Yew Shuttles

 Here are the latest pop-a-bobbin shuttles to be made, at the moment there are other woods to choose from but I thought you would be more interested in these from my last post.

They are on a huge piece of cedar of Lebanon wood. As you can see from the rings (which are supposed to determine the age of a tree) it came from a tree over a hundred years old. The tree is still growing and this piece, along with many more good sized chunks,  came down in a storm. 

Yew Wood

The yew wood is beautiful and we were fortunate to be given a chunk of it, which has been seasoning outside for many years. In ancient times yew wood was used for making bows, the trees were planted in graveyards so they are a common sight around our churches in the U.K. some going back at least a thousand years. 

Here is a newly cut stack of blanks to make some more pop-a-bobbin shuttles with. 

Resting on them is this pattern  http://janeeborall.freeservers.com/MotifFerrisWheel.pdf and of course I have used the version with a button in the middle.  As you have gathered it is Jane's pattern.   

Jane is actually helping me write out a pattern at the moment for a design of my own. I have been working on it for weeks and weeks and nearly given up many times as it is so very complicated.  It is going to be a very unique pattern based on something which is very well known, especially in our family. I don't think anyone has ever attempted to make one in tatting before.  I am so looking forward to it being finished!

More Jam

So my jam craze continues and over the last few weeks have picked and cooked the black currants which I had grown in my garden. I also have an abundance of rhubarb growing,  so by adding  ginger to the recipe have made a very flavourful jam.

One of the jars I gave away but before I did added a tatted owl because the recipient is a ‘wise  old bird’   The owl  is one of Jane’s patterns,  just love the design.

Jam Day

I have no idea why I decided to make jam on the hottest day of the year!  Strawberry  &  raspberry and also another batch of  strawberry rhubarb & ginger.  I haven’t made jam in years, now need to make some scones to go with them! 

Amusement Doily

I recently found two metal rings that I must have had for at least 10 years. About that time there was a craze in ‘tat world’ to cover rings of various sizes and make jewellery or Christmas decorations. My aim was to use a series of rings to make a wall hanging,

So as you see I tatted the amusement doily and have nearly attached it inside the ring, however as usually happens with me, I got distracted and the project is unfinished. My tatting distraction was to make some more rainbow earrings.

I have now another distraction, for the first time in years I am actually in the process of designing something in tatting.  It is not a doily, it is not an animal or motif. It is going to take a few weeks and from time to time will probably have to talk to Jane and ask for advice, but I am rather excited about it!  

One day I will finish what I started!

Found

Now I had lost these teapots when I tidied them away soon after lockdown. My aim was to put them onto cards, I can now do this, when I have found the cards! Just love this pattern from Martha Ess’s book ‘Tatting with buttons’.

The miniature teapot in the picture comes from Hong Kong, I bought it when we lived there and from time to time I think it should go but it is so unusual and therefore have not the heart to get rid of it.

Bag

I began to sew this bag in March as a ‘lock down project’ all was going  well and I was enjoying the free time and opportunity to do some creative craft work. However, very soon I lost interest in it and in fact everything. Three weeks later I picked it up again and made a massive effort to finish the bag. 

Also determined to make it a little bit different I tatted a trim, although  I thought it may spoil the bag and make it look too fancy.  However, I am  pleased with the look especially as it matches the decor of the room in which it will live.

This is a close up of the trim and the pattern can be found here