Toshti revised

I'm sure you've seen Fox's beautiful rendition of Jon's new pattern for doodads, Toshti. I'm amazed that Jon was able to come up with such a beautiful pattern with no doodads on hand! That situation will soon be remedied, because I sent her some today.

I looked at the pattern differently than Fox did, with the following result...

Since I started the pattern and joined to the doodad where I did, I had to leave out the clovers. I should have had the clovers at the four corners of the doodad, and then I would have achieved a result similar to Fox's. My version turned out to be very fiddly near the end, because I was trying to work in a tight space.

Jon has approved my version, and she'll work on tweaking the pattern once she has the doodads in hand. I'm sure she'll release her pattern to the tatting world very soon, so be on the lookout! I know I'd be thrilled to see a whole book of doodad patterns. Put me on the list please, Jon!

Doodad Double Dare #4, #5, and #6!

Michelle and Tattabugg have presented two lovely doodad designs! Michelle has chosen Fox's Athalia pattern in turquoise... sure wish I'd thought to use turquoise! Tattabugg took the plunge and designed her own. You'll just have to go take a look. I know you'll be inspired!

I finished my second doodad last night. It looks like it could use a little blocking. I didn't follow a pattern. I just doodled. I'm not much of a doodler, but I had fun with this.

Here are my two doodads side-by-side. I'm tempted to turn them both into bookmarks just like Michelle did. I love this sharing of ideas!

Doodad Double Dare #3!

Sarah joined the challenge, but she doesn't have a blog... yet! How about some comments to encourage her to join the blogosphere!

The following is copied and pasted from the email Sarah sent today...

Diane, 

This is what I came up with. I am thinking the size 40 thread works with the delicacy of the  doodad but if you were  to ware these as pendents or even earrings a heavier thread might be better, or maybe they just need to be stiffened. I may cut them apart and try something with size 20 thread  but I wanted you to see my first attempts. At any rate I'm having fun and learning some things too. Tatting onto a doodad is not as easy as one might think! Thanks for the challenge. 

Sarah

p.s. Yes, the spinning wheel mate was made with Lizbeth Pink Marble # 20 Thanks for the compliment. : )

Simple but sweet

Basic ring and chain size 40 thread Lizbeth Sherbet Delight 

Front side of small motif I found on the internet by Lisa Tumble

Thread is Jess's Fancy Field size 40 

This is the reverse side

Doodad Double Dare #2!

Miranda at Tatting Fool has completed her Doodad Double Dare! I love her idea for using split rings for her pendants... something I'll have to remember in the future. Please check out her blog post and leave a comment. Her work is impeccable!

I started on my second doodad this morning. I have an idea, but I'm just tatting and trying things out as I go. I figure I can always snip off the thread and start over if I don't like the way it turns out.

How are you doing with your Doodad Double Dare?

4-Eva Spinning Wheel

I finished my 4-Eva Spinning Wheel! If you're new to my blog, I think that you need to know that this is my all-time-favorite pattern from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. I've lost track of how many of these I've made, and I've given most of them away. I sure wish I'd remembered to take pictures of all of them. It would make quite a display! Thanks to Jess for this beautiful colorway. Yes, I've started another Spinning Wheel in another of Jess's hand-dyed threads. This time I'm using Navy Greens... can't wait to show it to you!

When working with hand-dyed threads, I like to wind the thread CTM onto two shuttles. I've found that the new Starlit shuttles from Handy Hands are perfect. I've used Tatsy shuttles in the past, but they really were larger than I needed and slowed me down tremendously. The SewMates are a little too small, but the Starlits are just right... hmmm... sounds like I've got a Goldilocks and the Three Bears theme going here!

The only thing I don't like about the Starlits is the pick. If I'm using a size 20 thread, I can sometimes unpick a knot, but I don't find it at all useful for finer threads or for joining picots. It just gets in the way. I did contact Barbara at Handy Hands about Starlits without the pick. She sent me a few that had been assembled incorrectly, and I love them!

Of course, I felt the need to own every color of the Starlit shuttles, and I do use them, but I've had this itch to get rid of the pick. This morning I got brave and decided to sacrifice a shuttle if necessary. Dave has been doing his Mr. Fix-It chores this summer, mainly replacing siding. Rather than make multiple trips up and down the stairs to his workshop in the basement, he set up shop on the porch... fine by me!

Keep in mind that Dave is not a tatter, however he does seem to support my addiction! I asked him for help with my Starlit shuttles, and he knew exactly what to do!

He used this handy-dandy tool to snip off the tip. I have no idea what the tool is called, but it worked like a dream!

As you can see, it needed a little more work.

There is a bit of a thickening where the tip protruded, but that little bit of extra thickness won't bother me.

Dave used his palm sander to smooth down the cut tip,

and to shape it.

It's not as perfect as the original short end, but I think it will work fine.

I did a little extra hand sanding with super fine sand paper to make it extra smooth. All it needs now is a little bling!

I haven't decided for sure, but I think I may be asking Dave to operate on my other Starlit shuttles!

Casey finishes first!

I'm so excited! Casey over at Casey's Minis is the first one to post about her completed doodads! Casey drew her design idea right on the card that came with the doodads and used some beautiful threads to tat the design. I hope you'll check out her blog and check out her design!

It is so great to be back at school and see all the kids! They either age you quickly or keep you young. Since this is my 28th year teaching, I think they're keeping me young! However, I am finding that I'm much more tired at then end of the day. I even dozed off with my tatting in my hands the other night. I'm guessing my finished tatting pieces will be fewer and further between!

I had a fabulous mail day today!

First, some fabulous findings from the ever-friendly and generous Fox! We exchanged some doodads, and I am thrilled that the ones Fox sent to me are totally different from what I sent her. I see a lot of tatting fun in my future! Thank you, Fox!

Lelia sent me some wonderful pastel shuttles for blinging. She sure knows the way to my bling-happy heart! She also sent me a wonderful little tin for holding needles. It's magnetized so that the needles don't fall out. I think I need to window shop more often so that I can find wonderful little goodies like this! Thank you, Lelia!

I finished an Origami bag for my granddaughter's friend Emily. Eva is teaching her how to tat! The funky mod shuttles on the left are for Emily. The pastel shuttles on the right are an experiment. I kept one layer of the white backing on the napkin to see if the floral pattern showed up better. I think it does, but I'm not sure if I like it or not.

Yes, I've been taking pictures with my computer on my lap. I'm almost finished with my 4-Eva Spinning Wheel. Five rings to go! I think it's time to get off the computer and get some tatting done!

Twinkle, twinkle, another star

This Two-Color Star is very slightly different... I forgot to change picot sizes!

Side-by-side, there's not a great deal of difference in size.

So, the girls' birthday presents are complete. This set is for Ella.

This set is for Lily. They're already tucked into princess birthday cards, ready to be mailed.

Now for my choices... finish my Spinning Wheel glass mat; finish Joanne's doily; work on one of my hanky edgings; finish my Yes-U-Can doily; finish my Clover doily; work on my Doodad Double Dare. I think I have too many choices!