Adventures of Auntie "Mac" and Her Flying Shuttles

Oh Sweet Mercy!  Have not been able to conceal the big, gaping grins every time Anitra Stone's husband and his pre-caffeinated story time creation popped into my head.  I first saw it on Anitra's Facebook page:  a status update that looked like this:



The amusing puns set off all sorts of happy thoughts in my head and I have been enjoying them all while working on my weekend tatting.

Wouldn't it be divine if a series of short one or even three-panel cartoons  (think Bill Watterson's Calvin and  Hobbes) evolved from this idea? I would be doing this dance if that happens.

Source: http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/

And this cartoon panel animation, saved with the file name "pounce," seems ever-so-much fun. It mirrors to a tee the boyish antics that erupt at my house on weekends.

Source: http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/

Any writers or sketchers out there (Tatman? or maybe even YOU?) who would give this a go?  Think of how much fun it would be to read about this in a tatting newsletter.

If anyone is interested in exploring the idea of Auntie "Mac" and Her Flying Shuttles through words or sketches, please be so kind as to contact Anitra Stone and her husband.

Tatting Tea Tuesday: Motif # 21 Red Bird

Tatted Cardinal © 2010 Anitra Stone
(Contact designer or Palmetto Tatters Guild
for more pattern information.)

Motif 21: Tatted Cardinal

The latest addition to my 25 Motif Challenge is my first stab at making tatted earrings. I chose Anitra Stone's oh-so-cute cardinal pattern.

I exaggerated the wing tufts just to see what they would look like. Here is a small photo from the pattern PDF so you can see the normal-length wings.

Hmmm, I think I prefer normal-length wings. My flyer needs tail feathers to match its larger-than-life fringe. (Take it from me, once you start tweaking it's nothing but work, work, work.)

This bitty bird measures a mere 1.25 inches (3.2 cm). I used Lizbeth^® 20 in #671 Christmas Red, a tiny bit of black thread, one black seed bead and one orange-red seed bead. The pattern calls for two shades of red thread for added realism.

As for findings, I'm winging it. (← a pun) ツ

ADDENDUM: Anitra's Cardinal, as well as a whole flock of other birds, was inspired by Anne Bruvold's "Ringtrim" microdragon pattern. Special thanks go to Anne for inspiring such darling dragon offspring.