Second Edging Complete!

Yes, it’s true. I’ve completed the second china hutch edging AND put it on the shelf!

China hutch 2 shelves done

The top one is the first one, the bottom one is the second. It looks like I should have made one more repeat for the length, but I’m not going back. It doesn’t have as many repeats as the first one due to picot length. The second one is a bit more consistent with the length of the joining picot in the first row. I might be able to adjust the way it lays on the shelf to fit the width a bit better.

Two edgings are done on the china hutch

With the doors closed, the way they are most of the time, you can’t see that the edging does’t quite reach the sides. The first edging needs to be straightened just a bit, LOL! I’ll get to that later.

I am still working on the third shelf edging.

Still working on the third edging

I’m on the second row of it, too. I just keep running into things that need to be done that are more time sensitive than the edging, both tatting related and otherwise.

In the otherwise category, I’ve taken care of a couple of the grandchildren several times that I hadn’t planned on. Whether at their house or our house there are other things to do than tat. My granddaughter likes watching videos that show how to make Barbie accessories, so we’ve made a few of those. Good thing I have a bunch of crafty things handy!

“You don’t have to get things done all the time to be productive.” David Harsanyi

Bookmarks, Old and New

I opened a book the other day, one that had been sitting on a shelf for ages. Inside was found a bookmark I had made quite some time ago. I don’t know how long it has been since I tatted this, but it was time enough that the rings are facing up and the chains are facing down. I have been tatting with all elements facing up for years, so this bookmark must be 20 years old.

Old bookmark found in a book

I was reading the book to my grandchildren when we discovered the bookmark. One of the children mentioned they would like a bookmark like this. That’s all it took to twist my arm enough for me to decide to tat them one.

Blue bookmark with ribbon

I happened to have a blue thread with me, which is a favored color, though I didn’t have any ribbon. A trip to Joann’s made short work of that problem. It wasn’t much later that this bookmark was done. I realize it isn’t exactly like the old one, but close enough.

I couldn’t make one child something without making something for the other. As time was running short I made the second one a bit different from the first because it took less time to tat.

Pink bookmark

This one went much faster. The thread is also size 10 instead of size 20, which helped make it as long as the other with less work.

Both bookmarks were received with enthusiasm. Which makes grandma happy 🙂

Three bookmarks, one old, two new

I find it interesting to see how much my tatting has changed over the years, not only in techniques but the thread used. The old bookmark was made with DMC pearl cotton, a very soft thread, which was what I could find if I wanted any variety of color at the time. The new bookmarks are made in Lizbeth thread from Handy Hands, which is not nearly as soft. How many colors does HH have now? Lots!

I have two other grandchildren that haven’t yet received bookmarks. Hmm, what colors, what patterns?

“Change can be frightening, and the temptation is often to resist it. But change almost always provides opportunities – to learn new things, to rethink tired processes, and to improve the way we work.” Klause Schwab
www.brainyquote.com

Two Snowmen

I had an idea for a snowman the other day.

Snowman doodle  Wanda Salmans 2014

He was a bit of a pain to make - he didn't want to hold still to put on his hat or scarf!  And I lost the beads on the floor several times before he was done.  He remains alone - at least for the time being.  He might get a friend to be worn as earrings someday.

We'll see.

It snowed last week, a wet, heavy snow, just perfect for snowmen and snowballs. We had a couple of the grandchildren staying that day and they could hardly wait to get out in it.  The first thing were snow angels and then a snowman.  A carrot for a nose, charcoal for eyes and buttons, twigs as mouth and arms.  Papa brought out a hat and Grandma donated her scarf.  Then we couldn't go in without a snowball fight. It was so much fun!  The snowman lasted a couple of days, slowly leaning over but kept it together until the kids left.  A few hours later he lost his head, then the rest of him gradually melted away.

Have you built a snowman yet this year?

Two Snowmen

One inside, one outside,

One little, one big.

One lives for ever - or until he gets lost.

One lives a few days when he just melts away.

Both were made in just a short time,

For the length of their stay

They bring smiles to us all.

Wanda Salmans 2014

Travel tatting

We went to visit one of our daughters this weekend to celebrate one of the grandson's birthday.  Our other daughter and her son were also able to come up, which made for a great weekend!  All the grandkids together equals not much time for tatting, at least while we were there (I don't plan on it, either!).  We left on Friday evening, which meant in the dark as the sun now sets so early.  Almost five hours of driving time - in the dark.

I have a booklight, one of those that clip onto a book so you can read in bed or wherever in low light.

And the battery was dead.

But I did have a small, regular flashlight that worked just fine.  I just tucked it behind the seat belt across my chest. I had to re-aim it every little bit, but it put light where I needed it.

I didn't want to try following a pattern in those conditions so my best bet was something that I could do without a pattern.  What better than a bookmark?  A very basic cross bookmark is the result of our drive. 

I also emptied a few shuttles by making birds, butterflies and flowers.

We left earlier in the day Sunday to come home so I had light to tat by for a while and I still did simple things.  I got several snowflakes done, which I'll be putting on some items for the craft show that's coming up in a couple of weeks.  I might have pictures of those next week.

We had such fun this weekend. As our daughters live so far apart the cousins don't get to see each other often, but they got along great.  We'll have another chance to get all together in a few weeks for Thanksgiving.  I'm really looking forward to it!

Graduation Cross Bookmark

I visited my daughter and her children this last weekend.  It was a lot of fun to spend time with them, but small children make tatting just a little hard.  They like to sit on laps and "help" with whatever you are doing.   In fact, my grandson wanted to know what I was doing with my "boat" :-) So, though I did get a small amount of tatting done it's not ready to share yet.

Graduation Cross Bookmark  based on an old pattern

Something that I have been working on at home is writing up some of my patterns.  This is another cross bookmark I made up a few years ago in the normal way that I come up with most patterns: I needed something for - you guessed it - a graduation gift.

I made this one with Lizbeth #115 "Springtime" size 20. It measures 3 inches long by 2 inches wide.  The center has one split ring then climbs out with a false picot and another split ring, the rest is just rings and chains.  If someone couldn't do split rings it would be easy enough to make the center as a separate piece then do the outside.  The basics of this cross I know is one of those patterns that most of us stumble to on our own, but I haven't seen a center done quite like this so I've added it to the pattern page.
(It will be up later)

I'm hoping to have something more to show next week.  So far I've had to un-do, re-tat, cut off, and start over several times. I've got the idea in my head, just having a little trouble translating it to thread.

"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me...Anything can happen, child. Anything can be." 
Shel Silverstein

http://thinkexist.com

Insulated cup - finally!

I finally finished the insulated cup I was working on.

 I thought it turned out well.  The kitty is from Nancy Tracy at Be-Stitched which I actually made some time ago. I found it in a stack of miscellaneous tatting while looking for other things.  This solves my problem of the one that ran away.  I cannot remember what thread I did it in but I'm guessing it's size 20.  The birds, butterfly and flowers are all things made while emptying shuttles in a variety of colors but mostly size 20 - I think the blue/white bird is size 40.  The only thing I actually tatted specifically for this cup is the grass. 

I didn't spend nearly as much time looking for background paper on this cup as I did the other one. I thought green would work well, but again, I didn't want it to be "flat".  But I had a solution this time - a green stamp pad and a wadded up piece of newspaper.  

I gave the finished cup to my grandson this weekend.  I think he liked it, but there was so much going on that I think it kind of got lost in the shuffle.  That's okay.  I enjoyed making and giving it.  Once things settle down he might notice it more.

I also gave my granddaughter the clothes to which I added tatting - and didn't get a good picture of her showing any of them off.  This is not to say I didn't get some cute pictures of her, just none with a good shot of the tatting.  As I mentioned, there was a lot going on.  Maybe I can get her momma to take a couple of pictures for me.

I actually had a cup of tea this morning, but it wasn't while relaxing or tatting, it was while getting ready to go to Hobby Lobby.  My sister, mother and I had a girls day out - a little shopping, a little lunch and a whole lot of talking - an almost perfect day.  It just needed a little tatting in it.  Well, maybe I'll get a little of that done tomorrow.

"The ideal of calm exists in a sitting cat."
Jules Renard
from thinkexist.com

I had a really nice lunch this weekend at the Spaghetti Works.  They have a gluten free menu☺

Kitties and dragonflies

Pretty Kitty pattern by Nancy Tracy © 2006

I'm still tatting for my granddaughter.  I thought this cute little kitty from Be-stitched by Nancy Tracy would look nice on a dress I bought for her. These are made in Lizbeth #641 Lilac Dark, size 20.

Here is one of them on the dress. The dress originally came with a crocheted purple flower on it but I took it off and put on the kitty.   I have nothing against crochet, I just wanted some tatting on it instead. 

The other kitty was supposed to go on a cup for my grandson, this little girl's big brother, but somehow or other it disappeared.  Maybe it had other places it wanted to be.  That's okay, the kitty is quick and easy to make so it won't take long to make another one.  This kitty actually gave me a reason to try out my Handy Hands thread holder I got from Tabatha. I do so many patterns that take two shuttles I haven't had need of the holder yet.  It is pretty cool to use, by the way.  I still need to add a wrist ribbon - or something - but it worked great in the car.

Dragonfly pattern by Jon 2010

I made these dragonsflies from a pattern by Jon.  Aren't they cute? (Have you seen the butterflies at the top of her blog - those are next!) The  purple one is made with the Lizbeth #641 size 20 - hey, I still had thread on my shuttle from the kitties:-) - with bronze-colored beads of unknown origin and size.  The other is made from Lizbeth #144 Leaf Swirl, size 20 with green beads, again of unknown origin and size.  This green and white one is for my mother for her birthday.  I'm planning on adding it to a pin to add to one of her hats.  I bought some hat pins a while back just for this purpose and now I want to use them I can't find them anywhere!  I still have a couple of days to look, but I do have a backup plan if I can't find them. 

I had hoped that I could show the pin completed and the cup for my grandson today but I guess they'll be for another day.  I still have another outfit to decorate for my granddaughter as well that isn't quite done.   Thank goodness none of these projects are all that big.  There is hope that all of them will be done by next Tatting Tea Tuesday.

Today I actually drank some tea before I started on the coffee. It was just Country Peach from Celestial Seasonings, a nice start for a cool morning. 

May is Celiac Awareness Month.  I mention this because, though I have not been officially diagnosed with this by a doctor, I definitely have either this or a severe gluten intolerance. My daughter is the one who actually diagnosed this when I had a lot of issues a couple of years ago. My doctor had no clue what caused all my problems but when I followed my daughter's advice it was like flipping a switch on how much better I felt. This is a disease described at www.celiac.org as:

"Celiac Disease (CD) is a lifelong inherited autoimmune condition that affects both children and

adults.  When people who have CD eat foods that contain gluten, it causes an immune reaction that

results in damage to the small intestine and does not allow nutrients to be properly absorbed. Damage can be present in the small intestine even when there are no symptoms. Currently, the only treatment is strict adherence to the gluten-free diet.

Gluten  is the common name for the proteins in specific grains that are harmful to persons with celiac disease.  These proteins are found in ALL forms of wheat (including durum, semolina, spelt, kamut, einkorn and faro) and related grains rye, barley and triticale and MUST be eliminated."

(Yes, I'm on a strict gluten free diet.  I even have to watch the ingredients of some Teas!)

"Old age is not a disease - it is strength and survivorship, triumph over all kinds of vicissitudes and disappointments, trial and illnesses." 

Maggie Kuhn

from thinkexist.com

Tatting for Little Girls

I tatted several lengths of my "Row of Crowns" edging to put on a dress for my granddaughter.  I finished the tatting on our way up to Kansas City, Missouri where we spent the weekend. I didn't get much tatting done after that - we was much too busy with the family!

This morning I added it to the dress.

This is the cute little denim dress I picked up at Carter's for Kids.  It's one of the few children's outfits that doesn't have decorations already on it, just pink thread used to sew on the buttons.  

This is what it looks like with the tatting added. 

I'm trying Bo-Nash to attach the tatting to the dress. I ordered some a while ago but never tried it until today.  I'm not sure if I like it yet, maybe because I'm not using it correctly.  But if it holds the tatting in place long enough so I can sew it down it's still a good thing. Trying to keep tatting in just the right place while sewing it down has always been a problem of mine.

I can't wait to see what my granddaughter looks like in this!

As I mentioned, we spent the weekend in Kansas City, Missouri, close to Country Club Plaza. This place has fountains everywhere! As is usual for me when we travel I just had to have a picture of me tatting with one of our destinations in the background.

This is one of the fountains on Nichols Road.  The architecture of the entire Plaza is based on Seville, Spain. It's a pretty cool place to visit, but if you want to buy anything bring lots of money.  This place has very high-end stores!

We had a wonderful weekend with the family!  Of course I spent too much money on the grandkids, but I enjoyed every minute of it. Too bad we have to go back to work today.

"Happiness consists of living each day as if it were the first day of your honeymoon and the last day of your vacation."

Actual tatting was done!

Looky, looky, there be tatting!  For the first time in almost two weeks, I was able to sit down Sunday and tat.  I didn't get as far as I would have liked, but that I got anything done is amazing! 

The edging is made with size 20 Lizbeth #115 "Springtime".  I just started tatting with an idea of what I wanted and I think it is coming along nicely. Hopefully it won't take me two weeks to finish it : -)

Some of the reason I haven't had time to tat is family visiting, which is a good reason not to have gotten anything done.  Having two 3-year-olds and a 10 month old around for several days makes it interesting to get anything done except enjoying and playing with them.  And who would want to do anything else?  Certainly not Grandma (me)!

I did get tatting out to the public a week ago.  The senior center that my mother volunteers at, and is a member of, had a show-and-tell day to share their hobbies with the community.  Mom wanted to share a table with my sister and I - my sister embroiders and my mother collects (and wears) hats.  The local paper even did an article on my mom when they were doing a write-up about the day.  She brought 37 hats in and it was decided to give her, and my sister and I, the quilting/sewing room to accommodate them. 

My mom and a few of her tats.

This is a picture of my mother (on the left) and her two sisters in their hats at the show-and-tell.  Mom was very excited to share all of her hats. 

I had been planning on this day for about a month and even had some ideas to make a few cute and quick things for it.  Unfortunately I had been working some very long days and weeks so had to settle for things I already had on hand.  I was supposed to be there at least by nine on Saturday,  bringing both my tatting and my sister's things as she had to work.  My daughter from Nebraska decided to come down that weekend as well, which is great. Then Friday night she went out for the evening with her cousins and I was home with both of her children and my other daughter's little boy, alone, as my husband had to work (I had taken a day of vacation). The kids were all great, but they were kids and I didn't get much sleep. When I finally did I overslept. I didn't get up to the senior center until almost 9:30 a.m. and the doors were to open at 10:00 a.m.  It was a case of lay out the table cloth and start putting out our things as fast as possible.  

My sister has been giving classes on scrap-booking at the senior center so had some pages and books for that as well as her embroidery.  Good thing they gave Mom the whole room, the table was crowded with just my sister and my hobbies, and the hats take up a lot of room. 

I found I had more tatted items at home than I thought I did.

I had quite a few opportunities to share my love of tatting with others.  This woman's mother had tatted but she had never done it herself. She had a lot of questions about it so I demonstrated how to do a chain with two colors.  Throughout the day there were a lot of the usual comments about tatting being a 'lost' art, so this was a great chance to let them see it's not lost completely and has been 'found' by quite a few people.  Several people expressed interest in taking classes if they were offered, so I might have the chance to share it with more.  This would be as a volunteer to mostly older people (so speaks a grandmother!) but I think it would be a lot of fun. 

I'm back on 'regular' nine hour days at work again, so I'm looking forward to having more time to tat again. Which is good because I just got Sherry's new book in the mail yesterday *happy dance*. This book looks great and I'm really looking forward to making the items in this book and learning this technique.  

"Grab your coat, and get your hat, Leave your worry on the doorstep. Just direct your feet, To the sunny side of the street."

Dorothy Fields

No booties this time

This last week we went up to see our daughter when they had the new baby baptized. Our granddaughter wore the same baptismal gown that her brother had worn but not the booties he did. Her brother was several months old when he was baptized so I had to make the booties to fit him. I also didn't think to make her a pair - where was my mind for the last 6 months?? - so I decided to do something a little less complicated. I decorated some socks.

Even this simple little motif gave me fits. First, I used size 80 thread, DMC # 604, which I rarely even try to tat with. Second, I was tatting these in the car then trying to finish them off in the hotel room. They ended up taking more time than I want to admit. They also don't quite have the same stitch count - I finished one kind of late and made the second one kind of early the next morning. After I'd almost finished I realized I had changed it up a bit. And, you know what? I just left them that way. My husband and daughter looked at them and couldn't tell the difference. Besides, with the baby wearing her long baptismal gown you couldn't see the socks anyway. So someday, if the socks survive very long, someone will look at them and maybe notice that Grandma didn't know how to count - and I'm okay with that :-)

I then proceeded to decorate a second pair of socks (the socks came on a card containing two pair) almost but not quite the same. I didn't add any decorative picots to these. I figure these might be worn a couple of times and picots don't always look so good after washing without a little help. These actually came out looking pretty good - and they do have the same stitch count - though I made them while distracted by the new born and a two-year-old. And I have never claimed to be good with a sewing needle: they are attached in a manner that they shouldn't come off even if it's not pretty :P I used DMC size 80 again in #107.

Babies are a grandparents’ best reward

We bring them home and spoil them

Then return them to their parents

And leave them to their mayhem

Wanda

This weekend I drank a lot of iced tea, though today for Tatting Tea Tuesday I returned to hot tea. There's just something about having a hot cuppa first thing in the morning that I like better than having a cold glass. Of course, it's not summer yet!

For those here in the USA, I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Weekend. We flew our tattered American flag in wind that almost tore it off the pole but didn't make it to the cemeteries. That had been on my agenda, but with the visit to the grandchildren we didn't make it. We drove by a few cemeteries decorated with flags and flowers, very beautiful, and in church we recognized those that had been in the military, giving us a chance to say "Thank you for your service"
Though I'm a day late, I'd like to say "thank you" to all of you out there for your service to your country, and to me and my family. Your are greatly appreciated. Though this was written several years ago I wanted to share this poem with you.
Memorial Day 2007