Liyarra's Tatting Nook

Oh my my....

2012-02-15T19:18:00.000+11:00

Has it really been that long since I came in here???

Between work, study, travel and the farm unfortunately tatting has had to take a very very major back step. But still the shuttles get toted everywhere and silently berate me for their non-use by turning up at and in the most inopportune moments.

I will finish this challenge......hopefully soon.....

I would also like to acknowledge a message I received today re Gina Brummett....what a sad loss to the world. Such a lovely, happy, giving lady who encouraged tatters all over the place to give things a go... She will be sadly missed..
RIP Gina.

Bookmark 11 and a trip to Brisbane.

2011-08-08T17:10:00.001+10:00

This next bookmark has been a long time coming. It can probably claim title as my new "aircraft" project bookmark LOL. It was started when I went to Denmark last September and only just finished this last weekend on my flight back from Brisbane.

The pattern is Jon Yusoff's Bookmark with Overlapping Chains and can be found here:

http://tatsaway-patterns.blogspot.com/2008/08/bookmark-with-overlapping-chains.html.

But don't just go to that page!! Take time to go look around Jon's blog. She is such a talented tatter and designer as well as a lovely person. We are so lucky to have tatters like Jon who are so generous with their time and patterns.

Bookmark 11:

Thread is Lizbeth Spring Garden in 20 and Anchor Liana 20 dark green.

THANKS JON.

Talking of trips on aircraft -

Had a fantastic couple of days up in Brisbane with Maureen Lawrence. Went up to Crochet Australia at Maleny to see Vicki on Friday and of course had to spend my pocket money on more Lizbeth ( but I will stand by my claim that it was ALL Maureen's fault, putting me in a room full of lovely colors LOL). Then spent the evening chatting and looking through Maureen's new tatting books and trying to not drool too much! If you ever think you have a LOT of tatting books - talk to Maureen!!!

Spent a wonderful Saturday with the Queensland Tatters group at Brisbane Library. Perfect way to spend a few days away and I thank everyone for making it so pleasurable. If you get the chance and you are in Brisbane (Australia) on the first Saturday of the month make sure you head there and take a look. You will be welcomed for sure.

Now back to finding some more patterns to complete this challenge!!

8, 9 and 10...

2011-07-09T08:51:00.009+10:00

I hate it when I make something then lose the pattern...grrrrrrrrrr. Found many things lately that I had forgotten about but still cannot find the ones I want!

Here are some more bookmarks and a lesson deserved and learned LOL.. But then again it DID give me an idea....watch this space (not too intensely - it could take a while!)

Bookmark 8

Ok so you're saying - Again with Julie Patterson stuff?....muahhhhaaaahhaahhhaahhhaaa (really need to practice that evil laugh) - can't help it - just LOVE these patterns. Have done this one in so many different color combos. Always comes out nicely.

The pattern is called Wishbones and the thread is Lizbeth 20 color: Springtime.

Bookmark 9

This is mine. Easter Daisy. The pattern I lost and only just found again. Can't find the original tatting either so had forgotten all about it until I found the pattern the other day. Wasn't in my tatting diary or anything so not sure why that slipped through. I've played around with it a bit and redone the daisy to sit a bit better. Originally I made the pattern for an Easter competition for the Queensland Tatters as I was going up there for one of their meetings.The entries were amazing - so many talented ladies in that group. Can't wait to get back up there in August.

Thread is size 40 Venus.

Bookmark 10.. aka read the pattern stupid....

This is where one learns that to achieve the correct "look" one must actually READ the pattern before rushing headlong into it LOL

The top - clearly I had no idea what I was doing!! (But it has raised an idea for a future pattern.....)

The bottom one finally GOT it!

The pattern is spiral bookmark found on Gina's site : Threads of a Tatting Goddess. Great site for info and a good tatting read http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/2187160/spiral-bookmark-71k?da=y

Thread is Anchor 12 perle - I love that thread for bookmarks and doilies that I need to be soft yet keep shape. Such wonderful colors too!!

Now THESE colors are loved by many, detested by many in Victoria. They are the Collingwood Football Club colors. (No NOT my team) I made this for a friend who requested that I make her a bookmark in the "correct" colors. So as much as it REALLY hurt to make ANYTHING in that club's colors I did it just for her...awwwwwww.........

Bookmarks 4-7.....

2011-07-06T15:06:00.004+10:00

Yeah ok so it has been cold and wet and I have been on night shifts again!!!
Luckily bookmarks are just perfect for these conditions so got a few done this week.
Look out tatting...I'm back......

Bookmark 4

Pattern is Heart2Heart by Julie Patterson.
Thread is Lizbeth Caribbean size 20.

Bookmark 5

Pattern was found online - an adaptation of an old Anna edging. Not sure who has done this but if you can tell me that would be great so I can credit them. LOVELY pattern to do and good practice in split rings.

Thread is Lizbeth Mountain Breeze size 40

Bookmark 6

The one ranks right up there with Mary Konior's Black Magic in my book!!
It is called Eye Spy by Julie Patterson from Just Marking Tome.
Thread is Lizbeth Bright Turquoise size 40.

Bookmark 7

Pattern is Clover Bookmark by Kelly Luljak
Found online here: http://members.iglou.com/mantia/crafts/bookmark.html
Thread is Lizbeth Spring Garden size 40.

Round 2 - bookmarks 1-3

2011-06-27T17:29:00.012+10:00

Decided to do the 25 Motif Challenge again - this time in bookmarks! With a bit of luck I might find some ones that are not really commonly used. So if you know of any really different ones please feel free to let me know!

Ok here is the first of a few done in the last month... yep slowly getting back into tatting.

Bookmark 1

This is Rosy Ironbark. The pattern is by Karen Bickerton from Queensland Australia.

She has this pattern for sale on her etsy site:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/72375680/tatting-pattern-rosy-ironbark

Love it!!!!! Have done 4 of these now and it will probably remain one of my favourites.

Thread is Altin Basak 50.

Bookmark 2

This one is from Just Marking Tome by Julie Patterson (another Aussie). Julie's patterns are always fun to do and I really like using her designs a lot. Thread is Lizbeth Dark Purple 40. Doesn't really show up well in the photo but it also has gold Delica beads on it. The thread was really lumpy and had joins as well. Very NOT impressed with it. So I thought I had better make it up to my exchange partner by sending a second one! (my excuse and I am sticking to it - It was tat or hit someone...that sort of day LOL)

Bookmark 3

Another one from Just Marking Tome by Julie Patterson. Thread is Manuela 204 size 20 - had some stashed away!! Both of these bookmarks were done for the bookmark exchange on InTatters.

Motifs 18 - 25!!!!! DONE!!!!!!

2011-05-29T17:52:00.003+10:00

Wow has it been that long since I posted.....must be!

Ok catch up time. December 2010 to present......

MOTIF 18

Single heart from Rainbow Heart bookmark.

By Betsy Evans

originally found on www.tattings.com

variegated pastel rayon thread.

MOTIF 19

4 Ring Snowflake

http://www.durell.me.uk/Tatting/4%20Ring%20Snowflake%20diagram.pdf

Lizbeth 20 but I cannot remember the color...sorry!

MOTIF 20

Motif from Festive Tatting.

Completely and utterly stole this idea. I will admit it!!

I copy-catted Fox - I just loved the way she added the beads!!

So Fox - thanks for the wonderful idea and I hope you see it as a tribute to your talent and how much I enjoy your work.

MOTIF 21

Mark Meyers pattern.

Mauve and white cebelia (yuk.....)

Difficult one for me but happy with the result.

MOTIF 22

Miranda's Angels in the Snow.

Bre-Aly thread size 30

Great pattern for a great cause.

Happy to make the purchase,

http://tattingfool.blogspot.com/

MOTIF 23

Design by Judith Connors.

From the Queensland Tatters newsletter.

Lizbeth 40.

MOTIF 24

Motif 3

Festive Tatting and Ornaments for Needle and Shuttle Tatters

Barb Foster publication.

Bre-Aly HDT "Dream" size 30.

MOTIF 25

Lucky last!!!

Heart fob.

From Queensland Tatters.

Lizbeth 40 dark purple.

AND THAT"S ALL FOLKS!!!!!

Back from the Big Adventure.

2010-12-19T01:10:00.002+11:00

We're Baaaaaaaack.....

Now did you guess???

Hmmm????

Sydney, Australia..................

December 14.......................

AHHHHHHHH....someone has twigged........

Ok - We went to the taping of Oprah Winfrey's show at the Opera House in Sydney....

See...no REAL biggie......

But think about it. My friend from work, Carol, put our names in the lottery. There were 350,000 (yep) entrants in the ballot for 6000 seats and SHE WON tickets!!!!!!!!! So yeah it became a biggie. Something that will not happen again and we were there for it!

Anyway - up at 4am on Monday 13th, flew to Sydney. Went and picked up our tickets (hooray they DID exist!! wouldn't that be a bummer to get there and find out the email was a hoax????) and sauntered off over to our accommodation. Now if you are ever in Sydney and want good, clean but cheap accom - this is the place! The Mercantile Hotel in George Street. Basic stuff. Beds, kettle, tv in rooms, nothing flash- but cozy, tidy and clean.....LOVELY Irish pub, LOVELY owners, LOVELY staff, LOVELY food....(oh yeah the salt and pepper squid was WONDERFUL), in The Rocks right near the bridge, couple of minutes walk to the harbour. Add to that an ENORMOUS fully cooked brekky and $120 AUD for 2 people for the night became even more value!

The afternoon consisted of ferry rides around the harbour, sightseeing, ice cream in Manly and entertainment at Circular Quay - ahh the joys of Sydney. Then back to the hotel, semi-snooze, dinner, walk around the historic Rocks area then another ferry ride to take photos at sunset, back to the pub for a couple of drinks outside and by midnight we were totally knackered...!!

Alarm went off at 5am Tuesday - promptly got "snoozed" until we finally got our act together enough to go downstairs, stow our gear and get into the never ending line to shuffle our way down to the Opera House. Met some lovely ladies from Brisbane who "bumped" into us again when in line.....pushed in actually - but we all had a good laugh when we saw who they were!! We had met them on the ferry on Monday night! SO we stuck together and dodged the TV cameras and reporters all the way down the the Opera House.

When we got there we found a tiny little clear spot right at the foot of the steps near the railing - just enough for 4 of us and we could just see over the rail - but we had a good view of the stage so we propped there...only to find out a few minutes later that this was the EXACT spot Ms Winfrey stopped to be introduced to the people of Australia!!!!! (So much for camera dodging.....) Unfortunately there was a no camera rule for us and everything on the day is copyrighted to Harpo so I cannot put up the sneaky little pic that "materialised" from one of our group members phones......but it is a good one and VERY close!! Maybe one day we can post it.

I could not say I am a fan of Oprah, I do not know much about her show, so I was really pleasantly surprised at how friendly she was. Her sense of humour showed through on and off camera and she came across as a genuinely nice lady. I think she has made that impression nearly everywhere she has been over here. There has been none of the usual "lets find something bad" from the press here which is a refreshing change. She has slotted into the Aussie way of life easily and despite the heat and the flies had only good things to say about her time here!!

Our guests were Russell Crowe, Jay-Z, Bindi Irwin (with her mum and brother in tow) and BON JOVI (YEAHHHHHHHH!!!!!! - our morning group had SUCH a better deal LOL)

The couple of hours there were entertaining and engaging and to be honest I am really glad we went. Her team are so slick and the whole thing flowed beautifully. Once things got going it was never dull.

The rest of the day was just chilling around the Quay, lunch back at the Mercantile, more ice cream, watching Hugh Jackman leap from the Opera House on his unfortunate trip across to his spot on Oprah's stage, coffee at Guylian and then the plane ride home. Hmmm.... flight home seemed to be so short.....just a couple of yawns.. bit of a recline in the seat and all of a sudden we were there....................

All in all a wonderful, relaxing couple of days with a good mate playing hookey from work. Who could ask for more.

THANKS CAROL.

The BIG adventure.....

2010-12-04T14:58:00.003+11:00

Only 8 more sleeps to the start of the BIG adventure........

Nope can't say TOO much cos there are too many who just don't know yet and maybe it's not that big a deal except to me and one other - the instigator of this whole idea!!!!!

Needless to say it is history in the making and will be a blast...... and if you are clever and have a good think about it you JUST might be able to work it out........

More later.......MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA..........

(pathetic evil laugh ....I know.....sorry)

Been a while.

2010-11-17T19:35:00.016+11:00

Gosh is it really August since I last posted?

Ok catch up time.

I went to Denmark in September. A trip that I had planned and paid for quite a while ago and considering everything that happened recently I thought there was no point putting it off.

Thanks to Susanne I saw a lot of Denmark in a short period of time. Got to drive, go to a tat day with the Danish Tatting Association and spent some time with Inga Madsen and her family.

It was a good trip and I enjoyed it a lot. Susanne has photos up on her blog http://dantatter.blogspot.com/ with some good history of the places we went, so I won't post any others on here. (But you know I just WILL sooner or later....when I finally sort through the thousand or so that I took.....no...REALLY.....that many!!)

One of the places we stayed was a lovely little bed and breakfast in Skagen run by a lovely lady named Arla. She gifted me one of her paintings she had done so I tatted a small mat for her in the colors of Skagen. The houses there are mostly gorgeous little cottages that are painted yellow, with white picket fences and red tile roof. Such a quaint little town.
Other than this I have not done much tatting since I came back.

Hopefully that will change soon.........

Pattern is by Eddica and found here:

http://handarbeitsforen.de/index.php?page=Thread&postID=155308#post155308

Threads are yellow and white 40 Anchor.

Motif 17

2010-08-22T20:53:00.003+10:00

Ok I am back to tatting on here.
To help me along my way I decided to try AnneB's Christmas Heart.
Red for the last 23 wonderful years.
Blue for how my heart is feeling.
Green for the beginning of the future.

So here they are.

Red: thread is Altin Basak 40.

Blue is Lizbeth 40

and finally:

Green is BabyLo 30 - lovely to tat with but unfortunately broke for me a couple of times.

As usual a wonderful pattern from the very generous and talented Anne Bruvold. Thanks Anne - it is always a pleasure to tat one of your patterns.

Farewell my wonderful Jamie.

2010-07-23T23:51:00.007+10:00

I have not posted here in a while. I have been tatting - I have things to show for sure. But I need to express myself today. This is not tatting related so skip if you want. It is me needing to put a horrible event in to perspective and gain control to move on. On the 10th July I lost the one most important thing in my life quite unexpectedly and nothing has really seemed worthwhile.

To those of you who knew Jamie in person or through his (usually wicked) forays into the chats on MSN you will know how much he loved life, a good laugh, good company and that he gave me his incredible support in my chosen vice - tatting.

To those of you who did not know him. You have missed knowing one of the most charming, intelligent, caring and loving individuals that has ever walked this earth.

I have to post here - my voice to the outside world. I have to have an avenue to express publicly how much this man meant to me. Get it out there in words. But the words are so hard to find. Nothing I can say would come close to the reality of such a brilliant life together.

We had an incredible 23 years together. He was my best mate, lover, confidante, partner in all aspects of my life and all round gorgeous human being. He had an ability to put everyone at ease from the very first meeting. His laugh coming easily to him and his quick wit always able to make everyone feel good.

He was always at his happiest outdoors. There was always some new wonder awaiting him that he wanted to share with me. From an unusual insect to looking into the sky on a clear night and contemplating the universe. Everything was a opportunity to learn for Jamie and he excelled at anything he turned his hand to. He was an incredible horseman. Unruly beasts becoming putty in his hands with never a harsh word or action. His dogs - well behaved, obedient and true to their master without the need for anything more than words. Any job that needed doing - he was able to nut out a solution to and enjoyed the process.

I will miss everything about him. The phone calls when we were apart for more than a few hours, the quiet companionship at home sitting together- just being near - enough for us both. Riding horses in the forest. Travelling for the sake of travelling and discovering something wondrous at every turn. So many fantastic memories. Such a tragic and senseless end to it all.

Most of all I will miss his embrace. Arms always open to me at any time. Safety, sanctuary and protection at the ready.

Goodbye my mate. You are irreplaceable. Thanks for all the great times, memories, love and patience you have shown towards me in our time together. I would not trade it for anything. I miss you so much.

Motif 16 - the hunt for the lost motif

2010-06-11T17:45:00.005+10:00

Ok so it is NOT the pattern I said I was going to do for Motif 16...ah well...

A while ago I did a very nice little blue motif. Before the challenge so it did not count. But it was nice so I tatted it and moved on to the next thing on the ever-increasing list...

A few months later - I was looking for motifs to tat for the challenge when I came across this curious little blue motif and thought I might like to do it again. So I went to my trusty tatting diary to find out where it came from and SHOCK ....HORROR.....I had NOT even entered it!

This was so very very not me with my obsession of recording everything I tat. So I started trying to find the pattern. No luck. So I went to InTatters and humbly asked for help. How embarrassing LOL The Pattern Hunter that can usually find even the more obscure patterns for people, couldn't find a simple motif that she tatted less than a year ago!!!! HA HA HA.

BUT....Neither could anyone else at the time!!!! So it remained an elusive "lost" motif. There was this tiny nagging thought that it was : a) one that was part of a larger pattern and b) one that I had done during a tatting session with Dantatter. (turns out : yes and yes!)

No luck with that line of inquiry either......hmmmm.....

UNTIL....... 3 months later and hours of frustrated book looking. (Well that has upsides though...patterns....lovely patterns.....precious patterns.......And yes I guess at times some of those hours were not actually LOOKING for THAT pattern in particular..........)

I gave up on looking and decided to tat something out of Jan Stawasz's Tatting Theory and Patterns. Maybe something square? Ah there is a lovely looking one on page 75-77 - Doily Set! Hmm ...nice....I'll do .....WHAT???????????

There it was - staring me in the face, laughing, pointing and shouting IDIOT and running away. The darn motif!!

So I set myself a punishment - in a way only tatters could think of - I decided that I HAD to tat that whole mat so I would never forget again. (cool punishment hey??)

So here it is and seeing it is made from the "lost" motif I am putting it in here as Motif 16.

Lovely to tat BTW if you are thinking of trying it!

Thread was a disappointment - it is Lizbeth dark purple in size 20. It was crap to tat with. So unlike all the other Lizbeth I have tried. Had multiple knots and slubs in it. Very annoying. But the end product turned out ok

Motif 15.

2010-04-22T18:25:00.006+10:00

Sometimes you look at a pattern and say...yeah...THAT one. So you trawl for the pattern, get your head around it and off you go. Job done. And other times you wish you had stopped when you thought it looked good...cos really more ain't always better!!

I was looking through Cas Arthur's website this week as I reloaded all my bookmarks and had a "I GOTTA TAT THIS" moment when I saw her background. (and Cas knows I pinch ideas from her ALL the time LOL) - if you have not had a look - go see Castats website - http://home.vicnet.net.au/~castats/

PLENTY there to drool over. You will see why I want to tat like Cas!!!!!

I finally found where the pattern was and set about tatting it. First try was with a rather loud variegated which really did not show the pattern. So I toned it down a bit and grabbed some more appropriate olive green Perfect Quilter "Olivia" and off I went.

The pattern is from Tatting a Potpourri of Patterns from Handy Hands. Round Medallion No.150 and it is on pages 60 - 62.

Here is the finished product:

A nice enough Victorian type pattern and ok for my 15 motif. And really nothing wrong with the design. But I was a little disappointed in the overall look.

HOWEVER>>>&

Take away the edging and this is what you have:

MUCH more dramatic and to be honest I am wishing I stopped there. SO...off I go with some slightly larger black thread and the pattern lodged in my head to do motif 16.........see ya!

A special brag.....................

2010-04-19T17:41:00.013+10:00

...................about a special book!!!!!

My good friend Ginny Weathers has been working her butt off this last year creating some really spectacular glass ball ornaments. They have won shows and always come up really well. So she decided to put them together in a book.

working..thinking..tatting..resting..working..thinking..tatting -no time much to chat .. and so it went UNTIL

it has finally all come together for her and she has published her FIRST book!!!! (Yeay Ginny!!)

Now Ginny's dedication to tatting is something I have witnessed first hand. She stayed with us in 2006 and every morning you could find her up with the earliest of birds wandering around the farm with tatting in hand!!

She has done some incredibly (mind bogglingly) large doilies that she then donated to the nursing home where she works and I would suspect that her tatting is never far from her hands wherever she goes.

So it is nice to be able to brag about her book. (And I will cos I love it!)

12 Ornaments of Christmas.

There are various shapes and sizes to fit different glass ornaments. The patterns are well written and beautifully diagrammed. There are also very clear photos of each item. I won't post a page here for copyright reasons but it is VERY VERY well set out and presented. The pages are clear and uncluttered and it is very easy to see where you are in the large scaled diagrams. Book has plastic protector covers and is comb bound. Each pattern is skill rated (from basic to challenging) so there is something for everyone.

You can find out more or order through Ginny. love2tat@hotmail.com

A very nice start to your publishing career Ginny. Look forward to what you come up with next!!

Very proud of you girl!!!!!
Ginny's blog is:
http://ilovetotat.blogspot.com/

Motif 14

2010-04-07T22:31:00.000+10:00

Such a lovely night to tat.......LOL
Here is motif 14

Pattern is Motif 40 from TheTatted Artistry of Teiko Fujito. Thread is Venus size 40.

Motif 13

2010-04-07T18:11:00.000+10:00

On a roll today - here is motif 13.

Pattern is Musterteil - from the book Occhi-Schiffchenspitze- Frivolite by Langwieser and Scharowa.

The thread is Lizbeth "Razzle Dazzle" size 40.

Motif 12 - aka - Tat'n'chat time is back....YEAH!!!!!!!!!

2010-04-07T15:38:00.008+10:00

Happy happy Easter...what a wonderful week.

Dantatter and I finally got time off at the same time to resume our tat and chat sessions. Felt like YEARS since we had a chance to do one.

So..... off we went. After the usual "um what will we do?" session and the mad dash around the computers trying to find something (ok so we aren't organised.....) and the ums and arrhs of which one - finally we picked a pattern that NEITHER of us have ANY idea of its origin. It was found online - I have no idea whose pattern it is but if someone would like to let me know I will credit it accordingly. (But to the unknown designer - thanks anyway).

So here they are - the first chat and tat for 2010.

Susanne's version - Aida 20 thread

My version - Bre-Aly HDT "Dream" size 30.

These tat and chat sessions have been going for nearly 6 years (chatting as our little International Chat Tatters Group) and 4 years of Dantatter and I going off on our own little branch to play and I wouldn't miss them for anything. It is a chance to tat and be together without thinking about the fact that we are on opposite sides of the world. We chose a pattern, gather our "supplies", our tea/coffee/chocolate etc and sit for a couple of hours and spend the time as though we are in the same room. We scan our progress from time to time and show each other or we can scan something that is not working and discuss ways around it. LOVE IT. We sometimes don't chat much for some time cos we both know we are busy tatting but that makes it even more like being in the same place. Comfortable silence with a good friend. Nothing like it....until I get to Denmark in September!!!!

Thanks Susanne - as usual it was wonderful.

Vinnie's Spring Doily 2 - aka Motif 11

2010-03-21T20:27:00.002+11:00

Vinnie put a call out for people to test tat her new pattern. Nothing like a challenge and something completely new to tat!! Plus that nice feeling of being in the first few to give it a go......
If you haven't been to Vinnie's blog (http://vinniestattings.blogspot.com/) get over there now. Her work is gorgeous and there is always something there worth looking at.

So here is my version.

What a sweet pattern!! Vinnie you have done so well. It was such an honour that you shared it with us.
Can't wait to see more of your patterns. Thank you for the opportunity to give it a try. It was fun.
Thread is Lizbeth 40 Vineyard Harvest.

New HDT finds

2010-03-12T12:18:00.005+11:00

This thread is the second of the Etsy purchases I made a couple of weeks ago. The seller is Snappish. Really like this one. It tatted up well with no twisting or breaking and the colors are refreshing. 135metres/150 yards to a centre pull ball. Decent postage cost and all over (I think) a good buy. Seller (Brenda) is really nice to deal with and should have more stock in soon http://www.etsy.com/shop/Snappish

They are marketed under Bre-Aly Threads. The one on the left is called Sage Rose and the one on the right is called Dream. Both are size 30 and the base thread used is Omega brand. I think it is a nice one and I will be keeping an eye out for her new stock. Scanner is playing up a bit - the colors are quite warm and blend together nicely. Look a bit harsh in this pic.

Motif 10

2010-03-05T23:31:00.003+11:00

I have fallen in love with this little pattern.
I was intending to do Lace-lovin' Librarian's "Tribute to Myra Piper" but could not decide what colors to use. So in the meantime I tatted the centre and liked it enough that it will stay as is and become my 10th motif.

Myra Piper pattern from her book Tatting. Thread is Tourmaline by Yarnplayer. Size 40. Colors are just divine! Don't show up nearly as rich as they are in real life. One of those "must have" colors!!!

The one that NEARLY got away.....

2010-02-24T11:45:00.002+11:00

Hi,
Well here is the second of the potential suppliers that I found. A risk that may pay off in the future....

This one has some ups and downs with a great twist in the end that just made it all worthwhile. Please don't be too quick to judge this and read right to the end........

Browsing eBay I came across a gorgeous color combo called River of Lights and decided to have a chat with the designer. She told me what she had and gave me a link to her website. Tatting-wise nothing really screamed from the page but the colors are incredible. http://www.yarntopiatreasures.com/
So I decided to take a risk and buy some 20-2 organic cotton. Always up for new experiences.

It arrived in record time...a 500 yard ball!!!! Not expensive. So I thought the risk was worth it.

Ok - the tat test.....
Unfortunately - this is one that would be a wonderful crochet thread or good if you are a loose tatter and perhaps even needle tatters might find it ok cos there is less stressing the thread. There is nothing wrong with the thread AT ALL - just didn't pass my personal test for MY tatting threads - it broke a few times from closing rings and unfortunately had to be put down.........
It is a very soft, perle-type thread. A little fuzzy. Others may love it.

BUT.....now KEEP reading.

I have since talked with Tammy and she is sourcing some 6 cord size 20 thread to do her colors in especially for tatters!!! YEAH~~~

So there is the twist - from a risk comes a possibly great result!!!!!

Definitely keep an eye on Yarntopia Treasures.

Oh and BTW - I am not getting anything from these reviews. They are purely my own observations based on what I expect from a tatting thread. There are no freebies attached to these reviews in any way shape or form.

And now for something completely different - not 25 motif challenge related!!

2010-02-23T19:38:00.008+11:00

Someone asked me a while back what threads I liked to use. I tend to use anything I can get cos thread is pretty hard to come by over here if you want something other than ecru Coats or perle cotton.

I found that the Anchor perle 12 was a delight to work with and was happy with that for a while cos the colors were really good.....THEN......

Dantatter - my tat and chat buddy from Denmark had some hassles getting some of Yarnplayers wonderful thread. Marilee graciously agreed to send them to me and I forwarded them on from here.
As a result - Dantatter kindly gifted me a skein of Garden Afternoon and I became hopelessly hooked on HDT.
(sounds so evil doesn't it?? H.D.T.............. "and what was she using?...M'Lord, she's using HDT......").

But oh it tis a WONDERFUL addiction.........

Skeins started flying all over the world. Yarnplayer, Tatskool, LadyShuttlemaker......they all became suppliers to my growing need.

So I started seeking more suppliers.. I mean - what if Yarnplayer didn't HAVE any Garden Afternoon or Tatskool starting keeping her Rainbow Brights to herself???????? OH NO>>>>>>>>>>>>

I came up with a few alternatives and have ordered thread from all of them. Just to sample it of course. Purely for EDUCATIONAL purposes......no problem here......

Anyway. The first I will show here is from KLMATTOX via Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/shop/klmattox

It is a 3 core, firm twist thread.Gorgeous colors. Designed and made by a tatter for tatters.....

Best of all - it is 300 yards!!!!!. So being on a budget does not mean you cannot get HDT. The ball is a centre pull deal. I messed it up a little when I first opened it.
This is how it tats.

Now again - I messed up this thread while I was doing this motif. DELIBERATELY!!! So any lumps and bumps are the TATTER's fault not the thread. I am really rough on the thread when I test tat it. I pull some stitches really tight, unpick sections and generally give it a hard time to see if it will be worthwhile.
This one is LOVELY!!! Honestly - on the ball I thought it might be a bit fluffy - but it tatted up smooth and really felt nice to deal with. Doesn't tangle or twist and pulls even all the way. I didn't break it pulling up rings...but then I don't tat SUPER tight.
Overall verdict??
Nice thread Linda - you've done well and I hope to order more from you in the near future!!

Motif 9.

2010-02-19T16:53:00.001+11:00

The weather is still quite warm here but the need to tat is greater!!
Here is my 9th motif. Catherine Wheel Split Ring Motif

Pattern designed by Julie Patterson. Found in the Australian Tatters Guild (Victorian Branch) newsletter January 2006.

Thread is Altin Basak green 50

It's here.....REALLY here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yippee,, hooray......

2010-02-02T14:37:00.004+11:00

OK - worked out I am excited yet?? LOL
Why?
I have a new tatting book!!

Hmmm...Pointed out to me by a friend who was here this morning - that I already have MANY (too??) tatting books - so what was so important about this one?????
(Hrmpp - non-tatters!!!)

The thing is.. I am a tatting addict. There - out in the open. (As if those of you who know me didn't realise this already!!). If it is tatting related - I gotta get it. But most of the fun of my tatting addiction comes from the chase...that obscure pattern, thread, shuttle or book that (regardless of content) you just HAVE to have.

I am an investigator by nature, a procurer of the elusive by reputation. (modest too....). If it is frustratingly near impossible to find, I have to give it a try. There are things I have searched for over a period of years (see shuttle entry here) but I got 'em eventually!! BUT....I do have a limit to what I will pay for something.

I have been chasing a book for well over a year now after seeing a pattern picture online that I decided I wanted to do. The only ones I saw of it were up around the 50 euro mark plus postage to buy.....WAY out of my league for a book I cannot look at first.

Then... just as I was seriously starting to consider paying 38.00 euro plus 12.00 euro for postage for this book -(approx $78.00 AUD) it magically appeared on eBay in Germany for......5.9 euro!!!!!!! BUY IT NOW!!!!!!!! that was ONLY $9.23 AUD plus about $10 for postage!!!!!!!!!
So naturally...I bought it! and here it is ..... my latest addition to the every growing library.

The book is Occhi by Hilde Schleip

Published in 1989 and although not that hard to find - still hard in that it is usually priced quite high.

The patterns include edgings, motifs and doilies. Hand drawn diagrams (which several are hard to read the print on) and short notation instructions (German).

Some nice patterns. Lots of onion ring type arrangements and multiple chain rows. Several patterns very reminiscent of Frauberger and Konior.

Overall nice enough book with plenty to do in it. But is it worth the larger asking prices??? hmmm......not in my opinion. But everyone has their own value on things. Once again it comes down to - if you hold out a bit longer sometimes it can be worth it.

Danish Tatting Guild

2010-01-29T09:24:00.010+11:00

Hi All.
There have been a lot of questions about the patterns I have done from the Danish Tatting Guild (Dansk Orkisforening). I have been a member for a few years now and receive their newsletter regularly.
As the patterns in this publication are subject to copyright I am not prepared to send copies of these to anyone without the permission of the designers....sorry about that.....but I know how much work goes into those designs and I strongly believe that this integrity must be maintained.

Dantatter has kindly put up all of the information regarding this Guild - in English - on her blog for those of you who are interested in making enquiries. See:http://dantatter.blogspot.com/
AND while you are there take a look around at some of the wonderful tatting she has on show !! (Dantatter is my tatting guru and a lot of the reason I am still tatting today! - thanks Mate)

Ta da!!

2010-01-27T17:35:00.006+11:00

Finally finished the doily. I have to consider this a humbling pattern. One I kinda wish I hadn't used good HDT on for a first try. It looks ok(ish) but some of the joins were hard to work out and I have had to use up a lot of my precious thread correcting things. But hey - it is a learning experience....every new challenge a reason to get excited. Might sit a bit better once I block it tomorrow.
Regardless it is still an awesome pattern by an awesome designer!!!!! Thanks Lene for the beautiful pattern and thanks Susanne for the thread.

Now onto the next motif!!!!!

The details of pattern and thread are already shown below the centre piece pic shown in the last post "Motif 8??"

Motif 8??

2010-01-19T19:51:00.003+11:00

This one might not count cos it is not strictly a stand alone motif. But it was so cute I just had to see if it would slip on in there!!! This is the centre of the larger project I have just started.

The pattern was designed by Lene Bjorn and was found in Orkis Bladet - the magazine of the Danish Tatting Association (Dansk Orkisforening).

The thread is Garden Afternoon by Yarnplayer. Size 20. Given to me by my best mate Dantatter.

Motif 7

2010-01-19T13:02:00.005+11:00

ARRRRRGGGGHHHHHHH........this is WAY too addictive....

I just HAD to do the last pattern that I had printed out. It was just sitting there all lonely and about to cry, wondering why it had been left out when all the other patterns had been done......
So here it is - happy to be included.

(anthropomorphizing tatting.....hmmm....is that part of the tatting sickness??? Time to stop motifs for a while I think)

Hearts Desire pattern designed by Susan Fuller.

Springtime (115) Lizbeth 40

Motif 6

2010-01-18T18:28:00.002+11:00

OK last one for a while. Weather has cooled down a bit so I can resume my larger project....yeah!!!!

Design by Iris Niebach

from her website

http://www.iristatting.com/FREEPATT2.html

Thread is Venus 40

Motif 5

2010-01-17T22:49:00.005+11:00

Another quiet day....another motif.........
This one is again from the Frauberger book. Not so rapt in the thread though.....good news is that was the last of it!!! Why is that good news????
Cos it gives me an excuse to buy some more Lizbeth!!!!!!!!!

Altin Basak 50. Olive green

Motif 4

2010-01-16T23:28:00.006+11:00

This motif is from my all time favourite book. Schiffchenspitze by Tina Frauberger (the 1921 book). There is hardly a pattern in that book that I do not want to do. You have to work to read the patterns - but once you decipher the notation the patterns are well worth the effort.

The thread is Lizbeth 115 - Springtime - size 40.

Both the Frauberger books (1917 and 1921) have been put into one volume by Christel Wutzmer and Agnes Focke and can be found here. http://doppelknoten.gmxhome.de/_31LieferbDopp/_e_main.htm
at the bottom of that page.
It was expensive (about 53.45 Euro to Australia - approx $83 AUD) but in my mind it was well worth it. The book is hard cover, beautifully bound and comes with a basic translation page of the symbols used in the pattern notation (in German). This is a bit of a let down - at that price an English translation of the symbols would have been handy.
Don't let that put you off - the book is FANTASTIC!!!
More motifs from it to come I can assure you..............

Motif 3

2010-01-14T22:38:00.006+11:00

OK this time I WILL get the name right!!! I did the two from the Konior book on the same day. Just put the wrong pic up!!! Ah well.....

This one is DEFINITELY "Masquerade" designed by Mary Konior and found in Tatting With Visual Patterns.

Again the thread is Manuela 204. Size 20.

I wanted to do a larger mat in this thread but am still tossing up which pattern I will use. Might just end up a jumble of a lot of different motifs if I don't decide soon !!!!

Motif 2

2010-01-13T18:45:00.002+11:00

Who says night shift is boring?????
Here is the second motif for the challenge. Hot off the shuttle!!

"Have Motive Will Create"

Pattern designed by Chrisi Thomas-Pike. Found in the Tatters Guild of Australia (New South Wales Branch) newsletter. May 2008. Thread is Altin Basak 50.

25 motif challenge....

2010-01-11T17:59:00.003+11:00

I was asked by a friend to complete the 25 motif challenge with her this year. I have not really felt I had the time to try this before. But as this is a new year and I am up for a bit of a challenge and a bit of fun tatting this year I guess it fits right in there!!

So here is my first:

Patchwork. Designed by Mary Konior. Found in the book: Tatting With Visual Patterns. Thread is Manuela 204, size 20.

Falling for Lizbeth.......

2010-01-09T15:50:00.005+11:00

Like so many tatters before me I have fallen in love with Lizbeth thread. (took me long enough!!)
I finally bit the bullet and ordered some through Debbie Arnold at DS9 Design. Being cautious after some not-so-great thread purchases, I ordered just 4 balls - Caribbean and turquoise in 40 and Caribbean and royal blue in 20. Then I sat patiently and waited.....and waited.....and waited (what sort of idiot orders thread from the other side of the world right before Christmas?????????????)

Ok so it arrived safely and looked fantastic and it sat there on my desk for all to admire......

UNTIL....that little tatting demon inside started its whining.........
um...hello???.........it is NOT an ornament..... it IS there to use....... tatting?? remember that????......no it is NOT too hot to tat.......stop procrastinating......DO SOMETHING!!!!!!! You knooooowww you waaaannntt to!!

But what to make with this precious thread stash???...
Over the next few days I waded through my vast library of patterns, made a short list, threw it away, made another one and finally just grabbed one of the many sitting on the desk...... Yarnplayers ARCHES pattern won.

It was like the red shoes - once I started I could not stop!! But at least this tale has a happy ending. Here is the result!! I must say I am really pleased with it and loved this 40 thread to work with. I also love this pattern by Yarnplayer - thanks for making it available to us all Marilee it is a beauty.

Shuttle heaven.....

2009-11-19T17:06:00.006+11:00

Today has been a FANTASTIC day.

The mailman was good to me for a change and I received not one but TWO surprises in the mail.

First a little bit of history so you know just HOW special this mail is.........

A couple of years ago Dantatter sent me some photos of a tatting exhibition in Germany. One of the vendors there sold the most wonderful looking wooden inlay tatting shuttles. Of course I fell in love with them straight away and they got added to my.. I REEALLLLY REEAALLLLY WANT THESE list. (one that is WAY too long!)

Easier said than done. I tried everything I could to find the maker and contact details and thought I had it there for a while but alas it was not to be.... language barriers and trying to get the money over there was just going to make it too hard.

UNTIL.....

A few weeks ago I was chatting with someone from InTatters who lives in Switzerland and so I asked her about the shuttles. Yep - she knew of them and not only that - knew how to get hold of some!! WHAT????? How cool is that!

So to save having to mess about with exchange rates and the like - we are doing a shuttle swap. 2 Swiss handmade Edith Roesti wooden shuttles for 2 Australian handmade wooden shuttles from Neil Keats.

Back to today ..... when I got out to the mailbox (trying not to melt in the process - 40 plus celcius up here today) there were two packages - one from Sonja in Switzerland and one from Neil Keats. Talk about good timing...

Here's what was inside.....

ok - first go get a towel cos you ARE going to drool over these and I would hate to be responsible for any computer damage.......

The two top ones are 72mm x 20mm and are for Sonja and the bottom two are 66mm x 16mm for ME!! Handmade, beautifully finished, wooden shuttles from our very own Aussie shuttlemaker - Neil Keats.

I have several of these now and have had him make some as show prizes and also some for when Susanne and Ginny visited in 2006.

LOVE them. They are always beautifully finished and are lovely to tat with.

And in the second package we have.........

This is one of the Edith Roesti shuttles from Sonja.

And this is the OTHER one!!

These shuttle are gorgeous and so light to use. I am really rapt with them and can't wait to play with them a bit more.

They say good things come to those who wait!!! Just sometimes it takes longer than you expect!

Thanks Sonja for making this possible.

Challenges and show successes

2009-11-12T21:33:00.006+11:00

Hmmm... where to start.

Sometimes you can be challenged to do something you REALLY do not feel you can do. But it was your best friend who asked and you can't say no - after all it IS tatting......

So this is the way it went down:

Dantatter and I have, for over 5 years now, been regular chatting buddies on MSN. We have had many hours of chatting and tatting and nutting out patterns online. With the exception of one (way too) brief time when she was in Australia - we haven't really had the luxury of sitting together in a space to tat so we created our own little room online instead! (comfy chairs and mile high stacks of chocolate abound..........hey it's OUR fantasy space ok?? )

Often we find we are tatting the same patterns and our taste in patterns is quite similar. Neither of us had ever tackled a big doily. So what better idea than to do a BIG doily at the same time????? Great idea???- yes....now come the hard part - choose the pattern.........(groan).

After looking and discussing and looking some more, then arguing good naturedly about it and looking again - we decided on a pattern from the Danish Tatting Association Orkis Bladet -( their newsletter.)

Lo and behold - it turned out to be a pattern I have so studiously avoided that I thought I had got away with NEVER having to do it. Ewwwwww - it had LOTS of picots. But in the spirit of challenge and friendship I said yes. After all Dantatter would have to do them all as well!!!! Hehehehehe (pathetic maniacal laugh)

It took a while and it had a few challenges to it but all in all it was a rather nice one to tat - sat well, looked ok and I managed to get rid of most of the picots!

Finished - scanned, shown to Dantatter and put away. UNTIL........OH NO - Whittlesea Show deadline looming and I did not have a real contender.....and I bet you know it from here eh?

Yep - in the spirit of "it's always the one you hate the most" it won a second prize!!!

A bit of a start from a long way behind..

2009-11-12T21:28:00.000+11:00

Ok this has taken some time and I am lightyears behind (nothing new there!!) but finally decided to take the plunge and document my tatting somewhere I hopefully won't lose it....
I doubt this will become anything more than a few disjointed ideas from time to time..but who knows?????
So here I go, deep breath ........