High Hopes Fizzle

Remember when I posted this photo of Tatskool's Just Daffodils HDT to tat Julie Patterson's Spring bookmark?

Ooh, I love Just Daffodils. It performs to perfection.

My complicated brain demanded that I not settle for a single twine-y, daffodilly vine. No...I had to double the width, maybe tat a clover at the top and bottom to give it a nice finish at each end.

Many times I picked it up and put it down, working a bit here and a bit there as time permitted. So I didn't notice that I had changed gears along the way.  See the glaring green gaffe?

Some posies have a green leaf attached while others have a fourth flower petal. 

Now this lace looks ugly uneven (Ugh. Blech. Phooey.) but not because of the gorgeous thread. I did manage to tat up until the last six inches of green...

Do I start over from scratch or chalk it up as a lace fail and fuhgetaboutit?

I would welcome any suggestions, tips or advice!

Link Love: Tatting

Just a quick post to share some recent finds featuring tatting:

Born 100 Years Too Late This blogger has begun a new feature called "Fancy Work Wednesday" -- a perfect next stop after visiting Heather, the Tarnished Tatter's "Wacky Wednesday" column.

Things We Make Blog has featured two tatters so far in its "Instant Heirloom" pages:
Kersti Anear and Jessica Spaulding of Snapdragon Lace (who, if memory serves, won the Shuttlebirds speed tatting contest a few weeks ago.)

An oldie, but a goodie: Then and Now: The Ancient Craft of Tatting Featured in Tennessee Residence Decor...Again

And if you haven't seen this yet, you're going to love the Tatting Zodiac over at InTatters.

Long Overdue: Size 50 HDT from Heather

This was a post-in-progress when Silly Hat Central's router went kaput. 

Does this happen to you?

You carve out a little niche of time to blog, get into a comfortable groove, but don't quite get through everything you wanted to write. You make a note to get that last bit in the next post.

And before you can say "Bob's your Uncle," you are facing a blog backlog.

Backlogs don't sound all that bad. That is, until they get out of control. Ambitatterous has had a blog backlog for months. Despite best efforts to whittle it down, the reserve banks up again all too soon.

This goodie is one that could no longer remain cached.

As a thank you for test-tatting two swan motifs for her book, Afternoon Tatting, Heather, The Tarnished Tatter mailed me these lovely goodies: three skeins of simply gorgeous HDT in size 50, two googly-eyed ceramic "Sammy" shuttles, size 10 HDT bamboo and more!

But I foolishly didn't photograph them right away. Now the shuttles are stashed and not readily accessible, but the threads are.

Isn't Heather the best? She has indefatigable design talent and a generous, giving heart.

"Wine & Roses" Weigela

Here are flowers for Heather from my "Wine and Roses" Weigela bush. (I confess to filching this idea from another tatter's blog. It is such a lovely way to show gratitude and share photos from your garden.)

Weigela, soaked in spray.

And just because the Kodak moment was too good not to share, here is The Sprout playing with the hose in the back yard. You can see the full Weigela bush in all its wild, unkempt glory. But I don't think the bush (as beautiful as it is) is the center of interest.

The Sprout taking aim at his dog Ginger.

Out of Pocket

Sadly, Silly Hat Central's router stopped working and our Internet Access provider is shipping us a new one. It won't arrive until Tuesday or maybe Wednesday. Sorry to miss Tatting Tea Tuesday this week -- but I will return as soon as I can to catch you up on the tatting I have been doing later in the week.

And to read all about your tatting adventures. Missing you all terribly...