The start of (hopefully) a blizzard :)

I want to give snowflakes to a ton of people for Christmas this year since it is something I can make and something I can give, so.....here is the start of what I hope to be a blizzard :) . It is a Minaret Snowflake from Tatted Snowflakes by Vida Sunderman. Size 10 white thread.

Curds and Whey getting there

I have made some ok progress on this with all the other things I have done. It's now about 7 inches long. There are some mistakes which are not too noticeable and so I just left them alone. I hope to have this done next month. Looking for suggestions on how to sew it on to a shirt securely and without other thread showing. Thanks for any help. :)

About my learning to tat for those who wonder.... :)

I had never heard of tatting until January this year when I saw it on someone's website one day. She had a short video of someone needle tatting and the lady on the video said that there were only 2 stitches and what little she did intrigued me. I started researching it on the internet and found several videos on youtube which were shuttle tatters and very informative and helpful.
I went and got a few supplies and tried it(first attempts looked great, but didn't have the flip), and then I got more supplies and tried more and more.
Tatting is relaxing as well as frustrating to me, and I love it. My family and friends all love what I have done and are encouraging.
I am very inspired by all the wonderful things I find on the 25 Motif Challenge and all the blogs I follow, and even some I see on others blogs.
I am very thankful for all the wonderful comments, compliments, and encouragement.
I am currently continuing work on the Curds and Whey project from Mary Konior's Tatting with Visual Patterns and am hoping to get it done within 3 weeks(I want it to be a collar trim). There are a few mistakes in it-miscounted stitches, but I like it anyway.
Hope that answers a few questions and if they are any more....just ask. :)
Have a blessed day all!

Motif # 19 Sarah's Heart

I finished Sarah's Heart! I think it looks really good. I can't wait till I get it to my daughter.
For those who haven't seen the first part it's done with Lizbeth Caribbean thread size 20 and tiny purple beads. The designer is Teri Dusenbury. I changed only the top center chains-they are supposed to attach to the tops of the rings next to them, but it was easier for me to join them between the rings(please forgive me Teri). It sure went quicker than I expected. :)

Motif # 18 Snoflake III

Last night we had a storm(another) and with the computer off and no tv signal there wasn't much to do so I decided to try this pattern which has intrigued me for some reason. It's from This 'n' Tat-Snowflake III-Lisa C. Trumble. I again used Lizbeth Caribbean size 20 and the tiny purple beads.
This first picture is the way it's shown with the pattern.

This is the way I prefer it. :)

Something new.....

Our youngest, Sarah, is turning 20 July 6th. She is volunteering at a camp in the kitchen for a month and will miss her birthday with us(for the 2nd year). I want to make it somewhat special if possible so I found this heart pattern by Teri Dusenbury wonderfully named Sarah's Heart. I wasn't sure if I could do it with the split rings, but they went much quicker than I expected and I have the center done. I can't wait to have the whole heart done. I am using the Lizbeth Caribbean thread size 20 with the tiny purple beads I found.

Motif # 17 Loop di loop Tatted Doily

Well...it's finally finished and I think it looks pretty good. It's the Loop-di-Loop Tatted Doily designed by Hartmut Haas found on this site http://www.freepatterns.com/list.html?mode=list&offset=21&limit=21&status_id=A&criteria=doilhome . It is done in Lizbeth Caribbean size 20. I believe my mother-in-law will love it, and instead of it being for Christmas I think it will be her home-warming gift since she is moving next week. What a way to brighten a new place :) .

This next picture is the cool shadow I was seeing while finishing the doily.

Loop di loop second round done

I have been very determined to get this done. I have accomplished the second round now, but....not with out mistakes as I was striving for. The other morning my mind got messed up and I am not sure what actually happened, but I had a big mistake I had to cut out and in trying to fix it I ended up with one little section that I don't care as much for, but thankfully it's not as noticeable as it could have been. Now on to the third round(after a much needed break).

Motif # 16 Tatted Cross

Here is my next motif. I have tried this pattern about 6 times and I always mess it up, but this time I have gotten it so much better(still one not so nice error, but I am ok with it because that means next time should be "perfect" :D . This is the Tatted Cross by Mark Myers(tat-man). The thread is Yarnplayer's Nectarine size 30.

1/2 done

I can't wait to see this when it's all done! I am loving it already more and more.
**Tatknot, you asked what size thread. This doily is being done in size 20, and the Fisherman's Net Doily is being done in size 10(cheap white thread-it's the only white I have right now and I have a lot since my husband had me buy the largest spool of it which is like 1500 feet or something).
Thanks everyone for the wonderful comments about my cute little helper-I love him!

Tatting helper.......

I figured if others could have leprechauns and cats helping them then I could have the newest member of my stuffed animal collection help me. He's a ty Beany Boo(an orangutan-I believe). His name is Tangerine and it says he loves trouble. I was drawn in by his eyes and just couldn't go home without buying him Saturday. I have been working on the Loop-di-Loop doily yet. Can't wait till it's done. And VicTats....I just want to thank you for your advice and to let you in on my secret for me, no tv and I use sticky notes to keep my place in my patterns ever since I have messed several up already, and they seem to be helping a lot! So maybe they will help you too. :)

I did complete the second round on the Fisherman's Net Doily. I like it, but after seeing all the work at the lace group-after this one is finished I might try it in a smaller thread for a lacier look. But for now this is ok and I can't wait to see it with the other two rounds on it(how long will that take.............?). :) Have a great day everyone!

Working on 2 projects today

First, I want to say thanks to everyone for all the wonderful and encouraging comments! You are all so uplifting and such blessings!!! May you all be greatly blessed for your thoughtfulness! :)

This first one is the Fishermans' Net Doily which I started way back in like....March. It's from A New Twist on Tatting by Cathrine Austin. It's in size 10 thread. I was so intrigued by the look of it that I figured just rings would be no problem, but I got lost in rings and chains and set this aside(for wayyyy too long!), but I have made myself pick it up again and try to finish the second round and then go from there. Today I have made a little progress on it(the second round was a quarter of the way done so that tells you how little I have gotten done, but....the next picture with show you why).

This second one is the start of the Loop-di-Loop Tatted Doily designed by Hartmut Haas found at http://www.freepatterns.com/list.html?mode=list&offset=21&limit=21&status_id=A&criteria=doilhome . This will be for my mother-in-law for Christmas with her beaded ornament. I am not adding the beads to this, but I do plan on putting them with this thread in another project as soon as I get the 4 projects in progress done(hopefully!). :)

New supplies and a lace group

On Saturday I was able to get a new color thread-Lizbeth Caribbean size 20, and some beautiful tiny purple shiny beads to go with the thread beautifully. I wanted to start a project with these today so yesterday I was emptying shuttles and tried something I have seen several times in others projects online-dimpled rings(hearts to me). I was able to get 2 done fairly well, but the third didn't close. Also, I searched online for tatting group in our area so I could see some other tatting besides what I see here online(which has been awesome and inspiring!). I found a lace group including tatters which just happened to meet last night. They invited me and had me bring some of my tatting for them to see. I got rave reviews(which stunned me considering the beautiful work of the experienced tatters I met there). The lady who sat next to me was tatting a bookmark for their exchange in size 80 and she sure is quick!(she finished it before the end).
They invited me back and are hoping to see more tatting and would like me to become a member of the group. They had even asked me if I would be able to go to a fiber festival and teach which I didn't feel qualified to do, but they said I could just sit and tat and show what I do-maybe in the future. It was a good time and when I got home I wanted to start tatting right away, but I had to wait till today with daylight. Have a good day all! :)

Just cute...

My daughter had these extra buttons and I thought they were really cute and I wanted to add some tatting to them, so.....here they are. Now, to figure out what to do with them. :)

Motif # 15 Star-Shaped Snowflake

I was looking for something new to tat and for some reason I just had to do this Star-Shaped Snowflake from Tatted Snowflakes by Vida Sunderman. It's in size 10 thread.
It came out so beautiful!!!

Motif #14 Beaded Snowflake

Hi Everyone! I have still been tatting. The snowflake on the left is one I did several months ago and my mother-in-law loved it so....I decided I would make her one for Christmas(hoping to make 6 total). The one on the right is the one I just finished today and am pleased with the progress of my tatting. I can see how much more defined it is and it seems more clear to me. This one is firmer than the first one and I just enjoy the presentation.
Both done in size 10 thread with blue beads.
This is the Beaded Snowflake from Tatted Snowflakes by Vida Sunderman.

Motif # 13 Flower Snowflake

I have been tatting in size 10 again to bring a little confidence to continue learning with the smaller threads. This Flower Snowflake is from Tatted Snowflakes by Vida Sunderman. I just finished it so it needs blocking and definitely stiffening.

Motif #12 Peggy

I made this a couple weeks ago, but had to wait to post it since it's a birthday gift for a friend who has been keeping an eye on my blog since we are an hour away from each other. Well, her birthday is this week and I brought it to her today to surprise her after a rough week.
Her name is Peggy, and the name of this motif is Peggy and I just loved it!
The Peggy motif is from Tatting Patterns by Lyn Morton. The trim is from Small Heart Edging(the bottom border) from Easy Tatting by Rozella F. Linden. And the butterfly is my own.
It's done in purple and white size 10 threads.

Happy Birthday Peggy! :)

Making progress

It's still not very far, but I have gotten along ok so far with this pattern. I can't wait to see it finished, but I think that will be awhile. :)

Tatting again :)

I have had about 2 weeks frustration over the 2 projects I messed up, but I am back to work :)
I started Mary Konior's Curds and Whey from Tatting with Visual Patterns in LadyShuttleMaker's Peach Pandorea size 80. I love the start. I want it to be something I can use on my peach shirt to fancy it up a little. I am praying I don't mess this one up and I am taking it slow! :)