Hop Around the World

Gracie, blogging at Needles, Pins, and Dragonflies, invited me to join the 

Blog Hop Around the World

Grace has a fabulous blog.  She usually has oodles of projects in the works, participates  in swaps, round robins, + exchanges.   Her tatting is beautiful!    Take a peek and enjoy her needlework, tatting, sewing, and beautiful garden/nature photos.     Btw - chocolate.   Grace enjoys chocolate, tea (after morning coffee), and collects thimbles.    

To continue the global hop -- don't miss these great sites:

CathyB blogging at With Needle + Thread.   

Cathy has spectacular hardanger + needlework projects on her blog, many from special workshops and events.  Her stitching and finishing are marvelous.  In addition to Cathy's projects, i enjoy the special posts about Hovej Embroidery and about her Mom (who tats)!   Enjoy traveling along with Cathy and enjoy her special blog.

Barbara, blogging at Mainley Stitching.
Barbara has a wonderful blog with animals, creative needlework & projects PLUS the family 'chateau chaos' activities.   In addition to Cathy's blog [above],  this is one of the first few blogs I ever read!   In addition to needlework, I've always enjoyed the animal and garden photographs.  Following Barbara's writing/posts is always a pleasure - never know what she will showcase in her near-daily posts.

1. What am I working on?

currently in my needlework tote:

Stitching workshop piece - Old Saybrooke Sampler
Bent Creek - Autumn Row
C Street Samplerworks -  Mary Hannah Gipson Sampler
Biscornu SAL 
Scarlet Letter (Year w/Scarlet  Letter)
Homespun elegance pieces  

In my tatting bag:
a couple workshop pieces from Lace Day[s]
Mini-tats book
Japanese tatting kit + couple patterns
Half-embellished origami bag with tatting motifs and edges.

Also enjoy my small pin loom (weaving), sewing - esp origami bags, fabric flower making/embellishing w tatting, sketching / drawing, punch needle   [other things in the works, too]

2. How does my work differ from others?

Most people actually finish!   i tend to enjoy the journey.    

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

I have no idea.   I just start itching to be creative and I find projects speak louder than words.   It is fun to follow a pattern-make small changes so it remains unique.   Or, a bit more challenging - to have an idea and follow thru to a 'finish'... or, you know - buy a pattern because it inspires you!!!

4. How does my writing/creating process work?

 For many years, i have had problems sleeping.   And,  when I settle down and focus on an in-hand project, I can relax, rest, and it has a restorative effect.    

S Q U A R E

Pattern found on Ninetta's Blog,  Chiacchierino facilissimo.

Aunt's Collar

I tatted the square in Lizbeth fiber, Size 20, Col. 631.

------------------------

Thank you for asking, yes, I did sew down the tatted edge, and I have been using the roll-up.   So far, the tatting has been ok on the felt.   The tatting pattern is from Jeanette Baker's book, Learn to Tat [Book w/DVD] - Fiber:  Lizbeth, size 80, color 168 Latte Foam.    

These were the 4 samples I tatted - and I liked the Jeanette Baker edge pattern for this project.

I purchased a pre-made roll-up & stitched the linen banding above the felt [now surrounded by tatting].  The needlework is from Homespun Elegance, Ltd. pattern.    More photos and Info in THIS POST.

Fantastic Mail Day ...

My Bunny Shuttles arrived.    Made by Carollyn, who blogs at Carollyn's Tatting Blog.   Extraordinary!

I was fortunate to have my name drawn by Sandra Sullivan in a recent Facebook giveaway.    These were the SIX patterns I chose from her Halloween Collections.    They are so fun!   

Such wonderful mail ; )

and, there was some tatting going on

 at the Tollway Tatters gathering.   Meet the Rock Stars and Tatting Royalty:

Superstar teacher, designer and author, Marilee, sat down and carried on a conversation, and effortlessly tatted this up ... More photos on her blog, Yarnplayer Tatts AND facebook page Yarnplayer.    When the opportunity comes around to take one of her classes -- don't hesitate!!!   Her current activities are too numerous to list here, best to watch her schedule of classes and vending booth dates/locations on-line sites.

    

Tatting lace artist and entrepreneur, Carrie a.k.a., Shuttle Flicka with one of her spectacular notecards . . .    Carrie [left] w/Diane [right].    More from Carrie via her blog, Just Give her Some String and facebook page, Shuttle Flicka Lace ... Plus, she is going to be at the Interwoven Expressions exhibit + sale this Fall.

Does anyone recognize the doily in the photograph?   Yes, it is Renulek's Lentia, in progress, tatted by Diane.    More photos on her internationally famous blog, Lace-Lovin' Librarian.   From left to right:  Carrie, Marilee [above], and Diane.

Techie, Sue Anna -- enlightening us on the gagetry of photography a.k.a. "selfies" AND transferring the images to a page.   FB and/or Blog.    Sue Anna was tatting with the finest white fiber on spectacular hand crafted shuttles.   [I didn't snap a photo : (    oh, darn].    Thinking of others first, the tatting will eventually become a decoration and grace a holiday tree for charity this Winter.

Have you ever heard of the saying, "the one with the MOST, wins" .... honestly, Sue Anna has a fabulous collection of shuttles.   Check out the photographs on her blog, Sue Anna's Blog.  

   This pop-a-button shuttle photographed front / back  is Sequoia wood.  Sue Anna had photos of her collection and said "pick one" .  thus, this beauty found new dwellings in our home .... yep, my home!!  Thx again Sue Anna, I'm gobsmacked speechless ....

In addition to the tatting, chatting, and goings on ... Diane brought woven bags made on her saori loom.   These bags are being created from her Mom's own pattern.    Bag in picture is made by her Mom.    Diane has more spectacular bags on her blog.   They are for an Autumn fundraiser held at her Mom's retirement.   Need a new bag?   Willing to help the cause?  Please visit her blog post:    http://lacelovinlibrarian.blogspot.com/search/label/Saori .

This is a tatted heart in the works - partially tatted by me.   The fiber is some of Marilee's HDT.    It is marvelous to tat with, and she has some new colors in her Etsy, Yarnplayer store.   Not a lot of tatting progress.   Waiting for my damaged finger to heal.   Have you ever tatted with a bandaid on your finger?   Nearly impossible to get rings, chains, without gaps.    Most tatters will recognize the pattern.   It is Split Ring Heart by Georgia Seitz, Link HERE.   

The card, gift from Carrie - she had oodles + had each of us choose one.   Thx again Carrie!!!    The bottles, gifts from Marilee, are filled with beads - Marilee created some bead mixes and poured them into these itty bitty corked bottles.   Too cute.  Thx again Marilee!!!

Are you familiar with the Rainbow Loom?   Sweet Ava, who was not able to join us today, made a Hello Kitty for me with her loom + made with colorful bands.   The last time I saw her, she had oodles of creations made on the loom - each unique, colorful, and delightful.   I need to find a special place for my treasure.  Next to my adorable Hello Kitty is a re - start of the tatted heart, so far without gaps.   I have a tighter bandaid on my finger and it improves my tatting!  

Homework ....

Pattern No. 4:  

Top photo size 80, DMC #59 - AND - bottom photo size 20, Lizbeth color #164.   Needed to adjust the picot size for the size 20 fiber - or the edge ripples, wouldn't lay flat [or maybe it was my tatting?].   I needed to make picot smaller - the picot/join between the two rings.   When I used the size 80, the picot seemed ok, I used same size picot for the rings and chains and joins - pretty!

Pattern No. 24

Size 20, Lizbeth Fiber, color #164.   For this to lay flat, without cupping, I made the picots 1/4" on the ends of the acorn caps AND in between the 4-rings.   Otherwise, the project wouldn't lay flat [for me].   

Home work is for the Online Tatting Class, group project - link to blog HERE - - The project is to tat and share 40 patterns of Nellie Hall Youngburg.    link to pattern book in this post, link HERE.   My two are DONE!!!

Exchange received ....

I was really excited to see a photograph on the Tatting Group [Facebook group] of Deb C's organization.   On 5/18, she was inspired to gather her tatting together and organize!!!   And in the photo - I noticed a Tatting Press.    I had seen this on Ann's blog, Nifty Needle - had the pattern, and couldn't quite figure out how to put it all together.
After a couple PMs back-n-forth with Deb, we exchanged ... an origami bag for a tatting press.   Thx Deb!!  

  Deb received her bag + said she liked it.

I now have my tatting press!    I picked it up from the post office on Friday - and used it already.  What a lovely press, the color, the design, so useful ....  The back pocket is for scissors - or shuttle - or tools.

The top pockets are intended for shuttles.   The tatting, in progress, is safe inside the 'press'.   A soft fabric that keeps the tatting STILL - nice to grab the next day + not have to untangle the shuttles!!!

The original design and pattern is by Ann, blogging at Nifty Needle.     For other free tutorials for origami bag, thread catchers, etc ... follow THIS LINK.

The tatting is pattern No.4 of  Nellie Hall Youngburg.   Link in sidebar.   Using size 80 - DMC #59.

And, I have some information on the lovely leather container which was a gift from GF.   Melody told me it was purchased in Racine, WI -- There is a gift shop at the DeKoven Center.   It is an old seminary, near Taylor Hall.   I have more photos - HERE.    I have filled with my tools.   it has picot gauge set, 1/2 size crochet hooks, shuttles, and small scissors.

Tatting ... tatting ... well, not actually tatting - just news ....

If you didn't already know --- Fox has a new address for her blog Tat-ology.  Link HERE or Visit her at:   http://www.tat-ology.blogspot.ca/

I was delighted to have my name selected for Gracie's giveaway ... Needle Lace Flowers by Figen Cakir.   And, when envelope arrived, she enclosed a wonderful journal!   Isn't the cover pretty?   You may want to visit Gracie's blog, Needles, Pins + Dragonflies - Link HERE, to see her beautiful tatting, needlework, and more.   Don't forget to peek at her post - Rosie the Bear.   Too Cute!!!

 Notice a few shuttles hanging around the new books?  Yep, some round doilies and tatting shuttles arrived in the mail - from The Tatting Corner's recent sale.   I have not used the new shuttle with hook - pretty lime green : )  I bit larger than the Sunlit shuttle.    I thought I better start an 'edge' with a round piece, and not fuss with corners for my first try.

 

I saw this tatted edge on Tatlyn's blog, Tatting Treasures.    Then went on an on-line hunt!!!   I finally found the back issue of Old-Time Crochet (Autumn 1993)                   

 with the pattern.   It is Tatted Handkerchief Edging by Mary McCarthy.    I don't know if I'd put on anything - but was itching to give the pattern a try.

There are a couple more tatting related things in this issue:  Tatting Techniques by Rebecca Hollenbaugh  w/A Tatted Tab Collar in rose Motif and Picot Ribbon + Tatted Insertions.

Last load of laundry in the dryer - need to get the ironing started.   Enjoy!!!!!

Switching to Bloglovin'

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Tollway Tatters

Edited 05/22/2013 @5pm:     Carrie started her own blog.   You can see her beautiful tatting:

Just Give Her Some String.

We gathered, we chatted, we tatted, we had a wonderful time. 

    Above:   Marilee, Diane, Sue, + I; photograph taken by Sue's DH.  

Diane enjoyed some retail therapy + found lovely embellished boxes to share with us.   (and the little shapes look like tatting shuttles!).   She spoiled us with tatting fiber, embellished tatting shuttle + thread winders, too.    

Sue found these awesome little blue doodats - and shared with all of us.   A neat new tatting embellishment.   Now, wonder what pattern will go nicely with a square???

Busy Barbara gifted us with snap bags.   Each bag with a machine embroidered tatting shuttle on the front.   Each bag a bit different and hard to select just one.    I liked this rust-bronze bag.   The top has lovely Autumn greens, blues, and bronze colors.    And yes, it is filled already with tatting tools.

Did you notice the HDT on the bag????   Yes, it is Gold Dust - made by Yarnplayer.   Like it?   You may find some for sale in her shop.   The colorway is rich + yummie.  

 In addition to the lovely fiber, Marilee gifted us with lovely bag of post-its, flower, and chocolate.   We all know how well chocolate goes with tatting!    

Speaking of tatting .... yes, we did tat!   You'll have to take my word, there was tatting.   Or, visit a couple blogs with photos:    HERE and HERE.    

I managed to get some beads on a shuttle and tat a couple of Jon's butterfly motifs, called Flutters.  Missed a couple who couldn't make it.   Regret not taking more pictures.   

Edited:    I so enjoyed meeting new tatters Carrie (now blogging at:  Just Give Her Some String) and Jean (w/o blog) and hope to see them again the next time we gather.    

Week end funness ....

Isn't this charming?

CathyB, blogging at

With Needle + Thread,

and her Mom, Marlene,

came to Indiana over the

past week-end.

Marlene tatted the motif +

CathyB finished into a cute

tartlet .... and, she gave it to ME!

Thx Marlene and Cathy ; )

You can see more pictures of the tatted tartlets

HERE and HERE ...

some with butterflies, some with round motifs.

Marlene wanted to learn

how to create split rings ...

and, I did my best to show her how I make them.

I think she has the technique down ..

and, her tatting is spectacular!   Even tension,

she has a good eye for patterns ; )

And, she had a stack of tatting to show.

Am I ever gobsmacked by her beautiful bookmarks,

cross, round motifs - ornaments.   Wow.

Did I mention the butterfly she had?   She takes

two fibers and tats them at the same time.

It make a thick tatted butterfly, but the colorway is awesome!

(I should have taken a picture)

We had lunch at 

Mucho Mas! + they

continued on to the Outlet Mall.

Such a nice afternoon.    Wish we all lived closer.

Thank goodness for internet, blogs, and e-mail.

Giveaway ....

The Ruins of Lace

by Iris Anthony

OK, did you already pick it up?

Jennifer, blogging at Literate Housewife,

has a nice giveaway thru 10/8.   Details on her post

Ruins of Lace is Finally Here

Taking on a Dare ...

A daily treat for me is blog hopping.   One blog I frequent is Diane's blog, Lace-Lovin' Librarian.   She always has interesting posts (with lovely photos).   

So, one day, I saw Diane's post title:    Diane's Doodad Double Dare ... I just had to participate.   The little silver squares (or could be diamonds) will have some tatting surrounding them before the end of September.   What fun!    Some participants have already tatted their components.   For now, I'm just looking at the ones Diane sent to me.   They will have to wait until I finish ....    

I'm in the middle of creating some favors for the NANI workshop in September, and need to focus all my energies on getting them DONE in time.     And, it really is a fun thing to do --- I'm using metallic fibers on card stock, folding into a matchbook, and will insert felt for a needle holder.  (the matchbook on the left side of the photo)   The BEST part is that I'm creating the designs as I go along.    I've made a few mistake, the learning curve, so I can always stitch those again!

After a shopping trip to Hobby Lobby for felt pieces, I found the brass findings (in picture) - they may be a bit large for tatting, just not sure.   I thought they were so pretty (and 25% off).    

Before I put away my shuttles (for the NANI project), I did finish a motif

out of Patti Duff's Mini Tats book.

This is motif #11 in the book.    (I'm going thru the book for the 25-motif challenge).  I used a size 40 Lizbeth for the coral/pink color, with 5 repeats of the pattern.  I also used size 20 Lizbeth for the blue motif - which follows the real pattern.  What I really liked about this pattern, is the way the small rings join with the picot on the larger rings.   I've never done that before.

Do you think I'll make 25 out of the book

before the end of the year????  Oh my.

I'm really enjoying it tho - it is nice to go thru the book

one at a time + create the lovely motifs.

Both of these motifs will be used on Kanzashi flowers.   A friend + I are going to be in charge of a class for the L.A.C.E. members in September.    Hope the combination tatting class and flower class are successful!

Giveaway Winner

---- is Beebee,

blogging on a couple of group blogs

and at Beebee's Quilts + More

Also, Check out her etsy
and pinterest.

Congrats!

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And, speaking of lucky, my name was drawn for this

beautiful prize via DFW Craft Shows - Birthday Bash Giveaways

The print and note cards are by

Brandi Solomon

My Favorite Flower

(face book page).

They are spectacular!   Please visit her

etsy shop and enjoy viewing Brandi's beautiful

art prints, stationery, and cards.

Gifts

Isn't this awesome???

Cathy B, blogging at:

With Needle and Thread

made this pincushion

with her Mom's Tatting..

The base is 

a mason jar lid.

She has made several

and each is quite lovely!

This is one of 

Le Cossette

tatting shuttles.

I like the texture!

And the colors.

What a beautiful shuttle.