Sunday, November 21, 2010

Muscle Memory

 $13 Motif Challenge 

A bit more practice is making all the difference. I am still struggling with the final wrap of the hand loom.  Muscle memory has taken care of most of the process, but there is one part of the wrap that is not tight enough.  If I could get a good grip on that thread, the loom would be nice and taut and the whole thing would be postioned well for the weaving.  Not quite there yet!

Friday, November 19, 2010

And Then There Were None

 #12 Motif Challenge

All the Valdani has been sampled.  This blue and yellow one is my least favourite as these two colours do not appeal to me.  Also, this thread was so much softer than than the others; I feel that Sis made a mistake in the brand, but there is no label to be certain.  It is made in Romania however, as is Valdani thread.  Anyone want a sample of this?  I have that huge spool that I do not think I will use very often. Send me an emial if you want some.


What next?  I am off to Tim Hortons for a coffee, as I am off work today and I have to retrieve a crochet hook I left there a few days ago,  Luckily I called and an eagle-eyed employee spotted the errant hook under a table.  It is the little beading tool, so I am relieved I did not lose it as the 05's are hard to come by, except by mail, and postage  is always very expensive to Canada.

Who out there in Tat-land has thought about doing the Etsy-thing?  About selling tatting for profit?  About having enough design sense to give it a go?  Well, I do not wear jewellery, do not make jewellery and in fact have little interest in it other than in the shapes and colours, so why, I ask you, do I keep thinking about starting an Etsy account?  Is this a phase we all go through after a few years of tatting history?  Will this pass?

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Valdani Trilogy

(#11 Motif Challenge)
Now there are three:


There is one more still on the shuttles.  
I feel like Diane with the Spinning Wheel mat!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Valdani Encore

 #10 Motif Challenge
Iris 's Free Pattern 
tatted with Valdani thread doubled 

I gotta tell you - I am really happy with not only the thread, which amazingly I am loving, but also the fact that after a whole year and a half I really GET this pattern, and am having so much fun with it, now that I see which direction to go and why!  This makes all the difference in tatting pleasure.

Still, I have to untat far more than you could ever imagine!  But now this is done because I am displeased with a stitch or I get a knot.  Wow...  Never thought it would come to this, with this perplexing pattern!

 I am looking forward to testing this unanticipated success on another pattern by Iris.  We shall see if this  learning development has taken effect only on this one little motif, or if I have truly made some kind of quantum tatting leap!