Caught Up

This is a very pretty pattern - and bonus - very easy to follow! 

Nearly out if green thread though. We'll see.

Tat-Along

Here is the link to Alenaleah's tat-along. Lovely pattern!

Thought I'd join the fun. Thanks, Margaret!

My centre is not part of the pattern as I had begun something else and then decided I wanted to join the tat-along... The centre looked as if it would be fine and indeed it is, so I just kept going. Getting brave in my dotage!

Another

Robin Perfetti's pattern in purple:

Two inches tatted with #40 Lizbeth

Thanks Robin

Great pattern, Robin Perfetti! 

You can find it here.

Following Frivole

Seeing how Frivole enjoyed Robin Perfetti's onion ring square pattern, I had to try it. So far:

I'm tatting this in #40 Lizbeth, so it's a bit small; a bit fidly, but it is a lovely design.

Is It Now A Dead Art?

I am not pleased to have the thought that I am not optimistic about the future of tatting. Today, anyway.

There seems to be fewer blogs and most of the known commodity are familiar to us all, including mine; they display the same things, more or less, over and over again.

Not that they are not displaying beautiful tatting. No. Most of the tatting is truly lovely, but there is nothing new and innovative. Fresh. Dynamic.

I have no answers; I continue to ho-hum tat and tat. But I wish I could see or imagine creative avant-garde designs, patterns and something youthful and creative, instead of the old masters re-created again and again. I want to be wowed and mesmerized by tatting that has never been done before.

Now - some old-hat, kitchen-table tatting by me:

Buttons are keeping me busy and focussed. I really thought I was going to hang up my shuttles this Spring, but the buttons have inspired me and I am even going to order more thread . I am in the process of deciding which colours to purchase...

This pattern is Karey Solomon's and I had to tat it twice because I messed up this first one. I always make mistakes galore with her patterns on initial run:

First one

Second try

I have to add that since I was first inspired by Pamela Queuedo - TotusMel -  nine years ago, I continue to check her blog for new posts. Her work is the closest to being in the vein of what I am addressing - or trying to put into words that have some meaning about the creative process. Thank you, Pamela!

Design À La Karey

Pattern by Karey Solomon tatted with #40 Lizbeth. Unblocked.

Lovely new shuttle by La Cossette on Etsy. 😊

Loving Turquoise Beads

Very Santa Fe!

Button Beatitude

I can't seem to move along; buttons are fun!

Thread colour is limited but I have a lot of beads,thanks to Miranda's generosity years ago. (Where IS Miranda??)

Also, a small motif by a Renulek:

Mary, Merry and Mail!

I am merry : it is finally finished. I am merry: I love getting mail!

The Mary Konior is 7" and feels very solid and dense, though it is tatted in #40. I must admit, I really like that weight best - not to thick and hard to tat, and not super-skinny like #80.

Part of my problems with the chain rows probably originated with the extra ring, tatted in error. I wasn't going to mention it as I'll wager no one would have noticed, but in the interest of sharing important tatting information, I have opted to spill the beans!

It is critical to notice where you are to join on the chain rows: I joined between chains AND on the picot meant for joining. If you look at the penultimate row, you can find my error.

Dismay when I found the flaw turned to rank determination as I had used a lot of thread and spent many hours working on this little mat. So, I figured I could fix the mistake by adding, in the final row, a sixth ring ( there are to be 5) to the motif just before the extra picot. It worked!

I really like this mat and even with the mistake, I might use it as a gift, as the errors are not noticeable at all. What do you think?

Mail came twice from overseas this week. First, Margaret sent buttons! And thread! Thank you Margaret! I will enjoy tatting them. They are terrific little giveaways. 

Then from Singapore, Umintsuru sent me birthday gift. Her memory is something else! I really love the hanky she sent in order to inspire me to tat an edging. I will have to find one which suits the fabric pattern - it is a lot of fun, searching through my books for a just the right look. Thank you, Wendy. I love it.

My grandson,who is away at camp and is the main reason lately that I lately journey to the post office,  will receive the lovely stamps included in his letter.  :)