one!

Round Robin Heart #3

This pattern is from Be-stitched Copyright 2007 by Nancy Tracy. It was originally found at Be-stitched. This is a very nice pattern that only took a couple of hours to tat. And, I did it watching television! I don't usually do so well on auto pilot. Since this is for the round robin and the hearts are supposed to be around 3", I added the white row around the outside of the original pattern. I hope Nancy won't mind. It makes it a little bigger and I think it looks like an old Valentine - the ones with the white doily behind them. The thread is size 20 Flora.

Thanks for the pattern Nancy. I enjoyed tatting it.

Victorian Heart Pattern (heart #2)

VICTORIAN HEART

Start with chain at bottom inside point. I used a paper clip and made a locked picot to start. Do not pull the chains into a curve at the bottom. Just gently snug up and then try to curve the top of the heart.

Abbreviations
Ds double stitch
Ch Chain
R Ring
CLR close ring
RW reverse work
DNRW do not reverse work
Vsp very small picot
+ join
- picot

Ch (vsp 5) x 5, vsp 7 vsp 3 RW
R (3-) x3, 3 clr rw
Ch 3+ to last vsp on previous ch, 7 (vsp 5) x 5 + to beginning locked picot DNRW
Ch vsp (5 + to picot on previous row) x 4, 6 + to picot on previous row, 6 + to top continue chain
(6 +) x 2, (5 +) x 4 (last join will be at bottom)
Ch vsp (6 + in space between chains on previous row) x 4, (7 +) x 2, continue chain
(7 +) x 2, (6 +) x 4
Ch vsp (6 +) x 3, (9 +) x 3, continue chain (9 +) x 3, (6 +) x 3

This outer row has graduated picots that give it the appearance of little crowns. Start with a vsp and increase length to the middle picot and then decrease forward.
Ch vsp (3 - - - 3 +) x 3 (3 picots)
Ch 3 - - - - - 3 + (5 picots)
Ch 3 - - - - - - -3 + (7 picots)
Ch (3 - - - 3 +) x 2 (3 picots)
Ch 3 - - - - - - -3 + (7 picots)
Ch 3 - - - - - 3 + (5 picots)
Ch (3 - - - 3 +) x 3 (3 picots) RW
R (4-) x3, 4 clr Cut and tie. Hide ends.
Front side, back side tatting. Using Jane Eborall’s method to note when to reverse stitches, the ring instructions are done in bold and italics. (Jane used red). Since there are only two rings, it is easier to do them in reverse instead of the chains. To reverse stitches, start with the second half of the ds and then the first half.

Laura Blanton Copyright 2008

Please feel free to print for personal use. All I ask is that you give me credit for the design if you post pictures, which I hope you will! Also, please let me know if you find any problems with the pattern. Remember - I am a baby designer!

Victorian Heart (heart design #2)

I have the pattern for this heart ready, (I think.) If anyone wants it, please let me know.

Heart Design #2 in variegated hand dyed thread

For my taste, this is a perfect example of variegated thread is not at it's best in every pattern. While I do not dislike it, I think it is much prettier done in the solid thread. No matter how lovely the HDT, and this one by Sherry, Lady Shuttle Maker, is lovely, it just doesn't always work. This one is Grapefruit and I have tatted lots of pretty things with it. It's not the thread - it's the pattern. Where I start the pattern with a locked picot at the beginning of a chain, when you get back around and join, the two colors make it stand out too much. I scanned both hearts together so you can see the difference.

Most of you experienced tatters know this well. For any newbies, here is a good example. While I will always love tatting with variegated thread, especially HDT, sometimes it just isn't at it prettiest in certain patterns.

Heart Design #2 by ME!

How many of you remember the commercial "Look Ma, no cavities!"? I'm saying, "Look Ma, no pattern!" I am so pleased with myself. Can you tell? I was trying to rest this afternoon and this idea just would not stop bothering me. So, I got up and tatted it. I had the general idea and just tatted and made notes. I had to back up a few times, but it wasn't bad. I know it isn't a complicated pattern and thus didn't require all of the planning and steps that are usually necessarily, but I like it. It's good to take baby steps. This little heart is just that - 1 1/2" wide and about 1 3/4" tall. I tatted it with Marilee's hand dyed pink from Rhubarb Crisp in size 20. That is why there is a slight shading. Another home run for Marilee and hand dyed thread.

This heart is not part of the round robin. It is too small!

I don't know the right words for the general disclaimer, but I promise this came completely out of my tired little mind. Any similarity to hearts previously tatted by others is entirely unintentional. If you have done one like it, let me know. I just really got a kick out of putting that copyright statement on there!

Is there such a thing as "death by tatting?" I hope not!

Tatted Heart #2 for the Round Robin

This pattern is by Sharon B. Taliaferro. I printed it from the Tatting Pattern Calendar February 20, 2007. I tatted it with DMC #8 Perle Cotton in off white with a tortoise shell finish button. The pattern called for #12 perle cotton and a 5/8" button. Since I was using #8 to make it bigger, I used a button that's a little over 1". She said she wanted neutrals so I hope this is a good choice.

This was a lot of fun to tat if anyone hasn't tried it and wants to. It tats up fast and is very simple and straight forward. Once you get started, it could be one of those "auto pilot" projects.

I hope the recipient will be pleased!

Sue Hanson's Block Tatted Heart

Well, I finally got around to tatting this heart that Sue so graciously shared with us. I really like it, though I had some problems keeping up with where I was in relation to the pattern. I also used the regular method of block tatting instead of Jane Eborall's new way even though I like her way better. I was just too lazy to get her instructions and look at them again! I might go back and tat this one again in HDT now that I know how to do it.

I'm almost over the flu, thank goodness! Maybe I'll get to see my grandbaby by the end of the week. I missed his 2nd birthday party on Saturday and his birthday today.

"English Country Garden Heart" round robin #1

I can't believe it, but I actually designed this one all by myself! It's not perfect, but I'll get there. I have to thank Martha Ess for inspiration. I tatted one of the hearts in her book "Tat's Amore" last year that this reminds me of, but I promise I wasn't copying or using her flowers, as you can tell! LOL I hope she will be flattered.

Georgia Seitz pointed me to a technique called the Bach versus Beethoven method of designing. You either tat the outline and fill in or tat the inside and then outline it. I did the former.

The outline is size 20 DMC Cebelia white dimpled split rings. Then, I just started making fantasy flowers and stems to fit inside. Viola! The flowers and stems are Flora, DMC and hand dyed thread. When I started working on the dimpled split rings and saw that they weren't all that uniform, I intended to just practice a while and then go back and start over. I guess I got carried away!

I am excited and encouraged that maybe I can learn to design tatting after all!