Egregious Green

See how close I came to completing this motif only to run short of green thread on the final repeat?

It laid flat until the final repeat and now cups ever so slightly.
Blocking may fix it. If not, the experiment will continue anew -- as 3D tatting.

It is definitely not in my nature to just "go with it," but this experiment seems to be progressing mostly according to plan. So nervously do I turn this project over to the muses.

Sorry to be unclear, y'all. I am not quitting this motif just because the green thread ran out. I had hoped to have the new green added in, the final chains completed and all ends hidden by today, but life got in the way of lacemaking.

So I'm showing you anyway. Sometimes you can't rush a good thing.

Anyway, if the muses choose 3D then I'm thinking perhaps a 3D Teapot?

* Thread Specs - Flora 20 Green #230, Lizbeth 20 #601 Snow White and Lizbeth 20 #613 Golden Yellow Medium.

* Diameter in size 20 thread = 4 inches (10.2 cm)

Tatting Tea Tuesday - Margaret, Modified Again

Today's tatting is for Fox who commented that she would like to see the modified "Margaret" motif in white, yellow and green.

Hurray! I remembered to try out Jane's "blipless" joining technique for the first join.

Boo! I forgot to throw off a green ring from petals two and four of the smaller, five-petal posy. *face.palm*

The ring was intended to connect the outer posies for added strength.

Journey commented that she would consider further modifying this pattern to connect the flowers. Sharon Briggs also mused about not leaving those posies to wave in the wind.

I agree! So the experiment continues.

(Can't help wondering, though, if a six-petal flower would align the rings and petals more judiciously.) ッ

The outer round of posies reminds me of Western Springbeauty or Pear blossoms.

Easter Socks

The Nelson edgings for Easter socks were completed on time and given to my niece Jalice. Can you believe that is the first pair of socks to which I have ever attached tatting?

Another observation: two 12 1/2-inch lengths of edging (31.8 cm) are roughly halfway around a handkerchief.  Hmmm...

As for tea, I sipped my first seasonal glass of sun tea. It was a refreshing blend of decaf green, pomegranate and wild berry plum. (It sounds complicated, but tastes delicious on ice!)

Wishing you all blissful me time to create something beautiful. See you next Tuesday for more communi-tea!

Motif 23 - Margaret, Adapted

An adaptation of Lyn Morton's "Margaret"
into a nine-sided motif

A UFO that began as a design experiment in 2009 is finally done.

This piece was intended to be part of my first 25 motif challenge so, in a weird way, it is good that I hadn't yet completed the challenge. (That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.)

Here is the post that started it all. Snowed in Under a Cherry Moon

The hypothesis: Can Lyn Morton's Margaret motif (found in her book, Tatting Patterns, page 81) with its six-petal flower, be tatted as a nine-petal flower and turned into a nine-sided motif?

The proof: Yes, it can.

I did make one more change to Lyn Morton's pattern. I threw off a ring from the connecting chains in round two in order to create a bit more negative space. The rings create an inner circle that I find quite pleasing.

Lyn Morton's "Margaret" includes a third round of chains with single rings to connect the flowers. Round three adds strength and gives the motif a polished finish.

Doesn't Tatskool's luscious ChocoRaspberry HDT make this piece look sweet as a gumdrop? (It is size 40 thread, I think.)

I would love to tat this again using her Apple Blossom HDT. And again in three solid colors (white, yellow and green).

I will count this motif as number 23 in my 25 motif challenge.

Boy does it feel good to finish this motif!

Snowed in Under a Cherry Moon

More snow! New Tea! And a tiny bit of tatting.

Valentine's Day has come and gone but I'm still feeling its rosy glow. So I start Tatting Tea Tuesday by brewing up "a romantic tea of tender warmth."

That's what it says on the package of Cherry Moon Decaf Green Tea I purchased as a Valentine's Day treat.

Disclaimer: I do not profit by promoting the teas I drink while tatting on TTT, but I do enjoy describing them.

This one is a relaxing blend of decaffeinated Sencha green tea and hibiscus, plus some unspecified flavor mix concocted by the Eastern Shore Tea Company. I do not taste cherry, but I do detect a light fruit (orange or apple?) and rosehips flavor. A quick check of the company's web site confirms the blend has hibiscus, rosehips, apple pieces, orange, and cherry flavors. Wow, if only I were as good at wine tasting!

The packaging invites the buyer to share this tea with a special friend. And so I shall.

If you would like to try a sample of Cherry Moon Decaf Green tea, let me know in the comment section below and I will mail you a foil-wrapped tea bag. Be sure to email me privately with your contact info!

Now for the tatting.

An experiment is underway. Here's the hypothesis: Can Lyn Morton's Margaret motif (found in her book, Tatting Patterns, page 81) with its six-petal flower, be tatted as a nine-petal flower and turned into a nine-sided motif?

So far I like the way it is progressing in Tatskool's luscious ChocoRaspberry. The five-petal posies are positively cheerful. And would be even more so if tatted in Springtime colors with green chains.

I did make one more change to Lyn Morton's pattern. I threw off a ring from the connecting chains in order to expand the circumference of the circle, allowing room for nine posies and creating a bit more negative space.

Pardon the messy state of the tatting (unclipped strings and what not). I had hoped to be farther along, but with a pirate birthday party planned for later this week, I'm swamped. Aarrgh!

Wishing you all blissful me time to create something beautiful.

See you next Tuesday for more communi-tea!