January funk

I haven't gotten much tatting done lately.  It also seems that what has gotten done has had mistakes.

Take Jane's TIAS 2016.  

I was doing great until Day 6.  It wasn't that it was that difficult but I caught a thread where it shouldn't aught to be and didn't notice it until I was farther along.

Jane Eborall's TIAS 2016 Day 6

And this is where I still am.  The way things have been going lately with my tatting I'm afraid to take it out due to the chance of making it worse. 

But I am looking forward to finishing it.  Jane already has Day 8 out; I have a bit of catching up to do.

The doily I currently have in the round robin I'm a part of on Craftree is sitting by my chair waiting on me to finish it. I have it figured out - in my thread - but haven't yet attempted it in the doily colors yet.  I really don't want to mess it up.

I hope I get out of my funk soon.

On a bright note, I found my snowman that came off in the wash.

He looked pretty pathetic.

But amazingly his scarf, hat and flower are still attached.  I used craft glue to put them on and I really thought I'd find the tatting but not everything still together.  A little blocking and he'll be as good as new.

I'm hoping a little patience and a little more care will soon get me back to as good as new, or least back to normal!

"You're going to go through tough times - that's life.  But I say, 'Nothing happens to you, it happens for you.'  See the positive in negative events."

Joel Osteen

brainyquote.com

Of airplanes, ornaments, and snowmen

Several years ago I gave the white airplane on the right to a friend of mine for Christmas. He had it hung on his office wall at work and I noticed a few months ago that it was looking a bit wilted and yellow. It had  been stiffened a bit but not enough it seems.  The smaller grey plane I meant to give him last year and didn't (he got a tatted ornament just not the plane).  This year I wanted to make sure he got both his airplanes but in a way that would look good and last a bit better.

Airplane  © Wanda Salmans 2014

Pattern found on My Patterns tab

Trying to find a background that worked with both planes took a bit.  Craft paper was the best I could find from my stash of both paper and material.  No worries, my friend really liked his airplanes.

I've gotten quite a few responses since I posted about these small ornaments.  

They are very basic and simple patterns so I wasn't going to write them up, but I decided to do a few to give people that would like to do something similar an start.  You can find the link on My Patterns tab as Christmas Ornaments 2015.

The snowman that I made for myself and attached to a pin is missing in action.

I wore it Christmas day and forgot to take it off my shirt before I washed it.

I'm not sure where it ended up.  I used regular white craft glue to put it all together as it was never meant to go through the washer.  I'll probably find bits and pieces of him in the clothes as we put them on, tucked up inside a sleeve of some shirt or other.  It's too bad but not a tragedy to loose him as I have others but, man! I wish I hadn't done that.

2015 is about to make it's exit.  It's been a thrilling year with the new experience of a cruise and visiting Alaska for the first time; a sad year where we have lost three family members and several close friends over the course of the year; and an exciting year as we've finally done some home improvements that had been put off for far too long.  It could be said it's been a normal year with ups and downs, good times and bad.  As we enter 2016 I make no resolutions that I know I won't keep but move forward with a positive outlook and hopes for a wonderful new year.

What are you looking for in the coming year?

"Every exit is an entrance to new experiences."

Fortune cookie proverb

Craft Show

The craft show last weekend went well.  I sold several runners and a few other smaller things which means I paid for the booth and a bit more besides which makes it a successful show.

  

My booth setup

I didn't get a picture of the booth before the show started.  I had already sold one of my table runners by the time I thought about it.

 This is my sister's booth.  We have two spaces but put our tables together.

I think the green-over-black really made the tables look good.

I talked to several other venders from the show and they all had the same results we did: people were buying but not a lot.  That still makes it a successful show.

This year I had a small Christmas tree that I strung with battery-powered LED lights and covered in small, button-centered tatted ornaments.  I also had small button-centered tatted snowmen. Each one was a little different. 

A few of the tatted snowmen on the tree at home before the show.

I thought they came out well; everyone that saw them thought they were cute.  I put pin backs on a few but they can still be hung on the tree.  My sister asked for one to be put on a barrette and it worked for that, too.

Tatted Button-centered snowman 

© Wanda Salmans 2015

For all that it is very simple I wrote up the pattern and have added it to my Pattern tab.

This week was Thanksgiving here in America.  Here at home we've had enough ice and bad weather that we haven't been able to gather with any of our family so far.  But we are thankful that we have family that are healthy and happy even if we can't see them this week. 

 I'm also thankful that I can share my enjoyment of tatting with others at craft shows and on this blog. Thanks to all of you for stopping by.

"Thanksgiving is a time to remember...

our blessings and make good cheer with all who we hold dear."

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

It's white all over

Snowman and snowflakes, all in white, at least inside my house. (No snow on the ground here, and I can live with that.) Working all in white is what I've been doing all week. The cute snowman is something I saw on line and decided I just had to try. It's made from an old, inside-out sock (it was washed!). I gifted it to one of my grandsons yesterday. Well, actually, I gave it to his mother to put out on a shelf for decoration because my grandson really liked it when he saw me working on it the other day. I had to do a few things a little different than the directions called for, but I think it turned out well.

The snowflakes are ones I've come up with this last week trying to decide what I wanted for my 2010 Christmas card snowflake. After making all of these I've decided the one I will consider this year's snowflake is the one at the top right.

Speaking of snowflakes, did you see what Kathy did with one? She hung it from the inside a clear plastic ball ornament. It looks great! I've got to try this. I know I had some clear glass ornaments somewhere but I can't find them. If I don't find them I'm going to go get some! I just love this look. Great idea, Kathy!

Today for Tatting Tea Tuesday I'm enjoying a cup of Raspberry Royale tea, a gift from my Advent swap partner on Ravelry. I wasn't sure I'd like it because I'm not that fond of the taste of raspberry, but I was pleasantly surprised. It's pretty good: ) In the spirit of TTT I'm trying a new technique (to me) I saw online yesterday. Who knows, if I really like this, and I can do it, my snowflake for the year may change.

For my Advent gift today my partner sent me a cute little crocheted stocking for the tree and a ball of hand-dyed thread from Crochet 4 U 2 Dye 4 in "Mistletoe", size 20. I'm looking forward to using it. Isn't she the sweetest swap partner ever?

I hope you are taking the time to enjoy the season, without getting too stressed. Take a few minutes for yourself, have a cup of tea and tat a few minutes this week - a gift to yourself.