Motif 23 - Margaret, Adapted

An adaptation of Lyn Morton's "Margaret"
into a nine-sided motif

A UFO that began as a design experiment in 2009 is finally done.

This piece was intended to be part of my first 25 motif challenge so, in a weird way, it is good that I hadn't yet completed the challenge. (That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.)

Here is the post that started it all. Snowed in Under a Cherry Moon

The hypothesis: Can Lyn Morton's Margaret motif (found in her book, Tatting Patterns, page 81) with its six-petal flower, be tatted as a nine-petal flower and turned into a nine-sided motif?

The proof: Yes, it can.

I did make one more change to Lyn Morton's pattern. I threw off a ring from the connecting chains in round two in order to create a bit more negative space. The rings create an inner circle that I find quite pleasing.

Lyn Morton's "Margaret" includes a third round of chains with single rings to connect the flowers. Round three adds strength and gives the motif a polished finish.

Doesn't Tatskool's luscious ChocoRaspberry HDT make this piece look sweet as a gumdrop? (It is size 40 thread, I think.)

I would love to tat this again using her Apple Blossom HDT. And again in three solid colors (white, yellow and green).

I will count this motif as number 23 in my 25 motif challenge.

Boy does it feel good to finish this motif!

NPR takes on The Celery Question

As I was writing up my next tatting post, I stumbled upon this story from NPR columnists Robert Krulwich and OddTodd.

If you have ever had to give up chocolate (*gasp*) in favor of celery, their views will be of particular interest.

Chewing on Carbon: The Celery Question

Just one more reason to eat chocolate, if you ask me.

Spumone + Macarons = YUM?

Check out this Flikr photo of a Spumoni Macaroon:
Spumoni Macaron Sandwich (In Italy, spelled Spumone)
I'm off and running to try this flavor combination!

If the taste doesn't live up to the imagery, I will fall back on either pumpkin filling, orange curd or salted caramel.

The foodie in me is dancing with glee. Wheee!

UPDATE: The Spumoni ice cream samples are resting in the freezer. The pumpkin filling samples are resting in the refrigerator.

As for the salted caramel filling I turned to a no-fail foodie blog: Smitten Kitchen - Deep, Dark, Salted Butter Caramel

Test Filling #1: Pumpkin Curd

Just looking at the photo, I can hardly believe I made such a tasty-looking mac in my own kitchen!

The lighting in following two photos isn't nearly as good but show the fillings adequately enough to make my mouth water.

Test Filling #2a: Spumoni - Cherry/Pistachio

Test Filling #2b: Spumoni - Pistachio

Had to stop taking photos for the blog, as I kept eating samples! Sadly the salted caramel samples didn't get made because of health issues.

Do I intend to savor this baking victory? You bet your sweet bippy!

The results are in!

1. Spumoni (Pistachio, then Cherry, then Chocolate)
2. lemon curd (strong lemon flavor, only a hint of pistachio)
3. pumpkin curd (totally overwhelmed the pistachio flavor)

After all is said and done, I'm sure that a pistachio buttercream would top this list. Salted caramel would rank second(if not first). Dark chocolate ganache probably number three.

As for the curds, they have their merits, but are best paired with macs of the same flavor. At least until my mac palate matures.

Little Pistachio Sins

Remember when I posted about macaroons to celebrate Macaroon Day?

Today I achieved my first macaroon baking success. Here are a few photos.

First successful meringue

Piped shells resting for 30 minutes

Here is what shells look like when you slide them straight into the oven without letting them rest first.

Now for a confession: I haven't yet assembled the macaroons. Every filling recipe calls for butter and heavy cream or whipping cream and I just don't want that kind of temptation during Lent.

Some macaroons are filled with jam or curd (as in lemon curd) but what flavor goes best with pistachio macaroons?

The recipes in Mad About Macarons suggest a pistachio buttercream or a dark chocolate ganache. Both sound sinfully delicious. But I need something else.

So I ponder (apricot? orange?) and nibble pistachio-and-air confections that are "little sins" in their own right.

We Now Return You to Your Regularly Scheduled Program

Pretty Promises

It was a gorgeous Spring morning worthy of a few (cell phone) photos.

CrazyMom got me all wistful with her wild dogwood, wisteria and other gorgeous flora. I commented about a close up of the dogwoods and she shared some awesome shots! Thanks CrazyMom!

In our neighborhood, creamy dogwoods are more common than the white or pink varieties. Ours are just starting to awaken from their dreamy sleeps.

Morning light captured in shy buds. Don't they look luminous as they yawn and stretch their petals?

Just one more...these flowers remind me of teacups.

Check out this weeping cherry.

Cascading pink petals were such a spectacle as to nearly take my breath away.

Spring is certainly in the air, though not yet as fully as in Hotlanta. Do visit CrazyMom's blog for real displays of delicate beauty.

Despair not northern cousins, Spring is on its way!

Decoupage Delirium

Count me among recent converts who have been madly blinging tatting shuttles. What started with a hesitant toe-dip has become an enthusiastic cannonball plunge.

Case in point.

Spring Bling - ITD Giveaway Prizes

Congratulations to Krystledawne who won the blue origami butterfly shuttle and to Jon Yusoff who won the Cherry Plum Blossoms shuttle. You both did a great job with the Online Tatting Class puzzles and games!

When You Care Enough to Enable

Remember when Lace-lovin' Librarian Diane shared adhesive papers with Tat Land? I got some. Then even more decoupage goodies arrived in a huge envelope from Bree's prize giveaway. Between the two of them I had enough embellishments to warrant storage.

Cue my sister Igoya who kicks in with scraps of left-over Japanese washi paper from her Etsy Shop.

This level of sharing could tackle world hunger!

ITD Gets Noticed

Word is getting out about International Tatting Day!

Holiday Insights has the most accurate info.

National Whatever Day spotlights three events today, ITD being at the top of the list.

The Ultimate Holiday Site takes a more tongue-in-cheek approach, winning the prize for Most Frequent Use of the Word Doily in a listing.

Gone-ta-Pott actually has the most comprehensive listing, though some of its data is vague or incorrect. They certainly get an A+ for effort.

Thank you ALL for helping us spread the word about our very special day!

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Three Cheers for INTERNATIONAL TATTING DAY!

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Wishing you all a fun-filled ITD!

If this is your first time celebrating, here are a few suggestions to get you started, courtesy of Marty McCarthy:

International Tatting Day
1. Eat all the chocolate you desire.
2. Wear a little tatting and tell everyone you meet about tatting
3. Tat only for yourself, only what YOU want to tat
4. Remember (or Honor) the tatters who have gone before you and contributed so much to our art.

And by all means, you can send cards.

Photo reprinted with permission
©2010 Paris Breakfasts

Chocolate Fish (Poisson d'Avril)
For the past three years, I have written about why I tat with a flat, fish-shaped shuttle on April 1^st.

I will spare you a rehash. But if it is your first time or you are curious, here's a great primer from Carol Gillott, author of Paris Breakfasts: Poisson d'Avril!

Carol's posts are always chock-full of gorgeous photos and this one is dedicated to seafood, silly pranks and chocolate fish.

A Giveaway - No Foolin'
In spite of the progress we have achieved, many tatters still don't know about our special day.

So in the interest of getting the word out far and wide, I am having another giveaway!

Here's what you need to do to get score one of two ITD prizes!

1. Attend the Online Tatting Class special session at either 3PM or 8:30PM ET (New York time).

2. Participate in the activites to qualify to win.

Two Online Tatting Class winners will receive by mail directly from me (in addition to whatever Georgia Seitz has in store) a chocolate fish and a blinged Clover shuttle. (sample shuttle image below)

Everyone who attends the Online Tatting Class will receive a freebie PDF with instructions to make your own flat shuttle template.

Why not use it to create and bling a flat shuttle for yourself or a new tatting friend?