Four more bookmarks!

Who knows... I may finish little tattings for all my bookmarks! If not, I have a backup plan... more on that later!

Two of the bookmarks have "Sparkling Snowflake" from Tatted Snowflakes by Vida Sunderman. The other two were inspired by Tatting Rings of Flowers by Mary Maynard.

I took a nap, I mean a break from tatting this afternoon, and now I can't seem to wake up enough to get back in the groove. All I want to do is take another nap, I mean break from tatting. I think you get my drift!

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.

Ornament #3

I've finally finished my third ornament... the green one! It's not my favorite, but I'm going to use it anyway. I think I would have liked it better if it had an even number of pattern repeats instead of an odd number. It just looks unbalanced to me. I got brave with this one and didn't follow a pattern. I think I'll use a pattern for the next one!


Does anyone recognize this little angel? I tatted her over the summer, and I'd love to give credit to the designer (and make more angels), but I can't remember where I got the pattern. I think my tatting skills have improved since I made this one. It sure would be fun to do another and see if I've learned as much as I think I have!

The Mad Hatter

I needed a bit of cheering up today, and I was blessed with a wonderful package from TATBiT! I now have three new hats to add to my winter wardrobe... I can't wait to wear them to school! The kids will get such a kick out of them! I tried to pose so that you could see the bits of tatting, beads, pins, flowers, fun fur, and cording that make these hats so special, but you'll just have to come visit me to get a better look!

I also received a very special shawl pattern, and a painted gnome. I love gnomes! I have the book Gnomes (Is that the title? I know I have it around here somewhere...), and this past August my parents went to John C. Campbell Folk Camp and Dad carved a gnome, which now has a special place in my home.

Tagged again!

I've been tagged by Sarah to tell 8 things about myself. Oh, dear! Are there 8 more things people really want to know? I'll try!

1. I was born in Hampton, Virginia, while my dad was in the Air Force. We lived in Philadelphia until the end of my 8th grade year, when my dad was transferred to Chicago.

2. I have close relatives (parents, siblings, children, aunts/uncles, cousins, in-laws) in Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, and North Dakota. Did I get them all, Mom?

3. My dad says I need a dumpster to clean out my sewing room... I think you're right, Dad!

4. My husband is the most patient person I have ever met. We've been married 27 years, and I can only remember him getting angry with me 3 times... I know I deserved his anger many more times than that!

5. I like to have things perfect. If they can't be perfect, I don't bother... can you guess what state my house is in? I hope you guessed not perfect!

6. I am the oldest of four children... I have two sisters and one brother... they're the best!

7. I have most of my Christmas presents bought/made... I might start wrapping them tonight!

8. I taught 4th grade one year, the other 22 years have been in the library/computer lab. I much prefer the library/computer lab... I get to spend time with all the kids for a little bit every week. It's fun to see how much they grow and learn from preschool through 5th grade! I even have some of my former students' children in school now!

What a find!

My sister, Janet, my brother, David, and I flew down to Alabama to visit our parents this past week. While we were there, my mom gave me this wonderful pattern book that she found. It was published by The Spool Cotton Company in 1944... 37 designs in one 10 cent book! I started the first edging right away, but I left my tatting in Alabama! Mom will send it to me next week.