Conference tatting- nuntium centesimum septuagesimum septimum

I've been a Historical Novel Society conference in Denver for the past few days.  Since I'm not an author and was accompanying two friends, it seemed like a great opportunity for tatting.  So I did, and I did!  What fun to have so much time to tat!  And I wasn't at home to have the usual stuff to get in the way - no meals to prepare, no dishes to wash, no cleaning to do and almost no emails to answer even.
I tatted in private and in public.  In fact at one of the sessions, before things got started, I was measuring out my thread (arms straight out- from one hand to the other, five of those will fill a shuttle so I can do CTM and have both shuttles full) when one of the panelists actually cried out, "Oh my, what are you doing?"  I was mortified!  I dropped the thread and bobbins in my lap and said, "Nothing!".  I'm not embarrassed about quietly tatting, ever.  But "measuring" in my goofy way- yikes!  Luckily it was before the actual session started or I might have had to crawl under my chair and out of the room.  And my pal, the extrovert, just piped right up and said, "Oh she's tatting" and proceeded to explain to one and all.  (She doesn't tat but we've been pals a long time- she is the one of "coaster fame".)  My other friend, the novelist, who we were accompanying, chalked all of this up to weird American behavior (she's British) and did her best to ignore us both!

So now, here's all the tatting:

The ones on the left are going to be bracelets - I saw this on Margaret's blog, I didn't think to bring beads/pearls so I'll have to sew them in (ugh!).  This is a modified version of Mary Konior's Convoluvulus (great Latin name).  I changed the beginning so that there would be a complete flower.  If anyone is interested, I could write up the stitch counts.

There's a Vicki Clarke simple heart- I actually made two more but gave them to tatting admirers.  Including the panelist who "outed" me.

Then there are more roses for another bracelet/necklace and a zillion of my much more modified leaves.  I would also be happy to share this very modified leaf but the original is from Frivole's leaf here.  It's near the bottom of the page.

Gosh, this was a LOT of fun!

The big reveal - - nuntium centesimum septuagesimum sextum

The dremel, the bracelet and now tatting....

Wrist Garden

I'm calling it a Wrist Garden.  (What a cheesy name!) and my lovely 15-year old daughter is the hand model.   It's all Lizbeth 20 Leaf Green Med, Purple Med (same as Quatrain) and Purple M (something cut off!)  The roses are from Jeanne Lugert's wonderful pattern and the leaves are from Frivole's pattern although I inadvertently modified it.  (What an attention span!)

It's not what I envisioned though.  I think the leaves are too much.  Even on a more "mature"wrist, it's overwhelming.  Sigh.

Here is the tatting:

And then we tried it in her hair!

I have a strict rule about not putting my children on the internet but I wish I could break it. She is breathtakingly lovely.

Elder daughter may convert it to a necklace.  Maybe then it wouldn't be so much.  Good thing I have talented kids!

I've designed a new leaf and will try again.  (I hesitate to say designed, it's more just modified the original.)

Something else new? - nuntium centesimum septuagesimum quintum

I've been at my school for 26 years now.  At the beginning of this year, they recognized me and gave me a gift.  But instead of a useless gift, they gave me access to a gift catalog.  So many things that I could use but for some silly reason, I picked a dremel tool.  I have NO need for a dremel,  really.  But I thought, "I'd never buy one for myself and it is a gift..."

Strangely I found a use now.   Here's what I'm up to:

Tomorrow, see what happens with the tatting too.  : )

Something new - nuntium centesimum septuagesimum quartum

I thought I'd try something new.  I read a lot of blogs and one thing that's interested me are the people who take jewelry or old jewelry and successfully add tatting to it, like Marie at West Pine Creations.  Last week the ED and I were at Hobby Lobby and found a cheap little cameo.  The cameo is really not much but I'm pleased with the result.

I'm not much for working without a pattern!

What to do? nuntium centesimum septuagesimum tertium

I suspect it happens to you as well.  You tat so when a friend or a friend of a friend has a relative who passes away and has thread/supplies, they ask to give it to you.  It's kind and I appreciate that they want to give these things to someone will use it.  Sometimes the thread is not to my taste or style or it's old/brittle and generally I can comfortably throw it away.  But this bag had tatting in it.  Some other woman's (probably?) work, some other person's time, some other person's talent.

But what do I do with it?  I have a few pieces of tatting which were gifts from others.  I cherish them. and they mean something to me.  But the ones in the bag don't.  Where do these go?  I wouldn't display them, I barely display my own.  I wouldn't give them as gifts since when I give, I think I'm giving of myself.  Donate them?  Where?

But I can't bear to throw them away.  Suggestions?  Are there any crazy quilters who would want them?  Or anyone?

The coasters! - nuntium centesimum septuagesimum secundum

You may remember the coasters that I decided to make for my dear friend when, after 10+ years, she told me that she loves my tatting.  I blithely made little motifs for coasters thinking that I would just zip over to JoAnns or Michaels or even Hobby Lobby to pick up some clear coasters to put them in.

But no.  It seems that the last time I did this, it was with cross stitch and many years ago.  These coaster kits aren't just everywhere. In fact they weren't anywhere.  I did finally come across a few but they were puny and well, thick.  I wanted the highlight to be the tatting.

So to the internet, but what to call them?  Argh, I found a lot about roller coasters...  In the end, Etsy was once again my friend.  I found Bonnie's shop, Coastangles.  The coasters are for displaying zentangles of which I knew a little thanks to Fox.  I wasn't sure if they would hold something thicker than a piece of paper so I fired off an email to Bonnie.  Now here's a clever businesswoman.  She answered right away- said she would send me one as a trial.  If it worked then I would order a set of four and she would send me three (+ my sample) and if not, then we both would know something.

I'm delighted to report that Lizbeth, size 20 works beautifully and I have already ordered the rest of my set plus an extra!

Unfortunately I'm not the best photographer but these are crystal clear, the tatting is truly the highlight.  While the coasters are plastic, they are absolutely perfect.  I can't recommend them highly enough.  

I wish I knew how to take this picture well!

graduations - nuntium centesimum septuagesimum primum

Still tatting but nothing new, just crosses for graduation.  So fun and exciting to see these kids and how they grow up even in the four years from Middle school.  I am so proud of them.

Here are some crosses I made for some boys.

Lizbeth Autumn Spice, size 20

And last time we met as Twin Cities Tatters, Cindy aka Happy Bluebird had some thread from her mom.  It's Sulky and in a variety of colors.  She shared with us and I made... well yes... more crosses.  Something new must be soon.

Pretty but little.

Coming soon- the final saga of the coasters!