A Real Challenge!

#23 Motif Challenge

Oh yes.  This was definitely a mighty challenge.  No dozing off to the podcast while tatting this.  The book is fantastic - clear and well illustrated.  It is a small publication but packs a huge amount of pattern ingenuity into that small space. (No -one paid me to say it!)

If I were to do it again, I would chose two plain colours, but the variegated Altin Basak from The Thread Exchange with Is'Dihara was too much of a temptation, as it was size #30 (50) - and I paired it with the #40 Lisbeth turquoise, that I have been longing to use.

(After the fact: I might have made a mistake here as Jeff thinks this is the thread he sent me in T.T.E.!  I do apologize Jeff!  Then, I forget what I received from Is'Dihara!  You see, in cleaning up my threads, I have mixed up all my samples and do not know who sent me what!  I do apologize for this and any future oversights.   Fox)

Once again - disaster with the Lisbeth!  I have NO luck with my Lisbeth thread.  This was a recent - more  recent, that is - purchase, after the twisting thread fiasco at Handy Hands.

It felt so smooth and silky and absolutely wonderful that I was lulled into its spell, only to be to be jolted to reality when it split during a join and then continued to to so for the entire pattern!

I do not think I will ever buy the stuff again.

Organizational Milestone Reached!

I have reached the stage in my tatting life, where the containers I have do not work for me anymore. I needed more space and more cubbies.

While shopping today for a new fan  - it is about 99 degrees today -  in that quintessential home and hardware store, Canadian Tire, I spotted these boxes and decided to clean up my stuff.  Done.

Now I feel like a real, grown-up tatter!

Anon,

The Pay Off

  Yarnplayer's, Celery #40                                           #22 Motif Challenge

Goodness!  I really did this! 

This one is for you, Elisadusud - with many thanks.

Lots of boo-boos, but a good beginning.  I am pleased.

I forgot to post this:

I tatted it for agasunset and used the metallic thread that Suneeti sent to me along with many other coloured samples of metallic thread.  I love all the colours, but I've got to tell you - it is so difficult to tat with - especially that small centre.

Grrrr.

Anon,

Cafe Cluny

 Strange But True!

I did not realize till now that the restaurant that the restaurant in the last post was called Cafe CLUNY!  How odd is that, Tat-land!  Talk about synchronicity!

Look again!

I am ferociously working on my Clunies.... 

This is what happened before the fatal flaw occurred; I had to cut:

Next up:
the same Elisadudud pattern in Yarnplayer's 'Celery' HDT, #40.  

The thread is an inspiration and a joy to tat with.

 

The orange motif unravelled !  How did this happen?

This was the motif that the Maeve's Older Brother wanted.  In orange - which I am not keen about.  So, I tatted one in his favourite colour, and added orange beads.  This keeps us both happy!

 #21 Motif Challenge

Having read all about how to avoid those annoying little bits of colour showing at the joins, I tried various maneuvers and somehow, there are no bits!  I am not sure what I ended up doing, but I am not arguing....

Anon,

New York Secret Is Out!

My daughter asked why I did not tell you.  Tatskool, who has known all along, asked why I did not tell you.  I am a very private soul, but I suppose I am ready to give it up...  Ready?

You know all about Mini-Boss, Right?  Her name was a BIG secret, known only to her parents, till she was born.

Remember, I went to NYC with my New Lep Treasure -  Maebh -  to meet Mini-Boss?  Well...

Imagine my surprise when they told me the baby's name!

More New York news:  Agasunset:

We met, as planned, and spent a terrific, tatting afternoon at a very cool West Village locale, where we swapped gifts, news and tatting tips.  It was such a lot of fun.

 Agasunset taught me to needle tat! 

(This is Westie hair! Pets! What're you going to do!)

 I am pretty pleased that I could do this.  Agasunset was kind enough to give me a lesson, a tatting needle and some #10 thread to practice with. She also gave me one of her pieces of jewellery, and I was able to copy it:

 HERS

MINE

I am grateful for the lesson and am happy to know how to needle tat, but, I must admit I will not be giving up my shuttles any time soon!  But, for me, it is good to know how to do everything connected to tatting;  Learning is always a big plus!  Thank you, Agasunset, for contributing to my tatting repertoire! 

Someone else (the oldest brother) is also learning something new.  Did you have a 'corker' when you were a kid? I gave one to him when Maeve was born, and he has made such good progress.  Next time, a shuttle!

This lad does like tatting.  He loves the snowflakes and he saw me tatting this. He informed me that now orange is his favourite colour!  (hint, hint!) I finished the motif on the plane, and will mail it to him tomorrow. 

The thread was one that I got from Is'Dihara through The Thread Exchange: Alton Başak #50. The pattern is from A New Approach to Tatting by Yusai Shokoin.

 Tatting with beads in an airport, I have discovered, takes some courage!

I managed to finish this motif with beads, and another covered ring:

#20 Motif Challenge

Funny thing is, I did not have any time to tat in NYC!  I cannot figure out how all this got done - except that I stay up later than ANYONE I know!  Late in the wee hours, there am I with a shuttle in hand.

More News:  

CLUNY PROGRESS!

Just look at this!  I am so excited!  Never have I got this far with a cluny leaf flower!  Elisadusud - THANK YOU for the pattern!  I am thrilled with my progress; however, that split chain is a b****   to tat!

Getting to the end here...  When I got home I had a slew of mail that I had been expecting.  Thank you Jeff, Snowy and  Martha for the thread from The Thread Exchange!  This exchange  is a such a blast!

I love all the thread I received from these three people and, honestly, there is quite a lot of it there....  This is a terrific, easy way to invigorate one's stash and renew one's creativity!

Here is the mail:

Thread galore received from Heather!  You are mad, woman, but I love you for it!  Thank you, so much! That was most unexpected.  Beautiful threads in gorgeous colours.  Yummy!

There is a new book of Iris's for me, that I ordered before I went away.  Just what I needed.....  Oh well, it is a wonderful publication: Tatting together square motifs. I am going to enjoy this one.

Last but not least, there was a sweet, tatted critter that has come to stay with me, via Martha!  Thank you!  He is just adorable, and will bunk in with Maebh! ( who is being secretly admired, I might add, by Danny!)

My Own Little Tatted Fox!  

How Sweet Is This?

Thank You, Martha!

 Out of steam, now...time to tat.....

One More Very Important Thing

Happy Canada Day!

Anon,