A Ruse by Any Other Name . . .

Let's start with a Sprout story.

The Sprout has an "eenie meenie mynie mo" boy in his class who is having trouble learning to share. After every class I hear how this boy pushes, grabs or hits Sprout.

This morning Sprout said he couldn't go to school because he had a fever. 'Hmmm, he really doesn't want to confront that EMMM boy,' I thought.

As it turns out, he was using the EMMM boy as a means to an end. He wanted to go visit the doctor's office because the doctor has a shark car toy [Fisher-Price Car-nivore Shark] that Sprout would trade anything for. He wants this shark car toy and is willing to ruse to get it. That's smart and devious.

Tomorrow I go to the doctor's office, where Sprout will play with said coveted car-nivore and pitch a screaming fit when I won't let him take it home.

Guild News and Tatting Tea Tuesday

This past Saturday two new lacers came to the monthly guild meeting. Both were shuttle tatters. Our little guild has grown to almost 10 members in the past two years. When I joined there were 6 (counting me). Great news!

So today I raise my teacup and offer a toast to lace guilds everywhere who are welcoming new members. It is a wonderful sign of renewed interest in tatting, as well as all other lace forms.

Today's tea is a mixed concoction of decaf pomegranate green and apple cider. Super tasty!

In between sips, I stare longingly at the pumpkin teapot pattern from Martha Ess.

But I can't start on a teapot until the mixed media project is finished. MUST finish before starting anything else. Here is a snapshot of my progress.

Tunisian Crochet and Broomstick Tatted Lace
(prototypes for a mixed media bookmark)
The white sample on the left is tatted in size 20 Flora #201. The color sample on the right is tatted in size 40 Lizbeth: Navy #654, Ecru #603 and Marble #121.

I chose this color combination purposefully. Some variegated threads work with certain patterns and not so much with others. Many tatters think this variegated thread is ugly and unusable. I find it to be masculine and strong like its namesake.

I love how this thread resembles veined marble on the ball. The veining effect is present in the lace, but perhaps the strong stripes are too bold or clash with the variegated thread?

Looking past the color questions, I love how the bit of hen-and-chicks finishes the ends. Does the edging complement the broomstick tatted lace? Is the Tunisian Crochet a pleasing counterpoint? I think it breaks up the motion of the lacework, giving the eye a resting place much like negative space.

The trick, as you can see from my samples, is to crochet the fabric evenly. I use a bullion crochet hook to crochet this one-inch panel.

It is also important to note that both of the samples in the photo are incomplete. Another section of Tunisian Crochet with a hen-and-chicks edging needs to be added to the opposite side of the broomstick tatted lace to complete the work.

Ah! I could go on and on and on with this analysis and get nowhere. You see why I have been consumed these past few weeks.

Where do YOU think this experimental project should go? In the trash bin? Back to the drawing board? To the finish line? I invite you to weigh in and share your thoughts.