Thanksgiving tatting

Normally I don't get to tat often. This week I was lucky. This is actually my second doily/coaster this week. The first one was given as a gift before I could take a picture. so, I decided to do another one. The pattern is the latest "freebie" from Jon Yusoff - Merriment Doily/Coaster. You can find the pattern here. Thank you Jon for this lovely pattern. Happy Thanksgiving all..... I will be busy tomorrow cooking and eating.

Back into Tatting

It's been a while since I posted in my blog. I got side tracked doing Silk Ribbon Embroidery. I will show you my creations later. I love snowflakes since they are easy to make. When I say "easy" I mean I get instant gratification since the item is small. Here is JANUS, the first snowflake, from Sharon Briggs' latest book. Sharon has inspired me to design tatted elements. I haven't gotten very far in that. But, still doodle my way through. More of the snowflakes from her book will be coming along later.

First attempt on Needle Tatting

I have always tatted with a shuttle, mainly because that's how I learned it. Since Georgia's Online Tatting Class has resumed and since I am now able to attend Monday night class (no more waiting for kids to finish homework on the computer) I decided to learn Needle Tatting. Yesterday was my first lesson. I did not get it the first time. However, I practiced a lot since then. Here is my first medallion. I am sure there is room for improvement. My shuttle tatting stitches are very defined and strong. Needle Tatting does not look that strong. I am sure I did not use the right size needle/thread. I am going to learn to do Split Rings and use beads. I am enjoying it.

New Tatting Books

I have been away in Dallas last week for work. Meanwhile, I had ordered two Tatting books - one from Jon Yusoff and the other from Marilee Rockley. Marilee's book just arrived today. Jon's book has been available for a while and Marilee's is a brand new one. I will drool over this for a while before starting to tat. I owe a friend of mine some white tatted edging. I promised her that I will give it to her by end of July. After that is done, I better get to work on my CQ. I have some lessons to complete.

Happy July 4th

In my last post I had mentioned that I was trying to work on some braided and beaded necklaces. Here is my first trial. I love it a lot. Now my challenge is to make a matching bracelet and earring. But guess what???? I never kept a track of where I placed my beads. At first I thought I did not like how it was emerging and wanted to just give it a shot (thinking that I will rip it apart). However, I kept on going and started liking the way the focal bronze beads where laying. So, now my challenge is to come up with the exact pattern. Wish me luck!!!

Gifts in the Mail

It's been a while since I have post. Life has been a little hectic with High School graduation, final exams, dance rehearsals and recitals and honors program. Things have settled down and I do feel I will have some time to play. Today was a great day. I got TWO gifts in the mail. One from Erica and another from Connie. Erica is in the Birthday club with me at StitchMAP. Thank you ERICA!! She sent me this:


Connie is my mentor for the Crazy Quilt course at StitchMAP. She send me some of her lovely hand-dyed threads. Now I want to learn dyeing also. When will I stop wanting to do it all? I think Connie knew my birthday. She is the organizer for Birthday Swaps. Thank you CONNIE!! Here is what Connie sent me.


The wonderful part to my story is that both the gifts came today - the day before my birthday.

I will have something to show off soon. I have been wanting to learn Kumihimo braiding for the longest time. I bought a disc at Palmetto TAT days last September. Actually, I gave it to my daughter as a gift. Well, the directions were in Chinese and she just left it in her drawer. Recently, I found it in her room and decided to give it a try. You will be surprised. I finished a sample (no beads this time) today and loved every bit of it. Therefore, tomorrow I am going to see whether I can do it with beads. I will let you all know how it turns out.

Finally......

Finally I can now say that I can do Random Tatting. I did this tatting in my car when I was waiting for my daughter's dance lesson. I started it since I wanted to refresh my "split chain" tatting skills. After the two continuous rounds of tatting I thought of a design in my head (of course I have seen something similar as well as pictured this in my mind when I was doing Sharon Brigg's Design-Tat class). I was so happy that I could produce something without looking at a picture or reading a pattern. It was a wonderful feeling. Here it is...... my very first one!!

I have not been feeling quite well. Lots of breathing problems that has randomly appeared in my life now. With the two inhalers, steroids, and other medicines, I am better, but, feel "drugged".

I joined the CQ ATC's swap and here is what I received. Don't they look beautiful? The one on the left is from Ira and the one on the right is from Wilma. Thank you Ira and Wilma. I now know how you can finish the edges. These are way better than what I did. Therefore, something to learn now.