Motif 22 - 25 Motif Challenge

With only a few days left in 2015, I had to find a really small motif to quickly tat to complete my "15 in 2015" challenge on Craftree.  Luckily I found this cute flower motif by Jennifer Williams.  You can find the pattern under "Onion Ring Joins" on her website.  Click on the image to load the pdf file for the pattern.

Flower motif using Onion Ring joins

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 21 - 25 Motif Challenge

In between all the Christmas cooking and baking, I tried to tat another snowflake.  This time it's Corina Meyfeldt's Snowflake which can be found on her CM-Handmade blog.  I've always wanted to tat this pattern but didn't have the right tools to attach/thread the bugle beads.  I recently purchased some beading needles off eBay that allowed me to finally attempt this pattern :).

I love this pattern.  So simple to tat and yet so beautiful!  I tatted this snowflake in Lizbeth #20 white thread with ~1cm aqua bugle beads.  I think I need to buy more bugle beads and tat more of these snowflakes!

Looking through Corina's old blog posts, I discovered she had done a step by step tutorial for this snowflake 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 :).

Merry Christmas 2015

Wishing you and your family a joyous 

Christmas and safe holidays :).

 

Cheers, 

Jenn :).

Motif 20 - 25 Motif Challenge

I need to finish 3 more projects to complete my "15 in 2015" challenge on Craftree.  I decided to tat this Starry Snowflake by Elaine P Gan.  This pattern is available in her latest eBook of patterns in her Tatting Box store on Craftsy.

Starry Snowflake pattern by Elaine P Gan

This snowflake was tatted in Lizbeth #20 white thread.  This was a fun pattern to tat.  I just need to block and stiffen it.  Just in time to hang on 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 :).

Motif 18 and 19 - 25 Motif Challenge

Test tatting snowflakes again for Elaine P Gan.  These two snowflakes are called First Snowflake and Floral Snowflake.  This eBook of patterns is now available in her Tatting Box store on Craftsy.

First Snowflake pattern by Elaine P Gan

Floral Snowflake pattern by Elaine P Gan

I tatted both these in Lizbeth #20 white thread.  I used blue seed beads in the Floral Snowflake.  Both were easy and quick to tat up.  I will have to tat these again and with more seed beads :).

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 17 - 25 Motif Challenge

I love this pattern!  So easy, quick and looks so pretty.   I will have to tat another one so my girls can have one each :).  The pattern is called Ring of Heart Pendant and is available for free at Elaine P Gan's Tatting Box Craftsy Store.

Ring of Heart Pendant by Elaine P Gan

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

It feels good to be tatting again :).  Elaine P Gan from Tatting Box was busy again writing another eBook of patterns!  Her next eBook have 7 snowflake patterns in it.  Here is one of the first snowflake I test tatted for her.  It is called Rosette Snowflake.  This eBook of patterns is now available in her Tatting Box store on Craftsy.

Rosette Snowflake pattern by Elaine P Gan

I tatted this in Lizbeth #20 white thread.  This is a wonderful pattern to tat.  Very quick and easy to tat up.  I will be tatting this again with beads :).

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 15 - 25 Motif Challenge

I can not believe my last blog post was in early September!  This time of year has always been busy for my family and I but this year has been crazy busy.  I have not had the chance to do much tatting until my kids finished their school year (last Friday).

To get back into tatting and to get ready for Christmas, I thought I would tat something for our Christmas tree.  The pattern is called Tree Decoration by Jennifer Williams.  You can find this free pattern on Jennifer's webpage here - you will need to click on the image to open the PDF file of the pattern.  

Tree Decoration ornament

A better pic of the Tree Decoration by Jennifer Williams

This was tatted using Lizbeth #20 white thread and ~1cm long silver beads.  I wanted to get it done quickly so I left out the beads around the outside.  I also did not add a jump ring at the top as I did not have one to use.

I've made so many mistakes with this pattern but overall I am happy with the finished tatted ornament.  Now I just need to stiffen it and add a string to hang on our 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 :).

Motif 14 - 25 Motif Challenge

I saw this Double Picot Doily Motif pattern shared in a Facebook group and I just had to tat it.  The pattern was very easy and quick to tat up.  My only issues were chain tension and whether I made the picots long enough.  Think I will have to tat this again :).

This motif also made me wonder how I would design and tat the next round(s).  Will have to think more about that :).

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

I can't believe we're nearly half way through August!  Where have the year gone!  I am still working on my Craftree Mystery TAL but took a break to do some test tatting for Elaine P Gan (Tatting Box).  Elaine's first doily pattern is made up of seven motifs.  Here is my first motif for the doily.  Now to tat the others :).

To see another version of this motif, have a look at Sue's gorgeous motif on her Tatting Lace in Grace blog.

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 :).

Pink Chrysanthemum Doily

Recently I bought some gorgeous solid coloured thread.  My only problem was that I found I like tatting with sized 40 thread and most of my new purchases were in size 20 thread!  Luckily some of them were sized 80 thread :).

I was keen to tat in a new colour so decided to tat this gorgeous Chrysanthemum doily from Tatting Patterns and Designs by Gun Blomqvist and Elwy Persson.  This was a fun and easy pattern to tat.  Will have to tat this pattern again in two solid colours or a smaller sized thread :).

Details:
Pattern Name: Chrysanthemum
Book: Tatting Patterns and Designs
Designer: Gun Blomqvist
Thread: Lizbeth
Size: #20
Colour: #617 Magenta Medium

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

Cheers,

Jenn :). 

P.S. This book can be purchased from the Book Depository here (free postage worldwide) or it can be purchased as an eBook from Kobo here.

Motif 12 - 25 Motif Challenge

I have been test tatting again for Elaine P Gan.  One of the patterns I test tatted for her is called "At the Helm" pendant.  This pattern will be in her fifth eBook of patterns which will be available soon in her Tatting Box store on Craftsy.  This pendant was so much fun to tat with and looks so pretty in solid or variegated thread :).

I finally took the plunge and tried size 40 thread.  This was my third motif tatted with this size.  I still need to weave in ends with the other two.  I am really liking this size and looking forward to trying size 80 thread soon :).

The name of the colourway for this thread is called Low Gravity and was purchased from a fellow Australian tatter.  This thread was so wonderful to tat with!  I was able to unpick and open 3 rings in this pattern.  You can find this thread and her other hand dyed threads in her AlenAleaDesign Etsy shop.

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 :).

Round 7 of Mystery TAL

Finally finished Round 7!  Now to decide on a secondary colour to finish off the last two rounds.  My only problem was that I do not have a large range of colours to choose from.  Think I need to buy more threads :).

Playing around on GIMP, I think I will tat Round 8 all in white and Round 9 in Wedgewood Dark.  LOL hopefully it will look similar to the image I drew below :).

Initially I was worried that I might not have enough Wedgewood Dark for Round 9.  After weighing what's left and weighing a new ball of thread, I determined I had about ~4 grams of thread left which is roughly 33 yards.  Just enough for Round 9 if I did my maths right! 

For more information about the Mystery TAL or the pattern, please visit 2015 Beginner's Mystery Tat-A-Long on Craftree.

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

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Round 6 of Mystery TAL

Another quick update!  Round 6 of Mystery TAL done :).  I am really liking these easy rounds as it makes it easier to tat while watching TV in the evenings.  My only problem is that I think I will run out of thread before I finish.  I'm thinking I might have to add a colour in round 8 and tat the last round in the new colour.

For more information about the Mystery TAL or the pattern, please visit 2015 Beginner's Mystery Tat-A-Long on Craftree.

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

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Round 5 of Mystery TAL

Quick update!  Round 5 of Mystery TAL done.  Luckily my mistakes in round 4 did not affect Round 5.  Moving on to round 6 while I'm on a roll.  So far the doily is laying flat.  I'm having so much fun with this doily :).

For more information about the Mystery TAL or the pattern, please visit 2015 Beginner's Mystery Tat-A-Long on Craftree.

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

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Round 4 of Mystery TAL

For the Mystery TAL, I decided to continue on with the same colour.  So far I have done split chains and a split ring to move up to the next round.  I finally ran out of thread in my shuttle but luckily I had enough to finish Round 4 :).

Doh!  I just realised I made a mistake in Round 4 all the way around!  Will continue and hope the mistake will not affect the overall look of the doily.

For more information about the Mystery TAL or the pattern, please visit 2015 Beginner's Mystery Tat-A-Long on Craftree.

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

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Motif 11 - 25 Motif Challenge

Recently I test tatted a gorgeous snowflake pattern named Polaris (variation) by Robin Perfetti at Tatting by the Bay.  To find out more and to see more pics of Robin's patterns, please visit her Tatting by the Bay blog and have a look at her Design Gallery :).

This was so much fun to tat and tats up really quick too.  Will definitely be tatting this again but maybe with a smaller thread :).

This pattern is sold in a snowflake pack with 4 other gorgeous snowflake patterns.  The snowflake pack is available for purchase from Robin's Etsy's tattingbythebay 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 :).

Joining in the 2015 Beginner's Mystery TAL

A bit late but I decided to join in the 2015 Beginner's Mystery Tat-A-Long.  I actually started last week but made a mistake in the first round.  Below is my second attempt.  I'm nearly finished with Round 2.  Trying to decide whether to do a split chain to move into Round 3 or use this opportunity to change colours (cut and tie).

For more information about the Mystery TAL or the pattern, please visit 2015 Beginner's Mystery Tat-A-Long on Craftree.

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

Cheers,

Jenn :). 

Motif 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10 - 25 Motif Challenge

I've been testing tatting again for Elaine P Gan.  These five patterns will be in her fifth eBook of patterns which will be available soon in her Tatting Box store on Craftsy.  These patterns were fun, easy and very quick to tat :).

Motif 6 - Bella Earring

Motif 7 - Clover Earring

Motif 8 - Double Heart Pendant

Motif 9 - Falling Flowers Earring

Motif 10 - Zinnia Earrings

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 :).

My Beaded Damselfly

A couple of weeks ago I attended the Queensland Tatters meet up.  Judith Connors gave a lesson on Inverted Tatting and we tatted her Beaded Damselfly.  I finally figured out how to do inverted tatting.   Here's my finished Beaded Damselfly.  It was a fun and easy pattern to tat.  Thanks Judith :).

LOL the poor thing looks like it has big bug eyes and a broken wing!  Luckily my 6yo daughter loves it.  Now to tat this again using smaller beads for my other daughter :).

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

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Motif 5 - 25 Motif Challenge

For my fifth motif, I decided to tat something from my newly purchased tatting pattern book from Book Depository: Occhi Schiffchenspitze Frivolite.  The motif is called "Runde und eckige motive".

This was a fun and easy pattern to tat except mine does not quite lie flat.  I must tat too tight.  Will just have to try again :).

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

Here's another pattern I test tatted for Elaine P Gan called Balloon Earrings.  This pattern was from Priscilla Tatting Book 2.  You can find Elaine's tatting pattern eBooks in her Tatting Box store on Craftsy.  This was another fun and easy pattern to tat :).

Balloon Earrings

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 & 3 - 25 Motif Challenge

For Motif 2 and 3, I am back to test tatting patterns for Elaine P Gan.  She is putting together her fifth eBook of patterns.  You can find Elaine's tatting pattern eBooks in her Tatting Box store on Craftsy.

Both were fun and easy patterns to tat.  The first motif is an earring pattern that I think could also be a pendant with a bead hanging down in the gap :).

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 :).

Starting another 25 Motif Challenge

I really enjoyed doing the 25 Motif Challenge and have decided to start another one.  I found it helped keep me motivated to do some tatting each month :).

For my first motif, I decided to tat the Happy Heart pattern which can be found on Le Blog de Frivole.  For this pattern, I finally figured out how to do the Catherine-Wheel Join!  Yay!  Not sure why I avoided learning until now!  I found these two Catherine-Wheel Join tutorials very helpful: Jane Eborall's and Marilee Rockley's tutorials.

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 :).

Some Tatting

The forecast for today was rain and possible storm!  Imagine our surprise when we saw some blue skies at 8am.  It's been a while since we had a sunny day so we took the girls out to our local dam to feed some ducks and a play at the park :).  I used this opportunity to do some tatting.  I added another daisy to the other two daisies and tatted a single red daisy to add at a later time.

I also attempted the Papillon pattern by Joelle Paulson.  I found it a little tricky tatting the bigger rings with #20 Lizbeth thread.  I also lost count of the stitches and made the body too short!  Will be tatting this again in either #30 or #40 thread.

The Papillon pattern can be purchased from Joelle's Etsy shop: LaCossette.

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

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Doing More Inkscape Tutorials

Today I did Tutorial 3: Another way to Draw Rings, Tutorial 4: Duplicating, Resizing, and Rotating and Tutorial 5: Grouping, Line Width, and Colour.  These Inkscape tutorials are available on Robin's blog: Tatting by the Bay.

It took a few attempts but I was able to draw a diagram for a simple edging from Priscilla Tatting Book :).

An Edging from Priscilla Tatting Book

I also had a go at drawing a Trefoil and drew a diagram for a Round Medallion from Priscilla Tatting Book.  The diagram below still need picots but I will do that another day :).

Round Medallion from Priscilla Tatting Book

Both diagrams just need numbers to be added in another layer and time for me to tat them :).

Inkscape is a vector graphic editor similar to Adobe Illustrator except it is free.  You can download Inkscape at https://inkscape.org/en/.

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

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Learning Inkscape

I have been meaning to learn how to use Inkscape but never found the time.  One of my tatting goals this Easter long weekend is to learn the basics for Inkscape and diagram a simple antique motif pattern.

Robin at Tatting by the Bay have kindly put together some tutorials for Inkscape.  Thanks Robin :).

Her first tutorial is Diagramming Rings, Chains, and Picots.  For this learning exercise, I am going to diagram a small simple square motif by Tina Frauberger.  Below is my first attempt :).

First attempt at diagramming a motif using Inkscape

I was not happy about the small chains so I tried the next tutorial: Another way to draw chains.  Below is my second attempt.

Second attempt at diagramming a motif using Inkscape

Looking back at the original tatted motif, I do not think my rings are in proportion with each other so I went back to the drawing board :).  Below is my third attempt.

Third attempt at diagramming a motif using Inkscape

Still not great but I'm happy with it :).  Now to add numbers to the diagram and tat it :).

Inkscape is a vector graphic editor similar to Adobe Illustrator except it is free.  You can download Inkscape at https://inkscape.org/en/.

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

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Happy International Tatting Day!

Happy International Tatting Day!  Hope you all got to do some tatting today.  Plus eat lots of chocolates :).

I tatted 2 little daisies during my girls' swimming lessons.  I wanted to use up leftover threads on my shuttles.  Thought it was about time I free them up for more tatting projects :).

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

Cheers,

Jenn :).

Motif 25 - 25 Motif Challenge

Yay!  I finally made it to the end of my first 25 Motif Challenge!  For my 25th motif, I tatted the Faith cross from Elaine P Gan's fourth eBook of patterns.  This pattern was quick and easy pattern to tat.

 

The pattern as well as 11 other cross patterns are now available in an eBook at Tatting Box's shop on Craftsy. 

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 23 and 24 - 25 Motif Challenge

I test tatted two more gorgeous cross patterns by Elaine P Gan from Tatting Box.  The first cross is called  Sanctification cross and the second cross is called Eternal Love.  Both of these were easy and fun to tat up.  Eternal Love cross was really quick to tat up. 

Sanctification cross and Eternal Love cross

These gorgeous cross patterns as well as 9 others are now available in an eBook at Tatting Box's shop on Craftsy. 

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 22 - 25 Motif Challenge

Wow!  Where has the time gone!  I can not believe it's mid March already!  I have 4 more Motifs to tat for my 25 Motif Challenge which I started in early May 2014.  Better get tatting!

Luckily Elaine P Gan from Tatting Box on Facebook has been working on her fourth pattern eBook.  The fourth eBook will all be cross tatting patterns.  The first cross I test tatted is called "My Portion" cross.  The pattern was easy and fun to tat up :).  Gorgeous pattern!

 

This pattern as well as 11 other gorgeous cross patterns are now available in an eBook at Tatting Box's shop on Craftsy.

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 19, 20 and 21 - 25 Motif Challenge

Happy New Year!  I can not believe we're nearly half way through January!  I spent the first week of January test tatting these 3 motifs for Elaine P Gan at Tatting Box on Facebook.  I am counting these as my Motif 19, 20 and 21 :).

From Left: Heart, Vinca and A Real Square

All 3 are fun and quick to tat up.  I will be tatting these again and maybe tatting them using 2 solid colours.  All 3 patterns are in Elaine's third tatting patterns eBook and available for purchase in her Tatting Box Craftsy 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 :).