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!

Call out for entries:

See The Tatting Corner

web site for details.

What fun!!!!

Mailbag (Part Two)

I received this lovely treasure chest

and notecard (beautiful blue tatting!!!)

from Denise.    Denise is one of the

Tollway Tatters I met last month.   She doesn't

have a blog - tho, I think she needs one!

Are you wondering what was inside the chest?

Goodies!!!!   A beautiful tatted motif,

lovely Mill Hill beads, and pretty Lizbeth tatting fiber.

Imagine my surprise, thx Denise.

The tatting Denise made, matches the shuttle

Diane blinged for me - a perfect match!

Are you wondering where the tatting is being displayed?

(I know some of my GFs already can guess ....)

Yes, my HK plush are

wearing the tatting!

I"m so spoiled, I stink.    I'm thinking the treasure

chest may house my special tatting shuttles.   I seem

to be starting a collection ; )

Thx Denise!!!

Mailbag (Part One)

Don't you enjoy getting the mail sometimes ..... when the envelopes are from friends .... and not bills ....

The lovely card on the left sparkles,

which isn't showing up in the photo.

And, inside was this lovely tatted 

Stumpy from 

Lace-Lovin' Librarian ~ Diane.

(She made loads of them for the Shuttle Shop).

Thx Diane!!!

This shuttle is made by Chris Hinton

The Shuttle Shop.

The craftsmanship in this shuttle is

outstanding.   Oh my.   It is so beautiful.

Not sure I want to wind fibers on it!!!

Are you familiar with The Tatting Forums?

Go check it out, and drop

a comment on my profile when you visit.

The card on the right from Barbara.  

Her website has photographs of the variety of

lace she has mastered.  An accomplished lacemaker.  And,

don't you think the notecard is awesome?

I don't think I've ever seen a notecard with a tatting shuttle.

Following a Needlelace Class taught by

Janice Blair, L.A.C.E. class,

I joined OIDFA.   I have my first publication.

There is a lot of lace info packed into a few pages!

Types of lace I've never heard of,

lovely photos.   A nice publication.

Tollway Tatters (Part Two)

Sue Anna didn't want me to snap

her picture .... LOL!

If you visit Diane's blog post,

you will find a photo of her (Sue Anna's) tatting.

(actually, Diane has snaps of everybody's tatted pieces.)

She was tatting a 'challenge' piece

and it was quite lovely.

What a lucky duck, she is going to Tatt Days!!!

We are all green with envy ... and, will give her

our LISTS ; )    Her suitcase will be bulging on the way back.

(Did you see the Tat Off Patterns???)

And look at this:

My very own

Tollway Tatters

Tee Shirt --- hand (tie dye) made

by Sue Anna.

Thx so much ; )  

Honestly, it is so much fun to wear.

When people enter the Oasis ... they

cannot miss us ; )

Sue Anna also brought a tee shirt

for Alison, too.   

I was trying this motif (from Mini Tats) in size 40--pink.

Using size 20 is becoming easier for me to manage.

I think I made it all the way around without a glitch.

Then, wound some size 20--blue, which I am used to;

usually tat with size 20.   Should finish the blue motif this week-end.

These are some of the books

Diane brought with her:

each are incredible!!!! would be

excellent additions to tatting libraries.

Diane is looking for some more pastel

Clover brand shuttles.   She says three lighter colors

in the pkg of 5 are the best for blinging.

Other shuttle colors distort the paper or napkins

Diane uses.   Will go thru my stash this week

and see what I can find.

We enjoy getting together to chat, book review, product review, 

exchange ideas, and there is some tatting, too!   

Gathering of Tatters (Part One)

Thx Sue Anna for coordinating our gathering.

Barbara, Denise (w/o blog), + Marilee (Yarnplayer) ... 

you were MISSED!

What fun to browse new tatting books

(Diane brings some from home for us to look thru).

Pictured above, Diane lending her

expertise with Alison.

Eva, Lace-Lovin' Librarian ~ Diane, Alison

Charming Ava who has mastered the flip

and enjoys the Josephine knots.

The always generous Diane, gifted each

of us with some special fiber

called 4-Eva,

dyed by Jess.   

Did you see the beautiful blinged shuttle???

Made by Diane --- Better Photo:

Thx so much!!!  

Tollway Tatters ... Part Two - tomorrow ....

Lets go to NYC!

Gems of European Lace, ca. 1600–1920

July 24, 2012–January 13, 2013

Gallery 599

Details on the Metropolitan Museum of Art

web site

Porter Co Fair ---

I have posts on my other blog with all of my fair entries .... then, I remember, I have
more tatting friends who follow only this blog ....

so, to repeat ....

I had 15 entries into the Porter Co Fair this Summer.   These are the ones with tatting:

Category 1:  Arts + Crafts
Section 109 - Wearable Art
c. Accessories

Kanzashi flower (given to my MIL)

embellished with tatting and buttons

Comment Card:

Section 101 - Special Occasion (any Holiday, Special Event)

b. Tree Ornament

Tatted Bell

designed by Merie Lettieri

Section 115 - Miscellaneous Crafts

back side

front 

Mixed Media Needlecase

Comment Card says:

"very nice design

very well done

tatting!

like the way it is decorated

handy idea to store needles"

Category V - Needlecraft

Section 507 - Miscellaneous Needlecraft

b. Other (smocking, tatting, latch hook, etc.)

Mom's Butterfly

comment card

(gave this to my MIL on Sunday afternoon)

The other entries can be seen

HERE -- other blog

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. )

OIDFA photographs

OIDFA

International Bobbin and Needle Lace Organization

(Links from Lace Digest)

What beautiful photographs!

See the albums via links:

Congreso Caen

Marcsi V

Google+ Album

Edited 7/22 - another album:   OIDFA2012 Caen

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.

Gathering of Tatters [Part One]

Tollway Tatters:

Denise, Sue Anna, Barbara, Me, 

Marilee aka Yarnplayer, Diane aka Lace Lovin' Librarian, 

Diane's Granddaughter.   

(Diane's daughter, Alison, took the photograph).

I noticed some of Alison's tatting up on Diane's blog today.   

The Tollway Tatters gathered last week ... to share, laugh, chat + create ..... 

..... Exchange goodies. .....  

Get help with techniques, adding beads,

 hands on book reviews, compare fibers, 

oooh and aaah over tatting, bags, shuttles, +tools we cannot live without.

Have I forgotten anything???

Thx ladies for the warm welcome.

I enjoyed the generosity of spirit and

sharing our tatting passion.    What fun to 

relax with like minded tatters for five hours.   

These are lovely fobs with charms (including first name initial)

to match unique shuttles

created by Diane - photo above for Karol aka Rosebud's Stitching

photo on bottom for me ; )  Thx so much!

Lovely fiber + tatting from Sue Anna and Denise.

Thx you both!

Denise said it is a rose motif ... and, when I went on line,

I found the pattern + more information HERE.

I need to give this a try - it looks so beautiful in hand.

I think Denise needs a blog, don't you?

I want to use it with a Kanzashi flower - right now,

it is on my desk where I can continue to admire it!!!

I brought a tin of naked Kanzashi flowers

for the ladies to embellish, using their

tatting, buttons, beads --- I hope they enjoy

playing in their stash and creating a fun flower.   

I have a couple new Clover Templates

and think the new flower shapes are fun.

The last one I made is for my MIL

and, I entered it into the Porter Co Fair.

I don't know if it will be awarded a ribbon - I hope so.

Oh, and there is MORE - in Part Two ....

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More photos here and here.