UMI & TSURU

Kiam Chye Soup

2012-01-31T21:14:00.029+08:00

This was what mom cooked for lunch on the first day of the Chinese New Year. It is a pork bone soup stock with one pig hock (front) and 2 pig tails, meat balls, mushrooms, carrots, tomatoes, cauliflower, brocolli, young corn, salted mustard greens, pickled plums, assam gelugor pieces. It is a soup which is slightly salty, sour and yummy. You can have it on its own or with rice. It was a huge pot of soup and you can store it for days. It gets even more delicious after that.

Dragon Paper Cutting

2012-01-30T20:52:00.001+08:00

This is now hanging on mom's front door. Bought this from the local supermarket a couple of weeks back. Now we have them in plastic cut outs and decal stickers but nothing like the authentic paper cutting. This year I did not have time to buy plants except for one stalk of the lucky bamboo.

Mountain of Pork

2012-01-28T20:31:00.028+08:00

Turn away now, raw meat ahead. . . .

We were at the local market on the eve of the last market day before the Chinese New Year and this was the amount of meat being prepared for sale. In the old, old days, it was only at Chinese New Year that we feasted on meat and wore new clothes and so the tradition lives on.

Flower Medallions Set 2

2012-01-27T21:08:00.002+08:00

That was Set 1, this is Set 2. Set 1 was tatted in Lizbeth Size 40 threads in #635 Violet Pink Dark and #157 Raspberry Frappe.

Set 2 is tatted in Lizbeth Size 40 #145 Pink Parade and #157 Raspberry Frappe. Fox asked why the picots looked different. Well, these flower medallions have not been blocked.

Also some medallions look larger than others. It could be the colours playing a trick on the eye or my tension is just off. No worries, we are all imperfect!

Anne Bruvold's Chinese Dragon

2012-01-26T20:45:00.002+08:00

In all, I tatted 3 Chinese dragons from Anne's pattern which can be found here.

Dragon #1 was posted a few days ago and was tatted in Lizbeth Size 40 #147 Red Burst and I used a Swarovski crystal for the sun.

Dragon #2 was used as a Chinese New Year e-card sent to family and friends. This one was tatted in Altin Basak Size 50 - #2328 (red with gold strand) and #2347 (gold with gold strand) for the sun.

Dragon #3 was tatted using Lizbeth Size 20 #611 Gold and Flora Size 20 #244 Charcoal for a black pearl.

They all seem slightly different with its own personality.

Chinese Ink Brush Painting Framed

2012-01-25T20:42:00.036+08:00

Remember this from last year? Finally, I had the painting scroll-mounted and framed. I had wanted a bamboo design for the frame but the shop did not have it and for convenience, I had it done by the same person. Not many framers can do Chinese scroll-mounting.
I have kept the painting rolled up for nearly a year and thought it was about time it saw daylight. I wish I had a more well-kept house to show you the rest of it.

If you are interested in getting a painting from Song Qi Xian, you can as he is currently at Vivocity Singapore till mid February 2012. His paintings this time round are more colourful but I still do prefer his bamboos. Drop by and see him paint.

Chinese New Year Cards

2012-01-24T20:57:00.002+08:00

I sent some cards to a few people this year. I try to do this every year but sometimes, time just slips by so quickly. Dragon year is normally a fertile year meaning more Chinese babies will be born this year. Read about the dragon in the Chinese zodiac here.

Happy Chinese New Year

2012-01-23T20:43:00.013+08:00

Gong Xi Fa Cai

Nami's Gold Fish

2012-01-21T21:17:00.000+08:00

I joined the dorsal fin at the wrong place. A lot of tie and cut as I did not use the split chain method. I can imagine a lot of fishes in different colours from this pattern. I think I will try to tat this again and add a larger bead for the eye. This one was tatted in Altin Basak Size 50 in gold with gold strand (#2351) and Lizbeth Size 40 #147 Red Burst. Link to Nami's blog for the pattern. Thank you Nami.

Miltoniopsis Orchid

2012-01-20T20:46:00.000+08:00

These remind me of pansies but this is actually a Miltoniopsis orchid. It is also called the pansy orchid and it is related to the Oncidiums. I hope I did not mislead you to think that I grew these orchids. I have no green fingers and orchids seems to die on me rather quickly.

Valentine Coaster from Annie

2012-01-19T23:51:00.000+08:00

Don't you love the quilted Valentine coaster? What a pretty colour palette and the heart was so carefully hand stitched. This came in the mail from Annie today. The card with the hummingbird has an important message - "Every moment of the year has its own beauty". I will try to remember that. Thank you so much, Annie!

Mary Konior Tatting Book Collection Complete

2012-01-18T20:58:00.003+08:00

Finally I got this hardcover book after months of searching for it. It completes the collection. Did Mary Konior publish 4 tatting books? Otherwise I have to change the blog post title.

This is also the first Mary Konior tatting book I refered to when I borrowed it from the National Library years back. That book was a softcover and it was so well used, I was afraid it would lose some pages. This one I have is of course second hand but it is in very good condition and looks almost brand new. I was so delighted to get it from Barter Books, UK and I received excellent sales service too. Thank you, Nicola.

Flower Medallions

2012-01-17T20:51:00.003+08:00

I have been tatting these flower medallions in between other tatting projects. I am using Lizbeth 40 in various colours. Perhaps it will keep me wondering how each colour would turn out. That way I would get less bored. Anyway it is quite fast to tat. Two medallions can be made in one night's sitting of TV, if I devote myself to tatting and not surf the web looking for jewellery. I have been looking to replace my broken ring.

Ruth Scharf's Books

2012-01-16T20:34:00.014+08:00

Thank you for all your comments on this post. A friend shared this pattern with me. I did not know where the pattern was from but was intrigued because it was quite unusual. It was not till much later while reading tatting blogs that it was identified as a Ruth Scharf pattern. I looked for the books and finally obtained the above two books from Georgia Seitz.

So for those of you still looking for her books, you might want to check with Georgia or you may want to e-mail Ruth Scharf directly. I do have her e-mail as listed in the book. E-mail me separately. By the way the book is in German.

It is interesting how a variegated thread tatted looked like stripes in this pattern. You either love it or hate it.

I have this doily with me but it was easier to look for the photo than the actual doily. So if you have this book, are you up for a challenge? I am starting a new project from book 1. Would anyone like to join me?

Canopy

2012-01-14T21:08:00.017+08:00

I first saw the Canopy bookmark when Gina tatted and posted it on her blog. At that time, I was waiting for Martha's book to arrive. It reminded me of the architectural drawing symbols for trees. I used Lizbeth Size 40 Pink Parade #145. I like the subtle color changes in this thread.

One day . . . . . is here!!

2012-01-13T20:35:00.002+08:00

If you read yesterday's post, then you would not think the title strange. Well, since I found the photo, I wanted to show you this. The pattern is from Ruth Scharf and this was one doily I tatted all by myself after my tatting classes in 2006. I was intrigued at why I chose these colours but here it is . . . . bright and colourful. Both colours are from Olympus. There are mistakes so it looks a little warped. I am sure you can spot it. And this is one piece which could not lay flat without blocking. It was a mess!

Hugs #2

2012-01-12T21:01:00.011+08:00

Hugs #2 is tatted in Olympus thread in a shade of variegated pink. I threw away the plastic wrapping with the colour # so no reference here. Unlike other threads, there isn't a label but I remember getting this colour because I loved the pink. I used it to tat a Ruth Scharf doily pattern years back. I should show you that one day.

Green Slipper Orchid Blooms

2012-01-11T21:23:00.002+08:00

Aren't they beautiful? Green and white. Perfect centrepiece for a table arrangement. That way you need not cut it from the plant.

Hugs Bookmark

2012-01-10T20:43:00.002+08:00

From Martha Ess' book Playing with Picots, this pattern called HUGS was easy and quick to tat. I used the Altin Basak Size 50 threads that Margaretha sent me. This one is #3001, the same one I used for the owl earlier. I put tassels on both ends.

Pink Roses Letter Openers

2012-01-09T20:47:00.000+08:00

I wanted to add a personal touch to these bone china letter openers before giving them away. These were motifs which I tatted sometime back and you always seem to get questions 'What are you going to do with them?' Well you could use it this way.

The top pattern is by Ruth Scharf and the bottom is a Mary Konior.

More Critters on the Block - Gecko

2012-01-07T20:40:00.000+08:00

I love how the pattern created the tail of this gecko. The tatting pattern started from the tip of the tail and the stitches gradually increased. Amazing! Tatted in two different colours, first one is in DMC perle cotton 8 Col 69 and the second is in Lizbeth 40 Autumn Apple Pie (#169).

Nyonya Kueh for Dessert

2012-01-06T21:29:00.000+08:00

Colourful and yummy too. My favourite is the blue and white one with kaya (coconut jam). These are all local peranakan nonya kueh.

From the back row, left to right - Kueh lapis (layered), Seri muka (glutinous rice and pandan leaf custard), Kueh bingka (tapioca), coconut candy (shredded coconut with condensed milk);
Centre row, left to right - Kueh talam and Ang ku kueh;
Front row - Nagasari (the blue dye is extracted from the Clitorea ternatea flowers).

More Critters on the Block - Skunk

2012-01-05T21:48:00.014+08:00

I really wanted to tat this when I first saw it but thought it might be more difficult than others but it wasn't so. Not difficult at all.

Tsuru sometimes flicks her tail and because she is black and white, I often call it her skunk tail.

More Critters on the Block - Dachshund

2012-01-04T20:48:00.000+08:00

This is a light brown Dachshund. Pattern is by Martha Ess from the above titled book. This is tatted in DMC perle cotton 8 Col. 841. All these bookmarks have been given away as gifts. I had a busy time tatting during the weeks leading up to Christmas but they are quite quick to tat up and makes a nice gift, I think. I hope the recipients loved it.

Post Last Week

2012-01-03T21:19:00.002+08:00

Who does not love receiving post. Especially when they are from friends far away. Look what came in the mail early last week.

A wool snowflake handsewn by Judy and a handmade card from Margaret.

Thank you both.

Two Little Lambs

2012-01-02T20:30:00.005+08:00

Now I definitely know I made a mistake somewhere . . . . as both these lambs look different. A slip of the mind and concentration. What are these to be? They are just about 0.75 inches in length. Tiny! Tatted in Size 40 threads from Martha's book.

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000+08:00

As we welcome 2012,

I wish you all the very best in this coming year.

More Critters on the Block - Owl

2011-12-31T21:09:00.001+08:00

Red owl is tatted in cotton perle 8 and light blue aqua owl is tatted in Altin Basak 50 #3001. I love tatting with this Altin Basak thread, they are so comfortable and soft yet holds up quite well. This Altin Basak is from Typstatting in exchange for some pastel Clover shuttles. If you look at the second owl, you will see that the aqua made up the head. It just turned out that way.

Martha paid attention to such small details when creating these patterns and they all look so true to form. Thank you Martha.

More Critters on the Block - Sheep

2011-12-30T20:58:00.013+08:00

This was a little fiddly to tat as you had to brush away the picots to see where you needed to join to and I am sure I made some mistakes, somewhere. But after it was done, I think the Sheep looked really cute. What do you think?? This one is tatted in Venus Size 40 white (#800) and dark grey (#486).

This is the lamb pattern tatted up in Venus size 40 white (#800) and pink (#107). This is a wee bit smaller. If I am up for it, I might tat another to make it a pair. There must be something wrong with my chain tension as some were much longer than others, or this little lamb had a bit too much for dinner.

Mom's Christmas Tree Snowflaked

2011-12-29T20:56:00.002+08:00

As promised, photos to show you mom's tree laden with 50 snowflakes which I tatted throughout 2011. I actually added 3 more, from my tatted motifs so there are about 53 snowflakes on this 4 ft tree. And I thought 50 were too many. Part of the tree which was facing the wall had no snowflakes.

What did she say about the snowflakes? They are all different. Hmmm. . . . . some are pretty. Where did you find 50 different patterns?

Some of the bigger snowflakes started to fold as I did not stiffen them. Sorry the photos are not great as my rechargeable battery ran out even before I started using the camera and I did not bring the charger with me. I had to use my mobile phone camera.

Blue Elephant Family Mobile for J

2011-12-28T20:27:00.017+08:00

These blue elephants were a request from my sister. I tatted them earlier but just assembled them into a mobile for her for Christmas. I used some Czech fire polished crystals and nylon fishing line and hung it on a straight horizontal stick but you could also tie it on a round frame. I did not starch or stiffen this so the larger elephants tend to fold but if placed against a wall or glass pane, it isn't so bad, otherwise we might have to fix the elephant in a frame or laminate it. This will do for now.

More Critters on the Block - Hornet

2011-12-27T20:33:00.005+08:00

I tatted two of these. The hornet pattern is from Martha Ess. The tails are made up as I tat. Do you see what resembles an angel in tail of hornet #2? Totally impromptu. Also had to show you that the smiling sun charm front and back. Found it in the local bead shop and it was on sale. I used Milford Size 40 black and Altin Basak #2351 with the gold strand. It added a little sparkle to the hornet.

Boxing Day Tatting

2011-12-26T21:07:00.003+08:00

I did not tat this today but just showing them to you while I am busy somewhere else today. I showed you this little turtle before here. Now it has a tail and a charm.

Seasons Greetings

2011-12-25T21:00:00.013+08:00

From Umi & Tsuru

This is Christmas 2011 Snowflake #50

Myra Piper's pattern.

Challenge is complete.

Little Teapot Bookmark

2011-12-24T21:39:00.001+08:00

I did not realise the red I used for the teapot and the tail was a different shade. I found this teapot charm sometime back and rediscovered it in my bead stash recently when I was looking for charms to add.

And More Bookmarks - Hummingbirds

2011-12-23T21:22:00.018+08:00

Just added tails and charms to the hummingbirds I tatted earlier. The hummingbird pattern is from Martha Ess. I did not have time to go to the bead store to get more charms so these will have to do. I am sure at the bead shop there will be charms to match the tatting.

Little Sister Angel Bookmark

2011-12-22T21:32:00.011+08:00

I tatted these Martha Ess' angels earlier. Just added the tail and charm and viola, bookmarks. The bottom one is tatted in silk that Fox gave me. I am doing this with some of the smaller designs for quick gifts.

Bookmark Gifts - Grasshoppers

2011-12-21T21:04:00.017+08:00

Added split ring and spiral tails to these little grasshoppers, plus charms and they become bookmarks.

Remember the little blue whale, here it is with a tail and a charm too. If the tail is too long, make a few knots. Both patterns are from Martha Ess.

Bamboo China

2011-12-20T20:52:00.001+08:00

These were lovely to dine from.

I enjoyed the painting on the plate and the teacup.

The colour was soothing and

it reflected the theme of the restaurant

Christmas 2011 Snowflake #49

2011-12-19T20:48:00.001+08:00

One more snowflake to reach 50. I doubt mom's tree will take 50 snowflakes, or maybe it will. I will take a photo and post it before the new year. This one is a pattern (#28) from Myra Piper on page 10 of her book. Tatted in two rounds, 2m on the shuttle for round 1 and 3m on the shuttle for round 2.

Alligator in Jungle Greens

2011-12-17T21:35:00.002+08:00

Another one from Martha Ess "More Critters on the Block'. This alligator pattern looked so realistic. Lizbeth 40 Jungle Greens seemed a suitable colour for this one.

Chilli Crab

2011-12-16T20:29:00.027+08:00

Chilli crab is a popular dish in Singapore and I love the dish too but eating it is a messy affair. So I thought this was a lovely variation.

Deep fried soft shell crab dipped in the chilli crab sauce. No mess of taking the meat off the shells.

Christmas 2011 Snowflake #48

2011-12-15T21:04:00.008+08:00

This pattern looked interesting in Myra Piper's book on page 12 but when I tatted this up it looked different. I think the proportions are slightly off and it looks too much like a hexagon here. Anyway this is #48 of the snowflakes. I spoke to mom this week and she was saying she might not put up the tree this year. Oh dear!! We will see what happens.

Venetia

2011-12-14T21:01:00.034+08:00

'The truly rich are those who can enjoy what they have'

~Venetia Stanley-Smith~

'At home with Venetia in Kyoto' is a programme I enjoy. Try to catch an episode if you can. You can watch it on NHK World on cable (Starhub Channel 148, every Tuesday at 9.30pm in Singapore) or at this channel KCET if you are in the US. Watch this video clip here on Venetia's garden art.

Angel in Autumn Apple Pie

2011-12-13T20:07:00.017+08:00

This one is Anne Bruvold's SSSR Angel in Lizbeth Size 40 Autumn Apple Pie. Made this one with a short tail. The colours did not end up symmetrical on the angel but that's fine.

Writing on the Wall

2011-12-12T21:07:00.003+08:00

This was at the entrance of a restaurant. The ladies at the restaurant offered to take photos of us but I actually wanted a photo of the wall. They were amused but I am sure they are familiar with strange requests.

Sleeping Tsuru

2011-12-10T19:43:00.002+08:00

I was careful not to wake her but cats have acute senses.

She woke up after.

One eye first.

Then both eyes.

Whale in Blue

2011-12-09T20:45:00.000+08:00

specifically Lizbeth 40 Blue River Glades #164. This ball of thread is from Tabatha. The whale pattern is from Martha Ess in her book 'More Critters on the Block'. The whale measures only 1.7 inches in length. I love the size. What's next?

Chatucak Market

2011-12-08T21:18:00.001+08:00

I took these photos at Chatucak Market in Bangkok last year. I love what they did with the plants - a cottage filled with lush greenery and they were selling coconut ice cream in the front. I already had mine before we came across this one.

Christmas 2011 Snowflake #47

2011-12-07T21:05:00.000+08:00

This is a pattern from Myra Piper, #11 in her book. Tatted in Size 40, 5 metres of thread was required in the shuttle. It was very quick to tat and easy too. I like the square shape and yes it is a very 'unusual' snowflake.

Car Wash

2011-12-06T20:31:00.000+08:00

It was early Sunday morning. We woke up early, had our favourite fish ball noodles and was headed home but not before a car wash. When the car wash attendant saw the car, he shook his head and smiled. The car was filthy as the day before it went through some dusty roads and then it rained. But they did an excellent job at the car wash.

Angels Incorporated

2011-12-05T20:57:00.003+08:00

I added 925 silver ear hooks to the little angels and tatted a tail for the larger version with an angel charm. I found this angel charm at the local bead shop and thought it would be most suitable with these tatted angels.

If you noticed, I made a mistake in the angel, one less ring on one side of the skirt. I did not see it until I finished it. Hmmm, my imperfect angel bookmark. Thank you Anne Bruvold for this pattern and Tatting Marie for introducing it.

Umi Woken Up

2011-12-03T20:51:00.011+08:00

Is this too much of a close-up? Umi was curled up sleeping and I crept up slowly to take this shot. As soon as I did, she decided to move and no chance to take more photos.

This one is just for Gian.

Anne Bruvold's SSSR Angel

2011-12-02T20:37:00.001+08:00

I admit I did not use the single shuttle split ring (SSSR) technique, instead I tatted using two shuttles with split rings and the self closing mock ring (SCMR). I love the little angels. Done in Size 40 and 60 threads.

I first saw this pattern when Marie gave me a tatted angel. Marie and I exchanged blinged shuttles last year and she sent me this little angel which I used to decorate mom's tree last year. See this post here. I think I will make a few more to include in Christmas cards or gift tags.

Brilliant Frangipanni

2011-12-01T21:19:00.004+08:00

This frangipanni is bright pink/almost red. It looks very striking with the dark green leaves. They come in many colours. This plant Plumeria makes a very attractive small tree in the garden. The flower emits a scent and the bark produces poisonous sap. We now have many varieties compared to decades back when only the white variety was seen, usually planted in cemeteries.

Christmas 2011 Snowflake #46

2011-11-30T20:56:00.010+08:00

One more from Susanne Rolf. This is also from her Mustersammlung book on page 34. I really enjoyed tatting this. It was done in 2 rounds and the small rings are all the same size. I think it is a pretty pattern. In Size 40 threads, I used up 3m per shuttle for round 1; 5m for Shuttle 1 and 3m for Shuttle 2 in round 2.

Peanuts Envelope

2011-11-29T21:21:00.000+08:00

This came from Tabatha. She did not know that Snoopy was about the only comic strip I enjoyed growing up. I remember I could not get enough of it in the newspaper, I bought some of the books. I wonder where they are now, the books. Tabatha sent me 3 balls of Lizbeth Size 40 in autumn apple pie, jungle greens and blue river glades. You'll see some tatting in those colours soon. Thank you Tabatha.

Turtle

2011-11-28T20:14:00.021+08:00

This little turtle's shell is out of shape. It looks more rounded in the pattern. I think I should have tightened the chains to make it curve more. I added the little tail. This pattern is from Martha Ess in her book 'More Critters on the Block'.

Kueh Bangkit

2011-11-26T20:48:00.042+08:00

Grandma use to make this for the Chinese New Year and we were all roped in to help. I remember dusting the wooden moulds with flour before putting the dough in, levelling it off with a knife and knocking them out. Patterns like what you see in the photo are made on the top surface with a comb and they are ready for baking. I have not eaten these for a long time so when we got these from a friend, it was such a treat. Even Umi and Tsuru loved it. It crumbles and melts in your mouth. It is made with tapioca flour, eggs, sugar and coconut milk. Recipes are available on the web.

Years back, I found this wooden mould in a charity shop. It sits in my kitchen cabinet and I have never used it but it reminds me of the times we spent with grandma making new year goodies. This mould already has elaborate patterns on it so a comb is not necessary. Of course the comb is a new one, used only for baking.

Christmas 2011 Snowflake #45

2011-11-25T20:56:00.023+08:00

This is a pattern from Susanne Rolf on page 38 of her book Mustersammlung. The block tatting seemed too large for the overall motif. What do you think? This is tatted in Size 40 threads using up 3 metres of thread in each shuttle.

Clockwork

2011-11-24T21:02:00.001+08:00

At 7am every morning, cats gather on this balcony.

At 7:05am or thereabouts pigeons gather because a kind soul would throw leftover bread on this grass patch every morning.

So who started this routine, the kind soul or the pigeons, then came the cats who gather to watch. It is amusing yet heart warming.

Martha's Hummingbird

2011-11-23T21:18:00.019+08:00

The first and last hummingbird have mistakes in it. I was too distracted watching a movie on TV. Three are tatted in Lizbeth 40 and the yellow one in Perle 8. The hummingbirds in Size 40 are only 1.4 inches and the Perle 8 is about 1.7 inches in length. This pattern is by Martha Ess.

Bleeding Heart Vine

2011-11-22T21:30:00.000+08:00

It has flowered many times and sometimes the flower bud really looks anatomically like a heart. My photos do not do it justice. It is called Clerodendrum thomsoniae.

Criss Cross Bookmark #2

2011-11-21T21:02:00.022+08:00

This is tatted in Milford Satin Perle No. 5 in Ombre Red. It ended up quite a large bookmark measuring about 8.5 inches in length. It looks very different from the first one I tatted. Good for larger books. The long picots may have been a little too short so it does look bunched up in the centre. I think if you are going to tat this, a more sturdy thread would hold its shape better.

Dream Houses

2011-11-19T21:14:00.002+08:00

Whenever we pass this street, I imagine living in one of these houses. These are old townhouses in a prime location which have been refurbished and conserved. In Singapore, living in houses is a luxury. Ninety percent of the population live in apartments.

Grasshopper

2011-11-18T20:51:00.024+08:00

When I saw this pattern in the book, the grasshopper looked so realistic, I just had to try it first. The bottom right grasshopper was tatted first in Leafy Greens Lizbeth 40 #138, then the variegated green Anchor Perle Cotton 8 in Col.1215 and last is done in Rootbeer Float Lizbeth 40 #150. I am enjoying Martha's book of 'More Critters on the Block'.

Stained Glass Lamp Stands

2011-11-17T20:46:00.032+08:00

I found this shop in Chinatown. All the lamps are from Taiwan. I wondered if they sold just the lamp stands for my future stained glass lamp shades. I have not done stained glass for a long time and my phoenix is waiting to be finished. I wonder when I can get back to it. The cat and lilypad stands caught my eye.

Criss Cross Bookmark

2011-11-16T20:43:00.014+08:00

This was really enjoyable to tat. Blocking is needed to get the bookmark in a nice shape. And care must be taken to make sure the very long picots are not twisted before joining. As you can see one of mine is twisted. I used Lizbeth 40 #138 Leafy Greens. This measures about 6 inches in length. I wound about 7m of thread on the shuttle. I am going to try this again in a larger sized thread and see how that looks. The criss cross bookmark pattern is from Martha Ess on page 18 of her 'Playing With Picots' book.

Wire Sculptures

2011-11-15T20:36:00.021+08:00

This is the Esplanade Theatres in Singapore

Locally it is also know as the Durian because it resembles the fruit

The last time I was there, on display in the foyer were wire sculptures

There were others but they were quite difficult to photograph. Hope you enjoyed these.

Slalom Bookmark

2011-11-14T21:19:00.022+08:00

Slalom is a pattern from Martha Ess on page 12 of the 'Playing With Picots' book. It looked very unusual so I had to try it. It looks abstract. This measures about 5 inches with 12 repeats. I used 4m (per shuttle) of Lizbeth Size 40 threads in #633 Purple Dark and #162 Purple Iris Fusion. I wonder how it will look in one colour.

Mirror, Mirror Bookmark #3

2011-11-12T21:13:00.004+08:00

Now this one I did with Size 20 threads in #132 Tropical Punch and # 620 Azalea Medium. Since it was a Size 20 thread, I kept the picots larger like the first one. The bookmark measures about 6 inches without the tail. Used up 5m of threads on each shuttle for 10 repeats.

Elevens

2011-11-11T11:11:00.026+08:00

I scheduled this post for no other reason but for the fun of it. It is 11/11/11 at 11:11am in Singapore. Do I have photos of eleven seals. Did you count?

I found this beautiful to the eye and knowing all were hand carved, made it even more special. Margaret and Fox, I hope you enjoyed these photos. All these seals are exhibited at the Shanghai Museum.

Happy Bookmark

2011-11-10T21:03:00.022+08:00

Another pattern by Martha Ess. I used Lizbeth 40 #136 Autumn Spice and #138 Leafy Greens. I made 10 repeats using 3m on each shuttle. Row 1 was quite fiddly as the thin threads were turning and swirling so when you add Row 2, you have to be careful when you join to the picots making sure that it is not twisted. Perhaps using Size 20 threads will not be so cumbersome. It looks very unusual and quite pretty. It measures about 4.5 inches excluding the tail.

Jade Carvings

2011-11-09T21:07:00.037+08:00

Flower Bowl

Hair Ornament

Container with Lid

Lotus Pod Vase

A belt buckle

Mirror, Mirror Bookmark #2

2011-11-08T20:47:00.005+08:00

A few of you suggested making the outer picots smaller and I did that but for this pink one, I think perhaps the larger picots would be more appropriate. Anyway I love to see how each bookmark turns out with the various colours so I may tat one more. This one is tatted in Lizbeth 40 using #157 Raspberry Frappe and #624 Raspberry Pink Medium. It measures 4.75 inches without the tail.

Chinese Tea?

2011-11-07T20:57:00.023+08:00

Tea for one? No, this is soup for one. The tiny teacup holds just enough for one mouthful. It is a different way to serve soup. Just make sure the ingredients, once cooked, fits the mouth of the teapot. This soup is called Kungfu soup. It was made with chicken and herbs. I hate drinking hot steaming soup that burns your tougue. This allows you to pour out one cup, use your chopsticks to pick something else up and it is cool enough not to burn your tougue. The rest of the soup is kept warm in the teapot. Once you finish the soup, remove the teapot lid and eat the chicken, or not. As in most Chinese soups, the meat used would be tasteless once all its goodness is in the liquid.

Christmas 2011 Snowflake #44

2011-11-05T21:04:00.001+08:00

Martha, Thank you for this pattern. It is such a pretty snowflake pattern and it would also make lovely flower motifs if you tatted only Rounds 1 and 2. This pattern is called Chris' Broomstick Snowflake found on page 34 of the 'Playing with Picots' book by Martha Ess. Tatted in Size 40 threads, this snowflake measures about 2.5 inches across. Martha has included all the thread yardage required for all patterns in this book. I love that. I think I am going to try some of the bookmarks next.

What Fruit Is This?

2011-11-04T20:48:00.000+08:00

This was in someone's garden. The red flowers develop into the the green fruits. I thought they were lychee but it isn't. Does anyone know what fruit this is?

Mirror, Mirror Bookmark

2011-11-03T21:03:00.000+08:00

I love how the bookmark looked in Martha's book. I thought it was a clever use of variegated and solid threads in the pattern. It was easy to tat and a very rewarding motif for the new tatter. The completed bookmark has that 'wow' effect, don't you think?

This is tatted in Lizbeth 40 in Denim Whisper (Col. 120) and Dark Wedgewood (Col. 656) with 10 repeats measuring approximately 5 inches (without the tail). I chose this colour hoping it would be masculine enough for a birthday present.

Thewa from Rajasthan

2011-11-02T20:45:00.016+08:00

After watching 'Oh My Gold', I remembered this set of necklace and earrings which I got a few years back.

This is called Thewa involving gold, silver, glass and intricate craftsmanship. The picture of peacocks is etched on a paper thin sheet of gold and dipped in acid to reveal the lovely picture. A piece of glass is fused with the gold sheet and a coloured thin silver foil is placed in the background. I have not worn them yet but I will soon. I chose this red set but I remember there were various colours available too e.g. black, blue and green. This traditional jewellery technique is from the Sonis family in Rajasthan.

It came in this lovely box which in itself a work of art too. I think the picture is made with coloured glass dust.

Blue Elephant Family

2011-11-01T21:55:00.000+08:00

I think this will be a good representation of an elephant family. A family of individuals, each with their own identity. Now to think of how to display this for a hanging mobile. J, if you are reading this, let me know if you want to do it yourself or you trust me to. The elephant patterns are from Inga Madsen, Jane Eborall and Martha Ess. Thank you ladies, for such interesting and lovely patterns to tat. I had a lot of fun. Threads are a mixture of Lizbeth 40 and Perle Cotton.

Lemon Tart or Work of Art

2011-10-31T20:26:00.000+08:00

I would say Gastronomy Art. This was recommended by a friend. A must try, even if you do not fancy desserts or lemons. It looks like a whole candied lemon and it is, but when you cut it open . . . .

You have lemon curd, lemon sorbet and chantilly cream inside. Where did the pips and lemon juices go? I was told it took 72 hours to prepare. There was no visible incision so how did that happen? It must have been magic!! Do you see how thin the whole lemon rind is. Amazing! Lemon tart deconstructed in a most clever way. I hope it inspires you to create something beautiful yet . . . boggles the mind.

Little Sister Angel

2011-10-29T21:10:00.037+08:00

Two sister angels, one in silk threads (right, ~ Size 60, ~ 1.5 inches length) and the other is in Size 10 Milford (left, ~2.5 inches). The silk threads was a gift from Fox. The pattern by Martha Ess' new book 'Playing with Picots' and it is quick to tat. If you add a tail, you could use it as a bookmark. The one in silk could be worn as earrings or both could hang on your Christmas tree.

Oh My Gold

2011-10-28T20:49:00.001+08:00

Last night AAA reminded me that I wanted to watch this new programme 'Oh My Gold' on TLC channel. It is scheduled for 10pm every Thursday night in Singapore. I am glad I did not miss it. The 1st episode showed the traditional jewellery craft in Jaipur. If you love jewellery, you should not miss this. There is a repeat showing tomorrow at 4pm.

The pieces were stunning and the amount of handwork is amazing. The gemstones, gold and enamel that goes into each creation are astounding. The designs are traditional but some pieces could look very contemporary too.

It also showed the beautiful architecture of Jaipur and the intricate decoration that filled every inch of the palace walls. It is hosted by Lisa Ray and she makes the show even more interesting with her sometimes distracting antics. Try to catch the show if you can.

Elephant Patterns from Martha Ess and Inga Madsen

2011-10-27T21:33:00.025+08:00

This pattern is from Martha Ess' book 'More Critters on the Block'. I used Lizbeth 20 Col. 143 Royal Wave. This tiny elephant is about 2 inches across.

This pattern is from Inga Madsen. I used the same thread for it. I think somehow the pattern got lost with this thread. Perhaps I should try a solid blue instead.

How is the scale of this mother and baby? Does it look strange?

Or is this better? Perhaps I should use all the elephants I made and group them into one big family.

One More Beaded Spider

2011-10-26T20:23:00.001+08:00

I made one more beaded spider using a filigree bead as the body. I have limited selection of bugle beads right now so they are in the same colour theme as these. Kathy made a great tutorial so do try it out.

Testing Patterns for Blue Elephants

2011-10-25T21:05:00.002+08:00

I had a request from J for a mother elephant with a few baby elephants. I earlier tatted from Inga Madsen's book so I decided to try Jane Eborall's patterns. I am afraid my adult elephant looks more like a mammoth but the baby elephant looks really cute. I am going to try Martha's block elephant next and decide which pattern to tat for J after that.

Chinese Seals

2011-10-24T20:46:00.001+08:00

These seals are really beautiful. The carvings on the stone are intricate and you can see the details when it is imprinted with ink. The first seal is carved on all sides. In the rest, all four sides of the stones are carved in addition to the bottom surface which is the actual signature. My favourite is the last one with the lotus.

Candy Canes

2011-10-22T21:04:00.021+08:00

The Tatting Goddess shared this pattern by Julie Patterson with me when I asked if anyone knew whether Julie had published a book of tatting patterns. These candy canes are just the thing for Christmas. I tatted this in the red Coats Size 40 Shade 700 thread which Gina gave me and white threads from two different brands but both labelled Size 40. As you can see the cane on the right is slightly bigger because the Size 40 thread is slightly thicker than the one on the left. Quick to tat up and fun too.

Three Horses

2011-10-21T21:07:00.000+08:00

These horses were tatted using Lizbeth Size 40 Rootbeer Float (#150). Compare it to this in variegated pink. The pattern is from Inga Madsen's book - Tatted Animals. Doesn't each horse look just a little different? These were specially requested by T.

Hanky Edging #7 - Completed

2011-10-20T21:28:00.005+08:00

This lovely monogrammed handkerchief was given to me by Fox of Tat-ology. I started the hanky edging with this post and progressed to this post. Did I undo the first 6 inches of the edging? No, I did not. It did not look too bad after I blocked and ironed it. There is some crumpling but that's fine, easier than undoing 6 inches and tatting it again.

What was tatting 3 edgings simultaneously like? Well I got pretty distracted with side projects until I could not remember the pattern for each edging or what thread I used. If I had to do it again, I would tat one edging with many other small motifs at the side. I think perhaps that would be done much earlier. This took me about 2 months but I am happy with the results. Here is a photo of all three and I have Gina, Fox and Diana to thank for.

House-shaped Pillow

2011-10-19T20:55:00.000+08:00

I remember watching my grandmother sleeping on a ceramic pillow. I think that pillow is at home with mom. This one is showcased at the Shanghai Museum. I cannot imagine sleeping on a pillow like this but it is a beautiful work of art.

Hanky Edging #6 - Completed

2011-10-18T21:25:00.020+08:00

I have been tatting 3 hanky edgings since August. I have finally finished all three edgings. Previous post on this was here and here. This handkerchief was given to me by Gina of Threads of a Tatting Goddess from this post here. This hanky is embroidered on all 4 corners with pink roses. They are so pretty. Thank you Gina!

I chose this edging No. 8 pattern from Kirstine Nikolajsen and Inge Lise Nikolajsen's 'Tatted Handkerchiefs' book and adpated it to fit the scallops on this hanky. I love how the edging ruffles. The first photo shows the edging which I pinned and blocked straight but it looked a little strange so I washed the hanky again and let the edging dry naturally. Does it look better?

And Isdihara, I did notice tatting in the Downton Abbey ladies' collar. Do you think they would feature my tatting-edged hanky? Now, that would be a dream!!

Thank you for all your lovely comments for Hanky Edging #5. I will definitely think about them when I tat the next edging. Diane, it may be sometime next year.

Lotus Seed Pods in a Vase

2011-10-17T20:50:00.001+08:00

I remember eating raw lotus seeds. Imagine seeing these lotus seed pods arranged in a vase. It was a beautiful sight. It reminded me of the time when mom would buy these fresh from the market and I would spend time peeling them and taking care to remove the bitter embryo from the seed before munching on them. They tasted green but sweet.

Hanky Edging #5 - Completed

2011-10-15T21:05:00.002+08:00

It all began here. Then progressed to here and today I am showing you the completed hanky edging. This hanky was given to me by Diana of Lace-lovin' Librarian from this post. Did you see how many hankies she gave away. Thanks so much Diana. You have been so generous.

I hope I did the beautiful handkerchief some justice with this Mary Konior's edging pattern called Josephine. I really wanted the Josephine knots to complement the embroidery around the yellow bouquet.

Chain Maille Earrings

2011-10-14T21:11:00.002+08:00

This is my attempt at chain maille. Saw this tutorial here tried out the 1 into 4 spiral chain. It didn't turn out as in the photo. But if I held the two end and twist, I do see a twisted chain. Anyway I made a pair of earrings with it. Rings and hooks are antique silver tone with fresh water pearls at the end.

And . . . More Wigjig Necklaces

2011-10-13T21:27:00.001+08:00

Swarovski crystal pearls in powder green with a carved light green bead. Chain, clasp and earring hooks are antique silver metal tone.

Swarovski crystal pearls in night blue with a Swarovski briolette pendant. Chain, clasp and earring hooks are copper tone.

Bronze fresh water pearls with polymer beads with a Swarovski briolette pendant. Chain, clasp and earring hooks are copper tone.

Swarovski crystal pearls in powder pink with a Swarovski bicone (top drilled). Chain, clasp and earring hooks are antique silver tone.

Thank you Gary at WigJig for your helpful suggestion of using a connector at the centre WigJig motif. In the last pink one, I used a ring.

Blue and White Ceramics

2011-10-12T20:02:00.002+08:00

Some of the beautiful ceramics we saw at the Shanghai Museum. I thoroughly enjoyed the visit. We did not see all the exhibits, only the ceramics, calligraphy, Chinese seals and jade galleries. Now where are those pamphlets I brought back?

At each level, there is a little gift corner where you can buy reproductions or items related to each gallery. It was fun to see what they had for sale. But there is also a larger gift shop on the ground level with everything you could imagine. As they did not charge for admission, we decided to support them by getting two items - a book on Ancient Chinese Jade and a ceramic water decanter for painting. It fits in your palm perfectly.

More Wigjig Necklaces

2011-10-11T20:23:00.000+08:00

I found a different motif for the Wigjig here. I adjusted the pegs a little so it does look different. The first necklace is made with Swarovski crystals - nine red round (6mm) and one baroque pendant crystal AB (16mm). Matching earrings are made with the same red round (6mm) Swarovski crystals. Chain, toggle clasp and earring hooks are antique silver metal tone.

The second necklace is made with Swarovski crystal pearls - nine deep brown (6mm), one bronze twist crystal pearl nugget (9mm) and one briollete pendant crystal silver shadow (11mm). Matching earrings are made with the same deep brown (6mm) Swarovski crystals. Chain, toggle clasp and earring hooks are antique silver metal tone.

A Pyramid of Fatty Pork

2011-10-10T21:13:00.000+08:00

It was juicy, tender and delicious and yes it was one continuous strip of pork carved out from a block of pork. The chef must be very skillful to do this. Look at how thin it is. This braised pork was served with greens and freshly steamed pumpkin buns.