doodles ....

One of my GFs had some left over Delica beads, from her projects, and I was happy to take the beads off her hands!!!  I got them out this evening and used them with some tatting.   I mixed up a few colors.  Delica Bead (DB):   DB 625, DB 1107, DB 11, DB 133, DB 853.    I used Lizbeth size 20, Col. 131.

On the left, a butterfly pattern based on one found in Complete Book of Tatting by Rebecca Jones (p.71)  -- on the right Jon Yusoff's dragonfly pattern - Link Here.

Usually, I would put the beads on the fiber around my hand while making rings - and the beads would be in place of picots.   This time, I left the beads on the shuttle until I needed them - and made the picots.   A bit different for me [tho tatters who frequently use beads, probably will laugh!].   I also tried adding beads in the picots/joins with a crochet hook.   It was okay, once I got used to it.

Tatted up some butterflys too.   The beads add shimmer and extra color!   What fun.   

I had so much mending to do this past week.  Below, are photos of Mr. Katt (Simon).   I had some catnip in the cabinet - and got it out to make some cat nip toys (request by DD).   The cat was all over the cabinet.   Would not stop searching.   So, put him out of the room, made a cat nip toy for him and set it by the door.   Once he had his own NEW toy, I was able to finish the rest for tomorrow's mail!

New bags:

Not ONE ....

FOUR new origami bags for Saturday, 

each packed with a few goodies.

Tomorrow, they will be mailed to Lafayette, Indiana

and will be going home with a new owner on 

Lace Day

Saturday, April 13th.

Interested?   Come to Indiana Lace Day (free admission)

and participate in the opportunity drawings!!!

More information ..... link HERE.

Lace Day Flyer ..... link HERE.

misc

Lace In Bloom Contest

Open to all lacemakers

 If you are interested in participating,

the Lace In Bloom Contest pre-registration

 is due by Monday, April 8th.

Contest Details:   Link HERE

Indiana Lace Day is April 13, 2013

Indiana Lace Day information:   Link HERE

A good mail day .... my

OIDFA pin arrived

along with the new Bulletin.   

Nice to have a new issue to read while the rain, snow, continues outside.

I made this lovely origami bag for a GF.   I think she liked it.   

I entered it into the Spring Blog Hop, entry  #50.   Right now, it is 5th or 6th of 61 entries.    

If you get the chance, please VOTE!!!    Voting ends in 2 days.

Link HERE

Origami Bag is entry #50

Fave Crafts Blog Hop

Tollway Tatters ..... continued

Tatting by Lace-Lovin' Librarian, Diane:

Size 20 HDT by Yarnplayer:  Pansy

Oh, yes!!! If you are familiar with Diane's blog,

you know the pattern ....

Spinning Wheel -- Glass Mat

pattern located in

Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior

In addition to bringing part of her Spinning Wheel

collection for us to drool over ...

Diane was a busy bee at her sewing machine.

She created multiple Origami Bags !!!

The colors, so beautiful, we each chose --just ONE.

We will be decorating the bag flaps with our tatting.

I liked the green ... I think will be pretty with pink motifs.

(Diane and Marilee)

Tatting by Barbara:

I peeked at the pattern - I think it was a 

fall leaf (my mind is so lost).

Barbara brought a couple (new - to - me) books to look at

This one on my "purchase one day" list.

AND she brought her tatted motifs in which she added

buttons.  Her necklace is lovely!!!  It is a star from Karey Solomon's book Tatting with Buttons.   The pieces Barbara made are in her album HERE.

Oh the projects are wonderful.   What fun to have them in hand!

(Diane, Marilee, Barbara (notice her star necklace?), and Denise)

Before we got together, I had gone on-line looking up

some FREE patterns (tatting using buttons) and, found these:

Lisa Trumble - Link HERE

Jane Eborall - Link HERE

Debi Pennington - Link HERE

Birgit - Link HERE

Susan Taliaferro - Link Here

Denise was planning to make a pin (gift) by using a larger button,

glue a pin back on the button --- and

 tat one of her favorite patterns around the button.

Denise also brought a few of her bookmarks - she tried

a different 'tail' from the one she sent me.   The colors are beautiful!!!!

I brought a heart, made by CathyB's Mom, Marlene.

You might be familiar with Cathy's blog, With Needle and Thread.

It looks like / similar to Debi Pennington's pattern.

No surprise ...

I tatted a heart using HDT by Yarnplayer.

Motif #69 from book

Minitats by Patti Duff

This was an attempt on Motif #68

(Minitats by Patti Duff)

I made a couple mistakes + plan to tat this heart again

(soon).

More photos in Tollway Tatter album - HERE.

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!!!

Lace Day

Sponsored by L.A.C.E.

the Lacemakers + Collectors Exchange

https://sites.google.com/view/illacemakers/home?authuser=0

Link HERE 

for map/directions

Class Photographs + Descriptions

Registration

Classes:

10am Beginning Bobbin Lace

10-12 + 1-3 Crochet

1-3 Intermediate Tatting

1-3 Heirloom Sewing (lace to fabric)

Vendors:

Aebi's Woodworking - Carol + John Aebi

Foster-Stephens, Inc. - Nancy Jones

Simply Wild - Andy Wild

The Nook - Tina Baker + Nancy Mancy

Unique Expressions - Susan + Jim Groh

Wood + Threads - Al Frederickson  

--Free Admission

--Demonstrations

--Lace Display

Location:   

American Legion Hall
  4000 Saratoga Avenue
  Downer's Grove, IL
  60515

Tollway Tatters (part two)

Denise,

sporting a brand new shuttle ... 

had a lovely snowflake project 

going around a jewelry doodat.    

And a giant thank you to Denise as she

let me use her Mini Tats book - mine

was left behind on the table (sigh).

Btw, just so we are clear ... 

Denise is addicted to fibers,

aren't we all?

Her tatting was housed by this STUNNING

origami bag (made by Diane) w/holiday fabrics.

She had shuttles that were decorated to match! 

(sorry, photo didn't come out - you can see them

pictured on Diane's blog post .... HERE).   

Tatting is great; sporting blinged tools,

and tatting-on-the-go bags is girlie funness.

Oh yes .... there is more, when the Tollway Tatters gather, there is chatting, tatting, sharing, showing, tutorials, book reviews, news, and MORE.     stay tuned for part three ....

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.

Need a laugh today?

See how I can make a simple shape into a seamstresses first laugh of the day? Goodness.

My first try -- lots of puckering, didn't quite get the neck seam right, notice the hands are two different sizes? and, the head and hands, not quite rounded. Maybe a blockhead? I think sewing machines like to create STRAIGHT lines & curving is just going to be coaxed : )

Second try, improved neck and wrist seams. Head with points (can that be hidden with hair!!! LOL.) Those arms and hands don't match the pattern. I'll have to free form another shape and get the hands and arms closer in size.

Because I hate myself, figured I try 'smaller' and here is the result. The head has one point (oops), the arm seam came undone (clipped too much fabric away), and well ... me thinks more practice in order.

The fabric isn't the greatest -- maybe some sort of poly/cotton blend?

My sewing lesson cancelled this a.m. as the heat went out in the building. Stay tuned, I should become more enlightened on Friday.

Think maybe I should attempt a simple rabbit shape? In flannel or something?

Lots to learn, excited to try new things, and my hands are delighting in the much needed rest from hand-doing EVERYTHING.