Happy 75th Mom

Mom's birthday is the day before a national holiday in Malaysia. This year, we are having a quiet family dinner. Most of the time, I do not see her on her birthday but it is her 75th, so we are celebrating it with her today.

Japanese Pattern I

This is from Yusai Shokoin's 'Tatting' book on page 71. I used a very light green variegated Flora Size 20 thread (Col. 66) but you can hardly see the green. Nice and neat pattern. I will probably use it for one of my potpourri sachets.

The Tiger

Largest orchid in the world
Grammatophyllum speciosum / Tiger orchid

Invitation to a Tatting Challenge

Jane Mc Lellan of Janemactats has a beautiful doily pattern called "Under An African Sky". Fox and I are planning to tat it together. Feel free to join us. There is no deadline to complete it but we will set a date sometime in September to start. You can tat and blog about your progress at your own time. Just link to Jane's blog and you can find her pattern links on the right.

It will be fun so get ready to tat.

Miniature Gardens

Lady of Shalott by Deb Mackie

The Fountain of Peirene by Deb Mackie

Harry Potter Greenhouse by Louise Krasniewicz

This is to show you the scale of the miniatures

Please link here to read more about their preparations leading up to the show and their workshop in Singapore on Loiuse Krasniewicz's blog.

Expandable Book Spine

Another Nina Libin design. This time I chose a Flora Size 20 in light orange (Col. 236) and tatted it with some bronze gold beads. This is tatted in two parts, then I added a long rope with pearls at the end to lace it up. 

Nina has 5 book spine patterns in this booklet titled 'Insertions & Book Spines'. I have tatted the first and last in this booklet. I may want to do the second one before I shelf it.

Singapore Garden Festival Part 4

When we visited the competition was ongoing so the area was cordoned off. But we did get to see the designers in action and the beautiful arrangements which were already completed.

Can you see the phoenix in the background arrangement?

A Safari Bridal Bouquet

Orchids and pitcher plants

Gloriosa Lilies and Orchids

Just Baby's Breath

Calla Lilies

More Calla lilies

Skylab Terrarium

Orchids at the dome

Cymbidiums for Margaret

More Cymbidiums

A variety of Phalaenopsis

Singapore Garden Festival Part 3

Bonsai, to me is very calming and therapeutic. It was hot and this was not a cooled pavilion. But as soon as I walked in, it felt serene. Here are some of my favourites from the many on display.  

Bonsai Galore

Wind swept Ixora

It's not dead, just waiting for new sprouts.

Undulating two tone trunk.

Contemplation.

It's fruiting 

Delicate leaves

Covered in moss and lichen

I have two pot bound plants at home. Could I convert them into bonsai?

Nina Libin's Book Spine 1a

This is one of the first few tatting pattern books I got but did not get a chance to tat from it much. The pattern is in Nina Libin's book: Lace of Beads #11 - Insertions and book spines.

Mistake - missing beads on chain before 4th left ring from bottom

Could you tell there was a mistake and I had to unpick 10 rings and chains to correct it? But it was well worth the effort.

Although it is a book spine pattern, it can also be made into a necklace, bracelet or head band. This is tatted in Flora Size 20 in Col. 218 and Delica beads. After blocking, a very pretty design emerged. I like it!

Singapore Garden Festival Part 2

This 'Sacred Grove' won gold and best of show for the landscape garden category.

Pretty ladies all in a row

Full Circle

Roof Garden

Indoor Wall Garden

Giant Insects

Balcony Gardens

More Balcony Garden Options

Labor No. 11

On page 20 of this book is this lovely pattern of a table runner. I made just four four repeats. Tatted in Cebelia Size 20 in Ecru. The design element that appears with many repeats is very pleasing to the eye.