International Tatting Day 2015

Plans for today:

Tat for enjoyment

Wear tatting

Eat chocolate!

Check out this cute little poem by muskaan.  This describes me, how about you?

‘Coz We Are Tatters

The room is all a-clutter

The family a-grumble, a-mutter,

But my heart is still a-flutter,

Stashing more thread is all that matters

‘Coz I am a tatter.

“That money’s for food!”

Oh, honey, I’m sure we’re good.

Need a new shuttle in wood

Diversifying my collection is all that matters

‘Coz I am a tatter.

There’s a new book online

Well I mayn’t tat a design

But that book has to be mine

Stocking my library is all that matters

‘Coz, peeps, I am very much a tatter!

                                (muskaan, March 2015) 

Make lace, not war :-D

http://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.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

Are you ready

For Christmas? 

A farmer in his trusty tractor bringing home the Christmas tree

Nutcrackers guarding the door

 I am, mostly.  I still have a few things I want to tat (of course!) but I'm not going to stress if they don't get done.  I've got some of the cards sent and hopefully I'll finish them tomorrow.   That's what I was doing today instead of posting here.  In fact, I forgot to take pictures of what I have been working on so I'm sharing a couple of pictures of some of the Christmas lights we saw a couple of weeks ago.

As I don't have any tatting to share today I'll share the poem I wrote instead.

A Christmas Poem

Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the house

I decked the halls for the season (with help from my spouse.)

Ornaments were hung on the tree with great care

Even out on the lawn decorations were there

With gift-giving in mind and a list in my hand

We headed to town the crowds to withstand

To buy just the right present, for each person we knew

Just the right gift - I hadn't a clue!

As we walked down the street, as we shopped in the mall

There were toys of all sizes, for kids large and small.

Through every speaker there was many a shout

"Be the first to have this!" "You can't live without!"

For every age, and for every type

Were gadgets and widgets and a whole lot of hype

To convince you to spend every bit your dough

In this place and that place and hard to say "No!'

After suffering the crowds as we traversed the aisles

(Of which there many, each one seeming like miles!)

We turned to each other with strain on our faces

And agreed with a glance to get out of these places!

We returned home from the stores with sighs of relief.

But relief was short-lived, reprieve very brief.

No gifts did we have and time was now short.

What gifts could be given as a last resort?

We glanced at our tree, at the star there on top,

That symbol of the season made us just stop.

It glittered there brightly, shining down from above

Reminding us of the gift that had been given with love.

One night long ago, in a faraway place

A boy-child was born, one filled with God's grace.

He was born to save us, a gift to us all

A gift we should share, and it's not found in a mall.

We realized that it wasn't how much that was spent

Or how new or how snazzy or what the content.

To celebrate this birth we give gifts to each other

A small token of the gift once given by Another.

So, in this season of gift-giving and fun

Remember that God gave us His Son

To save us from sin and make all things right.

Blessed Christmas to all and to all a good night.

                                                          Wanda Salmans 2012

Getting ready for Christmas

... and I'm still very busy. I have quite a few things yet to tat before the big day arrives. I did take a little time out from all that to make this bookmark for The Tatting Forums' bookmark-a-month challenge, just for fun: ) It's made in Lizbeth color 625 size 20.

I was thinking how busy I've kept myself the last several weeks, and though it's been fun it's also getting to be a bit stressful as the day gets closer and I don't have everything done. So I took a little time out for a different kind of fun. With a nod to Isdihara of Ambitatterous, famous for her twisted lyrics, and an apology to Clement Clarke Moore, sit back and enjoy a cup of tea this Tatting Tea Tuesday while I leave you with a poem that I - hmm, adapted - from Mr. Moore.

'Twas the week before Christmas, when all through the house

I was still stirring, and I think so was a mouse.

The stockings weren't hung, the mantle was bare,

I sure wasn't ready for Christmas to be here!

Patterns of lace were strewn all over the bed,

While visions of things undone danced in my head.

With thread on the table and a cat on my lap

I couldn't settle my brain on one thing to tat.

When out in the hall there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.

Hanging down from the table a part of my stash

Caught me off guard, I went down with a crash!

The glitter that fell from the table like snow

Gave quite a shine to my head down below.

When, what to my watering eyes should appear,

But a miniature person in fancy foot gear.

She was dressed all in lace, from her head to her toes,

And her clothes were all covered with lots of picots.

An array of bright thread she had clutched in her hand,

And she looked very lovely, in fact very grand.

Her eyes - how they twinkled! Her tresses, how lovely!

Her cheeks were like roses, her stance very queenly!

Her red little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

The dress she was wearing was as white as the snow.

She spoke not a word, but went straight to her task,

What she was doing I had no thought to ask.

And plying the thread, not seeming to bustle,

She made gorgeous lace with a bright silver shuttle!

Her hands flew through the thread, this lovely small elf,

And I laughed as I watched her, in spite of myself!

Each piece as she finished she laid on the table,

Fine tatting she made, her face very tranquil.

When her tatting was done, when finally she finished,

Then as quick as she'd come she suddenly vanished.

But I heard her exclaim, 'ere she faded from sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good knot!"

Based on "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore

PS Real quick - did you see the lunar eclipse last night? Pretty cool, wasn't it?