Friday 31 August 2012

Tatting for the Princess (MK#55)




I wanted to tat something special with beads for Umi's urn. This piece is specially tatted with threads which was a gift from Gian and Fox of Tat-ology. The Pink Purple Size 40 thread is a HDT from Jess of Tat-iIicious and the green is Lizbeth Leafy Greens #138 Size 40.

This was adapted from 2 Mary Konior patterns . The centre is from Mary's Flowerpiece pattern on page 56 of the book 'Tatting with Visual Patterns'. The mignonette tatting is as seen in the pattern Love in a mist mat on page 49 of the book 'Tatting Patterns'. As I wanted beads to hang off the edge, chains with beaded picots were added.

Thursday 30 August 2012

Butterflies and Dragonflies Shuttle



I think this is the last shuttle from the pack to show you. The designs are never planned. I just look at the nail decals and decide which I want to use. And sometimes the designs come up after I place them on; like the dragonflies here.  Life should be like that, sometimes!! Okay, with a slathering of varnish.

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Doily In Progress


I have longed to tat this but hesitated because it looked monumental with 16 rounds. Well, this is what I have done so far and 10 more rounds to go. It does not seem so difficult for now, but I hate the cut and tie after each round. Split chains are a pain too . . . but the pattern is so lovely and I just have to ask you to guess which pattern this is?

Tuesday 28 August 2012

Six Months On




"Though absent you are very near,
Still loved, still missed, and very dear."

Monday 27 August 2012

The Supertrees

 
 

I did not have time to go up the Supertrees and thought best to leave it for another visit. There is the skyway (25m above ground) which connects two super trees. These photos are from ground level. I was walking towards the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest from the Bayfront train station.

Saturday 25 August 2012

Hoop-la Edging



This is a fun pattern to tat. I took a page from Mary Konior's 'Tatting in Lace' book and tatted this up using some left over thread on the shuttle. I wanted to try it before deciding to edge a hanky with this pattern. I like it and will do this in white to edge a hanky. Will post when it is done. Wish me luck!

Friday 24 August 2012

Cloud Forest





You get a refreshing mist from the falls when you enter the Cloud Forest. It is such a nice welcome from the sweltering heat outside. There is a lift in the centre of the structure which brings you up to the top and make your way down via the extended walkway.

On the way down you will see a variety of orchids, pitcher plants, ferns, begonias, fuchsias, Anthurium, Primula, Spathiphyllum, Hoya, Aeschynanthus and more. Reminded me of times we spent at Cameron Highlands, Fraser's Hill and Maxwell Hill in Malaysia. I would have loved to see more mosses.

I think the garden is worth a couple more visits - at night to see the play of spectacular lighting and in the early morning for the outdoor gardens.

Thursday 23 August 2012

Windmill Cross


I love the red windmill cross I saw in Julie Patterson's book. It looked perfect but mine is imperfect. I could not get the gap threads uniform in lengths so it is a little uneven. Nevertheless, it is still a very unusual cross and I hope someone will appreciate the effort. This is tatted in Milford Size 20 in a colour labelled as sunshine.

Wednesday 22 August 2012

Flower Dome

There were a variety of flowers besides the ones shown here. I saw blooms of begonias in many colours, roses, hibiscuses, sweet peas, lavenders, pansies, lobelias, foxgloves, geraniums, hydrangeas, camelias, trailing ivies, Oxalis, Impatiens, Clematis, Cyclamen, Clivia, Gazania, different succulents and cacti and many more. 

These are just some photos.
Fuchsias
Kangaroo Paws
Protea
Olive Trees
Boabab Trees



Garden Sculptures

You can read about the history of the garden here and Margaret was right to point out that the design of Bay South Gardens, where the Flower Dome, Cloud Forest and Skytree are located, was designed by Grant Associates, a company from Bath, UK. Read about the design on their website here.

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Around The Rings


This one is definitely fun to do. I tatted this in 3 colours, all in Venus Size 40 threads. It would be an appropriate bookmark for a man. The beads are quite invisible, perhaps larger sized beads or 3 instead of 1 should be used. However you would not want bead imprints in your book would you? Blocking is essential here, as you need to shape the chains. Pattern is by Julie Patterson.

Monday 20 August 2012

Gardens By The Bay




It opened a few months ago and I went for a visit last week. It is just too hot to visit the outdoor gardens in the day. I  practically 'melted' in the August sun if not for the umbrella. But in the evenings and early mornings, the gardens would not be too uncomfortable to walk through.

The feature I wanted to see was the Gardens' Flower Dome and Cloud Forest which are conservatories that are cooled to a comfortable temperature.





I'll tell you what I saw upclose and loved in the next post or check out the website.

Saturday 18 August 2012

Petra Edging


Are you wondering what is with all the edgings? I have a purpose for them and hope they turn out. Will show you what they are for when I am done. Can you see hearts in this pattern by Iris Niebach? I love the scallops too. Done in Milford size 60 threads. I especially enjoyed tatting this pattern.

Friday 17 August 2012

Edged Hanky 2012 - 1



This hanky edging is a pattern called Dainty Tatted Edge on pp 86 from Angeline Crichlow's book 'Let's Tat'. Thank you, Fox.

In the book, Angeline did explain that it was taken off a handkerchief tatted by Margaret Robinson in the 1880s in thread size 80 and 90. Here I used thread size 40.


The above is a sample in my notebook tatted in size 80.




This is how I blocked the hanky and I did not have to iron it afterwards. After tatting was done, I soaked it in a little soapy water, rinsed it and while wet I stretched it over a polystyrene board and pinned it down. This method did not require any ironing. Folded it and sent it off.

Thursday 16 August 2012

Heart2Heart


I tatted the top one first in Lizbeth 40 Fruit Fizz / 139 and was not quite happy with it so I tatted another in Milford Satin Perle 5 Ombre Red. I think it looks more substantial in a larger sized thread or was it the blocking of the smaller hearts. Anyway I like these with tails on both ends. When was the last time you had a heart to heart?

Pattern is by Julie Patterson. Thank you Margaret for reminding me.

Wednesday 15 August 2012

Charcoal and Gold


Devour with your eyes. Looks stunning doesn't it? Tastes hmmmm . . , like a dumpling. No, it isn't to absorb anything harmful, but a little charcoal and gold may be good for your digestive system. And I had kopi luwak in the morning for breakfast.

Tuesday 14 August 2012

Wanda Bookmarks


I have only done Maltese rings here and here. This pattern is from Iris Niebach's book Fantasia 3 on page 20. I had to use the instructions in the book to re-learn this. Tatted in Venus Size 40 threads in grey and green and DMC threads in pink and brown.

Watched 'Due Date' while doing this. That man is exasperating. In between, made a phone call to mom as I forgot and then continued with watching 'Possession'. The words are beautiful. Must watch that again as I missed the first part or read the book for the poems.

Monday 13 August 2012

Sparkling Bouquet Shuttle



When I open a pack of Clover shuttles, it is when the shuttle decorating muse is visiting. This one was from the last visit where I was in the mood of slapping on too much varnish. These flowers are a little 3D. It is lacking colour, don't you think?

Saturday 11 August 2012

Gloria Edging


This pattern is from Fantasia 3 by Iris Niebach. I did not do the Cluny leaf in the pattern but converted them to rings. Tatted this in Lizbeth Size 40 Easter Eggs/159. They are in very light pastels and did not stand out edging a white piece, perhaps a light colored one would be more appropriate. I have to find one.

Friday 10 August 2012

King's Cross


My chains seem shorter than the photo in the book but it still works. It is a pretty design by Julie Patterson. I tatted this in Flora Size 20 in a bright orange (#246). The centre is unusual.

Thursday 9 August 2012

Tsuru Says Hello


Tsuru wanted to say hello but she looked stunned here instead.

She looks annoyed here.


Then I caught her here, quickly got the camera but I forgot to turn off the flash so her eyes are glowing. When I managed to, she had moved.