Life Line

I'm still about - on earth that is, not so much in cyberspace.  Thank you for checking on me.  Sorry that I haven't responded to emails.  It has been busy... and that won't be changing any time soon.  We began homeschooling one of the kids this year.  BIG adjustment for me.  It's going well and I am happy that we are doing it, but my creative pursuits have definitely taken a hit...

There hasn't been much time for tatting - my brain can't keep up with language arts and social studies etc, AS WELL AS, ds, -, --, and RW.  All I have to show is what I WAS working on before I came to care about prepositions, pronouns and the American Revolution...

Above is progress I had made on testing a tatting pattern I am attempting to write up.  And below is an unfinished motif - I BELIEVE it is part of a vintage pattern, but I wouldn't swear to it.  If I ever find the pattern, maybe it will be finished...

Knitting has been my friend lately.  I still have a bee in my bonnet to make some socks for my dad and the pattern is simple enough that I am able to work on it as I wait... and prod... and wait some more... for homeschool work to be completed.

Unfortunately, not so simple that I didn't make a mistake while shaping the heel.  I'm such a newbie at knitting that I can't immediately tell where my mistakes occur and things started to careen out of control as I began ripping back.  I thought all might well be lost and reminisced lovingly about how hard it is to retro-tat and how apparent a mistake can be in a tatted piece (SOMETIMES, that is...).  You're never going to see a piece of tatting unravel and return to a pile of crinkly thread before your eyes as you attempt to fix an error and figure out WHERE you are in the pattern!

I put the ever shortening sock aside and scoured the internet for help.  That's when I found JL Yarnworks' post about lifelines.  THANK GOODNESS!

I'm happy to say that adding a lifeline has put me back on track and I didn't lose anymore sock than the heel flap.  I'm going to take Jackie's advice and keep my lifeline in as I continue knitting in case I find myself in water over my head again...

Dweams and Dwums

Dweams

I tatted the first couple rounds

of this motif after Baby Doll

had woken me up

several nights in a row,

frightened of her "dweams."

That accounts for the 

(in my mind)

HUGE AND CLEARLY VISIBLE

lumps where I hid the thread ends.

Cheaters, a magnifying glass

and squinting were

not enough for these tired eyes to see.

Dwums

Baby Doll began running a tempie (fever)

about the time I was debating

whether to chuck the motif

or keep tatting.

A (fairly) quick trip to the doctor
explained those "dweams."
Baby Doll had an ear infection
AND
a virus - she likes to multitask.

So the last two rounds were tatted

over several nights, sitting on the floor by the sofa
(which is apparently the BEST sick bed in the house),

while Baby Doll fell asleep
watching Little Bear,
after being assured
that there would be no more
"dweams."

And now...
the "dwums" are healed,
the "dweams" are done,
but there's STILL a baby on my sofa
when bedtime comes.
But that's not ALL bad...

The motif is No. 15 - Rosette of Tatting, from Old-Fashioned Tatting Patterns, Book 1, edited by Barbara Foster.  It was another enjoyable tat, and the perfect relaxation for a worried mind.

Baby Doll's "Spa Day" & Tat Time for Mama

This is No. 52 - A Tatted Edging from

Old-Fashioned Tatting Patterns, Book 1

Edited by Barbara Foster.

LOTS of pretty patterns in this book!

I was using up some thread left over on a shuttle

while waiting for Baby Doll at the

manicurist dentist.

She LOVES the dentist,

but I was afraid the honeymoon would be over

after yesterday's appointment

because she needed a filling.

She was happy as a lark after her appointment though,

with painted nails, a bouncy ball and a balloon bird, 

and her "special cleaning" went very well.

On the sock front,

we have a HEEL!

Erm, and a couple little holes,

and it is kinda tight

BUT

the good news is that I think I know

where I made my mistakes

AND

like I said, we have a HEEL!

So we're still in the game...

Bee in My Bonnet or Sloth in My Socks?

When I FINALLY

learned the basics of knitting,

I got a bee in my bonnet

to make some socks for my Dad.

I thought,

AT LAST 

I had found a hobby

which I could share with him.

But in an effort to be

REALISTIC

I decided to make socks for

Baby Doll first.

Little Feet = Little Commitment

Good thing because

I tat slowly,

I sew slowly,

I do whatever I am doing slowly,

and it appears that knitting is no different.

I figure that at least by knitting little socks

I will reach the point of messing up

and learning lessons from it more quickly

and perhaps

I will then be able to begin

SLOWLY

knitting Dad's big ol' size 12 socks...

I'm making socks from Toe-Up 2-at-a-Time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oakes.  I am a total rookie knitter and have been amazed that I have made it this far.  This book has a great method and very effective instructions.

We Did

and all these years later, 

we still do...

This is a botched attempt at a well known heart (which I will add the link for as quickly as I find my copy of the pattern) and the beginning round of a larger doily (hopefully) to come.
Update:  The heart is actually Li'l Heart by Birgit Phelps (http://webspace.webring.com/people/qb/birgit_ph/lilheart.html).

Tatting With Ease

Tatting With Ease

(to the tune of  “Down in the Valley”, lyrics by Ann)

Take up a shuttle,

Wind it with thread,

Soak in the color,

Blue, yellow, red,

Follow the pattern,

Tat where you’re led,

Rings, chains and picots,

Filling your head.

Hands dance a ballet,

Thread sings a song,

Lace is appearing,

Delicate, strong,

Shuttle moves surely,

Doing no wrong,

This perfect moment,

Tatting along.

Tatting with ease, you’re

Tatting with ease,

Smooth, gliding shuttle,

Does what you please,

Mind sheds its worry,

Heart is at peace,

Joy resurrected,

Sorrows release.

Tatting with ease, you’re

Tatting with ease,

Smooth, gliding shuttle,

Does what you please.


(A little ditty for your humming pleasure)



The tatted piece is a pattern  from "Let's Tat" which I was fortunate enough to borrow from  Fox.  It's been done for a few months... who knew hiding the ends could take so long?

That's My Boy!

I was "minding my business like a good girl should"

several weeks ago

when Boy approached me with a

PROBLEM.

He had been trying to learn to knit

for a project for his 3D Art Class

for a couple weeks

and decided it was time to 

wave the white flag

and ask Mom for help.

Now there's a whole 'nother 

PROBLEM.

I've always been a FAIL at knitting.

But that night was magic,

sitting with Boy on the sofa

looking at "Knitting for Dummies" together...

I caught the bug and he learned to knit passably

(so long as I hovered and cautioned).

Since then I have been caught in a knitting vortex,

and as you can see, I have been making swatches

and trying to figure this thing out,

determined to make at least

ONE SOMETHING

before I give the needles a rest.

I'll keep you posted...

Not much later, after our knitting night,

Boy asked me if I would help him learn to sew.

For his next art class project, he wanted to make a quilt.

Of COURSE I would!

But Boy tends to dream big

and as he sat down at the computer to research quilts,

I felt bud nipping was in order

and suggested the simple pattern you see here.

He worked VERY hard on this.

Did it ALL himself - Cutting, Piecing and Quilting...

and I have the video to prove it...

APPARENTLY

this was supposed to be an "in class project".

Several kids knitted scarves while others made "quilts."

I say "quilts" because knotting fleece together

doesn't fit my uppity definition of a quilt.

APPARENTLY

Boy took the hard road and drug me down it with him

by making this quilt,

and although I fussed and complained at times

(mostly because of having to video it all)

I'm glad to have had the opportunity

to guide him through it.

It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, I'm sure.

And now I have the memory of working with Boy

and video of his silly little sisters

prancing through the kitchen as he sewed.

Since this post has become an

Ode to Boy,

I will finish by sharing his true, current passion,

WOOD WORKING.

Boy loves working with hammer and nails.

This bird house was his first project.

With no previous experience, a hand saw and a hammer,

he constructed this abode for birds.

Dad and his drill completed the job.

Boy cut bamboo from the yard for the perch.

AND NOW BOY HAS A BOARDER!!!

APPARENTLY

this little bird is as big a dreamer as Boy.

They will get along just fine...

I Feel Honored

I feel HONORED

that my blogging friend, Martha,

used an edging I tatted for her

a while back,

on the ring bearer's pillow

she created for her daughter's wedding.

The preparations for Emily's wedding

are

JOYOUS and colorful!

Martha has been busy working on

napkins for the guests,

pennants

and, most recently, the pillow.

It is DARLING - and you can see it HERE.

She and Emily are gathering

Depression glass table settings

for the reception.

How funny that I photographed

the edging with a couple of the pieces

Mom gave me years ago.

Colorwise, I think my set would work,

but since it is a childrens' tea set

I'm afraid some guests would be

disappointed with their portion size...

Needless to say, I am THRILLED

that something I created

will be part of such a

HAPPY OCCASION!

Oh, and I'm back.  I haven't been far.

Just a case of life interrupting art.

MY TATTING STORY

My Grandma (Mom's mom) tatted.
Her fingers flew!
She never used a printed pattern because she knew
how to make her tatted crosses by heart.
I don't remember her even pausing to count stitches.
She passed away when I was still too young to teach.

Over the years Mom and I talked many times
about Grandma's tatting and how her fingers flew.
I grew up and moved away from home.
Then on one visit, Mom brought me
Grandma's shuttles and her tatting.
I was so happy to have them!

More years passed.
Occasionally I would take out Grandma's tatting
to admire it and hold the shuttles
and just wonder,
"How in the world..."

Enter Carol Duvall.
Mom and I both watched her show.
One day there was a segment on needle tatting.
We were on the phone right after it aired, so EXCITED!
I got needles and thread and was ready to try...
but then I thought to do an internet search
and found instructions for
SHUTTLE TATTING just like Grandma!
(anyone need some brand new needles?)

In fact, I found SEVERAL tutorials on shuttle tatting,
but still was getting nowhere until one day I found yet ANOTHER and gave it a try...

I do not know who posted these instructions to the internet, but
THANK YOU.
On March 23, 2001, I FLIPPED for tatting!

I happily tatted away, making a few "Lacy Bookmarks."

I placed my first order from Handy Hands.
I made small motifs.

Mom was very proud and I was very happy...
but there was a problem.
After tatting for HOURS on some pretty little motifs,
THEY WOULD TWIST AND BECOME MISSHAPEN
ON THE FINAL JOIN.
I. COULD. NOT. FIGURE. OUT. WHY!

I kept reading the instructions in my new tatting book,
but to no avail.
I found myself limited to certain patterns.
I was frustrated.
I gave up.

For several years

 I only picked up a shuttle 
to see if I could still make a ring.

About a year after Mom died,
I found myself revisiting things we both enjoyed or admired.
I began wanting to tat and turned once again to the Internet.
There I found Gina, Sherry, Jane, Fox, Jon and Tatting Chic.
I stalked them SHAMELESSLY!
And the more I stalked,
the more determined I became to tat again and better.
This time I felt as if I had a community of tatters cheering me on.

My AHA moment came on June 22, 2009.
With the help of my OTT magnifying lens,
I SAW how to make that dreaded final join
and there was MUCH rejoicing!

My fingers STILL don't fly - maybe they never will -

but I find that if I tat slowly and steadily, 

I ENJOY being in the race!

Winter Froze My Toes, But Tatters Warmed My Heart

THUNDERSLEET

never heard of it...

until yesterday.

We had a few hours of it, at the end of which

the kids were  DELIGHTED

to find themselves with a free day,

but the little ones were DISAPPOINTED

to learn that there would be no snow play.

Today the ice remains, 

as do bitter cold temperatures,

the kids,

AND

"ordered" rolling blackouts

have been added to the mix (for fun).

Still, watching the news, I know

WE ARE LUCKY.

But I must say as 

EXCITING

(in a "when will this go away" kind of way)

as the weather has been,

I have been

FAR MORE EXCITED

about emails from tatters in my inbox...

In the last 48 hours, there has been a 

FLURRYof activity

regarding my Tatting Press Pattern!

and it WARMS MY HEART because

I posted it hoping to contribute

SOMETHING

to the tatting community

which has been so kind to me.

First came an email from

AUBREY at SWEET MAGNOLIA TREE

saying she had made her tatting press

and sharing

THIS LINK

to the LOVELY blog

she has begun with her mom and sister.

Check out her cheery, Country French press!

LOVE IT!

She even posted WIP pictures of the press being made!

Next came an email from

MARIA at KNACKFUL KNITTER

to say she had also finished her press!!!

With her permission, here is a picture,

ISN'T IT JUST BEAUTIFUL!

Serene also comes to mind.

The perfect press for tackling clunies!

Check out Maria's blog

HERE.

She knits WONDERFULLY

and has recently taken up tatting.

THEN I read Fox's post

which showed a

LOVELY motif she tatted

and a picture of it in progress

on her Tatting Press

at the coffee shop!

AND FINALLY,

because Maria sent information about the press pattern

to ANOTHER tatter,

the pattern may show up in new places online

so, HOPEFULLY, more tatters

will be able to make one of their own!

All this has added up to one VERY HAPPY...

Norm and Dunno

Since he pecked his way out of

Brain Cell #3

last year,

I thought

Norman

would certainly be able to

give me a clue

as to what this year's

TIAS

is.

He took one look and said,

"Dunno,"

before sauntering away

to crow out

his greetings to the day.

Thank you, Norm!

I KNEW YOU WOULD KNOW!

Should I Feel Guilty?

Should I feel

GUILTY

because I am so far behind

on my

TIAS...

-OR-

that I began retatting it

at the playground

on a

SIXTY DEGREE

sunshiny day

IN THE DEAD OF WINTER

while Baby Doll

built her sand castle?

No, I don't think I should feel guilty about THOSE THINGS...

but I PROBABLY should feel badly about

recounting it here so gleefully...

I really should.  :)

BAD

SHOO GRAY! GO AWAY!

This Tatting Press

is for a tatter

who lives

FAR NORTH OF ME

in

LOVELY,

(but by my understanding)

GRAY

(this time of year)

Washington State.

Because she brings

RAYS OF SUNSHINE

into Tatland,

I felt this situation

needed to be remedied

and determined that her press

should be

DECIDEDLY SUNNY.

Hope you enjoy

your sunny, scrappy press, 

Krystle!

Does the Doctor need one as well...

or can you two share?  :)

Joining the Fun With Jane and Janet

SPOILER ALERT: Don't read background text
if you EVER plan to read this book OR see the movie!

I've joined the fun

of

Jane's TIAS

(Tat It And See).

Here are my Days 1 & 2.

I 

LOVE

that Jane takes the time

to do this every winter.

It is a day brightener

on these otherwise

gray days.

Another lady brightened my day

yesterday as I worked on the TIAS.

Janet Gaynor,

in Small Town Girl.

LOVE her smile and her voice.

So WHY the photo of a page from

Leave Her to Heaven?

A rather murderous book...

Because 

Ben Ames Williams

wrote

Small Town Girl

AND

Leave Her to Heaven.

I have several books in my 

"library,"

(or shelf if you prefer)

on which movies are based.

Since I have

Leave Her to Heaven

I thought I might also enjoy

Small Town Girl,

but at prices starting around $200,

per one site,

I think I'll wait until

I make my first million.

It'll be a while...

Opportunity from Emerging Designer, FOX

Of course, I said,

"YES!"

when emerging designer,

FOX,

asked me to test tat

MAEVE,

one of her new patterns.

Fox has been taking the latest

Online Tatting Design Class

taught by

Sharon Briggs

and is doing a

MARVELOUS

job of flexing

her creative muscle.

Maeve

was a 

relaxing and rewarding

motif to tat.

Thank you for the opportunity, Fox!

It was a pleasure!

My color selection for Maeve

was inspired by nature,

more particularly,

a flower that bloomed

five years ago

in the garden

at Groovy Girl's preschool.

The threads are #20 Lizbeth.

Maeve is #9 for my

25 Motif Challenge.

I'm a bit behind on my challenge,

but have several pieces to post

in order to begin to catch up.

I am known for tackling tasks

SLOWLY

and am often asked by 

members of my family

to translate time frames

from "Ann Time."

They are a clever bunch.  :)