Motif 6: Ribbon Candy Christmas Tree

Ribbon Candy Christmas Tree
Ornament © 2014 Bonnie Swank
Tatted by IsDihara

Since it is Father's Day weekend and "da boyz" are engrossed in father/son activities, I finished up an ornament that Sw4nkyL4c3r (link takes you to her Facebook page) designed for our neighborhood Tatting Social group.

Ornament hung from a vintage
style ceramic Christmas tree

The tatting is a simple ring-and-chain edging strung to resemble ribbon candy. My ornament measures 2 1/2 inches (roughly 7 cm) in length but that measurement would change depending on your bead choice.

I used opaque white seed beads prestrung on Lizbeth® 20 Burgundy #672 thread.

These ornaments look especially nice when strung with pearls or Swarovski crystals.

A snapshot from Sw4nkyL4c3r's Facebook page shows how adorable these ornaments look in different threads and beads.  Isn't she clever?

This was a fun tat for a social setting because tatters of every level could do it. I will be making more of these to hand out as holiday gifts.

If you would like the pattern for this fun little ornament, please contact Sw4nkyL4c3r either through her Facebook page or her email address.

Tell her you saw her Ribbon Candy Ornaments on IsDihara's blog and Facebook!

Lil' Black Border Revisited

Maybe because Jane from South Africa is tatting an edging?  Today I have been thinking about the Lil' Black Border pattern I learned to tat back in the 1980s.  (And a slew of other projects...)

Alas, too many tatting To Dos are already queued to start an edging. Unless, of course, it is Be-stitched's Tatted Holly Edging.

There is also Tatman's Back to School Apple, Gina Brummett's Gingerbread Boy, Yarnplayer's Small Maple Leaf earrings and a paperclip horse designed by Ineke Kuiperij.  (The design comes from her Chess Set booklet.) The paperclip horse was shared with the Palmetto Tatting group by Pam Freck, Katharine Buckner and Riet Surtel-Smeulders.

See what I mean about distractions?  *whine* But I have Norma Benporath's Lace Mat to finish. And at least one more charity project snowflake to complete before November 3^rd...

Hand-dyed threads (HDTs) are whispering too. 

• Karey Solomon's Hobbit (pictured left)
• Lady ShuttleMaker's Witches Brew 
• Yarnplayer's Sugar Maple
• Tatskool's Brackin Crunch 
• Tat-ilicious' (I have forgotten the name.)

It is not "4-Eva," not Fancy Fields, not Blue Tango...

All these HDTs are vying for attention. Oh, good grief!

Maybe I'll tat a football instead:  Tatman's Superbowl Shuttle & Pattern

Fleur de Lis Figure

Playing around with the fleur de lis edging led to this lovely surprise. The figure is 3 inches (7.6 cm) long and 1 1/2 inches wide (4 cm) tatted in size 20 thread.

You are looking at an unblocked test tat using three shuttles. Many attempts to keep the shuttle count down to two ended in missteps, but also led to new discoveries.

I am cheered, delighted and excited by this outcome.

This figure CAN be tatted using two shuttles, but would require the second four-ring cluster (the top part of the fleur de lis) to be tatted separately and attached as you go.

To tat it all in one pass was a bit more tricky. The issue was throwing off a ring and chain combo from a SCMR.

For those who don't mind two extra ends to hide, using two shuttles would be easier.

I will be writing out this pattern to share!

While the process did not yield a fleur de lis edging, it produced other tat bits and built my design confidence. In the end I do think that a fleur de lis edging will come forth.

I Make These Mistakes...
...so you don't have to. See the uneven chain? I hid the final two ends in the wrong place. Click on the image above for a close-up.

Now I turn by tatting focus back to an unfinished project - Wanda's Hearts Honor Bookmark. (Sorry for the blurry cell phone photo.)

Absorbed in bright color and captivated by the split chains down the center, this second stage is even more fun than the first. The first stage was pure pleasure to tat! The rest should go smoothly and will result in what is sure to be an all-time favorite bookmark.

Thanks again, Wanda, for allowing me to test tat this pattern!

Motif 24 - Nelson Edging

Tying up a few loose ends before jumping into new tatting projects: can you believe I forgot to count Nelson Edging in my 25 motif challenge?

I posted about finishing the socks on April 26, but didn't count the edging toward my 25 Motif Challenge.

March 23 - A Time for Tatting

March 1 - Edging Toward Spring

You can see that this project took nearly two months for me to complete. This is a result of "catch as catch can" tatting and is in no way a reflection on Orsi's edging.
Nelson was a joy to tat!

Tatting with small children requires a bit of flexibility. You make the best of whatever tatting time is available. It comes in small snatches, like while you are waiting for the dryer buzzer to go off or for a pot of water to boil. Or after the kidlet(s) are tucked into their beds. Is this why so many tatters of yore kept a shuttle in their apron pocket?

A Brain Cloud?
Lapses of attention are becoming increasingly problematic. Even a bit alarming. (I forgot to buckle The Sprout into the car seat again today. And this time he reminded me while we were on a highway!) I walk around my house in circles because I put something down and can't find it. I search for words and can't remember if I leave things on. Am I losing my mind?

Luckily I found this article online that helped assuage my fears: Pay attention to your fuzzy thinking. Time for some pampering and extra sleep. YAY!

Tatting Tea Tuesday - Edging toward Spring

Happy Tatting Tea Tuesday on this first day of March. Were you able tat at IHOP this morning?

Long lines stretched out the door of my local IHOP.
Folks in my area must really like free pancakes.

I wanted to tat at IHOP, but sadly came home to paint. I haven't finished painting 180 craft sticks that must be done by March 5th for the lace guild.

Painting hasn't kept me from my shuttles entirely. This week I have been test tatting two new patterns for CrazyMom, plus breaking in four new Pony shuttles.

CrazyMom's patterns must be kept top secret for now, but here is what has been reeling off the (new to me) Aero-style shuttles.

Nelson Edging © 2011
Design by Orsi (part of her Napoleon series)

Both samples are 3-inches (7.6 cm) long. The first is tatted in size 30 Bali HDT by Backwoods Tatter. The second sample is tatted in size 40 Lizbeth^® #663.

Don't they look grand? The Lizbeth^® is a trifle more crisp than the Bali HDT; the difference only showing up when closing the Josephine Rings.

Thank you, Orsi, for sharing this superb edging on your blog. The whole Napoleon series is stately and elegant. Your patterns are exquisite!

Meandering Vine
More inspiration comes from Lace-lovin Librarian ~ Diane, who has been test-tatting an edging for her sister. Her process fanned the edging spark in me.

Edging #8861 from Tatting No. 207, 1944

Meandering vine #8861 was her sister's chosen edging. (Hey, I have that book too! Tatting. Published by The Spool Cotton Company No. 207, 1944.)

The clustered rings that make up this flowery pattern have always looked like butterflies to me. So pretty.

Watch for a color edging using #8861 to come soon. In the meantime, head on over to Diane's blog to monitor her progress or enter her Spring Bling Giveaway!

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

Behind-the Scenes Lace Tour

Metal bobbin lace sample with needle lace trim

Last Thursday I attended a behind-the-scenes lace tour at the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of American History. If you are interested in tatting and bobbin laces, this tour is well worth your time.

Silver bobbin lace

It was also Earth Day, so the Mall was bustling with activity. Wish I had snapped a photo of the rally. Activists holding whale tails and picket signs marched alongside Greenpeace staffers sweltering in full-body whale suits. You can see photos of them here:)

Thompson describing the pricking process

Volunteer Karen Thompson led the two-hour lace tour. Besides being marvelous, warm and patient, her love of lace epitomizes why we were all there. She was a font of knowledge with a clear passion for preserving handmade laces.

Here she is talking about lace ruffs. Actual lace ruffs were heavily starched or supported with boning. The goofy-looking model is yours truly.

Karen Thompson also teaches museum visitors to make lace each week from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. with one other volunteer instructor.

How did I hear about this backroom lace tour? Karen Thomspon's article in Piece Work magazine (July/August 2009) first tipped me off, but Shirley Hays' blog post (Shade Tree Art) with photos of tatting sealed the deal.

There was one bulletin-style board pinned full of tatting on display for the tour. My photos suffer from a bit of motion blur from holding the camera high above my head and tripping the shutter.

My intention was to take one overall shot and use PhotoShop to crop close-ups. The motion blur wrecks that plan. But you can still see enough of the lace to get a pretty good idea of the fine threads used and method of attaching individual motifs into larger shapes.

Karen Thompson told me that there was more tatting in the collection. Perhaps future tatters can ask to see some of the pieces in the storage drawers.

The tour is limited to eight persons.

Planning a trip to the nation's capitol? Call ahead and reserve your spot for the lace tour.

Many more photos of the lace tour, plus a few from the Ipswitch exhibit can be viewed from Orla's Flikr account.  Thank you, Orla for hosting them all!

MORE TO COME! Watch for the Bayeux Tapestry made in lace, black Chantilly lace and more.

Fox is Published in Piecework magazine!

Just got my copy of the March/April issue of Piecework magazine in the mail.

Imagine my delight when I opened it to page 12 to find a tatted edging submitted by none other than Fox in the Trimmings section. She must be so excited!

Congratulations Fox!

FYI--I have been to every news stand and bookshop in my area looking for this issue of Piecework magazine and haven't seen one copy. They might not have been delivered yet. The link above lists March 9th as the news stand date.

Keep your eyes peeled and if you spy one, drop everything and flip to page 12 to have a look!

♫ 99 Tatting Posts on the Wall ♫

Crazy Mom Tats announcement of her 100th post giveaway sent me looking to see how far away I was from 100 posts. Surprise! A lot closer than I thought.

Since I have a giveaway started, I will have to find something else to amuse you all with for my 100th post. But what?

Here is your chance to heckle. Go ahead, yell something out from the inky black. Oh wait, (much like in space) I won't hear you scream. Better leave a comment. ツ

Tatting Tea Tuesday
Even though today was a perfect day for hot tea, I opted for quick and easy. A tall pour of iced green apple tea from the pitcher in the fridge. This stuff is fabulous hot or cold.

Green Apple Tea
1 gallon water
6 green tea bags
1/2 gallon apple cider or apple juice
(I use (6) Alpine Lace Spiced Cider packets, plus 6 cups water, if I don't have either on hand.)

Optional:
Honey, to taste
1-2 shots Green Apple Pucker (to give it a hint of "green apple" tartness)

This makes a lovely hot toddy with a shot of liquor added to your mug -- either more Green Apple Pucker or something that is more appealing to you, if you are not a fan of the neon green stuff. It is perfectly lovely as is. I drink this tea year round. YUM!

Sweet or Sinful Indulgence?
Now for the tatting. Last week Liyarra posted her gorgeous doily made from a Lene Bjorn pattern in the Danish Tatting Guild (Dansk Orkisforening) newsletter Orkis Bladet. I have had no luck contacting the guild (probably because I wrote in English). Would someone who speaks Danish kindly translate my request for me?

Here's where the tatting gets dubious. Instead of waiting for a reply or a pattern, I enlarged the image from Liyarra's blog and tatted the central motif from her photo. Bad, bad manners! My tatting grandmother would ground me. Here is the evidence of my deceit.

You can see that my chain tension is off (the hearts aren't even) but even so I can't take my eyes off  this pretty. It is so lovely in Tatskool's ChocoRaspberry size 40.

Tatting this motif actually tested my chocolate resolve. Couldn't stop thinking about Godiva Raspberry Cordials. I had to put it down several times to go hunting for chocolate to nibble.

This week I finished the edging in Bracken Crunch and am stitching it onto a quilted ball ornament. The pattern is available on the InTatters group under the Knots - Tatting Links tab. The file is called Beeton Edge. If the link doesn't take you directly to the page you may need to register to access the Knots folder.

And I finished two more itty-bitty shamrocks. The pattern is from "The Tatted Artistry of Teiko Fujito."

Wishing you all blissful me time to create something beautiful.

See you next Tuesday for more communi-tea!

It Came! A Shamrock Setback & More

Fabric Postcard from Bonnie's Tatting Blog
Today Bonnie's blog giveaway prize came in the mail, making it a very good day. It is a fabric postcard that sets the mood for Spring. I am ready for a few flowers in the garden and a few buzzing bees. Are you?

Thank you, Bonnie! Your uplifting card sits next to Carol Lawecki's tatted teapot note card on my computer desk, where it brightens my day and long into the wee hours.

There is so much to write about today!

The Sprout slept in glamorously late (8:30 AM) so Tatting Tea Tuesday started early with decaf Irish Breakfast tea. I started tatting what I thought would be the easy one. The three or four-leaf clover pattern from "The Tatted Artistry of Teiko Fujito."

I had some Majestic 80 left over on a shuttle so I thought I would use it up doing a bit of warm-up test tatting.

[cue mumbled curses, teeth-gnashing and the sound of thread repeatedly snapping under tension]

Two full hours of frustrated attempts led to what you see below. (Had to keep putting it down and walking away.) But I want tiny, delicate shamrocks.

Tomorrow I will try again with Star tatting cotton in size 70. It has a more firm hand and hopefully won't snap so easily as the softer, but more lustrous Majestic.

Besides T.I.A.S. I have been working on an edging tatted in Tatskool's Bracken Crunch size 40. I love the way the lime transforms into antique gold and the gold into rusty red, back to gold and full circle to lime. It really has enlivened and enriched the dull, grey days.

I have Been Bad
Copping a phrase from Fox, I have a confession to make. I have been in touch with Tatskool, Krystledawne, Yarnplayer, Lady Shuttlemaker and LaceySusan. In an attempt to hide the evidence soften the blow I won't be posting the HDT purchases until later in the week.

All Good Things Come in Threes
Just look at my three new tatting books! I tried to camophlage them with other goodies, including a fancy bone china teacup, saucer and third plate, plus bobbin holders and new Lizbeth thread.

Tatskool, were you distracted by the cup? Jane, did you see your tatting bag? Krystle, did you notice Dr. Von Threadmore's handiwork? Wanda, see how your butterfly marks my place?

Honestly, I have been blessed by the generosity and friendship of you all. And so many more.

My copy of Tatting Patterns by Lyn Morton sprouted (unintentional pun) legs and scampered off, so I needed to replace it.

The Japanese book was purely an impulse buy.

The prize of the buying spree was the French tatting book! I dropped $34.00 on this precious jewel. And I try never to spend that much on a tatting book.

My French is very rusty, but the author prefaces her work by writing:

Savez-vous que le monde minéral peut être source d'inspiration pour les dentellières?

The author uses crystaline mineral sructures as the inspiration for her lace — things like snow, sugar, salt, mineral metals and gemstones  Flipping through the pages was like being gifted with sapphires, rubies, celestine, amethyst, agate, petalite, tourmaline...

It gives new meaning to tatting bling, eh?

And there's more! Come back on Friday for HDT madness.

Wishing you all blissful me time to create something beautiful.

See you next Tuesday for more communi-tea!

Tatting Tea Tuesday

It's time for another Tatting Tea Tuesday!

Inspiration can strike at the oddest times. While waiting for Fourth of July fireworks display to start I sketched out a quasi-design for the fleur de lis edging. The only sketchable surface on hand was The Sprout's travel-sized magna doodle pad. Too funny!

So now it is time to tat up test pieces to see if it works or if I go back to the drawing board. (Isn't the dreaming phase always the most fun? The application phase can get a bit knotty.)

As I haven't started tatting the design test, I sat down with my green tea and picked a lovely, small tatted heart to write about. It has been dear to my heart ever since it first appeared online.

Small Tatted Heart
Designed by Betsy Evans
© 1998

I have made this heart many times. This small heart was created to celebrate Connecticut Tatters Get-together, October 1, 1998.

This heart may be small, but it is big on grace and elegance. Back in January, 2009, I emailed Betsy to ask if she had ever considered working this heart into an edging. She had a forthcoming snowflake book coming out at the time — all snowflakes with 6 or 12 points. Don't rightly know if her snowflake book is out yet. Anyone in tat-land got the latest info on when or if it is published?

Betsy created a Rainbow Heart Bookmark with her small tatted heart design in 2001. It is one I use for my most engaging reads.

This second snippet I found while organizing my tatting supplies. It is my first attempt at making onion rings. Once again I used the variegated purple thread. Isn't it funny how I gravitate toward the same one, even though I have spool-upon-spool, hank-upon-hank and even a cone or two of cotton thread to choose from?

Are onion rings supposed to have so many layers?

In Shrek, Donkey and Shrek discuss how ogres are like onions because they have layers. Now I need some "ogres are like onions" green thread! Another random burst of oddly timed inspiration.

Last but not least is a sexy little black edging I tatted way back in the 1980s. Isn't it stunning? I don't have the pattern written down. Not sure where I found it. Does anyone recognize this pattern?

I will knuckle down and count out the stitches one day, but fine black thread can be terribly taxing on the eyes. No matter how favorable the lighting, my poor, aging eyes strain to scrutinize it.

Off to refill my tea and tat while The Sprout naps.

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

---

Completely off-topic, but worthy of a tangential remark:

Did I mention that I have started wearing progressive lenses? It's another name for no-line bifocals for folks like me who are in denial about our aging eyes.

When Shakespeare wrote, ". . . that which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet," he meant that it doesn't matter what things are called. But ladies and gents, let me tell you, when the "forty-something" life changes slowly creep up on you, it matters.

So in a cunning attempt to camouflage and compensate, I chose a contemporary Anne Klein frame in a brown metallic for a more youthful, professional look. So far the deception is working.