December 2009 Giveaway goes to . . . . .

Tsuru has chosen. M, please send me your contact details and I will send the little tatted frame to you ASAP. Thank you to HJ, Julie and Val for participating. Tsuru has not tire of her 'new' spot. She is catnapping here at this very moment after the 'pick the winner' routine.

Merry Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas! I am spending this Christmas with family. I hope you are too.

This tatted tree slants perhaps due to the blocking or it could be due to the different types of thread that I used. But I thought this would be an appropriate tatting for today.

Duet by Mary Konior

This is Mary Konior's pattern called Duet on pg 13 of Tatting with Visual Patterns. I tatted this for Dr Z to thank him for all that he has done (MK#5). Done in Flora Cotton threads size 20 in colour #227.

December 2009 Giveaway

This little tatting will frame a lovely photo. Measures approx. 2.25 x 2.25 inches . I tatted this pattern last month. It was the second pattern which I tatted from Mary Konior's book. This was tatted using a Perle Cotton #8 GT thread.
This is this month's giveaway from Umi and Tsuru's blog. If you would like a chance to win this, just leave a comment by 28 Dec 2009 and check back after that.

Tsuru on the laundry basket

This is darling Tsuru lounging on the laundry basket on top of my pair of jeans. When she finds a favourite spot, it's hers for a couple of weeks. She sleeps there a lot. If she is there, Umi will lie more comfortably next to me on the sofa.

Lover's knot quilt top finished

I posted this and two kind people Katie and Beelizabeth helped me find the name of this pattern, I finally figured out how this is done. This time, I documented each step so that if I want to do this again, I have something to refer to. I will be very happy when I finally finish this. Still needs borders. backing, quilting and binding.

Election Bookmark

This pattern is by Gillian Buchanan called the Election Bookmark. I chose to tat this because I just love how Josephine rings make the piece look. Okay, I always love patterns with Josephine rings. This was for done for AC. Threads are form Lizbeth 40 Colour Jewel (#113). Colour of rubies, sapphires and amethysts. My favourite gemstones too.

Tatted Bookmarks for Julie

These bookmarks are for Julie Riley. I hope she likes them. I tatted them in her favourite colours blue green (Anchor Perle Cotton 8 in #1345) and sunset colours (Anchor Perle Cotton 8 in #1315). I much prefer the shape of the leaves here. The last one I made was a little roundish. Pattern for the leaves are by Ruth Perry as I listed here. Photos were taken without blocking. I am blocking them now and it should be better. Julie, do send me your addy and it should fly off to you soon.

Dimpled Ring Angel for Aunty May

In the arms of an Angel fly away from here .......

In the arms of an Angel; may you find some comfort here.

~Angel by Sarah McLachlan~

Aunty May (5 kor) passed away on 7 Dec 2009 aged 66.

She will be missed.

I tatted this last night because I wanted this angel at her funeral. This pattern is by Lenore English called the dimpled ring angel. This was done in DMC Perle Cotton Size 12 in Blanc.

November 2009 Giveaway Tatted Teapot

The little tatted teapot goes to Margaretha in Queensland, Australia. Please e-mail me your contact details, Margaretha. Umi made the choice again this month. Thank you all for coming by to visit and give your comments. I hope you all had fun. The December 2009 Giveaway by Umi and Tsuru will be posted soon. Look out for it!! I hope you will visit again soon.

Butterfly bookmark

The butterfly pattern is from Ellen. It is a beautiful pattern. I added a split ring tail and a crystal pearl at the end. This bookmark is a gift for H. I chose this for her but did not tell her and asked her to choose one from a few others. Strangely she chose this one.

Cluny Leaves Motif

This was done after I learnt how Cluny leaves are tatted. Ask me to do this now and I won't be able to. Time to re-learn tatting Cluny leaves.

A little teapot for November 2009 giveaway

This is from Martha Ess 'Tea is for Tatting' book and it is called a tiny square teapot. I look forward to tatting the larger teapots. I think the first one I would like to try is the Celtic Teapot. I also need to learn how the Maltese ring is done. Time to go for a tatting lesson.

This little teapot will be Umi and Tsuru's November 2009 Giveaway. If you would like a chance to receive this, leave a comment before 6 December 2009 and your name will be put into a draw. Please check back to see who won.

Multicoloured flower branch bookmark

These are done with Swarovski bicone crystals incorporated into the flowers. The leaves are done using a pattern by Ruth Perry although these do not look anything like Ruth's. This is because it is dependent on the picot size. One more bookmark to add to my collection of tatted gifts.

Leaves of Autumn

The falling leaves of autumn. This pattern is by Sherry. I wanted to tat this for the longest time but never got to it until recently. I was inspired by Lizbeth threads Falling Leaves #100 and Tatskool's HDT Chocolime. They seem perfect colours for leaves. In some strange world, there are blue leaves which have been tatted in GT threads and the last one is in Anchor Perle Cotton Colour #1304 with a little heart charm. I have tatted quite a number of bookmarks as gifts. These are some. Visit Tatskool's blog to see her colours of autumn leaves.

Square motif

I love to browse TattingChic's list of patterns she's gonna tat. That is where I first saw this really pretty square motif. I used TattingChic's link to this pattern. It is by Lady Lace Tatting and you can find the pattern here. Thank you to Lady Lace for the free pattern and TattingChic for showing me to it.

I like square tatting motifs. The pink one is done in Flora 20 #206 and the light green/gold/blue one is done in a metallic DMC (?, I lost the label) thread. It looks a little different from Lady Lace's but perhaps I should try it in a dark thread.

Crooked Mile

MK#4 is a crooked mile with mistakes but I decided to continue tatting and make the mistakes part of the pattern. It is now my version of the Crooked Mile pattern by Mary Konior. This pattern is found on page 11 of 'Tatting with Visual Patterns'. I used the GT thread Size 20 in variegated red. Another tatted bookmark for a man.

A quilting question

Does anyone know the name of this quilt pattern? I am trying to find instructions on how to quick piece this together. This patch is more than 10 years old. I have the fabric cut in 2 inch strips with one patch done up. I attended an afternoon quilting workshop but I never finished the piecing and I have no idea how this is done. The truth is I have forgotten and it never occurred to me to write down the instructions when I attended the workshop. What I remember is machine sew the 4 different fabric strips together. I remember piecing one more time before cutting diagonally and piece again. I can't remember the order of doing what first. If anyone can help. I would realy appreciate it.

Mary Konior's Anniversary Double Braid

This is MK#3. It is the Anniversary Double Braid on page 8 of the 'Tatting with Visual Patterns'. I added a tassel and yes it's a bookmark. I am trying to make tatting gifts suitable for the male species. Would any man appreciate this?

The thread used is a Cotton Pearl 8 from China called GT (Gold Thread). I bought a few colours of these when I visited mom in June 2009. The quality of the thread is not great but I liked the colours they had. Tat with these only if you are sure there will be no unpicking. Look out for more tatting in these threads. I just realised I could not find the colour name or number on the label. The colour is similar to DMC Perle 8 Colour #111, except this GT colour changes with less gradation.

Anniversary Motif

This is what I tatted next from Mary Konior's book. This will make pattern #2 (MK#2). Yes I want to tat up as many as I can before the end of the year. This one is called the Anniversary motif. This is done in Coats Size 40 in Colour 884.

Jack and Jill bookmark

I am happily tatting the patterns from my new book 'Tatting with Visual Patterns' by Mary Konior. This one is called Jack and Jill. Tatted in Lizbeth Cotton Size 20 in colour #126 / Paint Brush.

In the book, this was tatted up and used as simulated smocking over fabric. I think it looks like an unusual bookmark. What do you think?

I think there will be more bookmarks coming up. I am enjoying the Lizbeth threads and Mary Konior's patterns. Happiness!!

Tomorrow I might be going to see a lady about a new sewing machine. We'll see how that goes.

Umi relaxing on the sofa

This is Umi on the rare occasions that she decides to lounge with me on the sofa. She needs a lot of space because she loves to roll around. She has her moods but she always loves a tummy rub.

Umi Chooses October 2009 Giveaway Winner

Gave Tsuru the day off and asked Umi to work this month. The bottle contains treats for Umi and Tsuru. They know how to put their paws into the bottle to pull out the treats. I put all the names in the bottle, gave it a good stir and asked Umi to pick. The first name she pulled out is . . . . . .

Congratulations to Edna Henry. Do drop me an e-mail with your address and I will send the bookmark off to you. Thank you to all who participated and your comments. Look out for next month's giveaway.

October 2009 Giveaway

This is a tatted bookmark in Lizbeth Cotton Thread Size 20 Col #105 or Confetti. The book mark measures 8 x 2.5 inches without the tassel. This pattern is by Lenore English and can be found here. As I tatted this I was amazed at how it turned out and could not imagine the how creative the designer is.

Leave a comment before 31st Oct 2009 and your name will be put into a draw.

I am in love with my velvet purse

It is designed by Pat, of course. It is a little different from Pat's other purse creations. I just love this one for its simplicity. Look at that delicate lace on the top and bottom which is coordinated with the velvet. Pat specially ordered in and dyed the velvet in this light mint green. The girl in the ciggie is lovely and the subtle purple in the lace and embroidered silk ribbon flowers is just so pretty. The purse handle is bone carved. Pat added a magnetic clasp on the inside. I think it looks very vintage. Pat suggested I include a tatted strap. I think that is a great idea. Thank you so much Pat. I love my new velvet purse.

Meandering Path Pattern

I first saw this tatted up on Tatskool's blog and found out that the pattern is by LadyTats (diagrammed here). A big thank you to LadyTats for this pattern. As soon as I saw it, I wanted to tat this. I got so excited that I was not paying much attention and tatted up this off white one. It does not look anything like the photo in the pattern because it was full of mistakes. There is no meandering path. This is what happens when you are not paying attention.

In the next few days, I tatted one in 2 colours DMC Cotton Perle 8 in colours #9 and #51,

one with Delica beads in DMC Perle Cotton 8 #9

and the last one in DMC Cotton Perle 12 in #814 (this ball of thread was a gift from Pat Winter).

Can you see the square in each one?

Quilt shop moving sale

I went a little crazy the other week. The local quilt shop where I took my CQ class had a sale as it was moving to a new location. It was the last day of the sale but I still managed to get some bargains at 30% and 50% off. I am quite pleased as I managed to get some cat theme fabrics. I think my next quilt will be that. I have never done quilting and would like to machine quilt it myself, that is if I get my sewing machine fixed.

Lemon curd mini cupcakes

I made these in 3 different sizes: mini, medium and large. I prefer these mini as the portions of cake, lemon curd and icing seemed to be just right. I have never made this recipe of lemon curd before but it turned out really delicious. The recipe is from here. I did not have any Meyer lemons so I just combined 3 regular lemons and 1 small orange. It is yummy and fragrant and for those who dislike the sweetness of butter cream icing, this combination is good. Earl Grey Tea anyone?

My Toa Kor

Say not in grief that she is no more

but say in thankfulness that she was

A death is not the extinguishing of a light,

but the putting out of the lamp

because the dawn has come.

~ Rabindranath Tagore ~

My eldest aunt passed away last night at age 85. She was born in China and came over with my grandparents in the early 1930s. She worked as a midwife for all of her adult life. She never married but adopted a baby girl. Just the other day my mom was saying how lucky my aunt is to have a daughter who looked after her during her illness. My cousin would drive out to buy whatever my aunt craved to eat that day.

WIP - completed

This was my second attempt at this pattern from the Japanese Tatting book listed in this post. In the book this was sewn on a cushion. The book does say it is a modern adaptation using Weldon's pattern (1887). After I took the photo in that post, I realised there was a mistake 3 to 4 rings back and had to unpick to correct it. But I finally finished it a few days later and this is how it looks. This HDT by LadyShuttleMaker is called Tuscany. I am still not totally satisfied with the tatting because the threads connecting round 1 and 2 were still too long. It was the same problem in my first attempt and it could not lie flat hence what you see below is the result.

Tea with Mooncakes

Have you ever bought something just because you wanted the packaging it came in. I am definitely guilty of it. In this case it is the tin that I wanted. Similarly, I choose to buy mooncakes that had lovely packaging. I loved the tins it came in. I use the tins to keep my jewellery supplies, beads, gemstones, threads and pieces of tatting. They are quite useful.

It is that time of the year again. To celebrate the mid-autumn lantern festival, mooncakes and Chinese tea should be enjoyed under the full moon. Light a lantern and see the children enjoy themselves under the moonlight. I remember my grandmother singing a song when my sister and I walked round the garden with our lanterns.