Author: wandasknottythoughts@gmail.com

“Coily” is done, and snow

Here it is, the ‘coily’ from BoB the Bike. He said it was too small for a doily but too big for a coaster – I’m not sure what size thread he was using. You have to be a little careful with his pattern – he warns you – because he didn’t say when to reverse work. I figured out what worked for me. Another thing that made it a bit tricky was I’m picky about front and back, so the last round I had to start over and get it face up. If I’d looked closer I would have figured it out but I was in a hurry to finish and see how it looked. It’s made in size 30 pink DMC Cebelia, I can’t remember the color number. But it turned out great! I think it goes very well with the bouquet from Lorena. Bob mentioned he was thinking of another round but couldn’t quite seem to get one to work. I think another round would look good as well. It’s going on my list of things I’d like to do.

Well, it’s winter in Kansas. We woke up to snow this morning. In our area it was just enough to cover the ground but the grass was still peeking through. It was 25 degrees (F) with winds between 25 & 35 mph -the snow was falling pretty much horizontally. Thank goodness we didn’t get more snow, the drifts would have been bad. I stayed in the house for as long as I could but I finally had to get out about noon, and then later to go to work. Wichita had a little more snow than we did so what snow they had was drifting across the streets and making them slick. The road right outside where I work was a solid sheet of ice. Getting out of work tonight could be interesting. I think we’ll let the crowd go past before we head out. Some people just do not know how to slow down!

Christmas is getting closer and closer and I have so much to do! If I could only get organized to see just what it is I should do. I’ve been doing a lot of small tatted things which I usually give in cards, but also a few other, larger things (I keep seeing all of the neat things everyone is doing and I just want to try that…and that…) but I don’t really have a plan on where they are going. My excuse for sitting around tatting is that they are gifts, you know, to justify not doing the dishes, or folding clothes, etc, etc. I’ve several people I know would like receiving a tatted item, but which one to which person??? Note to self: make a list of people to give tatting and what item I should give them (okay, this should already have been done, but I had to take out time for the grandbaby, didn’t I?)

Speaking of the grandson, I chatted with my daughter the other day through Skype so we could use the webcams, and got to see him. He’s loosing some of his hair and his eyes are getting lighter. And he’s still such a cutie! He was awake and bright eyed, at least for a little while *sigh* I’m hoping they’ll get to come down sometime at Christmas, but that could depend on the weather. Of course, the road goes both ways. I have more vacation coming in January…

I’m working on the pattern for my ornament that I shared on the Monthly Challenge. I need to read through it again, and probably again, to get it as clear as possible without actually making it again. I keep checking back to see if anyone else has posted an ornament but as of a few minutes ago I was still the only one. I’m really curious to see what everyone else is doing. I do go and check out a few blogs, but there is only so much time in a day! Well, happy tatting every one, until the next time.

The evolution of a snowflake

Journey of a snowflake found on wandasknottythoughtsI started work on a snowflake the other day and it went places I hadn’t planned on. In fact, I didn’t really like it. But I kinda liked the idea of it so I did it again with a little change.

I liked it a little better but I still wasn’t quite happy with it. I had made both in white size 30 DMC because I had shuttles already wound. Maybe another color or two would look better? Which could be a little tricky because I kept switching shuttles in different places. In one color that’s not noticeable but with two colors it would be. But I decided to try it with blue and green size 30 DMC, also because the shuttles were already wound.

Another little change later and I was much happier! It looked more like it belonged that way than the previous versions. The small points between the long arms really changed the look. The center was also changed, made a little smaller. I did have to switch the shuttles in a few places to get the colors how I wanted them. I’m tempted to make another one and not switch the shuttles so it will be easier to write down the pattern. I’m going to consider these for the 25 motif challenge as #3, 4 & 5.

I’m now working on the “coily” (coaster or doily?) that BoB the Bike designed. I saw it on his website and thought it would be fun. It’s in pink – maybe to go under the rose bouquet I received from Lorena. But then again, I have a friend who’s birthday is coming up that might like it…

And now that everything is back to normal I can finally post a picture of the goodies I got from Lorena, Rose Chic Friends, for the drawing on her blog. She sent lots of beautiful things – mostly in pink! There was a painted ball ornament and a paper one, a cozy, a journal, a lovely clay rose bouquet, a clay flower lapel pin and beaded earings, two spatulas (with pink hearts!), a post-it pad, and two Thanksgiving decorations that I put on the table for supper – I made it home in time to use them! My daughters oohed and awed over my winnings. They both like pink. Thank you, Lorena, for drawing my name! You do beautiful work. I was unable to wear the pin or earings this weekend because I held the baby (a lot) and didn’t want to hurt him or me. But I know just what they’ll go with on Sunday to church!

Home and back to normal

I actually made it back from Omaha late the 26th with grandson and his parents in tow, yipee! They came home with me for Thanksgiving, so everyone got to meet Mercutio. He was passed around a lot, but took it in stride, or in snooze. He slept through most of it! His auntie was very excited to see him as she was unable to go to Omaha when he was born. She’s expecting a boy in January, so Mercutio will have a cousin his age to play with. The family went back Sunday and had a safe trip home. And I miss them already *sniff*sniff*

I have done some tatting but nothing is ready to show yet. Hopefully in a day or two I’ll have pictures. I have so many things I want to get done by Christmas but I think I’m being a little ambitious. I do have to go back to work and of course do dishes and such *sigh*. What gets done gets done and the rest may have to be for next year.

Tatting and still visiting the grandbaby

I’m still in Omaha with the grandson, enjoying seeing him discover his new world. It’s so great! He’s spending more time awake so more time for us to watch him learn to move and react to sound and light. He’s so much more fun to watch than TV!

I have been getting some tatting done. This little doily is made with size 30 DMC Cebelia in Ecru. It measures about 4 1/2 inches across at the points. I spent just over a day doing the seven inside motifs and three days trying to figure out what I wanted to do with the outside. I had an idea of what I wanted it to look like but just couldn’t get it to come out right. I started five different times and and cut it off four times. I’m not sure it’s really what I wanted it to be but I was just ready for it to be done! I can live with it, and it will make someone a nice gift for Christmas.

I’ve started another something, I’m not sure yet if it will be a snowflake or a doily. It’s in pink and blue – remember, I don’t have a lot of choice of colors. You’d think that in a city as big as Omaha there would be someplace that sells more thread choices than a few colors in DMC size 8 and size 80 and white and ecru in size 10 or 20. So far, I haven’t found that place. Of course, I’m looking on line so I could have missed a place some where but I don’t want to take that much time to do it in person. Kinda of disappointed though, I’ve been having some pretty neat ideas, but in colors and sizes I don’t have with me! I’ll just have to write them down and try them when I get home.

A few days ago the package from Lorena Rosechicfriends arrived at my house -what she sent me for winning her 100 post giveaway. As I’m in Omaha and not at home I haven’t see it yet. I will share a picture of the goodies with everyone as soon as I get home and see them myself. I’m excited to see what she sent!
This week is Thanksgiving here in the States. I’m not sure yet what exactly we’re going to be doing. We are trying to figure out if my daughter and her husband are going to try making a traditional Thanksgiving dinner – turkey, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, etc, – or do something a bit different. But whatever it is it probably won’t be with the entire family – my other daughter and her husband, our parents and siblings – because they are all in Kansas. But whatever we do they will be in our thoughts as people we are thankful for. And I wish all of you a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving as well.

New baby and tatting

 

 

 

The last week I’ve been spending a lot of time with my new grandson, Mercutio. He’s quite the sweetie! So far he’s keeping his mom, dad and grandma entertained by making the cutest faces and noises. It’s awfully hard to put him down even when he’s sleeping. But once in awhile it’s best to leave him on his own and I have done a little tatting. I don’t have very many choices for thread colors as we left in kinda of a hurry so I have been making due.
Both of these snowflakes I came up with this week just doodling. I really like the blue and green one. These two are #3 & #4 of the 25 motif challenge. I’ve done several things that I had wanted to add to the challenge but forgot to say so.
The other picture is, of course, Mercutio at six days old. He was sitting in a swing watching the world go by. And we were sitting watching him. Grandma could do that a lot. Thanks for all the good wishes from everyone. I have been reading the comments but haven’t been taking the time to answer. Too busy being Grandma (I seem to be the only one to get him to burp…)!
(I’m still new at this blogging thing and can’t seem to get the pictures right where I want them yet. I’ll learn.)

I’m a Grandma!

As of Thursday, November 13th at 9:33 AM I am a Grandma for the first time! My youngest daughter had a little boy. He’s so cute! So I’ll be up in Omaha for about a week helping out. Of course I brought my tatting but I don’t know just how much I’ll get done. There could be a few more important things to do. Like hold him and take pictures and such. Today at least it will mostly be inside, as the wind is blowing and there are a few snowflakes in the air. They came home from the hospital this morning all bundled up.
I have to go now, he’s making these really cute faces. I don’t want to miss any!

Celtic tatting

Well, I finally tried it. I’ve been admiring Celtic tatting for a while but never took the time to do it. So, last night I got out Tatting for Pleasure, by Rosemarie Peel, and tried the Celtic motif. It’s just a little thing but it took me awhile. I kept joining the chain on the wrong side. But I prevailed! It will look good as a pin, I think. Now I’ve done one (small) thing I am ready to try something a little harder.

Our youngest daughter is pregnant and expecting any day now. When she calls and tells me she thinks it’s time I’ll be heading up to Omaha to be with them for a little while. I’ve got my suitcase mostly packed and most of my tatting handy so I can grab them in a moment’s notice. This is her first baby and our first grandbaby. I’m only a little excited(!!!) I have vacation set aside and permission to leave when necessary and the bills caught up and…. Her husband is in the Air Force, stationed at Offutt. That’s only a little more than five hours away. It might seem farther when I go up there but there are places I wouldn’t be able to get to at all so I’m not complaining. So for now I’ll take a deep breath and keep the phone handy.

Edgings and Ideas

I’ve been trying to organize pictures on my computer and found a couple of edgings that I really enjoyed doing. They were added to the bottom of magnet boards I made for friends’ birthdays.

One friend does Renaissance Festivals and at first I didn’t quite know what I would use as background. Then I found some wonderful dragon and castle material. This is one time I actually used beads and then added dragonfly and “gem” magnets.

The other one is really into elephants. Material with elephants, the one’s I found anyway, were rather dark. So I used material with bamboo plants on it so she could see her elephant magnets. The edging was in gold. I think the green really set it off well.

Both recipients were happy with their gifts. And I had a lot of fun coming up with edgings that looked good with the material.

I have been getting a lot of ideas lately seeing all the great things other people have been doing on eTatters and their blogs. The problem is there is so little time to try them out! Christmas is coming so I do have that excuse to sit down and tat because of needing gifts. Now, if I could just stay home from work I’d have a lot more time for the important things.

Bookmark in fall colors

This is a bookmark I designed a few years ago when I was with one of my daughters at a sporting event. I posted this on eTatters and was asked if I would post the pattern.

Finally, here it is! Anyone is welcome to try it. It looks good in other colors, too.
Bookmark in fall colors
Designed by Wanda Salmans, aka tattrldy

Shuttle and ball
Motif
#
Clover
R 5-3-2. DNRW
R 2+ (to 2nd p of prev R) 3-3-2. DNRW
R 2+ (to 2nd p of prev R) 3-5. RW
Ch 5-5. RW
%
R 5+5 (to 2nd p of prev R) DNRW
R 5-5 RW
Ch 5-5 RW
%
Repeat between % twice.
Repeat Clover and following Ch, joining 1st p of 1st R of Clover to 2nd p of prev R
Repeat between % three times
Join to base of 1st Clover. Cut and Tie.
#
Repeat between # twice, joining to previous motifs in 2nd p of 2nd R of Clover.

Outside edge

R 5+5 to 2nd p of 2nd R of Clover at one end of the string of motifs. RW
Ch 3-2-2-3. RW
@
R 5+5 to next j of facing Rs of motif. RW
Ch 5-2-2-2-2-5. RW
@
Repeat between @ two times.
^
R 5+5 to next j of facing Rs of motif. RW
Ch 3 RW
R 5+5 to j of Clovers between motifs. RW
Ch 3 RW
^
Repeat between @ three times
Repeat between ^ once.
Repeat between @ three times.
R 5+5 to next j of facing Rs of motif. RW
Ch 3-2-2-3. RW
R 5+5 to 2nd p of 2nd R of Clover at end of the string of motifs. RW
$
Ch 3-2-2-2-2-2 each p increasing in length -2-2-2-3 each p decreasing in length. RW

Repeat from the beginning of Outside Edge with next R in same p as prev R.
Last Ch $ 22 ds, no picots.

Add tassel of 8 strands of thread doubled and brought through the $ chain from front to back. Bring all ends through loop and tighten. Trim ends as desired.
Update – added to My Patterns tab 1/6/15