How do you travel?

I recently had a private exchange with Marie at West Pine Creations. The theme was "how do you travel".

I must show the lovely items I received from Marie. 

But this is not enough to so justice! 

Look at that lovely rattie shuttle. It looks so adorable and cuddleable (is there even such a word!). Plus I'm born in the year of the Rat! 

And the lovely purple chatelaine! With such a clever little picot gauge! 

And the little Swiss Army knife. In a lovely wood tone! 

And these awesome fish floater earrings! I can't believe I found a fishing buddy half way across the world. And...

These awesome tatting pouches! Oh my oh my oh my! Marie was just too generous and her work is just lovely! 

I understand Marie sells not only her tats but her lovely animal shuttles and her awesome tatting pouches here. So pay her a visit!!! 

The wonders of the internet!

For a long while I've been reading about Diane's shuttles on her blog, the Lace Lovin' Librarian :). Recently she blogged a little of her shuttle blinging process and that had been so bewildered! So I gathered up some courage I had lying around and approached Diane for a private swap and oh my goodness look and what I received!

The origami pouch is so lovely!!! Much better than my shoddy attempt. And oh my goodness! Yarnplayer HDT! It's like Christmas came early! HDT! What a treat and best of all... 

Check out the lovely lovely shuttles. With the glitter and the stars 😍. In some of my favorite colours even! 

I am blessed by the wonders of the internet and the generosity of a tatter half way across the globe... 

Thanks Diane! 

The "Happy Birthday Daddy!!!" swap!

This is what I call the "Happy Birthday Daddy!!!" Swap to celebrate Dad's birthday on 7 June internationally and in blog land!

Happy Birthday Daddy!!!

Just imagine that you are tatting for someone for their birthday! 

Include: 

- A souvenir from your hometown / home country (it doesn't have to be big, postcard or a stamp would suffice) 

- A celebratory card (it could be happy birthday, merry Christmas (in July or otherwise) or your local event/occasion 

- In your card, try to share a home made gift idea for men (because I'm sure that I'm not the only one who has trouble making gifts for the boys / men)

- A tatted heart (cause I love my Daddy and this swap celebrates his birthday :))

- Something blinged / handmade / upcycled (it could be another tatted item!) 

- A 10 yard thread sample :) 

Now the list might look long but if you think about it, it doesn't have to be a large bulky package! 

The exchange is international. 

It will not be a "secret exchange" so you will know who your partner is. Please direct any future communication pertaining to non-receipt (if any) to your partner directly. 

Please sign up by leaving a comment on this post by 12 June 2014. Leave your email address so I can contact you for your details and subsequently give you your partners. 

I will email you and your partner by 15 June 2014.

You can contact your partners so you can check out their preferences. Plus it never hurts to make a new friend. 

Please have your packages in the mail by 7 July 2014 - the earlier the better. 

Once you have received your gift please drop me an email with a photo or a link to your own blog post so I can share it on my blog too! 

Happy Birthday Daddy!!! 

Merry Christmas!

Thank you Carollyn! 

I had two exchange partners so that everyone could take part. 

I was amazed my everything. The strawberry pouch, the bunny shuttle, the beaded mini hook and the lovely box. Wow. 

Look what made it all the way to Russia and look what is going to the UK

I made this pouch for my tatting teacher in the UK. It's already on the way but I'm afraid my photography did not do the fabric justice. It's a lovely shimmery gold and purple but it doesn't really show in the photograph. Going to make one more for my local tatting teacher whom I haven't seen in ages!

Look what made its way to Maria in Portugal

The shuttles have flown

Check out what Debra received from Portugal! It took a while but man it looks worth the wait!

And here's what Kirsten got in her exchange pack. What an awesomely cute little bird! 

This is what Frances got from Natalie. Look at those lovely shuttles and that absolutely exquisite hook made by Natalie's friend, Davina. 

More shuttles

Jelena has received her gift from Debra.

Check them out here!

And for my Secret Santa participants, you should have all received your partners! Woohoo! It's starting to look like Christmas! How far are you with your Christmas shopping?

Another shuttle has made its way around the world

From USA to Malaysia! 

http://tattedtale.wordpress.com/2013/11/02/secret-shuttle-exchange-thanks-marla/

++note: the last post was edited Manisha in India received her gifts from Alma. Thank you to Manisha for pointing that out++

And if you'd like to take part in my next exchange you have till 16 Nov to sign up! The link is on the left bar! 

More shuttles from around the world!

It's so exciting to see what shuttles have been flying all around the world.

Look what Davina got from Russia (with love) (I know I'm so cheesy!)

And look at the lovely shuttle Manisha in India received from Alma - she's so lucky to get one of Alma's new handmade shuttles!

Getting ready for the Secret Santa

Yes!

Even though there's still time to sign up and the partners have not been announced yet I've already got my eye out for small things to put in my gift box! =) I've already accumulated a few things.

And of course, I promised to share a few ideas for Christmas tatting!

Christmas Wreath by Pam Palmers - in one of the 3 Tatting Treats.

This is my 'go to' Christmas patterns. It's quick and fun to do. I usually make tonnes for Christmas either in the form of brooches (as modelled by my more attractive sister) or earrings =)

Snowflakes

Snowflakes are always a good idea. My favourite flakes are all designed by Jon. I love her book of tatted snowflakes which I now understand is available in most online supply stores! And she has generously shared many patterns on her blog, including this beauty - Quantiesque - don't be daunted by the appearance of Celtic tatting! Give it a go!

Christmas trees

Christmas trees are a must on Christmas - one of my favourites was designed by fellow Singaporean, Ellen. She has generously shared the pattern on her blog as well.

This is my rendition (I added a star for good measure lol).

 There's still time to sign up! Check out the link on the left bar!

Marla's gifts all the way from Russia

Marla has received her gifts all the way from Russia. Look at the lovely gifts from her partner! A Russian doll, shuttles, and awesome tin and wow - a pattern book! 

Aren't we all envious! 

Marie's exchange gifts

Marie has sent me photographs of what she receives from Lottie.

Check out the lovely shuttle!

Marty's and Imoshen's loot!

Marty has received her shuttle from Marie!

A lovely handcarved shuttle. Aren't we all envious!

To all other shuttle exchange participants, please remember to send me a photograph of the shuttle you received as well! =)

Imoshen has also received her goodies. Wow you should really take a look and her gifts! It's like Christmas came early. Check it out here.

[I know some of you have sent me photographs of the shuttle you sent out but I will not be sharing them until your recipient says she has received her gift - I don't want to spoil the surprise!]

Secret shuttle has arrived!

My shuttle from the shuttle exchange has arrived from Alina in Ireland. She painted it herself and it looks awesome! It looks too pretty to use! The postcard she sent me is also spot on... Ireland looks beautiful.

If you'd like to get in on the exchange action, remember to sign up for my Secret Santa Exchange! The link is on the left bar!

And yes, I am now addicted to fly making. It's incredibly therapeutic - it's like a whole new craft with new materials and new tools. My fishing friends are very encouraging but I suspect that it's self serving for them since they get to try out my flies!

Moving on to my next exchange - Secret Santas!

When I first became a tatter and joined the 'online community', one of my first exchanges was the Secret Santa (hmmm why am I so secretive!).

I enjoyed it greatly! I even remember 'hoarding' my package so that I would have an extra present to open on Christmas day. For a person who doesn't really get many gifts on Christmas (I usually get 3?) it was a great joy to have a crafty package to open!

My first Secret Santa was Ridgewoman and she was so generous! At the time I was really 'into' cross stitching and I shared quite a bit on my blog. She sent me lovely hand tatted snowflakes as well as oodles of bits of cross stitching floss (which she says was left over from the days she loved to stitch) and several cross stitching magazines. Omg I was so excited!

Some of you may and some of you may not have had a Secret Santa Exchange before so why not try it out!

Sign up by leaving a comment on this post by 16 November 2013. Leave your email address. You will be contacted by email within 48 hours of signing up (so that I can get your mailing address). Please note that this exchange is international.

 

You should receive the details of the person whom you will be Santa to by 23 November 2013. Pop your gift in the mail by the end of November (so that hopefully the package arrives by Christmas!).   

 

So what do you have to do as a Santa? Prepare a present of course!

 

Present guidelines!

Please send to your giftee

• something tatted and Christmassy - there's a whole lot of Christmas type patterns available out there! It could be a brooch, an ornament, earrings, an embellished card, an embellished coaster... I will try to share some of my favourites as we go along. Be sure to include where you got the pattern from!
• a 10 metre thread sample!
• something about yourself and your home country / state - it could be a post card, a photograph, a stamp, a souvenir!
• a small gift! (or more than one small gift if your budget allows for it!)

Now the small gift is where it gets exciting =).

To make sure that things are a little bit fair, please try to ensure that your gift has a value of at least US$5.

 

Now being an international exchange, I know that there will be some of you who will be concerned about potential shipping costs. Here are some ideas for relatively lightweight an unbulky things that you can get through the mail as a small gift

• a project pouch (homemade or purchased) (we can't have too many of those can we?)
• a shuttle - purchased, blinged, home made (we can never have too many of those!) If you can get your hands on flat shuttles the shipping might even be cheaper! 
• skein(s) and samples of embroidery thread / tatting thread / HDT (we definitely need more of those)
• original patterns you'd like to share
• patterns you've saved from magazines that you'd like to share
• small packages of beads / sequins / buttons  (charms are a little bit heavier...)  
• vouchers from your favourite online / etsy store (think about it, US$5 is enough to buy a whole ball of lizbeth!)

You can even 'stake out' your giftee's blog to consider other gifts! A fat quarter if your giftee is a sewing person or quilter. A lace bobbin (or a pair) if your giftee is a bobbin lacer. Scrapbooking bits if your giftee is a scrapbooker.

 

Go crazy why not?!?

Once you have mailed out your package wait for the 'love' to be returned to you by your Secret Santa. Drop me a line once you have received your Christmas present so that I can help you brag about it on this blog!

 

Sign up now by leaving a comment on this post! Include your email address so that I can contact you to obtain you snailing details. Please let me know if you have any allgeries as well.

Moving on...

The participants to my secret shuttle exchange should have all received their partners.

 

As a recap, remember to send not only the shuttle but a 10m thread sample (wound on a card or on the shuttle itself) and something from where you are from.

 

You are free to decide if you want your giftee to know who you are before they receive the gift but that's completely up to you =). I think there's more 'fun' in having the suspense of "ooo I wonder where my shuttle is going to be coming from" but that's just me. Remember to send me photos of your gifts or at least links to where you have posted them so that I can share the love on my blog!

 

I'm truly encouraged by the number of people that signed up for my exchange and I thank each of you for signing up. I was aiming for 10 but I got 22! Woohoo for me! It's quite exciting doing this and I'm seriously considering hosting a Christmas exchange too! Stay tuned just in case!

 

Trudging along with my doiley. Just started on the 6th row now. I'm a little worried that it seems to be 'ruffling' but I'm praying real hard it wont.

 

 

Countdown!

3 More days to sign up for my Secret Shuttle Exchange!

Do sign up! The link is on the left bar.

To Elzzabeth and Shumsy, I do hope you leave further contact details because I am unable to reach you.

Secret Shuttle Exchange

Hello friends. I haven't hosted an exchange before so I figured now is a good time to start. I might even make it a regular exchange!

 

I propose a Secret Shuttle Exchange! Hopefully I can get at least 10 people to participate! 

There's so many types of shuttles out there today and I'm sure we all have our favorites. Shuttles readily available to you where you are may not be available elsewhere. You may even make your own shuttles!!

So let's have a little fun and share the love!

To participate it's simple!

 

Sign up by leaving a comment on this post by 10 October 2013. Leave your email address. You will be contacted by email within 48 hours of signing up (so that I can get your mailing address). Please note that this exchange is international.

 

You should receive the details of the person you will be mailing your shuttle to by 14 October 2013.  

 

Step 1: Prepare a shuttle for exchange. You can either hand make your shuttle or "bling up" a store bought one! You could use paints, nail polish, plastic gems, decoupage, or even a pretty sticker or two!

Step 2: Include a 10 metre thread sample

Step 3: Include something about your self and your home country / state. It could be a post card, a photograph, a stamp, a bus ticket, a souvenir...

Step 4: Pop it in the mail by 21 October 2013! 

Step 5: Wait for your shuttle to arrive in the mail! 

 

Step 6: Drop me an email once your receive your package - include a photograph and I will post it on this blog!

 

You will not know who is mailing to you until it arrives in the mail!

 

What are you waiting for! Sign up now! Tell your friends!