I needed a bookmark

So I tatted this one from the back of my Moonlit tatting shuttle package in Lizbeth Peacock Blues. Now I'm ready for a new book!

Just in time!

Yup! This beautiful bookmark arrived just in time for school! I always like to take special bookmarks to school. The kids get a big kick out of seeing what my bookmark of choice is, and thanks to several of my blogging buddies, I have a nice selection for the upcoming school year! This latest one is from Lily, and I know the kids will be fascinated with the beads. Who can resist a little glitter and glitz?

Thank you, Lily!

Leftovers

Yes, I've tatted another bookmark! I really like this insertion pattern, and I had some leftover thread on two shuttles that I want to take with me to Alabama. The purple is size 10 Flora, and the pastel is size 20 Rainbow Sherbet (I think) from Sherry Pence. I wanted to see how two different sized threads would work together. I don't think I'll make a practice of combining thread sizes, but it worked for this little bookmark, and it was a good way to use up the thread on the shuttles. I only had about 3" of each thread left when I finished... just enough to hide the ends!

Pineapple bookmark

I really set out to crochet a small doily, but as I was looking through my books I found this pattern, and it just called out to me! My friend Denise's favorite crochet motif is the pineapple, so I think of her whenever I see one. Denise has made several of the bookmarks from this leaflet, but this is my first one. I know this is not a typical pineapple color, but it still looks pretty to me!

Mystery thread

Sherry identified my mystery thread... Rainbow Sherbert! Thank you, Sherry! It does look good enough to eat!

For those of you who like bookmarks, I found this site http://www.bookmark-collector.com/ on my Google alerts this morning. I visited, because my tatted bookmarks are mentioned! I was so excited to see my little tatted pieces linked to this site!

Tatted bookmark no. 3

I finished my third bookmark this morning on the way to Chicago. I don't get to see my husband much between Easter and Memorial Day, because he is very busy with spring plant sales. He's a tropical plant wholesaler. So, this morning when he asked me if I wanted to go with him on a delivery to Chicago and then go out for breakfast, I said yes! Since the scenery is so familiar to me, it was easy to decide to take my tatting along.

This little beauty was tatted in size 20 Tie Dye Blue from LadyShuttleMaker, using one of her beautiful ceramic shuttles. When I finish the fourth bookmark, I'll post a picture of all the bookmarks, the book, and the shuttles I used. I love having a variety of shuttles to choose from!

Another tatted bookmark!

I really should finish the laundry and do some dusting, but I just had to tat another bookmark today. This one is similar to the one I made for Mom. It's Yarnplayer's "Golden Glow", size 20.

Two down, two to go!

Tatting bookmarks for teachers

It's hard to believe, but school will be over for the year this coming Friday! Where has the time gone? We're going to have a staff cookout on Thursday and say farewell to four of our colleagues. The high school principal is taking on a new post near his family home in western Illinois. Our high school business ed/home ec teacher is moving to Arizona to be near her mom and brothers. One of our middle school resource teachers is also moving closer to family. One of our kindergarten teachers is moving closer to home and has accepted a position as a middle school language arts teacher. I sense a theme here... there's no place like home!

I'd like to do something special for these dedicated educators, and I've decided on bookmarks. This is the pattern I made for Mom (No. 36: Insertion from The DMC Book of Charted Tatting Designs by Kirstine Nikolajsen & Inge Lise Nikolajsen). This is a very easy pattern to follow, and it tats up quickly. The thread is LadyShuttleMaker's Purple Lime Tie Dye, size 20. I love the way this worked up. The sections of green remind of grape seeds next to purple grapes.

I haven't decided yet if all four bookmarks will be the same. After all, variety is the spice of life!

Tatting for Mom

I really meant to do something special for my mom this Mother's Day, but I had a hard time thinking of what I could do that would be meaningful without taking up a lot of space. Mom works very hard to keep clutter under control.

This morning, it hit me... a tatted bookmark! My mom has been my greatest influence when it comes to a love of reading and needlework. So, Mom, this bookmark is for you! Belated Happy Mother's Day! Love, Diane

The pattern is No 36: Insertion from The DMC Book of Charted Tatting Designs by Kirstine Nikolajsen & Inge Lise Nikolajsen. The thread is Yarnplayer's "Golden Glow", the same thread I used for the tatted crosses for the stole Mom is weaving.

Thank you, Jeff!

First, a big thank you to Jeff, who was able to identify the little angel I tatted last summer! The pattern is Tatted Angel by Lenore English. After comparing my angel to Lenore's I can see improvements that I want to make in my tatting. I've come a long way since I made this darling little angel over the summer! Thank you for the pattern Lenore!

I met my goal of making as many woven bookmarks as possible from one 3.5 oz. skein of Read Heart Carefree Cotton on my 2"x6" Weave-ette. I was able to make 29 in the past week! I probably could have squeezed #30 out of the skein if it hadn't been for two knots I had to cut out. I didn't want to mess with extra ends, so I just took the yarn off the loom and started over. I need 9 more, but I'll probably use some Red Heart Sport that I have on hand rather than going out and buying more cotton... we're expecting sleet today.

The bookmarks still need to be blocked... I know! I know! I said I wouldn't post a picture without blocking first, but I wanted to post, and these will take a while to dry. I found two tiny snowflake patterns in Vida Sunderman's Tatted Snowflakes. I'm not quite ready to tat most of the snowflakes in this book, but at least I've started! The snowflake on the right is "Simple Snowflake" on page 32. The one in the middle is "Sparkling Snowflake" on page 17. The one on the left is my own doodle. I was trying to remember the pattern for the middle snowflake at lunchtime the other day... I'd left my book at home. Not bad for a doodle, but I like Vida's "Sparkling Snowflake" better.

I have less than two weeks to finish these! I'd better get tatting!

Christmas bookmarks

I came to the sad realization yesterday that I do not have enough time to tat bookmarks for everyone on my Christmas list. So, I pulled out my 2x6" Weave-ette and got to work!

The bookmark at the top is really a pretty red, Cherry Red - Red Heart Sport. The next two are Clown #1720 sock yarn by Marks & Kattens. Next is Patons Grace - Spearmint, a 100% mercerized cotton. I wonder how it would tat? The bottom is a Christmas yarn that my friend Denise had on hand. It's a worsted weight and looks nice when finished, but it's a little thick for a bookmark. The bookmark on the right is some Lion Brand Baby Soft that I had wound on the loom and then forgot about.

If I have time, I'll tat little motifs to sew onto these.