Queen of Hearts

These 3 hearts flew off to Judy in celebration of her birthday last week. I'm afraid it is very much belated but better late than never. Top left was done in Flora Size 20 (Col. 41); Top right tatted in Yarnplayer's Peace HDT Size 20; Bottom tatted in Ladyshuttlemaker's Weeping Cherry Size 20 silk HDT.

After I sent those hearts off to Judy, I continued tatting more. Above in white Anchor cotton threads Size 2. Yes 2 not 20. Compare the size of the heart with those in size 30 and 40 threads below.

Bottom left tatted in Yarnplayer's Garden Afternoon Size 30 and bottom right in Milford Mercer Indigo Size 40. I always thought that indigo was more blue than purple but the label for that thread says indigo. It does look more purple to me.

Lampshade with Stand

The lamp stand has arrived and this is what it looks like. The size of the stand is fine but the harp is a little too big thus exposing the base of the bulb fixture. The harp is what separates the shade from the stand. I was told that I could get a shorter / smaller harp which will bring the lampshade lower.

Dress Trim (MK#46)

This pattern by Mary Konior is called Dress trim from her 'Tatting with Visual Patterns' on pg 52. I made 4 motifs and joined them together. As with Spinning Wheels, I will continue to tat more and join them up. Will post it when I have completed 9 of them. In this, I used the HDT from Yarnplayer called Snowflake Size 30.

Vintage Patterns

If you are looking for vintage patterns in the public domain, you might want to check out this library. From the catalogue, you can download knitting, needle lace, embroidery, crochet and of course tatting patterns in pdf format. Please note the conditions for use of the patterns. Enjoy!!

Cornelia

Cornelia is a pattern from Iris Niebach's book Tatted Doilies. The pattern looked simpler than Milena but I had never 'retro tatted' so many times in one pattern as this. A lovely pattern by Iris but I guess I was not totally focussed when I tatted this.

This is a very auspicious pattern from the Chinese perspective, well at least I think so. What fruit do you see in this pattern and how many of these fruits do you see? I used Lizbeth Falling Leaves (Col. 100) in Size 20.

It took approx. 45 metres of shuttle thread and 20 meters of ball thread. If you are trying this pattern, please allow a little extra to be sure.

May 2010 Giveaway goes to

BeadweaverDeb. She's #9 on the comment list here. Do send me your details for the tatted pearl earrings from Umi and Tsuru. Thank you to all who participated.

Stained glass - Intermediate Leading Class Completed

I thought I would never finish it. When I was working the lead strips to the glass pieces, I asked myself why I chose this pattern. Was it too difficult for a first leading piece? When I was soldering the joints, I thought to myself, this is going to take forever and my right hand was cramping up. Could I rest for a week and come back to it? No, I am going to pull through this. The end result would be more rewarding if the journey was difficult. Yes! The pane looks fragile and it had to be handled with care but I think it's pretty okay for a first attempt at leading. Doesn't Umi look pretty by the Art Deco Rose pane?

4 or 9 Spinning Wheels

What do you think? I want it in this general shape. Should I leave it at 4 or continue to 9 motifs? I showed you one spinning wheel here. Currently it is 7 by 5 inches. It was so much easier than tatting the first motif.

In loving memory - 10 years today

The Broken Chain

I little knew that morning,

that God was going to call your name

In life I loved you dearly,

in death I do the same

It broke my heart to loose you,

you did not go alone

For part of me went with you,

the day God called you home.

You left me beautiful memories,

your love is still my guide

And though we cannot see you,

you are always by my side

Our family chain is broken,

and nothing seems the same

But as God calls us one by one,

the chain will link again.

~ Anonymous

May 2010 Giveaway

These earrings are tatted using the snowball pattern from Mary Konior and they are this month's giveaway from Umi and Tsuru. The snowball (0.7 inches across) is tatted in light grey cotton thread (DMC Cebelia size 30) with grey Swarovski crystal pearls (3mm). Earhooks are 925 silver. To participate, just leave a comment before 19 May 2010 and your name will be included in the draw. Do check back as the winner will be announced on 20 May 2010.

Just to clarify the two photos above are of the same pair of earrings. Due to the light conditions and colour editing, it may look like different pairs. The colour in the top photo is more accurate.

Stained Glass - Intermediate Leading Class

Just completed the first part of the leading class. Compared to the copper foil method, this method needs you to plan your work more carefully. I chose this art deco rose pattern from Chantal Pare's website. Had some problems cutting glass with the 'inside curves' for the glass jewels/pebbles. Broke a few pieces. We also modified the pattern slightly to make it wider.

Milena

This pattern is called Milena and it is from Iris Niebach's book 'Tatted Doilies' on pg 25. I used the Milford Mercer size 40 thread in lilac. It's tatted using 2 shuttles in one round. This is the first Iris Niebach's pattern I have tatted. I have not done such a doily before but the pattern was easy enough to follow. I like her doily patterns and will try to tat more from this book. If I estimated correctly, it took about 62 metres of thread. Filled each of my Sew Mate shuttles 3 times but did not use up threads from the 3rd filling.

Cardboard house

What?? . . . boxes, no . .ooo . . cat condos!! One for each. I bought this faux fur lined cat bed, lugged it all the way back from Australia in the plane, which no one sits in and now collecting dust. They rather have these cardboard boxes to lounge in.

I sometimes, stack these boxes up and I find Tsuru way up on top of the stacked boxes and Umi in one of them.

Seven Snowballs

I posted one snowball here. This is seven joined up. Makes a pretty and delicate doily. Now, to start on joining more repeats of Spinning Wheels and Pear and Apple together.

Queen of Hearts (MK#45)

If you have tatted this pattern before, you would notice that there is an extra ring here (not part of the pattern), right smack in the centre. Oh well, this is my version of the Queen of Hearts. This one is tatted in LadyShuttleMaker's silk HDT 'Tropicana'. The silk HDT was a gift from Sherry and this tatted heart has flown off to another friend in blogland.