New Tatting List

Well life got busy at the year-end with the announcement of the closure of e-tatters on Yahoo at the end of January :-(
Kersti’s Forum will continue http://www.etatters.com/

It is a case of “one door closes - another opens”

The outcome being that I started a new tatting list on Yahoo. After much procrastinating to find a name that would have no association to currant groups, guilds, individuals or publications. I finally came up with "Here-Be-Tatters"
Officially opened 1st January 2007

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Here-Be-Tatters

New beginnings for the New Year :-) An International gathering to further the Art of Tatting!

It’s been a steep learning curve setting it up being somewhat techno challenged but it is up and running with an amazing growth of membership (249 as I write this!) a wealth of expertise with many old and new friends.
We welcome levels from wannabes to old hands.
Be they needle or shuttle tatters...

Once life chills some... ...
Until then – please watch this space

Secret Santa Exchange

Well the best laid plans of mice and men.... I know I promised you another earring pattern
I will get to it soon but first I simply MUST share what my
Secret Santa sent What a hoot eh? And just so wonderful and precious to me...
This takes you to the PDF file that came via Jane E, who I may say has been dangling carrots all Christmas! because although the parcel was posted in plenty of time – it didn’t make it here. Just keeping everything crossed soo that it arrives when things get back to normal on Wednesday.

Who ever you may be Secret Santa – I thank you for the darn good giggle we had on the eve of the day (mmm temptation got the better of me and I just could not wait that extra day!!!)

I was Secret Santa to Tami in WA and really enjoyed making stuff and accumulating the bits to send her. Just managed to get the parcel to Gina in time for her to post it on for it to arrive before Christmas. But I will tell you there was TOTAL panic at one point!


Angel earring with real Ruby drops (well that’s what it said on the label!) Worked in #70 Majestic thread with Mill Hill seed beads. Original design by Debbie Arnold and pattern available on her site, Kits and Ready Made by her fair hand :-)


Bejewelled shuttle (Susan Bates with bobbin) only the second of this style I’ve ever decorated

This brooch (or pin as it’s known t’other side of the pond) is one of my unique “Tat–Upon’s”. Inspired by a piece of recycled jewellery and a "potion" of beads (made special with a pinch of this, sprinkle of that) then loads threaded, in this case onto Altin Basak (Turkish thread) I got from Tatting & Design
This is a stitch marker (or fob for a zipper) the idea is when tatting yards of lace you leave this in place and then you can see how far you tatted in that session. It's a beaded version of my own design, “FauxPar Butterfly" published in Karey Solomon’s Tatting Times Newsletter August 2006. A wonderful little publication only $15 a year for 4 issues! Contact me direct for her email addy.
A stepped picot gauge with my own tat dangle design. I also made a tree button brooch but seem to have lost the scan. Which is a shame because I needed it so I could reproduce it...

Many of the little bits were in a “buddy box” along beads, buttons, thread plus CHOCOLATE for sustenance while unwrapping all the little packages... And Angel dust, which she’ll be blessing me for all year
Hope it made the day special and keeps her quiet for a little while.
It was FUN and I thank you Gina for once again organising a wonderful exchange for members of your Tatting Goddess list

Christmas Tatting

Did I thank everyone for their Birthday wishes? I received so many virtual cards this year - it was wonderful. Thanks everybody.

Been a while since my last post – been madly preparing for the Silly Season. So been a few weeks since my last post. For one I refuse to be writing the duty cards until after "my" day :-) And then life got manic - getting the cards in the post on time, hand delivering others - making sure there was a tatted bit in for those that appreciate it. This year I did angels from Patricia Rizzo "15 Tiny Tatted Angels” and a few got my tatted earrings.


Then it was shopping! OMG!!!! There was us thinking if we go early and it won't be so manic! HA!!! Well yesterday I shopped until I dropped! The local Market, then supermarkets (yep more than one and you would not believe the empty shelves!) And a few other shops. I swear my arms are two inch longer! LOL

But it am done, I have food and plenty of the red stuff to keep me mellow till the New Year. And treats of special chocolate and my cheeses... Even a bit of smoked salmon and for the day a bit of Venison, which I shall make into a stew in advance - a rare thing in London. I do envy you the other side of the pond that can go shoot one! I'd eat nothing else. With only being the two of us a bird is such a waste (and I miss the telly cooking!) and lets face it valuable tatting time.

Guillermo (my apprentice as he calls himself) and his sister are visiting one day so I've got some chorizo and some lovely Spanish Red for the occasion. I shall make a traditional “Tortilla” and prepare Tapas for us to munch. I’ve still to make Nat some loony earrings. Will post them when made :-)

I have got some new supplies to play with. Beads and threads and not forgetting beads and I can tat all the wonderful patterns that has been shared this season. I thank one & all for their generosity.

My turn to share :-) I wanted some quick easy patterns for the season. Here’s my first example of wreaths and I decided to make the rings joined off centre. Just to make them different to other folks designs and I came up with these 5 repeat one’s that Have the bead at the base of the ring.


Use from ball with about 60 inch of thread & 5 beads on shuttle
Each ring has one bead around the hand
R1: 8 vsp 4 vsp 4 clr leaving the bead at the base of the ring RW
All Ch’s: 3 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3 RW
Next three R’s: 8 + (last R) 4 – 4 clr RW
Last R: 8 + (last R) 4 + (R1) 4 clr
Cut threads and pull through the core thread through base of R1 knot, leave length for hanger & knot again. That’s it and ideal for emptying shuttles. The two colour versions tails are hidden at start.

This then progressed into earrings, which I wanted bells at the base – so had to increase it to 6 repeats. Placing a jump ring at opposing sides of the wreath


Keeping the same counts throughout & still using the asymmetrical rings, I put three size 11 seed beads on the second picot with the future rings so that 2 beads are above and one below. To make room for the join between beads you need to use a small picot gauge after bringing up the beads. With size 20 Coats mercerised thread I used a 1/16” spacer gauge. Pattern as follows

First ring has 6 seed beads around the hand
R1: 8 <3b+sp> 4 <3b+sp> 3 clr RW
Ch: 3 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3 RW lay in magic thread at start of row
3 seed beads around the hand
R2: 8 + (bet 1st & 2nd Bead of last R) 4 <3b+sp> 3 clr RW
Ch2: 3 - 2 - 2 + (jump ring) 2 - 2 - 3 RW
3 seed beads around the hand
R3: 8 + (bet 1st & 2nd Bead of last R) 4 <3b+sp> 3 clr RW
Ch3: 3 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3 RW
3 seed beads around the hand
R4: 8 + (bet 1st & 2nd Bead of last R) 4 <3b+sp> 3 clr RW
Ch4: 3 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3 RW
3 seed beads around the hand
R5: 8 + (bet 1st & 2nd Bead of last R) 4 <3b+sp> 3 clr RW
Ch5: Ch: 3 - 2 - 2 + (jump ring) 2 - 2 - 3 RW
NO beads needed for the last ring
R6: 8 + (bet 1st & 2nd Bead of last R) 4 + (bet 2nd & 3rd bead R1) 3 clr RW
Ch6: 3 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3 RW lay in magic thread at end of row
Cut & pull through core thread at base of R1
Hide ends with magic threads

Note: To make the second earring rotate in the opposite direction
Reverse the order of making the double stitches
Make the rings 2,1 and the chains 1,2
1 being the first move (under)
2 being the second move (over)
Thus automatically the pattern is reversed

To Finish: Add ear wire to one jump ring and place bell on jump ring at opposite side

Done and very quick to make too - Enjoy

Tomorrow I have a Self Closing Mock Ring tree to share...
Soo watch this space... ... ...

Well... pant... puff... Back from the Post Office and earwigs are on their way. Had to rush because they close at 5.30! Good job I went - the nice man was serving and he tells me last post for the USA is this Monday!!! 11th December for stuff to get to the USA for Christmas - it earlier every year!

So be a panic over the weekend to get my Secret Santa posted off to XXXX
Fooled yer - thought I was going to say who then didn’t yer? LOL

The Tree earwigs I’ve just posted I’ll call NUMBER ONE of the 25 Motif challenge
I shall tat & share a mix of stuff for this:
Some will be my designs (with & without patterns)
Other people’s designs I’ve been itching to work
And my interpretations of other peoples designs

There will also be pictures of what I’m up to on eBay. Like at the moment I have a few of my decorated shuttles for sale and some of the Tree earwigs
http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQfclZ3QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQsassZyorkiesuelace

Which for some unknown reason I can't get the picture below this bit... Ah well little by little I'll get the hang of this Bloging game

I see emails are coming in that need my attentions
Later alligator

Well just got back in to me blog! When it says ID it wants me email addy NOT the title of the blog... DUH!'

Just found I've sold a pair of me tatted earrings on eBay finally...

So being late Friday, best rush get 'em packaged, labeled and posted off to Richfield, Minnesota so the lady gets 'em in time to wear them :-)

More later... ... ...

Well at last, some might say!!!

Well been and gone and done it... Finally I have a blog :-)
You can blame that Gail because I just HAD to leave that poem on for her daughter
Glow Tats

And I had to register before it'd allow me to comment
Now to do something with it LOL

Anyway off to feed our faces and be back with some tatting scans.
Like Arnie says, "I'll be back..."