Gifting tatting

I love giving away stuff that I have made.

 

My Mom's youngest sister (in other words my youngest Aunt) just retired so I did this for her.

 

 

Monica from Lene Bjorn's book of Tatted Bookmarks in Olympus thread (colour M1).

 

The card has a small teapot from Martha Ess' Tea is for Tatting with an attempt at a tea mug that I did myself. These were in size 50 Omega thread.  

 

Olympus thread is a lovely thread to tat with but it is hard to find and the size is kind of in between a 20 and a 40 (even though the label says 40). It's one of those threads that you just go "oooooo" at the smoothness in closing a ring =).

 

I sometimes feel that it's a waste to use the "good stuff" but I'm trying to make conscious choice to use the "good stuff" when I can - it would be such a same to waste it!

Johar (what Google translate tells me means "venus")

A lovely lovely pattern generously shared by Jon here.

Done in size 20 Lizbeth Girly Girl (I think) it was a fun tat. It gave me good practice on tension, chains (since they kinda flip flop a little) and bridging (or split chains as some call them) (since I'm too lazy to sew in so many ends if I cut and re-start the next round!).

Give it a go. This is many of Jon's other patterns are lovely.

In particular her book of snowflakes (which is now available on many online stores) is my go-to place for snowflakes and her Quantiesque snowflake is one of my favourites!

My first butterfly in a while!

Allix's Butterfly by Marty... she has kindly shared the pattern here.  

This butterfly is one I would call "international". Designed by an American designer, tatted by a Singaporean tatter on her way to and in Perth Western Australia in size 20 Anchor thread purchased in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  =)

Marty also has several other patterns generously shared on her blog. One of which is one of my favourite butterflies, Donna's Butterfly.

Take a try if you haven't!

+edit+ 

In line with the butterfly-y theme, I took a walk at the local Botanic Gardens. Here's some photo mash ups for your viewing pleasure! 

Sparkling gems

Zamrud (or emerald) from Elegant Tatting Gems by Jon Yusoff done in size 20 hanklegarn which I just got at the yarn wholesaler! 

Jon's patterns are a joy to tat up and of you haven't picked up her books yet, you're seriously missing out!!! 

Made with the assistance of my new wood handled crochet hook - a gift from my beloved tatting teacher who brought it all the way from the UK. ❤️

More challenges

A few more contributions to my challenge.

I had some left over thread wound (not much) so I searched for something small and tatted up Wild Rose from Ms Mary Konior's A Pttern Book of Tatting. I believe this was size 20 Lizbeth Butterfly Breeze.

Since it is the weekend I also tatted a small butterfly called Birte from Ms Adelheid Dangela's Tatted Butteflies.

This was done in size 40 Milford.

meowr!

I couldn't sleep last night... So I decided to get up and tat... and I tatted this

The little kitty cat from Ms Martha Ess' book, New Critters on the Block.

I'm usually quite wary of block tatting (I have tension issues =() and to be frank I never did dare to venture near any of the block tatted critters (even though I've had this book for years) so I am quite pleased how my little cheshire cat turned out. =)

I did him in size 20 Milford with size 11/0 beads.

More to the challenge!

Here's the next two for my challenge :

The Lovebird from Ms Pam Palmer's Tatting Treats Three. Done in size 50- Omega thread. The thread was something that was 'available' to me a couple of years back. Not my favourite to work with... it's a little bit 'cranky' but I have loads of it and the colours are awesome. =). The Lovebird is meant to be part of a landscape inspired by a blue and white procelain plate - the Lovebirds were my favourite. They're so cute - I'm thinking of using this as an embellishment somewhere. =).

And one for my mom. Happy Mothers' Day... We miss you.

The Scallop Shell Heart from Ms Matha Ess' Tat's Amore, done in size 40 Lizbeth Red Burst.

Finally having things to share!

I'm a little teapot short and stout...

I love this cutey from Ms Matha Ess' book, Tea is for Tatting. This is the little square teapot (i believe it is called since I don't have the book with me right now) done in size 50 Omega thread. I'm quite pleased with this little fellow and am contemplating whether I should use him as a decorative motif or make him into a bookmark - any comments?

I also had time to do up a Flowery SCMR bookmark. Designed by Ms Jane Eborall. This has to be one of my favourite bookmark patterns.

I did this one in size 40 Milford and size 40 Lizbeth Lollipop (one of my favourites). I was going for a 'stained glass' effect.

I had some trouble with the bookmark because I disovered that the Milford 40 is a whole lot thicker than the Lizbeth 40... so I had to be supr careful with tension. I think it turned out alright =). This is the first time that I'm doing this beauty with a 'tail'. I modified the 'tail' myself so that I wouldn't have to cut and tie and sew in extra ends for the flower motif (yes I know I'm such a lazy potato). It is now holding my place in the latest book that I borrowed from the local library. =)

The latest thing to share my pillow...

This is precisely why you can never have too many bobbins!

Plus my almost forgotten challenge! Honour from the Exqusite Collection of Tatted Butterflies by Ladyshuttlemaker. Done in size 20 DMC Cebelias =).

Sharing a little bit of progress

At session 2 of my 8 session sketching class. I obviously was not meant to me an artist lol.

Also showing my latest WIP...

Being done in size 20 Cebelia in 2 colours... with one of my decorated shuttles (this one is one of my favourites - my absolutely favourite is the yellow equivalent of this design =))

A bit of colour

Decided to share a bit of colour today. Above is my newly oragnised cross stitch floss. I used to use stitch bows and a large folder but I found it hard to keep track of the colours. So with some cardboard bobbins (which cost like $4 for 100) and plastic folders ($2 each) and corrigated dividers ($2 each) my new organiser was born [man do I love the budget $2 store]. I love it. It's so much cheaper and space efficient than the stitch bow method... not to mention so much prettier! 

Photos of the completed gift with Ms Pam Palmer's rocking horse were also promised last time... so here it is

To Skai and Gail. I hope you like it. Congratulations on the addition to your family. =)

Am rather stoked now as well... I just ordered a pair of chainmaille earrings from Jeff! I can't wait! I hope it gets here in time for Chinese New Year!

A Mondo GIveaway and a WIP

Check out the awesome giveaway that Ladyshuttlemaker is having on her blog here! Hmm... methinks that the next book in my challenge which I shall start should be from her books!

But that aside... item 1 of my 2012 Challenge is from Tatting Treats Two by Ms Pam Palmer. 

The lovely lovely Rocking Horse. I've done this little cutey a couple of times before. It's my favourite tat for the 'new parents!' prezzies =). This one in size 80 Lizbeth Sherbert Delight is for a little girl named Kyra =). I haven't bought the frame yet so I haven't finished the full present. Pics will be posted when I get around to getting the frame. =)

One of my first few tatting books - and still one of my favourites. I still recommend this as well as Tatting Treats and Tatting Treats Three (and in fact any other book by Ms Pam Palmer) to any 'fresh' tatter... =)

On another crafting front (since I'm on leave this week - clearing leave before it gets wiped out), I'm loving my WIP for my MSCSG January 2012 SAL! Woohoo!