Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Motif 17 - Dragon Tails

Remember earlier this summer when I posted about Flying Minor Norwegian Massacre?  Poor Toothless had gotten gnashed to bits by a VBD  (Very Bad Dog).

I had promised a repair/re-tinkering, but realized that it might be faster to make a whole new dragon. Since I could only find three of the the previously-wound four shuttles, I had tabled this project until after Tat Days 2012.

Fast forward to three days before departing for Tat Days.  That is when I decided to tat The Sprout a replacement Flying Minor Norwegian Dragon as a love present while I am away.


Rest easy iridescent dragon fans, As Toothless Turns (into a Hideous Zippleback) will still happen, after I locate the elusive fourth shuttle.

Motif 17 - Flying Minor Norwegian Dragon #2

Note:  Threads used for this dragon are Lizbeth® 40 #164 Blue River Glades and Lizbeth® 40 #167 Jungle Greens.

Here is the progress after the first sit-down:


The interlocking rings are a technique of CORRECTION - Wally Sosa's, who lives in Puerto Rico when she is not traveling. (Jane from South Africa made a lovely necklace/choker using this technique and that is where I first saw it.)  Thank you Jane from South Africa for the correction!

I love how the interlocking rings give the impression of scales.  And it also looks like X's and O's.  (Hugs and Kisses) Second sit-down (same day) resulted in tail number two.


Hideous Zipplebacks are sly, but feisty creatures, as I found out first hand while tatting head number one. He nearly bit my hand off as I tried to close the ring that forms his snout.

An Altoids Smalls tin in the photo below helps to show size.  This gutsy lil' guy is smaller (and a whole lot more spirited) than his predecessor.  The snout of head number one came undone while I was closing the final snout ring of head number two. 



Snout repairs would have to wait until after the wings (So there, snarly wyr!) and his neck scales still need to be added.



VOILA!  Wings are done, neck scales and snout repairs have been completed.This two-headed thread threat  (hee, hee, a pun) was quite a handful. But how magnificent the outcome!

Hideous Zippleback's wingspan is 3.5 x 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) wide as well as 3.5 x 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) long from nose to tail. Thank you, Wally Sosa, and Anne Bruvold, for sharing these marvelous creations with us!

Not sure yet what The Sprout will name him, but feel free to make suggestions in the comments.

See you again after Tat Days, if I don't see you there!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Prepping for Tat Days

This past week I have seen two other bloggers post about prepping for Tat Days.  They just so happen to be teachers.

Don't be confused, I am not a Tat Days teacher. Even gleeful students (hee, hee, like me!) have some prepping to do: any pre-class homework assignments or technique reviews, emptying shuttles for our classes, winding the newly emptied shuttles (stringing beads), etc.

This year I have chosen to take three (3) classes in Beanile Lace, so I need a minimum of 3 sets of shuttles suitable for beadwork. Off to my shuttle storage containers ISO beading shuttles.

Lo! What did I find?  Last year's unfinished Winter Solstice earrings.  Got those finished up.



This photo was taken from my kitchen table to make use of morning light. In contrast with the pale wood the beads look dark, almost black.  Click on the image for a larger view and you can see they are a gorgeous, deep green.



Here they are photographed under an Ott Lite.  While the shiny, metallic threads, sparkly beads and silk cloth confused the camera's auto-focus, look at the lovely "true" green.

I just love how these turned out. Can't wait for more Beanile Lace projects!

Hope to see YOU next week at Tat Days! 


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Is Tatting Making a Comeback?

Do you believe everything you read in print?

Maybe or maybe not, but the printed word does seem to be more credible or valid at first glance. And the media (and occasional newsletter or blog) seems to be putting a comeback spin on their typical tatting coverage.

Just today I saw a nice photo from an Australian newspaper about a para cyclist gentleman tatter.  (Thank you, Cas in Australia, for sharing the story on the Here_Be_Tatters Yahoo Group list!)

Well, when it comes to tatting, WE are the experts. I am here to say that I BELIEVE. 

Georgia Seitz wrote in one of her 2011 BellaOnline Newsletter articles:
"I think this is a marvelous time to be a tatter. We have online so many vintage tatting publications to download for free that they alone should keep us tatting for decades.  And since the 1980's we have had a plethora of modern tatting designers publishing contemporary patterns."

This newspaper article from the Gadsden Times, January, 1981, discusses the resurgence of tatting:  Tatting Makes Comeback as Favorite Needle Art


This blog post from thread manufacturer DMC tackled the topic two days ago (Monday, August 20, 2012):

The DMC-Threads Blog:  Tatting is Making a Comeback!
[http://dmc-threads.com/learn-tat/]


Off the Grid News:  Tatting: An Old World Art
[http://www.offthegridnews.com/2012/08/10/tatting-an-old-world-art/]


The August 6, 2012 issue of MACLEAN’S (Canada’s National Magazine) has a good article on Tatting in their Fashion section (page 83).

Tatting tales: not just for grannies any more
[http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/07/26/tatting-tales-not-just-for-grannies-any-more/]


In January 2012, Downtown Life Magazine (Merced, CA) gave tatting a nice nod:

Craft in Cloth
[http://dmc-threads.com/learn-tat/]

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Tatting Tea Tuesday - Crafty Tatting

This tutorial has me dreaming of watermark lace edgings on comfy cotton tees.

Watermark Tee Tutorial by Sweet Verbena

We're in back-to-school mode here at Silly Hat Central, buying school uniforms, a backpack, lunch gear etc.



Not a lot of tatting has been done, but I have demonstrated tatting at the county fair. Several block tatted animals, as well as my TIAS rooster (Norman), were given away to interested fair passersby.

That means more cute critters, earrings, small hearts, airplanes and the like must be made to replace the items I normally keep for displays. Fun tatting ahead!

Crochet and Tatting (Kukka)
Crochet and Tatting (Kukka) - around $40

Foreign Book Going Out of Print
A 2012 Japanese tatting book has recently gone out of print that may be of interest: Crochet and Tatting (Kukka) - cost is around $40.  SKU #T373

If you are a tatting book collector, you may wish to get one of these before they are gone!

Japanese text. Over 50 small tatted motifs and 50 small crochet motifs. Patterns include earrings, necklaces, rings, flowers and a small tatted butterfly. Patterns are diagrammed. 8 1/4" x 10 1/8". Paperback. 81 pages.

Barb Foster at Handy Hands.com says she has 10 copies on her shelf and when they are gone, they're gone. Newsletter subscribers can get free shipping on orders of $35 or more using their promotional code.

DS9Designs website also lists this item. Debbie Arnold says she has 2 copies on the shelf. From now through August 31st, shipping is FREE to USA customers for sales of $50 or more at DS9Designs.

Tatting Corner (Zig-Zag Corner - Tatting) also has copies of this book in stock.  As soon as I can confirm how many I will amend this section to reflect the latest numbers.

UPDATE:  Jennifer from Zig-Zag Corner, Home of the Tatting Corner, only has 1 copy left. Customers can get free shipping on orders of $100 (after coupons and promotional codes) or more. They offer a flat rate of $6.25 on all orders.

And also check your local sources.


Tatting Tea Tuesday
Today's tea is some delicious sun tea. Today I have enjoyed it both iced and warmed, with a splash of tart cherry juice for extra zing. It is pretty tasty.

This week I completed round one of the Frauberger motif in size 40 and started another in  size 20.  Instructions for a second round are included in the Frauberger PDF and I haven't yet decided which (or maybe one of each?) I will do.


Snowflake Sneak Peek
A snowflake design inspired by Snowflake Creator for iPhone/iPad is coming along well. Rounds one and two are complete and I am contemplating a round three.

I can't show you the whole thing because I promised the Piedmont Lace Guild of Virginia an original design to include in their upcoming fundraiser pattern booklet. Plus, savvy tatters counting stitches have on occasion been known to recreate items from my photos.

But I can show you the Snowflake Creator image that inspired the design:


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

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Frauberger First Steps

Thank you so much for your kind, supportive and thoughtful comments to my last blog post. I appreciate them so much!


In the interest of "keeping calm, and tatting on," here is my beginning of a Tina Frauberger pattern from II. Band des Handbuchen der Schiffchenspitze, 1921, page 47, figure 45.

Patti Duff graciously posted two vintage books by Tina Frauberger to the public domain earlier this summer for the Online Tatting Class. Thank you Patti!  You can find the two books here:

July 18, 2012 Special Event for the Online Tatting Class

Lizbeth®40 #157 Raspberry Frappe is the thread I am using for this first round. The outer round will be tatted with Lizbeth®40 #644 Boysenberry Dark. 

Saturday, August 11, 2012

County Fair -- And the Ribbons Go To...

If you've read any of my previous year's entries regarding the county fair, you may recall that the submission quality is high, but the quantity is low.  Usually only three entries per year.

Today I went to my county fair to view the tatting category and see which pieces won top honors.  What a treat to find six (6) tatted entries!

It gives me great pleasure to tell you that a tatted reticule bag won Best of Show in the Needle Arts category this year.  (Squeee!)

2012 Blue Ribbon and 
Best in Show, Needle Arts

Congratulations to (name not published) for tatting this treasure in mignonette stitch and roses.

The second place entry was equally eye-popping.  A charming, white christening gown made in the longer length of bygone days.


2012 Red Ribbon winner

From the tatted cap sleeves through the front lace panel to the hem finished with a trio of pink rosettes, this entry is a dress surely to be handed down for generations.

Congratulations to Sw4nkyL4c3r for creating this darling, tatted christening gown.

The third place entry was a set of dainty earrings tatted in white with clear beads.


2012 White Ribbon winner


Fine and exquisitely accented for just a hint of sparkle. Elegant earrings anyone would cherish.

Congratulations to (name not published) for tatting such pretty lace jewelry.

What about my entries? I submitted two pieces you have seen on this blog before.


Regal Snowflake, design by La Cossette
Tatted by IsDihara


Old Fashioned Heart, design by Etha Schuette
Tatted by IsDihara  

"They didn't think much of them in Old Paris"
Jack Dawson's comment to Rose DeWitt Bukater in the 1997 film Titanic seems fitting here.
No ribbons were awarded for either of these beauties.  Not even an honorable mention or participatory nod.

It would be a lie to say I am not disappointed.  I am.  But we can't all be winners. It is a triumph to see the category grow.  Tatting was chosen over all other Needle Art entries for Best of Show! Submission quality remains high and I am still peacock-proud of my pieces.
[*grumbles* Even if the judges didn't favor them.]

Perhaps it was karmic backlash for breaking the rules. Participants may only enter one item per category and I entered two. (To get around the rule, I used my niece's name and my neighbor's address.) Neither piece was disqualified, so maybe karma evened the score.

Or maybe my entries lacked the air of something saved from the past. Who knows?

What?  That's only five, you say?
But of course!  I almost forgot the sixth tatted entry!  *drumroll*


Decorated Egg with tatting!  Awarded a second place ribbon. Isn't it pretty? Congratulations to Sw4nkyL4c3r for garnering a second red ribbon for her beautiful work.

Huge, heartfelt congratulations again to all the winners. Now I will go eat chocolate and play World of Warcraft  (a computer game) to forget judges who don't know what tatting IS, only what it WAS.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Crafty Tatting - Pop Top Can

Looking for a new way to surprise a friend with a blinged shuttle? Or a giveaway prize? Try sending it in a decorated pop-top can.

I saw this tutorial on a few blog sites and wanted to share. Any pop-top can will work, big or small. Plus, the cans can be embellished with tatting!

Christmas Goodie Pop Top Cans

Video: How to Turn Your Pop Top Can Into A Favor Box