Resplendently Red

A red ribbon, that is! 

In fact, two of them. : ))

I am in a bit of shock. Telling no one, I entered Renukek's Honey Napkin this week in a Tatting Competition at the Markham Fair - a huge event outside Toronto. There is a brief description of it below.

Took me hours to get to the fairgrounds and home again. Then I forgot about it till last evening when I had to go pick up my tatting.

When I handed in my ticket, the woman I gave it to disappeared and was gone a long time and I started to think maybe they lost my work, but then two women approached me with my tatting in hand - and a red ribbon and some other papers.

They said that they had never seen anything like it! I was sort of stunned and we chatted a bit and off I went.

It was not till hours later I saw I had been awarded another honour - I thought it was a fair advert or keepsake ribbon but it was a biggie! So, my tatting will go on display at another event. I am excited about all this, as it was so unexpected.

Thank you Renulek, for this marvellous pattern, and thank you all the tatters who encouraged me over the months of tatting this monster doily. 

Also, I will have to thank the owner of the little shop (Melodie Crochet) where I buy the Finca thread.

One of the regulations for entering an item is that you had to submit a sample of the original thread used in the work. This is to ensure that the participant is the authentic maker of the submission.

I had no more of that thread, for I gave the used balls away after I was finished. Never wanted to see them again!

So I went to the shop and asked the owner for three samples of the thread to attach to the tatting. She did not hesitate to cut off what I required from three new balls of thread and was very excited that I would enter the piece. Nice! 

I will return to the shop and show her the ribbon, for I would not have it were it not for her generosity.

♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧

2012 Cover Art by Sherri Redshaw

"Markham Fair is one of Canada oldest country fairs. Since 1844 the fair has been providing the community with a showcase for talents and products in a friendly competitive spirit. 

With over 750 volunteers working on more than 75 committees, Markham Fair is the largest community based volunteer organization in Canada.

Markham Fair occurs annually on the weekend before Thanksgiving, and hosts upwards of 60,000 attendees. 

Approximately 3,000 exhibitors will enter more than 12,000 items, which will be judged and put on display during the fair. Promoting excellence through competition in this way, is what makes fairs unique in comparison to other events."

Iris Is Such A Tease!

Iris Niebach has wonderful patterns and I am amazed at how easy they appear ... until I pick up my shuttles! So, here is one I am attempting - three times already -  from here:

I am working on it when I take a break from ... TA-DA!

I am so excited about this. It is sturdy and feels great to touch. I am enjoying it immensely and will do all the rows.  It was impossible for me to save it till the end to show my progress, but I am so pleased I wanted to show anyone who is following the trials and tribulations of those of us who are tatting the Mystery Doily. : )  Thanks to Georgia Seitz for starting this fascination years ago! 

Like Jon, who brought this to my attention, I am finding a bit of ruffling in the third row, and like Jon, I am hopeful that it will sort itself out.

Now... mail for Stephanie. We were involved in an exchange and I was baffled when a rather large package arrived. When I opened it, the size mystery was instantly solved when I saw the trat enclosed for Mr. G!

I didn’t even glance at the tatting things... not a look till after playtime.

You can see why:

Gian was so excited with this toy, he immediately removed one of its eyes! We have been having fun with it for days!

I ALMOST FORGOT!

The talented Nanetta has started a blog, here! This is exciting news. You can look at her tatting on Flickr, here.

I can’t wait to see what treats are in store for Tat-Land, now that Ms. Caruso has started a blog! : ))
Check it out.

Savouring Cèbèlia

This hanky border is finished except for two joining rings. It is a devil to untwist, and seeing that sewing and I do not exactly play well together, this should prove interesting... here it is wet with hot water. I am waiting for it to dry and will attempt to sew it on later.  : o

LATER!

Thanks, Connie! It is a beauty - very fine cotton. Delicate.

I used Perfect Quilter thread, 

whose fineness matched 

the fabric very well.

Also:

I am taking lots of little breaks, and playing around with random bits of thread, all the while working on and thoroughly enjoying, to my great surprise, the process of tatting the Mystery Doily with Cèbèlia #30. I say this because I have often grumbled about this thread.

However, I really liked the teal blue Cèbèlia that Sally sent me when I used it for the Trellis Doily and here I am again loving this ball of ecru.

My tatting has tightened up considerably over the past few months - at long last! This Mystery Doily will have to be pressed, as it has lots of body and feels very firm to the touch snd not a bit like my usual floppy tatting!

The thread is ecru, but with no yellow tinge and it is very pretty - close to white, but not. I am not fond of white thread and yet most ecrus are too brown for my liking. 

This thread really pleases me and is not - for a change - boring to tat with . I have been highly entertained with this pattern and thread. Hmmm, you have not heard that very often before! Maybe there is hope yet! : ))

More Help From My Friends

Marta just sent me another version of my pattern, "Pine Plains Picot." It looks amazing, Marta! Thank you very much for test tatting. Your tatting is beautiful. : )