I feel like I'm cheating...

because I've tatted Stumpy by Kersti Anear so many times. Nevertheless (I love that word!), Stumpy is my entry for the One Bookmark a Month challenge at The Tatting Forums.


This one's done in size 40 Lizbeth, color #131. I LOVE this color!

I just couldn't wait!

I was so excited to see all the responses to my 500th post, that I just had to go that random number generator and choose the winners!

So, here we go...

#49 - Isdihara
#11 - Jane Eborall
#32 - Marty
#19 - Martha
#42 - Robert

Congratulations everyone! Please send your mailing address to me at DianeCademartori at gmail dot com. I hope you enjoy your prizes!

The big 500!

That's right, blog buddies, this is my 500th post! I've been waiting for the Thanksgiving hoopla to get over before publishing this post, so that everyone who wants to can have the opportunity to win one of 5 prizes.


Yup, 5 prizes, because 5 is my favorite number!

What are the prizes? I guess you'll have to post a comment and hope you win one so that you can find out!

Please make sure you leave a way for me to contact you in case you're a winner.

Note: Lily asked when the drawing will be. I haven't decided yet!

Ooh! Eee!

First, I received my tatting press from Ann. It is even prettier in person! And look at all the goodies Ann sent with it... I'm going to be having a blast after Thanksgiving! Thank you, Ann! (Special note to Ann: It took me 7 tries to get this bow. I may have to come take lessons from you!)


Then, I stopped at my friend Denise's house after school yesterday. Look at all the goodies she gave me! She found some lovely Christmas scrapbooking paper for me to play with, some fancy stickers, jewels, glitter nail polish, and most importantly... Denise blinged two shuttles for me. Please click for a close-up... they're fabulous! Thank you, Denise!


And let's not forget tatting! Yes, Fox, I finished my third Iris Niebach motif! I'm not sure if it can replace my beloved Spinning Wheel glass mat, but it is a lot of fun to tat! I think I may have to tat a few more for Christmas gifts!

...and then there were two!

...of Iris Niebach's beautiful motifs! Iris presented this design as her Christmas present to all tatting friends in December 2002.

Fox has been inspiring all of us with her beautiful beaded versions. While I haven't taken the beading plunge yet, I did want to get back into working with Iris's designs. They're amazing!

Thank you, again, Iris and Fox!

Iris Niebach's Christmas Gift 2002...

"A Christmas gift to all tatting friends from Iris Niebach, Dec. 2002"

Thank you, Iris, for this lovely pattern!

...and thank you, Fox, for the inspiration to try another of Iris's patterns! Yes, it is addictive! ...and yes, I have started my second one!

Lizbeth size 20, color #670 and #685
Finished size 3 3/4"

Today's mail

...included my shuttle exchange from TypsTatting! I love the thread colors, and I'm amazed that anyone can decorate shuttles with such tiny little bits. I LOVE it. Thank you TypsTatting!

At last!

My dry spell appears to be over! I've managed to tat two snowflakes without any major snafus! These are Motif #11 from DMC Festive Tatting. I used size 20 Lizbeth, color #670 and #685.

I've probably thrown away 5 or 6 snowflakes in the past couple of weeks. I messed them up so badly that I didn't want to even try to fix them. It's really very discouraging to mess up simple patterns over and over again!

Now, to work on my very soothing Spinning Wheel glass mat... it's halfway done with no mistakes!

Mad about plaid!

I LOVE plaid! I believe my first pair of glasses were plaid... it's hard to remember... I was 3 1/2 at the time. In high school, pastel plaid skirts were very popular, and although I never owned one, I thought they were beautiful! My senior year in high school, I made myself a plaid jumper to wear to church for Christmas Eve services... one of my mother's friends made the same jumper pattern out of the same fabric... Mom said it showed that we both had good taste! When I was in college, my mom made a long plaid skirt for me to wear to a Christmas party. When my first granddaughter was born, I made plaid receiving blankets for her. My favorite wool throw is plaid. Need I go on?

So, when I saw this plaid Christmas fabric, I thought it would be perfect for decoupaged shuttles. These were going to be Christmas presents, but I like them so much, I think I may keep them for myself... I know that's extremely selfish, but that's how I feel!


I chose to align the plaid differently on each side. I am so pleased with the way these turned out!


Now I think I can stop bidding on those plaid shuttles that I can't really afford! : )

A shuttle swap thank-you!

I had so much fun swapping my decoupaged shuttles! Thank you to everyone who chose to swap with me!

Tattabugg sent this beautiful pink shuttle, a thread sample, and a gorgeous butterfly. To top it all off, she made the gorgeous card with tatted leaves.


I am honored that Bonnie sent me her very first blinged shuttles. Didn't she do a great job? I love the colors!


Val blinged this little beauty with tiny decorations. I don't know how she does it! I've tried adding nail art decorations, and I feel like I'm all fumble fingers.


Zarina sent me some of her beautiful hand-dyed thread. I asked for one skein in exchange, and she surprised me with two!


I was also pleasantly surprised with two colors of HDT from Marty. Now I get to try out her sister's thread that she's been bragging about!


...and can you believe this card? Marty even composed a poem just for me!


Thank you everyone! This has been so much fun! I now have a new addiction... swapping!

Mod Podge Crazy!

Yes, I have been tatting, but I haven't completed anything. I have three almost finished projects, but I'll save them for another day. When I take a break from tatting, I knit or decoupage! Here are my latest pieces...


Pastel Clover shuttles decoupaged with origami paper.


Side one of Sew Mate shuttles with no point, decoupaged with origami paper.


Side two of Sew Mate shuttles with no point, decoupaged with origami paper.


Sew Mate shuttles decoupaged with decorative napkins and bejeweled.


Side one of Tatsy shuttles decoupaged with origami paper.


Side two of Tatsy shuttles decoupaged with origami paper.

I'm looking forward to trying the Tatsy shuttles. I like that I can wind a full skein of HDT on one shuttle, but I don't like the fact that the thread catches on the raised letters. Looks like that problem might be solved!

Ready for another swap

With the last swap, I was open to anything tatting related. This time I'd like to swap for decorated shuttles. Are you interested?


I think this pink shuttle is my favorite in this batch. Marty asked if the thread caught on the "jewels." I couldn't honestly answer, because I hadn't tried the shuttles out. So, last night I tatted a Stumpy motif. There are three coats of Mod Podge and a coat of sealer. I had no problem with the thread catching, so I think all those coats are doing their job! ~ swap with tattabugg


It's hard to tell with the sun shining on this amber colored shuttle, but I used a wine theme napkin. I think it's really pretty! ~ for Lace Rn


Maybe the purple one's my favorite! This is the one that caught Marty's eye! ~ swap with TypsTatting


Lily said she was "green with envy" over this one. It is pretty! ~ swap with Lily


Although I love the teal shuttle, this is my least favorite of the group. The napkins become translucent with the Mod Podge. It's hard to tell, but this side has coffee beans. Since you can see through the Sew Mate shuttles, I should have decoupaged only one side.


I love the back side... coffee shows up so clearly! This should have been the top. ~ for Val

Anyway, if you're interested in swapping one of these shuttles for one of your decorated shuttles, please leave a comment. As before, I'll swap with the first person to leave a comment for each color.