TIAS 2013 Start Date

Have you heard?  Jane Eborall has announced the start of Tat It And See 2013!

If you have never participated, you're in for a treat!  This is the perfect time to jump in with two feet er, shuttles (one needle, if you prefer).

Jane's marvelous announcement and introduction says it all:

 "This year's TIAS (Tat It And See) is starting next week on Friday, 11th January."

 "Here is the link for the TIAS blog http://tatitandsee.blogspot.co.uk and here is the link to the introduction page too. http://janeeborall.freeservers.com/TIAS2013/IntroTIAS2013.pdf

 "Details of what you need is on the introduction page. I promise that this year's will be an easy tat for everybody and a great deal of fun. No beads for those of a nervous disposition!!!"

 "To see past games please visit the TIAS blog. Please email me on love to tat @ gmail.com if you want further help". ~ Jane

Hope to "see you there!"

Go Vote! Lace Mat Poll

Jon Yusoff has begun the Lace Mat Tatting Poll -- go vote for your top five!
(Please read the rules first, so you don't disqualify your votes by mistake.)

Lace Mat Poll Has Started

Glove Love, Brain Freeze and the Weed

Hurray for Lace-lovin' Librarian Diane's recent post, Tollway Tatters 2013

It includes a photo of fingerless knit gloves to ward off chill when tatting in the colder seasons.

When I saw hers I put on my own pair of "tatting gloves" and said, "Eureka!"

These lavender lace treasures have been around for 6-7 years, staving off chill when I would type at the computer. It never occurred to me to don them for tatting.

Thanks, Diane, for assisting in my first tatting revelation of 2013.  Let's hope it is the first of many revelations to come.

Now go read LLL Diane's post about the Tollway Tatter's first gathering of 2013: Tollway Tatters.

In it you will see a photo of Marilee Rockley tatting Cluny leaves separated by Double Core Single Shuttle Split Rings. Wow.

(I needed a moment to bend my brain around this idea.  It stalled at Cluny....LOL!)

Need an even more mind-bending Cluny challenge?  Read about The Cluny Cross

Brain Freeze
After seeing that incredible cross I experienced a tatting brain freeze.  Talk about an arterial rush! So Cluny leaves intimidate me now more than ever. Deep breaths....

Time to brew a soothing cup of warming tea and contemplate first steps for Cluny success.  Oh, and perhaps tat another Horse on a Paperclip.

---

Christmas Weed Update
Can you believe the Christmas Weed still lives? Prickly sow thistle (or Mr. Pernicious) now stands a dastardly 24 inches tall (61 cm) and is taunting us with yellow flowers. I need an intervention!

HAPPY 2013

The tatting technique I'd like to try in 2013 is _______.
(comment with your answer)

All the Pretty Ponies

Just had to post again to say thank you to Marilee Rockley and Sharren Morgan for crafting the perfect headline for yesterday's post (much better than the one I chose, which expressed an underlying tone of angst).

And to share today's pony, tatted in the car.  This is tatted in Lizbeth^® 40 Autumn Apple Pie #169.
I had plenty of time to finish this pretty pony, but no paperclip. So it will be finished at home later tonight.

I will also try to share a "herd" photo.
 
These horses are tatted using Ineke Kuiperij's Horse pattern from her Chess Set booklet (on a paperclip). The booklets are available for purchase from Riet Surtel-Smeulders.

Earlier this fall, I saw a Yahoo tatting group post from Riet over at Bengelblog called "Horsing Around with Ineke's Paard." The linked PDF file credited Bobbie Demmer with showing a horse to Katharine Buckner, Pam Freck and Riet at the end of 2011 Tat Days.  Today when I looking in the Yahoo group files, I did not see the 'Paard' file.  It might have been taken down because it had gotten corrupted.

Thank you to everyone for all the wonderful comments!  They help me so much to keep a caring perspective about this art form and not give in to petty thoughts and pressures.

Don't spare the horses...AUGH!

Two more horses
tatted in the car.

AUGH!  Instead of working on my Gingerbread Boy, I have been tatting more horses on paperclips.  In addition to the first one, I have completed #2 in Lizbeth^® 40 Pink Cocoa #166 and #3 in blue and taupe HDT from Shuttle Lab Trends  (size 20, I think).

Here is a photo of the thread.  I have lost the label, so I don't know the name or the size.  AUGH!  Hope Bates created it...by any chance, could Hope -- or another reader -- fill in the blanks?

HDT from Shuttle Lab Trends

Just as I was hiding the ends on horse #3 I get a call from my LYS asking about Lizbeth^® threads. The shop owner was placing an order before leaving for holiday break. What threads did I want to have on hand for the January tat-along?

I responded, "Any size 20 variegated thread that looks vaguely "horsey."

Palomino -- golden, yellow or tan
Bay/Chestnut/Roan -- reddish-brown to brown or rust to dark brown
Pinto -- brown and white patches of color
Grey

Plus, Pink Cocoa #166, Sea Shells #114 and Autumn Apple Pie #169.

Even though I am sure someone will want to tat "Black Beauty," I asked not to have black on hand.  It is simply too hard on the eyes unless tatting under a very bright light.  Shop lights are good, but not bright enough for black thread.

Après moi, le déluge
And then the shop owner dropped the bomb...could I tat up more samples?

I wanted to scream, "No!" (Why didn't I say no?)

Shouldn't I be completing projects (Gingerbread Boy, felt partridge, heart to send to JB) already in progress rather than starting something new?

CrazyMom suggested that the shop owner (who both needle and shuttle tats) create the additional samples herself.  What a wonderful suggestion.

But I opened my mouth and out came the words, "Well, these don't take very long to make, I can make another one for you in Autumn Apple Pie."  AUGH!

So, horse #4 is in progress using Lizbeth^® Autumn Apple Pie. I am sure that Lizbeth^® Sea Shells will also make a pretty, pretty, paperclip pony. And Lizbeth^® Pink Cocoa is the stuff of little girls' dreams.

It's a good thing we have so many scrumptious threads to choose from, with hand-dyed threads on the top of this Unrepentant Thread Junky's list, followed by drawers of lovely Lizbeth^®. 

Tatting Tea Tuesday - Pink Cocoa & DIY Daleks

Starting off Tatting Tea Tuesday by finishing my second (IMHO adorable) horse on a paperclip.

Ineke Kuiperij's Horse (on a paperclip)
Thread: Lizbeth^® 20 Pink Cocoa #166
Tatted by Is'Dihara

Why did I stop so close to the end?  Some sorting out was required.  My threads are facing the wrong way to continue making the second through fourth joins to the paperclip.  If I pressed on I would end up with twisted stitches. 

As for the rest of Tatting Tea Tuesday, it is time to make the Daleks! (With the requisite tea and chocolate covered pretzels, of course.)

Crafty felt Dalek project in progress

I found a tutorial on Craftster for three-inch (7.62 cm) felt Dalek badges and decided that it was a moral imperative to make holiday Dalek ornaments.

Armed with my faithful purple X-acto blade, a steaming cuppa and a tub of treats, I'm ready. 

Tea-for-One in a lovely purple

This is a more color-true photo of the Tea-for-One teapot.  Steeping inside is a yummy mint tea.

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