Pictures finally!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!