Proud Beauty

 

As many of you know, I have been working on this doily intermittently for several months. It was supposed to have eight motifs joined and a rose center. The more rows I put on the rose, the longer the chains, (of course), and my arthritis just won't let me finish it. So..... I have joined it together and I have another purpose for it. I think you will all like it very much. It will probably be a couple of weeks before I can show you the finished project as I have to wait for part of it to be done somewhere else and sent to me.

I spent maybe a total of 30 minutes yesterday finishing the end of one of the motifs and then joining two motifs together to make a circle. My head was pounding and I could hardly see by that time. My neurologist ordered a MRI on my brain which I had today. I hope we will be able to find something to help me soon. I ache to return to my tatting and reading.

Oh, the thread is Yarnplayer's Rhubarb Pie in size 20. The pattern is from "The Tatter's Treasure Chest."

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?

Oncidium Orchids "Dancing Lady"

 

 

 

I've no new tatting to post as my current migraine has been with me for almost two weeks. We've become quite attached. I can't sit here but a minute, but wanted to share these pictures with you. I have had the large orchid for 3 or 4 years now. Can't remember which. The little one I split off the big one a year ago. This is her first time to bloom. I hope you enjoy looking at them and they brighten your day. They sure brighten mine.

5th Snowflake in Tropicana Series

 

This is Jon's "Radiant" snowflake from her book, "Snowflakes Collection." I really like it in Lady Shuttle Maker's Tropicana hand dyed thread. I had not tatted this one before. I think because of the long picots. It was very simple, however. I just used my picot gauge and made them the size Jon suggested.

I am thinking I will need a revolving tree stand for my Rainbow Christmas Tree this year!

Sweetheart Snowflake

 

I couldn't wait to make Jon's new snowflake and here it is. I tatted it in Flora variegated green and a dusty blue. I just pressed it so it is darker than it will be dry. Oh, size 20. I thought these colors would look good on my Rainbow Christmas Tree.

I will tat the other pieces of the set in pink and green or pink and raspberry.

If you haven't ordered by patterns, I hope you will. They are so pretty.

Floret in Tropicana

 

 

The newest addition to the Tropicana snowflake family, is Floret from Jon's book. I am so glad that Lady Shuttle Maker made this thread. I am having a good time with it. Hand dyed thread just can't be beat. Floret took about 1 1/2 yards on each of two shuttles. You might need more. I wouldn't start without 2 yards on each shuttle. I need to go back and give you the amounts on the others. I'll try to do that soon.

I thought you might like to see a picture of the four different ones together. It gives me an idea how they are going to spread the color out on my Rainbow Christmas Tree!

Carousel Snowflake in Tropicana

 

I hope you are not getting tired of looking at Tropicana Snowflakes! I thought I might see how many I can get from one skein of Lady Shuttle Maker's lovely hand dyed thread. This is size 20 same as the others. I loaded 5 yards onto each shuttle. Shuttle 1 ended up getting so close to empty that I did a shoelace trick and switched the shuttles. I ended up with barely 1 yard left on shuttle 1 and 1 1/2 on shuttle 2.

I am still tatting snowflakes from Jon's book, "Snowflake Collection." They are all so pretty.

Circle of Crowns Snowflake in Tropicana

 

I already loved this pattern from Jon's book. Now I love it even more in this thread from Lady Shuttle Maker. My Christmas tree is going to be covered in rainbows!

Last Milky Way Snowflake (For right now!)

 

This interesting thread is "Tropicana" in size 20 by Lady Shuttle Maker. I think it will make a nice addition to my Rainbow Christmas Tree. I am starting another of Jon's snowflakes, Circle of Crowns, in Tropicana right now. Tatting Milky Way is so easy that I can do them on auto pilot. But, it is time for some different ones.

On another note, if you haven't visited Ornaments.com, please do so when you have time. I hope the article that they posted under the blog tab will bring new interest to tatting. Thank you to Ramona for publishing the article.

Another Milky Way Snowflake

 

I tatted this snowflake in size 20 Lizbeth thread, both the pink and the green. I wish I could tat with more delicate thread as I think it is so much prettier. My hands and eyes both say NOOOOOO! Maybe one day. Here is the link to Jon's site where you can order her snowflake book.

 

I think this would make a lovely edging if you needed one. I just don't want to invest the time right now. Too busy making ornaments as you all know I don't have nearly enough to fill up my Rainbow Christmas Tree!

Milky Way Snowflake in Lizbeth

 

I really like the new Lizbeth thread. This is size 20 in color #147. It is very smooth and easy to tat and retrotat. It will never replace the beautiful hand dyed threads from our group, but it is nice.

This is, of course, Jon's Milky Way snowflake.

Earrings from Jon Yousoff

 

Jon sent me these beautiful earrings and I just had to share them with you. I wish I had a better scan or picture of them. They are so much more beautiful in person. I am sure I will enjoy wearing them as soon as I get to go some place nice enough!

Here's the other exciting thing. A similar pattern will be in the new book. I'm sure some of you have already heard there is one in the works. Isn't she amazing?

Thank you my dear friend and sister, Jon.

First Snowflake of the Summer!

 

Once again, Jon's Milky Way Snowflake from her book. I love this pattern and don't know how many I have tatted. This one is tatted in Tatskool's hand dyed thread "Coral Reef."

It's good to have something to post!

Latch Hook Pillow

 

As you can see, it's not quite a pillow yet. I still have to turn the edges back and baste them down. Then find a pillow the right size to fasten it to. I just wanted to go ahead and show you how pretty it is - I think.

I am tatting some. I seem to do better if I am alternating rings and chains. To finish the mystery doily, I have to make long, tight chains - one after the other....... That means a very tight tension on my left hand and it hurts. I'll get it one day. I started a snowflake about an hour ago. I just couldn't wait any longer.

Hope you have all had a nice weekend.

Blogger problems and new website

I have been "locked" out of my blog all week. Ugh! I only got in this time by going to the Leprechaun blog and then to my blog. Don't know what's wrong. Thought I better post while I can. I have actually finished something. Not tatting, but a latch hook pillow top that I work on when my hands won't let me tat. I will try to get a picture tomorrow and get it posted.

My husband has been working very hard on a new venture. He enjoys participating in several forums. Some for solving problems with things like vehicles or lawn mowers and some about the beaches we love so much. Now he has his own! Even though none of you live in the area, there are things there you might enjoy seeing. I think there are three beach cameras that you can look at and even control 1 or 2 or them. It has only been live for a couple of days so there aren't many posts yet. It will take a while. A couple of people have started putting pictures of the area with their posts. Please have a look. It would please Bill so much if some of you would register and comment. NO CHARGE. Gulf Shores Forum is the main link. I don't guess anyone will mind this advertisement since he isn't making any money! He hopes to have much more content soon. The forum for Navarre Beach took 6 months to make it to the top of the Google list so we have to be patient.

Thanks in advance if you have a look.

email problems

To those of you who have emailed me in the last few days, we are having email problems and I haven't been able to respond or create new emails. Hope to rectify the problem soon.

Happy Memorial Day!

Gina's Monica Hahn Angel

As I am sure you have seen on Gina's blog, her angel arrived safely so I can now post it. This was a fun exchange and I love the angel Gina made for me. I hope she will enjoy hers. I tatted her in size 20 Lizbeth. My first Lizbeth thread experience and I was very pleased. Enjoy Gina!

 

Monica Hahn angel for Gina

Well, I finally finished Gina's angel last night. Sorry. No pictures until she receives it in the mail. I am getting better slowly. It is still very difficult to sit long enough to do anything much. I'm going to try and catch up on blogs. I have missed all of you very much!

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.

 

Monica Hahn angel from Gina

This is the next beauty I found in my mail box when I got home from the hospital. Gina and I decided to do a Monica Hahn angel exchange. Monica's book can be purchased at Handy Hands. I've still not finished the one I am tatting for her. I love this one she made for me. It is Omega thread in size 20 with beads. I appreciate so much the work that went into it. Looks like my Rainbow Christmas Tree will now have a Rainbow of Angels as well!

I really enjoy these personal exchanges. It is so rewarding to make the other person happy and then to anticipate receiving your own surprise. Thanks again, Gina!

 

Get well card from Pamela

I am finally better enough to sit at the computer for short periods of time. I hope all of you will forgive my tardiness in thanking you for your prayers and thoughts during my surgeries. There were NO CANCER CELLS this time and I am eternally grateful! Hopefully, I will be back to normal in the next 5 to 6 weeks. No - better than normal! In the meantime, I just have to rest and can't sit for very long.

Pamela a.k.a. Tatskool sent me this lovely card that she made. I wish you could see it in person. It is several layers thick so I had to make the picture with my camera instead of the scanner. The little bears are so precious and the tatting one is holding looks like tatted balloons!

 

She included this beautiful bookmark tatted in her Rainbow Bright. I love how the colors ended up the same on each edge. Wonder how she worked that out?

 

Thank you so much Pamela. I will be posting more as I can. It's good to be back!

Mandevilla X amoena "Alice du Pont"

 

I have been wanting to paint for a long while now. I decided this was a good time. Mandevilla is one of my very favorite plants. I always have them blooming on my back deck in the summer and fall. I hope the bright colors bring a smile to your face! By the way, the blooms smell like Easter Peeps candy!

These other pictures are of my bedroom and the Rhubarb Pie tatting I have in there.