Five Petal Pendant - Pink

This is the first pattern in Marilee Rockley's book 'Up and Tat 'Em'. I used Flora Size 20 thread in Col. #207 and 6mm briollete doughnut Swarovski crystals. It measures about 2 inches across. It was a fun pattern to tat but I do prefer the shape of Marilee's Grand Aura and Belle patterns.

Trailing Abutilon

It is also called Chinese lanterns or Abutilon megapotamicum. They seem quite easy to grow but the flowers tend to drop quite fast. Before it blooms, the bud does look like a lantern.

I am waiting for my bleeding heart plant to flower. It has flowered many times but I did not manage to take a photo of it. A new shoot is growing vigorously but it has not bloomed yet.

Did you notice the new background. I have been meaning to change it. It was time. I was using the same background since I started the blog.

Christmas 2011 Snowflake #10

I could not decide which photo to post, so here is both. This is pattern No. 44 of Myra Piper's book. Tatted in Milford Size 40 threads using about 3 metres of threads in each shuttle.

There are 47 patterns in this little book and in the introduction, Myra Piper describes that she tatted 300 snowflakes for a church Christmas tree in 1972. I hope Myra Piper knows that her snowflakes will be on many Christmas trees all over the world.

Two Pristine White Blooms

It was 1:00am and I had just watched The English Patient on the cable movie channel and was about to go to bed. I thought I had watched this movie twice but most parts were 'new' (lost in my mind) to me. Anyway, when you watch it at various states of mind, you see and remember it differently.

Back to my story, I was looking out my balcony and remembered that I checked on my plants at 8pm that evening hoping to see my night blooming Epiphyllum. I walked nearer and the whole balcony was filled with a very, very sweet perfume. It has bloomed, not one but two. What a lovely end to my evening. Yes, I took photos at 1am. My neighbours who were still up must be wondering what I was doing. Oh . . . nothing, just feeling happy to see my flowers bloom.

Christmas 2011 Snowflake #9

I visited Spulni-blog last week and loved this Austerlitz motif pattern. Thank you for sharing the pattern. It did not take much time to tat this. The pattern called for split Josephine rings. I always use the second stitch to make my Josephine rings. I am calling this snowflake #9.

A note from a blog reader

Last week a blog reader S sent me an e-mail telling me how much she enjoyed this blog. I do thank her for sharing her thoughts about it. Now S is picking up tatting again and she needs all the encouragement. She asked about the Mary Konior patterns which I have tatted.

If you are wondering what I am talking about, it is my quest to tat as many Mary Konior's patterns as I could. The last one I tatted was MK#49 here. S pointed out to me that I had two MK#21s here and here. So the next Mary Konior pattern I tat should be numbered MK#51. Thank you for letting me know. It made me review and it took me about a year to tat 50 Mary Konior patterns.

I think starting with Mary Konior's pattern is a wonderful start. So S, this shuttle is my gift to you. I hope it will inspire you further.

Christmas 2011 Snowflake #8

Oooops. This is Snowflake #8. This reminds me of the sun. Myra Piper's pattern No. 6 on page 3. Tatted in 2 rounds. I used 1.5m Size 40 threads in the shuttle for each round.

Christmas 2011 Snowflake #7

I am continuing with Myra Piper's patterns. This one is Pattern No. 9 on page 4. A very elegant pattern and tatted in two rounds. Round 1 required less than 1m and Round 2 about 1.5m of size 40 threads. I love the simplicity of this.

My Belle

This is a pattern by Marilee Rockley called Belle from her book 'Up and Tat 'Em'. I tatted this in Lizbeth Size 40 in Linen Medium (#693) with metallic green Delica beads (DB 413), a Swarovski crystal pearl and a green amethyst gemstone. I am going to tat a few more of these in different colours, beads and gemstones. I think they make nice gifts.

News from Japan

Judy asked whether the Japan Earthquake affected us in Singapore. No it did not. No tsunamis hit the shores of Singapore. I was worried for a Japanese friend and e-mailed him yesterday. Just heard that he and his family are safe and sound. A harrowing night for them as power was cut and transportation halted. Most had to spend Friday night at their place of work. He was about an hour north of Tokyo. I was with him visiting Sendai for a conference 15 years ago. From the news footage, the conditions in Sendai after the earthquake are really bad. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.