Some tatting finishes

Ok, I said I wouldn't start anything new....I really haven't except for tatting. I'm doing these so I can get ready for the State Fair. My tatting group has decided to enter our tatting into the Great State Fair of Texas this year. There hasn't been any tatting at the fair in several years so we thought we would change that. So here are some things I've made in the past 2 weeks....I can't seem to think of anything else right now. It's like a virus. I enjoy doing this cause I can sit in front of the TV and do it at the same time...I have got to start my quilting back soon and I will....next week.

This heart is called Heart's Desire and is a pattern by Sue Fuller. I got it off the Georgia Seitz website...click here to go there.



This heart is from the book Learn to Tat by Janette Baker



These are a few little pieces I've done just to learn how to do things.




This is called Hope and is out of Mary Konior's book, Tatting with Visual Patterns.
The blue one on the left was made with size 10 thread, the smaller version was a size 20 Flora thread. I didn't like the size 10 with the bigger picots. I like it better in the smaller version but wished I made it with a solid color instead of variegated thread. I really like her book and want to make several more if not all the patterns out of it.




This is a little bookmark I made off of Yarnplayers blog. Click
here for the link




Now, this last picture is something I'm working on now. This is a necklace I'm working on adding beads to it. Our assignment for the week was to do something with beads. Anything we wanted to do. So I found this pattern also on Georgia Seitz's website and it is called Filigree Necklace by Susan Phillipo (a/k/a TatWolf) and here is a link to that pattern. It is a fun, easy pattern for split rings. I really like this Mexicana thread by J P Coates Royale Classic...fun color to work with.

ASG and friends

I went with some friends today to an ASG workshop. (American Sewing Guild) We went to the bored meeting (oops, my bad, should read board meeting but if truth be told the first spelling really shows how I felt) and broke for lunch. We went to one of my favorite places...Babe's (I love their salad and corn...then we came back and had three mini classes on various sewing/quilting/crafts. I went to a class for quick tips for quilting. Nothing new unless you're new to quilting. It was a takeoff on Billie Lauder's quick tips or Nickel Quilts tips...same difference. How to use 5",6" or various size blocks to make easy blocks like 4 patches, half square triangles, etc. It was ok but I wanted something more....Gave me an idea for a quick class for my small group for our beginners so it wasn't a complete waste of time.

My friend was teaching a class on using ink with shaving cream and making marble fabric. My other friend was teaching using fabric markers to make your fabric. These were fun to do too....here's a picture of what I did. I'll use these and make a small wall quilt or post card or something out of them...












I have not seen Shirley(one of the friends I went with) since Christmas. We are in two different groups together but I have not made it to either one for various reasons. She went to Hawaii with her husband back around Thanksgiving for their 45th Anniversary. She took all her kids and grandkids with them too! Wasn't that sweet....Anyway, she brought me back a gift and I wanted to show it to you. It can be used for sewing, crafts, makeup or whatever I want. She said the Hawaiian symbol stands for friendship, isn't that sweet? I just love her to death and I am so glad she's my friend. Thank you, Shirley for such a wonderful gift. Love you girl. Thank you for thinking of me on your trip...









The card beside the bag is a Hawaiian Christmas card. Isn't that cute?



She also gave me the cheater fabric and the little rings. See if you can read what they are for....

Finishing Up Projects and looking ahead

cI am finishing projects this year. I don't plan on starting anything new until I finish at least 10 things. Whether it's knitting, tatting or quilting....
Since it is a new year, I decided it was time to organize and clear out. I did not make any New Year's resolutions this year but I decided this was going to be a finish it or give it to someone that will year. I have been reading other blogs and several of my blog friends get so much more done than I do. One of them said she makes a monthly project list and works off of it. She gets alot done too! She posts some project nearly every day that she works on. I'm not jealous or envious or anything like that but man, I wish I was that motivated!

I started cleaning and organizing my sewing room last night. (Oh yeah, one more observation) I'm changing the name of my sewing room to my sewing parlor. It's not big enough to be a studio but I already have a plaque called My Sewing Parlor so I'm official. Ok, back to my story... I have been pulling fabric and putting kits together from my stash. I have cut alot of my fabric into strips and I'm going to finish that up too. I have bought more books than can fit on my bookshelves so I've decided to have a purge on those too. Some will go to Half Price books, some to my guild and some I will be selling on Craigslist or Ebay.

Here's some knitting that I finished today. I had to finish one of the blue sox foot and sewing it up. I did that and hid my threads. Yeah, a finished pair. The Ecru sox I had to do the same to them also. Now, both pair are finished and I can wear them just in time for the cold front coming in. I finished this scarf and hid the threads and wore it tonight. I love it, it's a real soft wool and feels great. I made two of these and I kept this one. Ok, that's three finishes and organizing too! Seven more finishes and I can start the BOM's I have found on the net. I like both of them. One is a real simple embroidery BOM and the other is a basket BOM. I love baskets so I'm looking forward to this one. I can't start it til I finish so keep a look on my blog and you'll see me finishing up some UFO's real quick. Ok, here's the pictures of my sox and scarf...til next time....

Sorting and Organizing and a little sewing

Since it is a new year, I decided it was time to organize and clear out. I did not make any New Year's resolutions this year but I decided this was going to be a finish it or give it to someone that will year. I have been reading other blogs and several of my blog friends get so much more done than I do. One of them said she makes a monthly project list and works off of it. She gets alot done too! She posts some project nearly every day that she works on. I'm not jealous or envious or anything like that but man, I wish I was that motivated!

I started cleaning and organizing my sewing room last night. (Oh yeah, one more observation) I'm changing the name of my sewing room to my sewing parlor. It's not big enough to be a studio but I already have a plaque called My Sewing Parlor so I'm official. Ok, back to my story... I have been pulling fabric and putting kits together from my stash. I have cut alot of my fabric into strips and I'm going to finish that up too. I have bought more books than can fit on my bookshelves so I've decided to have a purge on those too. Some will go to Half Price books, some to my guild and some I will be selling on Craigslist or Ebay.

Two Good words

Ok, now I have to admit that I have a sarcastic sense of humor but I got a kick out of this word this morning and I just have to share it. Coming to work, I was flipping the stations around. I hate hearing about football and that's all the guys were talking about this morning. I flipped it over to 88.5, the Mesquite radio station and they were having the word of the day....The word for today was Ergophobia. Phobia means fear and ergo means........(wait for it......are you ready?) Ergo means work. So, fear of work. I love it! The next time I call in sick I'm going to call in with this. I wonder how my boss will like that? I told my friend at work about it and we laughed and she had another word that she liked. She said she was doing this this year....She's having a STACATION. I like that word too. (Stay at home cause you can't afford to go anywhere vacation from ergo). I might do the same thing this year. Anyway, just thought these words were good enough to share. Til next time.....

A little bit of tatting

Ok, I know I should feel guilty about not posting but I've been taking a break and I don't feel guilty at all. I have enjoyed my time off. I can't say that I've gotten alot done. All I've done is veg out in front of the TV and tat. I have spent alot of time with my kids and grandkids and enjoyed that too. Tomorrow is back to work and no more time off for awhile. It will be good to get back to normal but I really needed this rest time.

I have learned a few things in tatting and wanted to show these to you. I am working through this book called Learn to Tat. It is alot of fun and I have enjoyed doing it. Tatting is very interesting to do and if you get a chance you should try it. This book is a good book to start with.... Here's my pictures.


This is an edging I am still working on. This is working with a shuttle and a ball....I plan on making some pretty pink pillowcases for my granddaughter to use this on.

This is a Christmas card I received from Cathy in our Tatting Group. It shows how tatting can add a little something to a card to personalize it. Lovely.



These are some cute little angels I am making out of the book: Tatting Patterns and Designs by Gun Blomqvist and Elwy Perrson. These are really sweet and I plan on making alot of these this year to give to friends.



These last two pictures are some quick bookmarks I have been working on. I challenged myself this last week to learn how to do the split chain. These were fun to do and I plan on doing more and adding trinkets or charms to them too.





Tatting is not taking the place of my quilting, it will just be adding to it. I plan on doing some crazy quilting and adding embroidery and tatting to the designs. I like to tat at work during my lunch break and while I'm watching TV. I plan on getting back to my quilting this week. I have alot of things to work on. My machine is calling to me and I will answer her call soon...Til next time...

Happy New Year- Welcome 2009!

Happy New Year!!!
Out with the old and in with the New! Welcome 2oo9! Good-bye 2008! I look forward to the new year.
I have alot of things to be thankful for:

I have a new grandchild to play with along with my other two sweet grandbabies.... My kids are all here in Texas now and I am very thankful for that. My family and I are all healthy and we are working on the happy part....I have made alot of new friends this year through quilting and my renewed interest in Tatting. I also have alot of web friends and it is alot of fun to chat with them.

Here's wishing everyone out there reading this a happy and healthy new year. I hope you get all your UFO's finished and you enjoy the journey of learning new projects and getting to know new friends....HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!