Deadline Approaches

Greetings to you all!!

I'm learning to be careful not to commit to producing major tatting pieces for expectant mothers and grandmothers....(with a grin)... unless I want the urgency of deadline to guide my tatting endeavors. It's not the recipients who are pressuring me...it my crazy perfectionist self.

I believe I am about finished with my first tatted baby bonnet. There are many comments to be made about this piece.

Here are a few photos of the bonnet as it stands.

Here is a picture of how I presented it to you last...

It took me awhile to figure out how to attach the two pieces of tatting. I began improvising the garden path between the two pieces and occasionally joined where it seemed most appropriate. It caused some gathering... I thought I might snip it out and begin again...until I started to really like the gathering and noticed it looking a bit more 'lacy' and not flat or 'fussy'.

I started in the middle and worked my way out. Because the garden path pattern is asymmetrcal I needed to be a bit creative with the connective work. The back is gathered by a ribbon that can be retied as the baby's head grows. I don't mind the gather either. I will work to perfect the bow and maybe insert a slightly wider ribbon over the top.

In the end, I'm quite happy with the outcome and will probably try to duplicate this one more time.

So, there it is.

Oh, about the shuttle from my Great Aunt Lucy... I actually have a copy of the patent... and now I'm even more interested in the hook. Some of you have shown me a hook pointing out. However, this one hooks back toward the shuttle. I'll try to get a good picture of it and post in the next blog entry.

Until then,
Happy tatting and have a wonderful day!!
john

A Family Treasure

I lost my Aunt Martha this past week who succumbed to cancer. She was a wonderful woman who loved her family. All of us converged onto Northwest Ohio to memorialize and celebrate.... which we do very well.

It is spring in Ohio. The temperatures are warmer and the flowering bulbs are beginning to reach for the sky. The crocuses are out and almost spent for the year. Below you see the wonderful clusters of crocuses in my Aunt Mariann's front yard.

As we sat at the wake on Tuesday, my mother bragged to other family members about her tatting son....(geeeeshhh). Having been self-taught, I never knew whether there were any other tatters in my family. One of our cousins described a shuttle she had from our Great Aunt Lucy Freyenberger (1878-1979). Surprisingly, she stated that she wanted to give it to me. I know how important our family heirlooms are and the traditions that follow them. To my amazement, she handed me a box before the funeral and in it was the shuttle below.

It's a Boye shuttle with a patent date of April 10, 1917. I thought..., "oh, cool another metal Boye shuttle."

But wait, I pulled out the bobbin and was very surprised to find it attached.

I have never seen a shuttle like this and need to research it a bit. Additionally, the point on the shuttle is bent back on itself. I don't know if this was standard, if Great Aunt Lucy bent is intentionally, or if it's been bent over the years of storage.

If you have knowledge of these shuttles, I'd be very interested in learning more.

And one more note....the baby bonnet is finished all but hiding two ends and adding ribbon. I will post something in the next couple days.

Until then, Happy Tatting!
peace,
john

Slow progress

Well, here is the next installment for the back of the baby bonnet.

I began the little 'bump up' with a single five petal flower and improvised a bit of the 'garden path'. I hope to work chains and clover leafs to attach the back to the top of the bonnet. The length of each chain will have to be improvised to smooth out the roundedness of the back.

I will probably attach a bit of the #50 edge onto the bottom of the back. This will allow me to add a ribbon to the bottom of the back.

Now, off topic. I don't know why my pictures are uploading in the portrait position rather than the landscape position. I've been taking them with my iphone. This (for some) may make sense...it just puzzles me. So, I retook the pictures and just settled for the portrait pics.

I hope you have a wonderful day!!
john

Why is it that I don't do anything simply....?!

I'm working on the back part of the baby bonnet. And yes, just to remind you, I'm not using a published pattern....*I ask myself "WHY???!!!*

Normal is not one of my usual labels. I've been trying to figure out why I'm not satisfied with the older baby bonnet patterns. It may be because they appear to be a bit flimsy...but, I don't know that to be true. Oh, well I'll keep plugging along with my version.

Here is the progress so far.

As I'm tatting this row, I begin to think that I need the back to be a bit more 'oval' than half round. So, I believe I'm going to add a couple small flowers in the middle of the next round. This will begin to stretch the half round into an oval in addition to bringing the flowers of the top into the back of the bonnet.

Here's another look. So, what do you think? Half round or somewhat oval?

I will probably finish the row and add the flowers this evening. I'll show you the progress when I can figure out if it's the 'right' thing to do.

Until then,
PEACE!
john

Another Tribute to Gina...

It's been a long time since you've heard from me. I've been quietly tatting and processing life. Finding it difficult to figure out what to say and how to say it, I know we have lost a wonderful woman in the tatting world. This then is a small tribute to the Tatting Goddess, Gina. Never having met her, it was a uniquely vicarious loss. She was a wonderful presence in this cyber world and always supportive in her comments. All the way to her end here on this earth she was so very supportive and kind. So, Rest In Peace dear, Gina! You will be missed.

As I said, I've been tatting. I believe this project is appropriate to show you with this tribute to Gina as it definately will depict the continuation of life and our art. Here is a look at the next project...

I'm working on a baby bonnet....and of course, I'm not following anybody's pattern. I am using a couple patterns published out there for the base of the work. You may recognize the 'Down the Garden Path' by Pam Palmer as well as pattern #50 from the Catherine Austin book "A New Twist on Tatting". I'm combining the patterns to create the top of the bonnet.

I will then create something for the back of the bonnet. I hope to begin that part later tomorrow or later in the week. I may have several questions as I approach the back.

I'll check back in and keep you posted on the progress.

Until then, please be safe and treat yourself with respect!!
John

The Unveiling

Here it is!

The final, final edition of 'Christmas stocking prototype #1'. I am so happy with the outcome. Several things learned along the way.

Here is a picture with a shuttle for perspective.

The question of the day....will I continue obsessing over Christmas stockings? Or, is there another project calling my name?

I'm sure you've been wondering about our twelve step program......I'm ignoring the entire idea of tatting addiction. But, will need to remind myself sometime in the near future to breathe....oh, wait! That's what this addiction is all about. Breathe in, breathe out...tat!

Have a wonderful day!
John

Almost finished

Greetings to you all!

Here is the final decision regarding the placement of the lace on the first stocking.

After all your wonderful comments and suggestions I started to fiddle with the lace on the stocking. Then, I realized you all were right. Some said, 'the top of the stocking' while others said, 'dangling from the lower edge'. Well, how about splitting the difference?

It made all the difference...at least in my humble opinion.

I blocked the lace. It was quite interesting trying to figure out how to block both sides. So, here was my process.

And now for some 'artsy' pics

As you see, I don't pin every picot. That's a bit too tedious for me.

I have begun to attach the lace and will be done some time this evening. I'll then take pics and let you see the final project. And Finally, You will be spared of my endless drivel about the 'Christmas stocking'.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!!
john