From Tsuru and I

New Tatting Books

I ordered these on Amazon just before Black Friday and it arrived last week. Finally I have new patterns to play with. It will have to wait till the festivities are over. I am currently tatting the Josephine doily which is taking longer than expected.

I hope you are having a fun time with family and friends during these holidays. 

A Tropical Dessert

A coconut fruit filled with coconut ice cream topped with walnuts, a spear of chocolate and skewered rambutan stuffed with pineapple.

It was not as good as I remembered it to be because the ice cream was gritty with dessicated coconut. It was not as creamy. 

New Cat Food

I bought these for Tsuru to try. A new brand Sajo, from South Korea. I hope she eats it. Otherwise it will have to be donated to Tripod, my sister's cat.

I love the bag it came in. Surely describes Tsuru. The vet has recommended more wet food and low protein kibble for her. But with her fussy taste buds, I am always looking for new brands to try. 

Nope, not her favourite, did not trump her favourite Japanese brand. What do you expect from a cat named Tsuru, which means Japanese crane.

Josephine Doily WIP2

I have tatted a few more rounds but made a mistake. I am not correcting it as I only realised it after finishing the round. It will not affect the subsequent rounds of the pattern but the lower ring should be 2 ds larger and there should not be picots in the chains on either side of the ring. 

Yes it is staying, not a fan of cutting or unpicking one whole round.

Angels

I saw these for sale at the local supermarket. I was really tempted to buy them but someone reminded me that I already have too many plants. A photo of it on my blog will have to suffice.

Matilda V2

This version of Matilda has simple chains unlike the earlier one. A pattern from Lee Hye-oon of Lovely Tatting. Using two distinct colours, you can see that one colour is tatted first while the second is intertwined and joined to the first. Both versions are pretty. This one is tatted in Lizbeth Size 40 in Col. 635 Violet Pink Dark and Col. 646 Purple Iris Dark.

A Sleeping Cat

She knows how to relax. 

I wish I could sleep as well as she does.

She loves her catnip pillows.

New Plants

Calathea roseopicta

Mandevilla

Matilda

Margaret sent me this pattern when she saw it on the Bella Online Tatting Newsletter. Thank you Margaret. It is a pattern by Lee Hye-oon and it can also be found in her new book 'Lovely Tatting: Doilies for Fall & Winter'.

I used Lizbeth Size 20 threads Col. 620 Azalea Medium and Col. 694 Harvest Orange Medium.

Durians

It looks exactly like the real fruit

But it is actually a cake.

Must try it one day.

Josephine Doily WIP1

I interpreted the pattern incorrectly and tatted the above. My apologies to the designer. Below is what it should be.



The pattern is by Lee Hye-oon and can be found here on Lovely Tatting.

Dinner at Daimon Bistro

The newly refurbished bistro

It could look like you were in Hong Kong instead

The lights in there made all the photos without the use of flash pink

Water was served in enamel cups with the chef's mantra.

Chef Alvin Leung is known as The Demon Chef.

Barbequed Pork Mexican Milk Buns

Popcorn Chicken with Waffle

Skewered Meat

Jumbo Springroll

Daimon Cherry Duck

Claypot Lard Rice

Pretty Purple

This plant had some lovely purple flowers.

I have only seen the plant but not the flowers until now.

It looks like a Chlorophytum but I may be wrong.

Current Favourite

This is her favourite dry food these days.

She won't eat unless she has some of this on her plate.

Distractions

Not much tatting has been done.

I tried to start another pattern from Lee Hye-Oon.

I guess I was distracted with too much online shopping

that I tatted this all wrong.

Can you believe that this was all I tatted the whole

of last week.

Streets of Shanghai French Quarter

We took a lovely morning stroll through some of the loveliest streets lined with these trees.

As the autumn temperatures were getting cooler, we saw residents airing their blankets getting ready for winter.

This local grocer had many fruits and vegetables and other sundries catering to the community in the area.

Live hairy crabs for sale

Brunch at Mr & Mrs Bund

Bread 

Arugula Parmesan Salad

Tripe Sauce Piquante (Beef Tripe)

Tomato Mozza Salad

Escargot Garlic Parsley

Pate de campagne

Smoked Salmon

Croque Mr Bund (Ham & Cheese French Toast)

and Mashed Potato

We did not order any main courses or desserts at this brunch.

I am sure the rest of the menu is just as delicious.

Naupaka Doily

Have you visited Lovely Tatting by Lee Hye-Oon? This pattern is on her website. I tatted this in Venus Size 40 in Col. 486. Does it look like it is spinning? Or my eyes are playing tricks? I did not block it before taking a photo.

She has also published two pattern books. I have just ordered them.

Impatiens

Painting the wall with flowers

Aren't they gorgeous?

Fuchsia blooms

Red and white blooms

Peace Hotel Shanghai

Every city has a grand old dame.

The last time we visited, it was under renovation.

Beautiful old architecture with grand interiors.

A beautiful flower arrangement greeted us at the lobby.

Intricate light fixtures

Love this door to the jazz club.

Home to the oldest jazz band that has been playing here every night for over 20 years. 

Average age of the six band members is 76 years old.

We should make an effort to listen to the jazz band next time we visit.