Tatted Star

One of my granddaughters had a program this week, which meant I traveled up to Nebraska to see it. Instead of taking the time to cook supper, we went out to eat at Ruby Tuesday in Bellevue. As we walked in I was pleasantly surprised to see a tatted star ornament hanging from the hostess desk.

Tatted star found on display at Ruby Tuesday in Bellevue, Nebraska

Of course, I brought it to my daughter’s attention. The manager over-heard my remark and commented how surprised he was that someone recognized what it was.

While we were waiting for our order the manager came over to talk about tatting. His mother tats items like this then gives him a stack to pass out at work during the Christmas season. I learned that his mother is 88 years old and has been tatting for about 10 years. She has tried teaching people to tat – to share the fun – but most have decided it was too tedious (?!) for them.

I had brought my collection of Ice Drops with me to visit the family so the children could choose which one they wanted for their tree, but did I have them in my purse? Surprisingly, no, I had left them at the house. I showed him a picture of the Cosmic Ice Drop I’d made, which he thought his mother would like. It was an amicable conversation.

I wished it would have worked out that I could meet his mother. As that wasn’t possible during my short trip I decided to give her the Cosmic Ice Drop. After the program, we went back to the restaurant so I could deliver it to him to give to his mother. He was amazed that I would do this. But it is the season of giving, isn’t it?

“Surprise is the greatest gift which life can grant us.” Boris Pasternak    picturequotes.com

Star motif again

Still working on the star motif.  This time I've made it in Lizbeth #159 Easter Eggs and #638 Christmas Green in size 20.

Making it with contrasting colors really brings out the pattern, showing which shuttle was used where.  It changes its look quite a bit from using the same thread throughout. I've also made a bit of a change in the last round - again - trying to decide just how I want it. Not sure about this version, either. 

The TIAS has reached Day 3. Now I'm waiting somewhat impatiently for Day 4!  I haven't counted how many people have joined this year but it looks like quite a few.  It's fun to be tatting with other tatters from all over the world, isn't it?  Just seeing everyone's version of the TIAS and reading their comments enhances the enjoyment of being a part of this adventure.  Thank you, Jane!

"A work of art is above all an adventure of the mind."

Eugene Ionesco

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A little difference

Christmas Snowflake 2010 © Wanda Salmans

I made a little change from the pattern on this snowflake, making the ends with three rings instead of a thrown ring, shortened the arm chains and left out most of the decorative picots.  I like the way it came out.  This is made in Lizbeth size 20, White #601.  The original pattern can be found on my Pattern tab.

December Star 2011 © Wanda Salmans

I made a little change in this pattern, too (can you tell? It's not a star!).  I only made two changes in this one - added beads and another arm to make it a snowflake.  I like the beads but it sure slows down the tatting!  The beads are a bright, shiny, reflective silver - and they made taking a good picture of this a real bear!  Let's just say I'm very frustrated with my camera right now :-(  This 'star' is made in Lizbeth size 20 Christmas Red #671.  The original pattern can be found on my Pattern tab.

I think the changes in both patterns were successful.   The reason for the changes?  I'm running short on time for coming up with a totally new pattern for my 2013 Christmas snowflakes.  If I'm going to give anybody snowflakes I've got to get them done ASAP and starting with something I already have then making a few changes might be what I end up with.  Hmmm., will I stick with one of these - or find something else?

Time will tell.

"Change, like sunshine, can be a friend or a foe, a blessing or a curse, a dawn or a dusk."

William Arthur Ward

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Something New

for the New Year.

Okay, I made it at the end of December, but just barely!

I had two shuttles loaded with Lizbeth Blue Ice #163 in size 40 and had a thought, basically on a variation of one of my other patterns.  "What if I tried this..." And this is what came about.  As you can tell by the Clover shuttles beside it, the star is pretty small made in size 40.  It didn't take too long to make and looks good in that color, don't you think? (I had a hard time photographing it. I tried it on a black background and it was way too bright so showed up fuzzy and stark white.)

And guess what?

I have it diagrammed already!  It didn't take too long to do that, either.  I guess practice does make things easier. Check the sidebar, I'm going to be adding it there.  How soon depends on if I have trouble or not :)

I'm using the new blogger changes and still getting used to the way it looks.  The one thing I definitely like is how it adds the pictures.  It doesn't add them all at the top anymore, where you have to move them down if you've started adding text.  Some of the rest of the changes are still debatable on whether I like them or not, though I suppose that eventually I'll get used to them.

Have you heard?  Jane is having another TIAS (Tat It And See) starting on January 10.  Check it out here.  I did the one last year and it was a lot of fun. My piece from last year is actually hanging on the Christmas tree as an ornament - my grandsons thought it was pretty cool.

I started this Tatting Tea Tuesday with a cup of Zen green tea by TAZO, a gift from Tabatha.  (Thanks, it's very good!)  I didn't really tat yet but I did work on the diagram for the star - does that count?  I do plan on getting a little tatting in today sometime, somewhere.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to the New Year.


"Every day is a fresh beginning. Every morn is the world made new."
Sarah Chauncey Woolsey