Gingerbread Christmas House

This was a plain Jane house till I painted it with fairy dust and added red crystals. I glued a purple flower on her tummy and added a "red" hat. This is for my Red Hat exchange. It does light up and  is sitting on a snowflake  called "Angels in the Snow".
I added a few more rounds to make it a small doily.
Miranda Rensberger  (http://tattingfool.blogspot.com) designed it and had a contest to name the snowflake. There were a lot of good names, however, my "Angels in the Snow" came out on top.

End of the CQ and Chili Peppers

The last block is finished and ready to sew on to the other blocks. The backing needs be sewed on and it is finished!!

Chili Pepper Needle books. I live in NM and this is our state logo and on the signs when entering the state... Red or Green!!!

These are my little gifts I send to people. The inside has a pocket on the back for a needle threader and the center is a strip for your needles. The tatting edging Ingeborg is from the book, "Tatting Patterns and Designs" by Gun Blomqvist and Elwy Persson. I tatted with Lizbeth Tatting thread in size 20, #19..Jelly Bean.

Tatted Hexagons

I had all these bobbins filled with left over threads size 20. I had some 40's but did not look good so will stay with only size 20 Lizbeth. It is a simple 6 ring no chains and only needs 1 yard. (Note: to my Christmas Exchange tatter..I could use 1 yard of any color, size 20 for my giftie...hint, hint)  

The pattern was found in an old DMC tatting book. Some hexes I have thread for only one hexagon other hexes I had a few yards like on the purple row. I worked it where I could do a split ring into the next row.  Perhaps someday it might be a tablecloth or bedspread!!! 

It is a good project that can be picked up at any time and take along for TIIP (tat it in public). Another good way to see what Lizbeth threads look like.

DOILY

Part two of Nancy Tracy's Tatted Doily. Pattern can be found at www.be-stitched.com. The side ends are a little tricky. One must look at the diagram and read, reread the pattern. Love the challenge and the oblong instead of the traditional circle.

CQ block for October

More stitching on my strip. A mini doily tatted in bright orange brightens up the block. I love these old buttons and finally found a home for them.

The end of October we took a trip to the Louisiana coast for a few days. Stayed in a Motel 6 studio apartment. They have a kitchenette and makes it nice to eat some of your meals with your dogie children!! They were the best kids. The second night we were on the 3rd floor. Thank goodness in was only one night. Taking them out twice in the evening is a lot of work but we took the elevator. Our big dog is a spook but once she rode on it she enjoyed the ride!! We stayed in Sulphur, LA for 3 nights on the second floor. No elevator but easy stairs. Went to the beach every day (3 days) and they had a blast. Cajun food is too hot for DH but we did bring home fresh shrimp. We had purchased shrimp from these people a few years ago and know it is fresh.

Display at Wells Fargo Bank

 The three buildings are canvas needlepoint and have music boxes added. The church lights up with stain glass windows. What a great way to add the latest TIAS by Sherry Pence along side the train station.

Wonderful TIAS with so many different techniques!!! Many thanks Sherry. On the bonus cars I added gold thread with the green on the chain stitches. Love those onions rings and great tut by Jane Eborall.  Below is a close up of the train.

 I have all these snowflakes and wondered how to display them differently than on a tree. I added fish line and taped them to the metal around the light. The wall hanging is made with felt and embellished with critters. The center angel was made 30 years ago for our first Christmas. The angel on the end is a folksy pattern filled with pellets to make her movable.