Blue Snowflake (that's cold!)

This is "Star #1" on page 39 of Gun and Elwy's book. I tatted it with Altin Balsak and it's a little too soft and will need to be starched. I really like it, but for me it was confusing. I don't know why. The pattern was straight-forward enough, I just had trouble keeping up with it for some reason. If I had access to a copy machine, I would copy each pattern as I tatted it where I could mark on it. That's what I used to do, but can't now.

So many of you are doing things that I want to do. There's just not enough hours in the day, especially tatting hours!

Sale in my Etsy Shop!

In anticipation of my first sale, I have lowered most of my prices in my shop. I have also lowered shipping on all but the piano bench cover as it is really heavy. I hope some of you will have another look! I will be putting in more tatting items soon.

Motif #5 from Needledream's Tat-Along Project

This is my first time to do the Tat-Along project. I really like this pattern. It's like a snowflake with a negative space snowflake in the center. It was fun and quick. I tatted with size 30 DMC Cebelia in pink and white. I wanted to do it red and white because the inner clovers look like hearts to me but I didn't have any the same size.

Animal Jacket 2

I put the snake on the sleeve of the jacket last night. It looks so cute! I'll wait and post pictures when I get the lobster sewed on. I've got to make more animals! I'm adicted to tatting animals!

Animal Jacket

I finally got all of the tatted animals sewn on my shirt/jacket. Whew! That invisible thread looks great, but what a bother!

I think I will put the lobster on one sleeve and the snake on the other sleeve. We'll see. I had to have a break!

Thanks very much to Jane Eborall for her patterns and help. Isaac loves his animals!
There is a link to Jane's page on this blog and then to her pattern pages. I'm not so good with remembering to copy the link before I start my post.

Isaac update! 19 months old!

It doesn't seem possible, but our baby is 19 months old. I have been trying to get pictures for the last five days. I decided I'd try early this morning, and it worked. He is getting so big and active, it is difficult to tie him down!

What a blessing he is to all of us.

Snowflake #1 for 2007

This snowflake is from the same book as the Pyramid Orchid motif. It is, in fact, on the same page. "Tatting Patterns And Designs" by Gun Blomqvist and Elwy Persson is the book. I tatted it with DMC Pearle Cotton #12. Fooled you! Not my usual Cebelia. This thread is part of my purchase when Hancock Fabrics closed in my neighborhood. I decided I would give it a try and justify my spending. I'm not disappointed with the results and it wasn't hard to tat with. It's a little soft and I will have to starch the motif before using. The snowflake is 2 1/2" inches point to point.

Now, I have to decide whether to add to my Christmas decorations or tat a doily from a 1960 Workbasket. Decisons, decisions!

My Etsy Shop

I opened an Etsy shop today. It might be temporary, might not be. We are trying to downsize and I might as well make some money in the process! I have so many things that I have crocheted over the years. Almost without exception, they have been stored in tissue paper for the duration.

What started this venture was a needlepoint piano bench cover that my mother just had to have. I worked for ever so long and then she never did anything with it! As there are very few things DH likes hanging on the walls, I have no use for it. We are "sans piano." It is a lovely piece worked in the basketweave stitch. I hope you will go to the shop and look at it.

I will probably put a few tatting pieces in there as well. I am so addicted to my tatting that I can't stop and I'm running out of places to put the finished products.

I don't know if any of my woodcarvings will end up there or not. They are too dear and take so long.

A knitted piece might pop up occasionally. I have made several baby blankets and some tiny little hats that I might not need. As a matter of fact, that would be an excuse to buy more baby thread! I love to knit with that Baby Clouds thread and size 11 needles. Fast work and nice results.

Anyway, just wanted to tell you a little bit about what I did today. Have a look!

Old Tatted Ensemble

This dress, hat and purse are owned by The Mobile Tatter's Guild in Mobile, Alabama. They were found in an attic and purchased by the guild. Unfortunately, they are of unknown origin and date, but appear to be very old. Can you imagine all of the hours and hours of work that went into these three pieces? I don't think I could muster the courage to start a project as big as the hat or purse, let alone the dress. What a treasure for the guild.

They are being modeled by my friend, Elizabeth, who is a member of the guild. She was good enough to share this picture with me, and thus with all of you.

I have not seen them in person, but hope to one day. Mobile is about 4 hours South of my home in Birmingham, but we hope to move to the coast eventually. Maybe then I can become a member of the guild! They have their meetings on Sunday afternoons, which has, so far, made it impossible for me to attend. I can't drive that far by myself.

Elizabeth and J.B. are the two friends who participated in the friendship doily earlier in the year.

Thanks to Elizabeth and the guild for allowing me to share this photo and information.

Candace Marino, R.N.

She passed, she passed - my daughter passed her test! She just called to tell me she passed her state boards, which is no small feat! We are so proud of her and excited as she starts her new career and marriage. Good luck Candace. Thanks so much to all of you who have been praying for her.

Jon's Rosette Doily tatted by me!

I told all of you to expect something special! Jon was so good to share this tatting pattern with me. When she posted the picture of hers, I told her it reminded me of the crocheted doilies my grandmother used to make. I was so pleased when she sent me the pattern so I could tat it. I plan to make some pictures of my grandmother's doilies and post them so that you can see my inspiration. In the meantime, I just couldn't wait to share this with you. It is "hot" off of the ironing board!

I tatted it with Flora size 20. It is such a joy with which to tat and needs almost no blocking. No starching for this thread!

The shuttle is, of course, my first from LadyShuttlemaker and I love it! I didn't get to tat the whole doily with it because it only arrived last Friday and I already had all of the rosettes done. It did a great job on the green though. It is such fun to use and makes a lovely sound as you wind and unwind the thread. I will use and treasure it always!

Lady Shuttlemaker

I just received shuttle #77 from Lady Shuttlemaker in the mail! I can't wait to sit down with it and some thread and see what beautiful music, and tatting, we can make together! Keep watching!

The little card she sent with it has a precious yellow daisy on it and her information on the inside.

Thanks Sherry!

More wedding pictures!

I just uploaded more pictures to Flickr of the wedding and wanted to put these two here. They are from real mom's camera and much better than the ones I took. I wish the Mignonette tatting that is wrapped around the bouquet showed up!

Wedding pictures!

Well, at long last, the wedding has come and gone. Here are a few pictures I took with my camera. I hope others got more, and better, pictures. That's me in the navy blue with my daughter. Then, there are two of Candace and Michael and one of her and her attendants. The one on the far left is her new sister-in-law, Nina, the one in the middle is her friend from childhood to now, Emily who is expecting a little girl soon. The one on the far right is our oldest daughter, Krista. She is the mother of our precious Isaac.

We had a wonderful time, everyone was on their best behavior, little Isaac did his part of Daddy carrying him in very well, and the reception was nice. It was a great day, but a long one and I am glad to be home and off of my feet!

In the end, she used the Mignonette tatting hanky. I had taken it just in case and it was a good thing. She wanted to wrap her hanky around the stem of her flowers and the one with the blue just didn't look good. The other one was perfect! Now, I have two to wash and press and put away for her.

Congratulations to Candace and Michael!

Battatter's Heartline Edging

This is the sweet little edging that Battatter shared. It tats up real quick. (My DMC thread, of course.) I think it would be perfect for Valentine cards. Another thought, it would be sweet around votive cups for Valentines or to decorate a room with a heart theme. So many ideas. If only I could imagine my way into designing my own tatting!

Thanks again for sharing.

2nd tatting of Sharon's Chatelaine

I tatted this chatelaine in Altin Bazak instead of my usual DMC Cebelia. I also only tatted one accessory arm, as I am used to wearing this crochet hook around my neck whenever I tat. I don't know if I will ever use the red one or not. I don't like the weight of the scissors, even though it would be great to have everything attached together. I have a purple cord that I will attach to this one to use.
Can anyone tell that while everyone else is out enjoying their Labor Day holiday, I am cloistered in my home trying to hide from my migraines?

Thanks again Sharon for the lovely pattern and we are still praying for you and your family.

Needle lace sampler

I thought I had lost this piece of lace for good, but found it yesterday. I did this in 1999, right before I finally figured out the tatting thing. Once bitten by the tatting bug, no more needle lace! Still, I enjoyed doing this and was upset that it had gotten misplaced in the move. Now it is hanging up in my bedroom. I will need to change the background color to green, but it needs reframing anyway.

I will now have to find the book from which I got the pattern. It is a big book, I think from Reader's Digest, on all kinds of needlework. There is a tatting pattern in there I have been meaning to use too.

Isaac brushing his teeth and Daddy's leaves

I know the color on this picture is terrible, but I just had to show you Isaac brushing his teeth. If you go to Flickr, there are several of him and his granddaddy.

The other two pictures are of some of my dad's last woordcarvings. He loved to carve these little leaves and give them to the women at the nursing home. These are earrings, about 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" long. The pictures don't do them justice, of course. He painted every little vein, they just dont' show up.

This is the kind of thing I used to do before I became addicted to tatting! I wasn't as good as he was, but I enjoyed it!

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.