What Camp?

edited:
Hey, Friends!

It is still just as crazy at work for me –I would say more than ever.  We will start with shutdown at COB on Thursday, and begin the live conversion April 1.  UmHuh, our boss thinks that’s quite humorous… and we will be working through the weekend.  The primary “system” person quit a few weeks before the scheduled date of implementation… Think that was planned?  I rescheduled the time I’d planned to be off for the Camp Stitchaway this weekend, but will take the time later – just missed out on the retreat!  For the past couple of weeks, I’ve only gotten home before 7:00 a couple of nights, and a few were closer to 8:00.  So anyway…

Who knew I needed a bit of a ‘pick-me-up’ surprise?  Diane!  In the mail yesterday was a puffy package from Miss Nan’s Needlework Notions, herself!  I thought, I haven’t ordered anything from here…  When I opened it up, the sweetest little pin cushion on chick feet you’ve ever seen was packaged among some colorful grass, with a sweet card.  How very thoughtful, Diane!  She spent a part of her Spring Break making something special for Moi!   It truly lifted my spirits at the end of a rough week.  Thanks so much, Diane!

I told myself all week I would clean house this weekend – but you KNOW I don’t want to do that.  It has been mid-70s or higher all week – today it’s 45 and raining!  I don’t want to move from here – finish this post, then go see what y’all have been stitching, get enticed into something else, then stitch!  You all do such a great job of enabling (don’t we all love it, thought), that I’ve picked up a few things here and there.  Don’t you just love Brenda’s site?  Such beautiful photos.

Did do a bit of finishing this week.  From Country Stitches,  Brenda’s store, I got some of her seam tape ribbon, and used it to make my version of a rouched ribbon trim on this BBD Be Mine, little pillow.  Not perfect, but pretty good for firsts.  As loosely as these are done, there would be plenty in the package for at least two – about 4x6 – but think I’ll pull the ribbon tighter next time.  If you decide to get some, the hardest part will be deciding which colors – they’re beautiful! 

I used silk ribbon from my stash on the Breath of Spring pillow, and it worked very well, too.  I tried some narrow, acrylic type ribbon but didn’t like the effect.  It may be more suitable for a smaller piece.  Oh, and I also got Bunny & Co. a new cross stitch pattern converted from a punch needle.

And… speaking of punch needle…  Have you tried it?  There are such cute designs, and  thought, why not give it a try?  I don’t remember who, but someone said to me, “It’s too easy – I don’t feel like I’ve accomplished anything when it’s done.”  Well, sister friend, I want you to show me how to make it feel that way!  I’ve tried SEVERAL times, and can not get my thread to punch and stay in. Yes, my fabric is in the hoop, tightly.  The thread is through the needle shaft and through the eye.  I’m holding the needle straight with the eye away from me.  Once in a while a few stitches will take hold, but on the other side they look wonky… Oh, and it's the fabric that came in with the package design.  I’ve looked on uTube, and think I’m following the directions.  Tips?? 

While I was 'playing' with rouching the ribbon, thoughts of using tatting to trim the pillows drifted through my mind... which led me to pull out the tatting supplies to tat a bit of trim...  I always wonder if I'll remember how... but it comes back after a few twists of the thread.

That’s it for today!  Now I’m going to see what you’ve been up to!  Hope you have a fine weekend for stitching, or doing whatever your heart desires!

Thanks for stopping by ♥ I love to read your comments, remarks, suggestions. 

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

Summertime

Edited 7/25/10Some of my long-time followers and friends know that I used to be a crazy quilter and a tatter.  The tatting group I belonged to, Palmetto Tatters' Guild, has their annual retreat coming up soon.  They have created a Crazy Quilt with lots of tatting that will raise funds for scholarships to the event.  If you're interested in making a donation for a chance to win (one of two) you can see the quilt here.

Did you see that My Giveaway Today is offering a gift certificate to Down Sunshine Lane?  Hop over to enter.   

Oh, how hot it has been – high 90’s with the feeling of 110 with humidity and no rain.    

I finished stitching Needle and Thread, LHN, so now need to make the bed and pillow…

This week was stitch night at my LNS, and it was fun to be back together with some of the girls who have been away.   I’m planning to go to a stitch-in for the first time out of town in a couple of weeks.  Will share more as I learn details.

Today is Mom’s birthday.  DS and I are going over for dinner and visiting when she gets home from work ;-).

Did you notice the ‘scale’ in my sidebar?  Lost three pounds this week.  It won’t be that good every week, but I really needed the incentive!  Thanks to all who wished success and commiserated with me. 

Hope there is a cool breeze in your part of the world.  Thanks for dropping by, and I’d love to hear your thoughts today!

    Peace♥Love♥Joy
and Happy Stitching!Charlene♥SC

A bit of tatting thrown in

~Update~
Here is another sample (dragonfly and button heart) of the thread used: Brilliant Sunset by YarnPlayer at etsy.com.



There has been a discussion on one of the yahoo groups I read about adding tatted embellishments, how difficult tatting is, and if one could not do tatting for years and come back to it. See, we do get inspiration from online groups!! Being sort of in between cross stitch projects right now, I decided to tat a lanyard to more closely match the name tag I cross stitched last weekend. I wasn't sure if there was enough of the thread I had used, but sure enough, there is. Got about half way with it last night, and will try to finish it tonight and post a picture. It is a fun diversion for a little while. Finished - here's thre picture.














Here is one I made with split rings several years ago using two colors.








I also made another one that I can't find with my favorite hook attached... Where is that thing?? It's made in split rings, too, but a different style on the hook attachment - I can't think of what the stitch is called - but you use only one half of the complete stitch to make a swirl effect.















~Happy Stitching~
Charlene in SC.USA

Online Tatting Class

If you're interested in participating in an online tatting class, see the information below. I was fortunate to attend a class with Mimi at the Palmetto Tatters' Conference, and she is amazing!

Beginner's Tatting Class online lessons begins this week, Thursday March 6th 9 pm New York Time. Each lesson is 1 hour. The set of lessons has been expanded to 6 weeks - but with no real addition of techniques - to allow students more time in class for question and answer (we hope!)

The schedule:
Meet and Greet: March 6, 2008
Lesson 1: March 13, 2008
Lesson 2: March 20, 2008
Lesson 3: March 27, 2008
Lesson 4: April 3, 2008
Lesson 5: April 10, 2008

Beginner's lessons homepage: http://www.angelfire.com/planet/newtatters/ (don't forget to check out the completed homework of previous students!)

In specific, the page we will discuss during the "meet and greet" lesson is: http://www.angelfire.com/planet/newtatters/meet_greet.html

Regards,

Mimi and Katiantrop

(click to email)

A little more practice

I've been tatting for a little more practice before Tat Days.

The colorful ones were done with some hand-dyed fibers from The Yarn Player's Etsy shop. If I remember correctly, this color is Rhubarb Pie. They work up SO well. I enjoy tatting with those plain shirt buttons you always wonder how to use... The white is DMC. The little baskets are a fun little motif to zip up, too, and they're Finca #16.

Flutter Bys

~Updated~ 8/30/07

Tat Days 2007 'Flower Garden' -- September 7 & 8, 2007

Here's a a portion of a recent message from Palmetto Tatters' Guild:

As always we are accepting tatted butterflies and beauties that we distribute each year at the SC State Fair. Last year we distributed over 4000 to let folks know about tatting. As of August 18, we only had 800. You can see some samples from last year here.

It's not too late, if you know someone that wants to come with you, bring them!

Registration can be completed at

Tat Days 2007 'Flower Garden'.
Looking forward to seeing you in 13 days!

Here are the ones I've made thus far... don't you want to make a few, too?

Tatted Baskets

I saw a basket by Laurie on the needle-tat group, and had to try it. Love the way it turned out, and will use them on my Crazy Quilts with flowers overflowing. The pink is made with #12 Finca pearl, and the white is #30 DMC Cebelia as is the tan that I dyed / stained with coffee.

Critters

I've been working on Jane Eborall's lobster for days, but have finally finished one that is going to pass. It's a fairly big project for me, but it was really fun since I have an idea for what I'll use it. It is done in size 20 Rubi thread.






After that was finished, I did one of Martha Ess' frogs. He was pretty quick and fun to do! Used size 12 Finca pearl thread.






Both these great women of tatting will be at Tat Days in September!



Interested in attending a Tatting Conference? The Palmetto Tatters' Guild presents the fifth annual Tat Days. Click here to find more information: http://www.palmettotatters.org/events/TatDays2007/TATDAYS2007.shtml

Spider Web

I've spent the last couple of days working with Mark Myers pattern for a spider web. His goes on for about six or seven rows, but this is as far as I've gotten without making a collander! It's fun to work on, and like this thread, too. Wish the center was closer, but that seems to pull the tension too tight, thus the bowl effect. There are some loose ends, but this is still a practice piece - I'll try to do better on the next one!

Tatting the Dimpled Ring

I tend to get focused on a pattern and go on and on with it... So it is with the dimpled ring. I've been making little edgings to use on my crazy quilt seams, and a bookmark as well. Have to keep those hands busy, don't you know?!

Tatting Exchange

I joined the May Exchange for bookmarks at ICELA'S WORLD, and today I received my bookmark from Marty. It is made with buttons from machine embroidery thread and hand quilting thread. It is so delicate and beautiful. Well, just take a look for yourself! Click on the photo to see all the wonderful detail.

Thank you for swapping with me, Marty. I love it!

This is the beaded bookmark I sent to Marty. It is made with the Rubi #20 thread with blue beads.

Blue Bookmark

Another bookmark made with Finca 12 variegated using elongated arora boralis beads.

Bookmark Crazy?

Have I gone bookmark crazy? They're an easy thing to complete, and good practice for me! They look so different with modified tassles or headers. These have been fun to make, and there are plans for a few of them. You can see some below in the blocking phase.

The purple on the left is made from Finca pearl cotton size 16 as is the orange on the right. The blue in the center is from DMC 80 cotton.

The white is from a new thread I won on eBay from Paraguay - Rubi size 20 cotton. It seems a little stiffer and fuller.

Hooks - 25-Challenge Complete!

How do you keep track of your miscellaneous tatting tools? Do you use a Chatelaine? I imagine that they would be heavy.

Do we all use a hook to pull through our joins? I have two hooks - one for regular joins and another for joining with beads that is very tiny - I'm sorry I don't know the sizes. I have a lanyard for the bigger one that was just sitting around the house, and it is so handy to have around my neck while tatting. I needed something for the smaller one since picking it up from the table each time was a distraction, when it didn't get knocked off onto the floor! I had made a lanyard for a name tag long ago, and decided that's what I needed for the tiny hook. It is made from size 20 Finca with split rings and Josaphine knots around the holder. -25

Bookmark and Edging

Blocked bookmark size 12 Finca that is a nice, deep coral -23





Blocked edging size 12 Finca that is a pale, seafoam green -24

Button Motifs

A couple of little button motifs to share with friends. 20, 21

Tatted Flowers

This is a tatted edge I used on the Share Our Hearts for April. 18

Owls

I found the pattern for these in the Tatting Collage book by Lindsay Rogers. 16

Spiders and Flower

These are doodles of a multi chain flower and experimenting with tatting spiders - CQ you know! 15

More Morning Glories

Using the design by Nell Corns "Morning Blossoms" I tatted another set of my Morning Glories. 14