Catherine's Crafting

a real quick post

2010-09-30T06:52:00.001-05:00

Thanks for those who stopped by to offer sympathy for kitties. Fleas are doing better for now. The literature says maybe one more outbreak, but if I treat for that, then again a month after that it should take care of things. I hope so, my poor Banichi has bald spots from scratching.

For Tatting Tea Tuesday, I had water, and I tatted exactly 1 chain. Count it 1 chain tatted. 8 ds, picot, 8 ds. That was it. Then last night one whole ring. 3 ds, picot 3 ds join to picot on chain from previous round, 3 ds, picot, 3 ds, close. Will the fun never end? More importantly, at that rate will the doily ever get finished?

TTT and fleas :-(

2010-09-28T15:30:00.001-05:00

Today is tatting tea Tuesday. No tea for me tonight didn't have any during the day either. No beer for tatting beer Tuesday, I think it will be tatting milk or tatting water Tuesday in my neck of the woods. I hope to get some tatting done. I discovered last night that my cats have fleas. Major bummer. I'll be stopping by the vets and picking up remedies on my way home from work. Hopefully I'll have a little bit of tatting to tell you about tomorrow, but if not it will be because I have to comfort traumatized kitties.

poor furbabies.

Timber!

2010-09-17T15:31:00.003-05:00

Only a little tatting today and no pictures of that to show. I had a doctors appointment yesterday, just a routine med review and a documenting of various aches and pains. I did get some exercises to do that may help with the tension headaches I get occasionally, very occasionally, once every few years type. It’s probably the same type of exercise everyone else gets to do for that type of headache. Things to stretch out the muscles in the neck and shoulders. I never though to try those as I never seem tense there, I just get this weird random muscle over my skull that starts spasming. Bad news is she said the tatting may actually be causing some of the tension. I will choose not to believe her and assume that some other life matter is causing the damage. After all, tatting and other hobbies are to relax us! After the appointment I took vacation. The last of the big trees in my yard came down the night before (Wed. night) That was an adventure in itself. My neighbor who has been helping me made all the cuts. The tree was set to go down in an angle to the south east. I saw the cuts, I know a teeny tiny bit about physics, that tree should have gone down to the south east. Nice neighbor started making more cuts and again I checked, tree should go down to south east, but it started sliding off to the southwest. Neighbor didn’t believe me, after all, those cuts should have sent it the other direction. He kept cutting and sure enough tree went down south, south west. He got out of the way in time, and the tree missed the 2 trees I wanted to keep and the house. The very top tips brushed the electrical wires coming down. Gravity and strange angles of the tree that appeared to be going pretty much straight up conspired against us. Thank goodness no one was hurt. No electricians needed, and no houses or fences damaged. Here are some pictures of the downed tree. Sorry if pictures are grainy, they were taken by my trusty phone.

It is now fire wood, or in sacks and barrels ready to go to the city compost. Neighbor and I are down to cutting the stumps as close to the ground as possible, then using stump killer, or salt water to try to prevent recurring growth. I need to get around to the parts of the yard I could never get to before and pick up all the trash that is there. That trash has been there for longer than the six years I’ve lived there. It is rather appalling the amount of trash that was allowed to hide in that yard. Off the top of my head I can tell you there are car parts, parts of campaign signs, clothes, rags, odd chunks of cement, broken glass, tin and aluminum cans, Styrofoam, and plastic containers. I may have to take a couple of pictures of just the trash as it comes out of the yard, but that may not get posted, it may actually be rather revolting.

Don’t know how much I’ll get to/feel like tatting this weekend either. A friend is remodeling her bathroom and I’ve promised to help. She needs to get most of the tiling done on the floor and I think counter tops before plumber comes to install the new toilet and whatever other plumbing needs to get done. the electrician has already been there. This weekend while I help her I am hoping to learn how to tile, I also plan to fetch and carry things for her so she can concentrate on getting the work done, and maybe make some food for lunch. In fact I’m planning on making her onigiri for lunch. In case you don’t know, onigiri is a traditional Japanese dish, riceballs. You make up sushi rice, and frequently hide a little surprise inside. I like teriyaki salmon or umiboshi for the insides. Umiboshi is pickled plums. You can also just season the rice and not have fillings. It is the sort of food that we cannot get in restaurants here in the great plains states. Anyway the remodeling friend loves onigiri, but never takes the time to make it for herself. And shouldn’t one have a food they really love when they are working hard?

More Motif’s finally!

2010-09-15T15:34:00.005-05:00

I was trying to post at least once a week. How many times have I said I would do that? Life just gets in the way. I flat out decided I needed to make time to post today, and I even have photos to show. I still don’t have my latest tatting photographed, I’ll have to take care of that soon. But this is pretty picture heavy anyway.

Motif # 14 Remembrance Ring by Marilee Rocklee. This is being modeled by my almost niece. Since I don’t have kids, some of my friends' kids have let me become a surrogate aunt to them. The ring looks much better on her hands than on mine. It is done in size 20 Lizbeth Falling leaves and the pattern can be found here. The picture doesn’t do the ring any justice it was taken from my cell phone as I didn’t have the camera with me. Our model is now off to school, and we all miss her and are looking forward to seeing her again at Christmas.
Motif # 15 Bookmark (right) by Nancy Tracy This was done in size 20 Lizbeth Mediterranean, and the pattern can be found here.
Motif # 16 Foldover Bookmark (left) by Jon Yosuf done in size 20 Lizbeth Carousel, and the pattern can be found here.
Motif # 17 Ruffled Snow flake by Vida Sunderland. It was done in size 20 Lizbeth Seascape. The first is from the side so you can actually see the ruffles.

Here are some of my motifs waiting to get blocked and turned into Christmas ornaments.
And here is another batch of tatted motifs waiting their turn on the blocking board.
Also, since I made a post earlier about my UFOs & WISPs, I’ve decided to show that I can finish off some projects. This was finished in about 1990. It is from a magazine whose name I no longer remember, but the pattern is circled wagons. It is hand pieced, hand appliqued, and hand quilted.
I did get a touch more done on the powder room bow I mentioned and had pictures of in an earlier post. I haven’t worked much on it since, but here is part of the next section to be stitched.
I did however dig out an even older project. I wasn’t slated to finish this up till next year in my list of crafts. I started this angel by Rebecca Waldrop on 9-11-2001. The other cross stitch I had going at the time is a dragon attacking a castle. I just couldn’t bring myself to work on it and started Tapestry Angel instead. She is now with about 3 other angels by Rebecca Waldrop waiting to be gently washed and then turned into pillows. I almost always have at least one of the Waldrop angels in progress, but I do finish my projects VERY slowly. I’ll have to get the current 2 out and get pictures of where I’m at and also photo’s of the patterns so you can see where I‘m going with them.And here is a shot of my tatting/crafting space. That collection of creamy fabric on top of the couch's corner is a slipcover that I need to put back on the couch.
Here is a box of some of my threads,
and here is my cat Banichi checking out the threads. Actually he is checking out the plastic bags that they came in. He and I have a long running argument over whether or not cats need plastic in their diet. I say no, he says yes. Maybe if some of you weigh in on the subject and let us know what you think we will be able to settle this. I won’t hold my breath though. I don’t think either of us will change our minds.

Another quick check in

2010-08-20T15:34:00.001-05:00

Tried working in yard without neighbor. Forgot gloves. Hands and arms ripped to shreds on weeds, it aint pretty. Don't know if I can get any crafting done till this heals up. Hands are also stained, I've tried soap, a soft facial pore brush and rubbing alcohol to get them clean. I think they are clean even though they look filthy, and the fingers are really rough from the small cuts and abrassions. I'm afraid I will stain fabrics/threads or snag them with these poor hard working hands of mine. I have my gloves right under my clippers for working in yard tonight. I'll see if someone can get a picture of them to remind me to never ever ever forget gloves to garden in ever again.

oh, and somehow through all the damage to the skin, I didn't break any nails. Whatever.

Another post - no pictures

2010-08-18T15:58:00.003-05:00

No I have not fallen out of the blogosphere. I just hate staying after work to make my posts. Somehow it feels like being made to stay after school.

I have tatted some since the last post, I've also done x-stitching. I've even started a x-stitch sampler, despite what I said about not feeling like they are true samplers in a previous post. True sampler or not some of them are just so appealling!

Also, my house and yard are both fixer uppers. I guess some of my neighbors have gotten tired of how much fixing up needs to be done, and one of them has taken pity on me. Last week he trimmed up trees, cut down a bush and cleaned out the gutters. Don't worry, he did have permission to be doing this on my property. Well all except the gutters. He was supposed to wait till I was there to spot him on the ladder on uneven ground. Let me tell you, he is one tough gentleman. I tried to keep up with him for just an hour and a half after work on 2 days, and it came close to heat stroke. He on the other hand was just fine.

I hope to get pictures of all my WIPs soon, and then I will stay after school/er work and get pictures posted.

Motifs 11, 12, and 13 plus cat

2010-07-29T15:36:00.004-05:00

I apologize here and now for the following pictures. I took them with my phone as my camera is currently staying at Mom's house. I got a fair bit of tatting done. But no pressing or blocking. The first motif doesn't really have a name, but it is one I had in the past tried repeatedly to tat. Never could get it. Then I read up on how to do rings on chains, something I had never heard of the first 10 or so attempts to tat this motif and I learned more of the principle behind the shoelace trick, and voila! My first attempt in my second tatting life turned out a completed motif! The pattern can be found here. It is by Lisa Trumble of This 'n' Tat. (Sorry for my fingers in the pictures) Here is Motif 11.
This next motif is number 12 and it is Trefoil Snowflake from Vida Sunderman's Tatted Snowflakes. It was tatted in size 20 Carousel by Lizbeth instead of the called for size 10 white. I'm kind of liking my multi-colored snow-flakes.
Motif 13 is also from Ms. Sunderman's book Tatted Snowflakes. It is the Glitter Snowflake tatted in size 5 instead of size 30. It is plenty small in size 5 thread.
And just because I found it on the phone, here is an 'awww' picture of Leo taken around Christmas time. Talk about one relaxed kitty. He is sleeping on my double wedding ring quilt that is taking me forever to quilt. I really need to quit finding new crafty things to try out and finish up all my WISPs and UFOs. Oh well, some year.

Crafting happened, but where are the pictures?

2010-07-24T10:25:00.004-05:00

Hi all,
I was so excited, Mom switched from dial-up internet to broadband, so I could just go to her house, visit and do my blog entries there. I am in the dark ages and don't even have dial up at my house. I've been doing my blogging from work, but off work hours. Well, I may be back to that. Mom's computer seems to be lacking in USB ports, so uploading pictures is a problem. I'm going to mess with my USB sticks, and her USB ports and maybe get both of us an external USB docking thingie so we can use all the peripherals easier. You can tell I am really up to date with all the computer lingo and such. Oh well, as long as my tolerant salesperson at the computer place can understand what I am asking for.

So anyway I haven't done much in the way of stitching or tatting, and I have pictures that I cannot upload of what little I have accomplished. The reason being, I got the rest of the DVDs for my favorite anime series. I had been putting off purchasing them as DVDs are expensive and I didn't want to spend the money. BUT, therightstuff.com had a great sale on all 8 that I didn't have yet, so I ordered them. Well once they came in I had to watch them. Plus I watch TV, and Movies almost exclusively in the language they are created in, and I am pretty mono-lingual so no hand work just reading subtitles. Anyway it was an after work and weekend marathon for the last 2 weeks. The anime in question is Saiyuki -- all three series plus the one movie that I can find commercially available in the United States. That is 101 episodes at about 23 minutes each, plus the movie, don't remember running time on it. The first 50 episodes I have seen often enough that I can stitch through them, and I even remember enough Japanese that I sometimes argue with the translations. The last 51 episodes I still have to just watch. Now if I can just get a hold of the other movie and the 2 OVAs I can loose more stitching time.

I did get another ornament tatted, and some cross stitching done on a couple of pieces. I have pictures taken, but alas will not be uploading on this post. I hope to get the pictures up soon.

My first Tatting Tea Tuesday

2010-07-14T12:29:00.002-05:00

Just dropping by to report on my first official Tatting Tea Tuesday. I'm on lunch so this will be a quick post.

I did get some tatting done last night, but don't have a picture to show yet. I worked on an ornament from Vida Sunderman's book, and am just over half-way done. I was at a friends hanging with the cats while said friend is hanging with her family on vacation. I tatted while there, then when I got home I was too hot to do any crafting, so after doing dishes and fixing dinner and today's lunch I just sat like a slug. I hope to finish off the ornament/snowflake tonight while hanging with the cats again. We'll see. Now, it is back to work.

Good Bye Que, and some x-stitching

2010-07-13T15:35:00.007-05:00

Sorry I missed out on posting last week. It has been hectic for people around me. An old room-mate got a septic infection in her arm. She is now home from the hospital and recovering nicely. There were car problems, and there were emergency runs to the grocery store for those without a car. Then most unfortunately there was a sudden hospitalization and then death, complete with visitation and funeral. A beautiful gracious lady, and mother/mother-in-law to some of my longest time friends died. She was a truly wonderful lady who made everyone she met feel welcome. Her last words to her son were "God is love" as she was wheeled into surgery. I did get to the hospital in time to say goodbye, but she was unconscious. I have to believe that she heard all our I love you's and we'll miss you's. She never met a stranger and had that rare and wonderful gift of making everyone feel special. I love you Que, and I'll miss you.

Now, enough of my reasons for not posting and on to stitching:
Not much has been happening in the way of
tatting lately. I have been crafting though. I only have pictures of cross stitch. To the right are some Christmas ornaments that I finally put in their little frames and finished off. I believe they had been waiting around for finishing for 2 years. Sorry they are so washed out. I think the camera flash must be reflecting off of the little plastic protectors. I have 2 more ornaments that are waiting to get finished off, I think they will be too big for these ornaments so I will have to think of something else, and lost in my land of UFOs and WISPs are 9 ladies dancing and a partridge in a pear tree.

Next up is the fingertip towel that I listed in my goals as wanting to finish. I cannot find the colors of thread that I was using to finish all the back stitching. I will be using this myself, it isn't a gift or to sell, so I declared it done and crossed it off my list. So here are 2 items that can be crossed off that long list of goals for this year.

While I was looking for items that were on my 2010 goal list I came across a 'door bow'. It is a long piece of aida cloth with edges all finished. You just cross stitch 4 designs on different parts of it, then make that long swatch into a bow. The cross stitches are all done on the first motif/decoration. You are supposed to save all the back stitching for last, after all 4 designs are cross stitched. I may not wait that long as I can easily get bogged down and not finish a project that has just back stitching to do. Witness the fingertip towel above!

Here is where I started up again. It is the second
motif/design on the bow. I have (since this pic was taken) finished all the cross stitching on to this section and started on the 3rd design area. I do need to get more photos to show the progress.

Then in addition to my huge list of projects, I almost have another MarBek Angel kitted out to start, and I started a x-stitch that is a sampler style. I must admit that since I do regular embroidery in addition to cross stitch, I find it a bit hard to call the cross stitch pieces actual samplers. Some of them do have a variety of stitches though, so those do count.

Now as it is tatting tea Tuesday, I am off. I will tat tonight. I have had tea here at work and will not have anymore today as the caffeine would keep me awake. But there has been tea, there will be tatting, and I will try to get more pictures to show soon. And all my friends and relatives have been put on notice that they have to stay happy and healthy! And remember Que's words "God is love"

Pictures finally!

2010-07-01T15:46:00.009-05:00

Sorry for such blurry pictures, but blurry or not
I've been promising pictures of what has been
tatted and so here they are.

This first picture is the circle in a square motif
designed by Rozella F. Linden the pattern is in her book "Easy Tatting". I tatted it in size 10 ecru cebelia. It is motif #7 in the 25 motif challenge.

Here is a re-do of Jon Yusof's foldover bookmark.
I used Lizbeth Vinyard Harvest again for this bookmark. I tend to tat while watching television and so in addition to plain old needing practice to get things even, I need less TV time and more attention as I tat to keep things even. This is motif # 8.

I didn't have any patterns with me at the time so I just started re-tatting this book mark cross from Rebecca Jones' book "Complete book of tatting" This is done in cebelia size 80. I don't know the name of the colorway. This makes Motif #9. Oh, and the book, It was given to my by my Aunt on my 7th birthday. It was embossed with her name and I don't know for what occasion she received it. The book is just a few years older than I am. I thought the little cross bookmark was too small to use as a bookmark, then I remembered it would be perfect for this prayer book!

And last is motif #10. The
Entertainment Doily by Celtess whose website I cannot find to link you to the pattern. It is done in size 20 Lizbeth Jellybean. Not only did I tat most of this in front of the TV, I was watching shows with subtitles so even less attention than normal was paid to the tatting as I tried to read fast enough to keep up with the shows. The very inner ring was done without distractions and you can certainly tell the difference between that ring and the 3 outer ones. Oh well, I doubt I will quit crafting in front of the television anytime soon. And since I don't plan to sell these they don't have to be perfect. It is hobby time.

Now to go on a bit more from the previous post on goals. I said I was going to list ten things to finish off this year, and then proceeded to list 16. Well, I was going to just commit to 10, but as I looked I upped it to 17. Right now I am working on the Yo-yo coverlet and will continue to Tat. I hope to get at least one motif tatted per week. As for all the items on the list, they may change as mood/whimsy strikes me, but I do intend to finish off either these 16 items, or some like items rummaged from my hidden supply of UFOs and WISPs.

Now I have the weekend off, I will be away from the computer and I wish any browsers a wonderful weekend!

Some Goals

2010-07-01T06:41:00.005-05:00

I have been reading through a co-workers needlework blog. She does beautiful work, but she has the same problem I have. She loves stash. She and I agreed that we both have SABLE. I don't know if she is still doing it (I started at the beginning and am only into 2006) but for a while anyway she was setting goals to try to finish off WISPs, limit new starts and slow the growth of stash. It seems a wonderful idea. So, I took a look at my UFOs, WISPS, and the fact that I am in a challenge to create 25 tatted items in a year. Then I took a deep breath and forgave myself (I may need to drink a bottle of nice wine to help forgive myself, but don't have any in the house.)

My confession. Counting the 15 tatted items left to do, I have over 100 started projects. Next problem, I have no children to leave these treasures too. If I did they probably wouldn't want them anyway. What's a girl to do? Maybe go buy that bottle of wine? nope, that probably won't solve the problem. Well then, let's set some goals. Finish the 25 motif's for tatting (15 left, I'll get the next 4 posted after work) then, I will try to finish off at least 10 more projects by December 31. So I made a list of things I would like to have finished. Since there are only 6 months left out of this year, many of the things I choose are almost finished, some are completely stitched and just need some sort of finishing. So hear, in no particular order is my goal list of crafts I want to finish by the end of 2010.

1. 25 motif challenge (15 left)
2. Noro yarn sweater. (just need to hem sleeves and body of sweater) WISP
3. Yo-yo coverlet. (I have enough yo-yos to make a lap size coverlet) UFO
4. Sampler (just need to finish the border and stitch my initials and date) WISP
5. Fingertip towel (just need to back stitch the cross stitching) UFO
6. Coat sweater (most of this still needs to get knitted, but the yarn is in my living room easy to get to and it is super bulky yarn so should knit up fast)
7. Cape Cod needlepoint. (A small 4x4 or so picture that just needs the finishing details added, then finishing off) UFO
8. Chrysanthemum pillow (needlepoint pillow that just needs to be assembled-I have everything but the stuffing) UFO
9. Seashell Pillow - all stitched UFO
10. Country Cottage (cross stitch picture that just needs framing) UFO
11. Christmas Angel (cross stitch that I will turn into a pillow) UFO
12. Star Angel (cross stitch that I will turn into a pillow) UFO
13. Praying Angels (cross stitch that I will turn into a pillow) UFO
Numbers 9, 11-12 need fabric backing and stuffing but are all stitched awaiting finishing
14. Hummel cross stitch. Frame or turn into pillow? If it becomes a pillow I'll finish it with the others, if it needs framing I need to save up and pay cash for the framing. UFO
15. Finish off cross stitch Christmas ornaments. WISP
16. Tuck in loose ends, starch and create hangers for tatting that will become Christmas ornaments.
17. Sachets. (all crocheted, just need to stitch up bags for scents, find scents and add finishing.) UFO

The list looks VERY ambitious to me, but I think some of the finishing can be done in batches and that will go quickly.

Anyone else make lists or goals?

excuses excuses

2010-06-28T06:55:00.002-05:00

Just stopping in for a bit to apologize for lack of pictures and lack of posts. I think I have one project completed and ready to scan/photograph and another two that are almost there. Allergens are pretty bad in this part of the country right now, and when you combine that while watching anime in Japanese with the subtitles since I've forgotten what little Japanese I knew not much tatting has happened. And it seems I have had to cut out almost as much as I have tatted. Plus my delightful orange tabby helper has been around to taste and tangle the threads. I will try to get some pictures to post soon though. Not sure if it will happen tonight as I need to run errands and mow the rest of the lawn, and housework. All these things I should be doing but it just cuts in too much to the tatting time. Well, it is time for work, everyone have a wonderful day.

Motifs 5&6

2010-06-15T15:35:00.004-05:00

This is Quantisque Snowflake
It was done in size 20 Lizbeth Thread, but I forgot what the color is called. The first 2 rounds were quite fun to tat, and then they are interwoven so you get a 'celtic' effect. The third ring is tatted onto ring 2. I had troubles starting with that 3rd round, but after a bit I seemed to figure it out and most of round 3 went easily as well. (No, I'm afraid it isn't Jelly Bean #119, I'm using that now for another project. I went to look it up online and it is Carousel, but Jelly Bean is very similar.)

Below is 'Elegant Snowflake' from Vida Sunderman's book, Tatted Snowflakes. I used a size 20 Lizbeth thread for this motif as well, the same that I used for the foldover book mark which was motif 4. I still haven't looked up the name of this color. (Vineyard Harvest -- thanks to Paige Marie for the info)

Now I am almost caught up to posting my tatting, I have one more motif that I need to photograph. I am having trouble getting photos that are not blurry. I suppose practice there will even things out, just like practice with tatting will help to even it out. On and speaking of evening things out, I'm using the base of the crochet hook that I use to join picots as my picot gauge as well. I didn't think I would like them this large, but it turns out I am really liking the larger picots.

(Thanks for the help with colors people!)
(all in parenthesis are added edits)

Some questions

2010-06-15T12:56:00.003-05:00

I'm on my lunch and don't have time to post my pictures, will try after work. But I do have some questions. I've been away from the tatting world for a while and just coming back. I am seeing a bunch of references to Tatting Tea Tuesday(?) or something similar. What is this. I love to tat, and I love tea it seems like tatting and drinking tea on Tuesdays would be a delightful pass-time.

Next up, I was playing with the changes we can make to our blogs. I'm liking what I have chosen, but for those few who follow, what do you think? I'm worried about it being hard to see the print and it being hard to read.

Next, last night I started 'Entertainment Doily' by Celtess. I am not finding her blog or website, can anyone point me to it?

And now lunch is over and I am back to work.

Thanks!

No pictures yet

2010-06-11T06:36:00.003-05:00

I have been tatting, I just don't have anything finished to show. Ends still need to be tucked in, and some need pressing to hold their shape. I also have a full weekend so I don't know if much tatting will happen, but I do hope to tuck in those ends and have some pictures. Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Motif 4

2010-06-01T10:59:00.006-05:00

I finally got something tatted that I thought was worthy to give to my mother. It was late for Mother's Day, but I didn't have anything that I felt was good enough for her. At least 2 other people have made this bookmark for their 25 motif challenge and after the first one I saw tatted up I knew why. It is beautiful, well theirs are beautiful. It was designed by Jon Yusoff and her pattern page is here. This is the foldover bookmark. I actually had kind of a hard time tatting
this. I had to redo the bottom part twice. The rings are all close to the same size, but I need to work on pulling up the chains so they are all even, and the picots, well I really need to make up some picot gauges to get them close to even.

I finished tucking in ends on the Sunday before Memorial day and gave it too her that day. It was photographed with the book she was reading.

I then spent the rest of the day with her, watching old war movies on Turner Classic Movies, and tatting on another pattern by Jon Yusoff. I did get all the tatting done, but now it needs to have its ends tucked in and it needs to be blocked.

Yesterday all my tatting attempts ended up in the scrap bin, but there are just days like that. I don't know if I'm the only one who has them, but even if I am I refuse to be upset and depressed about it! Hopefully soon I'll have another motif ready to show!

Cats and some Tatting

2010-05-27T11:16:00.005-05:00

First my other 2 cats. The grey kitty is Motoko, named for the cyborg anti-terrorist Major Motoko Kusinagi from the anime series and movies Ghost in the Shell. Here my little (or rather tubby) anti terrorist is protecting my knitting from any evil doers, you can barely see the knitting needles in front of her. She is a momma's girl and loves doing girl stuff with momma. Things like knitting, sewing, crochet, using power tools, and watching chick flicks, her favorite being Pride and Prejiduce with Jennifer Elle and Colin Firth.
Next up is Leo who helps me tat. I have no pictures of his idea of helping for fear that images might be too graphic for my fellow crafters. So, no tatting hanging from hims jaws, no threads neatly severed due to his chewing on them/tasting them, just a sleepy look.

And finally, the tatting. It is the field of clover doily from the Bestitched website and I am currently on round 3.
I may take a little break from it for a bit and work on something smaller then go back and finish the 3rd round. I love doilys but really don't have anyplace to put them. Plus with my little (tubby) orange tatting taster I'm not sure they are safe to have out.

No progress.

2010-05-26T11:04:00.003-05:00

Just checking in. No pictures today, but tatting has been happening. I'm working on a doily right now, and of course progress is much slower on those than on motifs. My orange tabby Leo has been helping me to tat. He tastes the threads to make sure they taste good, then tries to chew on the actual tatted part to test them for strength. I'm not sure how to cope with all that help! I usually just hide the tatting from him and love him up. Tatting is slower, but does not get chewed up, and Leo is quite content with getting pettin's.

Cats, presents and motif #3

2010-05-19T11:08:00.005-05:00

Some more birthday presents! a picture that I need to decide where to hang, and a wonderful book with all sorts of cute little critters to crochet! It is going to be hard to decide which creation to work on first.
My cat Banichi with a book.

Banichi checking out a piece of tatting. The blur to the right is Motoko another cat arriving to see what Banichi finds so interesting.

And finally, motif #3 a cross bookmark. I used size 10 cebelia thread. I got the pattern from The Complete book of tatting by Rebecca Jones. She says that all patterns in her book are her own, or are traditional patterns. I'm really not sure which this is. It does still need to be ironed and starched.

Gifts and a little bit of tatting

2010-05-13T11:24:00.006-05:00

I tatted this snail before I rejoined the challenge, so I am not counting it as one of my motifs. It is done in Cebelia lavender thread size 20. The pattern is by Nancy Tracy and can be found at Bestitched. It is shuttle tatted, and when I finished with it, I realized that yes I can shuttle tat. I was quite thrilled as I don't believe I have ever successfully shuttle tatted anything before this. The tension isn't awful either.

Below are the books I got for my birthday last month. A very dear friend gave me the Soup Bible and The complete book of Tatting. This book by Rebecca Jones is the book I wish I had when I started learning how to tat.

And here are the books my Mom got me. She told me how much I had to spend, and I went to Amazon. Ms. Cherryh is one of my all time favorite authors, and this book, Deceiver is Book 11 in one of my favorite series. I usually dislike long running series, but this one is pure gold. I don't think I will ever tire of reading about these characters. And my black cat is named after one of the main characters of the series. Banichi, that would be the tallest illustrated character on the cover. I pre-ordered the Cherryh book, then the 3 tatting books were marked as cheaper together, decided I could wait for slower shipping to make that free, and Mom and I have been congratulating ourselves over what a good shopper she is ever since.

It's time for me to get off to work, hopefully by next week I'll have another motif or more to show for the challenge.

Motif 1&2

2010-05-12T11:21:00.003-05:00

I'm back from vacation and I got a little bit of tatting done. Motif one for the 25 motif challenge is a tree topper design from the book "Tatting for Today" and was designed by Marion T. Leyds. For years I had been afraid to attempt this design, it looked so complicated to me that I was sure I couldn't do it. This past month or more I've been reading up on the theory and evolution behind tatting and things clicked into place. Suddenly the pattern no longer looked complicated. It was just rings, chains, and rings on chains. The whole rings on chains thing was something I hadn't understood before. I took these pictures with my phone, so I'm afraid the quality is abysmal. My camera with better pictures is at home where I do not have internet so these barely focused pictures will have to do.
Motif 2 is really an edging for and handkerchief. They need to be attached to each other, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. It is a very simple ring and chain edging and is about 38 inches long.

I used a very simple edging in the hopes that I could do it with minimal mistakes. While there are not a whole lot of boo-boos, there is one ring that has 4 extra double stitches and one extra picot. I made sure not to get that part of the edging in the picture.

So, now I am back at work, tatting will be happening more slowly, but I am off to a decent start on getting 25 motifs/edgings/doilies/whatever done in the next 12 months.

Another go at 25 Motif Challenge

2010-04-30T10:59:00.003-05:00

I am going to give this yet another go. My blogging has been non-existent, but I have been haphazardly crafting along. One thing about this meandering through crafts is I picked up tatting again. I had another chat with my mentor. I got a wonderful book from a friend on my birthday, “The complete book of tatting: everything you wanted to know but couldn’t find out about shuttle lace. By Rebecca Jones. Here is the link:

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Tatting-Everything-Couldnt/dp/0916896390/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272637080&sr=8-2

It was published in 1992, the first edition may be even earlier, but she does cover the basics. Between that chat with my mentor, and reading through the book everything seemed to fall into place. I actually have some shuttle tatting that isn’t embarrassing. So, I plan to go to the 25 motif challenge and sign up again. I plan to shuttle tat this time instead of needle tat. And this time I think I can get it done.

The challenge asks that we state our theme for the 25 motifs we plan. I had originally thought I would do 25 snowflakes from Vida Sunderman’s “Tatted Snowflakes” but to tell the truth I’m not sure I can stick to a specific theme. So, the best I can do at this point is to say that I will work diligently on tatting 25 items within the next year, and post pictures of them on my blog.

Band Sampler Bands 1-5

2009-04-12T09:08:00.009-05:00

Here is the start of my band sampler. I started it on Marcy 26 2009. The band is cut 10 inches wide and I'm using a 1.5 inch seam allowance so the stitching width is 7 inches. The fabric is Monaco by Charles Craft in glass blue.

My first band is Algerian Eye stitch. I used 2 strands of DMC cotton floss for this stitch. I learned several things working on this stitch.

1. This is a pulled thread stitch, there is supposed to be a hole in the center.
2. Pull the thread to the front of the fabric at the outside of the stich and to the back of the stitch in the center.
3. Pull Stitch tightly.
4. Work stitches around the circle in order and you gett a better hole at the center.
5. When moving from one eye to the next tuck threads under previous stitches on the back so they do not show through and obscure the holes created by the stitch pulling.

I finished off the first section by embroidering the date started and my initials in stem stitch.

The next band is coral stitch. I marked the spacing with a ruler, I think I will stick to counting threads instead of relying on a ruler. The next band is a running stitch, and then Herring Bone Stitch.

Here I worked several rows of Herringbone.

I am already have a few more bands done, but no pictures ready to post yet, so now I am off to stitch and I hope to post some more bands fairly soon.

Stitch Dictionary Search

2009-04-05T09:52:00.003-05:00

I have been making progress on stitching, but I don't have pictures with me to upload today. A little more progress had been made on the coaster set, and with any luck I should almost finish the sixth coaster on my first coaster set later today.

I have been spending most of my stitching time working on the band sampler. I have several stitches added so far. I've checked out a couple of books from the public library and finding all sorts of new stitches. I suspect at some point I will be looking for a new stitch dictionary. My current dictionary has about 230 stitches which will certainly keep my busy for a while, but the library books are showing all sorts of stitches not in my book. This is part of why I am checking books on the subject out of the library. Kind of a drive before you buy kind of deal, which is the best, how can I get the most bang for my buck?

Once more into the breach

2009-03-27T16:14:00.003-05:00

Golly, hope I spelled the title right. It isn't coming up on spell checker, not that that means anything.

I just have to make a post and nod to Sharon B at Pin Tangle. She is working on a band sampler that has me all excited. Actually she has been working on it for years and it shows. It is magnificent. Under the theory that Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I have started a very humble band sampler. It is using stash on hand, and I have quite a bit. I don't currently have any pictures, but I hope to remedy that within the next week.

Anyway, go check out Sharon's blog if you haven't and sit down with a nice cuppa and prepare to be inspired!

Coaster sets progress

2009-03-27T16:08:00.005-05:00

Let's give this one more try.

Here are the three coaster sets I've been working on. Each set has 6 coasters and a holder for the set. I have basically been doing one house style and getting all three done. I have 5 houses for 2 sets and 4 houses for the third. Only 4 coasters left to needlepoint. I only have one holder made, but it goes together almost as fast as the coasters. If I hadn't been spending so much time playing computer games, I'd be done with the sets.

I'm going to quit here and hope that this posts.

Computer or blogger?

2009-03-27T16:06:00.002-05:00

I have been trying to post here and blogger is not accepting anything. I have no idea what is going on with it. So I will try to get to a friends house this weekend to update my progress on the coaster set and to tell you about a new project I am starting that is using up some stash.

WISP challenge -- plastic canvas

2009-02-26T12:22:00.024-06:00

Last time I posted I mentioned a challenge to finish off projects that I have lying around my house. Boy do I need that challenge. I have what is commonly called SABLE, or Stash Acquired Beyond Life Expectancy. I live in a 1½ story house, and my craft room is in the upstairs ½ story. It was easy to dump stuff up there and forget about it. A couple of weekends ago I decided to tackle the Craft Room –cue ominous music! Part of the momentum came from having access to a digital camera so that I could document the progress. Now, I have most of my craft room cleaned up and organized. It was a three day project but I am so excited! I have found almost all my crafts, and almost all their instructions. The craft room is now usable, and the wanted items can be found. I have just a few more projects to round up from the main part of the house. What was kinda scary about the whole thing was just how much I had forgotten. I definitely can shop for crafting materials in my attic for some time now.

For a while I was so excited about knowing where things were that I was flitting from project to project and not getting much accomplished. I believe I have settled on a project for now and hope to get some serious work done. I am currently working on plastic canvas needlepoint. I have a set of 4 placemats, and 3 coaster sets that I started over 15 years ago. They have mostly been sitting in plastic boxes patiently waiting for me to get back to them.

I've been fighting with Blogger to post the pictures in the order I want, and it just isn't working, so on top is the progress made, on the bottom is where I restarted.

If you really want to see a listing of all my crafts, I have an account on Listology. Go to listology.com my user name there is zaijovan. If you are really bored you can take a look at the books I’ve read and the movies I’ve watched too. These are only lists, no pictures.

On no crafts and a lot of reading

2009-02-06T11:52:00.005-06:00

Egads, it has been over a year since I posted. I cannot promise that I will post more regularly but I will try.

Last year I was looking at a challenge to finish off projects in progress. I finally have access to a digital camera, I've started taking pictures of the projects in progress, and now I need to delve into my craft room. There I will organize the projects, clean, and get pics of the projects. These projects cross crafting disciplines. I have embroidery, crewel embroidery, counted cross stitch, knitting, crochet, quilting, clothing, tatting and I have no idea what else. Plus I just learned a new technique called locker hooking. Just what I needed, to learn a new technique. Ah well, I plan to spend the weekend, and possibly longer, getting things organized and photographed. I expect there will be several blog posts just covering the different projects.

To slow things down on the crafting front I have been on a reading jag. 20+ books for January '09. I'm slowing down on the reading and crafting is picking up again. I'm trying checking out audio books from the library so I can listen to my books while I craft. Maybe this way I can get some literature in me while I craft.

Take it Further Challenge

2008-01-02T10:17:00.001-06:00

Sharon B. has posted January's challenge and colour challenge. I'm thrilled.

"The key concept for January is a feeling we have all had, the feeling of admiration for another. Ask yourself who do you look up to and admire? Why? What is it you admire about them? This is a the first Take it Further challenge in 2008. Take the idea, develop it into a resolved design during that month and apply it to fiber or paper." straight from Sharon's blog, she says it so well, why should I paraphrase and loose the meanings?

This corresponds with a project I have been thinking about working on anyway. Out of the many people I know and admire I will choose Verna McKinnon. The reason I am choosing her is she has a dream to be a writer. She has worked and struggled and has become published. Short stories in e-zines, and a novel that was released in hardback last November. The novel is "Gate of Souls: book one of A Familiar's Tale". I have wanted to do a crazy quilt wall hanging with some of the characters in this book featured in embroidery on the blocks. I doubt I can finish a wall hanging in one month, but getting the designs to be embroidered drawn out will be my first part of the challenge. With working 2 jobs, a book club, needing to put health and therefore exercise first, getting one block made would probably be do-able.

Happy Holidays

2007-12-21T08:00:00.001-06:00

I will have limited internet access until January 2, 2008. I hope every one stays safe and warm. Enjoy whatever holiday you celebrate, and even if Christmas isn't one of them, go ahead and have a great day on the 25th.

For Christmas, I will be at my parents house. I'm taking my 3 cats over to help celebrate. Mom and Dad lost their cat just before Thanksgiving, and they both have said they need a cat fix. We will exchange gifts, have a family traditional breakfast and dinner. Sports and home improvement channels will be watched. Christmas music will be listened too and naps taken. Books might get read, crafts will be worked and family and friends in other places will be remembered.

I hope you all have as restful a time, and whatever your family traditions, enjoy them.
Peace and Love to all

On not tatting

2007-12-13T08:51:00.000-06:00

I have been burying myself in things other than crafting. Meaningless things like playing video games, meaningful things like reading books, and day to day things like avoiding doing the dishes, or doing the dishes. I am working on another motif for the challenge. I am about 1/2 way finished. I might have gotten further, but I chose the wrong movie to throw into the DVD player. The motif is one I have tried several times to tat. It should be easy, 1 shuttle + ball of thread, with only chains and rings. I did very well while watching the Anne Bolynn sequence of the old 1972 version of Six Wives of Henry VIII. Then I made the mistake of switching to Fellowship of the Ring. I haven't seen FotR as often as the Six Wives series and once again I was completely caught up in the visual feast. The tatting went back in it's bag and I curled up under a quilt, the cats curled up on me and I once again journeyed into middle earth.

Vacation Week and Challenge news

2007-11-27T08:48:00.000-06:00

Okay, Sharon B. who has the In a Minute Ago blog has announced her challenge for next year. It is the Take in Further Challenge. Please feel go check out the post to get more details. She also welcomed people to talk about their de-stashing, so my hopes of working on projects and de-stashing should fit in with her challenges.

I got little done during my vacation. I worked on a Sampler that was started 20 plus years ago, and started a Crazy Quilt square. I also started another needle tatting motif. Much of the time I had planned to work on organizing my crafting and/or crafting was spent and my Mom's house. She had borrowed a copy of "The Barchester Chronicles" from her friend and my former boss. It is a 7 episode series, each episode about 50 minutes long. We watched it in it's entirety 2 days in a row. I probably could have watched in again, but that didn't happen. So instead of tatting, or doing anything else, I sat curled up on a couch, wrapped in a quilt, watching Alan Rickman ooze slimy charm. The show is a delightful little soap opera of politics and intrigue in a small 19th century town. I highly recommend it.

UFOs

2007-11-16T08:01:00.000-06:00

For the subject of this post, UFOs are UnFinished Objects, maybe someday I'll write about the other kind, but not today. Sharon B from In A Minute Ago suggested a possible challenge for next year. {This year she has run the Take a Stitch Tuesday challenge. I only found out about it in September and that was too late, at least in my mind to join in.} Anyway for next year she suggested a de-stashing project, of finishing up UFOs, WIPs(works in progress) and WISPs(works in slow progress). I don't know if that is what the final challenge will be or not. However I decided to make it mine whether or not she runs an official challenge. I started writing down my UFOs on break. I'm not sure I want to admit to how many I have. I am trying to get them organized however, and I'm dividing my supples into; what is in progress and I definitely want to finish, supplies for projects that haven't been started but I want to do, supples for projects that haven't been started and I want to divert to other projects, then just the odds and ends that I had to have because they are pretty, and the odds and ends that are leftover.

I will definitely finish off the 25 motif challenge, and perhaps start it over again as it is just plain fun, motifs don't take a whole lot of time to complete, and they use up stash - which puts it squarely in the realm of the de-stashing part of the new challenge.

I also plan to start CQing. More UFOs? Yes I'm sure there will be, but at the same time it will give me a place to use my motifs, both crocheted and tatted. It will certainly destash fabric and embroidery floss, and bits and bobs that have accumulated.

I will be on vacation next week and plan to get my UFOs and Stash somewhat organized. At least enough to make a list, and a game plan. Also I have no internet at home so I will probably be out of the loop for a whole 9 days.

To all of you who happen to stop by, have a lovely Thanksgiving. I hope you get to share it with family or friends or both. And if you live someplace where you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, have a lovely week and I hope you get to share it with people you love.

Blog Roll

2007-11-13T07:59:00.000-06:00

Okay, my blogroll is probably a weird thing to blog, but what the heck. At this point, these are all the blogs that I subscribe too. I use the Bloglines service for this. I check bloglines every morning, and they have done a search and let me know which blogs have been updated, and they provide the postings, either partial or in full -- your choice. Then I can go to the individual sites and browse around, read or leave comments, and see what blogs other people have linked too. It is a wonderful service. If you are forgetful like me, or just plain busy it is a wonderful tool.

The crafting sites: Embroidery, Tatting, and Crazy Quilting these sites are loaded with patterns and or inspiration.

Other Blogs: Well, just that, other blogs.

The Criss Library is where I work, information that is a must have for any of us in the Criss Library who work a public service desk. If you don't work there, you probably don't care.
The Pump Handle, because I am woefully uninformed about the goings on in the world. This is one way I can at least get the headlines on a topic I care about, my fellow human beings.
Horror Movie a Day. Hard to explain, not the blog, but why I read it. The blogger watches a horror movie every day, then talks about it, like he is talking to a friend. It isn't a review it is more of a conversation. I don't even watch many horror movies, but I love this blog. Warning-He uses rough language.
My other blog, is where I blog on non-craft things, probably where this entry should go but oh well, the lines between the two are so blurred now anyway that there is probably no hope.
Any other blogs there at this point are friends, virtual or real-world that have blogs. Not that those who write the crafting blogs are not friends and potential friends, they just have a more focused blog.

Pictures Finally

2007-11-12T08:38:00.001-06:00

I finally have some scans of my tatting. So here in all its glory, I present to you: twisted picots, wildly uneven tension, thread so soft it needs to be blocked and stiffened, and ends needing to be tucked in. Oh, and lots of stray cat hairs too. They will be happy to know that their contribution made it into this post.
Motif 5
This first piece is from the Tat-along project. This is Base motif number 2. This is the motif with the twisted picots, and well even more obvious is the uneven tension. I just need to take some time to tuck in the ends. Then I will stiffen it and use it for a Christmas ornament on the back of the tree to fill in space and not waste the thread and time.

Needle tatted.

Motif 6
This Albino Bat is from Mark Myers site. Again with uneven tension and loose ends. I'll probably attach him to something. I will say it looked much better after I ironed it, now it is at least recognizable as a bat.

Needle tatted.

Motif 7
One X from the Cecelia Doily. This is one of my old threads from when I was going to crochet a whole bunch of bookmarks. The Thread is nice and soft and even after ironing it will not hold its shape. I plan on making as many Xs as I can from this ball of thread and making a doily. Probably a rather small doily.

Needle tatted.

Motif 8
I cannot find the website for this motif at the moment. I'll have to look it up at home and see if I can at least find the name of the designer. Again the thread is very soft, and this motif will end up being attached to something else so it can hold it's shape. The designer is Lisa C. Trumble, and it can be found at this website.

Needle tatted.

Motif 9.
Another motif from the tat-along project. This is motif is my variation on the first motif. More of that soft soft thread. Again this motif will probably just get stitched onto something else so that it can hold its shape.

Needle tatted.

Motif 10.
these are so small I'm counting the 2 of them as one motif. This is thread from a friends step-mother-in-law, or that woman's mother. We aren't sure exactly. They are just doodles that I needle tatted, and each motif used up what was left on a spool of thread. I didn't use a pattern for these, but I do know that a clover and a daisy are far from original. I just made up the counts as I went along and used up the thread. These will also become part of something else, some day.

So, now I am caught up on posting my tatting and moving along on my tatting adventure. I hope to be able to credit the creator/designer of the triangle pattern very soon. However if anyone knows off the top of his/her head, please let me know so that proper credit can be given. Found it, Lisa C. Trumble, her website is listed above.

Cross Posted on Zaijovan's This n That

2007-11-09T08:49:00.000-06:00

Gate of Souls: a Familiar's Tale

This has nothing to do with fiber arts, but it's my friends book, I think it's great and I want her to do well, so if you like the fantasy genre, please consider this book!

I received my copy of Gate of Souls last night. I am quite excited and cannot wait to read it. Probably will sit down Saturday morning with a pot of tea and some scones and really enjoy it. I was a beta reader for this book when my friend Verna was writing it. It was great then, I loved it and was thrilled when she thought she had it published. That promise fell through, and in retrospect it was a very good thing it did. Since I first read the book, my friends Rick and Verna have moved so I haven't seen the changes in this book. Verna published several short stories in e-zines and in this way was 'noticed' by a book publisher. A Familiar's Tale was dusted off and has been through some serious editing. The title of the original, A Familiar's Tale, has become the series title. The story is told through the eyes of the sorcerer's familiars. The first time through Mellypip was the main character along with his sorceress Runa. I expect this hasn't changed any. As sweet and endearing as these two characters are Belwyn the owl -- and Mellypip's tutor -- was a favorite of mine, and everyone in the writers group. To a person, in our imaginations Belwyn had the voice of Edward Woodward. No one tried to give actors or voices to the other characters, but try giving this book a read and see if any voice other than Woodward's comes through for Belwyn.

I hear the 2nd book in the series is almost done. I wonder how much chocolate I'll have to mail out to Verna in order to see a rough draft of this book ahead of time?

Cats and Quilts

2007-11-02T08:09:00.000-05:00

Cats are attracted to quilts. I've never met a cat who wasn't. I don't know the reason, but I'm sure there should be a universal law about it. Once upon a time I was embroidering white flour sack dishcloths. I was told that the embroidery was too pretty and ornate to be dishcloths, I should make it a quilt. Then as I dutifully did as I was told and started making a quilt I was told that it should be a queen-sized quilt, because then it would work as a bed spread for my double bed. Seeking approval I embroidered enough squares for a queen-sized quilt. 24 squares, plus borders. Only 4 squares are quilted. I dug it out of it's box too have a look, that's more quilting than I thought I had done. I'm rather wishing now I had not been so easily led, and such an approval seeker, but it will make a pretty quilt if I ever get it done.

So anyway, I spread it out on my living room floor to have a good look at it. My living room is almost empty because I'm working slowly on finishing that room. Finishing off the ceiling, painting and wall papering, so the furniture is all in my dining room. Lots of room on the living room floor. I sit down on the love seat (that is in the dining room, blocking any use of my dining table) to have a good look at it. The cats find the quilt. One promptly sits on it to have a bath, the other two circle around it for a bit. Suddenly the quilt becomes a mat or a ring, and the cat version of WWW occurs in my living room on that quilt. All the kitty wrestling must happen on the quilt. If a cat leaves the quilt for any reason the wrestling stops. It was quite entertaining, and I watched for some time thinking I was justified in not having cable.

And as I look over this blog and think about all the craft work I have, all those UFOs, and all the possibilities for more UFOs I'm thinking maybe the blog name should change from Catherine's Tatting Attempts to Catherine's Crafting Attempts. I'll think about it, I'll only change it if the addy can stay the same.

Halloween

2007-11-01T08:54:00.002-05:00

Another Halloween has come and gone. I did not dress up this year, and neither did my cat. Banichi sometimes dresses up as a spider and helps me hand out candy. He is usually as big a hit as the candy. I just didn't want to deal with that this year. I had somewhere between 50 and 75 trick or treaters come by, before I decided to call it quits. I got chilled, the neighbors were starting to close up and turn out lights so I did too. I didn't think I was ever going to warm up.

While handing out candy I worked on my embroidery sampler. I actually got a fair amount done. There were many nice complements on the colors and several little girls commented that they liked to embroider. I was saddened though when one girl asked if I was knitting. Here was this nice curious little girl who had never been exposed to needle crafts. A fair amount of my history is tied up in craft work -- not to mention a huge amount of space in my house. My mother taught me to embroider. My grandmother gave me my first knitting needles and yarn. My mother made me clothes, taught me to make clothes, she sewed and knitted Barbie doll clothes for me, I learned to needlepoint by watching her; she and I learned to quilt together, she on quilt tops made by her grandmother, and me using up scraps from cloth mom and I had made clothes out of. Then there is the hours of fun and enjoyment of learning new crafts with friends, and the new friends I have made simply by knowing some needlework and getting involved with groups in person or online who also practice needlework. I do hope that, that little girl who didn't know the difference between knitting and embroidery has some other memories with her parents, some other hobbies that will be as pleasing and rewarding to her as needlework has been and continues to be for me.

Update on my Aunt

2007-10-25T07:32:00.000-05:00

My Aunt who was diagnosed with breast cancer had her surgery on Monday. They did lumpectomies and removed at least one lymph node. Nothing was found in the initial check of the lymph node, and we are awaiting all the test results. She and my uncle were exhausted, but glad that part of the ordeal was over with. It was a one day procedure and she got to go home that night. While I know she was glad to be home, it seems to me that this revolving door medicine is going too far. There have been some horror stories in the news about women sent home after surgeries for breast cancer where they or their families were unable to perform the follow-up care that was needed.

No Piccies yet

2007-10-22T08:02:00.000-05:00

Hi, I didn't get any scans made, but I got some Tatting done! I am rather excited about that, plus I have a general invite for tea and homemade cookies if I offer tatting lessons to my co-workers at my part time job. Over the weekend they were looking at my work and talking about the dying art. I assured them it wasn't dying. Then i got to thinking that that is the wrong response. I will now ask people if they would like to help keep it from dying, and thus try to recruit new tatters. Then once they are committed (yeah right) I can spring on them the plethora of web sights and blogs, all the wonderful vibrant and living people out there with their innovations and new creations that are breathing life into this far from dead art form.

But back to the piccies part. I finished the tat-along motif, it was number 2, and did a very amateur job of it, uneven tension twisted picots and who knows what else. I'll still starch it and turn in into a Christmas Tree ornament, I'll just put it at the back of the tree. I also made Mark's aka Tatman's Bat, and the little x from the Cecelia doily. Hopefully pictures tomorrow.

Cross Post with Zaijovan's This n That

2007-10-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

Naming confusion?

I realized that I have a naming confusion going on here in my blogs. So I'm taking a moment to sort it out. My blog name is listed as Kelly, my tatting blog says it is Catherine's tatting attempts, the online Tarot community knows me as Catherine, at one job they call me Kelly at the other they call me Catherine, and no I don't have 2 personalities. At least I don't think so. My mom and my aunt both loved the name Kelly for girls. Whoever had the first girl got to name her Kelly. I was the first girl and so that is what my family calls me. My legal birth certificate name is Catherine Marie, after my grandmothers. I use the names almost interchangeably, and you all can too. But please use Catherine and not Cathy. Oh, and dear Peter in Oz, you and you alone are allowed to call me Cate. ;-) The only other person to do so was my Master Sergeant when I was in Junior ROTC in high school.

Odd Facts Meme

2007-10-19T13:34:00.000-05:00

I've been tagged by Melissa to share 7 facts about myself!

Here are the rules which you must abide by if you are tagged.
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.

EEK, I've been tagged.

7 odd facts uh?

My car has radio buttons programmed for Classical, Country, and Rap stations.
I'm addicted to Anime, but will only watch in the original Japanese.
I am a tea snob - I almost exclusively drink imported British or Asian teas.
My house and yard are both fixer uppers, one friend says she's waiting to see me interviewed on the evening news because bodies were found buried in the back yard. Luckily so far I've only found rusted out car parts.
I love high heels. I'm about 5'8" tall, and love to wear heels. I don't very often since I gained so much weight it is too hard on my feet, but otherwise bring on those 3 and 4 inch heels. In fact in a church play, in my 4 inch heels I made a run for the stage, leapt onto the stage and got into a scuffle with another actor, it was lots of fun, and I never lost balance.
I prefer to drive stick shifts. Once while driving my mom's car - an automatic - I got stuck at a stop sign because I couldn't find the clutch or stick shift. Please no blonde or women driver jokes, plus it was in a very rural area so I wasn't holding up traffic.
My lolcat personality is the sad cookie cat. See my general blog under tests if you are curious.

I tag:
Golly, don't know a lot of people out there in the cyber fiber arts community yet. Most of my face to face friends don't have blogs. If you want me to tag you I will, or I may go see if any of my other cyber communities have members with blogs.

Asking Permission

2007-10-19T08:16:00.001-05:00

Hi all,
I have started adding more to my blog. Specifically links to other blogs. I don't know all the netiquette on this, like is it proper to ask permission to have the links. To be on the safe side, I am asking for permission, after the fact, but I can remove links if the owners wish. I have been blessed to have a few of you come back on a regular basis, and so I am asking here for permission to link to your blogs. I will try to go to each individual to ask, but some of you I cannot leave comments for. Clyde P. yours is one I cannot leave a comment on, so if you read this and want me to remove your link from my page I will respect your wishes. If I do not hear from you I will assume it is okay to keep the link. Now, I am off to leave comments/permission requests on the blogs I have posted.

False Starts and Finishes and Cats

2007-10-17T08:14:00.000-05:00

Well, I was quite disjointed last night and feel like not a lot got done on anything. I did a bit of laundry, some dishes, heated up leftovers, tried to start practicing a few embroidery stitches, tried to finish a video game, and then tried to tat. I'm not sure if I'm going to rip out that last bit of tatting or not. My uneven tension came back, big time. I was just too tired to be doing anything right. When I get home from work I'll look at it with fresh eyes and see if it is as bad or worse than I currently think it is. At least the really bad part is where I stopped so there won't be a whole lot of lost time if I rip it out. Also, one of the joys of needle tatting over shuttle tatting, is that it is a lot easier to rip out mistakes, well if you catch them soon enough anyway. I still hate to loose the time spent, but at least the motif is not a waste like it is when I have a big goof in shuttle tatting.
Anyway, just because here are some pictures of my furbabies. This is Banichi at about 6 months old. He's 3 1/2 now. He has that wonderfully regal granting an audience look to him here.

This is Motoko and Leo when they were about 4 months old. This is from the weekend I adopted them a little over a year ago. Leo is the orange kitty, and Motoko is the Gray one. Isn't that a sweet expression on her face.

And these are my favorite pictures of Leo and Motoko. This was last Holloween. They had to stay inside while Banichi and I were on the porch handing out candy. As you can see, they were not pleased with that arrangement. I need to get new pictures of all three of them.

They are also great craft helpers, they make sure that the threads taste good, and that there are lots of knots and tangles to keep me busy.

Meandering around tatting

2007-10-15T07:57:00.000-05:00

My tatting mentor had a flare up of something. We had thought she had Raynauds Syndrome, but that isn't the case. She is sensitive to cold, and stress, and overwork, and it causes her a great deal of trouble with her hands and feet. So I did a little bit of tatting, and we talked. I left her with tatting needles and my how to needle tat book. Working with a shuttle is causing too much tension in her hands, so we are hoping that needle tatting won't be as hard on her muscles. Of course her goal is to get back to shuttle tatting, but she seems excited to be able to do any kind of tatting at this point.

I started a doily this weekend. The first round is to the left. It is from the BeStitched website. It appears to have come out in a series starting with a 10 pointed snowflake, then growing round by round in Nancy Tracy's monthly patterns until it reached the doily that can be found at the above website. I'm using DMC size 80. I had been trying to use some size 80 from Great Aunt Joyce's stash, but the thread kept breaking. I read on Sherry's blog that she was having the same problem, and the wonderful tatting community recommended that she try newer threads as thread can get brittle with age. Wow, the difference newer thread makes. It slides more smoothly and no breaking! I think my tension is getting a bit more consistent, and the picots a little more even. I do need to make myself some picot gauges though. Right now I must admit I'm just having too much fun to stop and make the gauges.

I have also started on a tat-along project. I'm using size 10 Cebelia for it and am actually trying to make some pattern changes. I wanted something easy to work on for a 30 minute break at my retail job and figured the larger thread would fit the bill. I hope to have both another round of the doily to show off, and the finished tat-along project as a motif later this week, but we'll have to see how all the housework and other obligations play out. I guess just one or the other would show progress.

Motif 3, and Thank You

2007-10-12T07:07:00.000-05:00

Thank you to the thoughtful people who stopped in to the comment section to offer prayers and encouragement for my aunt and my family. It is very much appreciated. Unfortunately my Aunt lives in Seattle and I live in Omaha, so we don't see each other as much as we all would like. Despite that we keep in touch and the families are really very close in friendship, spirit, and love.

Anyway on to tatting. I got two of the awareness ribbons blocked and stiffened yesterday. After work I go to the craft store to look for small magnets and pin backs so that I can finish them off. The pattern is copyrighted by Lenore English and was very fun and easy to make.

These are the two ribbons that are going to my mom and aunt. I don't know the specifics on the thread because it was inherited from my great aunt, their aunt. Aunt Joyce was a British War Bride, and unfortunately I never got to meet her. After her death I did meet my Great Uncle Clyde, who is, well, a great uncle. His children and grandchildren didn't want much of Aunt Joyce's crafting supplies so he gave them to me. I believe the size of thread is a 10. The color is actually a dark rose color and is not variegated. I need some practice with that scanner. The small motif in the middle is also from Aunt Joyce's stash and it is done with six strands of embroidery floss. Once again I don't know the maker or color of the floss. However here is the pattern, and it is copyrighted to JoAnn Stearns.

All pieces are needle tatted as despite all the flaws, I am still better with the needle than with a shuttle. I'm counting the ribbons as motif 3. I'm not sure if the Dove counts as a motif or not, it is so tiny and doesn't doe the original pattern justice at all (not that my ribbons do either).

As I read back over the rules I noticed that we were asked to state a theme for our motifs. People have been very creative and some of you are doing all animals, or all snowflakes, or designing all of your motifs. If it is okay I would like for my theme to be general improvement in tatting ability. Or how about getting up the courage to learn newer and more complicated techniques. Then there is also the ever popular, just keep working at it and practice makes perfect. I'll settle for better and not embarrassing, and believe me the pieces posted are the better and least embarrassing ones. You should see the others. ;-) And tonight, I get to go tat with my tatting mentor! I'm hoping to learn some new shuttle techniques, and she is going to learn needle tatting. Very Basic needle tatting.

Maybe Today

2007-10-11T08:52:00.000-05:00

No tatting last night. Got the book finished for book club though. It was "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan". I really enjoyed the book, but I hate forced reads. I must start reading next months book at least a week ahead of time instead of only 2 days.

We are having strange and bad smells where I work. They are renovating the library I work in, and well, there are just too many books to move out so that we can work elsewhere while noises and smells and bumps and shudderings go on. They put down concrete sealer yesterday. I think that was what it was anyway. It smells really bad though. I took vacation and left early yesterday and plan to do so again today. I'm working my public desk hour right now and the rest of my work is behind the scenes so I won't be missed if I'm out for a few days.

Anyway, I plan to put the vacation time to good use and Tat! Well, I'll tuck in the ends of the awareness ribbons and try to get them blocked and the stiffening stuff on them. I'll need to go find some small pins for the back, or magnets. I think they need to be refrigerator magnets because they are so big. My mom says it is okay for a pin.

Progress with a price tag

2007-10-10T09:03:00.000-05:00

I finally got some tatting in, this is good progress for me. The reason though is unhappy. My aunt, a breast cancer survivor, was diagnosed with cancer in her other breast. She sees either the oncologist or the surgeon today (or is the oncologist the surgeon too?). She is jumping right on the problem, and the spots they found are small, but it is of course still upsetting. So I have been tatting awareness ribbons. The first one actually came out okay, not great, but okay. I'm going to keep it because the tension changed from start to finish. I've made 2 more and the tension is much better on them. These I will give to my mother and my aunt. I have to tuck the ends in and then block and stiffen them up, but that won't happen till this weekend at the earliest. Tonight I must finish my book club book, and tomorrow night is book club.

Anyway I have tons of pink thread in several sizes, so all of my family members may be getting a ribbon, as well as friends whom I've asked to pray for my aunt.

Hopefully Monday I will have a picture/scan to share, I'll look up the web page with the pattern and then I can add my 3rd motif to the challenge.

Still nothing new

2007-09-27T08:03:00.000-05:00

I am really enthusiastic about learning to tat right now. Perhaps this enthusiasm is partly how little time I am having. I got called into my second job on Tuesday, attempts to tat between jobs resulted in failure. Wednesday I donated platelets at the Red Cross and was hoping to tat afterwards. After all you are supposed to avoid heavy lifting or anything strenuous for several hours afterwards, but it left me too wiped out to tat, so only more tatting failures. Tonight is errand night, then dinner with my folks, and tomorrow night I get to see Thoroughly Modern Millie at the playhouse. I love that musical. I'll have to try to find a stupidly simple edging that I can practice on, and make myself work slowly and precisely. It may not get me another motif done, but it would be practice, and if I do it right, I'm hoping to edge some pillow cases. If it doesn't go well, I may put away the shuttles and dig out the tatting needles in order to accomplish a simple piece - though for me that also has a high failure rate right now. Oh, the joys of learning something new. The good thing is I do have a project in mind that will make use of all my failures and left-over ends.

Random thoughts

2007-09-25T07:52:00.000-05:00

I stopped by the craft store last night to get 2 new shuttles. I'm going to try plastic as I'm still clumsy with the shuttles and the metal shuttles tend to fray my threads. I have been getting better, but still not as good as I would like. I also went looking for definition of terms and instructions. There are several patterns I want to try, but they contain techniques that I am not familiar with -- not too surprising since I am such a beginner. I was all gung ho to tat when I got my errands finished, but my allergies would not permit anything but sleep. Maybe tonight.

Motifs 1 & 2

2007-09-24T07:26:00.001-05:00

I finally have tatting that is worth posting. Here are my first 2 motifs for the 25 motif challenge.

Motif one is Pretty Tatted Kitty from the Be-stitched website copyrighted by Nancy Tracy. It was the pattern of the month for January of 2006. Here is their website: bestitched.com
This was needle tatted using size 20 thread.

Motif two was actually tatted first, but the finishing was done after I completed Pretty Tatted Kitty.
This pattern is Rabbit from This 'n' Tat
It was pattern of the month from February of 1999 copywrited by Lisa C. Trumble. It was shuttle tatted using size 20 thread.

Reason for this Blog

2007-08-23T13:45:00.001-05:00

This blog is coming about because I wish to join a 25 motif challenge. The challenge is to create 25 tatted motifs in one year. They like when you can post your pictures to your own blog and I didn't want any tatters to need to bother with my main site if they didn't want, nor did I want the non-tatters to have to go through tatting pictures. I do link back in forth in case any possible readers I may have are that curious.

Anyway, here is the 25 Motif Challenge Blog Spot. Get ready to drool, there are some really talented people posting here. I just hope that my journey and challenge makes my tatting somewhat acceptable.