Lace in the dust

In an earlier post I mentioned we are remodeling our kitchen.  As you can imagine, it is a dusty process. There is dust everywhere! It gets into everything!

A couple of days ago I was looking for something in a drawer in the living room and found something unexpected.  I wasn't even sure what it was at first glance because I couldn't think of anything I had that looked like it.

This is a glasses case.  There was a hanky with a tatted edging laying across it in the drawer.  The dust infiltrated the drawer and left a lovely pattern in dust on the case.  It's amazing how disappointed I am that I messed up the pattern when I picked up the case.

The good news is that the kitchen is almost done.  We can actually start cleaning up some of the dust, as most of that work is about over.  The contractor is putting the finishing touches on.  I may have my kitchen done by the weekend!  The background in the picture is my new kitchen counter.  Isn't it pretty?

I've been working on the pattern for the Medallion Cross bookmark.  I want to review it a bit before I post it but I'm hoping to have it ready in a couple of days.

"An idea can turn to dust or magic, depending on the talent that rubs against it."

William Bernbach

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/dust_3.html

Eenie, meenie, meinie, moe

Medallion Cross Bookmarks © Wanda Salmans 2016

in Lizbeth #122 Caribbean size 20

I shared this bookmark a few weeks ago. 

Medallion Cross Bookmark © Wanda Salmans 2016

This is how I made it originally.  Well, not quite, but almost. After looking at this picture I thought there must be a way to make the medallion center look a little better. For the last several weeks I've thought about it and tried a couple of different things.

Medallion Cross Bookmark v2© Wanda Salmans 2016

This version has several changes.  In this one the chains are joined at the arms to make it a bit less likely to twist.  The long, bottom arm is also made with one ring at the top of it instead of two.  The picot count has been reduced making it less frilly.  It came out pretty well, but is it the way to leave it?  Maybe the long arm should be a bit thinner?

Medallion Cross Bookmark v3© Wanda Salmans 2016

Version three is the same as v2 except for the long arm.  It was made a bit skinnier by making the ring and joins between the sides a little different.  Not bad, but good enough? Is this the way to leave it and write the pattern?

The chains are joined at the arms where they weren't before and now both of these versions cup slightly.  In a book they would probably soon loose the cup and wouldn't be noticed, but it's not pleasing.  Looking at the picture of the original it's obvious that the way the chains were modified changes the look of the medallion more than planned. Maybe the chain stitch count needs to be altered back to how it was.

Hmm.  What do you think?

Which version should make it to the pattern page?

"Eenie, meenie, meinie, moe

Catch a tatter by the toe

If she hollers make her tat

Rings and chains to make a mat

My mother told me to pick the very best one

and you are not it!"

Children's choosing game -

modified :-)

A short edging

A short edging in Lizbeth #184 Rainbow Splash size 20

 I have an aunt that is currently in assisted living while undergoing rehab after surgery.  Outside of every room in the facility is a shadow box with glass shelves.  The shadow boxes for those people that are there for long term care usually have quite a few things in them, from pictures to miniatures to postcards and such. My aunt is not expected to be there for a long term but it does look sad to have the shadow box empty.  My mother has been finding cat miniatures at garage sales to put in my aunt's box to give it a happier appearance.

I kept thinking her box needed a little tatting.  While I was visiting the week before Easter I showed her what colors I had with me and offered to make an edging for her box.  She chose Rainbow Splash.

I envisioned doing something quick and easy that would hang over the edge of a shelf.  That is what developed but not quite as I saw it in my mind's eye.  

Then there was the problem of attaching it to the shelf.  At first I thought I would use sewing thread to go around and around the shelf, attaching to the edging as I went.  I thought it wouldn't be too noticeable.  But that didn't work at all.  My husband suggested gluing it to the glass.  As I happened to have a glue stick with me I gave it a try.  It worked great.  As it's just a regular glue stick the edging should come off easily when she goes home.  The glass should clean off easily as well.

My aunt is very happy with the edging.  She makes sure she mentions it to whom-ever is assisting her as they come and go to her room.

I wanted to get the edging done by Easter - which I did - so pretty much went with the original idea.  There are a few things I want to change the next time which should make it hang nicer without twisting.  I think the edging came out well for a 'quickie'.

"Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it."

Salvador Dali

International Tatting Day 2016

I had a lot of fun today celebrating International Tatting Day. 

Becky, Sherry, and me at Montana Mike's Steakhouse

( I should have moved over with the others so the window wasn't directly behind us)

Had lunch with two ladies that are my students.  We get together once a month to tat and this month it was in public with tatting and chocolate.  I brought Hershey's kisses in several varieties, something for everyone.

Becky and Sherry

I put the tatted buttons I've been working on in a teacup. The other teacup has the chocolate.  I also had a candy bowl with several shuttles wound with a yard of size 10 red thread and card stock wrapped with 2 yards of size 10 white thread.  These were to be given away if anyone was interested in trying and wanted them.  I demonstrated for one interested person but she didn't take a shuttle.  We had several people stop and ask questions about what we were doing and were very impressed.  No-one turned down the buttons when offered one. 

Sherry was having a little trouble and Becky helped her out.  Nothing ensures you know what your doing as much as having to demonstrate and help someone else. 

I  think I gave out about 10 buttons while we were out today.  At work I gave out the other 15 I had, along with a Hershey kiss. 

I guess I need to make more buttons :-)

I hope all of you enjoyed International Tatting Day where-ever you were.  

Keep Calm

and

Tat On