2011: 25 Motif Challenge- Motif #1

Here is the butterfly I was working on last night. It's the Flat Butterfly from the book Christmas Angels and Other Tatting Patterns by Monica Hahn.
There are 2 small mistakes in the center small rings-I made them all the same size after doing 4 and noticing that the top and bottom ones are supposed to be larger than the side ones, but oh well. I like it. The thread is a hand dyed thread cotton crochet from Crochet4U2Dye4 size 20 and the color is Iris Bouquet. I fell in love with the color and I think it makes a lovely butterfly!

Same butterfly, different color backgrounds. Couldn't find one to show off the beauty, but thought I would share them all anyway. :)

Tatting in 2011

Yes, I have been tatting.
I have too much to show and nothing quite complete yet, but working as quickly, yet carefully as I can on quite a few things. I have 2 of the 3 crosses 99% done for my mother-in-law, a start of a doily with an antique pattern, a start of a tablecloth for my husband, and I had to start a butterfly to do something different tonight and it's over half done(I may be posting the completed project tomorrow). Also, for Christmas, I was allowed to have a limited online shopping spree and I ended up purchasing mostly tatting items. I have 4 new books, and 7 new hand dyed threads from several different people(3 are still coming). The butterfly I am working on is out of one of my new books and with one of my new threads(couldn't handle waiting any longer to use it!). Here is a picture of what my couch is looking like with everything in progress. :)

25 #2 Motif # 25 Finished!!!

Ok, the project(projects I should say) isn't finished, but the challenge is. I wanted a fully finished project to post, but this week has not allowed time to do much of anything. So, here is what I have been working on and will post the finished project(s) in the new year.
These are the same motif done in 2 sizes of thread: white size 10 and Lizbeth Fruit Fizz size 40.
The pattern is here: http://www.antiquepatterns.dreamhosters.com/DMCTat.pdf
It's called Ground figure 24 Medallions.

Happy New Year Everyone! :)

25 #2 Motifs #21, 22, 23, 24....So Very Close! :)

Believe it or not, I did get some tatting done Christmas Eve. My daughter and I got 4 pies, homemade stuffing, cranberry jello salad, and housework all done early enough that I had time to rest(first time ever). But....I was restless and had a gift I needed to complete(bottom pictures here). First, I tatted this Angel Paper Clip by Ellen Lai- pattern here: http://www.georgiaseitz.com/2009/ellenpclipangel.pdf .
It's done in size 3 sparkle thread(which didn't scan well). I wanted so badly to have something done in this thread! The sparkle is really quite pretty and my daughter loves this angel! I messed up somehow, but am very please that everyone knew what it was right away and they all like it!

Next is the Snowflake on a Paper Clip from Ellen Lai- pattern here: http://www.georgiaseitz.com/2009/ellenpclipsnowflake.pdf
Done in the same thread.

The last thing I did in this thread was a Heart Bookmark(turned ornament for a small tree). The pattern is here: http://sharonstattedlace.blogspot.com/2006/08/heart-bookmark.html
I didn't have enough thread on the shuttle to do much with so it didn't get all the lovely picots around the outside, and it didn't end up a bookmark, but in the glittery thread my daughter said it would make a nice ornament for her small tree in her room, so I made the loop and ended it and it's hanging on her tree.

Lastly, I needed to finish this VERY quickly. My daughter collects snowglobes and has a collection of 27(now). I wanted to do one with tatting in it after seeing Kathy's here: http://kathysvictoriantattedlace.blogspot.com/2010/11/tatted-angel-in-snowglobe.html .
The Cross is from Mark Myers(tatman) the pattern is here: http://tatmantats.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/ssh_cross.pdf .
It's tatted in Lizbeth Royal Blue size 40. And this is the first one I got done correctly(ok...except one minor missed join, but I managed to cover that up well. :)

Since it didn't snow on Christmas, this had to do. :) I am a Michigander that loves my snow to complete the holiday "feeling".

Oh, yah, I almost forgot to tell you that my husband was the most excited over his Mary Konior's Large Cross bookmark(shown here:http://hiskid66.blogspot.com/2010/12/tatting-gifts-as-fast-as-possible.html)!

And my mother-in-law loved her earrings, and my niece said my sister loved hers! Sure makes it all worth it to have people appreciate it!

Thanks for all the wonderful comments and support!!!!

I made it through Christmas, and now I only have 1 more thing to tat to finish my 2nd 25 Motif Challenge and get ready for a new year!

25 #2 Motif # 20 Fancy Snowflake

When I first started tatting and was borrowing books from the library often, I had started this snowflake, but could not quite understand how to work it. I now know that it was because I had learned rings and chains, but knew nothing of working with bare threads which each point consists of. It's made with size 10 white thread and is about 6 inches across.

I wasn't sure about making any more large snowflakes until I realized that the fancy deluxe ornament hooks I bought didn't go well with the glass ornaments due to the colors of the beads on them, but they sure do dress up the larger snowflakes and will make some awesome gifts(next year)!

Tatting gifts as fast as possible

Remember the earrings I tatted for my mother-in-law(http://hiskid66.blogspot.com/2010/12/trying-to-get-tatting-time-in.html)? I was going through my notes on the requests I had and realized I messed up. She had wanted hers in blue, so.....I gave the black pair to my Pastor's wonderful wife, and got busy yesterday and made some blue ones for my mother-in-law and placed them in an origami box I just made. These are done in Lizbeth size 40 Royal Blue.

Next...my husband loves my tatting and made a complaint about the fact that everyone is getting something tatted and he has nothing, so.....here is his gift. Mary Konior's Large Cross done in size 10 Navy thread. He is still wanting a tablecloth and I am doing my best to come up with a way to make one starting in January(maybe it will be his gift next Christmas).

Trying to get tatting time in!!!

I am trying to get a million things done and not making much progress. Everything and everyone possible tends to come up with something to keep me away from what I want to do.
I had to get some different earring posts for my nieces earrings since she ended up allegeric to the ones I had used for her earrings, and she wanted the same new ones put on the pair she ordered for her mom's Christmas present, so....while out I looked for a neat box to place my mother-in-law's pair in and found this cute plain cardboard heart box and I wrapped it with my origami paper and then glued my recently tatted heart to the top. I think she will really like this.

***I could not get a decent picture no matter how hard I tried, so I picked the best(that's what I get for not waiting for daylight).
I am still working on the tatted motifs for the glass ornaments my friend requested, but as I said, that is taking forever. I am half done with the first one though....now if I could only finish it and get the second one done I can have one ornament done!