Ruby Anniversary

Yesterday, my husband and I celebrated our 40th (Ruby) wedding anniversary. We went out for a meal in the evening with our son and daughter-in-law, Howard and Charlotte, and our best friends, Janet and Allen.

It was a beautiful meal, with plenty of reminiscing, laughing until we were crying, and of course, free flowing alcohol!

Picture Parade!

 

 The pictures of the arum lilies with leaves and the gladiolus have been sent to me from Christine Tse Yuet Ngor. She purchased my books some time ago and has now sent me pictures of what she has completed. She is really enjoying tatting my patterns and I think she has done a brilliant job!

 

Patty Markley from the Shuttelbirds tatting guild has sent me this picture of my Rosette Doily that she has made and is now sitting prettily on her table! Beautifully tatted, Patty!

Long time!

It's been quite a while since my last post! We have had some alterations at home and the extra work has really taken its toll on me, so much so, that I haven't tatted a stitch for two whole weeks! Now that isn't like me at all! I have an appointment to see a very special specialist about my back on 12th December and so I am keeping all my fingers (and toes!) crossed that he will be able to help me!
I have got as far as the 5th small doily around the coronet doily...I am very pleased with how it is looking and can't wait to get it finished, but the pain in my back will not let me lift my arms for long enough and with it being a complicated pattern I need to be able to concentrate. All I am doing at the moment are puzzles that I have downloaded off the internet onto my iPad!

Joining Motif for Coronet Doilies

Following Judy Edwards adaptation of my Coronet Doilies (see previous post) I thought I would have a go at doing my own version.

This is how I would join the smaller outer coronet doily motifs together.

Only 5 more outer doilies and joining motifs to make! It will be quite large when it is completed (I am using size 20 Aida threads). I will post the overall size when I have finished.

Blue Ribbon Win!

Judy Edwards entered her adaptation of my Coronet Doily into NC State Fair and won first prize in the lace section, which included all types of lace.

I think that this is a wonderful result and kudos for tatting!

Well done, Judy!

Double Fuchsia Flower

While I have been waiting for my thread to arrive for my Coronet Doily I have been playing with designing a double fuchsia. I did a single one in my very first book Petals to Pearls but I was recently looking at one of my beautiful double flowers in my garden and thought what a gorgeous one it would be to be replicated!

Here is the end result. I will do some leaves to make a display and then produce the pattern for it!

Cornet Doily - next step

Now that my new threads have arrived I can get on with this project! I'm pretty sure how I am going to join the outer motifs, but I think I will leave it as a surprise! LOL

Janet's Xmas Tree

Here is Janet's trial run of my Xmas tree pattern, but using a needle instead of a shuttle. Didn't she do well?

Janet did not want to make the tree into 3D earrings - as in the pattern - but wanted it as a tree motif.

As she says in her message to me, the second side is not quite as even as the first, but she will get it much better with practice. Looking forward to seeing her improvement as time goes on!

Well done, Janet!

Coronet Doily Adaptation

Over on InTatters one of the members had tatted my large coronet doily and then tatted and joined the smaller version around the outside. She then had to design a joining section. As you can see from this picture she did a pretty good job but I thought it would be fun to do my own version.

So far I have made the centre doily and done two of the smaller ones (pic not taken yet) but unfortunately I am running out of thread! I managed to get hold of Mary-Helen yesterday evening and very fortunately she has got the right thread and colours that I am using and is sending them to me. I will then crack on with the project.

In the meantime, I thought I would design a new fuschia flower. I have one in my book of summer flowers, but looking at a beautiful double one in my garden, I am going to see if I can do it justice!

Round/Square Doily

I have finally finished my Round/Square Doily. The outside edge is a little crowded, but I think the shape makes a change from the usual round or square doilies.

My best friend, Janet, loves it and that's all that matters. I shall present it to her tomorrow on her 44th wedding anniversary. Her husband, Allan, will have to make do with a kiss! LOL!!!

Giovanna's Flowers

Giovanna has been busy. Just take a look at these lovely flowers she has completed!

Round/Square Doily

This is one of those patterns that I have picked up my shuttle to see where it would take me!

I started round, then went to square and now it would appear to be ending up as a rounded square! LOL.

My best friend loves it, so guess what? With an anniversary coming up it will be hers!

Another Celtic Knot Bookmark

This is a variation on the Simple Celtic Knot Bookmark in my last post. I thought I would make it a little more interesting by weaving 3 rows of split rings.

Simple Celtic Knot Bookmark

I have designed this simple bookmark. The twisted chains give it a Celtic Knot style and by using 4 shuttles in alternating colours, makes it look a little more interesting.

I have written the pattern out and published the PDF which you can get from here

or from the Free Patterns section of my blog.

Don't worry if you do not have 4 shuttles, it can be done with 2 shuttles and 2 ball threads, but it can twist up quite a bit this way. Much easier to keep the threads under control if you use 4 shuttles!

Maria's version of Rosette Doily

Maria sent me a picture of the Rosette Doily that she just completed and considering she is a new tatter I thought she did it very well indeed!

Here is a link to her blog for more pictures.