Category: bookmark

Bookmarks, Old and New

I opened a book the other day, one that had been sitting on a shelf for ages. Inside was found a bookmark I had made quite some time ago. I don’t know how long it has been since I tatted this, but it was time enough that the rings are facing up and the chains are facing down. I have been tatting with all elements facing up for years, so this bookmark must be 20 years old.

Old bookmark found in a book on wandasknottythoughts
Old bookmark found in a book

I was reading the book to my grandchildren when we discovered the bookmark. One of the children mentioned they would like a bookmark like this. That’s all it took to twist my arm enough for me to decide to tat them one.

Blue bookmark with ribbon on wandasknottythoughts
Blue bookmark with ribbon

I happened to have a blue thread with me, which is a favored color, though I didn’t have any ribbon. A trip to Joann’s made short work of that problem. It wasn’t much later that this bookmark was done. I realize it isn’t exactly like the old one, but close enough.

I couldn’t make one child something without making something for the other. As time was running short I made the second one a bit different from the first because it took less time to tat.

Pink bookmark with tail on wandasknottythoughts
Pink bookmark

This one went much faster. The thread is also size 10 instead of size 20, which helped make it as long as the other with less work.

Both bookmarks were received with enthusiasm. Which makes grandma happy 🙂

Three bookmarks, one old, two new on wandasknottythoughts
Three bookmarks, one old, two new

I find it interesting to see how much my tatting has changed over the years, not only in techniques but the thread used. The old bookmark was made with DMC pearl cotton, a very soft thread, which was what I could find if I wanted any variety of color at the time. The new bookmarks are made in Lizbeth thread from Handy Hands, which is not nearly as soft. How many colors does HH have now? Lots!

I have two other grandchildren that haven’t yet received bookmarks. Hmm, what colors, what patterns?

“Change can be frightening, and the temptation is often to resist it. But change almost always provides opportunities – to learn new things, to rethink tired processes, and to improve the way we work.” Klause Schwab
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Two Cross Bookmarks

It seems like a long time since I last posted. Oh, it has been! Every time I tried to sit down to post something more urgent or import came to my attention. If it wasn’t for the family it was for the church. There were grandchildren’s ball games to attend, their concerts to enjoy, a few birthday parties to celebrate, and several activities with the church. All of these events included some length of travel. Unfortunately for my tatting, I was driving instead of a passenger to most of these events, so very little was accomplished.

Sadly, what little tatting I have completed lately has been for funerals; one of my husband’s cousins and the father of a friend of mine passed within a week of each other. Both had been ill for some time so they weren’t surprising, but that doesn’t make them any less hard on the families.

Traditionally, I put a tatted cross bookmark in the sympathy card. I usually have several already made, kept in a drawer to be handy for such occasions. I’m sure I have a couple somewhere, but they are temporarily misplaced. Still, I needed two. One I started on the way to work and finished on the way to the funeral. The other I was actually able to sit down at home and do.

Tatted Cross Bookmark in Autumn Spice size 20 on wandasknottythoughts
Tatted Cross Bookmark in Autumn Spice

This one was finished on the way to the funeral. The best background I had was my leg. It is in Lizbeth size 20 #136 Autumn Spice.

Tatted Cross Bookmark in Vineyard Harvest size 20 on wandasknottythoughts
Tatted Cross Bookmark in Vineyard Harvest

I took the time to tat this one at home. It is in Lizbeth size 20 #131 Vineyard Harvest.

I am now trying to figure out how to I’ll find the time to tat Christmas ornaments. Every year I include them in Christmas cards for family and special friends. I haven’t even started. I haven’t even decided what I’m making yet.

Do you think I could tat them in my sleep?

“Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.”  Norman Cousins

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Flag Day Bookmark

Proudly displaying our flag on Flag Day on wandasknottythoughts
Proudly displaying our flag on Flag Day

Today is Flag Day in the United States.  This day commemorates the adoption of the Stars and Stripes by Congress as the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777.  It has been a beautiful day to fly the flag, at least the way we have it at our house.  There has been minimal wind today letting it display its colors nicely.  On a flagpole, it would be a bit harder to make out the stars and stripes as it hangs a bit limply without enough breeze to unfurl.

It’s hot today, letting us know that summer has arrived indifferent to the calendar.  In fact, the last few days have been hot though much, much windier than today. With wheat harvest is in full swing the reduced wind is much appreciated.  All that wind carries a lot of wheat dust with it.

Flag Day tatted bookmark on wandasknottythoughts
Flag Day bookmark

In honor of the day I tatted a red, white, and blue bookmark.  The picture gives the impression the bookmark is made with split rings but it is just rings and chains.  I did make the second picot of each ring very small so it would look as much the same as the opposite side as possible.  Originally this was going to have some kind of tail though it looks good without one.

Flag Day bookmark made in red, white, and blue on wandasknottythoughts
Flag Day bookmark made in red, white, and blue

This bookmark was tatted with Lizbeth size 20 threads #654 Navy Blue, #671 Christmas Red, and #601 White.  I need to keep them handy, Independence Day is only a few weeks away.  I’m thinking of making a pair of patriotic earrings for the occasion.

I could change my mind, though.

Image result for flag quotes

‘Milan’ cross bookmark

I have so many things I would like to be making at the moment that I don’t get any of them started.  To keep from not accomplishing anything I’ve kept on making bookmarks.

"Milan" tatted cross bookmark on wandasknottythoughts
“Milan” tatted cross bookmark

I had a few false starts when making “Milan” cross bookmark.  The first time the long, bottom leg came out great but I hadn’t thought through how to make the ‘arms’.  The second time I finished it but the bottom leg was way too wide.  I’ll keep it for myself – I did put a lot of work into it – but it looks rather odd. (I did not take a picture of it.) I learned a lot from both trials and this is the result.

"Milan" tatted cross bookmark in Lizbeth size 20, #658 on wandasknottythoughts
“Milan” tatted cross bookmark in Lizbeth size 20, #658

When making “Milan” center it doesn’t lay flat but once the arms are made it lays flat with minimal blocking.  Just putting this in a book or putting something heavy on it would straighten it out well.  My problem with it was my chains – I couldn’t keep the tension right.  I am pleased with how this one in Ocean Turquoise Light turned out.

Now if I can only get organized to work on the other things I want to!

“To think too long about doing a thing often becomes its undoing.”  Eva Young

Sympathy bookmark

Tatted cross bookmark to go inside a sympathy card on wandasknottythougths
Tatted cross with sympathy card

I had the occasion to use one of the cross bookmarks I tatted recently.  Sadly it was put in a sympathy card to a friend on the loss of their mother.  This is one reason I keep these bookmarks on hand, to send as a small token of my sympathy to let them know I am thinking of them during their time of grief.

“The people you have in your life grow and occupy space in the tapestry that makes up your life. When they are gone, it makes a hole where they used to be. The memories and love are still there and may always be there. So don’t look at your tapestry as filled with holes- look at it as your own unique lace pattern. The pattern isn’t over, but it is constantly changing. The pain of loss doesn’t ever really go away, but it does lessen over time.”   Unknown

Bunny Bookmarks

I didn’t get as many bunnies tatted as I hoped I would, but I finished enough to make bookmarks for a few special people.

Tatted bunny paper bookmark with inspirational message on wandasknottythoughts
Tatted bunny bookmark

A little green thread worked well as grass to support the tatted bunnies and a few flowers.  They look very bright and spring-y, don’t they?

3 tatted bunny bookmarks with inspirational message on wandasknottythoughts
3 tatted bunny bookmarks

I made these for my mother and her sisters.  They are the same but different 🙂 They were well received when I delivered them Easter afternoon.

My husband and I were fortunate to have several days of holiday from work Easter weekend.  We did a little yard work, had some family time, and still had time to just relax and enjoy our time off.

I’m still working on the UFOs (Un-Finished Objects) that I’ve located.  Okay, maybe just thinking about working on them.  I keep coming up with new things I want to make.  How do I decide what to work on first?

How do you decide what to work on?

“Do it now! Today will be yesterday tomorrow.”

One UFO Done

I finished a UFO! (Un-Finished Object)

Tatted bookmark in Lizbeth size 20, previously a UFO on wandasknottythoughts
Finished tatted bookmark, previously a UFO

I finally found the thread I started this bookmark with.  Unfortunately, the label came out.  I know this is Lizbeth size 20, and I think it’s color #646 Purple Iris Lt.

This piece works up with a bit of a wave to it.  After spraying with water, a few pins in certain areas tame it.  A ribbon down the center, over and under the rings in the middle, would look nice in it.  I even have the correct number of holes to keep the ribbon on the backside at both ends.  Will wonders never cease?

I have two more UFOs handy that I plan to work on, but I also have a couple of things I want to make before Easter.  I’ll have to keep my eye on the calendar so I don’t procrastinate too long on those.

It’s only one week until International Tatting Day, April 1st.  Right now I do not have any plans to TIP (tat in public) that day.  But it is a week away and a lot can change by then.  Do you have any plans for ITD?

“Can anything be sadder than work left unfinished? Yes, work never begun.”  Christina Rossetti

Pizzaz Tatting

Grape Pizzaz anyway.

Tatted cross in Grape Pizzaz size 20 Lizbeth on wandasknottythoughts
Tatted cross in Grape Pizzaz

I spent most of Tuesday in a waiting room while my mother underwent a medical procedure.  It was supposed to be at 9:30 A.M. but of course they want the patient there early.  I arrived at 8:30 A.M, a little late to see her as they took her to the back at 8:00 A.M.

And then we waited.  And waited.  And waited.  They finally started the procedure at 12:10 P.M.

Then we waited some more while the procedure was done.  Which took two hours.

Then we waited some more while she was in recovery.

I have been making a few bookmarks to refill my gift supply.  Most recently it has been the Graduation bookmark in Lizbeth Grape Pizzaz size 20.  I’d finished one in it and begun another.  This thread is what I had in my purse Tuesday morning.  The only thread I had in my purse.

Two tatted crosses in Grape Pizzaz size 20 Lizbeth thread on wandasknottythoughts
Two tatted crosses in Grape Pizzaz

Finishing the cross was the first thing I tatted in the waiting room.  I could have done another one – or two, or three – during the wait but I chose to do other things.

Waiting room tatting in Grape Pizzaz size 20 Lizbeth on wandasknottythoughts
Waiting room tatting

Tatting around the button was because, um, I had the button.  The butterflies and flowers as small things I make when there isn’t much thread left on the shuttles.  I use these on letters and notes to brighten them up 🙂  A clear glass gem from the bottom of my tatting bag became an Ice Drop.  Thanks to Diane for having the information on her blog to refresh my memory on how to make them!

I took quite a few breaks from tatting during the waiting for lack of a strategy for the day.  If I’d had a large project with me a lot could have been accomplished.  Alas, I didn’t have much of a plan for tatting, so was unprepared.  How odd of me.  This was not a surprise procedure, I should have had a better plan.

The good news is my mother is doing well.  She’ll have to take things easy for a while, but she is at home where she can be comfortable.

I have found several UFOs I should work on.  I’ve also started a list of things I want to tat.  Hmm, which will it be?

“Don’t wait for the perfect moment.  Take the moment and make it perfect!”

Back on bookmarks

I usually keep several tatted bookmarks on hand for small gifts to go inside cards.  These are for condolences, just-because, (forgotten) birthdays, or other special occasions.   Recently I’ve found I don’t have any bookmarks made.  Oops, I need to get busy!

Tatted 'Branson' bookmark in Lizbeth Caribbean size 20 on wandasknottythoughts
‘Branson’ bookmark in Lizbeth Caribbean size 20

I made my ‘Branson’ bookmark in Lizbeth Caribbean size 20.  This one is easy to do while a passenger in the car on the way to work.  I already had one shuttle which needed to be emptied so I can count it as finishing up a project, right?

Unfinished tatted bookmark from Alaska pattern
Unfinished bookmark

I found a partially done bookmark to work on next.  The pattern is from one of my Alaska bookmarks.  The picture makes it look like a variegated thread though it is not.  Unfortunately, I lost the ball of the thread for this.  I’m almost done but both shuttles are too low on thread to finish.  Back in the UFO (Un-Finished Object) drawer.

I told myself I would work on UFOs before starting new projects.   But I really need to stock up on bookmarks.  Maybe I have another unfinished bookmark somewhere.  I’ll have to look.  If not, I’ll just have to start another project and finish it so as not to add to the UFOs.

The ‘Branson’ bookmark pattern can be found on my Pattern Page.  I have not written out the Alaska bookmark.

“I just got out of the hospital.
I was in a speed-reading accident.
I hit a bookmark.”                          Steve Write

Feel like giving


While on vacation I did do just a little more tatting than mentioned before: I made a bookmark for one of the friends that we went with. She likes pink (a lot) and I happened to have some pink and teal thread with me, so made up a quick bookmark for her.

A very quick bookmark as most of it won’t be seen. Yes, I made it for her Nook. Every book should have a bookmark, shouldn’t it? (Her husband didn’t get it at all). It fits behind the Nook in the case and stays quite nicely. She and I are happy with it no matter how silly it may seem.

I only took a few stitches while we were here – above 12,000 feet it was windy and quite chilly. This is the divide at Tincup pass. You have to take at least a four-wheel drive vehicle (motorcycles can make it, too, and ATVs) to get there. We made it up there on Friday, by way of St. Elmo. We had attempted to get to this pass on Thursday by way of the town of Tincup and Mirror Lake, but we got late a start. We didn’t want to try to get there – or down – in the dark!

This is the road to Tincup pass as it goes around Mirror Lake. You can see my husband concentrating in the rear view mirror. We were told that the road to the pass from here was like this or worse all the way. We aren’t that experienced with four-wheeling, so turned back while it was still daylight. (Note: we were told by an experienced person we met there that by Jeep it was 90 minutes to the pass from the lake, 30 minutes by ATV and 20 minutes by motorcycle.) Going up the other side from St. Elmo had some stretches that looked like this (or worse) but not as much of it. If we make it that way again we’re going to try to rent ATVs instead of a Jeep.
This Sunday at Church was LWML Sunday (Lutheran Women’s Missionary League). On this Sunday the women of the congregation do most of the jobs the men usually do, such as pass out bulletins, light the candles, do the collection. The ladies also sang the closing hymn as a choir. This is done once a year, as a way to let the rest of the congregation see what all the League has been doing. They collect sewing kits and school kits to be delivered to other countries, donate to the food bank, serve at fundraising dinners in the community, that type of thing. They also meet at least twice a month to work on quilts.
The quilts are tied quilts and not real fancy, but a lot of love goes into these (and they are very pleasing to the eye). They are displayed on the pews on LWML Sunday and then boxed up to be taken to Lutheran World Relief and Orphan Grain Train. Unfortunately, I don’t make it to the quilting days very often, though I would like to. We have a small church and there are only a few women that do this regularly. As you can see, even though they are few they do a lot of work. There is something like 40 quilts they’ve made to donate this year.
Seeing all those wonderful quilts to be given away, and also seeing the post over at Umi & Tsuru, I’ve gotten into a giving mood. So I’m going to pay it forward as well. The first three people to comment on this post will each receive a handmade gift from me. [I don’t promise how soon I’ll get it out 🙂 ]
As I sip my Wild Berry Zinger tea this morning for Tatting Tea Tuesday, I realize that it’s October again, which means my blogaversary is coming up. I think I’ll have a drawing for that in a week or so – after I think up what I’m going to do for it 🙂
“The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation” Corrie Ten Boom