Umi

I lost my Umi today.

She had been sick for the past weeks and had not been eating. Stayed about a week at the animal clinic with an IV drip and meds. Her liver enzymes were high and she had jaundice. We brought her home last Friday and gave her sub-cutaneous fluids twice a day.

She was 10+ years old, not yet 11.

I hope she had a good life with us.

We will miss her.



Cucumber Melon Soup

I love Chinese soups. This is an old cucmber soup with fish maw, dried scallops etc. AAA is not so keen on Chinese soups expecially if it has Chinese herbs. So if we dine at this restaurant, I must have a soup and this is perfect for one. The stock is made, ingredients put into the melon and steamed using the melon as the soup bowl.

More Magas

Thank you for your comments in the Maga post. I tried tatting it again using Perle Cotton Size 8 thread. Thank you Wally for the pattern and your tip. I tried it in the orange bloom. The difference is that the petals are wider and I like it. Now, how can I make the petals overlap a little like yours?

Tischband Tat Along

This is a second repeat that has been completed. I will do another before joining two repeats together. 

Shall I join it this way as in the pattern written by Ruth?

Or join it this way? Each repeat is about 6.5 by 3.5 inches.

Maga - Puerto Rican Hibiscus

This pattern is by Wally Sosa and can be found here. I am sorry I did not do this pattern justice. Mine is unlike the photo from the pattern because I got too carried away blocking. I was not sure how to do the chain stitch. I think it should be tatted with a larger thread. I used Altin Basak Size 50. The Hibiscus is also the national flower of Malaysia. 

Give Your Pet

. . . . . a BIG hug today. They miss you when you are away. This is Tsuru telling me how she missed me. She will inch her way in between the notebook and me and this time she plonked herself on the keyboard. For a few minutes, I could not access the keyboard and after a while she shifted and tabbed her way through the screen.

INGLORIOUS TATTING

I took the words out of Fox's mouth. She said use it, but do not do it. But I have done it!!

This is my inglorious tatting. Oh frustration . . . can you see that it has been joined at all the wrong places. Now instead of a straight row, it is a curved one.

To remedy it, I had to cut out two flowers and tatted 2 fresh ones to join. If you are joining the leaves to 'double flower medallions' like this, I suggest you do the top and bottom leaves first before tackling the side leaves.

Anyway, just wanted to point you to these blogs where the Tischband Tat Along is progressing: Cindy; Frivole; Diane; Eliz; Fox; Tattabugg; Corina; Red; Neeneral; Jess;   

Do send me a link if I missed your blog post on the Tat Along.

Flower Medallions Set 8

This colour combination is Lizbeth 40 Country Grape Swirl #140 and Lilac Dark #641. If you have not started on this Tat Along, I suggest you make picots smaller than this. It would look neater and easier to join up. I forgot to post this earlier.

Remembering the Tatting Goddess

I spent sometime today tatting one of Gina's pattern. I downloaded this many months back but was hesitant to tat it as I did not know how it looked. Anyway, here it is - Gina's Seashell

Everyday, before I put in a post, one of the first things I do is visit Threads of a Tatting Goddess. I looked forward to see if Gina had posted and if she did not, there I would find all the new posts for the day.

Yesterday I typed in 'Gina' on the search bar of this blog and reminisced. You would be surprised at how many blog posts came up. We have never met or talked face to face, we did not know much about each other's lives except what was said on our blogs but we shared the love of tatting.

My progress - Tischband Tat Along

If you are wondering about the thread used for the Blatt 2 (leaves), I tatted using Lizbeth 40 Leafy Greens #138 and Jungle Greens #167. I had to untat the second leaf a few times as I made mistakes joining them up.

Gina . . . . you will be missed

Happy Valentines

This is my one contribution of a tatted heart so I chose to post it today to wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day. I noticed some hearts these past few weeks in your tatting blogs.

This is a pattern called Regal Heart from Teri Dusenbury's Tatting Hearts book. This is tatted in Aktin Basak Size 50 in Color #328. I hope you like this.

Tischband Tat Along - Blatt 2 Pattern

Find out more about the Tat Along here and here.

Pattern for Blatt 2 (Leaf)
Shuttle and ball thread. For Size 40 threads, wind about 1m on the shuttle. Start chain using a safety pin or paper clip.

- joining picot
-- normal picot
turn: make a lock stitch and flip tatting
*: joining sites

Click to enlarge

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Ch 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 5 -- turn

5 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + turn (join to picot made with safety pin / paper clip) (Fig. 1)

Tip: Allow some space on the core thread under the picots for joining. Do not push the stitches together too much.

Ch 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + turn

Ch 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 2 - 2 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + turn

Ch 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 4 + 4 + 5 + 5 + 5 + turn (Fig. 2)
Ch 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 5 + 5 + 5 + turn
Ch 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 2 - 2 + 6 + 6 + 6 + turn (Fig. 3)

Ch 6 + 6 + 6 + 4 + 4 + 6 + 6 + 6 + turn

Ch 6 + * 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + turn *

Ch 6 + 6 + 6 + * 6 + 6 + 6 +

End as desired and cut threads.

Make four Blatt 2 (leaf) taking note of joining sites indicated by *.

Frivole made a video which is very helpful so please have a look before you start the leaves.

Please leave a comment or e-mail me if you have any questions or if you find any mistakes in my interpretation of the pattern.
This pattern is from Ruth Scharf's book Occhi and is shared here with permission from Ruth.  If you would like to buy the book, you may do so by contacting Volker Scharf at Volker.Scharf@t-online.de. 

Flower Medallions Set 7

What about Lizbeth 40 Purple Iris Fusion #162 and Lilac Dark #611. I hope you are having fun coordinating colours. I was looking at the Tischband pattern and was thinking that you could also tat the leaves first and tat the flowers to join the leaves. I guess you need to try it out and decide which method you prefer. Do share how you would do it. I am going to post the Blatt 2 pattern by Ruth Scharf soon. 

Flower Medallions Set 6

Am I collecting flower medallions. Yes, it looks that way. These were tatted in Dark Purple #633 and Purple Iris Fusion #162. Both are  Lizbeth 40. Yes that is dark purple and not black. Too dark?? The flowers are joined by one picot. I always have to remind myself not to forget to join to the next flower.

You must visit Diane and Cindy to see their pretty blossoms.

Flower Medallions Set 5

I hope you are having fun with your flower medallions too. Have you seen what Fox tatted up? Sweet!

This set of flower medallions was used to illustrated the Blute pattern. Tatted in Lizbeth 40 Country Grape Swirl #140 and Country Grape Medium # 637.

Fruits of the Night Blooming Epiphylum

The flowers last only one night. I posted them here.

There are three fruits developing on the very same plant at the moment.

They look luscious. I wonder if there are any seeds inside. We will wait and see.

I bought another Epiphylum plant just before Christmas and this one has red leaves. I am waiting for it to flower.

Tischband Tat Along - Blute 1 Pattern

If you would like to join the Tat-Along, read about it here and leave a comment.

Pattern: Each repeat of Tischband requires you to tat four Blute 1 (flower medallions) and four Blatt 2 (leaves). This pattern may look difficult but it isn't. We will tat these in stages. After you tat 4 flower medallions, you tat the leaves and join them to the flowers.

Colours: You can plan to have all your flower medallions in one colour thread or multi-colours. I planned mine to be in shades of pink and purple tatted in Size 40 threads. I am also doing my leaves in different shades of green. You decide how you want to do them.

BLUTE 1

Shuttle and ball thread. For Size 40 threads, wind about 1.5m on the shuttle.

R 6 -- 6 (medium picot, large enough for 6 rings to join to); 

Ch 6;

{R 6 + 6; Ch 6} repeat until you have a total of 6 rings and 6 chains;

Join last chain to 1st ring;

{Ch 8, + join to base of ring} repeat until you have a total of 6 chains;
{Ch 10, + join to base of ring} repeat until you have a total of 6 chains;
{Ch 12, + join to base of ring} repeat until you have a total of 6 chains;
Note: For a better fit with the leaves in Tischband, ignore the next chain and go directly to the last chain with picots;
{Ch 14, + join to base of ring} repeat until you have a total of 6 chains; 
{Ch 3-2-2-2-2-2-2-3, + join to base of ring} repeat until you have a total of 6 chains;

End as desired and cut threads. Make four.

This is Blute 1 tatted up.

I did not join the chains to the base of the rings,

instead I joined it to the junction in between the chains.

I prefer it this way but you can choose either method.

Optional (You can also choose to join the next Blute later)
If you are making more than one repeat:

Make a 2nd Blute and join outer most chain at the 4th picot to the corresponding chain of the 1st Blute.

Blute Pair #1

Make another pair of Blute. 

Blute Pair #2

The Blatt 2 (leaves) pattern will be posted next week so look out for it. In the meantime I hope you will try tatting the Blute 1. Please post your flower medallions on your blog and alert everyone by posting a link here in the comment section. If you do not have a blog and would like me to post them here for you, just send me a photo via e-mail.

This pattern is from Ruth Scharf's book Occhi and is shared here with permission from Ruth.  If you would like to buy the book, you may do so by contacting Volker Scharf at Volker.Scharf@t-online.de. 

Thermal Tsuru

What a variety of colours.

Someone was playing with the photo editor.

Tat Along Challenge - Tischband by Ruth Scharf

Are you fascinated by this pattern called Tischband by Ruth Scharf? I am starting a Tat-Along using this Ruth Scharf's pattern.

If you have her book Occhi (Book 1), please refer to the Tischband pattern and tat along with me. You can tat just one repeat or as many as you want.

If you do not have Ruth's book, not to worry as Ruth has so kindly given special permission to share that pattern with you here.

I have been tatting flower medallions or what Ruth calls Blute 1.  In the Tischband pattern, you tat multiples of Blute 1 and Blatt 2.

If you would like to join the tat-along, just leave a comment on this post. Anyone can join and all we ask of you is to post your progress on your blog so that we can show Ruth the progress of the Tat-Along. 

It would be fun to see the results of different tatters from all over the world. So if you are up for it, join in. There is no time limit, so no pressure, tat along at your own pace.

Flower Medallions Set 4

I am afraid I have not had time to tat anything else but these. They were supposed to be tatted in between other projects. These were tatted in Lizbeth 40 in Dark Purple #633 and Fruit Fizz #139. This flower medallion pattern is from Ruth Scharf.

Spicy Ladies Fingers

 Chop some garlic and one medium sized onion

Soak some dried prawns in water for 30 mins

and rinse off the extra salt.

Slice up some ladies fingers / okra

Stir fry garlic and onion in a little oil, add dried prawns, okra and some ready made chilli.

Serve with steamed rice and dinner is ready.

Flower Medallions Set 3

Has it been a month already. Where did the 4 weeks go, in a blink of an eye. Set 3 is tatted in Lizbeth Size 40 #635 Violet Pink Dark and #139 Fruit Fizz. If you noticed, I used one colour from the last set with a new colour. I had fun coordinating the colours. Some are more contrasting than others. If you have a Lizbeth colour suggestions, I would love to hear what you have in mind.