Isaac's 18 month anniversary

Our little baby is 18 months old! I just can't believe how the time has flown. I usually take about 40 pictures each month, but he just wouldn't have it today. I have a real cute video, but I can't seem to upload it. I just know you would all love to see it!

Sharon's Chatelaine finished

I am finished tatting the Chatelaine, except I have to find some proper clips for attaching the scissors and crochet hook. I also need to get some red felt to attach for needles. This pattern is from one of Sharon's newsletters. It was quick and easy. Easy enough that I want to make another one. I got started off wrong joining the rings in the accessory ends, thus the design is not the same as hers. I also will make the joining picots smaller to pull everything together some. Sharon uses hers clipped to her belt. I am used to wearing a crochet hook on a cord around my neck, so that's probably where this one will end up. I think it will be a great convenience to have all of my tools in one place!

Thank you Sharon.

Sharon's Chatelaine

I still haven't finished the feelers on the lobster. I finally found some 1" plastic curtain rings and got started tatting Sharon's Chatelaine. I have been wanting to tat this for a couple of months. I started it yesterday and I'm almost done! Hers was tatted in white thread, but I know mine would be brown in no time, so I am tatting with my red DMC Cebelia. The white curtain ring shows through, but red and white is a favorite combination of mine anyway. Hopefully, pictures tomorrow.

Tatted Lobster from Jane's pattern

This was such a fun little project! I am enjoying the block tatting more and more. Everything was smooth as silk until I got to the claws and feelers. I was just reading the written instructions and not looking at the chart and didn't make the picots big enough for claws. I also don't seem to have enough thread to tat the feelers. (Or whatever they are called.) I think I will tie off the threads that are there and join new threads so I can do it right. I don't mind finger tatting, but have to have enough thread to do it!

I am going to put him on my animal jacket for Isaac. Thanks again to Jane for another wonderful pattern. There is a link to her patterns on this page.

Tatted garland from Brigitte H.'s pattern

Thank you so much for designing this pattern and giving it to the calendar Brigitte! I just love it.

The pattern is on the calendar for August 16th by Brigitte Henneberger. I am tatting with variegated Flora thread and DMC for the dark green. (size 20 for both.) This pattern is very easy to pick up and then you don't need the pattern. It is one of those "mindless" patterns, which I love! I haven't decided what I am going to do with it yet. I just put it against the collar of a pink blouse to take the picture. My daughter said it would make a beautiful insertion. I didn't know she knew what that was! I've never done an insertion before, but it would be lovely on a tea towel, or a set of napkins if you had time.

Thanks again Brigitte for the pattern and to Ruth for keeping up with the calendar!

Mignonette Tatted Wedding Hanky FINISHED!

It is done. I love the Mignonette tatting, really I do, but this was a big project. Or, maybe it just seemed so since I just finished tatting the other wedding hanky. I wish I had kept up with how many yards of thread I used and how many times I had to refill my shuttles. It really eats up the thread.

I hope the pictures show up well. It is so pretty. I forgot that I had changed the setting on my camera to lower quality because I needed some smaller files. I might have to change it back and make more pictures. In any case, there is no way you can tell how nice it looks. The Irish Linen hanky really makes a difference too.

Elizabeth has done this edging on a hanky. She will be able to appreciate what went into it!

Tatting Coffee Table

I have added the Pyramid Orchid mat to my coffee table tatting collection. As you can see, things have been, and still need to be, rearranged. I finally had to expand to the two end tables as the tatting multiplied. One has all hearts and the other is all Christmas. I'll have to take and post pictures of them as well.
I'm not sure what I am going to do with the mat and this is a good way to protect it and get to look at it daily!

Dancing with my grandson

DANCING WITH ISAAC


I was dancing with my grandson today. He is only 17 months old.
He wanted me to teach him. Who’d think he would be so bold?
(He didn’t really ask me, it was more of an unspoken request. He doesn’t have to talk a lot, hugs and kisses still work best.)
I clasped his little hands and started to sway, moving with the beat, when low and behold I looked down and he was moving his feet!
He couldn’t match the beat, of course. He simply is too small. But he looked up at me and smiled like he felt 10 feet tall.

I left the music behind and matched my steps to his own, and soon he was pulling me across the floor just like he was grown. He was stepping sideways and back and I just followed his lead. He looked up in amazement and filled my heart with greed. How could I absorb enough of this love and joy before adolescence plants its ugly seed?

He seemed to find it so funny that I was following him sideways and back. His smile was wide from ear to ear like his face was going to crack.
I turned one hand loose, held the other and told him to spin around. He smiled and started spinning then fell laughing to the ground.

It seems no one has told him “That’s not what white men do.” You can move your head, you can move your hips, maybe a wiggle or two.
You never pick your feet up or act like Fred Astair. You never shake and shimmy as if you haven’t a care. God forbid a Pirouette or a leap into the air.

I’m glad he is too young to know these things just are not done. I’m not looking for a Baryshnikov, just a child happy enough to dance in the sun.
A child left free to laugh and learn to dance in his own way, to grow into a young man with the confidence to ask a girl to dance one day.

Laura Blanton
August 14, 2007

Mignonette Tatting Wedding Hanky

This is what has been taking up most of my time! And, I still have a few more hours to invest. This was almost "The Wedding Hanky." For a time, I was working with 6 shuttles at once so that I could get all the way to the outside round and see if my husband and I liked it well enough for the wedding. We decided we didn't and that's when I went to the one I have finished and given to my daughter.

Still, I think it is very pretty and wanted to see it completed. Now that I am nearing the finish line, I am very glad I have kept tatting. The 2nd picture is a close up and the 3rd picture shows about 6 inches of the 3rd round that I have to complete before I can finish the 4th round, of course! This is such a big project, that it has helped me to keep going by working on all of the rounds at once, except the 1st row of tatting onto the hanky.

The pattern is courtesy of Georgia Seitz and the corners from Katie Johnson. It can be found at http://www.georgiaseitz.com/classes2001/mignon/mignonette.html
(I hope.) Let me know if you can't find it. I had to increase the number of stitches between picots that were shown on the outer round in order to turn the corners. It would have looked more dainty if I had squeezed in more rings on the 2nd round in the corners. Then, I could have used fewer stitches on the outer round and it would have been smaller. That's something to think about if you decide to tat this pattern onto a hanky.

I really enjoy the Mignonette tatting, which is unusual because the measuring must be done. Since the rings "float" on the threads, they have to be as even as possible. Following Tat-man's suggestion, I cut a 2" piece of plastic from a butter bowl lid and used it for a guage. It worked really well. I hope when I finish tatting, wash and press, it will look nice and precise.

The hanky is Irish linen and the thread is DMC Cebelia size 20. Thanks to Georgia for her research into the hanky Katie Johnson found and for her instructions on turning the corners.

Now the question is - will it be a wedding hanky after all? Might I need it to dry my tears? We'll see! If not, maybe I will save it and maybe I will sell it.

Yahoo 360 blog

I started a Yahoo 360 blog yesterday so that I could communicate with those of you who use Yahoo 360. I am always seeing things on which I wish to comment and can't. I hope my limited knowledge will help me figure out how to do all of this. I managed to put a link on that blog to this one, but can't do the reverse. Hence, this post to tell all of you it is there. You are supposed to be able to get there by http://360.yahoo.com/tattycat2006

This Yahoo 360 blog will mostly be about my other passions - my family, other arts, pets, orchids, etc. You know it will certainly have tatting there as well. Let me know if you can get there. Or, if you can help me with my new blog.

Thanks, Laura

Nurse Candace

Our youngest daughter, Candace, has graduated from nursing school! The ceremony was last night and we had a small party afterwards. Publix (grocery store) bakery made the cake with her graduation picture in frosting. We are so proud of her and wish her much luck in her professional career as a nurse.

The third picture is of almost bride Candace with almost groom Michael. This is the recipient of the tatted wedding hanky. Aren't they a lovely couple? Congratulations to both of them and all of us!

Tatted Snail from Ruth's pattern

I wish I could get better pictures of this little snail. He is so cute! The pattern is on the Tatted Pattern a Day Calendar, but I don't remember what day. I tatted him with size 10 cotton thread, but he is still tiny. Who would have thought of tatting snails? Ruth, of course! He is perfect, but not for my denim bag. He won't show up. I guess I'll put him on my denim shirt/jacket with Jane's geckos, giraffe, flamingo and crab.

Clover Heart from Nancy's Bestitched Newsletter May 2007

I tatted this heart of Nancy's in size 20 Flora thread. I still love DMC for some applications, but the Flora is so much more "stable." Gina had done this heart and made it into a bookmark and I just loved it. Look for it to appear on my denim bag!

I have also tatted Ruth's snail and it is so cute. I just haven't been able to get a good picture of it yet. I can't convince DH that tatting is very important and deserves its own scanner!

Tatted Denim bag finished (until I find something else to put on it!)

I just posted these to the Treasures from Trash blog, but wanted to share them here so everyone will see them. Lots of work! I bought a bag to use as I am not much good at a sewing machine. Everything is fastened down now except the petals of the gerbera daisy. That will take some time. The tatting wasn't the problem, the fastening was!

Some of you will recognize the three strips of tatting on the bottom left of the back as being the first three attempts at designing my own lace for the wedding hanky. I just wanted them there to remind me of all the work! I still need to use that edging one day.

For the designers who recognize your work, thanks again!

Tatted Pyramid Orchid Mat Abstract for now

I am going to stop right here, for now. I think I'll take a break and finish the Mignonette wedding hanky. I might need it! Also, I want to look at the mat this way for a while and see if I want to leave it this way. I just love tatting these motifs for some reason. I think I will be sad to be finished with it!

I with I could get the colors to show up better. We just might have to sell this new camera on Ebay and buy another one! Tatting pictures are very important!

Let me know how you feel about the abstract mat please.

Candace's Wedding Hanky

Allright - call me childish. I just can't wait until after the party to show off the hanky. I know my daughter won't be looking at my blog between now and then, (if she ever does.) I have waited so long to post these pictures. Some of you have been with me since the conception of the hanky many months ago and through all of the starts and stops trying to figure out what to do. In the end, I used a pattern from "The DMC Book of Charted Tatting Designs" instead of my own design. I am also finishing up the one I started with Mignonette Tatting that I will keep for me or for a later gift. I just hope she will be pleased and find a way to carry it during the wedding. I also hope my feelings won't get hurt if she doesn't carry it. LOL

This is a old linen hanky, new lace, a borrowed pattern and blue thread, of course. Thus, her something old, new, borrowed and blue all in one! The lace is Flora size 20 and the embroidery is DMC size 80 tatting thread. The embroidery was already there in white. I just went over it to tie it into the blue lace.

Wedding Shower Today!

Today will be the official unveiling of the tatted wedding hanky. I will finally be able to post pictures after this afternoon! It is "done and dusted" as Jane says. Last night I made the decision to lightly fold in a triangle with all of the lace showing. I padded it in several places with tissue paper in hopes that it won't crease. If it does, I'll just have to press again lightly. I have a tube for storing it and will have her bring it back to me to prepare it after the wedding. Thanks for all of the help and advice!

I am also working on the second corner of the orchid mat.

Tatted Pyramid Orchid mat progression

This is the first corner of the new checkerboard round. I rather like it! Now, a new realm of possibilities...... Do I continue around making it square again, or put another corner on the other side to balance it out and leave it an abstract? Stay tuned for further progress, or let me know your thoughts. I am sure they are lots of opinions out there and I could use them!

Orchid mat

I finished Harry Potter last night at 8:30 PM so it's back to tatting! I'm working on the next round of the tatted orchid mat using a checkerboard pattern with two greens. Pictures to follow.

Dancing Lady Orchid - Oncidium

While I am trying to finish my Harry Potter book, I thought I would share pictures of the latest addition to my orchid family. I had been searching for this particular orchid for some time. My brother had one years ago that he has since lost and I really loved it. While we were visiting him and his wife a couple of weeks ago in Florida, I found this one covered in buds with none of them open. They promised me faithfully that it was what I was seeking! I bought it on faith and within two days of returning home, you can see my reward! I wonder if any of you designers can duplicate this beauty for me?

Gecko #3 in planning stage

I never would have believed I'd put Harry Potter book #7 aside to tat geckos! DH is in shock. I am so pleased with the first two and want a 3rd with sparkly beads to wear on my shoulder. I'm trying to work it out. I'm glad several people are excited about them and giving Jane's pattern the use and praise it deserves.

Pictures to follow, of course!

I'm am also enjoying The Tatted Ring of Bloggers! I hope more and more of you will join. This will give us another good way to keep up with what everyone else is doing. Thanks again Sherry.

Tatted Gecko #2

Well, I've caught the Gecko bug! It is definitely contagious! This one is tatted in DMC Cebelia #10. I have had this thread as long as I can remember and almost gave it away several times. I didn't think I'd ever have a use for it. It's not exactly the right colors for a proper gecko, but I think he looks real sporty! Next tiime I do a two color one, I will switch to two shuttles with the main color after I finish the body. I think I would like that better. Thanks again to Jane and to Pamela.

Tatted Gecko #1

Thank you, thank you, thank you Jane! I just love this little fellow! I wish his eyes were smaller, but I like him anyway. I tatted him in Sulky #12 variegated green. I had some hand dyed thread that would have been perfect, but it just wouldn't let the rings slide. I like the sheen of the Sulky anyway. Now I know why Jane tatted so many of these. They are addictive! I can't wait to start another. The pattern can be found by going to Jane's link on this page and then to her pattern pages.

Progress pictures on tatted mat

Well, I told you the Pyramid Orchid mat wasn't finished! I thought it would be finished after this round, but it has other ideas. The orchids just keep multiplying. If only my live ones would be so prolific! The word is - the green might change colors! I posted two pictures as I am always amazed how different the same thing can look positioned in different ways.

I might have to give it a little rest to tat one of Jane's geckos. A new friend just sent me some beautiful hand dyed thread that I think will perfect.

Keep watching!

Happy Tatting on the 4th!

I wish all of my American friends a happy Independence Day and the rest of you a happy tatting day!
I am still working on my tatted mat. I am on in the middle of the 8th square with the color for the 9th square picked out. I thought I had them laid out the way I wanted them for all 16 squares, but that is changing as I tat. This is so unusual for me, wanting to keep going and tatting the same thing over and over! I will post a picture when I finish the 9th square to show my progress.
I am anxiously awaiting the pattern for Jane's gecko!

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.

Laura's doily better picture

J.B.'s doily looked so pretty on the dark background, I decided to shoot mine again. I like the results.

Also, I have gotten a friend interested in tatting again. She did basic tatting years ago, but now wants to go further. Yea!!!

J.B.'s doily finished!

Here is a picture of J.B.'s tatted friendship doily finished! Isn't it pretty? I have also made a collage of the three doilies. Picase put two pictures of mine in there to even it out. I think it is so interesting that three people can start out with the same pattern with such varied results. Of course, the fact that we passed them around two times helps with that too!

Laura's tatted friendship doily finished!

Here is my tatted friendship doily - finished! I love the way it has turned out and I am so thankful to J.B. and Elizabeth for their friendship and for asking me to participate in this friendship doily. I am glad this one is finished, but hope to do another one some day.

As soon as I get a picture of J.B.'s finished, I will include it here with mine and Elizabeth's.

Thanks again tatting friends!

Mother's Day 2007

I know you are all just dying to see new pictures of my grandson! We had a great Mother's Day, as you can see.

No tatting pictures. I am working on my daughter's wedding hanky.