Here Be Bunnies

Spring is here and Easter is in a few days.  This year, to get into the spirit of the season, I’ve made a few bunnies.

Tatted bunny with flowers on wandasknottythoughts
Spring Bunny

I had brown Lizbeth #698 size 10 on shuttles already, so I used that and white Lizbeth #601 size 10.  The bunny head is a ring, the body are chains, and the tail is a Single Shuttle Split Ring.

Field of tatted bunnies on wandasknottythoughts
Field of tatted bunnies

The brown bunny without a tail is the first one I made.  Those are feet instead of a tail, so he’s facing front instead of back.  The hardest part of the ones with tails is not seeing the white at the top of the body when finishing off the bunny. I plan on using these on bookmarks or cards so used a bit of glue on the back after tying a knot at the back.  That way I didn’t have to hide the ends of the white thread.

These were fun and easy to make, though I haven’t done as many as I’d like. I had a few days off from work last week but I hardly tatted at all.  My sister and I took a little trip for a little sister time. I did a lot of driving and a lot of talking.

Our little trip included a visit to one set of grandchildren this last weekend.  We decorated Easter eggs together.  It was a lot of fun, though they had to finish all the eggs we started with their mother.

I plan on seeing the other set of grandchildren this next weekend.  Not sure if we’ll color eggs or not.   If we can’t all get together at the same time for Easter, this will have to be the next best thing.

“May your Easter be filled with lots of Easter eggs, presents from the Easter bunny, blessings from Jesus Christ and most of all happiness that lasts for a life time. I’m sending lots of love on your way. Happy Easter to you.”
Unknown

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

Happy St .Patrick’s Day

Tatted clovers for St. Patty's Day on wandasknottythoughts
Tatted clovers for St. Patty’s Day

May those who love us, love us;
And for those who don’t love us,
May God turn their hearts;
And if He doesn’t turn their hearts,
May He turn their ankles,
So we will know them by their limping!

🙂

Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/inspiration/2009/02/irish-blessings-for-luck.aspx?p=7#0aPyHZH9ASLklDlm.99

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

Tatting when you’re bored

At work the other day I was waiting on decisions to be made and changes to be done by a couple of other people.  I was listening and doing my part in the job but only so many people can fit in one small area at a time.  While standing there I noticed a few thin wires on the floor that had been the tail of some cable or other.  As they hadn’t quite made it to the trash yet I picked them up and started fiddling with them instead of throwing them away.  Noticing the size, color and length I tried tatting with them.

tatting with wire on wandasknottythoughts
When you’re bored you’ll tat with anything

I made the ring on the right first, then a smaller ring that didn’t close.  With another couple of scrap wires, one green the other white, I made the rings with the chain between.  I even joined the rings though I had not left a picot.  There was still a lot of white wire left which I wound around the wire tails of the first two rings.  I did not try tatting that part, my fingers were already feeling the strain of working with wire.

No, I did not use a shuttle to work with the wire, I finger tatted it.  The shuttle is only for reference to the size of the wire tatting.  The wire is about 24 gauge but due to the stiffness does not tat small.  I made the white chain using direct tatting but the rings I did normally.

I knew that tatting with wire could be done; I’ve tried before but never with coated wire.  It was challenging but fun.  I don’t think I’d want to make any large project out of it though – talk about hard on the hands!

“Nobody is bored when he is trying to make something that is beautiful, or to discover something that is true.” William Ralph Inge                                                       www.brainyquote.com

Old Hatband

A couple of weeks ago my mother wore a hat that she had picked up at a garage sale.   It had a feather wrapped around it as a hat band, which was okay but she wanted something different.  She took a hatband that I had made a long time ago and put it over the top of the feather.  She liked this a lot better so we removed the feather.

Old tatted hatband in Kreinik thread on wandasknottythoughts
Old tatted hatband put on a different hat

I’m not sure when I tatted this hatband but it was at least 20 years ago.  I believe I made it with Kreinik thread but I can’t tell you what color number.  I know it is not blended with another thread.  I remember it was not as easy to work with as cotton thread.

I have made several hatbands for my parents.  My dad especially liked the ones made out of this kind of shiny thread.  I don’t remember if I followed someone else’s pattern or did this one on my own.  It’s not that complicated a pattern, it could be either one.  It would make a pretty bookmark, wouldn’t it?

“And all your future lies beneath your hat.” John Oldham                                               https://www.brainyquote.com

 

“Thank You” Doily Finished

I finished the “thank you” doily for my aunt.

Aunt Irene's tatted thank you doily on wandasknottythoughts
Aunt Irene’s thank you doily

There are many beautiful tatted doily patterns out there – I have books full of them.  The Internet has a lot, also.  Do I make one of those?  Of course not, that would be too easy.  I designed another one.

A few years ago I made a snowflake/medallion with a finding in the center.  I used that medallion as the center but made a ring of rings in place of the finding.  That was the easy part.  Some of the rounds went very smooth, the others took more thought.  And several tries.  The end result is a bit ruffle-y until it’s blocked, but still looks nice.  This needs more blocking – it’s amazing how a picture will show things that ‘in person’ isn’t so obvious.

This doily is seven inches across made in Lizbeth #603 Ecru size 20 thread.  I’m not sure of my aunt’s tastes in colors and decorating so chose a ‘traditional’ color. I noticed I put spokes in this doily like several of my other doilies.  I need to try something else next time.  Doing a little more planning in the beginning would probably help, don’t you think?

I had planned to mail it today but will block it a bit better first.  I want it to look good when she gets it.

“Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities.  Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning. ” Gloria Steinem                   brainyquote.com

An Unexpected Gift

I received a unexpected gift in the mail a couple of months ago: a padded envelope with no return address.  Wrapped in several layers of padding was an old metal shuttle.

Pretty tatting shuttle from my aunt on wandasknottythoughts
Pretty tatting shuttle from my aunt

A sweet aunt of mine found it in her sewing box.  She’s not sure how long she had it. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t tat, either, but she knows I do and sent it to me.

It is a post shuttle with etchings on both sides but no company markings.   There are gaps at both tips. Size 10 and 20 thread do not come unwound when the shuttle is hung to untwist the thread if done with care.  I’m surprised but happy at this, the gaps look big.  One end has a sharp point that looks bent, which I can’t decide if this is original or the last tatter bent it this way.  It works great as a pick.  The other end has been flattened a bit; I’m guessing this is not the original look.  The shuttle has no rust or any other blemishes.

I don’t know how old this is.  Who knows how long my aunt had it or if it was new when she got it?  It doesn’t really matter, it is a wonderful gift, which I appreciate very much.

I’m working on a small doily to send her as a thank you.  It’s the least I can do, don’t you think?

“The best gifts are those we not only cherish but put to use.” Les Brown                     www.brainyquote.com