First! - - nuntium trecesimum vicesimum secundum

I've meant to do one of these forever!  I tatted this in January but didn't put it together until this past weekend.  Ridiculous, I think it took me all of 10 minutes!  But I love how it looks.

This gorgeous pattern is from Renulek.  I got it in her Etsy shop here.

Baby boy - nuntium trecesimum vicesimum primum

Even though I was really pleased with the Keepsake snowflake, pattern from Carollyn, that I made for baby girl, it was a little too loose for my tastes.  So I took out one stitch per ring in the middle and made this for the other baby.

I haven't heard from either family.  I love tatting them though and hopefully someone will enjoy it.

Baby girl nuntium trecesimum vicesimum

My dear colleague who learned to tat a few years ago asked me about making a "photo frame" for her son's wedding photo.  After a LOT of looking, we'd kind of given up until I saw this on Carollyn's blog.  I knew it was perfect for her to make.  I said I'd make one with her and I'd been thinking about some for two different babies born to two colleagues.  So while she worked on hers, I made this!

front

back (Baby's full name is there)

Isn't Carollyn brilliant?

Minaret - nuntium trecesimum undevicesimum

Here is one of Jon Yusoff's lovely patterns- Minaret in Sand Dollar.

Flurries - nuntium trecesimum duodevicesimum

Okay- maybe this almost shows how shiny these are.

Nah.

MN diamant - nuntium trecesimum septendecimum

Oh I wish I could take a decent picture of these!  They are so shiny and gorgeous!  They look like real silver in person.

MN snowflakes nuntium trecesimum sedecimum

These are a hit at the craft fairs.

Nameless, Elizabeth Zipay and Decoromana

Nameless doodle (not my own) 

Flurry

Can't remember
Update:  This is Muskaan's Hexagonal flake

Nameless (where's the rest?)

I don't know why these look so yellow but they are truly white.  If anyone sees a pattern and you know the author, let me know! (updated 12/16- now named!)

Little flakes nuntium trecesimum quindecimum

Here are a few little metallic thread flakes.  One is from Orsi, one is called Flurry and one is Frivole's Twinkle, twinkle.

getting old - nuntium trecesimum quattuordecimum

For the life of me, I can't remember where this pattern is from.  Maybe Robin Perfetti?  I made this with a little Diamant thread.  I can't remember where I got the thread either but I know Diane got me there!

I wish I could take a better picture because this one just shines!

another bookmark - 6-point Twinkle, twinkle nuntium trecesimum tredecimum

This one was for our TCT exchange.  I like how it turned out!  Frivole's Twinkle, Twinkle- her modification to a snowflake.

It's much prettier in person!

bookmarks, snowflakes or stars -nuntium trecesimum duodecimum

Here's a bit more of the "craft fair" tatting.  I can't decide what these are but I like them!  They are Frivole's Twinkle, Twinkle pattern.

mini-flakes-nuntium trecesimum undecimum

I've been working on little snowflakes for the next craft fair (Saturday!!!).

Here are the bits and bobs.

a different bookmark -nuntium trecesimum decimum

Here's another bookmark but a different pattern by another brilliant designer, Frivole.  It's called Flowering Quatrain.

another bookmark- -nuntium trecesimum nonum

Maybe this is getting boring?

Same pattern (Robin's) and different thread.  I love this color, it looks so Christmas-y to me.

bookmark again -nuntium trecesimum octavum

Here is another bookmark with the same Diamond Braid pattern in a wonderful Lizbeth color, Falling Leaves.

This is again from Robin's book, available here. 

Jane asked if I did well at the fair- I did!  Hugely well!  I think I sold more bookmarks than anything else but the snowflakes were a close second.  This was the fifth year at this fair and I had many repeat customers.  It was interesting because of a snafu, we ended up in a different room.  I had a number of people expressing great relief that they'd found me and that I'd still come.  I have to admit it was quite flattering and a wonderful boost to the ego.  All in all, a great sale for me.  (Not so much for my daughter or sister though- who knows why?)

bookmark - nuntium trecesimum septimum

I recently got an email from a craft fair customer asking if I would have bookmarks at the early November show.  I made four (as asked) and no one asked for them.  I did sell some though.

Here's one from Robin Perfetti's book:

I really do love Robin's patterns and this is no exception.  I found it pleasing to make and it's called Diamond Braid.  Despite my husband's claim of this being the ugliest variegated thread (Lizbeth Jewel), it sold first!

I am delighted that people still read books with actual paper pages.

The big reveal (or done, done, done) - nuntium trecesimum sextum

I've finished!  Wahoo!

Here it is:

 What could it be?  Well, of course it's a tatted beaded bag for my straw!  About two years ago, I swore off plastic straws (environmental reasons) but the problem was that I LOVE straws, always have.  I loved them as a kid- back when they were made of paper. I made the conversion to plastic with the rest of the world.  I know it won't change everything but this could be a small thing I can do.  A friend showed me her metal straw but I couldn't wrap my brain around drinking through metal.  But then...

then....

I found glass straws!  They are made of pyrex and super tough. But just carrying it in my purse loose was too much.  To the rescue Marie's beaded bag which I spotted on Frivole's blog.

I had to modify it a bit (not my forte) and undo several inches (more than once) but finally today- success! 

Continuing - nuntium trecesimum quintum

I have untatted and now tatted a lot but am still not done.  Lots of fun guesses but still no one has figured it out.  It's too narrow for glasses, too long for lipstick/chapstick.  It could work for a pen but in the end will be too long for that.
A hint:  it's for something that should not be in my purse unprotected.  It's not entirely frivolous BUT... while the beaded bag will provide some protection, it really won't do what the piece of felt I currently use does.

Sadly, you can see where I untatted to and restarted.  It's not bigger but it sure looks bigger.

 And I can't avoid a small series of holes that I'm making when I do the split ring which allows me to move to the next round.  Grrr.

But I love the feel of it and will delight greatly in using it....

ACK! - - nuntium trecesimum quartum

The adventure of the beaded bag continues.

Or shall we say "full stop"?

A mistake.   I missed a join.  Seriously?  Yes.  I can't cut it out- mess, beads, extra knots, functionality of said object.

What shall I do?  Un-tat is the answer I'm afraid.  ARgh.

Have you figured out what it is yet?

beaded something - - nuntium trecesimum tertium

I have long admired and wanted to do this little project.  It's a beaded bag which I spotted on Le blog de Frivole.  This isn't originally Frivole's pattern but with permission, she shared her version here.  I wanted to make it but I just couldn't think of what to do with the little bag except to put in a shuttle.  Yes but no.  But finally I have the perfect use!  I had to modify the pattern a bit to make my bag be the perfect size.  And then I couldn't decide on beads and color so I went with black (huge groan) and these wonderful beads I bought years ago when I first tried beads at all.

What could it possibly be used for?  I shall let you guess.

P.S.  Tatting with two old Tatsy shuttles is not my idea of fun but they do hold a lot of beads.  I shall have to get my paws on two Starlits, even though I really love bobbin shuttles.  If only there were Starlit sized with bobbins, I would be so happy.

I do not like it, Sam I am - nuntium trecesimum secundum

Okay, so I am really sold on the Lizbeth Metallic threads.  I'm planning to spend all of my ill-gotten gains on it.  All that is except for the iridescent.

Meh

Why?

Well, for one it just isn't that iridescent.  It's just barely sparkly.  My students would describe it as "meh".  It's ordinary and not worth the extra cost for that.  My white thread is just as interesting.

And for two, it's terrible to tat with it.  I feel I've given the metallics a fair shake and tried several kinds.  They have been pretty darn good to tat with, not exactly like cotton but enough that I'm willing to shell out the big bucks for more.  But not this one, no way, no how.  It fights the whole time and is hard to close - for me!  Other tatters at TCT this past weekend didn't know what I was talking about!  It's comparable to how black thread is just a bit different from other colors. 

I shall spend it all on more Sand Dollar which might be my favorite.  Or Steel Blue.  Or Sea Foam.  or.. or...

And, Robin- I apologize.  I have tatted this snowflake twice.  Muttered about the four picots on the outer rings and how that just isn't as nice and why would it be an even number.  Until - sitting next to Happy Bluebird, I realized that it's supposed to be 5 picots. Seriously, not until the second snowflake, fifth arm.  Duh- Robin would never do that.  Be sure to check out Robin's actual pattern rather than my feeble version.

Bits and bobs and a another "almost done" - - nuntium trecesimum primum

I've been making these little cuties with the ends of bobbins.  As you can see, I'm not much of a judge of how much thread is needed.

And here's further proof.  I wanted to try Robin Perfetti's Ice Dance variation (Thank you, Robin!) and used the rest of Diane's mysterious much-thinner-than-Lizbeth-metallic-but-still-very-nice thread.

Sigh!  Diane, will you send me three arm lengths?  (I'll bring your favorite beverage next year to the TCT!)  It's on a skinny longer spool and it was in a set of other threads... SIM STJ-C037H3

300th post! - nuntium trecesimum

Moving through these Lizbeth Metallic samples, I came across one that seemed to wind forever.  Turns out it's not Lizbeth Metallic.  It's something called SIM STJ-C037H3 (I think, my writing is very cryptic here.)

The thread is tiny, maybe comparable to size 70?  But it really tats up nicely.  Here it is next to the size 20 Lizbeth.  Lovely color too.  This is Robin Perfetti's Rose Snowflake too.

Perfetti's Rose -nuntium undetrecesimum

With the Sea Foam green Lizbeth metallic, I made Robin Perfetti's Rose Snowflake.  Isn't it lovely?  It comes from Snowflake Variations.  I can't believe how long I've had this book and never tried it.

 It lays beautifully right when you tat it.  No ironing into submission.

And there was enough to finish these as well.

Sand Dollar -nuntium duodetrecesimum

Either I took more for this sample of thread from Diane or the patterns were smaller.    This is Robin Perfetti's Small Snowflake from the Snowflake Variations book.

We had a tatter new to our TCT last month, Doris, and she has a little book of various hand-drawn patterns in it.  I took pictures and made this one.

And this one which caused me NO end of problems including missing the second ring (seriously?) and a lot of finger tatting with about an inch of thread.  (That's what you get for being greedy, Michelle.)

Here are all three.

Steel blue- - nuntium ducentesimum nonagesimum septimum

Here is Robin Perfetti's Noelle in Steel Blue.  This is a lovely color too.  It's so fun to do all of these and strangely rewarding to finish off each sample from Diane.  I wish I could figure out how to accurately photograph the colors, they really are beautiful.

motif from fabric - nuntium ducentesimum nonagesimum sextum

Frivole recently figured out a pattern for a design which was on some fabric.  I have the same fabric (bags from Happy Bluebird) so I had to try it too.

A very pleasing tat- I don't usually care for single-shuttle pieces but I liked this one.  The true bonus was the video that Frivole made.  Not only does she show how to tat this medallion, she also shows several techniques which she uses.  I couldn't get the magic loop to work like she does (maybe tat too tightly?) but the folded-join!  I have puzzled about the folded join for, well, forever!  Written directions just escaped me every time.  Now that I've seen it, they make complete sense.  I've made at least three different things and used it successfully each time!

Today's flake - nuntium ducentesimum nonagesimum quintum

Today's flake is made with the wonderfully named Frappé, Lizbeth Metallic.  This is another of Jon Yusoff's patterns but I've cleverly put the book away and if I don't post now, it won't happen.

I really like how the small rings at the halfway point seem to go up and down.  Clever pattern as always.

Eclipse -- nuntium ducentesimum nonagesimum quartum

Here's another Lizbeth metallic snowflake.  This one is from Robin Perfetti's Snowflake Pattern Pack and it's called Eclipse.

Lizbeth Metallic Turquoise Blue size 20

One thing that I really like about this metallic thread is that it's VERY easy to untat with it.  I don't know why that top arm is so wonky, I must not have snugged up the chain very well.

Just like potato chips! - nuntium ducentesimum nonagesimum tertium

At our TCT retreat, Diane showed us this bracelet from a Facebook post.  I *think* it's from Poland and a tatter named Alicja.  If I understand it correctly, she challenged everyone to make one (or more) and has provided her pattern freely. 
I couldn't stop.  I made two reds and two purples!

Lizbeth 20 

They are super fun to make.  (Even though I still dislike beads).

Diane to the rescue aka Metallic snowflake #3 - nuntium ducentesimum nonagesimum secundum

Thank goodness for Diane, the Lace Lovin' Librarian!  I greedily tried to make a second flake from the Lizbeth Metallic Rose which she kindly shared with me and ran out!  So in a complete fit "need to complete it", I requested two more arm-lengths so I could complete Frivole's Le Flocon Frivole.  And Diane being the kind person she is, got it instantly in the post.

I trimmed that offending bit of thread after the photo!

Whew, I don't know how long I could have lived with that incomplete flake.

Thanks, Diane.  I'll sleep easier now.