Category: bookmark

A New Bookmark

A friend of mine had her retirement party last week. I was trying to think of something to give her and felt a bookmark might work. I was too lazy to look up a bookmark pattern, so, as usual, I just started one. The bookmark is a common pattern type, I just put my flair on it.

Arlo bookmark on wandasknottythoughts
Arlo bookmark

This is made in Lizbeth #165 Grape Splash in size 20. This was quick and easy until I came to an end. I couldn’t make up my mind about what I wanted to do, so the two ends are different.

One end of Arlo on wandasknottythoughts
One end of Arlo

I like the look of this end but not how I got there. This needs a bit of work. Because I wasn’t happy with it, I did the other end a bit differently.

The other end of Arlo on wandasknottythoughts
The other end of Arlo

I like this look as well, but not the stitch count. The clover at the top joins to the sides a little wonky. I can see how I should change it – the next time.

I decided this bookmark didn’t come out well enough to give as a gift, so I gave her a Hymnal Angel that I had already made instead. My friend was quite happy with the angel, and I didn’t tell her that it wasn’t what I had originally meant to give her.

Monday was such a beautiful day outside that I took the dog for a walk at a local arboretum. Our normal temperature this time of year is in the lower 40° F, today was in the upper 50s. She and I enjoyed the outing greatly.

The pond at the arboretum on wandasknottythoughts
At the pond at the arboretum

Being winter, most of the plants were brown and not so pretty, but the walk and the weather were lovely. This was a wonderful change of scenery from our normal walk in our yard.

After our walk, I took her to our local coffee shop, where she got a pup cup, and I got a yummy coffee. Both of us were quite happy with our outing

I have several ideas for what I want to tat next. I’m even writing them down so I can remember them later! They might include hearts for Valentine’s. We’ll see how they come out. But today is the start of Jane’s 2023 TIAS!

Day 1 of Jane's 2023 TIAS on wandasknottythoughts
Day 1 of Jane’s 2023 TIAS

As there are no clues in the TIAS to indicate what colors to use, I’m doing it in Lizbeth #617 Magenta Med in size 20. Hmm, I have no guess yet.

Are you doing Jane’s TIAS? What do you think it is?

“Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.” Groucho Marx

Random Tatting

Yes, it has been several weeks since I posted – again! Just when I think I’m getting into a schedule, life happens and everything changes. Then I get out of the habit and I don’t get around to it. I’m sorry, I’ll try to do better!

I have been doing some tatting. I added a bit more to my purse.

Added tatting on my purse on wandasknottythoughts
Added tatting on my purse

I thought it needed a bit more than what I started with. This vertical strip I put in stiffener before sewing it onto the bag. Now I have something to compare with the method I used with the others. I’ve had several nice comments about my purse since I put it on. 😊 I think I have the stitch count figured out for the square, now on to writing it out.

On the way to making the square, I also made a round medallion.

7 points on wandasknottythoughts
7 pointed medallion

It’s kind of a snowflake but it looks a bit off. I think it would look better if I’d made it with six or eight points instead of the seven that I did. To me, this looks a bit wonky, not just because it is blocked badly. I’ll probably go back and play with it another time.

We’ve had a temporary pastor for our church for the last several months. We said a fond farewell to him this last Sunday as our new pastor will be here this weekend. I added a cross bookmark to his card.

Graduation bookmark on wandasknottythoughts
Graduation bookmark

For some reason, I kept breaking the thread while making this. I think it came out okay in the end.

I have a whole list of items I want to tat but am finding myself not getting to them. I need to knuckle down and get started but my mind keeps going in random directions, not accomplishing much at all. Hopefully, I’ll soon become more focused.

“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” Greg Anderson

Graduation Book Mark

It’s that time of year again, graduation for kids of all ages. One of my daughters recently graduated from college and a niece from high school. Different circumstances, different types of gifts to be given, don’t you think?

We gave our daughter one of our winnings from the auction we went to a few weeks ago. I didn’t think to take a picture of it before giving it to her but imagine a bottle of wine and wine-related items. She was happy with it.

For my niece, I gave something a little more in line with my usual graduation gift, a bookmark, to go along with a book and a bit of cash.

Double heart bookmark with book on wandasknottythoughts
Double heart bookmark with a book of devotions

My picture has the bookmark covering a bit more of the title than I had planned, but the picture on the front helps show why I chose to tat something with hearts.

Double heart bookmark on wandasknottythoughts
Double heart bookmark on a paperclip

This is my January Heart pattern with split-ring tails joined to a large paperclip. I think this will be easier to keep in a book than a loose bookmark would be. This is not only holding a place in the book but is also holding a bit of cash. What college student can’t use that? I gave this to her at her graduation party, but she mostly got cards (probably with money) and didn’t open them at the party.

I’ve been doing some other tatting this week, but not much is coming out as planned. The last few days I’ve been tatting while watching it rain. They say it’s supposed to end tomorrow – and then the heat and humidity arrive. I guess it is the end of May, so I should expect it.

In July I’m going to Tatting Corner’s Tat Days. My husband and I will be driving out. While I’m tatting he’ll be checking out what’s to be found in the area, then joining me for the evening meals. I’ve not been to one of their Tat Days before but am looking forward to it. Who else is going?

wheat in the rain on wandasknottythoughts
Green wheat in the rain

“Potential is like a summer crop. If it don’t rain, it don’t grow.” Charles Oakley

Sympathy Tatting

Since the last time I posted, we have had two deaths in the family. Neither was unexpected, but it still means many things have to be done in a short amount of time including the viewings, the funerals, the dinners, and the family visits. In one case there was taking care of bills and property and other associated issues after. Sad times with a lot of family get-togethers with many happy memories shared.

During all this, I have done quite a bit of tatting but without a lot of computer time to share them. Things may be slowing down a bit, finally, with other, more normal, happenings to take up my time now. Grandkid sports for one thing – or two, or three. I’ve been able to get tatting done but again, not a lot of computer time.

Something I’ve been making a lot of lately is my newest cross. I call it March SR Cross because I’m so ‘good’ at coming up with cool and memorable names for my tatting.

March SR Cross on wandasknottythoughts
March SR Cross

Those of you familiar with my August SR Cross may notice some similarities with this one. The March one is based on the August SR cross but the center is different. The center on this one is layered over the main body, which is pretty, though I don’t know that I’d want to keep it in the center of my Bible.

I made it in several colors, mostly two shades of green, and pink and blue.

March SR Cross in green on wandasknottythoughts
March SR Cross in green

I made them to give out in the sympathy cards, and to other family members.

Cross with card on wandasknottythoghts
March SR Cross with card

I usually add a bit of tatting to the card as well, mostly butterflies and single-ring flowers aroundd the words. This time I added a bit more.

Additions to the sympathy card on wandasknottythoughts
Additions to the sympathy card

The card had plenty of open space and I had a few minutes. It’s nice that a small amount of thread can add that little bit extra to make a card personal.

I’ve been working on the pattern for the new cross in fits and starts. I think it’s about ready, I just need to tat through it to see if it works. It helps that most of it has been done already with the August cross, but that different middle is a bit tricky to re-diagram.

There are several more things I’ve been tatting that are only partially done and I have several more patterns that I’d like to write out. Plus the grandkids will be keeping me busy with sports and visits. This is the kind of busy I enjoy.

“No matter how prepared you think you are for the death of a loved one, it still comes as a shock, and it still hurts very deeply.” Billy Graham

Pattern Conundrum

I’ve been working on the pattern for the August Split Ring Cross I recently made. I have the diagram done and the written part done, but I am having problems making up my mind on how to add the different pieces to the pattern. I’ve made a couple of detailed drawings/directions but am unsure just where to place them in the written pattern.

August Split Ring Cross in Harvest Orange Med on wandasknottythoughts
August Split Ring Cross in Harvest Orange Med

I’ve made a detail for the facing 3-ring sections and for the corner sections, then one large one for the overall cross. The overall diagram does not have the stitch count as the count is repeated over and over and I think the detail will show it more clearly. In the written pattern, do I start with the details on the front page and then the overall, or visa-versa? I keep changing my mind.

I also have a couple of pictures with details of how I did a few things. I’m thinking I’ll add those at the end, a separate page for these. I suppose I could put the detailed drawings on this page as well. Hmmm.

I’m saying the pattern is done for now but I might change it up later. If anyone wants the pattern, please email me. And let me know if you like the layout of the pattern.

I’m still working on the runner but it is a larger project which I only work on at home. If I have time this week to sit down and tat I’m hoping to get the tatting part done. Then it will be putting it all together, which also means sewing. I’d much rather tat. We’ll see how far I get with it in the next week.

“Saying ‘yes’ to one thing means saying ‘no’ to another. That’s why decisions can be hard sometimes.” Sean Covey

August Split Ring Cross

I’ve been working on the runner but it is not a take-along type project. I don’t want to get it dirty or make mistakes due to inattention. Instead, when I’m out and about or don’t have much time to tat I’ve been working on the cross pattern I recently made.

Tatting while waiting on wandasknottythoughts
Tatting while waiting

I took our truck in for service recently. It was going to take long enough I got a loaner car to drive while it was in the shop. While I had the loaner I also had to do a little waiting in a parking lot. This was an opportunity to work on the cross. This time I was tatting it in a thread of a single shade instead of a variegated one. I like this much better for being able to see the pattern than I did the other thread.

August Split Ring Cross purple on wandasknottythoughts
August Split Ring Cross in purple

It came out very well. I gave it as a gift to a lady at our church. I was in such a hurry to get it to her that I forgot to take a picture of it on a plain background to use for the pattern. I like this background, but it distracts from the pattern when using it to make the cross. So I get to do another one!

That is actually a good idea. As I’m making the next cross I’m checking the pattern for mistakes. I’m finding I’ve left out quite a lot! I still have a lot of distractions.

I put out hummingbird feeders this spring and didn’t seen any until a week and a half ago. I’ve finally seen several!

hummingbird at feeder on wandasknottythoughts
Hummingbird at feeder

They are very fun to watch. And this feeder is right outside the window in front of my computer. When the birds show up it is very distracting! Anything I’m working on ends up taking longer than I thought it would.

I think I will have the pattern for the August Split Ring Cross done by next week. I have to finish tatting the cross again so I have a picture for it and fixing those pesky mistakes I keep finding!

“Art is pattern informed by sensibility.” Herbert Read

Distractions

I’ve been doing a lot of debating on my next steps on my daughter’s runner. I have been working on it, just not necessarily making much progress. I’m pretty sure it will be a Christmas present now, I might have it done by then.

This is not to say I haven’t been tatting or otherwise crafting. There have been a lot of things to keep me busy.

For the fun of it I made coasters for the people in my department at work. None included tatting as most are men and I’m not sure they would appreciate it. Not saying some men wouldn’t like it, just I don’t want to go to that much work for anyone that I don’t know would appreciate it. I’d prefer to give gifts that the recipient likes, not just what I like.

Coasters for work on wandasknottythoughts
Coasters for work

I had fun looking for material that I thought each one would like. They were appreciated by all of them. The little yellow character is an inside joke with one of my co-workers.

Another distraction is wanting to give a gift to a friend at church, so I made another cross bookmark.

August Cross bookmark on wandasknottythougths
August Cross bookmark

I like the pattern I came up with but not how it works up in this thread which is Lizbeth #113 Jewels in size 20. I think the colors muddle the center so much you can’t appreciate the pattern or the thread. I did start another cross with a single-color thread but made a mistake big enough I decided to start over. Then I had other distractions come up, so it is not done.

The other distractions were birthday presents. I forgot they were coming up and had to hurry to find something for them. I gave both of the birthday girls money, but I think that can be very impersonal even if it is something they want. I decided to give them each a little something more.

Green birthday bookmark on wandasknottythoughts
Green birthday bookmark

One of the young ladies likes green of any shade. I looked through my stash and found Lizbeth #667 Green Orchid Med and #684 Leaf Green Med in size 20. Of course, I couldn’t make up my mind which pattern to do but finally settled on this one. She was very happy with it.

Purple birthday bookmark on wandasknottythoughts
Purple birthday bookmark

The other young lady likes shades of purple. I found Lizbeth #632 Purple Med and #646 Purple Iris Lt. in size 10 in my stash. As both bookmarks needed to be done the same day – the next day – I found I was running out of time. I came up with this pattern, which when made in size 10 was long enough in the short amount of time I had left. I didn’t get to see her open it but I was told she liked it.

I’ve enjoyed my recent distractions. I really should be distracted to do more work around the house, but those aren’t nearly as fun.

“You can always find a distraction if you’re looking for one.” Tom Kite

A Bookmark and Scissors

Saying ‘bookmark and scissors’ together gives the impression of something bad happening, but that’s not what happened. It’s all good!

I’ve been thinking of what I might do for International Tatting Day and came up with the idea of making a few tatted buttons that I might give away. They are quick and fun and look pretty, a fun way to introduce or expose people to tatting. While looking through my thread, and different places I’ve put thread, I found a bag with a mess of threads in it – as in a terrible tangle. While de-tangling all of them, I found an almost finished cross bookmark.

Cross bookmark on Grandma's Bible on wandasknottythoughts
Cross bookmark on Grandma’s Bible

After finishing the bookmark all it needed was a spritz of water to flatten it back out. It was a bit curled up, but it came out great. Just in time for Easter. I’d been thinking about making one for my mother, and there it was!

The scissors were found by my wonderful husband. He randomly will look for things he thinks I might like and found this lovely pair for sale on-line.

Scissors with crosses with crosseswitand cross bookmark on wandasknottythoughts
Scissors with crosses

Aren’t these an interesting pair of scissors? I don’t know much about them except they look like they have been used a lot. I didn’t find any makers marks on them. They are not exactly thread scissors as they are too large. I tried cutting some thread scraps and they cut very cleanly. A bit stiff but that might be remedied.

I didn’t know I had a scissors collection, but I must have. This isn’t the first pair he’s bought me. He’s such a sweety! Now I need a way to display them, right?

I’m hoping things go well for Thursday, April 1, ITD. If all goes as planned I will tat in public, sip on a tasty beverage, and share chocolates.

Let everything you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14

Gifted Crosses

In between working on the china hutch edgings I’ve made several cross bookmarks as gifts

This one is April’s Cross that I gifted as a wedding gift. The bride sent me a picture of it as I did not remember to take one of the finished bookmark before I gave it away. It came out nicely.

April's Cross wedding gift on wandasknottytoughts
The finished wedding bookmark April’s Cross

I also made one to celebrate a baptism. Well, I made two, as I wasn’t happy with the first one. The pattern is my take on a traditional cross.

Traditional cross bookmarks as gifts on wandasknottythoughts
Two cross bookmarks in my version of a traditional pattern

Both of these are made in size 20 Lizbeth thread #605, Silver. I wasn’t thrilled about the length of the long arm of the top one, it didn’t look proportionally correct with the other arms. So I’ll keep the first one for me.

Both recipients were pleased with their gifts, which also makes me happy.

Now I need to stay on task and finish the third edging for the china hutch.

“The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Gifts

Paperclip bookmark gift on wandasknottythoughts
Paperclip bookmark gift

One of my aunts just had a birthday. She has enjoyed paperclip bookmarks I have previously given her and recently indicated she would like more.  What could be a better birthday gift?

She was quite happy with these. Unlike a couple of other paperclip bookmarks I have made before, the tatting on these will stay up-right on these most of the time.

My mother-in-law passed away several years ago. Recently my father-in-law started going through his possessions as he prepared to move out of the house. There were a lot of tatted items I had gifted her that he no longer had a place for. This collar is one of them.

Tatted collar in DMC ecru size 30 on wandasknottythoughts
Tatted collar

I’m not sure just how long ago I made this for her, maybe 15? 20 years ago? I know it is made in DMC Cebelia size 30 Ecru (I had a lot of this thread).  The pattern is in a book that I cannot locate at the moment so I can’t tell you exactly where it is. I have looked through the patterns listed on Craftree, where there are several that are very similar. The center edge does not match the patterns I located there.

She wore it several times I know.  I washed and pinned it out when I got it. I am trying to decide which shirt I should put this on. I definitely plan on wearing it.

I have been tatting a lot, just not posting. I have so many things I want to do I have a hard time staying with one project long enough to finish it. I am working on the ornament I put in Christmas cards. After much adjusting and tweaking, I have it figured out – I think!

Thanksgiving is this week – how time flies! My side of the family will be our get-together at our house. I have so much to do to get the house ready! I’d rather be tatting than cleaning house, but I don’t have a lot of choice on what I have to do.  I mean, we need the table to eat at.

Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving.

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” William Arther Ward  https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/william_arthur_ward_676240?src=t_thanksgiving