Tatting from Canada, AYE?

Now, that I've shown you all Danish tatting, Irish tatting, Scottish tatting, and even German tatting it's time to show you some Canadian Tatting! ;)
Actually Jeff from Bridge City Tatting and I had planned a bookmark swap clear back in early October 2009 (just 3 months ago, LOL!) and the actual swappage occurred sometime in November.
Jeff's request was that I not make his bookmark look too "girly" since he is probably well aware from my blog how much I like pink! LOL! I assured him I would do my utmost to make his bookmark as masculine as I possibly could!
My request to Jeff??? PLEASE make it a girly-girl looking bookmark! That is what I LOVE about tatting! I think both of use were quite curious how our gifts to each other would look!
That was the fun of it all, I think!

~*~

Well, look at this beautiful, delicate, lacy tatted bookmark I got from Jeff!

It's definitely feminine, don't you think?

I thought I'd share the
Canadian postmark
for 2 reasons:
1) I don't get mail from Canada everyday!
2) I wanted to participate in this week's
Postcard Friendship Friday!!!
(She says even stamp images count!)

The theme is
"God Save the Queen"
Well, Canada is part of the British empire, right?
Aaaaand this bookmark looks like
it's fit for a queen, right?

Well, just look at it!

Oh! Oh! and Jeff says that the designer of
this pattern is Mary Konior!
She's a tatter from ENGLAND!!!


Here's a closeup of it!
The design is called "Patchwork"
from the book Tatting With Visual Patterns

Isn't it pretty?
I definitely think it looks girly!
You can read more about it on
his post by clicking here!
I love the colors.
Jeff used Lizbeth size 40 thread
in color #120 called Denim Whisper

Jeff is a man of multi talents!
He also does chainmaille and sells
it on his Etsy shop called Redeye!

He sent me this WAY cool scissor fob in silver and PINK!

Cool, aye?

~*~

Now, for my bookmark to Jeff!

Much to my relief he said in an email:

"I officially declare it a manly bookmark"!

WHEW!

Here it is:

This is the front of it.
You can see a close up of it below.

It's a celtic style design called
"Celtic Bookmark"
by LaRae Mikulecky.
Thanks for finding the lost link again, Jeff!
You can read Jeff's post about this
bookmark on his blog by clicking here.

This is the back of it above.
There is the close up below.

I used 3 colors. A lighter blue (denim) and a
darker blue (medium blue) and a green.
They are all Lizbeth threads size 20.

Thanks for the swap, Jeff!

~*~

Thank to you for stopping by! The thing that makes this blog so enjoyable are all the fabulous visitors and comments! Thanks for all your fun comments and joviality! It makes my day! Well, it makes my whole week! My bloggy friends are awesome and new bloggy visitors are always welcome.

♥

XOXO

A Pleasant Surprise

A big envelope came in the mail today! I was a bit suprised because I hadn't ordered anything so I wasn't expecting anything! Imagine my surprise when I opened up the envelope to find a gift from Heather who is also known as The Tarnished Tatter!

✿Thank You, Heather! ✿

You see, Heather sent me her new book called "Tatted Earrings and Things". She had asked me some time ago to test tat for her. Somehow I never had time, never had time, and then again...I never had time! She probably thinks I'm the worst test tatter ever, sorry Heather! She had said she would send a book to her test tatters so I completely expected to get nada, nothing, zip, zilcho...

but no!!! Heather kindly and generously not only sent me her new book, she sent me some of her lovely pink HDT called "Pink 4 Link" in size 20!

Let me show you!

❧✿❧
Here is the cover page with the
HDT peeking in from the side of the photo.

I'll bet you can't guess what I did today...
(sheepish grin...the pink hummingbird is a hint)

✿❀✿

I "test tatted" her pattern!
(Yes, I know, this usually happens before the book comes out)

✿❀✿

I will count this as a motif for my 2nd round of
The 25 Motif Challenge!

Motif #16 Hummingbird Pendant

This is her hummingbird pendant in her
size 20 HDT "Pink 4 Link"

What do you think?

❧✿❧

Here's hoping you are having a fabulous weekend! Thank you for the suprise, Heather! It made my day! My tatting budget is a little tight with no new books and goodies it is fun to get a tatting treat in the mail!
I'd love to hear from my bloggy friends so be sure to say hello! Have you had a pleasant surprise lately?

♥

XOXO

A Happy Accident!

In my last blog post I showed some tatted heart motifs done up in Zarina's new HDT colorways.
As I was tatting away I set my thread winder down on the coffee table to take a quick break. It landed right next to a ball of Lizbeth brand thread I happened to have out. I noticed that it seemed to coordinate very nicely quite by accident! It made me happy to see that an HDT all the way from Malaysia went well with a regular ball of thread I can purchase any old time! It was a "Happy Accident"! I then happened to find another ball of Lizbeth thread that went well with one of the other HDT's of Zarina's!

Well, OF COURSE I had to tat them up together!

Let me show you the results of these Happy Accidents!


If you would like to contact Zarina about purchasing her lovely hand dyed threads you can contact her by email at concerningzarina@gmail.com

~*~

This is Zarina's "By the Sea" on the butterfly
thread winder set next to a ball of Lizbeth
thread. It is "Country Turquoise Med" #661.

***
Since I am working on my second round of
The 25 Motif Challenge
I think I'll count these 2 motifs in
as I haven't done them before.
***

I tatted them up together in a design by Mary Konior.
This is called "Mixed Bouquet" from her book
A Pattern Book of Tatting.

Motif #14 Mixed Bouquet

The rings facing outward are all in
"By the Sea" HDT by Zarina.
The rings facing inward and all chains are
tatted with Lizbeth "Country Turquoise Med".

***
The butterfly threadwinders
were a lovely gift from Tattycat
last year! You can read more
about them here
***

The second Happy Accident was with
Zarina's "Pink Rose" thread. Here it is on
the thread winder next to the Lizbeth
brand ball of thread called "Leaf Green Lt" color #683.

I tatted up another design of Mary Konior's
called "Looped Sprig" from the same book.
A Pattern Book of Tatting
is now out of print.

Motif #15 Looped Sprig

All the chains are in the Lizbeth "Leaf Green Lt" and
all rings are in "Pink Rose". Yes, it just so happened
that I lucked out that the "leaf rings" ended up
as the green portion of the "Pink Rose" colorway!

~*~

Happy Accidents are the best kind of accidents! Have you had a happy accident lately?

♥

XOXO

Swap de Jessica

In the last blog post a sneak peek of a swap was shown.

I promised to do the "Big Reveal" when my swap partner, Jessica of "Kids Napping? I'm Scrapping!" received my swap gift. I'm happy to announce that Jessica did indeed get her package from me and now I can share our swap with you!

You see, in bloggerlandia I have had the good fortune to make blog friends, win a giveaway or two, and do some fun swaps! From all of these packages and cards I have a pile of addresses building up in a shopping bag that is out of control!!! I need somewhere to put all these very special addresses. For some of you, the solution might be to just put them in your computer, but for me I need something more aesthetic than a computer! I need a pretty address book...and not just any address book...a pretty one made with heart! I got just what I wanted in my swap with Jessica!

Jessica wanted some tatting for her fabulous scrapbook projects. I wanted a special address book. Boy, I had no idea that I was in for a real treat!

~*~

Just look at this darling
address book that
Jessica sent me!!!

Look at it! Isn't it cute!?!
It even has T-A-T-T-I-N-G on the cover!

***
Squeeeeeeeal!!!

***

OH my GOODness!
Look at the cute stamped alphabet tabs!

I can't believe she found some tatting to put
on the cover! It's PERFECT!!!

Each page has a different piece of scrapbook paper
adhered to some vintage ledger paper! It's awesome!

The spaces on the right of the address labels are just
the right size for me to put interesting postmarks
from my international friends!

YIPPEE!!!

~*~

Oh, did I say something about a
"Big Reveal" earlier?

I guess I better 'fess up, right?

~*~

Jessica wanted a tatted edging
and some tatted hearts and flowers
for her portion of the swap from me.

Here are some of the round motifs I sent her.

Going clockwise from the top left:
1) "Fleur de Jessica" design by TattingChic
2) Josephine Wreath design by Mary Konior
3) A flower (title unkown-help me out here) design by Mary Maynord Maynard

I am going to count some motifs
tatted for this swap for
my 2nd round of the
25 Motif Challenge!

Motif # 9 Josephine Wreath

The "Josephine Wreath" (Motif No. 9) is from
Mary Konior's book called
A Pattern Book of Tatting.
It is out of print now and hard to find,

but it has some real gems in it.

Motif # 10 Fleur de Jessica

This motif is one I made up or modified
from another pattern.
I called it "Fleur de Jessica" because
Jessica wanted tatted flowers for her scrapbook
project and I couldn't find one I really liked
so I made it up especially for her.

Motif # 11 (title unkown-help me out here)

Here is Mary Maynord's Maynard's design on the
left (motif #11) next to my modified
version, 'Fleur de Jessica" (motif #10). Mary Maynord
Maynard has a book called
"Tatting Rings of Flowers".
It is a book I do not own. I was lucky enough
to happen on this one pattern from the book
so that I could tat the flower on the left.
My modified version is on the right.
If my version is just like one in the book then
that is a coincidence since I have never
actually seen inside Mary's book.

If one of my fellow tatting friends has the book
and knows the name of the flower on the left
please let me know and I'll edit my blog post!

Here's a bunch'a flowers sent to Jessica all together!

***

Motif # 12 Peacock Heart

Here's a motif I haven't shown on this blog before.
It's called Peacock Heart designed by Birgit Phelps.
Jessica requested some tatted hearts as well as
tatted flowers for her part of the swap.

Here's 2 of the "Peacock Heart" motifs shown together
with some "Ruffled Heart" (design by Vicki Clarke)
motifs that were sent. I've shown the
"Ruffled Heart" before.

***

Motif #13 Cloverleaf Edging

Lastly, Jessica also requested a tatted edging.
I picked a cloverleaf edging. I love cloverleaf edgings.
They are so simple that a beginner can do them and
they are so elegant! Who says simple can't be elegant?

An edging similar to this one is found at
The Antique Pattern Library
in the Priscilla Tatting Book pg 5
(which is pg 7 of the scanned pages)

All motifs were done in DMC brand "Cebelia" thread
size 10, color 818 (a very pretty pink). I thought
the "chunky" size 10 would look cute for
Jessica's fabulous scrapbook projects.

~*~

Thanks for stopping by and letting me show you my super fabulous swap with Jessica! It was fun. She is one of the nicest bloggers out there! Stop by her blog post on our swap! She loves buttons and scrapping and swaps! Be sure to say hello here before you run off to Jessica's! I'd love to hear from you!

♥

XOXO

Ruffled Hearts

It may seem that by the sounds of this blog post title that I am feeling out of sorts. It is actually the name of the pattern I used to tat these hearts I am sharing today.
Last week Yarnplayer asked me to test tat some of her beautiful HDT for her. She normally hand dyes DMC brand thread and may start dying Lizbeth thread now that it is available in size 20 AND size 40!
I had ordered some of her "Summer Trail" in size 20 and she sent along with it some size 20 (of the same colorway) in the new Lizbeth HDT! Woo Hoo! I love tatting thread treats such as this and welcome the chance to test tat them anytime! I am happy to report that both the DMC and Lizbeth threads tatted up very nicely!

Here, let me show you the two hearts!

~*~

Here is the Lizbeth thread:

The heart pattern is called
"Ruffled Heart"
by Vicki Clarke.

I think it's a very pretty pattern.

***
This will count as
Motif #8
in my second round of the
25 Motif Challenge
***

Next, is the DMC thread.

Here they are side by side.

DMC Cordonnet Special is on the left

and Lizbeth is on the right.

Here they are by a US dime to show
how small these motifs are.

Hope you enjoyed the show!

~*~

Thanks for stopping by! Do say hello if you have the time! I'd love to hear from you. I will let you decide for yourself which heart you like best. I like them both. I hope all of you are having a fabulous week so far!

Hey, I just realized, it's "hump day"!!! Woo Hoo!

♥

XOXO

Tat Like An Egyptian!

Do you recall that song "Walk Like an Egyptian"? It was really BIG in the 80's! Oh, the 80's!!! I was such an 80's girl...and if you've read this blog before you may already know that. This song was so much fun to dance to, sing about, and mimic while walking down the halls at school with my friends! This song has been going through my head ever since I got my order from Wally of Needles~N~Shuttles blog who spends part of her year living in Egypt!

Actually, Wally is from Puerto Rico. She is married to an Egyptian man and so she is "Egyptian" by marriage! When she lives in Egypt she goes to Cairo to purchase perle cotton threads for tatting and sells them in her shop, also called "Needles~N~Shuttles". She summers in Puerto Rico where it is quite a bit cooler than the Sahara Desert heat of Egypt! Wally met her husband while living in Egypt about three years ago. She has Lupus and works to spread awareness about Lupus and the effect it has on those affected by it. She spends her time tatting and making lots of designs. When I say "lots" I mean LOTS! She comes out with new designs CONSTANTLY! I've called her a "Tatting Machine" a few times because she seems to produce a voluminous amount of tatting...more than I've seen anyone else online produce! It's amazing!

~*~

So, after all that talk about Egypt

can you see how I had that song running

through my head!?!

I'd love to "Tat like an Egyptian"! She's amazing!

For those of you that need a little

refresher on that song, here it is:

Walk like an egyptian

Thanks, Steve!

Ah, doesn't that make you think of

Egyptian pyramids and the like?

I've got a photo right here of one.
Wh....what???

Okay, okay, it's an Egyptian Thread Pyramid,

but it still counts, right?

***

No?

***

Well, what if I showed you a close up on the

label of the thread?

Would you believe me then?

It still doesn't count as an Egyptian Pyramid?

***

Alrighty then, I'll show you a postcard

she sent me that is from Egypt that has a

picture of an Egyptian pyramid on it!
Is this better?

***

Welcome PFF'ers!

(I know, I know....it's Saturday....Shhhhh!)

***

Here's the back of the postcard along with some

goodies she sent along with my order as a surprise!

Thank you, Wally!

***

Inside the baggy of sequins was this beautiful

Mother of Pearl disc! Oh, the potential!!!

I could make a cool tatted pendant with

that disc attached!

***

Next is a sampling of her books.

I ordered these from her shop.

So, if you were wondering how do you

"tat like an Egyptian"?

Here's how!

This heart is from her book

"From My Heart".

*

It will count as

MOTIF # 7

in my 2nd round of the 25 Motif Challenge.

*

I made it with the pink perle cotton

thread pictured above.

This special heart pattern is named

after her husband "Hussein".

Awww....isn't that sweet!?

***

Now, if you are still in the mood for

some "Egyptian-ality"

Here is a very cool

Michael Jackson video I found!

Thank you JAYTONYNJ

~*~
Thank you for your art and talent,
Michael!
May you Rest In Peace.

~*~

Well, thank you for joining me in my Egyptian adventures in tatting today! I tatted that heart up just for this post because I thought you might wonder what "Egyptian Tatting" looked like, LOL! It pretty much looks like "Irish Tatting", or "Scottish Tatting", "Danish Tatting", and even "German Tatting" doesn't it? LOL!

Where ever it is that you hail from I'd love to hear from you. Be sure to say hello before you go off on your travels through the wonderful land of Blog! Oh, and Wally says that if you want to see some real Egyptian dancing watch this video! It's cool!

Love,

XOXO

Be sure to sign up for the giveaway

if you haven't already!

You have until 7/31/09 at MN PST!

Happy Birthday America!

Apple pie?

Check!

Hotdogs and Buns?

Check!

Watermelon?

Check!

Looks like I'm already to celebrate Independence Day today! To all my friends in the USA Happy 4th of July!

~*~

Happy Birthday America!

It's your birthday, America, so make a wish!
What would you wish for America today?

I would wish for a healthier economy.

Isn't the box pictured above darling? I purchased
it from Rosemary of Rose's Petit Maison.
I bought it from her Etsy shop
called The Vintage Crown.
I love little boxes, tee hee!
***
What's that peeking out from underneath that box?
***
Why, it's a star tatted up in some patriotic colors, of course!
This star is called "Star in Clovers" by Jon Yusoff

of Jon's Thread Escapade.

It will count as

Motif #6

in my 2nd round of the 25 Motif Challenge!

***

Here's a close up of the star in the center. I like the way this was designed with the repeating star motif.

***

I thought I'd show you some photos of the star in progress

This star was made with 2 shuttles.

I used these shuttles, here.

They are made of acrylic and I think they are pretty.

They are larger than a typical tatting shuttle and they hold

a LOT of thread! They are perfect for tatting with beads!

These shuttles are hand made by Jan Stawasz of Poland.
He is an extremely talented tatter. Go look at his stuff.

You won't be disappointed. His work is absolutely,

extraordinarily STUNNING! I'm not kidding!

~*~

Thank you for stopping by to visit during the celebration of USA's birthday! If you are an international friend I hope you have a lovely fourth day of the month of July! I realize that not all my blog friends are American and I'm grateful for the visitors I get from all over this beautiful planet! Thank you for your visits and sweet comments!

In my last post I shared about a friend from Denmark. She has shared with me that there is a town in Denmark that celebrates the 4th of July every year in honor of their American friends! I think that is so cool! I don't think that most American's are aware of the beautiful gesture of friendship from our Danish friends! This festival is called "Rebildfesten".

Before you run off to Rebildfesten be sure to stop and say hello here! I love hearing from my bloggy friends from all over!

Happy Independence Day!

XOXO