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!

Travel tatting and a meeting- nuntium duocentesimum duodeseptuagesimum

I'm home from England/Italy now and it was a marvelous trip!  I had so, so much fun.  I tatted a lot, relaxed a lot, saw some amazing things, ate well and enjoyed visiting my friend.

And then, oh my, and then.  Joëlle contacted me to see if we could meet.  We had tried a few years ago when I was visiting the same friend but it didn't work.  This time because of our jaunt to Italy, we didn't have a lot of options that we could meet but Joëlle wrangled her entire family and made it work.  We were to meet the morning after we came back from Italy, imagine my chagrin when my flight was cancelled out of Naples!  Amazingly we were able to find another time, so I bravely took the train to meet her about halfway between.  You will think it's funny- I've traveled a LOT and take trains in Italy and France with no hesitation.  However in a country where the language is almost my own, I'm a wimp!  I made it to the right city and back though.

It was so exciting to see Joëlle's work in person- gorgeous, gorgeous stitches, gorgeous colors and gorgeous variety of pieces!  We had such fun and the hours were gone before I knew it.  We tatted, talked techniques, tatted more, talked about her amazing videos and other common interests.  I showed her a tatting issue I was unhappy with and she gave an instant and brilliant solution.  I wish we could convince her to join Twin Cities Tatters but I suppose that's too long a commute.

Speaking of Twin Cities Tatters, tomorrow is our RETREAT!  So exciting (the spoiling continues), Monday - Wednesday- just tatting, tatting, tatting.  I wonder if our hands will hurt?

I was surprised how many people commented that they don't tat when they travel, particularly in airplanes.  To me, airplanes are a necessary evil.  I don't enjoy them but they get me where I want to be so I make the best.  To me, that involves tatting.  Tatting doesn't have to be stowed during take off and landing, it doesn't make noise, one can do it in the interminable lines and what else to do when forced to sit/stand for hours during all the waiting?
I do have a special "airplane travel pouch".  As you can see, it has only useful things but if I had to surrender them, I could.  Boring shuttles but I can pop out the bobbins and keep my work.  Strong booklight (which- if I have remembered to put in new batteries- makes it easier to see), a dental floss "card" which has a cutter, a Sherry Pence 4-hook crochet pen (I would never through this away but would pretend it was simply a pen and slip into my purse), a hair clip for thread on ball, a few TCT cards in case anyone is interested and some of mine too.

The needle minder is from Happy Bluebird.  My usual one has tatting to decorate it but since this is the travel one, no.  So, all things I could give up if necessary but work well.  I do cut my ends and weave in but the final snipping has to wait until home.

2nd Ice Drop and TCT retreat possibility - nuntium duocentesimum quadrigesimum secundum

Here's the Ice Drop with another round and my second attempt below.

I'm not sure the second one is better.  :)

And in other news....

Cindy (A Happy Bluebird) and I thought is was time for the Twin Cities Tatters to have a little summer retreat in July, so we are interested in finding out if anyone else might want to join us!  This would be a 2-night stay at a retreat center somewhere near the Twin Cities, Minnesota area, and just time set aside to tat and enjoy the company of other tatters.  No classes would be offered for this first retreat, but who knows what fun could evolve?!

If you are seriously interested, we would love to hear from you ASAP.  The link below will take you to a simple form to help us determine interest and decide what might work the best.  Space will be limited, and a deposit will be required - so the sooner we get planning, the better!

Click here to submit interest (no obligation at this time).

Once the dates are set, the Retreat will be open for registration on a first-come / first-served basis, so watch for that information!

nuntium centesimum duodequadragesimum (138th post) I am not a Dr Who fan

Despite the myriad TARDIS that show up on this blog, I am not a Dr. Who fan.  I don't dislike it but I don't seek it out either.  My daughters, on the other hand are Whovians.  My elder daughter even owns and wears a TARDIS dress!
For their birthdays in the spring, Cindy, our Happy Bluebird made lovely tatting pouches for them and I was going to tat Anne Bruvold's wonderful TARDIS pattern to put on the flap of each one.  But size 20 was too big and they each got a bookmark out of the deal.  See here.

It's really little!

Even her ipad case is a TARDIS

Cindy recently ordered thread and I got a ball too (we order together and share the shipping when possible).  Size 80, Lizbeth- royal blue which has been renamed in our house as TARDIS blue.
If you haven't tried this pattern, it's really a fun one with split rings and rings thrown off a split ring and even my new favorite, one puny little split chain!

 
Latin for day:  felix natalis tibi, amica mea = Happy birthday, my friend!  : )

nuntium decimum sextum (116th post) Twin Cities Tatters

Blow me down!  Cindy and I planned to meet on Saturday for our (usually) monthly Twin Cities Tatters get-together.  I often bring my girls since they learned to tat and occasionally Carla is able to join us.  We get inquiry emails from time to time but it never seems to work.
So, we were just stunned to have 7 tatters on Saturday!!

Marlene, older daughter, Kerry, Carla, Cindy, me and younger daughter

Our plan was to practice split chains but we had so much fun getting to know each other that we didn't get there at all!  We even got the young lady at Caribou to take a group picture.
Because so many of us are from the east side of the metro area, we're going to meet at a different Caribou next time, so if you're planning to join us on April 6th, send me a message or email to TwinCitiesTatters so I can tell you where.
I saw the most adorable shamrock on Julie's blog here so I thought I'd try it, gimpy hand and all.  Some variegated threads are too long for such a pattern.

nice pattern, dumb thread,  motif #2

  Jess! how about a messy-jess!y in soft greens?  Please?

nuntium centesimum primum (101th post) presents

Merry Christmas!  

Last week, our little tatting club met again after school.  We meet on Wednesdays but this time I was more excited than ever to meet with them.  I had asked Happy Bluebird, who unfortunately can't meet with us, to make some tatting bags for the kids.  She is so talented and generous with her time, she was able to whip up some lickety-split!  She had given me a few felt needle cases too and was also able to make a few more so I would have 6.  I put a little snowflake (some were Elizabeth Zipay's pattern and others Decoromana's) on each - boy, do I hate invisible thread - as well as one self-threading needle, a thread puller and two coilless safety pins per.

Such wonderful fabrics!

So many pockets!

Such beautiful work!

If this wasn't a classic case of "giving is better than receiving", I don't know what would be.  The looks on their faces were priceless and one of them even said, "Now, I'm a real tatter!"

Thank you, Cindy for all your hard work!