Motif #16 of 25

I just had to tat one more of Kersti Anear's Tabatha bookmarks. This one is also DMC #6 Perle, but in color #814. You can't tell, but it's a pretty wine color. I might be looking at a Christmas present theme here!

Candace's Wedding Lace progresses

Well, we are all in agreement that beads on a hanky are totally impractical! Silly me! So, now I have to find something else to decorate. Thanks to Sharon, I am modifying my bead work in new and exciting ways. She made some great suggestions that I am trying to implement.
I guess this strip of tatting will be one of those work in progress pieces or a sampler of learning! I'm still working on the corner thing. 

Candace's Wedding Lace with beads

Okay, so I'd have to work for a year to be promoted to novice in beaded tatting, but I like it! This is Size 30 Cebelia with tiny glass beads. When I make the real wedding lace, I want to use parchment colored thread and old (looking) seed pearls. We'll see! I'm not going to list this as part of the 25 motif challenge until I actually finish it and attach it to a hanky. I hope some of you will test it out for me and make any suggestions you think would help. Thanks for all of the creative help I have already received. All in all, I'm happy with my second attempt at designing and my head is already spinning with new ideas! 

Pattern for "Candace's Wedding Lace"

Several of you asked for the pattern for this edging and I am so flattered and honored. I hope it is clear and you don't find many mistakes. Please let me know if you do.

CANDACE’S WEDDING LACE
© 2006 by Laura Blanton

This is the open “V” version.

Abbreviations
R ring
RW reverse work
- or p picot
lp long picot
SS switch shuttles
Ch chain
prev previous
SR split ring
/ tat after this symbol with shuttle #2 working stitches in reverse order
CLR close ring
Sh1 Shuttle 1 (shuttle in right hand)
Sh2 Shuttle 2

R4-4-4-4 Close Ring RW

* With Sh1 Chain 4 Shuttle join to 3rd Picot of previous ring. RW 4-2 Switch S2 Throw off Ring 4-2-2-4 CLR Switch S1 Chain 2-4-RW Switch S2 Chain 4 RW

With S1 R4+to picot of previous chain 4-4-4 CLR do not RW

With S1 SPLR 4+ 3rd picot of previous ring 4/4-4-4 CLR RW

With S2 R4+ previous ring 4lp1lp1lp4-4 CLR do not RW

SPLR 4+ previous ring 4-4/4-4 CLR RW

**R4+ previous 4-4-4 CLR RW

Repeat from * to desired length ending by joining back to 1st picot of 1st ring.

If attaching to material as you tat, do so at the 2nd picot of ring thrown off of chain.

**For closed, cluster version – work R4+previous 4+free picot of opposite ring4-4 CLR RW

Motif #15 of 25

Sweet Heart Bookmark by Kersti Anear copyright 2001 worked in Altin Basak color #378. It is 4 1/4" long and helped me use up some of the thread left in my GR8 shuttle from the hyacinth I did last week! Still have a few more 'crumbs.' This was fun and fast and helped me take my mind off of my edging design. That's why you haven't heard from me. I've been bogged down trying to iron it out, but I'm almost there and ready to share the pattern with those of you who asked for it. Maybe by tomorrow! 

Motif #14 of 25

This pattern is courtesy of Lynda Nelson Klymko of the ShuttleBirds Tatting Guild in Spokane, Washington, USA. She calls it "Angel at Heart Edging." I plan to use this pattern later with a smaller thread to make a handkerchief edging. I think I might make the angels in the middle pink inside the red next time. This is worked in Cebelia size 30 and was too heavy, so I'm turning it into a greeting card for next Valentine's Day! The three hearts together are 3" wide and 1" tall. Thank you Lynda! 

Candace's Wedding Lace

I am trying to design an edging for my daughter's wedding. This is what I came up with last night. It is not attached to this hanky. I will have to find another one. I just placed it there for effect. It will be in smaller thread and probably white, but I wanted this big, green thread so it would show up for now. Please let me know if you have seen another edging like this one as I really want it to be my own design.
I got the idea this morning to fasten the two rings together as in this picture. They are just tied together here. Let me know what you think and which one you prefer. Thanks! 

Tatted coffee table

I decided this would be a good way to display my work. Unless I have given it away, framed it or I'm ashamed of it, it is here! There is a heavy piece of glass over the top to protect it, but not touching it. Just thought some of you might be looking for a way to show off your work!

 

Motif #13 of 25

This is Mark Myer's Hyacinth Flower copyright 2000. I had so much fun working this sweet thing. It took me back to my grandmother's garden when I was a little girl. (Yes, I can remember that far back!) I used Altin Basak size 50 for the bloom and DMC Cebelia size 20, color #524 for the stem and leaf. When I crop my pictures it makes the motifs look huge, but this one is only 3 1/2" tall. It didn't take long at all and was very relaxing, especially the stem and leaf. Thanks Mark!

Motif #12 of 25

This is Mark Myer's spider and web. Even though it doesn't show up very well, the web is worked in #80 tatting cotton white, mixed with a silver metallic thread. (I probably won't try that one again!) The spider is black DMC embroidery thread, one strand with tiny red glass beads. I have temporarily attached it to a blouse for Halloween. Funny thing - I have always been horrified of spiders! I have learned in the last several years that sometimes the best way to conquer a fear is to embrace that which frightens you. It must be working if I intend to wear this! Thanks so much Mark for sharing your patterns with us. If there is anyone left in the tatting world who doesn't know Mark aka Tatman, there is a link to his page in my links .

Motif #11 of 25

This is Kersti Anear's Tabatha bookmark copyright 1998 worked in Size 5 DMC Cotton Pearle in purple #550. The pattern called for two repeats on the clovers, but it was as big as I wanted it after two. It measures 11" with the fringe. This is the first time I have used the pearle and I like the way it looks and feels. It took the majority of the 25m to finish so be careful! I love to work Kersti's patterns. Thank you Kersti for being so generous with us.
This is my shuttle from the "Shuttle Brothers." I have had it several years, but never used it until today with this bookmark. It was an absolute joy to work with! So smooth and the depression where the screw holds it together is a perfect place to hold onto. 

Motif #10 of 25

This bookmark is from a pattern by Kim Millar copyright 2000. Thank you Nita for directing me to the pattern site. As you can see, the braid in the middle is crocheted. It is fun and easy and I enjoyed making it. It is supposed to have a row of white chains around the outside, but I'm not happy enough with it to spend any more time right now. Maybe I will go back and add it later. This one is in my old standby, #20 Cebelia. I really perfer the smaller threads, but as I have a whole cabinet of the larger threads, DH thinks I should use them. (Poor misguided thing.) LOL

First 2 tatted bookmarks (2000)

Thought my tatting friends might get a kick out of this. My mother always wanted the first of everything my father and I did. Guess she jumped the gun on this one! The one on the left was hers and this on the right was Daddy's. These are definitely NOT PART OF THE 25 MOTIF CHALLENGE!!!
 

Motif #9

More importantly - my first original! I really enjoyed making this up as I went along. I had drawn out a plan for the flowers, but couldn't get it to look like I wanted it to, so I started over. I just worked the stems as the 'muse' led me. I have learned so many new techniques from my new tatting friends. I put some of them to use in designing this. I could have made more flowers and longer stems, but I got impatient to put it together! This motif is about 2" square. Maybe I will add more to it later. This is my first time to use Sulky thread, (size 12). Through Jane, I found Hope who uses it all the time. She was very generous to send me samples of these three colors. They are #1035 dark burgundy, #4007 red brick blendable, and #4018 summer grass. Thank you so much Hope. I may never tat with any other thread again! 

Motif #8 Jon's heart again!

I am having such fun with Jon's heart pattern. Here it is in South Maid size 10 cotton thread color 995 Ocean. I prefer smaller thread, but thought this would be pretty. Besides, this was the first time I have done something all the way through with split rings and I needed to be able to see it well and pull out if I had to! Thanks again Jon! 

Motif #7

This is Jane Eborall's little butterfly and I have even more respect for her than before! The pattern and instructions were great and I am starting to learn and understand more and more! It is worked in DMC #20 Cebelia. The center is creamy yellow and the outer chains and rings are white, (if you can't tell.) Thank you so much Jane for your pattern and all of your help!

Motif #6 Jon's heart

Motif #6! This is Jon's heart pattern worked in #20 DMC Cebelia. Or, it could be a yellow, pink and green strawberry! I enjoyed this more than I have anything in a long time! Thank you so much Jon for sharing with us.

Janet Perkins Celtic-tatted snowflake

Motif #5 is worked with #30 Cebelia. Sorry, Janet. I didn't do you justice, but I will try again! I think the button is too big which distorted the rings with this size thread. It will look better when I get some little, red ribbon for a bow at the top. 

Motif #4 for 25 Motif Challenge

I just finished this little cross tonight, and boy am I glad! I probably shouldn't have tried anything this intricate with such tiny thread. I'm just not experienced enough. I had some problems with my shuttle join on the back half of a split ring, but my friend Jane Eborall helped me out. How thankful I am for computers and friends so far away! This is the first motif I have done using drawings in conjunction with the written instructions. I actually understood what I was supposed to do! I wish I could have gotten a better picture so the colors would show up better. This pattern is Julie Patterson's Flower Cross Bookmark worked in size 80 tatting cotton. The motif is 2 1/2" long (without fringe.)

Here's number motif #3 in the challenge. I started this a while ago, but just finished putting the pink around the edge tonight. It is LaRae Mikulecky's "Celtic Bookmark" copyright 1997. I worked it in size 80 tatting cotton in yellow, green and pink baby colors. It is 5 3/4 inches long.
This picture is to compare the original bookmark I made with this pattern several years ago in size 20 Cebelia. Quite a bit of difference, in size and quality of work. I'm learning! 

Rose pink bookmark

I guess I'm joining the "25 motif challenge." This will count as number two this year. I just tatted this bookmark this past weekend using Jane's advice to tighten up! It really made all the difference in the world. It looks real neat and I didn't have to block it! I used size 20 Cebelia in a pretty rose pink. The pattern is by Kersti Anear copywrited in 1998. I tatted this pattern in ivory several years ago, but it didn't look near this good. Thanks Kersti! 

This is my first beaded, split ring cross. I did it, and in one day! The pattern is from Georgia Seitz's book "Tatting On The Edge...And Beyond." I had wanted to try it for years, but couldn't get up the nerve. With encouragement and instruction from my on-line tatting friends, I finally figured it out. It's not as neat as Georgia's, but my husband was actually impressed with it. (That doesn't happen often.) I used size 80 tatting cotton with tiny blue glass beads. It measures 3 1/4" top to bottom. I've got to try again. I have the beads in the rings instead of sticking out on the picots. And, I had some trouble in the middle where I was joining the arms together. Anyway, I really love it and I'm going to frame it today! Thank you Georgia for the pattern and the ones who helped me, especially Gina! 

One of MY tattycats

This is one of my precious tattycats! Her name is Mao Mao and, as you can see, she is ever so helpful!
Mao Mao is the most prissy little thing you have ever seen! If mommy is doing it, it must be what she is supposed to do. I am working on the split ring cross with beads from one of Georgia Seitz's books. (My first time with beads.) That's a bit of edging I gave up on that she has taken possession of. Anything girly that is left out, is fair game. She has a hiding place somewhere that we have yet to find. Jewelry, ribbons, lace - you name it, she will take it. She always brings everything back after about two weeks! Thoughtful of her, huh?