Tat Along with Margaret

Margaret and I are doing a tat along. This is round 1 of the pattern. Two more rounds to go. Any ideas on which pattern we are tatting? Visit with Margaret to see if she's telling. I blocked this before taking the photo so the shape is better defined. I really like the shape of this and mostly all split rings except for the chains in the centre. Watch out for Round 2 and 3 and where that pattern is from. 

Framed Earrings

One more pattern from Victoria Clarke's Tatting the Stone book. The pattern is for a pendant called 'Framed' on page 6. I made two surrounding a jade and ruby rectangular stones (0.6 x 0.5 inches). I suspect these are brecciated stones. Tatting is in light apple green threads and bright pink beads. Each measures about 1.5 inches across and 2.5 inches in length including the ear hooks.

Doughnuts

This is the doughnut shop that mom prefers called Big Apple Donuts and Coffee. She loves the one with the almond topping called Californian Almond.  I had the Chococinno and coffee which was not too bad. 

Windmills Set 7

Now you see all 7 sets.

Many more hours of tatting before this is done.

cdx

Are you wondering about the typo above? It's not!

It was Tsuru brushing her head on the keyboard asking for attention. Gotta go and give her some attention.

New Jan Stawasz Book

Received this book a few days ago. Fox and Grace T are definitely right - a gem of a book. Have I identified which pattern to tat first? Yes, but it has to wait until I finish my Windmills. Or I might tat it in between. If you have both books of Jan Stawasz, could you pick a favourite?

Swans A Swimming

Not seven swans a swimming but just four - a pair of white and a pair of black separated by a fence. And no not on a lake but a man-made pond. I was watching people feeding them. One man was trying to stroke its head when the swan's beak came up to the stone wall to feed. He was not so successful though. 

Windmills - Set 5 & 6

Finally got Set 5 in (dark green, second from right). There is one other set not shown in this photo. Now tatting Set 6. I had to tat the centre motif second to last as it was a problem otherwise. Have you lost me? No matter, you will see it when it is done. 

Free Shipping Ends

Free shipping for items in my Etsy shop ends tomorrow.

Use this coupon JULYFREESHIPPING

for free shipping if you buy two or more items.

Coupon expires 23rd July 2013.

Just added more hairpins to the shop.

Happy Shopping.

Leafy Greens Earrings

Or should I re-name them Berry Purple Earrings. This is actually a pattern for a pendant by Victoria Clarke in her book 'Tatting the Stone', but since I used a smaller sized agate stone, I converted them into earrings. The tatted motif is about 2 by 1 inch but with the ear hooks it measures about 2.5 inches in length. It is tatted in Lizbeth Size 40 Purple Dark #633 thread. The light lilac agate bead is about 8mm across. Also included are Delica beads in a metallic lilac.

Driving Home

It was a 3-hour morning drive from Kuala Lumpur back to Singapore sometime last month.  It was a little hazy but still a pretty glow from the morning sun. Little did we know that we were coming back to a week of very bad haze. 

Funny, thirty years ago the journey home would be in the other direction. It was a 5-7 hour train ride depending on delays, derailment and engine rosak (breakdown). In-house video channel was a novelty and on the train, I remember enjoying many videos of Madonna. No MTV on our TV channels then.

Windmills - Set 5

Remember this. In that photo the 4 motifs were not joined. I put it on hold for a while and decided to come back to it. However, I am finding that joining these motifs together is not so simple.

Snip, snip, snip. See what I did. Seems to be joining at all the wrong places. Hopefully I will get it right soon. Otherwise the plan will have to be revised. 

A City in a Garden

I was at the post office last week and saw that a new stamp issue was coming up. It has been 50 years since the start of the campaign to green Singapore. A special stamp issue to commemorate this was released on 13 July 2013. What was special about the stamps is that seeds come with the stamp. See the black dots on the local stamp. Those are the seeds of the Portulaca plant (with pink flowers) which is also shown on the local stamp.

I am going to plant them to see if it will grow.

Wallflowers (MK#62)

A Mary Konior pattern on page 44 in her book 'Tatting with Visual Patterns'. The thread is a HDT called Key Lime Raspberry Parfait Size 20 from Tat-ilicious. I wanted a colourful thread for this pattern and this definitely fits the bill. My twisted picot joining the flowers are a little too long but it works.  Easy and fast to tat up.

Indian Rojak

This is the famous Waterloo Street Indian Rojak. Not exactly as good as before but still quite delicious. Flour fritters with a whole potato or hard boiled egg embedded inside or grated coconut incorporated, fish cake, prawn fritters and squid garnished with sliced cucumber, onions and green chilli. It is served with a sweet spicy (not really) sauce. Dip the pieces in the sauce and enjoy. We shared this for lunch. 

Filet Panel Sewn

This is where the filet panel ended up. I bought a grey hand towel thinking that it would bring out the diamond pattern on the panel. I used the invisible nylon thread to sew it in. Quite fiddly to work with but worth the effort. 

Fabric Balls

 

 

Since the charity sewing and learning how to make these, I decided to sew a few for my neice and nephews. Three days of paper piecing with the thread and needle has left me with a sore hand. I hope they have fun with them. These were made with fabric scraps from this quilt.

Lazing Around

What do you expect me to do in a fur coat at 30 degrees Celsius all year round?

 

So I woke her up at 5.30am and asked her that question.

 

 

Flower Bookmarks

I made these last weekend after I bought a Japanese magazine (or so I thought). When I got home, I found out that it was a catalogue for home shopping where patterns and materials are sent to you each month from Japan. Anyway, I tatted these medalions from the photo in the catalogue and made these bookmarks.

New Coat of Paint

Our apartment block is getting a new coat of paint. I think the last painting was 6 years ago. Washing of walls was done the week before and they have started painting. It gets a white coat with tangerine accents. Not our choice but majority chose it from the poll they did two months back.

Sunburst

It measures 7.5 inches and tatted in Lizbeth Size 40 threads in Purple Dark (#633) and Honey Drizzle (#180). I like the subtle colour changes in Honey Drizzle but not the areas with a little light beige. Difficult to notice now but it was obvious while I was tatting it. I was also anticipating that the petals would be longer than this. The centre did not lay flat. Maybe it is the blocking.

Anyway this pattern is called Sunburst on page 11 of 'The Tatter's Treasure Chest' book edited by Mary Carolyn Waldrep. In the pattern a Size 30 thread was used and the completed doily measured 8 inches in diameter.

Strawberry Shortcake

A slice of indulgence. I recently saw a documentary on the history of strawberries in Japan and learnt that strawberry shortcake is a popular confectionary during Christmas in Japan. I first tasted this cake in the 80s and you could only pre-order it at one cake shop. These days, you can find it in most shops. This one is from Four Leaves. I thought it could be just a little sweeter but for the health conscious, it is perfect.

The saucer (without the cup) was picked up in an antique shop in Australia years back. It is from the Royal Albert Lady Carlyle collection. I still see this design being sold at the department store here.  I usually have my tea or coffee in a mug but I just love such teaware.

Peranakan Crockery

I have not seen this type of peranakan crockery before. Here, they used them to hold different types of salad dressings and salads. I have some Chinese spoons and bowls but not such large bowls. Probably used by larger families during their reunion dinners and celebrations. I wonder if you can still buy new ones these days. They could be family heirlooms.

Filet Panel Completed

Seven repeats and 12 inches in length and 2.5 inches in width. I altered the pattern because I wanted the diamonds separated. I am hoping to attach this to a hand towel but it may end up on something else. I have not bought the hand towel so the threads have not been cut. It takes shape quite nicely as this has not been blocked yet. Pattern is Mary Konior's. 

Mangosteen

 

Durian and mangosteen season usually go hand in hand. I am not sure about it now as we seem to get durians nearly all year round. One fruit is heaty and the other cooling so we were told to eat both to have it balanced out. I have not eaten mangosteens for years. I found two at a recent buffet and just had to try them. The white flesh was sweet and juicy. The reddish purple rind is not usually eaten but as it is full of antioxidants it's sold as mangosteen juice. For more info on the fruit link here.  

And More Tatted Hair Pins

What? More hair pins?

Check it out on Etsy here.

Use this coupon JULYFREESHIPPING
for free shipping if you buy two or more items.
Coupon expires 23rd July 2013.

Charity Sewing

 

Our local quilt shop organizes a day each month to sew for charity. These patchwork balls are hand sewn with a small bell placed inside with the stuffing. The balls are for a Dementia Day Care Centre where they are used for physiotherapy and games.