Liyarra's Tatting Nook

I  had a bad night where I could not sleep. So about 2am I was casually looking through eBay and came across the bargain of a lifetime. Back story has to be explained a bit first. My former partner, Jamie, spent a lot of time looking for shuttles for me and was successful in finding some really good ones for me in some of the least likely places. One of his aims was to get hold of my ultimate shuttle - an enamel floral one. Sadly that never eventuated. After he died, there was some money left that was meant to go towards my "ultimate shuttle". Figuring that would never happen, I shared some of that money with fellow International Chat Tatters to get our 10 year anniversary shuttles and went on a bit of a spend on silver shuttles to have a "Jamie" collection. As I looked through eBay that night, a shuttle popped up with a starting price of $60 USD and a Make an Offer option. It was a green enamel shuttle in reasonable condition and so I thought I would be a bit che...

I took myself away for a few days as I am starting a new job soon and won't get another chance for 12 months. Decided it would be a tatting treasure hunt trip so I hit pretty much every secondhand dealer, opportunity (thrift) shop and antique shop between Shepparton and Warrnambool. All the old towns including Bendigo and Ballarat and ....NOTHING!! On the way home I spotted a sign saying "old wares" on a side road. Nearly missed it. It is one of those places where sellers rent a small space in a big hall. I thought...what the heck. Plenty of time before I have to be home. Got there with 5 minutes to closing. Asked about shuttles, showed them the one I had with me and suddenly a woman pipes up....Oh yes I think the lady down the back has something like that!! Ta da!!!   My first shuttle find in any of those sorts of stores! The Milwards mean I can keep my promise to Shari to replace the one that never arrived in the mail and have a couple of spares to trade. There was a...

After completing the Tatting the Australian Way challenge bookmarks I started thinking about some of the patterns I had stashed away in my files. I went through a few and found a pattern that was basically the same, except it was turned 'inside out'. So I did it too..... Lizbeth 40 Seriously keen to get rid of the rest of this thread.

Belinda Spence put up a challenge in the facebook group Tatting the Australian Way. https://www.facebook.com/groups/847655165276159/ It was a free pattern and anyone could participate. Well....it LOOKED easy enough. But it actually has a more than usual level of concentration required, as we pretty much all found out! First attempt and I made the rookie mistake of thinking it was a rock along easy pattern so I used Alenalea Rako HDT...... and suffered the consequences. After attempt number 1.... after cutting out a repeat of the pattern because I joined in the wrong place (twice),I ended up untatting 9 rings in an attempt to not run out of thread. THIS is what I had left! This was the result of the first attempt. Really love Lea's HDT. Withstands unpicking beautifully and always feels great to tat with. So I decided to try it again..... This time with Altin Basak 50 in red and Butterfly gold thread Version 3 was a breeze. A couple of small unpicks and swearing at the fraying L...

Finally the last of the silver shuttles is here!! Cleaned up nicely too. So now all my precious ones are together at last. Still on the lookout for more Websters and that all elusive enamel. I will find it one day..... The four on the left are Webster - Webster Co. (Around 1894-Present) North Attleboro, MA Founded by George K. Webster as G.K. Webster & Co. in 1878. Became the Webster Co. c. 1894. Makers of miscellaneous sterling flatware items, holloware, vanity items and novelties along with a small line of silverplate items. Became a subsidiary of Reed & Barton in 1950, operating as an independent company. Purchased the Frank W. Smith Silver Co. in 1958. The large one is a Nussbaum & Hunold - Nussbaum & Hunold (1903-1920) Providence, RI Founded by Benjamin Nussbaum, Joseph Nussbaum, and Walter Hunold. Manufacturers of sterling novelties and jewelry. The next one is a Foster & Bailey - Foster & Bailey (1878-1898) Providence, RI Successor to White, Fost...

I have decided that Middy Clark is dangerous to my bank balance..... She keeps coming up with fantastic little shuttles I really love to use!! I adore her Dragon Dog and Phoenix metal shuttles because the feel so nice and balanced to work with and fit my hand nicely. THEN... she comes out with these divine little garden shuttles! AND not just one...6 different colors. My addiction will never be overcome! Middy's shop in Etsy is called TheKnottedVine. Worth keeping an eye on what she puts up for sale. These ones are not always available. https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheKnottedVine?section_id=17757593 Just a note here too. The shuttles I show on my page and in Tatting Shuttle Addicts on facebook are all purchases. The are not freebies or giveaways. My opinions are that of a customer and nothing more. https://www.facebook.com/groups/tattingshuttleaddicts/

When I was in Denmark in 2010 I was lucky enough to have my birthday while I was there and Susanne made me a traditional Danish birthday cake which includes all sorts of sweets on it. While she was busy cooking I swiped some of the licorice strap and tatted a ring with it. Well........ on a long car trip, I got a bit bored and, well, the snake lollies just jumped out and yelled TAT ME!! So I did! (In my defence it WAS Susanne's birthday - I was just thinking of that fine cake!) My excuse and I am sticking to it!