Doodad Snowflake #5 in Country Christmas

Love the thread, love the color, love the pattern... what more can I say? It even looks good on my tree, but I've given up on taking pictures of the tree because I just can't get a good one. Maybe I'll experiment with my camera after Christmas!

I participated in a button swap with Bri, and this is what I received today! The deal was to send two buttons and receive one back all decorated. I think it was a great deal! Thank you Bri!

As soon as Dave finishes his work in the sun room, we'll get the big tree up, and I will be decorating with loads of tatting!

Doodad Snowflake #3 ~ Country Christmas

Have I ever mentioned how much I love hand-dyed threads? They are smooth, luscious, and just plain beautiful! At one time, Sherry Pence aka LadyShuttleMaker offered to dye color combinations on request. I don't know if she still offers that service, but I do know that I fell in love with this color that I requested. You can still find some in her shop, so I guess others must have liked the color combo as well!

Before I forget...

Tollway Tatters will be meeting Saturday, December 15. If you're interested in joining us for some fun tatting and chatting, please email me for details. Wearing of tie-dyed t-shirts is optional! ;-)

Triangular Doodad Snow Crystal with pattern

Allison said it counted for the snowflake challenge. 

Denise reminded me that I had hand-dyed thread from Sherry Pence called Country Christmas.

Jane requested the pattern.

Now, if I could only figure out how to take a picture that shows the beauty of the ornament on the tree!

Here's the pattern for Jane, and anyone else who might be interested...


Supplies needed: 
2 shuttles
size 20 or 40 thread
doodad center with 6 holes (technically called finding, component, or link)

Wind thread CTM on two shuttles.

*Ring 1: 4 - 4 + 4 - 4 (join to hole on doodad), reverse work.

Chain 1: 3 - 3 - 3 - 3, switch shuttles.

Ring 2: 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 (5 picots), switch shuttles.

Chain 2: 3 - 3 - 3 - 3, reverse work.

Ring 3: 4 + 4 + 4 - 4 (join to last picot of 1st ring and to next hole in doodad), reverse work.

Chain 3: 6 ds, switch shuttles.

Ring 4: 3 - 3 - 3 - 3, switch shuttles.

Chain : 6 ds, reverse work.

Repeat from * three times. Remember to join last ring on doodad to first picot on first ring on doodad.

'tis the season to be jolly!

...and boy, do I feel jolly! Look what arrived in the mail yesterday...

two new Pop-A-Bobbin shuttles, and one of Jane's wonderful button brooches... in blue! I can hardly wait for school Monday, when I will wear my new brooch. Thank you, Jane!

I finished my snowflake for the day, Kira's Star by Birgit Phelps, beaded this time. I decided that I needed to use one of my Christmas Origami pouches with matching shuttles for this project. There's nothing like combining tatting and suitably decorated holiday tools!

Doesn't it look pretty on the tree? It won't be staying there long. This one is a gift. I may have to make another beaded one for me. Blue maybe?

Speaking of blue, Fox the Enabler forced me to go thread shopping today. She just had to post about a pretty new blue thread she found. I admit, I am drawn to shiny, glittery objects, especially blue ones. After seeing Fox's new thread, I just had to have some beautiful new playthings. I'm not sure how these threads will work, but I'm willing to give them a try. Wouldn't they make pretty snowflakes?

Snow Crystal

I had an idea for a snowflake...

but I'm not very good at envisioning my ideas, and I'm terrible at math! So, instead of a snowflake, I created a snow crystal.

I read Snowflake Bentley to my students every year, and we spend time looking at snowflakes and snow crystals online. Luckily, I remembered that there are images of triangular snow crystals!

What do you think, Allison? Can I count this as a snowflake for the challenge?

December 6th Snowflake

So far, so good! I'm keeping up with Allison's Snowflake Challenge!

Can you tell that I really like the first round of Kira's Star by Birgit Phelps? I'm thinking of trying it with beads. I know... very daring!

I really like this Boysenberry Dk. Berries and Christmas trees seem like a natural pairing to me!