Motif 18 - 25 Motif Challenge

I can not believe that today is the last day for 2014!  Where has the year gone!  Must make sure I have more time to tat in 2015 :).

For my 18th Motif, I tatted Robin Perfetti's First Snowfall pattern which can be found on her Tatting by the Bay blog.  This was a fun and easy pattern to tat as it was tatted all in one round.  Hoping to find the time to tat some of Robin's other gorgeous patterns :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).  Wishing you all the best in 2015!

Cheers,

Jenn :). 

P.S. for more info about the challenge, please visit 25 Motif Challenge blog :).

Handmade Card Exchange

I recently participated in a Handmade Card Exchange.  You have to send a handmade card and a postcard/photo of your area.  Having never made a card before, I thought I better keep mine as simple as possible.  

For the background, I found this perfect mountains/night time scrap booking paper.  This was attached to the card using sticky dots.  Amazing stuff!  Only just discovered it and can see I will be using it more often in the future :).

For the star ornament, I used the Twinkle Twinkle pattern found on Le Blog de Frivole and attached it using a split pin (fastener) so it can be easily taken out to use.  The thread used to tat this star is micro C-Lon nylon cord in baby blue (sky blue) colour.  This thread does take some getting used to especially when tatting chains but I love how I do not have to block or stiffen the star once I'm done tatting.  Will definitely be tatting some snowflakes in this thread for our Christmas tree :).  Special thanks to Teri Dusenbury for suggesting the C-Lon thread :).

My girls fell in love with the card so it looks like I will be making two more for them :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Still working on Magic Square Doily

Slowly tatting the Magic Square Doily.  I am 1/8 through the pattern and the pattern is for a large square.  I'm trying to decide whether to stop at this size or continue with the large square.

I am using Lizbeth #20 thread: White and Grape Dark (#645).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

My Magic Square Doily

Recently there were talks about "Magic Square" on InTatters and Halibut04 provided a pattern for a 2 coloured Magic Square doily.  InTatters is no longer available and I will try find the pattern on Craftree.

My Magic Square Doily

This is an easy and fun pattern to tat.  I was heading into the city to attend this month's Queensland Tatters meeting.  I had to use an alternate train route and decided to tat this on the train.  The pic above is the result of ~1 hour tatting on the train there and back :).

I am using Lizbeth #20 thread: White and Grape Dark (#645).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Motif 17 - 25 Motif Challenge

On my To Tat list is the Beaded Flower by Corina Meyfeldt.  The pattern can be found on her CM-Handmade blog.  This pattern was easy and quick to tat up.  Besides my poor colour choices, I am pretty happy with this beaded flower.  Definitely will be tatting this again with better colour choices :).

 

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :). 

P.S. for more info about the challenge, please visit 25 Motif Challenge blog :).

Motif 16 - 25 Motif Challenge

A couple of months ago I discovered Teri Dusenbury's blog TATtle TALES Tatting Patterns which are full of gorgeous tatting patterns, gorgeous beaded pieces and Teri's designing process.  There are so many patterns I wanted to tat!  

I finally settled on Wheel of Fortune Snowflake for my 16th Motif.  The pattern/design was used with permission (thanks Teri).  This was a fun and easy pattern to tat.  I did make a mistake at the beginning.  I did not realise that the first clover were floating rings until I tatted the next set of floating rings/clover!  It's obvious where I made the mistake but it is OK as it is for our Christmas tree :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :). 

P.S. for more info about the challenge, please visit 25 Motif Challenge blog :).

Floral Bookmark for my pink girl

To encourage one of my daughters to read more, I have tatted her a Floral bookmark by Robin Perfetti.  The pattern is available on Robin's Tatting By the Bay blog. 

Despite a small mistake, I found the pattern easy and quick to tat up.  Now to stiffen a little and tat a bookmark for my purple girl :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Motif 15 - 25 Motif Challenge

For my 15th Motif, I test tatted the Dome Pendant pattern for Elaine P Gan.  This is a great pattern.  So fun to tat and easy to follow :).

This pattern is available in Elaine's second tatting eBook available for purchase in her Craftsy Shop here.

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :). 

P.S. for more info about the challenge, please visit 25 Motif Challenge blog :).

Motif 14 - 25 Motif Challenge

Spring is here!  The Deep Purple Butterfly pattern I test tatted for Elaine P Gan is perfect for Spring.  This pattern is easy to follow and tat.  I had fun tatting this pattern and going to tat it again with two solid colours.  I am going to see if I can make the butterflies stand out :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :). 

P.S. for more info about the challenge, please visit 25 Motif Challenge blog :).

Motif 13 - 25 Motif Challenge

For my 13th Motif, I tatted this gorgeous snowflake.  The pattern can be found on Patrycja's blog Milczenie nitek.  This was an easy pattern to tat and can be done in one pass using a shuttle and ball.  Will have to tat it again as I just noticed a small mistake!

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :). 

P.S. for more info about the challenge, please visit 25 Motif Challenge blog :).

Motif 12 - 25 Motif Challenge

I have always wanted to tat a dragon motif so when Michelle Bottorff shared her Dragon Pendant on InTatters (June 2014) I added it to my "To Tat" list.  The kids were home yesterday (Show holiday) so I was finally able to attempt the pattern as my 12th Motif :).

I have made some mistakes: extra picots and I didn't have the threads in the right place so there are  some twisting.  Will definitely tat this again as we need a pink dragon and a purple dragon :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :). 

P.S. for more info about the challenge, please visit 25 Motif Challenge blog :).

Motif 10 & 11 - 25 Motif Challenge

For Motif 10 and Motif 11 of my 25 Motif Challenge, I test tatted the Camellia earrings and pendant patterns for Elaine P Gan.  Both are gorgeous patterns and easy to tat.  Both patterns were included in Elaine's first eBook of tatting patterns which can be purchased on Craftsy here :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :). 

P.S. for more info about the challenge, please visit 25 Motif Challenge blog :).

Motif 9 - 25 Motif Challenge

For Motif 9, I tatted a motif pattern from Tina Frauberger's tatting book (1919).  Elaine P Gan had  drawn the diagram for this pattern and I tested it for her.  This was a fun and easy pattern to tat.  I will have to tat this pattern again with a solid coloured thread :).

 

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :). 

P.S. for more info about the challenge, please visit 25 Motif Challenge blog :).

Motif 8 - 25 Motif Challenge

The Heart's Desire pattern by Susan K. Fuller has been on my "To Tat List" since I saw it shared on Facebook.  I finally had some time and decided to tat it as my 8th Motif.  I tatted this using the pattern shared on Le Blog De Frivole (all the way at the bottom of the web page).

There are a few mistakes but hopefully they are not noticeable as I tatted the same mistake on both sides of the heart :).  Now to block and stiffen the motif for my 7yo daughter :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :). 

P.S. for more info about the challenge, please visit 25 Motif Challenge blog :).

Motif 7 - 25 Motif Challenge

For Motif 7, I tatted the Dahlia Motif from the New Tatting book by Tomoko Morimoto.  This was a fun and easy pattern to tat.  I am looking forward to trying the other lovely patterns in the book :).

This book is available on Book Depository (free worldwide postage) or as an eBook from Interweave Store.

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :). 

P.S. for more info about the challenge, please visit 25 Motif Challenge blog :).

Motif 5 & 6 - 25 Motif Challenge

I love the look of the Trio de Trèfles pattern on Le Blog de Friovle and decided to tat all 3 patterns as my fifth motif :).

For Motif 6, I tatted the leaf pattern titled La Feuille Frivole also on Le Blog de Friovle.  Not perfect but still adorable!  Will have to tat a few more of these :).

All these patterns were easy to understand and follow.  I had so much fun tatting these leaves.  Hoping to attempt the Maple leaf pattern (Feuille d'Érable du Québec) next :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :). 

P.S. for more info about the challenge, please visit 25 Motif Challenge blog :). 

Motif 4 - 25 Motif Challenge

Long time no post!  I have been tatting but could not find the time to weave in ends, take pics and blog about my tatting.  My kids went back to school for Term 3 last week so I have finally caught up with weaving in ends and taking pics :).

For Motif 4, I tatted the Lantana Pendant by Elaine P Gan from Tatting Box on Facebook.  This was a fun and easy pattern to tat.  Will have to tat this pattern again with a solid coloured thread :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :). 

P.S. for more info about the challenge, please visit 25 Motif Challenge blog :).

Tatting Tool Exchange

I recently participated in a Tatting Tool Exchange.  The aim is to send your partner the tatting tools you've found most useful for tatting.  My exchange partner was an experienced tatter from USA who has tatted for 42 years! 

In the first photo, my exchange partner sent:

• A bag to hold a tatting project.  It is the perfect size to carry a decent size project.  I have used it to carry my Renulek's Summer Napkin project in :). 
• A mini crochet hook with a gorgeous motif.  The crochet hook is very handy.  Much easier than using the hook off my aero shuttle especially when that shuttle is being used for another project!
• A lovely decorated shuttle and some matching coloured thread.  I can not wait to try the shuttle and thread :).

Tatting Tools from my exchange pattern

Also in my exchange package was this mug tatting tools holder!  What a wonderful idea!  I love it!  I don't have enough tatting tools but plan to buy some to fill all the pockets :).

Another Tatting Tool from my exchange partner

Special thanks to my tatting partner for a wonderful and thoughtful exchange package :).  I love everything that was sent :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Round 3 of the Renulek Summer Napkin done

Round 3 of the Renulek Summer Napkin is done.  I tatted this round all in green as I wanted the pink to stand out :).

All the posts for the Renulek Summer Napkin can be found here.  You will need to scroll all the way to the bottom for the first round.

Next Round 4 and to figure out how which areas will be pink or green :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Joining Renulek Summer Napkin

Finally found some time to join the Renulek Summer Napkin tat-along.  I decided to tat this using coloured thread.  Definitely more exciting with colours :).  Here's mine after round 2 :).
 

For this napkin, I am using #20 Lizbeth thread: colours #620 Azalea Medium and #684 Leaf Green Medium.

All the posts for the Renulek Summer Napkin can be found here.  You will need to scroll all the way to the bottom for the first round.

Next round 3 :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Motif 3 - 25 Motif Challenge

I wanted to try tat some Josephine knots so I chose the Knobby Bud pattern from This'n'Tat for my third motif.  The pattern was relatively easy to tat except I had issues with the last join (of the chain).  Had to unpick twice before I finally got it to sit right :).

For this motif, I used #10 DMC BabyLo thread.  This motif will also be used as a Christmas ornament for our Christmas tree this year.  I am hoping to get all 25 motifs of the challenge done by Christmas :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :). 

P.S. for more info about the challenge, please visit 25 Motif Challenge blog :). 

Motif 2 - 25 Motif Challenge

Continuing with my 25 Motif Challenge, here's my Motif 2 using Small Rainbow Motif pattern from Le Blog de Frivole.  I tatted this motif using dark blue thread instead of rainbow coloured thread.

Another pic with ends tidied up :).

 For this motif, I used #20 Lizbeth thread.  This motif will also be used as a Christmas ornament for our Christmas tree this year :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Motif 1 - 25 Motif Challenge

From reading other tatter's blog, I have discovered the 25 Motif Challenge.  For more information about it, please visit this link: http://25motifchallenge.blogspot.com.au/. Basically you have to tat 25 motifs in one year.  With only ~34 weeks left this year, I better get started!

For my #1 motif, I used the pattern for Motif 1 from The Piney Woods Tatter's blog but left out the beads.

I used #40 hand dyed thread from NAG Studio on Etsy and a button sent by Jenni C.  This is my first tatting attempt with a button and I love it :).  This motif will be used as a Christmas ornament for our Christmas tree this year :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Parfait Snowflake from Craftsy Shuttle Tatting Course

Recently I enrolled and completed Marilee Rockley's Craftsy online shuttle tatting class.  One of her patterns in the class is Parfait Snowflake.  This has been a fun and easy pattern to tat.  Will have to tat a few more for our Christmas tree :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Mail from Jenni C

On Monday I also received a thoughtful and generous package from Jenni C.  Jenni did a Giveaway in a Facebook group and my name came up!  I was expecting something small so was totally surprised when her package arrived.  It felt like Christmas :).  Thank you kindly Jenni :).

It is now Thursday and I am still surprised & amazed every time I go through the package.  There are heaps of items in there that I didn't know that could be handy for tatting or used for tatting.

Thoughtful and generous package from Jenni C

I hope to try everything out and stock up on the most useful ones for future swaps.  Now if only dinner can cook itself so I can start playing and tatting :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Mail from Monica at NAG Studio

Love receiving mail!  On Monday I received my gorgeous shuttles and #40 sized thread from Monica at NAG Studio on Etsy. Monica hand makes these shuttles and hand dyes the thread.

Gorgeous shuttles and thread from NAG Studio

Love the colours of the shuttles.  They are so smooth and wonderful to tat with.  Also love the colour of the thread.  Gorgeous purple colour.  I just had to try the shuttle with the thread :).

Trying out the shuttle and thread

This was my first time tatting with this size.  I can not believe how tiny the motif is compared to #20 sized thread!  I can see why this size is a favourite with tatters.  Planning to make a butterfly motif to use on a birthday card for my youngest daughter who loves purple and will be turning 5 years old in May :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Tried Corina's fake maltese chain

Taking a break from the Renulek Spring Napkin, I decided to try out a new technique using Corina's fake maltese chain tutorial on her blog: CM-Handmade.

From Corina's blog post, this technique is similar to the Shuttle Brothers' Alternating thread technique.

This was easy to tat once I got used to holding two thread on two separate fingers on my left hand :).

Next is to try this in a ring using the technique shown in Gina Butler's YouTube video: Shuttle Brothers Alternate Thread Wrap.

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Round 3 of Renulek Spring Napkin done

Round 3 of the Renulek Spring Napkin took me a while to tat but it is finally done!  Yay!

All the posts for this pattern can be found on Renulek's blog here.  You will need to scroll towards the bottom for the first round.

Next Round 4!

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Tatting Round 3 of Renulek Spring Napkin

Being a slow tatter, I am still tatting/working on Round 3 of Renulek Spring Napkin.  I am just over half way and hope to finish the round this weekend :).

All the posts for this pattern can be found on Renulek's blog here.  You will need to scroll towards the bottom for the first round.

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Surprise Mail

Recently I participated in a secret Spring Shuttle Exchange on Facebook where the receiver do not  know who will be sending them a shuttle.  Today I received my mail from UK!  I was out most of the morning so it was a lovely surprise to come home to see a package waiting for me :).

My secret sender sent me two gorgeous shuttles.  I will need to ask them about the history of the pink one as it looks old.  I am delighted with both as they are two shuttles I don't own.  The blue with adorable stickers is a Clover from Japan.

The book mark is gorgeous!  I am always amazed to see other tatter's finished items.  They are all neat and tiny!

There were also a bag of beads which I forgot to include in the photo.  Here is a pic of them :).

Looking forward to using the shuttles, thread and beads.

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Round 2 of Renulek Spring Napkin done

I have enjoyed tatting round 2 of the Renulek Spring Napkin until I needed more thread on my shuttle and finishing off the round!  I didn't have a spare shuttle wound so had to cut the thread to wind the shuttle.  So I decided to wind spares for the next round :).

As for finishing round 2 off, this is my first big project so it took some maneuvering to tat the last join back to the start and finish it off.  In the end I had to fold the napkin so I was able to keep holding the thread the way I was taught to tat the rest of the round.  Hopefully I will get better at this before the last round for the napkin :).

Sorry!  I tried to take a better pic of the thread colour but ended up with a grayish background.  Must try the scanner next or take a pic outside :).

All the posts for this pattern can be found on Renulek's blog here.  You will need to scroll towards the bottom for the first round.

Next Round 3!

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Joining in with the Renulek Spring Napkin 2014 Tatalong

Life have been a little busy since my youngest started school.  She is currently learning to read so all my spare time is spent helping her learn her sight words and practising sounding out words.  During all this, I have been keeping my eye on the Renulek Spring Napkin 2014 Tatalong.  There are a lot of gorgeous colour combinations and lots of talented tatters out there!

Obviously I have decided to join in too.  Took me a while to decide about colours and thread size but in the end I went with Coats mercer crochet thread size 20 in cream colour.  These were leftovers from my crocheting doilies phase in my late teens.  I was worried that I might not have enough thread so went with something I have a lot of in my stash.

Here is the first round.  Not wonderful as I had trouble weaving in ends.  Must try the magic thread trick in the next round.

All the posts for this pattern can be found on Renulek's blog here.

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Recently arrived mail

Look what came in the mail this week!  Two second hand books I recently purchased :).  Both are still in great condition :).

Looking forward to reading them and trying at least one pattern this weekend :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Persisting with Inverted Tatting

I am still persisting with Inverted Tatting. This time I am using Mark Myers tutorial found here:

http://www.georgiaseitz.com/2004/joins/invertedtat.html

It took me several goes to get right but I think I am slowly getting it.  I left out the thrown ring but will try that in the next one :).

 

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

First attempt at Inverted Tatting

Wow!  I can not believe February is nearly over!  So much for posting once a week!  Might try for once a fortnight :).

One of the techniques I have always wanted to try is inverted tatting.  I used Karen Cabrera's YouTube video found here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGYWycEJh4Q

Next is to try Mark Myers' tutorial on Inverted Tatting :).

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Surprise present from my MIL

I was at my inlaws' place for lunch when my MIL and I started chatting about tatting.  My MIL makes jewellery with metal.  There was one unfinished piece that looked like a smaller slimmer version of a flat shuttle but with nothing cut out of it.  I joked that she could probably make a flat tatting shuttle.

She did some research (googling) and asked me questions the next time I was at her place.  She asked about the type of thread used and the different types of shuttles.  LOL being a newbie, I tried my best to explain the 3 main types of shuttles that I know: flat shuttles, post shuttles and bobbin shuttles.

This week she surprised me with a flat copper tatting shuttle!!!  I tried it as soon as I got home.  It has a nice weight to it but feels longer in my hand.  I had trouble tatting with it using the "Slip & Slide" method but had no trouble tatting with it using the same method as the one used by Karen Cabrera in her YouTube videos.  Must practise/play with it some more :).

She did warn me that copper will tarnish over time but hopefully the anti-tarnish bag she gave me will help delay the process.  She suggested I give it a quick polish before each tatting project.

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :). 

P.S. The shuttle shape looked familiar so I asked my MIL.  Apparently she styled this shuttle similar to a flat wooden shuttle made by 'Im in the garage and sold by Jane Eborall.

Joining in on 2014 Tat It And See

I am so excited to be joining in on my first TIAS (Tat It And See) being run by Jane Eborall on her  blog (tatitandsee.blogspot.com).

I have submitted my photo and comment to Jane for Day 1 but thought I add it here too.  I have no idea what it is yet. 

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Stars stars and more stars

Happy New Year!

I spent the last 2 weeks of December 2013 practising the Twinkle Twinkle pattern from Le Blog de Frivole.

Stars ...

... stars ...

... and more stars

Now to try something a bit more challenging.  Only problem is that there are too may gorgeous patterns to choose from!

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting my blog :).

Cheers,

Jenn :).