Stars to end the Year

I just had to write this post before midnight as it will be the 60th one for this year according to the table at the side of my blog.  Consistently I have kept to around 60 posts each year since 2009 so did not want to fall below that number.

I have tatted three stars, not knowing what colour a star should be I went for white, yellow and a rusty combination.

What I should have done though was this technique of Jane's which you will find here  for the placement of the centre beads.   Learning new or different ways of doing things is never easy for me, I find it very frustrating having to stop and read instructions.  But will have a go at this technique over the next week as it should make the stars look much better.   

Also sorted the beads and now having a general tidy up of everything and causing a tremendous mess, but it will be worth the effort when it is finished.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year. 

Beads and Needles

I am taking a few days off work between Christmas and the New Year although there are numerous e.mails that need answering before then, unfortunately work never altogether stops.  My aim was to use this time to do some tidying, especially the tatting bits and pieces.  Today I sorted out my seed beads and found homes for some that were still in packets and added others to a bead soup which never seems to decrease!

Also some really kind people who know that I use beads, especially the seed ones, have given me some, which I am grateful for but they are often mixed up with other things, such as sequins or different sized beads.  My dilemma is whether it is worth sorted them out, bearing in mind the time and effort when you could just go out and buy them.  However, it seems a shame to do that so will have a quick go at sorting them tomorrow as they are taking up room and I know if I put them away now that will be it for another year.

Although I enjoy using beads in tatting, I loose so many beading needles, or drop them and find them bent and unusable.  I get through a few packets a year, so was pleased to discover a few of them stuck in a pin cushion which is supposed to keep them safe.

Just look how many pins, needles (some beading ones) that I discovered, by squeezing the cushion. Of course I did get pricked a few times trying to  retrieve them!   The cushion is now washed and drying, it will take quite a few days to do this, but not all the needles will be put back!

The threads need sorting next!

Christmas Decorations

This year I starting preparing for Christmas in February, well there is no way I can make the tatted decorations which I give away to friends in the weeks before Christmas.    Every year the amount I make increases, and people do seem to expect their annual tatted decoration, which causes quite a bit of pressure, especially when it comes to delivering or posting them!  I have one more to give away this afternoon.

They are Jane's Celtic snowflake which you can find here.  I like the way that she dates her patterns and can't believe that the years fly by so fast. 

This year I have made a few costumes for the crib service (nativity) which is going to be held at two churches this afternoon.  I enjoyed getting the sewing machine out again, it has not seen the light of day since the beginning of the Summer. 

What I really look forward to in the next few days is sitting and tatting in front of the television, have already decided what next years give away tatting will be!

Playing with Picots

Playing with Picots is the title of one of Martha Ess's books. I actually have her latest book 'Toys for Tatting' but need a little more time to sit down and make something from it, may be over Christmas.   Now that I have become a grandmother for the first time it certainly means that the book will be put into good use.

I am, of course, more familiar with 'Playing with Picots' and have tatted many patterns from it in the past. However, this was the first time I had attempted Chris' broomstick snowflake, the yellow one, not perfect and might look better in a different colour, but it is pretty.

The angel seems to be having a bit of a gig on the top, but have now stiffened it to stop the dancing around!

Something a little different

I just could not tat another snowflake from Lene Bjørn's book, so tired of doing them and trying to follow diagrams, I'm much better on the written word.   So for an absolute change I did these snowflakes using buttons, the pattern can be found here it is of course of one of Jane's patterns and they are so easy to understand. 

I tried to get a good photograph of them but after several attempts gave up, the light was wrong or the positioning was wrong etc.  Hopefully will get a better picture when and if I make some more.