Masquerade Runner again!

I finished as much as I wanted to do of the Masquerade runner, the final few squares were a real struggle to tat as I had lost complete interest in the project.   Also I am not completely happy with the end result and  it may need a tatted border around it to enhance the piece.  I was thrilled though to see that it went with the cushion that will be fairly near the finished runner, that is if I decide it should be on display.  So should I give it an orange border as depicted in the cushion or the dark blue? Decisions are awful to make but I think on this one it is going to be a matter of trial and error!

There has been a lot of activity in the garage of late making items to sell to help pay for the fallen Cedar Tree.  A  new line came into being this weekend, a holding cross made with wood taken from a Wellingtonia Tree (Sequoia) which stands at the gate of the church.

These crosses are very tactile as you can hold them in the palm of your hand and even put them in your pocket as they are only three inches tall.

My shuttle

More shuttles will be in Jane's shop sometime Saturday, not sure when, you will have to be very vigilant and watch Jane's Etsy shop.  This time there will be post and pop-a-bobbin for sale made out of some very unusual wood.  However, one got left behind because I took a fancy to it.  The photograph does not do it justice but the wood is pink ivory and so it has a pink tinge to it.

I only just managed to make time to join in with Jane's TIAS and here are my scissors.  I do confess that I did know what the end result was going to be right from the beginning, the pink pair were made before the game started, but it was fun watching everyone else guess.

I love this pattern and can see me tatting it again and again, many thanks 'big sister'!

Shuttles and Doves

Some more post and pop-a-bobbin shuttles have been made and will be on their way to Jane within the next couple of weeks.   Please don't ask me which woods are shown in the picture because I put them back in the basket with all the rest and now can't identify which ones they were! When they are packaged by 'Im in the garage' the labels will be on them.

Thank you to all who have expressed a wish to buy a dove made from the Cedar tree.   Sadly there are no more doves until the wood taken from the storm damage is seasoned as we had very little left from the original piece, and the ones that were made went very quickly. However, plenty of doves will be available in the future and I can post them to wherever you are in the world.  Each will come with this card and also numbered. 

Last night I was delighted to hear that when the wood from the Cedar tree is cut by a professional firm they will not be taking the logs away, which means the wood will be available for anyone who wants it, so you can guess who will be first in the queue. Somehow I can see our garden being turned into a timber yard during the next few months!  

At the moment I have about three tatting projects on the go and there is little chance that anyone of them will be completed in the next week or so.   Today though I did manage to catch up with Jane's TIAS

Cedar tree and Masquerade

I am still working on the Masquerade pattern and intend to introduce some more colours before it is finished.

The dove that is sitting on the piece of tatting is made from wood that has come from a Lebanese Cedar tree next to a church.  About 6 years ago some branches were taken down as they were hanging very near to a stained glass window and we are now making doves from this wood to sell for badly needed church funds. This is the same church that has the door handle you very cleverly dated for me.

The reason that funds are needed is because one night very recently there was a storm and two huge branches came crashing down taking with them some more trees and as they fell to the ground they damaged  grave stones. There must have been such a noise when this happened but thankfully no one was around.

Fortunately it missed the church and the beautiful stained glass window but has caused massive damage which will cost a lot to repair.

This cedar tree has stood in this spot for many years and was there when the Rev Awdry, author of the Thomas the Tank Engine books was born in the village and he probably used to play around this tree.

We have managed to collect some wood and it is seasoning at the moment and hopefully in about a years time it will be turned into more doves and of course shuttles.

Democracy Day

That is what they are calling this particular day in the UK as it marks the 750th anniversary of the first elected English parliament. The word 'democracy' originates from Ancient Greek and means 'power of the people'. In 1265 Simon De Montfort gathered together representatives from towns and cities around the country and laid the foundations for our political system. The institution he created has changed markedly over the years but we have become accustomed to the idea that we can elect our representatives, voice our opinions, and exert our will through the parliamentary system. We should indeed be thankful that we live in a country where this happens. However, as the General Election approaches in less that four months time the thought of endless political broadcasts can, at times, dampen our enthusiasm for the system!

A 'Tatting Day' sounds so much more fun than a 'Democracy Day' though doesn't it!?  One of the things I have managed to do today is start sewing this tatting braid on a bag I am making, it seems to just finishes it off nicely.

I bought the material for this bag when out with Jane last year and really pleased that I have actually managed to put it to good use. 

A picture of a handle on a church door, can anyone work out the year in Roman Numerals? It is a lot newer than 1265.

Masquerade and TIAS

After noticing that Jane had started to tat  Mary Konior's Masquerade I decided it was worth trying as it looked so effective.  The pattern certainly stands up to its name because as you join the squares together it seems to turn into something else.  Amazingly it disguises the original design and you notice other shapes appear.  I have now joined six squares and plan to continue until there is a reasonable size mat.  I am using a ball of DMC 30 because I have quite a lot of it but I am aware that this particular mat will not grow that quickly!

Also found time to join in my with my sister's TIAS and this is the progress so far after day 3

I really enjoy tatting with buttons so of course in my element with this one, thank you Jane.

Epiphany

Later on today I am off to a 'Pie and Punch' evening at a very grand house to celebrate Epiphany or the coming of the Wise Men to visit the Christ child.  I am taking with me some Frankincense from Arabia and Myrrh from Oman and leaving the host to provide the gold in the form of chocolate coins!

I have made another flower chain necklace from Marilee's Beaded Tatting Finery book and I might wear it tonight.

This Christmas I received a card from someone who admires my tatting it was especially chosen for me because of the design on it.

It is a picture of Honiton Lace designed and made by Pat Ferryman, I was really thrilled with the card and I am going to keep it and not re-cycle!