Tollway Tatters ..... Part I

What a wonderful gathering of tatting friends.   

We chat, share recent finds, enjoy lunch (bring or buy),

bring recently purchased books & patterns, share hints & tips 

 take pictures --- and we TAT!  Really, we do!

Tatting by Denise:

Gemma Alphecca tatted star

pattern in November 2012 issue of

Tatting Times

by Karey Solomon

Denise had a few stars tatted.   I think she said

fiber used was Lizbeth Pineapple Parfait.

Denise gifted each of us with 

a new to me tool --- called hackle pliers.

They are a nice size + I've used them already!

She also brought stunning shuttles

one with a frog charm - too cute!!!

There is a photo HERE.

(Barbara, Denise, Sue Anna)

Tatting by Sue Anna aka The Scribinator:

tatting up a beaded earring around a

jewelry finding.  Spectacular color choice.

It was one of Marilee Rockley's Craftsy Project patterns

Tatted Filigree Earrings.

In addition to a lovely tatted cross pattern,

Sue Anna brought these to share ....

Chocolate Shortbread Cookies ..... Yes, Chocolate Shortbread!!!

She brought plain cookies and fancy ones.

Ah, too yummie!

Sue Anna had a nifty plastic box with trays -

A tackle box for tatters!!! I should have taken a picture ---

What a fun way to cargo tatting gear ; )

She had a woven hand cloth, too - which

I didn't get a photo of!!!!   She made on

a small loom.   

(On the left side of table Diane's hands (cell phone), Marilee

and Denise on the right)

Do you see the plastic bin next to Marilee's

left arm?

Marilee shared beautiful wool/silk

hand dye fiber - there were several colors

to choose from; however, I couldnt resist

Peace.

Marilee was using her Filigree Earring Pattern

and creating a companion piece.

My photo was blurry - so, check out photos on

 Diane's blog to see what she was up to!!!

Tollway Tatters (Part Two)

Aren't these stunning?????   Diane made them.

I may gift a couple - but, they are so pretty,

may be too hard to part with them.

Diane tatted this

Triangular Doodad Snow Crystal in size 10.

It is just beautiful!

She also brought along the button swap pieces

pieces from Bri (but I forgot to take a photo).

What fun to swap buttons and have them return, embellished!

Diane had a tin of beads/fibers and challenged 

us to be creative!   Not sure what we will come up with.

In addition to the challenge - there was a small

hook tool to help with the beads and charming

round discs that look like life savers.

Thx Diane!

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

The white star ornament on the left

was tatted by CathyB's Mom, Marlene.

I found a similar pattern (or perhaps it is the same pattern)

in Myra Piper's book:   Tatting.

The pattern is typed out - no diagram, and I wasn't quite

sure how to manage .... but, I tried using size 40 Lizbeth

and think I've figured out the pattern.

By using size 40, I think it will be smaller + look nice

on my Mom's tree. No. 47 Five Point Star, pg. 18

I have been enjoying Marilee Rockley's tatting class.

I used some fiber samplers, size 3

for the flowers and butterflies -

to use on cards / scrapbooking.

I have more green fiber - and will make more

of the grass in green!

Now that I have some size 10 fiber, I'm ready

to continue with the next lessons

making earrings, bracelets, etc - with size 8 seed beads.

Motif #18 - first try

The snowflake in the middle is

motif #18.

Pattern from Minitats by Patti Duff.

I made some mistakes along the way

and plan to try it again.

I tend to RW at the wrong time

and it makes the chains wonky.

I hope I have enough fiber to give this pattern another try ...

Isn't the fiber pretty stuff?

It is from Yarnplayer aka Marilee Rockley.

purple motif is the #17 motif in 

Patti Duff's:  Minitats; 69 Petite Motifs book.

improved tatting

I have been going thru the on-line tatting lessons

via Craftsy

for Yarnplayer aka Marilee Rockley's course

Shuttle Tatting.

Wrapping my fiber differently, around my left hand resulted in WAAAAYYYY

better chains - nicer looking knots, more even tatting.   And, I compared -- wrapping the way I originally was taught vs wrapping the

Marilee way .... even used size 10 crochet cotton to compare.

Guess what?  my chains look better

 - thx Marilee!

(The origami box was Saturday's class following the L.A.C.E. business meeting. )

Gathering of Tatters [Part Two]

Continued from previous post ...

Diane aka Lace-lovin' Librarian

made origami bags for each of us.

I have seen her bags when she

would share photos on her blog +

am over-the-moon to own my own.

Aren't they wonderful??

Cheerful color, well constructed,

and really .... just too kewl.

Isn't this a fantastic origami pouch?

When you lift up the flap, there are outside pockets

on each side -- wonderful to protect

the tatting inside from poking shuttles and scissors.

The bottom is rectangular + three balls of

fiber are a perfect fit.

If you are interested in sewing

and bag construction, there are a couple sites

on-line with patterns ... please visit:

Quilts a Lott:  Origami Pouch (tutorial)

Thx Diane!  Your kindness and generosity

overwhelm me!

Do you visit Yarnplayer's blog?   Was really happy

to meet Marilee + she was gracious, agreed to autograph my books.

She brought her bracelets which she has up on her blog.  

They are so stunning!!!!!

She even had a gift bag which included

some stunning hand dyed fibers which she sells

on her ETSY site.  

She also brought some skeins if we were

interested in purchasing.

IMO, the photos don't do the colors justice.   They are quite lovely.

I felt like a kid in the candy store going thru Marilee's bin of fibers --

 each skein rich in color,  and top notch in quality.

I continue going thru the lessons from Marilee's

Craftsy Course.   It is easier for me to learn

by listening and watching vs. diagrams and photos.

Somehow, watching tatting in motion 

makes my brain happier ; )

I enjoyed going thru Diane's tatting books, and Barbara's lace book.  What fun to see the variety of tatting shuttles, and tools.    A terrific opportunity to learn new skills and 

share tatting with enthusiastic friends.

Thx for the invitation - I look forward to getting together again.