Without Umi

2 years on . . .

A New Bed

Tsuru has found a new place to sleep in. I bought these storage boxes for my patchwork fabrics and after cleaning them, I left them to air dry but before I could put my fabrics in, someone has made it her bed. She can have it till she tires of it. 

I have also caught her lounging on the table between the sewing machine and the wall. I think she is doing that at this moment.

Cocoon Earrings

This is a great design from Marilee Rockley. Thank you Marilee. How do you come up with designs? 

I love the smooth edge that the node stitch gave this earring. This pair was tatted using Tat-ilicious' HDT called Mindanao Gum Size 40. Delica beads and Swarovski crystal pearls (5mm) were used. It measures about 2 inches from top of earring design or 2.75 inches from top of ear hooks. 

I think if you use more rounded beads instead of Delica, it would arrange nicely just like in the book. I must try it.

A Cymbidium Bloom

Hope it brightens up your day wherever you are.

Patchwork Tatting - Bremen

Tatted in Lizbeth Size 40 in English Rose Medium (#700). I need to make the centre picot a little larger as the rings are overlapping a little. It measures about 3 inches across. It looks like a pretty snowflake. Another one from Adelheid Dangela. I am tatting a couple more before deciding what to do in this project I am contemplating.

Concoction Bracelet

Another pattern from Marilee's new book. I thought it matched so well with the Melange earrings. I might have to change the bracelet toggle clasp as it is making the bracelet too long. The bracelet is also too light for the clasp. I think a heart lobster clasp would be lovely and more secure. What do you think?

The bracelet without the clasp is already 7.5 inches in length and the heart lobster clasp adds another 0.5 inch. I hope it fits the person I am presenting this to.

You could also convert the bracelet into a choker. All you have to do is string a silk ribbon through the end loops and tie. That way you can tie it round your wrist or neck.

Patchwork Tatting - Brussel

The onion rings did not arrange up nicely. It felt like the number of stitches were not sufficient to go around or I did not tighten the first ring enough or perhaps make the joining picot smaller. But it is still a pretty pattern. Might need to try it again. Perhaps blocking helped a little. This is tatted in Lizbeth Size 40 Boysenberry Dark #644. Pattern is by Adelheid Dangela.

I am contemplating a project.

 Choose a few coordinating colour threads . .

 and tat a a few pattern in those colours.

I would love to see each pattern in each of the thread colours . . .

so that will keep it interesting.

Should I?

Lemper Udang

One of my favourite nyonya kueh. Unlike most nyonya kueh, this is savoury instead of sweet. A spicy dried shrimp mixture is rolled in steamed glutinous rice. Wrapped in banana leaf and grilled. It looks like a nyonya sushi.

Melange Earring Mishap

I used LadyShuttleMaker's HDT Coffee and Cream Size 20 for this. After it was all done, I was adding the ear hooks when I accidentally clipped one of the Delica bead with my pliers. Can you see that one is missing in the above photo?

Well, the pair of earrings will now have to be a pendant as I did not have anymore thread to tat a brand new one. 

Rare Old Photos II

My sister and I in mini dresses

My sister and I in samfu