Happy Halloween to you all!!

I've been quite busy and unable to spend alot of time tatting. However, I did finish the second round on the wedding hanky.



This hanky is for the daughter of one of my co-workers. I was going to add a third round until 'mom' said she liked it just the way it was presented....so, here is the completed project.




The corners were challenging. I increased the number of double stitches between the picots by one and added one small ring. The unfinished thread space was the biggest challenge. I learned as I tatted. I will wash, block, and press the linen. The thread is size 80. I'm happy with the final piece.


NOW, here is a recent find. I found an abalone shuttle. There is some worn writing on the front. I wanted to show you all to see if you have any information as to the origin of the shuttle.



You are able to see the writing in the previous picture and here is the back side.



The middle is metal and pictured here.



So, what do you think? I haven't used it yet but I'm sure I'll try it out sometime soon. I hope you have a wonderful evening!
john

A Seminar Created Just For Tatting

Good day to you all!
I've been sitting in a seminar for continuing education credits focusing on couples therapy. The greatest part of the seminar....It's a live video web cast. SO, I get to tat and watch. I've been working on the edging and finished attaching the edge to the handkerchief. Now I'm well into round two. The pattern is from an Anne Orr book. I believe the pattern for this is out there all over..that's just my source.





I also wanted to show you all the desk on which I take most of my photos. Many have asked over time what piece of furniture this might be...well here it is. After receiving my Ph.D., I gifted myself with this wonderful desk.



The artist is Linda Van Gehuchten. She is the premiere, female wood turner in the U.S. and created the desk out of a single piece of bubinga wood. She called me one day with urgency stating, I needed this piece of wood. It is absolutely gorgeous! The grain in the wood undulates in a way that, under the right light, appears to be three dimensional. So, there you have it...just thought I'd show and tell.

Now, it's off to 8 more hours of tatting and learning.
I hope your day is grand!!
John

Out With The Old

Out with the old and in with the new...well, sorta.

I've been tatting for 1.5 years with the Boye shuttles. Recently there has been an unexpected shift in the universe and I'm losing the battle. I've benched my Boyes for the current project. Below is a picture of the lonely boye...



I'm working on a hanky edge using new tools; a small shuttle, size 80 thread, a crochet hook, and measuring gauge. Here they are and the result of these surgical, precision tools. Should I admit it's not been too painful? I'm actually seeing the difference.



The Current struggle is starting new thread when there is space between each ring. I think I'm going to experiment with each new addition.

And now...proof of my addiction....the stack of hankies. I'm amassing a fine stash of pulled thread hankies. I'm open to intervention if anyone out there knows how to procede...OR, are you all contributors and enablers?



Have a Wonderful!!
John

Tools of the trade and more!

As you know, I went on vacation and rifled through several antique stores. I was so very excited to find tatting shuttles. I never thought of buying post shuttles because I've been stuck in my preference to use the metal boye shuttles. That bias was infiltrated by Nina Libin at TAT days. She suggested wonderful wood shuttles made in Russia which are perfect for her beading technique. The shuttles I purchased for her class are wonderful!



Ergo, a new addiction. While strolling through an outdoor antique market on Saturday morning of my vacation, I found a vendor with wonderful antique and vintage tatting tools, crochet works, and the hankies you've already seen. In this picture are three shuttles you probably have seen in the stashes of many tatters. BUT, I went overboard and purchased a sail makers shuttle. I'm thinking it will come in handy for something at sometime. (See, I didn't need it...I need rehab)



The crochet and bobbin lace pieces were in a pile and were being sold for pennies in relation to their value. I chose several which I believed at the time, were of higher quality or quite unique. (I may be wrong...but, I'm still learning)



I have this idea I'm going to accumulate wonderful works by many people in our past and who currently display their love for the art of lacework. I'm going to enjoy them and then, when I'm gone...(bless their hearts) my niece and nephew will have to figure out what the heck to do with it all. I'm already cuing them up to appreciate, preserve, and forward the group of work.



Now, living with a person who prides himself on being a minimalist (personally, I think that's a cover for obsessive compulsiveness), this 'accumulation' does not mesh well. That's where my creativity comes in and with a little help from the ladies at TAT days, I purchased a tatting tool organizer. They are out there. It's a fishing tackle box.



It even has room for a cooler. Large enough for a six pack of my favorite ginger ale or lunch...see?!



Well, I think that's enough a dose of my rambling for another day. I hope your weekend is grand and happy tatting!
j.

Call Me Crazy.....

The wanderer has returned. What a wonderful vacation I had. It began at the Palmetto Tatters Tat Days where I was finally able to put a few names and faces with my blogging friends. What a great time for laughing, tatting, and learning! Here are a couple pictures taken during the event (thanks to Hegla and her husband).



The class with Nina Libin was amazing. She is brilliant with her jewelry patterns as she makes a complex idea simple for the tatter. The end product is exquisite.



As for this pic,... Krystle's mama (Karrieann) is pictured. Our project was challenging and full of new learning... Karrieann was wonderful and laughter was enjoyed by all.

What a hoot!

Then, it was off to Boston and a high speed ferry out to Provincetown for a great week.



Cape Cod is as beautiful as ever. I enjoy the early mornings as the community awakes. I sit in the town square watching the window washers, street cleaners, and fishermen begin their days.



Now, for the crazy...

I have been on a bender searching through piles of vintage hankies. I purchased several hemstitched hankies which I hope to edge with amazing tatting. Here are a few examples of my recent finds. Is this part of the tatting addiction?...do I need a support group?







This is just a glimpse into the tatting craze. I'm home now....working to detox, sitting in my chair, one & two & one & two and picot. Give me a few days...I'll fill you in on the rest.

Happy tatting!
john

Avoiding the heat

Sooooo....I mailed off my apprentice pieces for the TAT program. I really have enjoyed the learning. The use of split rings was a large part of one piece. As a result, I pulled out Georgia Seitz' Cathedral Window Doily Pattern. It is such a wonderful use of split rings and negative space.



However, as you see, I used bulky thread and therefore the negative space is not as pronounced as I hoped. I will definately tat this pattern again using smaller thread. The tatting went quickly and overall I'm happy with the final project.

yeah, yeah I've still got to block it.



On another note, I'm looking forward to tat days and hope to see many of you there. Please introduce and reintroduce yourselves! I will be attending on Friday only...maybe one of these years I'll be able to stay for the full two days.
Have a great day!
j.

Secretly Tatting, Tatting, Tatting

Greetings to all!
I really am tatting and would love to show you all what I've been working on....but can't. It's a secret. I've been working on the apprentice level tatting projects for the T.A.T. program. I've completed all the projects and am ready to send them out to the reviewers. I really did learn alot through this stage. There is an agreement that I don't share photos of the finished projects. They really are cool and I'm very happy with the majority of work.

At times I had a bit of a challenge converting the patterns for my left handedness. Not until the last project did it get in the way. There was a suggestion made that I convert to right handed tatting. I struggle with this.... I'm not asking others to convert to my way or change their patterns. I will do that work. I am left handed...not ambidextrous....left handed. What are your thoughts on this...should I try to learn differently...? I am quite content with the way I've taught myself and hope to continue though it might be a bit unique and take additional time & modification.

Additionally, I received the completed 'secret' piece from the authors of a mathmatical pattern. I was testing the pattern and will have a photo of my work published. I'm really excited about this...but, once again, you'll have to wait on the picture. In the mean time....here's another picture of Cape Cod....Can you tell I'm dreaming of the next vacation.....only a few weeks away....woohoo!!!

It's hard to say Goodbye...

Ok..., I like giving away pieces of my tatting. But... I sometimes have a difficult time parting with things which have taken so long to complete. As much as I do this craft for others, I really want to keep a bit for myself. So, I began to create a sampler of all my work.



I'm going to get a frame and place a segment of each edging or small sample of the doilies in the frame.



My question for you,... Is it important for you to keep record of your work? This could all be my quirkiness...but, I'm thinking I'm not alone in this. Help me out here....a show of hands. How do you 'keep' some of your own work?

Done...with alot of questions

Greetings to you all!
Here is the most recent project. It is the Sunflower pattern from Blomqvist and Persson's "Tatting Patterns and Designs". I'm very happy with the results. But, as a result of the project I have new questions.



In both the first and second rounds there are many joins from the end of a chain to a picot on the previous ring. I reversed the work performed the join and then flipped back to the original side. Is this correct or how would you perform the join?



Secondly, in the first round there is a join from the end of a chain to the base of a ring...this was a bit awkward for me and I am wishing they were a bit cleaner. Should I have left the dreaded gap at the base of that ring in order to join in the gap? What do ya'll think?

I like the doily without blocking...but, I think I'm going to block this one.

BTW, the visit with my parents was priceless. We had a wonderful time. In just a few months of tatting, my 70 year old mother is taking to it like the proverbial duck to water. We bored our significant other as we commiserated in tatting and picking.

Please have a great day!
John

Yeah Mom!!!

Well, it's official...Mom's a true tatter!

My parents have come for a visit and are staying a few days. It was kinda funny... within 15 minutes of their arrival, Mom and I were sharing our newest tatting acquisitions; threads, books, completed, and current projects. She even brought me a knot to pick....go figure!

Here is her most recent book marker.



She's sitting here concerned that it's not blocked and that the world will notice...help me out here. I'm quite proud of her work and told her not to worry. Our tatting world is nothing but kind and often quite humorous.



Just to let you know...I chose a small doily to work on so the hands weren't idle too long. Your comments to my last post were quite interesting.... Fox, your comments were intriguing...

I look at my thread. I fondle my thread. Forgive me, I put my head right in there and smell my thread. I close my eyes and the patterns form behind the eyeballs and - Bob's your uncle! There it is!
Fox : ))

I've been chuckling all week long.

Happy tatting to all!

Idle Hands....

I need your help!!

How do you decide what project to conquer next? I'd be curious to know how you make your decisions to start on another tatting project. I've been sitting idle for about 2 weeks and need to get going on another project. I've gone through all my pattern books, perused the Internet, and worked to create a pattern in my mind... and I'm not really sure what the next project will be. I kinda want to start a large project...something like a large doily or, I've got an idea for a pair of baby booties. OR, I could return to the endless edging project, or more book markers...hmmmm.

Help me out here. What do you think?

A gift and prayer for a friend

I've been working frantically on a gift for a friend at work. She was recently diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Her team of doctors are aggressively treating the cancer and will perform surgery in the near future. For some time now she has asked me to tat a project for her. I was not pressured and did not worry too much about it... until 3 weeks ago. When I heard of her diagnosis I immediately knew I needed to tat a hanky edge for her. Here is the final project.




The source is Nikolajsen & Nilolajsen Tatted Handkerchiefs Lace No. 6. It is a two pass edge. The first pass utilizes 2 shuttles. The was the first project I used size 80 thread and found it much more cooperative than my first attempt. Could it be that I'm finally more aware of tension?...hmmmm. I had to modify the pattern a bit. I added a few doubles and deleted a picot. The modification didn't begin until I had finished 1/2 of one side...so, don't look too close.




Her eyes welled up with tears when I gave it to her. She hugged me and stated, "now I have something to carry into surgery." It was a very strong response I was not expecting. I am so glad to have been able to help her moment that day. Please keep Robyn in your thoughts and prayers.

Fiber Artist Visits Our City

Greetings to you all!
I want to put you all onto a wonderful artist who recently visited our city.
Her name is Hildur Bjarnadottir.



She is a native of Iceland and also has a residence in Portland, Oregon. Commissioned to create a fiber art piece for our new Mint Museum of Craft and Design, Hildur conducted an exhibition in a the front of the 'old' museum which highlighted her wonderful ability to dye yarns with native plants.



Pictured below are the yarns she produced while in our area. The photos are a not great in quality as they were taken with my cell phone.





The links below highlight her visit as well as a few of her tatting pieces. She free form tats and dyes her own threads. The 'doodles' are dyed using actual blue and black inks. Meeting her was a joy and we look forward to her return and the installation of her work.

http://mintwiki.pbworks.com/Hildur-Bjarnad%C3%B3ttir

http://www.pulliamdeffenbaugh.com/Artist-Detail.cfm?ArtistsID=194

Well, once again I've been lying low. Hegla from NC recently pointed out it was time I posted...(she's a great teacher and advocate for tatting!). Though quiet, I've been testing a pattern which has felt like a top secret event. I really can't report on the pattern or project until I get the approval from the authors. It was a great experience and hopefully, a picture of my work will be in a book sometime within the next year.

Do you remember this?...



I worked on tatting a kippah for a jewish friend. Tatting was the easy part. I had to create a pattern which was quite the feat. I laugh as I reflect on the mistakes....some pointed while others covered the head down to the ears...It became a trek which I probably will not repeat.



well here is the completed project!



I settled on navy blue silk satin with tatting in size 40 black lizbeth thread.





I will be gifting this after showing a few people. I'm really excited with the project. For future projects, I will probably purchase the satin kippah.

Ssooo much to report on...but I'll wait for another day. Checking in tomorrow, I'll share a couple more things with you. Hope your day is grand!

The Endless Edge

I hope this finds all doing well!
I've been working on several book markers and have gifted a few. I'm not certain which pattern it is since it was the first I ever downloaded and didn't keep record of the source. I'll attempt to find out the origin. I find it quite simple but very beautiful.



From time to time I pick up the edging I started last August.




It's now over one yard long and will continue until I have enough for a round table cloth...I'll keep you posted on when that happens.

So, as you see...nothing spectacular just some more tatting fun and therapy.

Psssst....I'm still here.

It's been quite awhile since I've posted. I've been lurking...just not posting. The holidays are over and I'm back in the tatting chair. This morning I finished another insert for a fingertip towel.



Nothing really new, just a lot of what I've already been working on. I'm still learning. The first insert I used 14 repeats for the length...(remember the long pretty 'bookmark'?) Well, I increased the length by one repeat in the pattern....WHAT?! it's shorter than the first insert...so, help me out here. Aren't 15 repeats going to be longer than 14?!?!

So, maybe I'm more stressed than before and my knots are tighter...could it be that I've got some stress? I'm teaching at two universities, supervising at the local hospital, and maintaining the counseling practice.....Breathe in....breathe out... I now have 3 long pretty bookmarks. well, not really, I think they'll work. But, how odd....I'm learning that tatting isn't just about math.




I also completed another leaf using a larger thread. It's DMC but am unsure of the number. I'm hoping to take some time tomorrow and write out the pattern in order to share with y'all. I hope you will be able to give it a try and see how well I communicate through pattern writing.