Madame Is Not Pleased

#25 Motif Challenge

Yes, it is finished and yes, I like it better than the original design, but my tatting makes me grouchy.  Could be a remnant mood from the high temperatures - I am still too hot.  But, I think I am just very dissatisfied with my tension that is still so inconsistent.

Reading other blogs and admiring other tatters has me comparing my stitches to theirs.  Being such a perfectionist, I see all my blunders and want to tat "like she does".

I know.  Foolish wasted energy.  **sigh**.

The positive happening:  a fantastic find!  

I was in the neighbourhood bead shop "just browsing", (right....) when my eagle-vision bi-focals zeroed in on a vial of beads - amid the gazillion other ones surrounding it; I could not believe my luck!

Just look at the match to the Bre-Aly thread!  Could it be any closer?

There is always a silver lining.  I must keep that in mind.  : )

Anon,

Hearts, Flowers and an A Big Thank You to Sharon

 Go have a look at the pretty tatting on Kathy's blog,  Look for the February 14th post in the middle of the page.  I have been looking forward to tatting this, and it is a free Lyn Morton pattern, also linked to Kathy's site.

The pattern is supposed to look like this (half done):

But, when I started tatting it, I did not like certain aspects of the design

and so have changed it to :

The difference:

Thread is Bre-Aly Threads #30 by Snappish

 Then I realized why I like the pattern and where I had first seen it.   

Suneeti gave me this months ago:

Her tatting is immaculate, and if it is the same design, she has changed it also.  So, I looked at what she has done and fiddled with Lyn's pattern. 

This is a new step for me - venturing into the realm of design.  I am beginning to get inklings about what try pleases me and what I actually dislike about certain facets of shapes and designs.  These things I have recognized for a while now, but I am only now comfortable following my hunches and am slowly
becoming okay with my skill set to experiment  - a very little bit.  Whoo hoo for Fox!

Interesting that this motif is #25 of  (I think it is my fourth) Motif Challenge!

Sign me up again Sharon!  The Challenge is a constant catalyst for me and so many others.  Thank you, Sharon for all the dedicated work you do to keep us all tatting and participating!

Anon,

Calamitous Chaos of the Recalcitrant Cluny

 Must be the heat.  Everything I touch with a shuttle turns to ....   Bad Reader!  What did you just think you read!  LOL!

Honestly - I have NO patience -  I am tired and frustrated.  The clunies have not been conquered.  This is all I have to show for HOURS of intensive tatting.  Made mistakes one after another - often repeating the same error many times over!

Gotta take a break till the weather cools. No air-conditioning in my life had me tatting tonight in a coffee shop.  Poor kitty was left melting  in my oven of an apartment.  Because the cat was ill - possibly because of the weather, says the vet,  we have 2 new fans, but this heat wave was not radically affected by cross ventilation.  Right now, thank goodness,  I can feel a slight drop in temperature.  Hopefully, the cooler air will tone down my temper as well.

Anon,      
         The Cranky 

Glutton For Punishment

Man, it is HOT here...  I managed to get the motif done.  Pattern from TATTING PATTERNS AND DESIGNS,. by Blomqvist and Persson.

Then, feeling confident and positive, I thought I'd have another go at clunies.  Nothing - but NOTHING went right.  The thread got tangled; the Lizbeth black split and twisted, and I was so hot my hands were sweaty.  So I put it aside and met up for the afternoon with a friend I have not seen in thirty years!

She actually really liked the covered ring motif I brought along for her.  Refreshing!

Then, when I got home I picked up the tatting and the Lizbeth  was impossible - it went in the garbage.  Don't worry - it was  the end of the ball of grief,  that, believe me, no self -respecting tatter would use.

I replaced the black with Cébéblia and carried on until I made too many mistakes; then I cut off a picot...
I am going to have to do it all over again.  When it is cooler.

Anon,