A bit of a set back

Last night I finished Renulek's doily and was looking forward to showing the piece in all its glory this morning, the last day of July. Especially after months of struggle tatting a piece which has constantly caused me much anguish.  My plan was to get up early today and iron the piece, photograph and show it on this blog. However, the plan went horribly wrong when I spread the doily out only to find that I had done the last sixteen repeats wrong!  Really don't know why I did not check I was doing the pattern correctly, but had a feeling that only picking it up, sometimes late at night I just lost the plot!   Here it is ready for the big snip! 

So may be before the end of August it will be finished, who knows?  Feeling very sorry for myself today.  

More Thread!

First I must point out that I do not need more thread, although some projects demand more than one ball of the same colour.  Also not been blogging for ages now because I seem to be unable to find the time and inclination to sit down and tat much. Sadly making hardly any progress on the two doilies I started, so I thought buying some more thread would give me a boost!  Although at the moment preparing for another Craft Evening on Tuesday, so may be not this week.  

These were e.bay wins and paid on average, including postage about £1.30 a ball. There are some fantastic colours in the boxes so quite pleased that I have more threads to play with in the future. 

Wedding Horseshoe

I am attending a wedding this afternoon, this is quite unusual for me as I usually just book them and do most of the admin work and thats it! There has been a general invite from a mature couple who are getting married and attend one of the churches I work in to watch their ceremony.  So I decided that as the bride enjoys coming to the Craft Sessions I organise that she would like a tatted horseshoe. 

 I hope to give it to her myself, or the tradition is to ask a younger person to give it to the bride just after she has been married when she comes out of church.  It is supposed to symbolise good luck and it is indeed lucky that I actually finished making the horseshoe in the last hour!

Today is going to be extremely hot so I am looking forward to coming back home after the ceremony and cooling off in the back garden.

Bobbin Lace

No I do not know how to make lace using bobbins, but I was privileged to look at some lace pricking patterns today made from some ancient documents. It would be amazing to know where they originally came from and what the document that they were cut from actually said.  All you can imagine is that they were made in the days before electricity and running water, when women sat in the evenings with just candle light to illuminate their work.

And some old lace bobbins, although not as old as the patterns

They were brought in by a member of our Computer Club and were her mother's who died about 5 years ago in her 90s.

On show again

It seems so long ago since I designed the button necklace (which is on the side of my blog) I have made quite a few over the years, but there are still many hidden away in my stash.  Last week I decided to wear one as it went with a particular top.  I was surprised and delighted with the attention it got from people and might be inspired to make another one, especially if I need a necklace to match another top.  My problem is that over the last few years I have almost abandoned wearing any jewellery as just could not be bothered. 

What I enjoy most about making these necklaces is playing with different coloured beads and buttons.

Thanks for all the kind comments about Renulek's doily, I have now started the final round and all is going well, hopefully can show you sometime next week.

Another round completed

The last round I tatted seemed to take ages and I was really frightened that I would run out of thread, and have to cut it all off and start again!  It was very nerve racking especially as I did not enjoy tatting this round anyway, so the thought of starting again, was just too awful to contemplate!  Fortunately I made it to the end with a bit of the thread to spare.  As you can see I have started another colour which hopefully is neutral enough to blend in with a Lizbeth thread very close to the original maroon colour.  I intend to use both the colours on the last round but it is hard to see if it will work at the moment.

Needless to say I will be so pleased when this doily is finished!

Still tatting the doily!

I am making very little progress on Renulek's doily, because I have very little time to sit and tat it!  However, I am a little further on than this picture shows, a quarter of the way along the next row.   

The round is complicated so making even slower progress.

The pop-a-bobbin shuttles continue to sell well and I am hoping that now the weather is warmer more can be made in the garage.