Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Tatting Tea Tuesday: Farfalla 2

Farfalla  Butterfly 2


Another butterfly flew off the shuttles!

Farfalla (a.k.a. Alfie) Butterfly 2
For this one I experimented with using blended threads for the antennae and SCMR body, throwing off the round one wings in a solid color. It took three shuttles for round one, but it wasn't difficult to tat the three-shuttle part, since it was only two double stitches at a go.

Once again, for those who are interested, the thread list:
  • Lizbeth®20 #642 Lilac Medium  for round 1 wings
  • A blend of lavender/black/yellow threads for antennae and body
  • Tat-ilicious HDT by Jess in Night Thunder for round 2 

You can find the free pattern on the Italian tatting web site:  CHIACCHIERINO  The butterfly diagram can be found on this page: Gioielli di chiacchierino

Still need to snip one thread after this beauty's steam press, but isn't he a clever gent?

I am tempted to call him Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All, after the Doctor Who episode called "Closing Time!"  At the end of that episode the baby decides he prefers the name Alfie.



So Alfie it is. Norma Jean and Alfie look good together, n'est-ce pas?

Norma Jean and Alfie together

Only after examining the two butterflies side by side did I notice that one of Norma Jean's lower wings is missing a repeat of 5 DS and a picot. So sorry Norma Jean!  You're still sexy to me.

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

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Motif #20 & Signs of Spring

Yesterday's lace guild meeting was held at Barrel Oak Winery in Delaplane, Va. The winery was bustling with activity: birthdays, anniversaries, social gatherings inside the tasting room and on the lawn...it was a wonderful place to be.

Guildies Joy, Barbara and Anita sipping wine and
noshing picnic-style before making lace.
Guildies Anita and Sherry, who was celebrating her birthday!


We enjoyed a plentiful picnic-style feast and some superb Bowhaus White wine along with our lace making.




The morning started out brisk and bright, but warmed to springtime perfection.




Motif #20 Farfalla (a.k.a. Norma Jean) Butterfly
While waiting for the tasting room to open, I finished the Farfalla butterfly. Doesn't she look darling in the spring sunshine?  (And this is straight off the shuttles, before her "beauty treatment" -- steam blocking to set the stitches and thread-end trimming.)

Even though her name is Farfalla, I think I shall call her Norma Jean, because of her delicate grace and striking beauty. A Marilyn Monroe waiting to be discovered, wouldn't you say?

Farfalla Butterfly
You can find the free pattern on the Italian tatting web site:  CHIACCHIERINO  The butterfly diagram can be found on this page: Gioielli di chiacchierino

For those who are interested, the thread list:
  • Lizbeth®20 #613 Golden Yellow Medium
  • A blend of lavender/black/yellow threads for antennae
  • Lizbeth®20 #139 Fruit Fizz for round 2 chains
  • Lizbeth®20 #624 Raspberry Pink Medium for round 2 rings.

Norma Jean is so pretty I will tat her again in some pretty hand-dyed thread.  Now, to choose....

But wait!  I cannot forget to show you some of the lace we worked on at the winery.

Barbara's Salamander

Sherry's Torchon ground

Anita's tatted doily


Great stuff!  I am sorry to say I didn't get a photo of Joy's lace or my own penguin project, but these photos give you an idea of what fun we had on our winery outing.