The Story of Tripod

She was named Tripod for a reason.

She was brought in when she was a kitten for treatment after an accident. Her tiny leg was crushed and it had to be amputated. The kitten's owner could not care for it so she has been adopted and now a resident cat at my sister's clinic. She is curious and very mischievious. She runs and jumps onto tables just as well if not better than a normal cat. She loves hiding in drawers and while we were chatting, she happily sat on the table listening as though wanting to participate in our conversations.

Giraffe

Inga Madsen Tatted Animals pattern No 6.
Tatted in DMC Perle Cotton 8 Col.51 (Variegated Burnt Orange).
I love how this turned out. Isn't this thread just perfect for a giraffe? But I do think the neck could be a little longer. What do you think?

Silk Patchwork Blanket - Completed

This was what I woke up to one morning. I was binding the blanket the night before and left it on the table. Umi always find the most comfy thing to sit on. Sometimes it is just on a pile of newspaper, sometimes it is a silk bundle.

Mom's silk blanket is completed. It is reversible, one side is predominantly red and the other green. Binding is black. I did not do any quilting and there isn't any batting in between either. It is for use in a non air-con room with a ceiling fan in summer temperatures. I hope it is cool enough to use. I have packed it up in a box, put a bow on it and given it to mom. She has decided to only open it in August as it is for her birthday. No, she won't see this unless someone in the family shows her. So, . . . do not ruin the surprise.

Elephant

Inga Madsen Tatted Animals pattern No 5.
Done in DMC Perle Cotton 8 Col. 111 (Variegated Mustard). Note the cute tail and trunk. I am finding great selection of colours from my Perle Cotton thread stash.

Remember . . . .

 this? I finally bought a plain T for this piece of tatting.

I asked her if she liked it and she shook her head. She wanted a princess, instead. Aaaahh .... it isn't easy to please a 3 year old.

Dog

Inga Madsen Tatted Animals pattern No 4.
This looks more like a mischievous puppy and somehow I always imagine the little tail wagging vigorously. This is tatted in Anchor Perle 8 Col. 1304.

Silk Patchwork - WIP 2

This is a patchwork blanket for mom. Front and back of the blanket. It is for her birthday. I hope it is not too colourful for her. I bought some silk fabrics from Shanghai the last time I was there. I had to supplement with more as I only bought half yard pieces of various colours. I thought I could easily find the same type of 100% Chinese silk in Singapore. I was wrong. I finally found some Chinese silk in Arab Street but it was of a different quality.

Cat

Inga Madsen Tatted Animals pattern No 3. I used DMC Perle 8 in Col. 69 (Variegated Terra Cotta). In most of her patterns beads were used for eyes. I think I will sew in the eyes later.

One More Tatting Book

This is the first book from Susanne Schwenke published in 2000. Unlike the other two books Spitzen Ideen (2003) and Spitzen Kreationen (2006), this one has the pattern written in long descriptive style in German. A little more difficult to figure out the pattern if you do not read German. The latter two books had the pattern written in short style and easier to follow. All have diagrams with stitch count so it should not be a problem. I really enjoy tatting her patterns and more importantly, you do not get bored. Does anyone know if Susanne Schwenke has published anymore tatting books after 2006?

Butterfly

Inga Madsen Tatted Animals pattern No 2.
The small butterflies were tatted first in Anchor Perle 8 Col. 1320 (pink) before the body and the wings in DMC Perle 8 Col. 94 (Variegated khaki green). I wanted the small butterflies to stand out.

Update on Umi

Umi is feeling much better.

She now needs to put on the weight she lost when she was sick. Currently, she is about 3.6kg, same weight as Tsuru. Tsuru has been enjoying all the different kibble I bought to entice Umi to eat.

It has taken some time for Umi to recuperate from this illness. I did not give her the antibiotics the vet prescribed as Umi wasn't eating then, but I did give her the anti-vomitting, the bioenzymes and the antacid. For two weeks, she was also given the subcutaneous fluid therapy. How she hated it, but we had to flush her system as she was not drinking or eating. Umi did not have to stay at the vet and she was such a dear when she was there unlike the tantrums she threw at home. Who likes being poked and held down for 5mins while the fluid drips in. She protested but it had to be done.

I took this video just this afternoon. Umi is now a very lean cat. Umi loves this brush. See how she enjoys it. I put it through the chair's leg and adjust it to her height so that she can use it whenever she feels a need to. Tsuru on the other hand, does not care for this brush at all.  

New Hanky Edging

I could not wait to start a new hanky edging. This edging pattern is from Sumi Fujishige's Tatting Lace on page 18. This pattern caught my eye. As the pattern is for an oval doily, I had to improvise the corner.  The thread is Venus size 40 Col. 107. The rosebud hanky was one of those I bought. I decided to tat onto the hanky to compare this method to sewing it in using the slip stitch. Initially it was a little cumbersome but I think this is may be my preferred method. 

Starling

This pattern is from Inga Madsen's book Tatted Animals. I used Perle Cotton Size 8 from Anchor Col. 1345 for the head and body and Col. 1335 for the tail and feathers.  The two different coloured threads make this starling a little strange. I really enjoyed tatting the tail.

Inga Madsen explained that she created these designs for a quilted blanket for her grandchild. I may include this in a patchwork blanket. We will see what happens after I tat all the patterns in this book.

What's in My Letterbox Today

When I checked my letterbox today, I was hoping to receive the books I ordered from The Book Depository. It arrived and so did the above hanky which I was lucky to win from Gina of Threads of a Tatting Goddess. Isn't the embroidered pink roses just gorgeous?

Then it was a surprise package from Fox of Tat-ology. She sent me a lovely vintage hanky with an embroidered 'S', some pretty pastel beads, two turtle charms and a very lovely tatted cluny motif. I love them all.

Thank you both so much.

Christmas 2011 Snowflake #32

This one would not sit perfectly flat maybe because my picots were larger than Susanne's. After blocking it looks slightly better. This one is tatted in 2 rounds. Round 1 required 2m of Size 40 threads on the shuttle and Round 2 needed 1m on Shuttle 1 and 4m on Shuttle 2. I think I will take a break from snowflakes and tat something else. Hmmm maybe from Inga Madsen's Tatted Animals.

Silk Patchwork - WIP

This was difficult for me. Cutting and sewing silk is not easy. Silk runs everywhere even when pinned down. I started with the normal sewing machine foot and made this first patch. After ironing it, it looked slightly better but I just could not sew straight lines.

For the second patch, I decided to use the walking foot and it was slightly better but still not perfect. So I decided, instead of perfection, it is going to be imperfect. So what if the lines are not straight.

Christmas 2011 Snowflake #31

This one is done in one round with some split rings. 11m of Size 40 threads on Shuttle 1 and 3m on Shuttle 2. Again the small rings look like Josephine knots but they are just normal rings. There is one more snowflake pattern from this Spitzen Kreationen book. 

Hanky Edging - WIP

Almost done. Tatting completed. Now to sew it on. How do I do this?? Crochet it in? Slip stitch it in?

Maybe pin it down first. I thought this cotton hanky (12 by 12 inches) was in an unusual colour and different from the rest as the flowers were cross stitched in. It has some drawn thread work - 2 squares. I hope you can see it.

Christmas 2011 Snowflake #30

One more snowflake from Susanne Schwenke Spitzen Kreationen book on pp34. A pretty design which looks like a flower. I used Size 40 white threads on two shuttles, 5m on Shuttle 1 and 8m on Shuttle 2.

A Tropical House Garden

Banana tree is flowering (centre); Bird's Nest Fern (bottom right); Sealing Wax Palm (left)

 

Koi in the pond; Salvinia in the urn

Heliconia Lobster Claw

 

Doggies in the back

Christmas 2011 Snowflake #29

This is a pretty neat pattern, yes neat . . .it looks like a neat pentagon. It is Susanne Schwenke's pattern on pp32 of her Spitzen Kreationen book. I love Susanne's patterns and I am going to add to my collection by getting her Mustersammlung book. This one is tatted using 2 shuttles (Size 40 threads - 4m on Shuttle 1 and 8m on Shuttle 2). Most, if not all of her patterns require 2 shuttles.

Lunch at

An intricate wood carving panel greeted us at the lift lobby

A giant porcelain teapot on a beautifully carved table at the reception foyer

One of the Chef's signature dishes - Fried chicken marinated in red rice wine.  I should try to make this although I would oven grill the chicken instead of frying it.

Foie Gras & Fresh Scallops - this was yummy!! Yummy!!!!! It came with deep fried mushrooms and alfalfa sprouts.

Dried scallop with sponge gourd

Another chef's signature dish - Fried mee suah (rice vermicelli) with Pig Trotters. I found this dish a little too salty and will try the 'bee hoon' (stringy rice noodles) version next time.

Steamed Cod Fillet

There are other dishes on the menu waiting to be tasted and I loved the marinated wood ear fungus they served with the pickles as appetisers. 

Christmas 2011 Snowflake #28

Susanne Scwhenke's pattern from pp 30 of her Spitzen Kreationen book. Tatted using 2 shuttles and Size 40 threads - 2.5m on Shuttle 1 and 7m on Shuttle 2. If you are going to use my thread estimation, please add 1m extra thread just to be sure.

A Yellow Bouquet

This is what arrived from Lace-lovin' Librarian two days ago. Thank you Diane. I think it is going to be a white edging for this lovely hanky. Will it be a pattern from Susanne Schwenke, Mary Konior or Angeline Crichlow? I have yet to decide. I am just wondering if anyone has had more than one edging project tatted at the same time?

Noodle Language

I found this quite amusing. We were ordering noodles from a hawker stall and saw this array of cuttlery. What do these indicate? Orders in queue with different requirements e.g. type of noodle, with or without chilli, dry or soup, with or without beansprouts, eat in or takeaway etc. . . I am still wondering what the little paper bit on the spoon indicates.

Angeline's Travelling Book Adventure - Two More Coasters

Made specially for Fox of Tat-ology

Coaster With Sweetheart Medallion

(pp 141)

Lizbeth Size 40 in Dark Violet (#635)

Made specially for Judy of CJ Stitching and Blooms

Coaster - Open Scallop Around Sweetheart Medallion

(pp 142)

Lizbeth Size 40 in Country Grape Medium (#637)

First Hanky Edging - WIP

There is a first for everything. It all began with Fox and Diane's blog posts on beautifully tatted edgings for hankies. I always hesitated to edge anything because it is just a lot of work. But the end product must be worth it.

I started this edging after I went out to buy a few handkerchiefs to edge. Then Diane so generously gave away some beautiful handkerchiefs. I was so happy to receive one which I will post to show you. Thank you Diane.

The edging above is from Susanne Schwenke's Spitzen Ideen book on pp 6. Tatted using 2 shuttles, I used Venus Size 40 threads in Col. 678. I will post it when it is completed.

Christmas 2011 Snowflake #27

Is it June already? Wasn't it just New Year's? How time flies when you are enjoying yourself. Tatting that is. I think 27 snowflakes in 5 months is good progress. This is what I am refering to. Less than 7 months to Christmas.

So, continuing with the next snowflake from the Spitzen Kreationen book on pp 28, this was tatted in two rounds. Round 1 required 2m of Size 40 threads on the shuttle and Round 2 required 3m and 3.5m on Shuttle 1 and Shuttle 2 respectively. In case you are wondering, the small rings around the edge are not Josephine rings.

I am also contemplating getting this book - Tatting Artistry in Thread by Helma Siepmann but I wanted to get your frank comments if you have read it. Thanks so much.