Motif 22 - Ruffled Heart

Ruffled Heart © 2009 Dr. Vickie Clarke

Motif 22: Ruffled Heart
Just in time for Valentine's Day, the January 31st Online Tatting Class examined Set Stitch - also called half stitch or node stitch. Homework was VicTat's Ruffled Heart.

The arches in my first try were a bit off-kilter and the motif had obvious chain joins so I tatted it again, this time reversing the colors. Both hues look balanced.

I loved tatting these romantic darlings! They both measure 1 x 1.25 inches (2.5 cm x 3.2 cm) and have been on my "must tat" list for 2 years.

I used samples of Altin Basak 50, a Turkish 3-ply thread, in a lovely copper (AB#355) and a bluesy-purple (AB#336). They are threads that I had been hoarding saving for the perfect project. TypsTatting sent them to me through The Thread Exchange.

Thank you, TypsTatting, for sharing these awesome samples!

Almost Party Time!
It is a busy week here at Silly Hat Central. The Sprout turns 4 on Thursday, February 10th. He is super-excited about this birthday and wants to celebrate every day.

Last year we threw him a Dread Pirate Party. This year it is to be an Angry Birds Bash.

Angry Birds? Unless you have played the game on a touch-screen mobile phone or an iPad, you probably haven't heard of it, I'm guessing.

A bakery will laser-screen an Angry Birds image onto his cake and I have a plan for embellishing cupcakes with home-made Angry Birds-themed toppers. We are prepared to play a round or three of live-action Angry Birds for party games. But it will be a less elaborate party than last year. We're improvising.

Check out this fully detailed Angry Birds cake. (Shared via Gadgetsin.com, who got it from Geeky Gadgets touching Angry Birds Cake Source.) Gotta love the viral nature of the Internet, eh?

Anyway! The cake was created by Anya Richardson for her 8-year-old son in November 2010. She posted her photo on Flikr and the rest is history.

Engrossed in Edwardian Drama

Season 1 may be over, but I only just sat down to savor episode 1 of Downton Abbey on PBS.com.

It is an engrossing Edwarian tale, with intrigues, undercurrents and swells of supremely satisfying noble and weak moments. Looking at all the lace is a perk.

Full episodes will only be view-able until February 22, so don't wait to see this delicious slice of "upstairs-downstairs" society life. You won't be sorry.

Tea Lovers! Stash Savings

Tatting Tea Tuesday participants drink a wide variety of beverages (coffee, diet coke, even beer) but for tea lovers who don't mind subscribing to save, a deal is being offered that may be of interest.

Stash Tea $1.61 Each Shipped
Source: Frugal Freebies & Deals web site
by frugal jen on February 1, 2011

Do you love tea? Right now you can get your choice
11 different flavors of Stash Teas for $1.61 each when you buy 6. This price is available when you choose the $11.38 sale price and take an extra 15% off with Subscribe and Save.

Your final price including shipping will be $9.67.

Read more

Tatting Tea Tuesday: Motif # 21 Red Bird

Tatted Cardinal © 2010 Anitra Stone
(Contact designer or Palmetto Tatters Guild
for more pattern information.)

Motif 21: Tatted Cardinal

The latest addition to my 25 Motif Challenge is my first stab at making tatted earrings. I chose Anitra Stone's oh-so-cute cardinal pattern.

I exaggerated the wing tufts just to see what they would look like. Here is a small photo from the pattern PDF so you can see the normal-length wings.

Hmmm, I think I prefer normal-length wings. My flyer needs tail feathers to match its larger-than-life fringe. (Take it from me, once you start tweaking it's nothing but work, work, work.)

This bitty bird measures a mere 1.25 inches (3.2 cm). I used Lizbeth^® 20 in #671 Christmas Red, a tiny bit of black thread, one black seed bead and one orange-red seed bead. The pattern calls for two shades of red thread for added realism.

As for findings, I'm winging it. (← a pun) ツ

ADDENDUM: Anitra's Cardinal, as well as a whole flock of other birds, was inspired by Anne Bruvold's "Ringtrim" microdragon pattern. Special thanks go to Anne for inspiring such darling dragon offspring.

Waking up at 3 AM

I was awake at 3AM and thought, 'Great! While the house is quiet I'll get an early start on Day 7 of T.I.A.S.' So I pulled up Jane Eborall's T.I.A.S. blog. Alas, Day 7 hadn't yet been posted.

Those participants who tat the new release, scan it in and e-mail photo attachments -- all before Lady Jane finishes her breakfast -- How do they do it?

I am tickled to report that by 3:44 AM the Day 7 pattern was posted. That's awesome, Jane!

After printing out a copy I seem to have lost the motivation to wander downstairs (imagine that) and am opting to give sleep another go. Happy tatting to all early birds. I'll be sleeping in.

Motif #20 - SCMR Snowflake & TIAS

SCMR Snowflake © 2007 Sharren Sarver Morgan
Tatted in size 20 Hakelgarn Bright White
with crystal beads

Motif #20 - SCMR Snowflake

For Tatting Tea Tuesday I completed Sharren Morgan's SCMR Snowflake, shown here in a super close-up.

Do the clear beads give it frozen ice crystal appeal?

As you can see, it hasn't been blocked. I had a few "d'oh!" moments with this snowflake which contributed to its off-kilter shape. Blocking should set it right.

Sadly, this darling pattern isn't available online. Sharren e-mailed me a PDF. If she grants reprint permission I will add a link to the PDF file.

Tatting Tea Tuesday

Two cups of Moroccan Mint tea accompanied my tatting efforts. I had been thinking back to my wedding/honeymoon cruise and the wicked laryngitis I had. The server at our dinner table was so kind and attentive. She served me hot mint tea every evening until my voice returned. Just in time to say "I do!"

No laryngitis today, but it seemed right to raise my cuppa to the tea that got me through that cold/flu season. Hee, hee, if the tea doesn't help this time, maybe another Caribbean cruise will?

2011 Tat It And See (T.I.A.S.) - Day 4

I am participating in Jane Eborall's TIAS. Day 5 was released yesterday but I haven't tatted it yet, so I have fallen a little bit behind.

If you are unfamiliar with TIAS, it is a fun, creative winter diversion. Jane releases only a small part of a pattern every day or so and won't tell what it is.

That's right! You don't know what you are making. You "Tat It And See."

Part of the fun is guessing. As of Day 4 I was still thinking some kind of lizard or a turtle. But I was holding out hope for a sea creature. Who knows? Maybe I'll get my wish and it will be Nessie from the Loch!

The Day 5 blog entries suggest that something along the lines of an airplane or jet might be more accurate. A bent pogo stick or even roadkill (perhaps a flattened rabbit?) is still likely, though not Jane's style.

It is not too late to join in the fun! You can join at any time, and catch up as you go or just to watch the fun unfold on the TIAS blog.

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

Flower Power from Postie

Lookie what postie brought yesterday in the mail.

Those lovely lasses and lads from the Palmetto Tatters Guild wrote to thank me for sending a donation to the scholarship fund in 2010. You don't see too many hand-written notes these days (more's the pity) and the one I received was especially nice!

As if the thank you letter wasn't enough, tucked inside was this magnificent tatted Autumn posy. I just love this!

If you were the tatter, please know that I can't stop smiling at receiving this very pretty piece of tatting.

Thank you for creating it from one giddy recipient!