Working on my next challenge piece

Ok...I must be a glutton for punishment!!!

I hate having to work with 2 shuttles, but sometimes

there isn't a choice.  Well, then a few years ago I tatted

2 bracelets which required 4 shuttles.

And this challenge is a step up!!!

6 shuttles!!!  Here is proof!!

I am about 1/2 way through the project, but am 

taking a break and hoping to finish tomorrow!

I hope you have had some great tatting time!  :)

Guess I was on a tatting spree today

Well...I got another round done on this doily.

Last time I posted about it muskaan called it the hide and seek doily

and I kind of like that name.  I was just calling it the surprise 

doily hoping my hubby won't find out about it so he won't claim it,
and then to surprise my in-laws with it for Christmas this year.

I don't think I will be tatting anymore tonight, but who really knows??

Have a wonderful night and hope you get lots of tatting in!!  :)

2015 25 Motif Challenge # 22 Elaine P. Gan's Celtic Cross

Too lazy to sew in ends and block right now, but...it's done!  :)

It's tatted in size 40 Lizbeth Sky Blue Med.

For those wondering....this is about 7 inches tall and about 5 1/2 inches wide.

I think it may end up on a shirt of mine.  :)

Well, that's 2 crosses posted today.  

Not sure if I will tat more or work on more

housework(tatting sounds like more fun!), but

I hope you have a wonderful day and getting some tatting in!!!  :)

Test Tatting Celtic Cross update

All I need is 1 square on the bottom and I am hoping to have it done yet today!!

Although, I do think this would make a lovely

 doily out of the ordinary just as is(ok, well...with the ends sewn in!).  :)
Here's the idea:

Would look better if it was blocked and ends sewn in
and straightened on the scanner, but you should get the idea.  :)

Getting back to some tatting

This is the Justification Cross from Elaine P. Gan 

book 4: purchase here:

http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/other/tatting-ebook-4-crosses/136255  .

It's tatted in size 40 Lizbeth Tropical Punch.

It's for another senior who just joined our Sunday night group.

She said she didn't really have a favorite color and I thought

spring colors would be nice especially with the snowstorm we 

just had yesterday, the colors made it nice to tat in all that gray 

and white.

I also put another square on the blue test tatting cross, 

but I made another mistake and cut a thread 

I wasn't supposed to, so it got set aside till today.

And I am hoping to get that straightened out today, 

and then work on the doily since I choose not to venture out

in the weather until I have to.  :)

Hope your day is bright and blessed!!!  :)

2015 25 Motif Challenge # 21 Flower with "Spiral knot" stitch chains

This challenge piece is kinda small, but unique.  

You will see that I didn't master the technique, but tried hard!

This is the Flower with "spiral knot" stitch by Jennifer Williams 

pattern here:  http://www.georgiaseitz.com/2013/jenniferwmsflowerspiralknotstitch.pdf

I love the ruffly looking chains(petals), and the 3-d looking center.

This is tatted in size 20 Lizbeth Western Sunset.

 Here is a view from the side to show how the center "pops" up.

 And I made a little more progress on the test tatting of the cross. 

Just one square on top, another on the bottom and two side corners near the top

and I will be finished(although, it will need blocking!!!).

Our daughter is doing better, and will be heading back to college tomorrow.  

We decided it was best to have another day to make sure we didn't have

any problems and that she could make it through a whole day up

and around.

Have a wonderful day and hopefully some tatting time too!!!  :)

2015 25 Motif Challenge # 20 Quad # 8

Well, continuing with the challenge from last year and almost to the finish finally!

This is Ninetta's Quad # 8  pattern here:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/ninettacaruso/10340516716/in/photostream/ 

This was a challenge for me to figure out.  After I finally realized that Ninetta

used a mock ring in the design, I noticed it is clearly written on the pattern

(yep, I don't pay enough attention!).

I did made a few mistakes(of course).  One is I added a picot somewhere which wasn't supposed to have one, and the other was I forgot one of the last joins(so it's tied together), and, I also believe I have a stitch count wrong, but it's done for now.  I think I did ok for a first try.

This is tatted in size 20  Lizbeth Western Sunset.

This is the first tatting I was able to do in 2 days.  We had a medical emergency with our 25yr. old and I have been taking care of her the full 2 days.  She is ok, so don't worry.  I believe she is very close to healed and will be heading back to college in a few days.

I hope all is going well for you!!!

Have a tat-ful day!!!  :)

Secret doily continuation.....

Well, I got another round done tonight.  

Of course it was just chaining around so it goes a bit quicker!

I think this will be put away again until next week 

so that my hubby can't come home on a surprise note and see it

(I am not allowing him to claim this one!).

So...if there is anymore tatting this week(should be!), 

it should be progress on the test tatted cross, or

another challenge piece or 2.  

Have a wonderful night(or day)!!!  :)

A Bugle Bead (or ladder) Bracelet Pattern *Requested by Sarah*

I tatted this back a week or so ago and was 

asked by Sarah at http://laceandbees.blogspot.com/ 

to write up the pattern and share it so....

***I did my best to remember***  

R 6-6 close ring,  RW, then chain 4ds 

slide a bugle bead onto a picot and hold with a paper clip 

then 4ds then join to the picot on the ring.  

Continue to the length you like

(this will get fiddly!  Lots of paperclips hanging-22 on mine),

then on the first end R 6-6 close ring, RW,

 then chain only 6ds and join to end of the ring(do this twice).

Then R 6-6 close ring, RW, then chain 4ds join to bugle bead 

then 4ds-continue these rings, chains and joins to end 

and finish with the same 2 rings and 2 chains as the other end, 

hide thread ends.

Then add your findings to finish.

Wish I could do diagrams, but I haven't learned that yet!  Some day!!!

Mine was tatted in size 40 Lizbeth Rainbow Splash with gold bugle beads.

As you can see I haven't made it to the store to get my 

gold jump rings yet so I still need my findings before I can wear it.

***If you find any problems with the pattern, please let me know!!!***

Oh, and if you love tatted hearts, go see Sarah's blog today!!

Oh, and I received a surprise gift 

from a special friend to share with you!!

Hope this helps!!  :)

A special thanks to the friend that sent this gift!!!  :)

Still working on that cross and the surprise doily

Still test tatting along on this cross.

When finished this will count as a challenge piece, 

because it has challenged me to pay more attention(let me say,

I have several errors all of my doing).

Next, is the surprise doily which will be a Christmas present for my in-laws.

Still plenty to tat on it yet.  :)

And..some of my Starflowers turned into earrings and a good friend has asked for them.  :)

Have a wonderful night/day, and happy tatting!!  :)

2015 25 Motif Challenge # 19 Flowering Quatrain Bookmark

I tatted this yesterday and finished late last night.

It's the Flowering Quatrain Bookmark from Joelle

pattern here:  https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B2SUi2Rbut3JM1ljUG1aQkdXQWM/edit

It's tatted in size 40 Sunrise HDT from AlenAleaDesign on Etsy.

This is so beautiful!!!  :)  

Well, I am off to housework.  Have a wonderful day and hopefully tatting time too!!!  :)

2015 25 Motif Challenge # 18 Quad # 3

Ok, I love these designs of Ninetta's!!!  :)  

Pattern here:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/56036530@N03/9662780924

I just wish I could tat as beautifully as her!!!  

The Catherine Wheel Joins are not my thing!  I just don't think I get them correct!

This is Quad # 3.  If tatted better you could see the 

beautiful large hearts she has in this pattern

(all the large chains around the rings look like large hearts to me)!

This is tatted in size 20 Sugar Plum HDT from Tat-ilicious and  Lizbeth Lilac Med.

Same as the last motif, but I like it better in this one!!

It's housework day so I am hoping get tatting time between things.  

I need to tat at least 1 square today to continue on that cross!

Have a wonderful day!!!  :)

Hope to see your tatting later!!  :)

2015 25 Motif Challenge # 17 Quad #5

This is Ninetta's Quad # 5  pattern here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ninettacaruso/9891241133/in/photostream/

It's tatted in size 20 Sugar Plum HDT from Tat-ilicious and  Lizbeth Lilac Med.

This is a challenge piece to me because these dimpled rings are terrible for me when closing.  

They turned out pretty good here and I like how you can see the hearts well in this pattern!! 

So, I got a little Valentine's Day tatting in.  :)

Oh, I do need to let you know that I added rings to 2 sides which the pattern shows only picots, but I wanted it to be the same all the way around on this one.

I have also been doing a little test tatting for Elaine P. Gan again.  Working on a cross which is made from 6 squares.  I only have 2 completed and joined so far, but here is the first square by itself.

Have a great tatting day!!  :)

Free from headache tatting celebration!!!

This is Elaine P. Gan's Basket of Flowers design.  

It's tatted in size 20 Sugar Plum HDT from Tat-ilicious, 

and Lizbeth Ocean Teal Med.

As you can tell, I love this color combination!!!  :)

This piece is a miracle piece to me-notice how the colors "pooled" in 

certain areas to make this basically symmetrical.  

I love it!!!  :)

Well, I do have housework and study and such to get to(yes,

I have worked on those too, but this kept me a little busy.

Hope you are having and awesome day!!!

And don't forget some tatting!!!  :)

2015 25 Motif Challenge # 16 Celtic Flower

This is Celtic Flower - Lory Tatting   pattern here:

http://www.georgiaseitz.com/2014/loryfersinicelticflower.pdf

This is tatted in size 20 Sugar Plum HDT from Tat-ilicious, 

and Lizbeth Ocean Teal Med.

I only changed one thing in the pattern. 

It says to work a round of chains over the center and sew on the beads.  

I didn't want to sew on the beads so..I did rings with beads in them...

6ds and close the ring with the bead at the bottom.

Not sure if I can do much more today. I have a headache and thinking even hurts.

Going to rest.  Have a wonderful day and hopefully some tatting too!!!  :)

2015 25 Motif Challenge # 15 Tina Frauberger Bookmark

I saw this gorgeous bookmark that Robin Perfetti had done and wanted to tat it.  

I didn't do it as well as I would like, but I think I did ok for a first try, and I need to learn those Catherine wheel joins(I tried!).  The Pattern is here:   http://tattingbythebay.blogspot.com/2015/08/polished.html  .

This is tatted in size 20 Sugar Plum HDT from Tat-ilicious, 

and Lizbeth Ocean Teal Med.

I think if I block it then it would lay nicer, but I just finished it and need some sleep,

so it's right from the shuttles.

Guess I should say it's about 4 inches long and about 2 inches wide.

Well, another challenge piece done.  Plenty more to do!!

Have a wonderful night/day!!  :)

Enjoy some tatting too!!!  :)

A bracelet

Here is the bracelet I was talking about.....

I had thread on the shuttle and wanted to empty another shuttle, 

and the bugle beads were right there, so I started tatting and this is what emerged.  

I don't know if someone has designed a bracelet like this, 

I was just tatting and not sure what I was going to do.  

I would have the findings on it, but I can't find my gold jump rings so...

I will have to make a trip to the store soon.

Hope you have a wonderful day!!  :)

Just realized I forgot to add this info: 

Tatted in size 40 Lizbeth Rainbow Splash with gold bugle beads.

Some tatting just for some color and sparkle while it was gray outside

A Juicy Watermelon Heart.

The pattern A Heart for Him from Elaine P. Gan.

Size 40 Lizbeth Juicy Watermelon and tiny red beads.

 And tatted in the same thread and beads, 

another beaded flower from: Corina Meyfeldt        pattern here:  http://cmhandmade.blogspot.com.es/2013/07/pattern-for-beaded-flower.html  .

Still working at dwindling my challenge, but tatted these to empty a shuttle, 

and am working on a bracelet for the same reason.  Hopefully it will be finished today.

Lots of things going on this week so I don't know how much tatting I will accomplish, but if I get anything done it will show up here!  :)

Have a wonderful day, and hopefully accomplish some tatting!  :)

2015 25 Motif Challenge # 14 Hair Pin Lace Butterfly

Making progress on last year's challenge!!! 

This is the Intermediate Tatted Butterfly from 

Tatted Hair Pin Lace Butterflies by Rozella Linden.

As with the last book, it took quite some studying to 

figure out what to do and how to work this.

Now, I will say, that again, I didn't do this justice, and, 

there are some spots I am so glad you cannot see!!! 

But, I like this butterfly even with it's defects!!!  :)

It's tatted in size 40 Lizbeth Rainbow Splash and Navy.

Can't wait to see what I get to do next!!  :)

I hope you have a wonderfully tatting filled day and weekend!!!  :)

2015 25 Motif Challenge # 13 Celtic Butterfly

Well, it's not great and I need more lessons, but.....I tried hard and studied quite a bit.

This is supposed to be a Celtic Butterfly from Rozella Linden's Tatted Butterfly Garden book.

It's tatted in size 40 Lizbeth Rainbow Splash and Navy.

As you can see my Celtic knots are not good(especially the one on the left wing since I had to try to tat the wing pattern backward to match it with the first wing.

The head was my doing.  Like I said when I posted for help, this book confuses me, but I love the butterflies and flowers in it!!!  :)

Well...I am making some progress on finishing last year's challenge up!  I sure hope I can get it completed, and complete one for this year too.  I have enough "I want to tat" patterns which should keep me busy while working on my other "need to get done" projects.

Have a great night everyone!!  Happy tatting!!!  :)

2015 25 Motif Challenge # 12 Four Patch

As easy as this looks, it is definitely a challenge for me.  

And, I know it's wrong, but I will try again sometime.

This is Four Patch from the book Tatted-Quilt-Squares by Billie Heisler.

When I first saw this book I wanted it immediately, but....it has sat until now.

(I don't want to run and double check so...) I believe this is 

tatted in size 20 Lizbeth Western Sunset, and Lilac Med.

It's kind of a sad looking piece, but I did try!

I have trouble with picots and joins on the second side of split rings!!!

Well....still working on challenge pieces. 

Have 2 troublesome butterflies to figure out yet.
I solved a little bit of the butterfly mystery of the one I am working on..ok, 
trying to work on, back to studying!

Have a great day!!  And some tatting too!!  :)

Requesting Help!

No picture because I need help.

My challenge piece is a challenge.

I am trying to tat a butterfly from Rozella  Linden's Tatted Butterfly Garden book...

link to picture of cover:

  http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51864ARBT1L._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg  .

I chose the orange butterfly on the cover(top left), and from what I can tell it's on page 19.  

I tatted the wing on that page, but was lost when I tatted the chain of 16 and joined to the beginning as the diagram shows, but unsure do to the directions, and about the 3R St. which I think go to a center body, but it doesn't say to tat any.  And then getting to the bottom wing I notice there are more chains than are on the wing so I am not sure where to go from here(although, I do like the wing-could use work on that Celtic knot part, but it's pretty).  :)

If anyone has this book and has tatted these gorgeous butterflies, I would appreciate the help!!!  :)

Thanks!

More tatting done today

I had the centers done this weekend so I had stars to look at till today, 

and I just finished the outer round.

The top ones are are size 40 Lizbeth Tropical Punch.

 These next ones are size 40 Lizbeth Juicy Watermelon.

I am already setting up to work on my next challenge piece.

I am having a little trouble figuring out the pattern because the book is set up different from any I have used, but I am going to try it(someone say I prayer, I think I need it).  :)

Have an awesome night and tat a little!!  :)

Ok, I am still tatting along......

Well, now I have a set of earrings.

These are the Egyptian Flowers from Anika at  

http://tattingitup.blogspot.com/2012/12/3-d-flower-earring-pattern-and-golden.html

They are both tatted in size 40 Lizbeth Boysenberry Dk. with gold bugle beads and seed beads.

And with the second one(not sure which is which now), I made the first ring and slid a bugle bead on with a paperclip to secure it, then slid another bugle bead on with a paperclip to secure it also(one to the left, and one to the right) and then I finished the ring.  Much easier to join at the end!!!!  :)

 And this weekend I tatted this Elaine P. Gan design. 

 Another bracelet-this one Sweet Flowers bracelet.

It's tatted in size 40 Lizbeth Juicy Watermelon(I am sure you all guessed that).  

It's very dainty on the wrist due to how thin it is, but I am sure someone will love it!  :)

Oh, I did block into submission the "secret" doily this morning, but I think I will give it a couple of days to dry thoroughly before I work on it again.

Well....I sat down today and decided exactly which of all the pieces I have wanted to tat, and made a list to cover all for my challenge pieces.  I am hoping to do at least!!!  one a week-no promises, you all know life gets crazy quite often and messes up even the best plans!

But hopefully, you will see me actually finish last year's challenge, and this year too!  :)

Have a great day, lots of housework to do in between tatting!  (wink)

2015 25 Motif Challenge # 11

Another challenge piece done.

I saw these Egyptian Flower Earrings on Anika's blog here:  

http://tattingitup.blogspot.com/2012/12/3-d-flower-earring-pattern-and-golden.html

They were so beautiful I had to try.  

She also has a star, but I need to find the gold ring she has in the center before I can try them. 

This is tatted in size 40 Lizbeth Boysenberry Dk. with gold bugle beads and seed beads.

This might look simple, but after I thought I had it figured out and had tatted all the way to the last center bead, I had to use a lot of brain power to figure out how to make the last join.  I am hoping to do this again trying it a different way for that last join and seeing if it works.

And I can't wait to be able to make the stars!!  :)

Hope you have an awesome day and some tatting time too!!!  :)