What Was the Give Away?

Perhaps you've been wondering what was in my Celebration Give Away that was won by Tatting Marie.  Now that she received the package I can tell you!

Celebration Give Away Treasures

I received the nicest email from Tatting Marie when she got the package.  She said:

Hi Monica,

Your package with so many wonderful treasurers arrived in yesterday's mail.

The beautiful hand tatted snowflake will look very pretty on my Christmas tree. The lovely red tatted heart will have a special home on a pillow I'm in the process of sewing. That spool of DMC #80 tatting thread will be used for a special tatting project in the very near future. One can can never have too many tatting shuttle - it will be put to good use right away. That bag of seed beads with so many colors will come in handy when I start my Christmas projects this fall. What a lovely bookmark, just right to keep my place marked in my favorite tatting book while tatting a pattern. Love the note cards, I'll add a bit of tatting to them before sending them out. I have some unique thoughts on how to use the using the "tags", too. The tie-tack pin is special in it's self and I enjoyed reading about Winnipeg.

I enjoy "checking into" your blog and seeing what you are doing. Many thanks, again for the "wonderful goodies".

Marie

I am so happy you like your surprise Tatting Marie.

Happy Tatting!

I Give Up

I tried tatting the motif from my something's wrong post yesterday.
Same thread but this time I followed the advice from yesterday's post and made much smaller picots.
I ended up with the same problem - too much curling.


















I used the iron to stretch, press and steam the motif into place but it didn't work out very nice.

Left: Tried to steam and press the motif into shape
Right: Removed curled edge from first attempt and pressed

The photo and the pattern diagram seem to match.
I wonder if the issue is the numbers noted on the diagram.
Or, perhaps my tension is too tight?

With smaller picots the piece laid quite nicely until I added the fourth round.

I give up on this one.  I think I'll cut off that last round, block the two motifs, starch them and call the ornaments.

Something's Gone Wrong

I'm trying to tat what I think looks like a fairly simple little doily motif but something's gone wrong.
The fourth round is pulling too tight - curling up the motif.

Last round of tatting refuses to lie flat even with pressing

I must have done something wrong following the pattern but I can't figure it out.  I'll have to cut off the last round and try again.  Any ideas what I may have done wrong?  Pattern below.

Pattern clipped from unknown source

Unicorns are Jerks (2)

Embroidered Snowman Doll

This is my first attempt at making an embroidered doll.

Among the stash of treasures my Mom gave me were some doll transfers.  My finished snowman is much smaller than I expected.

I stuffed him with rice because I wanted to have a bean bag feel to him but I'm not happy with the result.  The rice falls from his head into his tummy - so he ends up fat with a floppy head.  I'll probably stuff the next doll with regular polyester fibre fill. 

I like the French knots at the top of his boots - it does give the shearling effect well.

The bouillon rose stitched buttons look nice and I think his nose turned out pretty cute too.

 

Unicorns are Jerks (1)

Coloured the first page in my new colouring  book with my new crayons.

The crayons are nice to hold, but the wax is very hard and it isn't easy to do accurate colouring.  I might have to add my regular crayons back into the mix.

Sweet Stripes Socks

I started knitting these when I was visiting Mom back in December.
I finally got around to finishing them.

I tried making the colours match up and even though the match isn't perfect, it's pretty close.
The colours remind me of jelly beans - perfect for spring.

Patons Kroy Sock Yarn Stripes
Colour 55315 Sweet Stripes

Unicorns are Jerks

My friend Shawna knows me so well.

She gifted me a colouring book AND a brand new box of crayons.

Thank you Shawna!

And the Winner Is....

The winner of the Celebration give away is Tatting Marie.

Tatting Marie, please email me send me your mailing address and I'll get your surprise into the mail straight away.

Celebration Give Away!

Comment on this post and say why you read Tat’s It, Tat’s All to be entered to win a surprise package.

Comments close midnight March 31, 2013 Central time.

Winning name will be drawn April 1st and announced on Tat’s It, Tat’s All. If winner cannot be contacted within 7 days to confirm mailing address a new winner will be chosen.

Every comment is an entry—comment often, enter often!

Makena Pattern on Craftsy.com

This pattern is named after Makena, who arrived in the world on the same day this design was created. 

I published the pattern on this blog back in 2008 but now it’s available to you FREE on Craftsy.com!

Click here for the direct link to the pattern – you may need to create a Craftsy.com user name and password to access the pattern but it’s worth it.  You will find my pattern there along with thousands of other ones too.

My Tatted Ornament - Makena pattern is free for you to use for gifts and fundraisers.
If you use this pattern, please make a donation to a charity of your choice.

Together, one stitch at a time we can make the world a better place.

Current Scones

I started off with a recipe and then strayed from the instructions. I'm tried to jot down what I did so I can repeat the success but this may be a one-time deal. There was a lot of oops too much of that and oh, should add some of this and hummmm I should add some of that.

Current Scones

Mix in large bowl:
2 cups organic white flour (but you may need another ½ cup)
4 tsp aluminium free baking powder
Sea salt (25 turns of the salt grinder)
½ cup dried currents

Mix in smaller bowl:
¼ cup local honey
1 egg
¾ cup plain yogurt (but I had some extra left so dumped that in too which is why I had to add more flour)

Pour wet mixture into dry mixture

Realize there isn't any fat in the recipe and add a splash of olive oil.

Mix into a dough. If too sticky add a bit more flour.

Press onto a pizza stone or baking sheet into a circle about ½ inch thick.

Bake at 400F for about 20 minutes.

Pickles Cartoon

It's 4 years old and I still like this cartoon!

Another Laugh from Lola

Replenish the treasure chest!

Throughout the year I tat, and knit and stitch and keep myself entertained with string. The creations all end up in a special place and when I need a gift for someone – voila! I pick a treasure from the creations, wrap it up and the gift is ready.

I can’t figure out if I was less active, more generous or if little gremlins are helping themselves to my stash; but at the moment I only have a couple of items left – two little tatted bookmarks.

Can these two bookmarks spur maddening creativity? Will they inspire unending clicking of shuttles and needles? Will they magically reproduce?

With only 353 days until Christmas I need to replenish the treasure chest!

What are your “go to projects” when you need a gift? Is it something quick and lovely? Do you plan ahead and create beautiful items that take weeks to finish? Do you have links to patterns online, refer to your books or make stuff up on your own?

Happy New Year!

Happy 2013 Everyone!
I wish you health, wealth and happiness today and always.

Petal the Pig

I just couldn’t resist tatting this cute pig.
Tatted in Opera #5



Pattern Source:
Book borrowed from the Northern Lights Lace Makers

Tatting Treats by Pam Palmer. Page 18-20.

Cross Bookmark

So far, I think this is my favourite cross pattern. I like the lacy look with all the picots.

Pattern Source:
Book, Tatting 2000 by The Ring of Tatters. ISBN# 0-9537481-0-3. Page 32
Book borrowed from the Northern Lights Lace Makers

Cross Bookmark 2

Another pretty cross made from a pattern in Tatting 2000.

Pattern Source:
Book, Tatting 2000 by The Ring of Tatters. ISBN# 0-9537481-0-3. Page 34
Book borrowed from the Northern Lights Lace Makers

Cross Bookmark

I had a special request for some tatted crosses.
Here’s the first design I decided to tat – it’s quick and easy and pretty. What more could I want?

Pattern Source:

Book, Tatting 2000 by The Ring of Tatters.  ISBN# 0-9537481-0-3.  Page 35

Book borrowed from the Northern Lights Lace Makers

Milward Tatting Shuttle

This summer we were driving west on Highway # 1 and finally decided to stop at Junk for Joy, an antique and stuff shop on the side of the road near Portage la Prairie MB. There was so much stuff to look at and it wasn’t easy either, since we had my dog with us so we couldn’t just look around – someone had to stay outside with her.

In my peering, peeking and poking around I found a tatting shuttle – a style I don’t already have. I bought it, put it in the glove box and forgot all about it until now when I came across it again.

This shuttle already gave me two great smiles – the first time I found it AND the second time when I found it again.

Crochet Skirt Lady in Orange

The second pillowcase is done now too. Not sure which I like better, the lady in yellow, or the lady in orange.

Bunny

I finally decided it is time to try out this Bunny pattern by mark Myers. This is the first time I’ve ever tried doing a split chain – obviously I still need practice but pretty good for a first try, if I do say so myself.

Crochet Skirt Lady in Yellow

When I was a young girl I loved those pillow cases that had an embroidered lady and with a beautiful skirt.  According to my memory, I never did have one but I also never forgot how much I wished I did - odd, the things that stay in your mind.

I decided that my nieces should have a beautiful lady pillow case.  This one in yellow is my first attempt.

Butterfly Pillowcases

I finally finished both butterfly pillowcases – one for each niece. This might not be the most practical gift for a 12 and 10 year old but they sure are pretty and I think the girls will like them.

Humming Bird Switch Plate Cover

When mom was here visiting we visited lots of second hand shops. What’s a vacation without a little treasure hunting? We came across some old needlework kits from The Creative Circle for pretty much next to nothing. I guess people were cleaning out their stashes and decided they were never actually going to stitch the kits they bought. I finished this switch plate cover last night – I think it turned out OK. Now, to find a spot for it…..

Humming Bird Switch Plate Cover
Kit #1601 from "The Creative Circle"

My First Stained Glass Project

Back in April my mom came to Winnipeg to visit. Because my Aunt, my mom and I all have birthdays in May my aunt wanted to come up with something that we could all do together. She’s an excellent stained glass artist so she signed the three of us up to take a 3 day introduction to stained glass course.

It’s taken me 3 months to hang up my project for one silly little reason – the project didn’t come complete with the string or chin to hang it. Once again, my aunt came to the rescue and gave me some spider wire so I could hang up my project. I have some of the spider wire left which will probably end up in a tatting experiment…

Proof that dogs DO smile

My favourite dog and I (really, she is my best pal in the whole world) visited Erickson Manitoba on the weekend and went for a little walk.  She even posed for a photo and proved once and for all that dogs really DO smile. :)

It's a Dragon!

A fat dragon if you look at how he turned out here.  He's not blocked or pressed or anything yet but the tatting is done.  Next weekend I'll block etc and find a nice background and a .... frame?  I'm not sure what to do with him now - does he want to live in a frame?

This pattern is called "Dragon" by Pam Palmer.



Neck in Neck

I feel like I'm in a race with myself to get this done - my shuttle is clicking, my tounge is counting and my critter is coming to life.  It's a neck in neck tie for me which was the most fun - making the eye or seeing the shape come together.

A Happy Tail

The tummy is done, leg is attached and the tail is complete.
This little fellow is coming together nicely.

Tummy Troubles

I've now accepted that some of my tatting is upside down so I'm going to stop dwelling on that.  I had to make the tummy TWICE because the first time, at the very beginning I joined to the wrong chain and got an very unfortunate twist that couldn't be hidden or worked around.  Out came the scissors - cut, cut, cut.  Start again.

I made it through the tummy troubles.

A Leg Up

I got the leg and the foot done.
Again, some of my tatting ended up being upside down..... but, it's looking ok anyhow.

Wingin' It

I'm working on making a larger tatting project with lots of parts.  To keep myself motivated, I decided to post the bits as I get them done.  Just ignore that some of my tatting is upside down - this IS a first try after all. :)

Here's the wing.

Celebrating Abigail

Abigail arrived two and a half weeks early showing her mom right off the hop who is really in charge.  It didn't throw me off too much though - I got her little baby shoes into the mail as quick as a wink.

They even have a new feature - tiny little pink beads!

Tatted with DMC Perle cotton size 8, colour # 818

You're Invited! Lace Day 2012

My friends, the Northern Lights Lace Makers, extend an invitation to YOU! 
Please join us at Lace Day 2012.