Serendipitous Smorgasbord

I bought these beads months ago because they just ended up in my hand at the cash register! I had no idea what I would do with them as they are a bit of an odd colour mix.

Then I noticed some Altin Basak, #50 in my stash that I received in The Thread Exchange some time back.  I had completely forgotten about it.  Heh  heh....

Eureka - The TAT-PIC!

Cute?  Now a little history...Way back, I posted this:

Saturday, August 1, 2009

My New Very Best Friend....

Very sharp and to the point. Dependable. Strong. Trustworthy. Wouldn't want to get stuck doing an #80 thread project without it.

However, the needles kept breaking around the threading hole, and I also dropped them a lot and had trouble locating them while tatting.  They worked pretty well but were inconvenient.

I need a pick to un-tat as I have to do that endlessly and I often use a bobbin shuttle.

After finding shuttles I adore - LaCossette adorns the bland Aero into a tatting tool of fine beauty -  I found that using the hook on the end of those shuttles to un-tat  is really wreaking havoc with my fingers.  I kept thinking to myself that I should carry around an empty Clover just to un-tat...

Then, I got the brainwave:

This is what happened!

Honestly, it is a brilliant solution!  I cannot tat without it now.  Fits into my hand like it belongs there and doesn't split the thread like a pin or the end of the Aeros.

It is the perfect un-tat tool for those who use a bobbin shuttle -  if  I do say so myself!

 I am a very happy camper with my sweet, little invention!

afterthought:  I was thinking of selling  these and started to make some up, but good grief... THE STRESS!  I could not get the varnishing and bonding, to my liking; being a perfectionist, and not having a great attention span for the fiddly, this is just not going to work ...  I had to rethink the entrepreneurial aspect!

EUREKA!

 I am so excited!  

I have created something  for tatters,   

at least for THIS tatter!  

I made one and have used it all week 

and it is EXACTLY what I have wanted for ages.  

I shall show you my brainwave on Sunday. 

~~***~~***~~

In the interim, here is the little piece I tatted for a friend whose mom has passed away. 

#19 Motif Challenge

I slipped it into the condolence note that I sent her.  Though this may seem an odd thing to do, I felt that since her mother was quite elderly, a celebration of life for her could merit a small (tasteful, I think) tatted motif. Anyway, I sent it!

This is Jon's pattern; at least it was, till I saw that I had done 5 rather than 6 rings in the centre!   Oh, no!

I wanted to get the thing mailed so I took great liberties with the design and you can see what happened - the big ring at the top is not supposed to be there - but I rather like it!

Sharon's course must be working.  I seem to be getting bolder...

Mary Konior Strikes Again

#18 Motif Challenge

Inspired yet again by The Lace Lovin' Librarian, Diane, I tackled a  "Mixed Bouquet," from A Pattern Book of Tatting. I sure do like to see what I am going to tat next.  All I have to do is read that blog!

This is a lovely book; there are quite a few patterns in it that have me winding shuttles.  The problem with having amassed so many tatting books is that I forget the wealth of material on the shelf.  I know I keep tatting the same things over again instead of plunging into the stuff that is sitting there a few feet away - totally available! 

The thread is Krystle's but I do not know the name of the colourway. It is quite thin - probably #60, and I used it with #40 Coron  that umintsuru so kindly sent me ages ago. I had been saving it for the perfect project!