Found

While cleaning out my aunt’s apartment, my sister and I found some pretty neat things. It’s not like she had lots and lots of stuff because she didn’t. In fact, when she moved into the apartment she pared her things down a lot. So what we found must have been important to her.

These old needle books were found in her sewing box. I believe two of them were give-aways. The other one was 25 cents! Both the blue sewing kit and the Farmer Needlebook say they were made in Germany. I wonder how old they are?

Needle books found in her sewing box

You can see these needles were used. Check out the huge needle on the right! My aunt was ready for any sewing problems that came up.

Needle books

We also found these cute little change purses! What a fun idea! My aunt was in the Red Hat Society for many years, so I’m sure that’s where she got the one and maybe the other. Have you ever seen this idea before? (The shuttle is there as a size reference only)

Little sock change purses

This bookmark that I gave my aunt in 2017 for Easter we found in her desk. I know it was from 2017 because she wrote the date on the back and then laminated it. The lamination flattened the tatting but it is very sweet that she wanted to keep it nice.

Easter bunny bookmark

I’m very glad we finally finished cleaning out the apartment. There are so many things we put on hold when this came up so we could take care of it, but family does what is needed.

I had started doing some cleaning at my house before I was needed elsewhere and I’ve been finding a lot of things I didn’t expect. It’s funny sometimes what you find that you have forgotten about. Check out this picture of me from Christmas 1994.

Tatted tie from Christmas 1994

The tie I’m wearing is something I made for one of my daughters several years previous to this. I dreamed it up when she had a special dress-up day at school and needed a tie. This makes me want to look for the picture of her wearing the tie! The teddy bear is wearing a collar I had made for my mother-in-law that really wasn’t big enough for her. But it fit the bear very nicely!

I still have a lot of cleaning that needs to be done at my house. It will be interesting to see what else I find.

“When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

Gifts

Paperclip bookmark gift

One of my aunts just had a birthday. She has enjoyed paperclip bookmarks I have previously given her and recently indicated she would like more.  What could be a better birthday gift?

She was quite happy with these. Unlike a couple of other paperclip bookmarks I have made before, the tatting on these will stay up-right on these most of the time.

My mother-in-law passed away several years ago. Recently my father-in-law started going through his possessions as he prepared to move out of the house. There were a lot of tatted items I had gifted her that he no longer had a place for. This collar is one of them.

Tatted collar

I’m not sure just how long ago I made this for her, maybe 15? 20 years ago? I know it is made in DMC Cebelia size 30 Ecru (I had a lot of this thread).  The pattern is in a book that I cannot locate at the moment so I can’t tell you exactly where it is. I have looked through the patterns listed on Craftree, where there are several that are very similar. The center edge does not match the patterns I located there.

She wore it several times I know.  I washed and pinned it out when I got it. I am trying to decide which shirt I should put this on. I definitely plan on wearing it.

I have been tatting a lot, just not posting. I have so many things I want to do I have a hard time staying with one project long enough to finish it. I am working on the ornament I put in Christmas cards. After much adjusting and tweaking, I have it figured out – I think!

Thanksgiving is this week – how time flies! My side of the family will be our get-together at our house. I have so much to do to get the house ready! I’d rather be tatting than cleaning house, but I don’t have a lot of choice on what I have to do.  I mean, we need the table to eat at.

Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving.

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” William Arther Ward  https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/william_arthur_ward_676240?src=t_thanksgiving

Zipping along

Or would that be 'pulling along' if you're making zipper pulls?

Or maybe they're stitch markers. Stitching along?

Whatever they may be I made them this week.  

 Lizbeth #166 Pink Cocoa in size 40

I even glued a bead in the center.  We'll see how long it lasts :-)

Oren Bayan Perle Kotton size 8

These were fun to make and the ladies at open stitch at Odd Balls really liked them.  It's always a plus for me when other people like what I've made - not the be-all, end-all, but definitely a plus. 

I have been working on my vest but don't have anything I want to share yet.  The collar went fast and made me happy, the body not so much.  I've made several tries but am not that excited about any of them.  I'll keep at it until it works.

IsDihara, over at Ambitatterous, is having a drizzly day.  She shared some of the beautiful flowers in her neighborhood from the last week.  Looks lovely!  Here in Kansas we are having a wonderful day - sunshine and temperatures in the 80's (F) though the wind is blowing about 25 mph with gusts a bit more.  But for here it's a great day!  Until tomorrow when it's supposed to be much cooler with rain and possible storms.  I think the snow is supposed to stay up in the northwest corner of the state though.  

"Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success."

Napoleon Hill

brainyquote.com

A bigger project

I have started a big project just for me.  I've been thinking about trying this for a long time but there has always been other project/ideas that seemed more important.  

Garden 10 Nazli Gelin in size 10 white

The beginning.  The collar of a vest. 

It has evolved a bit since I started, due to a fortuitous miscalculation.  A decision in stitch count for one row, which put more curve to it than planned,  then changing at that particular place to see if it worked better.  Hmm, that looked pretty good.  Repeated the extra stitches on the other end which gave it a nice shape that I hadn't planned but looks like it might work very well.  Time will tell.

Have you seen the tutorial that Kathy has made on interlocking rings? I've given it a quick try and admit I haven't quite got it.  I'm pretty sure I'm rushing it instead of taking it slow.  My bad.  I will try again, hopefully with a little more care and a lot less rushing.

"Shoot for the moon.  Even if you miss, you'll land among the starts."
Les Brown.

I had this almost completely ready last week but got caught up in all the things that have been happening both in Boston and in Texas.  My prayers go out to all that have been affected by these tragedies.