wow
I haven't posted in over two years!
I didn't finish the challenge to tat 25 motifs.
I still live in the midwest.
I'm in the process of divorcing.
I have a dog.
The flower garden has a few vegetables.
I'm still taking photos.
The boys are still cute, just older.
photos of the snow, cute kids
The boys were out digging tunnels in the snow piles. Steve took this adorable photo.
It's been a very long time since I've posted!
Motif #6, earring 2a
I finished a set of earrings. I'll add beads on my next version.
Snowflake #1a. I adjusted this from the original pattern - I added small split rings between the star arms. I had extra space to fill because I didn't attach the larger rings to the center chains properly. I like it, though. I want to make another one now that I understand the pattern. I like to have snowflakes on hand to use for Christmas gifts.
This pattern came from a book my friend bought. I had copied the patterns, but didn't copy the title page. I don't usually sell (or publish) my tatting, so I haven't worried about it until now.
Purple Glory
The morning glories in the garden are just perfect. They like the cooler weather and this little purple pretty is outside the window of our breakfast nook. We see this with the bright red cardinal climbers. Hummingbirds come to visit during suppertime.
earrings #1c
This is my third attempt at the earrings. I did one, and still don't like it too well. I'll use a freebie pattern from the internet for my next try. Thanks in advance to the nice folks who publish patterns online for us design-challenged people! :)
The current motif count is 5, including the bookmark.
I've been doing some snowflakes recently, to take a break from the beads. I'm working on a 5 pointed snowflake in white now. I made enough mistakes connecting the 'arms' to the center that I just made a variation to the pattern in the book. I hope to finish it this weekend, however it turns out.
Doily
This was the doily I finished last fall - September. I wrote notes in my tatting book when I finished it. DMC Cebelica White Size 30. This pattern came from an old J.& P. Coats tatting book and it titled "Tatted Starlight Doily". It's about 8" across.
I entered this in the county fair and won first place. It was the only tatted entry - I'd love to see more tatted entries next year.
tatting projects
I got my scanner working!
The yellow motif is from an older book - J.P. Coats tatting book from the 1920's. Yellow DMC size 80 thread.
I made the small white motif to use up some thread on a shuttle.
The cross bookmark will make a nice gift. I found it in my basket half finished. It DMC size 30 white. I forgot which book I got the pattern - have to look it up again.
tatting motifs, continued
Motif 2 is a doodle; nothing fancy, just putting an edging together to make a thicker edging or border. My brother makes small wooden jewelery boxes and wants small designs to insert in the top of the boxes.
Size 30 DMC Cebelia
Earrings #1b redone in pink size 30 thread w/pink beads.
Size 30 DMC Cebelia
Earrings, Motif #1
This is the first motif in the 25 motif challege for myself. I like the design, but I will be adjusting the size of the thread and beads and experimenting with colors. I want to see what a thicker thread looks like with that size beads. I don't have the earring posts yet. Ideas are welcome!
For tatters: I started with a ring of 6ds, p, 4ds, p, 4ds, 5p w/beads sep by 2ds, then 4ds, p, 4 ds, p, 6ds, close ring. Chain of 15 or 30 half stitches (depending on length) adding another ring like the first, more chain of 30 half stitches, another ring and then ending with a chain of 50 half stitches. Be sure to make the half stitch chains snug or they won't curl.
This was done in size 100 thread, DMC Cordonnet special, ecru.
tatting projects
I have been doing more tatting lately. I will be uploading some projects I've done recently - including the doily that won a first place ribbon in the local county fair. My hardanger doily also got first place. More to come!
more wildflower photos
I planted a wildflower patch, and was pleasantly suprised at the variety of flowers I got from it. I didn't like the untidy look until there were enough blooms to make it worth it.
Next year, if I do decide to have another wildflower patch, I think I will use some small compact annuals (marigolds, pansies) as a border to define the area. It might look a little more tidy. Am I turning into a tidy Midwesterner?
Snowflake #1a. I adjusted this from the original pattern - I added small split rings between the star arms. I had extra space to fill because I didn't attach the larger rings to the center chains properly. I like it, though. I want to make another one now that I understand the pattern. I like to have snowflakes on hand to use for Christmas gifts.
This is my third attempt at the earrings. I did one, and still don't like it too well. I'll use a freebie pattern from the internet for my next try. Thanks in advance to the nice folks who publish patterns online for us design-challenged people! :)
I got my scanner working!
I planted a wildflower patch, and was pleasantly suprised at the variety of flowers I got from it. I didn't like the untidy look until there were enough blooms to make it worth it. 
