With Needle and Thread I will travel far !

Valentine Greetings

2012-02-13T16:01:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a wonderful Valentine's Day!!

Sewhappy.me has posted the instructions the last 3 weeks for this beautiful wall hanging. I only did the two parts and there is a third.

The hearts have tatted edgings and a few tatted hearts attached to the wall hanging. One heart has silk ribbon flowers with beads and the other is done with satin stitch and silk ribbon leaves.

Crazy Quilt Show

2012-02-01T16:32:00.000-08:00

Crazy Quilts Are Quilts Too

Show!

CQ Journal Project Block one

2012-01-31T16:16:00.000-08:00

The CQ Journal Project is a challenge for crazy quilter's to expand their creativity and improve their individual technical skills. The idea is to complete a block a month and in December one is to put it all together. My goal is to make a lap quilt with 10 inch squares. TAST is to Take A Stitch on Tuesday with Pin Tangles. Every Tuesday a Crazy Quilt Stitch will be given. Please click on the left side bar to see both of these sites and all the wonderful stitching that is being done by Crazy Quilters.
Block one is completed.

The cretan stitch is the last TAST stitch on this block. The upper left is traditional cretan with sequins and a in the bead center. The bottom are lazy daisys with a bead.

On the lower left is a bigger cretan stitch filled in with Fargo Roses and a few silk ribbon bees.

Valentine BOM

2012-01-29T15:22:00.000-08:00

Valentine Sal has been completed for this week. I might tat some small hearts for the centers or perhaps edging around the hearts.

CQ Block 1 Feather and Blanket Stitch

2012-01-24T08:22:00.000-08:00

On the left is a feather stitch with green, straight stitches and beads. The butterflies are silk ribbon with pistol stitches for the antenna and 12 bullion wraps for the body.

To the right is a vine with the fly stitch and beads. Silk ribbon bees hum over the vine.

Here is another simple version of the feather stitch with silk ribbon flowers and beads.

On the far right the seam is blanket stitch with lazy daisy and a bead in the center. The purple block has foxgloves and hollyhocks made with the blanket stitch. A silk ribbon snail is in the left corner with lots of silk ribbon lady bugs. The butterfly at the top is also silk ribbon with beads. I have also added fly stitch at the bottom for the grass.

Note: Some CQ books will have either Blanket Stitch or also Buttonhole stitch. Judith Baker Montano calls it a Buttonhole stitch and Joan Waldman has it as blanket (buttonhole) stitch

Teapot Embroidery and Tatted Hearts

2012-01-13T10:33:00.000-08:00

The teapot embroidery is a block of the month from DMC. The top tatted hearts are patterns from Patti Duff. On the bottom the pink heart is a pattern from Mark Myers and the red/purple from Victats. All the hearts are tatted with Lizbeth size 40. Hens and Chicks make a nice doily for the teapot and it was tatted with DMC size 10. Karey Solomon needed blocks to make a lap quilt for a fellow tatter Kathy who had a stroke. The teapot block is my donation.

January CQ Challenge

2012-01-07T07:40:00.000-08:00

The first week in the TAST Challenge is the Fly Stitch and looks like a Y.

The tan material has a long vine made with Y stitches, on the sides the Y stitches are decorated with beads. The white material has a Y stitch along with an outline, lazy daisy and ermine stitches. On the tips there are 3 small y stitches.

Naked Block

New Year

2011-12-31T09:06:00.000-08:00

May Happiness, Health and all your projects go with you through the New 2012 Year!!

Crazy Quilt Challenge

2011-12-29T09:25:00.000-08:00

Beginning on January The Crazy Quilt Journal Project will begin. For more information you can click on the sidebar button. Every month we are to complete a block and at the end of the year it will be put together. To help with our seam treatment, Sharon B's at Pintangle will have instructions on "Take a stitch on Tuesday". Her button "Tast" is on the side bar. I have decided to embroider flowers that was a block of the month from Sentimental Stitches. Still need to finish 6 more blocks. The blocks will be sashed with the lady bug material. Yesterday I purchased leaf material and bird material. My goal is to have the leaf material over hang on the top, with possible leaves cut out and the birds appliqued on.
My first Block....

Flag Block

2011-12-27T07:52:00.000-08:00

The International Crazy Quilting Group are putting together flag blocks from countries around the world. I have chosen the United States and there are over 22 more flag blocks. It will be put together as one big quilt and sent to our CQ Sister, Hideko. Hideko will enter them in Japan Quilt Shows and will be sold. The funds will help the victims of the Sendai Earthquake. I have lots of crazy quilt stitches, silk ribbon and a tatted eagle. Pattern from Nancy Tracy.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-18T14:31:00.000-08:00

Needle Book

2011-11-08T11:11:00.000-08:00

Needle book is completed for my Christmas Exchange. Ms Green loves sheep and her initials are tatted in Lizbeth green thread!!

The inside are wool squares.

Every one needs extra pairs of embroidery scissors.

The last page I made a pocket to add sewing notions. This one is stuffed with hand dyed silk ribbon. Can you believe I found "sheep" fabric and it was not made in China but Japan!! Also found a table topper pattern with sheep applique! (15 x 38). Pattern is easy and adorable. It can be found at www.briarwoodcottage.net #62 Calendar Pocket - March.

Tatted Christmas Tree and Bookmark

2011-11-04T08:20:00.000-07:00

Tatting Times has arrived this week. Here are 2 of the patterns I tatted and very easy. The Snowflake Tree has a square trunk but is a little wonky when the picture was taken. Christmas Present Bookmark was tatted with variegated Lizbeth Red size 20. I like this one and works up quickly. Karey added beads to the tips however, I decided to make Josephine Knots. Karey also included a hemalyke donut for the present on the end.

Halloween Owl

2011-10-30T07:21:00.000-07:00

Nancy Tracy, http://www.be-stitched.com/, has a new pattern the tatted owl. Fun project and works up quickly.

Hobby Lobby has nice glass balls to decorate with. I added some paints and swirl it around. It takes time because the paint moves slowly. Then tat a crown for the top. The pattern comes from an old Handy Hands Newsletter. Works up quickly and fits very nice.

Double Wedding Ring Quilt

2011-10-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

My niece will be getting married next year at the Round Barn in Waitsfield, VT. I am making her a Double Wedding Ring Quilt using John Flynn's strip piece method. My machine died so need to get it fix, in the mean time I am using my 1978 Bernina. It sews fine but don't want to do heavy sewing. I hope to hand quilt it if there is time and maybe she just might have to wait.

Tatted Earrings

2011-10-11T14:19:00.000-07:00

Kitty, Kitty was a drop off a few months ago. We noticed her living with the chickens. Great mouser, have not seen any mice yet!! She sleeps with the chickens where it is warm at night , during the day she perches on top so she can see where the dogs are. DH has Kitty feeding out of his hands but Kitty has her limits, "please do not pick me up"!!! Loves to be petted.

Helping Hands Newsletter, Fall 2011, has a very easy earrings to tat by Kendra Goodnow. These will make wonderful gifts for the holidays. I added 5 beads instead of the P for the center.

Here is an easy way to add the beads. Add the beads to a needle threader, insert the thread, pull beads off of threader on to the thread, and wa lah...

wind a yard on to a shuttle, do not cut the thread from the ball. (CTM)

Ready to Tat the 5 rings and chains.

Glass Mat and Sun Catcher

2011-08-23T16:05:00.000-07:00

The name of this small doily is Glass Mat adapted by Kendra Goodnow from Semco Book. The pattern can be found in Helping Hands Newsletter Winter 2011. Although it is an easy pattern one must mark where you are as it can become confusing at times. It won a blue ribbon at the County Fair. I used Lizbeth 20 Juicy Watermelon (156) and Azalea Medium (620.

My dear friend Ruby mailed me some 3" brass rings. I could not find them at Hobby Lobby in TX.

Summer Daisy Tatted Sun Catcher by Nancy Tracy, http://www.be-stitched.com/, fits right into the brass rings. The blue is #30 Omega and the unframed is worked up using Tropical Punch (132) size 40.

This is an easy pattern! Thanks Ruby (:

Tatting Motifs

2011-07-30T14:37:00.000-07:00

Maple Leaf pattern by Tammy Rogers. Tatted with Lizbeth 100-Falling leaves in size 20.
Humming bird pattern by Heather Johnson. One of them got into a fight and has a wonky beak!!
Tatted with Lizbeth 137 Berry Burst in size 20.

Snowflake 2 pattern by Roger aka Freedman. It is a very easy pattern worked up in two rounds. The outside are chains with a small ring at the tip. The tread is Lizbeth snow white size 20. The pink heart is by Patti Duff, tatted with Lizbeth 145- Pink Parade size 40. The humming bird is a pattern by Karey Solomon worked up in a SCMR. It is one of my favorite bird pattern to tat up along with the Lizbeth 20 - 156 Watermelon. Jon's dragonfly also works up very quickly and nice to add in lots of projects.

These are for gifts and exchanges.

Sun Catcher

2011-07-20T06:32:00.000-07:00

Here is a sun catcher tatted up with Lizbeth 156 Watermelon. The pattern is by Nancy Tracy and very easy to work up. I added a few glass beads in the center but did not read the pattern and there is an odd number of picots. So the last two picots have no beads and decided to put them at the top to balance it out. A designer touch! Nancy used a 3 inch ring and I used a 4 inch ring. In order for the tatting to be attached I tatted another row of chains with about 8 picots per chain section and that worked out. The tatting was attached with invisible thread and a bell at the bottom. It is very pretty in a window.

Tatting Exchange

2011-07-19T08:15:00.000-07:00

Rose Anne Burdeny from Winnipeg, Canada tatted the bell and Christmas wreath. Rose Anne was my tatting exchange person in the Needles and Shuttles Yahoo Tatting Group. The bell is the perfect size as I like small motifs and the wreath is just stunning with all the beads. Very nice tatting and THANK YOU Rose Anne!!!!!

Here is the card Rose Anne sent along with the tatting. When I opened the envelope I said ...WOW!!! The Crazy Quilting group has a new round robin and it is all about sewing... Just think of the possibilities one could do with this card!!!

Rattle Snake

2011-07-15T06:51:00.000-07:00

I let the dogs out and we all walked right pass this small diamond back. He must have just eaten because he did not rattle or coil. Our place is all fenced with metal and he must have squeezed in. One can see to the upper left where I opened the gate and stood on the cement to open it. It has been so hot (24 days over 100) and DRY this summer. This is the first rattler we have seen but we do have 5 ft red racer and a bull snake roaming around. They eat mice and suppose to keep the diamond backs out.

Hubby shot the head off and he coiled.

Victorian Symbology -- Hands

2011-07-12T15:59:00.000-07:00

July at CQI, the Victorian Symbology is hands. I printed off a card onto silk and embroidered it with silk ribbon roses, lazy daisy flowers and for get me knots. Her hand has a tatted cuff and beaded bracelet.

The verse says, " May true friends be around you".

Here is what Leslie Ehrich wrote:

clasped hands indicated the hope of rejoining with a spouse. One hand will have a frilly cuff symbolizing the wife.

A single hand plucking at a chain represents god bringing a soul to him

A hand pointing downward indicated mortality/sudden death
A hand pointing upward indicated heavenly reward and ascension to heaven
Hands praying meant devotion
Two hands touching at the thumbs indicated long and prosperous life

Christmas in July Tatting Exchange

2011-07-11T10:17:00.000-07:00

Needles and Shuttle Yahoo Tatting Group has a Christmas in July Tatting Exchange this month. Here is what I mailed to my dear lady in Canada.

Christmas Bell tatted with Lizbeth Snow White #20. The pattern is from Pam Palmer. I altered the pattern to work it in one continuous item by using a split ring. Also added beads on the bottom and one Iridescent for the clapper.

Sewed up a lacy tatting bag. The ribbon can also hang from the wrist while tatting.

Ten yards of Lizbeth Red Burst size 20, small wood shuttle with a little Lizbeth thread, some is tatted up using Hens and Chickens and a Magnet card using the Red Burst and pattern Hens and Chicken. Made a nice little hat for the dogie.

Crinoline Ladies

2011-07-08T07:01:00.000-07:00

Twelve Crinoline Ladies ready for a new home to be embroidered.
The pattern is from Pam Palmer, "Tatting Treats Two".

The ladies have been washed with Purex and Lavender, blocked and sprayed with Mary Ellen's Best Press Lavender spray starch.

This Tatted embroidered lady I added to a round robin block for Ruby.

2011-07-03T11:22:00.000-07:00

Happy

Fourth of

July

Post Card

2011-07-01T19:17:00.000-07:00

CQ and Tatted Post Card

Victorian Symbology Candle

2011-06-30T08:23:00.000-07:00

Victorian Symbology for June is the Candle.

The candles are felt with metallic embroidery thread. Flames and holly leaves are satin stitch. The holly berries are beads wrapped with silk ribbon.

Tatted candles made with #20 Lizbeth threads. The pattern is in the book "Mini Tats" by Patti Duff.
If you can find this book buy it. It is ideal for lots of mini tatting motifs. One of my favorite books!!

I have looked at a lot of old quilts trying to find candles or related to this symbology and did not find any thing. If you have a picture or know where I could find one, please let me know.
My tea cozy is filling up on one side and had to make the other side for the red candles.

Fish Block

2011-06-27T06:27:00.000-07:00

Here is the last of the CQ Round Robin block and it is Pam's Fish Block.

What is a fish block without a frog. Mr Frog was printed on Kona Cotton and sewed to fusible interfacing. Turned right side out and appliqued down with button hole stitch and outline stitch. Beads were added and a silk ribbon Lily on the pad. Another silk ribbon Lily pad was added to the side. The seam treatments include a piece of tatting, lazy daisy stitch with beads and a fancy button hole stitch by the frog's head.

The Dragon Fly is fly stitch using Sulky Metallic Threads and beads for the body. To the left is a small dragon fly made with beads and silk ribbon. Beads were added to the seams and Feather Stitch with beads in the corner.

Here is a picture of the block I stitched on.

The whole block. Katy was the first to stitch and she beaded the entire back of the fish, added leaves and the three beautiful flowers with beads. Stunning...
When completed the block is returned to Pam in WA. Pam's first block with two people had their stitching on it was lost in the mail. How sad to lose a beautiful piece of work.. Katy and I make sure the envelope is fully taped with large address labels.
I loved working with this block, it was fun and easy to do.

New Mexico Landscape

2011-06-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

Thistle flowers in the Desert of Tucumcari, NM

The only plant that will grow without RAIN!

We have 2 1/2 acres and it is always green with grasses and weeds.
This year we have seen NO RAIN since Jan and temps in the 100's for more
than 14 Days. We are in a drought and fires all around.

Hi, my name in Dilly and my job is to eat weeds. What weeds!!

Cell Phone pocket

2011-06-07T16:07:00.000-07:00

A quick and easy cell phone pocket for my sister' Birthday. My sister and hubby visited us a few weeks ago from Cape Cod. She mentioned that most of her slacks did not have pockets and was looking for something to put her phone in. A little tatting, a few CQ stitches, sew another fabric on top and tuck it inside for a lining. Take some necklace string and braid it for the length, sew to side of pocket. I need to make one for myself now....

Memorial Day

2011-05-29T14:54:00.000-07:00

Freedom's Colors
©2002 Roger W Hancock

Red is for Bravery;
blood shed in sacrifice.
Freedom came with lives the price.

White is for Liberty;
freedom's purity.
Life be free from God's decree.

Blue is for Justice;
as vast as the sky.
Over freedom's land to occupy.

Flag Book Mark I designed with rings and chains.

Ruby's CQ Block

2011-05-26T08:39:00.000-07:00

Ruby's CQ block is all about Victorian. I tatted a Crinoline Lady from Pam Palmer's book, "Tatting Treats Two", using size 80, Lizbeth 615, Yellow LT thread. It was tacked down, sequence added and silk ribbon roses made with french knot and stem stitched. Also added was a silk ribbon for her hat. A spray of stem stitched roses fills out the area. To the right is Herringbone filled with more silk ribbon roses. To the left is Feather stitch with beads and the bottom are Lazy Daisy butterflies and Chain stitch.
The black berries and Cretan stitch in upper left corner were stitched by Katy.

Ruby's left side corner block, I made a Victorian Shoe using the Buttonhole stitch to sew it down and filled with Lazy Daisy flowers.
The pattern came from the Carr Crazy Quilt, 1888.
The tatting pattern is Mary Konior's Leaf Braid to cover the curved seam. The thread I used was Lizbeth 40, 124 Spring Garden. Four tiny beads were added to the top of the tatting.

This is the completed block so far. Pam is the last person to work on this block and can't wait to see the finished piece. Will post a picture when it is completed. Nice work by all of us!!!

Victorian Symbology--Friendship

2011-05-23T15:23:00.000-07:00

More stitching on my tea cozy. The month of May is friendship and there are many ways it was applied on crazy quilts. The blue flowers are Periwinkles stitched in lazy daisy with silk ribbon. Instead of circles or wreaths I decided to chain stitch interlocking hearts for friendship and added heart gems. The Gems of friendship are Rhodonite and Turquoise. Roses were used, however, a yellow with a red tip was for the bond of friendship.

Portugal and Maria's Tatting

2011-05-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

Look what my Tatting Angel from Portugal sent. Thank you very much!!! I am always interested in seeing the rest of the world even if it is from pictures.

Legend of the Barcelos Cockerel

According to legend, a pilgrim on his way to Santiago de Compostela was condemned to death by hanging at his pass through Barcelos, having been unjustly accused of stealing some object of value. Shortly before the sentence was carried out, the condemned man commended his soul to Saint James. In answer to his prayers, the roast cockerel the judge in charge of the case was about to eat stood up and started to sing. This is the origin of the famed Barceló’s cockerel, universal symbol of Portugal.

Very Interesting….

Maria lives outside of Cascais.

The best of all is Maria’s tatting!! Isn’t it beautiful…Many Thanks

Judy's RR Block

2011-04-26T08:33:00.000-07:00

Judy's Round Robin block is ready to move on to WA for more stitching. The flower material is very pretty so I just added sequins and beads to the center and some sequin birds. The red seam treatment is fly stitch using red rayon thread.

I thought about many different designs and decided it needed a butterfly. The tatted butterfly is a SCMR (self closing mock ring) from the Shuttle Brothers. I made a giant silk ribbon sunflower filled with french knots. The stem I used a dark rayon green and it did not show up on the dark purple. So I added DMC fluorescent effects green. It brighten it up!! The leaves are the fishbone stitch.

The second seam treatment I used a silver rayon thread and blanket stitch with straight stitches on the side. Rayon gold thread was used for the lazy daisy and a red bead for the center.

Here is Judy's block with Katy's and Linda's stitching. The center Iris was machined embroidered by Judy. Judy plans on making a wall hanging for her daughter's new home.

Easter Greetings

2011-04-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

Fabric Post Cards

Hearts and Hands for Sendai

2011-04-14T06:40:00.000-07:00

My block has been completed for the project, "Hearts and Hands for Sendai. Here are all the blocks submitted so far.. http://www.flickr.com/groups/heartshandsforsendai/pool/
These blocks will be put into wall hangings and when completed it will be mailed to Hideko Ishida, our Japanese CQ Sister in Sendai. These wall hangings will be exhibited in Japan and will raise money by viewing the quilts and auctioned off. ALL proceeds will be given to a charity designated by Hideko. This is a tiny part Hideko's Quilting Sisters can do for Japan.

Mug Rug

2011-04-13T06:38:00.000-07:00

I have a male secret tatted angel and what do you send him???? HUMMMMMMMMM this month I made a mug rug with bits of tatting all over. Mug rugs are the hottest thing on the net. I always have a mug rug/coaster for my cup of tea/coffee.

Baby Quilts and Toys

2011-04-11T18:03:00.000-07:00

The Vintage Quilting Society (4 ladies) made 8 crib size quilts and dressed up the bears and rabbits. We gave them to the Child Protective Services in Tucumcari, New Mexico. They were very grateful to receive them. It must be very frightening for a small child taken out of an abused home especially in the middle of the night. We hope to give them some small comfort.

Nancy's Tatted Medallion

2011-04-06T08:04:00.000-07:00

Nancy Tracy's latest pattern, tatted Medallion. It works up very quickly and one could add this to a small ring for a sun catcher. The larger medallion is tatted with Lizbeth 40 Lollypop (135) and the smaller is tatted with Lizbeth 80 Vineyard Harvest (131).

The pattern is located at http://www.be-stitched.com/

Tatted Fan

2011-04-01T09:24:00.000-07:00

The "Yoke pattern" is from Helping Hands Newsletter, Fall 2008. The 3 medallions will someday be a shawl. Tatting half the pattern it will make a nice fan to embellish or add a bird for a peacock!!

I have rewritten the pattern for a beginner to use. There is no designers name but this person did not want to cut threads and made each medallion (3 different sets of rings) with one shuttle. She tatted the center ring leaving ½ inch of thread to tat an outer large ring. Turning the work a small ring is tatted and connected to the center ring.

For a Beginner it is easier to make the center ring, cut and tie, then add the outer rings. One could use split rings but then you have 2 shuttles to work with and more threads to tie in. She was very clever designing this medallion.

CENTER Ring A: 1 ds, 12p with 2 ds between, 1 ds close cut and tie all threads.

FIRST ROUND LARGE OUTER RING
Ring B:        4ds, 8 p with 2 ds, 4 ds, close leave no thread RW

FIRST ROUND SMALL INNER RING
Ring C:   Medallion ONLY:       2 ds, p 3 ds Join to first P in the Center Ring 3 ds p 2ds cl RW

       *****FAN ONLY:          2 ds, p 3 ds Join to the 4th P in the Center Ring 3 ds p 2ds cl RW

REPEAT REMAINING RINGS (Medallion makes a full circle connecting all the way)

**LARGE OUTER RING Ring B: 4ds, J to last p, 7 p with 2 ds, 4 ds, close leave no thread RW

SMALL INNER RING for Medallion - 2 ds, Join to small ring, 3 ds Join to 2nd P in the Center Ring
                                                              3ds p 2ds cl RW

***** FAN ONLY        2 ds, p 3 ds Join to the next P in the Center Ring 3 ds p 2ds cl RW *

The Fan has 6 large rings and 5 small rings. Tat a bird for the center and you have a Peacock!!

Bird:       R: 10 p 1 p 10 CL RW (picots are clipped for feet)
               R: 5 small p 1 Large p 1 small p 5 CL
              Attach to the fan…

ENJOY!!

2011-03-29T06:22:00.000-07:00

Victorian Symbolism Parasols

2011-03-28T10:16:00.000-07:00

My parasol is made with bits of lace, trim and silk ribbon roses. I have a tutorial at the end.

Leslie, our moderator for the Crazy Quilting Int has written an excellent article on the use of Parasols for the well to do Victorian lady.....
Women in the Victorian era were interested in maintaining their porcelain complexions so they carried parasols
as much to block the sun and shade themselves as they did for a fashion accessory. Pale skin was a sign that a lady was above the petty day-to-day toils of the lower-class working women. Parasols were also used as tools of subtle flirtation and instilled a sense of modesty while adding a mystery and allure.
The parasol was symbol of status. Umbrellas were accessories for poorer women, while wealthy
women carried parasols as a mark of social rank, since parasols were tremendously expensive.
Given their expense, parasols were often a popular gift for noble women by worthy suitors. Hugs......Leslie

Tutorial for making a Parasol

Lightly draw the above pattern on Pellon fusible sheerweight. Any pellon will work and does not need to be fusible, it is just what I had on hand. When using the fusible make sure the bumps are on the bottom and smooth side to apply the lace. The bottom could have more of a scoop if you wanted to.

Apply a wide piece of lace in the center between the 2 lines and sew it down with invisible thread. On the blue lace I added two pieces and sewed it down the center. Add lace on both sides of the center and sew down. Turn over and cut away the pellon. Glue trim on the bottom and sew down. I sew them down to prevent them from moving and the lace is so tiny it gets lost!!

On my Parasol at the top of the page, I cut the outside lace and applied a small braid down the sides.

It is time to apply your Parasol to your project and sew it down with invisible thread. Starting in the center at the bottom sew all the way around till you reach the connecting center at the bottom. Insert braid for your handle and complete the sewing. Using a zig zag couch the braid making a handle.

Now the fun part begins.... Using braids, ribbons, flowers, beads to embellish your Parasol...

Have FUN!!

Crazy Block for Katy

2011-03-26T08:21:00.000-07:00

I am in a round robin with the Crazy Quilting International Group. My round robin group is called the Fab15 or FFT #15 (Fabulous First Timers). One must complete the first timers before they can move on to other round robins. The reason for this is to see if one can follow all the instructions and mail their block out on time!!! I am the first one to work on Katy's block. I decided to do the diamond and made her a silk ribbon bouquet and a humming bird. The silk ribbon is my own hand dyed. The diamond was outlined with beads. The pink fan is outlined with a chain stitch and inside are straight stitches and lazy daisy stitches. For the last seam treatment I added a bit of tatting using Lizbeth 20 Vineyard Harvest and the pattern Hens and Chicks. This is the pattern I usually empty my shuttles with.

Crazy Quilt Blocks

2011-03-25T08:31:00.000-07:00

Here is my "naked" block for the Crazy Quilting International group project, "Hearts and Hands for Sendai". I have embroidered the center block and will be tatting hearts for some of the other blocks. All the blocks will be made into wall hangings and sent to Hideko in Japan. They will be on exhibit and then sold off. The money will be helping many people in Sendai, Japan.

The Crazy Quilting International group will be making a quilt with all the Flags in different countries. I chose the USA and the above is my "naked" block. Below is my designing process and took a couple of weeks for the final block to be completed.

Happy St. Paddies Day

2011-03-16T16:19:00.000-07:00

The lower half of the Shamrock Bookmark pattern is from Anna Burda Magazine and redesigned by Jane Eborall. Jane has made it easier with the split ring. A good pattern to learn Split rings because there is only one in the center! The top half is a pattern from Susan Taliaferro. I omitted the last round and should have tatted it with dark green like the one below. However an emerald gem and green ribbons dresses it up.

For the tassels below I tatted the center shamrock, chain 20, S/R 6, chain 10 and joined, repeat for the other side.

To the side of the shamrock above I cross stitched a clover on soft, linen material. These made nice place mats.

Have a Great Saint Patrick's Day!

Funds for Japan

2011-03-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

The Crazy Quilting International group will be raising funds for Sendai, Japan. Our Japanese CQ Sister, Hideko Ishida, lives in Sendai (visit her blog on the right side). All funds will go directly to Hideko..NO MIDDLEMAN. For a complete description/guidelines for "Hearts and Hands for Sendai", Please visit Cathy's Blog "Crazy by Design", http://cathyscrazybydesign.blogspot/ (Note; if this does not come up please use my side bar under blogs)
Cathy is one of our Moderators and has it all written out where one can contribute money and make a block if you so choose. Funds can be sent by check, money order payable to ICQA or Paypal (using paypal check gift). Email icqa4u@yahoo.com.
These will be awsome blocks when completed and for a good cause.

Mug Rugs

2011-03-13T15:42:00.000-07:00

Lots of Mug Rug swaps in different groups and seams to be the latest "New Thing" on the net! A Mug Rug is a place to put your mug on with a snack. This is my version I am sending to my swap partner

along with a few goodies below. I should have added a few cookies but I did not forget the tea!!

It is a great place to add small tatting and see how that new variegated thread looks....

Chocolate, Silk, Snow and Bday!!

2011-03-09T09:27:00.000-08:00

Look what arrived in time for my Bday!! Chocolate and Silk Material, Oh MY!!! IsDihara had a give a way and I was lucky #43. The chocolate is delicious and the hand dyed thread (Vanilla Sky) by Tatskool is just gorgeous!! She also sent a journal, naturally called.."Dream in Chocolate" .

Many thanks Karen (IsDihara) I will treasure the Journal and thread but the chocolate is

yummy, yummy in the tummy!! (:

The Silk and Talbot's ties were purchased through the International Crazy Quilting group. Leslie Ehrlich did all the hard work of purchasing and dividing them up. Very pleased with the assortment of colors, Thank You Leslie!! The material will fit nicely into the US Flag Project I am working on.

I know you people up North and East do not want to see any more SNOW. However, here in New Mexico it is very precious!! We have been so dry all winter and very happy to see any kind of moisture. All the critters and plants are happy also. I hear the robins singing and the daffies and crocuses are popping up all over.

Gifts from Tatting Friends

2011-03-03T15:42:00.000-08:00

My Red Hat Girlfriend mailed this to me for my Birthday. Barb is an expert Knitter ( Purple center)and a very good needle tatter ( Red Edging). A special gift from a special friend!

My Secret Tatting Angel mailed me this beautiful pincushion with very nice tatting around it and on top. Also included was a heart and some bits of tatting threads. I can think of 6 different projects to try them out.

Surprise Spring is here in New Mexico!

Victorian Symbology - Fans

2011-02-26T08:58:00.000-08:00

Fans were used in the Victorian Days to keep one cool during the dog days of summer. They were also used at parties to attract young men!

It depended where the fan was placed and how far a part told a young man how she felt about him. The machine embroidered fan was a gift.

For my CQ project I have tatted a fan adding lots of beads. This will be a tea cozy and the other side I will make a small fan block.

Here is a 1930's wool, fan quilt. It was made by someone in the family.

Tatted Hearts

2011-02-12T08:15:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day

Heart Bouquet Pattern by Pam Palmer

Hearts by Vicats

Hearts

Kissing Frogs

Tatted Heart Edging

TIAS - It is a Plane!!

2011-02-09T08:21:00.000-08:00

The day has finally arrived!! I have finished my surprised TIAS to see a plane. I have a special place for it on a challenge wall hanging.
Thank you Jane Eborall for another interesting challenge and breaking up the dull, cold, winter doldrums!!
For more pictures of everyone's plane, please go to... http://tatitandsee.blogspot.com/ - TIAS blog
It is interesting to see all the rainbow colors we have for our planes and what a nice bunch of tatters!!

tatting for CQ Funds

2011-02-04T14:31:00.000-08:00

The tatting was done for the International Crazy Quilting Scholarship Funds. The tatting was placed into these decorated, small plastic containers. It was auctioned off for $21.

Cherub Doily and TIAS Day 7

2011-02-01T07:36:00.000-08:00

Cherub Doily by Ann Wilson

Yikes the tatting police are out!! When I saw Jane Eborall's blog yesterday I had to go and read the rest of it like many of you!!! It was about her and not me!!! Let me explain...Some designers do not like their patterns tampered with... It is a very pretty small doily and I needed an extra row to fit on a jar of jam. After a few attempts to making an extra row it finally gelled!! Tatting 2 rings on each end in the chain above worked out very nicely. I like the blending of the Lizbeth's Pink Parade colors. I would like to see more of those colors.

Now Jane, this is getting really weird!

Victorian Symbolism

2011-01-27T08:56:00.000-08:00

The International Crazy Quilting group has started a year long stitching on Victorian Symbolism. Most all Crazy Quilt books will have their own idea of the spider and their web on CQ quilts. Not all crazy quilts have spiders and webs because some people do not like spiders. I think they add to the quilt and I find them fascinating along with their webs. There are people in India, I believe, milk the spiders for their webbing threads and spin the yarn. Now that is going a little too far for me!!

TIAS Days 3 and 4

2011-01-23T08:17:00.000-08:00

Days 3 and 4 on Tat It and See from Jane Eborall...What is it???? Jane is a genius when it comes to connecting threads. She does not like to cut and tie!!! There is a lot to learn when working with Jane's patterns and I love them. It makes the brain work.....I am not sure I have any cells left!!!(:

New Shuttles

2011-01-17T09:11:00.001-08:00

Sue Anna mailed to me 2 beautiful pop-a-bobbin shuttles filled with Wildflower and lime green, Lizbeth #20 Threads. The first shuttle is Cocobolo Rosewood with the lime green thread. The pattern can be found in the Antique Pattern Library and Gina from Threads of a Tatting Goddess, is using the pattern for a challenge in vintage motifs. I decided to play around with it and using split rings one can tat till the thread runs out. How does one become a pro with split rings?? By reading and tatting patterns from the Queen of Split Rings...Jane Eborall!!!! Thank you Gina for sharing this on your blog. http://threadsofatattinggoddess.blogspot.com/
The second shuttle Cedar with Wildflower. The butterfly shows the thread off and pattern can be found in the Handy Hands Cat. The pattern for the bookmark/edging is Spring Flowers by Julie Patterson.
The purple "What is it" is my Day 2 with Jane Eborall's, TIAS.. More on this latter.

Mr Hawk

2011-01-16T15:12:00.000-08:00

Mr Hawk is waiting for breakfast!! We have a gazillion sparrows eating the chicken feed and hang out in the dried asparagus ferns which are about 6 feet tall. When the chickens make a racket you know who is visiting for a meal... DH went out and cut them down yesterday. The sparrows have moved into the cedar trees away from the chickens.

Wedding Quilt

2011-01-12T13:40:00.001-08:00

My niece will be getting married in 2012. She loves any thing hand made. This is the beginning of an appliqued quilt. It is a pattern by Beth Ferrier, the Queen of Hand Applique by Machine. I still have 32 leaves, 12 buds and 12 flowers to turn under and then I can place them on the background and start hand appliquing. I will have to design the outer edge because I want it for a queen bed. Beth will be starting her new BOM soon and it is gorgeous!! Check Beth's blog out under my blogs.

Chinese Coin Bookmark

2011-01-10T19:06:00.000-08:00

Chinese Coin Bookmark designed by Jon Yusoff is an easy pattern for split rings. Jon has 2 versions and it is a visual pattern. I chose the one pass where the left side is made first and then the right side is joined to the left as you go up. I can visualize tatting one side and using it as an edging on crazy quilting. The thread used in this bookmark is Lizbeth #147-- size 20.

VA Post Cards

2011-01-10T07:15:00.000-08:00

Susan from Tenn asked for cards to be given to Veterans in a Tenn Nursing Home for Valentines Day. So I made five cards, put some embroidery stitches on and tatted small hearts. It is a small way to give back and put a smile on their face.

Jane's TIAS Intro

2011-01-07T10:17:00.000-08:00

This is Jane's first Tat It and See (TIAS) for 2011. I looked all over for my shuttle to begin the practice piece. I found a bobbin in the gravel outside my studio. So I took a closer look and that is all there was of my shuttle. It must have fallen on the floor and the red, fur ball, culprit was guilty!! It was a Bday gift last year from my daughter. The shuttles (Pop A Bobbin) are made by Jane's sister & husband. Will need to buy another one. They are a little big but like them because of the good tension.

The Continuous Thread Join Technique was interesting.

For more information on the TIAS and bobbins click on Jane's Blog, Tatting and not a Lot Else, on the side bar.

Thrift Store China

2011-01-02T08:37:00.001-08:00

The peacocks really caught my eye at the thrift store. No cracks or chips but also no tea cup to go with it.): I still liked the design. They are all marked Spode Copelands China England. In a wreath it is Warring & Gillow LTR, Oxfords London. I can see all types embroidery!!

Back of Peacock dish.

These cups I have no idea where they are from.

New Year 2011

2010-12-31T08:47:00.000-08:00

Christmas Cracker

2010-12-26T15:52:00.001-08:00

Many thanks Hideko for the Christmas Cracker goodies. Beautiful silk and other material, lots of gorgeous lace, beads, buttons and textured yarns. Love the girl print. A very nice gift from a special Crazy Quilter!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T06:58:00.000-08:00

Winter Snow on the Mesa in New Mexico. Wishing Happy Holidays to All!

CQ Post Cards

2010-12-18T15:44:00.000-08:00

Birthday cards for special people!

Tatted Angels

2010-12-15T09:37:00.001-08:00

The tatted angel in purple is a free pattern from Martha Ess', Tats Amore.
http://my.att.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=87&subpageid=259211&ck=
It is easy to work up if you know split chains!
I watched Linda Davis's video and it helped. Thank goodness there was only one SC.

The white tatted angel is from mark Myers book, "Tatted Gathering of Angels". I wanted a larger angel so it was tatted with DMC size 10 thread. The head and body are SCMR (self closing mock ring) I added some gold thread for the halo and a red star. This works up very quickly!

These angels are made with felt with tatting added for the halo, edging around skirt and the heart in the center.

2010-12-11T07:49:00.000-08:00

A special card for a special friend

Christmas Cracker

2010-12-05T08:14:00.000-08:00

Christmas Crackers is an English Custom. It is a tube filled with goodies and then wrapped. The Crazy Quilting International group has been doing this for the past few years and this is my first time. Oh what fun it is to find threads, needles, material, candy and on and on till it is packed and overflows with gifts wrapped on the side! The wrapper is a crazy quilt patch and it is up to you to add the stitches. I stitched a lot of stitches with silk ribbon embroidery and added 2 pieces of tatting, however, I do not know the person who designed the heart. I usually make a bunch of hearts and put them in a box to send or add to CQ later.

On the left upper corner, the tatting is 1/2 of the pattern "Angels in the Snow" by Miranda. A charm was attached in the center and reads "DREAM BIG"!!

Miranda's blog-- http://tattingfool.blogspot.com had a contest last year to name the pattern she designed and I won. There were over 40 entries and all had good names. For me it just looked like "Angels" we made in the snow when we were children. My prize from Miranda was a beautiful tatting book by Catherine Austin, "A New Twist on Tatting", thread, the pattern and the best of all was a tatted "Angels in the Snow"! Just gorgeous and will treasure it always. Miranda is very generous in giving. The pattern can be found on her website and she is selling it for $3.00. All the proceeds will go to the Brain Injury Assoc of New Mexico. Please go to her website for more information and lots of "Eye Candy"!! I am waiting for my cracker to arrive.

2010-11-19T06:48:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

This big tom is made out of felt. His frilly tail feathers are tatted with Lizbeth's Falling Leaves size #20. The pattern is from Mary Konior's "Tatting with Visual Patterns". It is Curds and Whey but only used one side of the pattern.

2010-11-08T08:35:00.000-08:00

Here are the snowflakes used in the Christmas Tree Skirt. All of the snowflakes are tatted with #20 Lizbeth white thread.

These 2 are from "Festive Snowflakes & Ornaments" edited by Barbara Foster.

The top one is Snowflake 4 and

the bottom is Snowflake 6.

These 4 are the main ones because they tat up very quickly.

The top left is Randy Houtz Motif 2 in his book, "Tatting the Self-Closing Mock Ring for GR-8 Design". This motif is rings and chains.

The top right is from the Needle tatting group, Roger aka Freedman. Rings and chains with lots of picots. I like this one because it is small and frilly like a snowflake and easy.

The bottom left is a split ring clover snowflake. Also works up quickly if you know the split ring. This design is from Wendy Durell.

Bottom right is a quick and easy with lots of Picots.

The pattern is by Carol Winandy.

The finished tree skirt. I had 5 ladies critique it and was going to add ribbon to separate the red and green. They all said NO! So I just bound the edges with the ribbon. I will tat a few more snowflakes and put over the seams. Right now it has 32 snowflakes. It is on display at the local library.

Houston Quilt Show

2010-11-04T07:10:00.000-07:00

HOUSTON QUILT SHOW

Here are my favorite two but there are so many beautiful quilts. I met one of the judges a month ago and she said they were all stunning and hard to judge. Being at the show would be just awesome and pictures to not show all the detail.

In the Hoffman Challenge, Ann Faustino of NJ won first place in "Butterfly Dance".

The second one I really liked is "Sunset and Sandhill Cranes" by Joanne Baeth of Oregon. This was sponsored by Accu Quilt.

Click on the URL and enjoy the quilt show!!

http://www.quilts.org/winners.html

Christmas Tree Skrit

2010-11-03T08:39:00.000-07:00

One tree skirt is almost completed. Need to sew one more panel with snowflakes and then sew them all together. I will put a lining on the back and attached it with ribbons separating each panel. I need an exhibit for the Library, so I am working extra long to finish this skirt for the weekend.

Christmas Tree Skirt

2010-11-01T16:27:00.000-07:00

My niece and daughter both want a tree skirt for Christmas. All the gingerbread people on the red are completed. It takes about 30 tatted snowflakes for each.

Pumpkin & Crow Embroidery/tatting

2010-10-20T06:15:00.000-07:00

Bird Brain Designs http://www.birdbraindesigns.net
has a free embroidered design for Halloween.
All done in back stitch.
Then I tatted the pumpkin edging below the crow. Pattern by Heidi Sunday.

Happy Halloween everyone!!!

Alice Wilhoit

2010-10-18T08:19:00.000-07:00

The Sisters Quilt Shop in Amarillo, Tx had a Lecture and trunk show by Alice Wilhoit. Alice published the book "Crazy Patchwork" in 2009 and the quilt shop will be teaching CQ from that book. It has clear and easy instructions to follow and very helpful for a beginner starting out in crazy quilting. Even people who have been CQing for a time can always learn something new!! Alice likes to combine applique with her CQ. The sample on the left shows this combination and this is what she teaches on her cruises and workshops. Beautiful applique and CQ stitching.

Meet Alice Wilhoit

This CQ hangs on her mantle.
Nice design and stitches. The bead edging adds to the design.

This quilt has some awesome embroidery on it. Click on it so you can see it up close. She did say the white lace around it was spendie but it makes the CQ stand out. The Roses in each corner were made with wire ribbon. Alice likes to use medium weight yarns and couches them down. Because this quilt has traveled so much and people love to feel the texture it started to sag from the lining. She had a Machine Quilter look at it and she quilted on the long arm. It was not noticeable on the front because she pretty much stayed in the seams. This one was my favorite because of the embroidery.

The Birthday Quilt! Each block on the inside has all the birthdays of the family. Lots of bling, bling on this one. The inside is separated with a strip of black cotton material with stencil embroidery around and odd pieces of jewelry on the corners. The outside border has the birthdays of the grandchildren. This quilt is made entirely of batik fabrics and is tied on the back.

It was an enjoyable day and a nice group of ladies.

Alice mentioned a new magazine will be launched in January for $12. I believe it is an online subscription from what I have read.

http://www.quiltpatternmagazine.com/

If you see Alice Wilhoit's classes, I recommend you attend.

Halloween postcards and teapot

2010-10-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

The first postcard has a wheel barrow full of pumpkins. The wheel is from Patty Duff's Motif Book, pumpkins from Sherry Matthew, and the bat and pumpkin edging are from Mark Myers.

The second postcard is crazy quilt with Mark Myer's ghost and Sherry Matthew's pumpkin. The pumpkin edging is from Heidi Sunday. The pumpkin edgings are very similar. Sherry has added one more round to the pumpkin and her leaves are different

The Pumpkin teapot is an easy pattern from Martha Ess. This makes a nice tea cup coaster.

Halloween

2010-10-04T14:33:00.000-07:00

Tis the Month for goblins and ghosts and OH MY!!! The postcard has Mark Myers tatted bat and ghost. The pumpkin is from Sherry Matthews. Halloween cards are from Dover and Patty Duff's angel with a bead attached.

Shirt Edging

2010-09-11T14:37:00.001-07:00

Gapsosis!! Oh My!! I just started the chain and trefoils when Jon posted "tatting Peek-Boo-Boo". (http://tatsaway.blogspot.com) A great tutorial on gaps between rings and chains. My first 2 trefoils and chains are on the shoulder seam where it is not too noticeable. However, the rest of the edging has no Gapsosis!! Thank you Jon!!!!

The edging is in the book, "Contemporary Tatting" by Judith Connors.

The tatted edging was washed and sewn by machine with invisible thread to the shirt. Only the chain was stitched down. This makes it easy to throw in the washer and dryer and edging will not come off nor does it have to be ironed. Also the edging can be taken off and used again. I used glass pink beads and the color remained the same after washing. Gina from "A Tatting Goddess" had pink beads on a cross and when washed the pink also washed away from the bead..

Chicken Quilt

2010-09-02T14:15:00.000-07:00

I have a UFO quilt almost finished. The outside sunflower and leaves were finished in 2002! The leaves and sunflower are hand appliqued and the tulips are machine with invisible thread. A month ago I finished machine appliqueing the chickens. Now I am working on the border. The pattern did not have a border so I had to design one to make it fit on a queen bed. This pattern was from Quiltmaker, Spring of 2002. I will machine quilt it on my sewing machine. It will be a gift to my Mom, "The Chicken Lady", for Christmas!

Hummingbird

2010-08-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

It must be critter day here at the ranch! This morning I almost stepped on a Black Chin Hummingbird. I thought it was a mouse! It was cold here (45) and he probably was trying to get warm by borrowing into the warm gravel. I picked him up and put it onto the ledge of the birdhouse. Went out to check on him and he fell into the flowers. So I put him into the geranium pot. After 2 hours he was gone. We feed about a dozen hummers and have 3 feeders which have to be filled every 2 days. Yesterday, my DH left the kitchen door opened and a baby Whip Tail Lizard came on in! Found him this morning and shooed it in a box and took him out to the garden. He must be hungry and thirsty. Still working on apples, froze 20 pts and today I made 2 qts of apple cider. That is one of the things I miss from New York.

County Fair 2010

2010-08-15T09:27:00.001-07:00

Here are my tatted entries for the County Fair. Also entered flowers, jams and other crafts. Received 9 blues, 7 reds and 2 whites. Happy with the results and the reds and whites makes you try harder next time. But how do you tell a flower you must be beautiful and be on your best behavior!!! This lady went out to the Juniper Tree and just snapped off a branch and got a blue! Never cleaned up the raw edge of the branch....

In another post I wrote about the doily losing its pattern because of the variegated threads. However, using the white then the red to outline it shows off the tatting pattern. There is still one more round to go and it will be in white.

Each motif of the white were individually tatted and joined to the variegated only. When joining the last round with the red thread you had to be careful not to twist the white motif. If it did get twisted you will have the red showing through the picot that you joined with.

garden

2010-08-03T08:22:00.000-07:00

The Finches and Orioles are having a good lunch on my peach and apple trees. I have picked the top half and have a pie tin flashing and making noise but it does not bother the birds one bit! I just saw one fly off so I will have to pick the bottom peaches and freeze them when they become ripe. These are the nicest Gala apples we have in a long time and they are crisp and juicy. Just like the birds like also! The Delicious will not be ready till Sept. The last picture are the tomatoes, corn, asparagus and the apple trees. We have already frozen 14 qt of corn and this is the last planting. We have been eating fresh tomatoes and only canned 3 pts. They seem to be slow ripening this year.

Tatting Book

2010-07-31T16:11:00.000-07:00

Handy Hands had a 15% off and I took advantage of it. Some of the new beautiful Lizbeth threads I purchased and Mark Myers "Tatted Gathering of Angels". Lots of nice angels to tat with good instructions. Through another company, I purchased the Embroidery Book by Country Bumpkin Publications for half price. This has excellent instructions with lots of illustrations.

Red and white Doily

2010-07-30T08:37:00.000-07:00

This is a doily from Nancy Tracy's site, www.be-stitched.com, "Mom's Pink Doily". It is tatted with size 20 Lizbeth #151-Angels Love.The pattern is beginning to get lost in the infusion of colors. As you can see on the last round I tatted 2 white medallions and 2 variegated medallions. The variegated were cut out and I continued all the way around with only the white. It looks much better. While in New York in June I finished all 16 white medallions. It is repeating the same pattern and after the second one, you could do it in your sleep! So while you are visiting you can tat. I am waiting for my order from Handy Hands and start the next round in solid Christmas Red-#671.

Pop a Bobbin Tatting Shuttle

2010-07-26T07:29:00.001-07:00

My daughter sent me a Pop-A-Bobbin Tatting Shuttle for Mother's Day gift. I did a little tatting with it and I love it. Works great. It is solid wood and does not give like the plastic ones. However, it is thicker and if you have very small hands it might present a problem.

It took me some time to get use to the thickness of it and I like the hook. Very precise. I am very happy and pleased with my gift!

Denim jacket

2010-06-20T15:19:00.000-07:00

I purchased a plain denim jacket and sewed on the yolk when the embroidery was completed. The foundation was a loose muslin to sew crazy patches on. The center is Brazilian embroidery. The pattern is by Cate Grundy and can be found here...

www.brazilian-dimensional-embroidery.org/free_designs.htm
There are lots of tatting, beads, and crazy stitches. The whole yolk was placed onto the back and front. Smoothed out and pined well, then top stitched all the way around. At the shoulders I stitched across the seam and stitched most of the seams of the Brazilian Embroidery with invisible thread. That holds it to the jacket so there is no rippling or sagging. Tatting was attached to the collar and cuffs.

Pocket Book

2010-05-15T14:46:00.001-07:00

My new pocket book. It has Crazy Quilt Stitches, Tatting and Brazilian Embroidery. There is a green frog with bullion knots and cast on stitches. Nice and roomy inside with side pockets on both sides.

Blog giveaway

2010-05-05T06:20:00.000-07:00

Nicki Lee from Raviolee Dreams is having a 100th give away on Mother's Day. It is a pretty chest that has beads, lace and silkies in it. Visit Nicki's blog at http://www.cqnickilee.blogspot.com.

BDE/tatted jacket

2010-05-04T08:12:00.000-07:00

When this project is finished it will be a yolk attached to a purchased denim jacket. Marking the purple with white pencil worked well. However, I have tried non waxed carbon paper and a white marking pencil on the floral material and it did not show up. So I used a #5 mechanical pencil and it just barely shows through. The leaves and other small finery I will just have to wing it. Any suggestions?

Angels in the Snow

2010-04-24T07:15:00.000-07:00

This is Miranda's (http://tattingfool.blogspot.com) newest snowflake, Angels in the Snow. Recently she had a contest to name that Snowflake and I am honored among 44 other entries to be chosen as the winner! Look at the snowflake and you can see the "Angels in the Snow". We always made angels in the new snow growing up thus it reminded me of my childhood.
I am thrilled to receive the new pattern and tatting book, "New Twist on Tatting" by Catherine Austin.
Sue Ann from tat19540 was runner up with "Dancing Angels". There were a lot of great titles for the snowflake.

post cards

2010-04-17T08:10:00.001-07:00

The first card is for a friend who will be having a birthday. The last two cards are for friends in the hospital. They work up quick with a few embroidery stitches, yarn, beads and tatting added.

Easter Tatting

2010-04-02T15:26:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter to All Visitors!

In the Easter Basket with Mrs. Rabbit are 2 tatted Easter Eggs. The pattern is from Emma Crew. The threads used are Lizbeth 20 - Jelly Bean and Sherbert Delight. I tried to put both eggs together by gluing and it looked bad. It wasn't because they were not stiff it just did not show the tatting. I soaked one pair in pure liquid starch and the other pair spraying this clear liquid sealer. Did not like liquid sealer at all. Gluing the tatted egg to the pure white egg form made the tatting stand out. The little yellow chicks I did in ceramics way back in the 70's.

The Easter Card is hand embroidered eggs with lots of lace and sequins. It was mailed to my Mother.

2010-03-25T08:35:00.000-07:00

Started hand quilting the Bluework Snowman Quilt. The first two blocks are completed and it is hard to see the hand quilting white thread on white background. Perhaps it will show up more on the darker background. I am not quilting traditionally instead of straight lines there are a lot of swirls and the hand quilted snowflakes are done with a fly stitch. It is a year project as I only hand quilt about an hour per day.

My plants will soon be leaving for the green house. I have two sweet potato plants in the lower left corner. A few cherry tomatoes, celebrity tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, basil and rosemary. DH planted over 100 Vidalia and TX sweet Onions. Why so many? I have no idea. The apricot tree is in flower and the temp this am 25. Probably no apricots again this year but it is a nice tree for shade.

Shamrocks

2010-03-16T15:37:00.000-07:00

Betsy Evans posted this special gift on the HBT Yahoo Mail. Thank you Betsy!!

The dark green Shamrock is Flora 20 and the variegated is Lizbeth 20 Christmas Green Mix.

Visit Jacquie Lawson Irish Jig ....

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=2234147203408&siyrce=j1000

Have a great, Green, Day!!

Earrings

2010-03-09T06:03:00.001-08:00

I tatted these earrings for an Art Show this past weekend. The Carnival Tatted Earrings tatted up very quickly and the pattern is from Marlee Rockley, http://yarnplayertats.blogspot.com. However, teardrop beads cannot be found at Hobby Lobby or JoAnns so I had to order from Fire Mountain. Fire Mountain is a very good bead company but you have to plan a head.

The Beaded Oval Tatted Earrings from Julie Patterson I had to alter it some. I used size 40 Lizbeth thread and it had too many rings for the size of thread to pull through the SCMR. The first ring broke and a second ring the wire for the beads cut it a part. Instead of the wire for the top part, I used the end of the tread from the SCMR. Used a bead needle and thread it through the beads around a jump ring and back down. Tied both threads and hid them on both sides of the tatting. I was very pleased with the outcome of both patterns.

Palmetto Block

2010-03-01T08:59:00.000-08:00

My Block for the Palmetto Fund Raising Quilt is finished. Jon's beaded dragonfly put the finishing touch on the block. Her Heart pattern is on the other side. The basket of flowers are from a Dover Tatting Book and the humming bird is a pattern from Karey Solomon's, Tatting Times. Mr. Hedgehog is a pattern from Nancy Tracy and the butterfly from Sherry Pence. The center medallion is from Patti Duff's Tatting Motifs. The spider is made with beads and chains for the legs. The purple edging is my own design with split rings and chains. The edging above is from the book, Traditional Tatting Patterns edited by Rita Weiss, tatted with Star No. 80 Thread. It was an easy pattern but you did have to pay attention, no distractions! The top was tatted first and then connected to the bottom while tatting. The beads on the edgings were added when sewing it to the block. It is going to be a beautiful quilt/wallhanging when completed.

Water Color Barn

2010-02-16T07:30:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I attended my first water color class and this is the results. I much prefer painting from a dvd because you can take your time and back it up many, many times. Usually I tape the painting programs to my dvr. I have an acrylic painting of a gristmill that I need to get back to. Too busy now getting ready for a quilt/painting Show the first of March.