Day 4 of TIAS

OK here's day 4. I used the Catherine Wheel joins. It was good practice. This join makes me think of the way we do split chains. It's Marie's fast and easy technique. It's on Jane's blog.

Bits and Pieces

Here's my TIAS day 3. I am improving. My first day, I misunderstood the Fp so that day is a bit of a mess. But, rather than start again I imagine I might be making more mistakes, so I'll just keep going. Always a great learning experience.

Then, last night I attended our knitters group, (we call it knitters but we do all kinds of crafts) Our group makes items for an orphanage in Romania.  One of our ladies works in a second hand store. She found this shuttle and some patterns and a roll of white #20 thread. She thought I'd like to have it, so she brought it for me. I tried this humungous Tatsy shuttle. Too awkward. I found it interesting, but I doubt I'll ever use it. It felt to big and I really like a hook in the end of my shuttle. 

And lastly. Here's a little fun thing I often like to try in mid January. Did you know with a little patience, you can stand an egg on its thicker end. Only in January. And your counter has to be level. This might only be in the northern hemisphere. But it works.

So Little Time So Many Pretty Ornaments

My last ornament of the season. This is from Be Stitched. Sorry the picture is a bit blurry. I scanned it and and beads held the lid open.

Some new Christmas things

I'm being told my last pictures didn't show up. I think I know why. I tried to just copy and paste them from Intatters. So, I'll try again.

Tidy threads

I borrowed one of my daughters hair clips to demonstrate a way to hold your thread ends. They do come in smaller sizes than this, but this is all I had to work with. You open them by pushing the middle. And close them by pushing them down.

Second Glass Mat

This is my second attempt at the Glass Mat. It went smoother this time, but I still mess up. I need to apply lots of concentration to this and that's not always available. I did find a better way to take out rings, so that helps.

First try at the glass mat

This is my first attempt at Mary Konior's glass mat, in her book Tatting with Visual Patterns. It was a challenge for me. First problem, I just used some cheap white thread, not singed. And it even had a thick spot. Every time I had to undo a ring, it broke. And I made lots of errors in the pattern. It requires good concentration. But, please don't be discouraged, if you want to make it. I'm on muscle relaxers for my back and I always watch TV when I tat. All that, and I can't wait to make another one.

A pretty find

I obtained this from a friend who just had it tucked away. She doesn't know anything about it. I think the work is gorgeous. The tatting is meticulous. Unfortunately, the joins are frayed. I plan to put fray check on the joins and hope to restore it. 

Sarah's Bracelet

This little cutie is from Sarah of beforeourtime.shutterfly.com. I started it while doing my Christmas Farmers market this past Saturday.

More snow and a little angel

It's snowing out, so I've got some more snowflakes ready for Saturday's Christmas market. And, a little angel too.

Snowflake doodad, revamped

Lace-loving Librarian was kind enough to allow me to revamp her pattern. I'd like to teach this snowflake, so I wrote it "old school" for newbies.

Clover Leaf Snowflake

R 4-4-4-4

R 4+4-4-4. Repeat this row, 4 times.

R 4+4-4+4. Cut and tie.

*R 7-4-3. R 3+4-1-1-4-3. R 3+4-7.

Ch 7+7 (joined to center p of first motif)

Repeat from *5 more times.

Cut and tie to base of first clover.

Alberta snowflake

Here's one more BIG snowflake. I found some #10 cotton that has sparkle already on it. I had to give it a whirl.

Heavy Snowfall

I made a few snowflakes and then put some sparkle on them. They are for our Christmas farmers market this month.

Black and White hat

My mom wanted me to do white on black, as she feels it would be popular. This hat has an added feature. It's got little LED lights in the front of the cap. I want to make more, but they will be colors. I like colors.The braid is from Jane's bookmark. I started the butterfly from The Gentle Art of Tatting Things We Love by Patricia Ann Rizzo. I did her butterfly body, but struggled with the wings she'd designed. So I made my own wings.

Crinoline Lady

This is Crinoline Lady, from Pam Palmer's "Tatting Treats Two" The color is Lizbeth Boysenberry dk #644. I was able to get a nice gradient background from GRSties. That's a free site where you can obtain prints for backgrounds. Such nice folks. I still need to tat some flowers around on the ground to imply a garden. Anyone have any thoughts?

Edging

Edging.

Tatted Cross Bookmark

While I was visiting my mom (150 miles away) she asked me if I would tat a cross bookmark as a gift for a friend of hers. Mom has lots of very old, and some less old, Workbasket books. This was in the April 1955 book. I was able to do one for her, so I made another when I got home.

No longer faceless

My friend, who's buying this angel, asked for a face. So there she is. I think I've seen some Chinese candy that has a face like that.

Angel

Well, there she is all set for a long journey to Australia. Here's my question. Should she have eyes and a mouth?

Butterfly cap

The butterflies on the brim are from Barb Foster. The one on the crown is from sarahwood8. She doesn't know the original source but is hoping someone will know. The thread is Lizbeth "Ocean Sunset" #155. I am happy with the end result. We'll see if it sells tonight.