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

Getting Reacquainted

Sorry I've been gone so long!

I've been getting reacquainted...

...with an old friend.

This friend has some sparkly rhinestones!

I ♥ rhinestones!

I've also been tatting!

Here's a another sneak peek of my
current project for all of you to see. It's a "secret"
because I'm doing a swap with a bloggy pal from
Kids Napping? I'm Scrapping! My patient swapping
buddy hasn't received her part of the swap, yet!

Okay, I was going to just let it be a sneak peek, but
I just had to show this "Mary Maynord Inspired"motif
I made up because it looks so serene in
the evening light.

What do you think?



♥

XOXO

Too Much Fun!!!

After reading this post you may think this post would be more appropriately titled "Too Much Time On My Hands". This post is proof positive of that.

~*~

I took a photo from this post

and cartoonized it!

Click on the photo above to go to www.befunky.com.

Cool, huh?

Have YOU ever seen cartoonized tatting before?

Neither have I!

Thank you, Becky, for showing me

this total time-waster! ;)

It was TOO much fun!

~*~

Next, I won an award

from Val's Simple Passions: Thank you, Valerie!

Here's what Valerie had to say,

"TattingChic's blog is often complete

with poems, songs and even little video clips,

not to mention the photos that illustrates

her tatting and other experiences. So interesting!"

Gosh, Val, thanks! I'm honored!

It comes with some rules:

1. The winner may put the logo on their blog.

2.Put a link to the person who sent you the award

3. Nominate 10 blogs.

4. Put a link to their blogs.

5. Leave a message for your nominees

*****

BWAH-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!

I just checked my Google Reader.

I have 396 blogs that I've subscribed to.

I have 396 favorite blogs!!!

I'm not following the rules. Yup, I feel rebellious

today toward award rules.

I am following the first two rules on this one and then that's it;

I'm sharing it with everyone! Yes, I'm doing the "cop-out".

Is that wrong? LOL! ;)

Are the "blog-award-police" going to come

after me? What will happen if they do?

I'll keep you posted if that happens!

*****

Honestly, I just don't want anyone to feel left out.

*****

Once, again, thank you, Valerie!

This is a very cute award and Valerie was very sweet

to think of me. It also means a lot!

It's also a fun fact that Heart's Desire Jewelry

that awarded it to Valerie is someone that I won

a giveaway gift from during OWOH.

It IS a small world, after all!

~*~

Does this post seem like I have a little too much time on my hands to you? Maybe I'm feeling better? I will be going back to work today, thank heavens! I am so bored from Daytime TV! I have this blog post scheduled to publish while I'm at work. Why? Because it's TOO MUCH FUN to pre-schedule a blog post! I hope you all have a fabulous weekend and I'd love to hear from you so feel free to leave a comment, s'il vous plait!

Bye~for now,

TattingChic

xoxo

Angels We Have Heard On High...

Oh, that is one of my favorite Christmas Carols! How about you? Do you have a Christmas Carol that you love to sing every Christmas? Oh, do tell! It is Christmas as you know and I am so excited to show you today my little tatted masterpiece! I have been waiting excitedly ALL YEAR LONG to show you this! This is my little Christmas present to all my lovely blogging friends. I am so grateful to you for loving kindness and support. It is my tatted angel that I tatted and stiffened over 15 years ago. She was made with three doilies of different sizes revised from the same pattern and stiffened to make a tree top tatted angel. I love tatting and angels. I am rather particular about my angels, especially my tatted ones. You see, my angels have to have a face. It's very important. An angel without a face is like...well...it's like Christmas without the Christmas Spirit! It's just not at all the same. So my tatted angels have to have a face. When I made this one I put a lot of thought into her design and construction and I consider her one of my masterpieces. My other masterpieces are Christmas ornaments with tatted lace on glass globes, but I cannot find them as of yet. Perhaps it was not meant to be this Christmas that you would see them as well. Perhaps next year! Are you ready to see my little masterpiece!?!

Here she is!

My tatted angel

~*~

Angels we have heard on high!

Sweetly singing o'er the plain


And the mountains in reply

Echoing their joyous strain

Gloria!

In excelcius Deo!

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David

a Saviour, which is Christ the lord"

St Luke 2:11

"...the King of kings,

and Lord of lords;"

1 Timothy 6:15

~*~

In the spirit of Christmas

I would like to thank

Couture de Papier

for awarding me with this very sweet

Christmas Spirit Award!

Thank you, Couture de Papier!

I suppose in the spirit of Christmas

I am supposed to pass it on!

So if you have visited my blog and commented

on Christmas Day 2008

consider yourself awarded the

Christmas Spirit Award!

Merry Christmas!!!

~*~

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my fabulous friends in real life and in blogger land! You are a joy and an inspiration to me. Thank you for visiting and Christmas Hugs to you all! If you have time, I'd love to hear what you have to share with me in the comments section! Christmas Joy and Love to all of you and your families and friends and May God continue to bless us all!

Merry Christmas!

~TattingChic

xoxo

A Tatted Vintage Style Rose Garden

There are so many lovely roses in bloom this time of year in the gardens around that I thought I would tat another vintage style bookmark with the rosettes. I did it in the colors you might see in a rose garden and revised the design a little bit so I'm calling this bookmark...

Motif #8 Vintage Style Rose Garden

A Tatted Bookmark

by TattingChic

This particular Bookmark is tatted in DMC Special Dentelles size 80 thread. The variegated pink is #62 and the green is #3052. It measures 7" x 1 & 1/2"

It's numbered 8 for the 25 Motif Challenge that I am participating in. It's a personal challenge to tat 25 motifs during the year of which the participant chooses the start and end point of the 12 month period.

Remember the bookmark I made for my friend Matt? It was done in DMC size 20 thread. DMC just refers to a brand of thread. I took a photo of these two bookmarks side by side so you can see the difference it makes in the size.

Top bookmark is in size 80 thread and bottom bookmark is in size 20 thread.

Can you see the difference in the two bookmarks? The size 80 thread makes it smaller and much more dainty and delicate looking. The size 20 thread is much easier to see, makes a much larger piece of tatting and while still pretty, doesn't have quite the same delicate look. This is not an argument for one size over another, just a comparison so you can see the difference.

The other difference is that I revised the design of the ends. I wasn't quite satisfied with the way that the end of the first bookmark looked so when I retatted it in the size 80 I redesigned it.

Here's a close up of the end of the new bookmark design.

Now compare it with the bookmark end with the first design.

See difference? The revised design matches the picture I had in my head better...LOL.

The original design (pictured on the bottom) looks kind of scrunched up and the newly revised design (pictured at the top) keeps the delicate frame around the rosettes consistent throughout the piece.


Oh, by the way, Matt said he loves his new bookmark and enjoyed the "shout-out" I gave to him. He emailed and telephoned me to tell me of his excitement about the bookmark after he saw it on the blog. Okay, Matt, the bookmark is going out today now that I got my comparison photo! LOL!


Thank you for a walk through my garden path today. I hope you enjoyed your visit! Come again and remember that visitors (both new and old) and comments are always welcome!


Until next time,

TattingChic :)

Vintage Inspired Tatting Design...I've Been Tagged!!!..AND I WON! I WON! I WON!..again!!!

What a fun day in Blogger-land today! I've had 3 really really cool things I want to share with you today.

The first thing I want to share is this bookmark I designed and tatted over the last 24 hours.

Motif # 7

Vintage Inspired Tatted Rosette Bookmark

Design by TattingChic

This bookmark has utterly consumed my entire being for the last 24 hours! It all started when my friend Matt...

( he gave me permission to use his first name and last name, address, phone number and run a small advertisement for him that he is single and available. I opted to just use his first name and State of residence in the US...there's a link to his my space page on his name...please don't judge him by the pic of the wierd girls with the pink wigs where his photo should be...that's NOT him! Besides, he's a nice guy.)

... from Connecticutt said to me, "TattingChic...." well, he really didn't say "TattingChic" but you get the idea right? He said, "TattingChic....will you tat something for me?"
I was actually kind of surprised by the request as he doesn't seem the kind of guy who would request a piece of handmade lace, but we never really know people, do we? LOL!
I said, "Okay..." thinking about how he's really kinda helped me out in a tight spot in the past and probably deserves a little tatting, "I know, I'll tat you a bookmark! What color do you want, blue?"
To my utter surprise he came back with "White....yeah...white....no...red roses...I want red roses with white...."
"Uhmmmm....okay...are ya sure about that Matt?", I said knowing that this guy is not effeminate in the least and has a powerful attraction toward women. Not that heterosexual men can't be liking red roses or lovely things, that's not what I'm saying...so what am I saying?

I really don't know what it is I'm saying...I'm very sleep deprived right now, go easy on me...LOL

He said most assuredly, "Yup, red roses, that's what I want...and white...and I want it BIG, too
none of this little stuff."
Okay, I know a way around that. I used size 20 thread...LOL! The bookmark measures 9 inches long and is 2 and 1/4 inch wide...Is THAT big enough for ya, Matt?

So, here's the thing. I know there are other rosette style bookmarks out there and they're nice, they're okay, but they're just not something I wanted to spend my time tatting so I happened to have these vintage workbasket needlework magazines out that I inherited from my Grandma and I felt inspired by this old baby bonnet pattern from the Feb 1969 Workbasket. I've tatted that bonnet when I was fifteen and it was just beautiful. So, I redesigned the rosettes a bit more to my liking and connected 5 of them with a round also of my own design. I had to cut off the first design as it had severe design flaws, but the mathematics of the stitch count all worked out in the end so this is what I ended up with.
It's way too big for a regular bookmark I would normally make, but it's MATT's bookmark. I'll probably redesign it again just for fun.

Here's where the obsession came in. Yesterday at 3:00pm I started drawing the picture
of the bookmark design I saw in my head. Wrote in my own version of shorthand the pattern and tatted for about 2 hours.
I woke up at 12:45am...couldn't sleep...started tatting...til 4:30am...ate breakfast and then tatted
it all day until 5:00pm I couldn't stop! I did eat, but I just couldn't stop til it was done. Wierd, that!

The second fun thing I want to share is that...

I've been TAGGED by

Barb at The French Element!

Thank you, Barb :)

She has a great blog you should go take a gander

when you get a chance.

It's my first tag...tee hee!

Here are the rules:

1. Link back to the person that tagged you.

2. Post the rules on your blog.

3. Share 6 unimportant things about yourself.

4. Tag 4 people at the end of your entry.

6 Unimportant things about TattingChic

1. I own 3 versions of "Pride and Prejudice" videos.

2. I think that Red Vines or Twizzlers make a great straw

for my Diet Coke at the movies if you bite off each end and stick it into

the cup it lends a strawberry/cherry essence to the Diet Coke...yum.

3. I never could get into Soap Operas.

4. I've never been to an Opera.

5. I think that Colin Firth is kind of a hottie....yeah, I do....

(but then, so is Charlie Sheen and Brad Pitt, well, he's okay...LOL)

6. German Chocolate Cake is my absolute favorite cake.

And there you have it folks, now don't you feel deeply enriched and like you know me
so much better now?

Okay so now it's time to tag 4 other people...heh heh heh...(rubs hands together)
I Tag....
1. Dantatter
2. TattyCat
3. Diane
4. Melissa

Okay girlies...get taggin'! I know I know, some of you have already been tagged, but that's what you get for being such special peeps in blogger-landia!

Added Edit: June 19, 2008 Please consider the tag optional. It's all about having fun and getting to know each other better. :)

So, thirdly, this is another fabulous thing that

happened to me today!!!

I WON!!! I WON!!! I WON!!!

Remember the fortune cookie? Well, I think it's still working because the lovely Laurie over at Charming Designs has informed me that I won the Giveaway Friday she most recently had! Yippee Skippee!

She gave me permission to use the pics from her blog to show you the wonderful hand painted message board that she made.

Here's the full view.

Here's a closeup of Laurie's beautiful hand painted flowers.
She also makes these adorable birdies and whimsies and pretties. You really should check out her blog, too when you get a chance. It's fun.

Well, thank you to my Tatting Muse for keeping me up all night and to Barb and Laurie for a wonderful day in Blogger-land!

I wish you all the very best of luck and I'm very glad that you stopped by for a visit. Please remember that comments are always welcome. I enjoy each and everyone of them.

Come again!

Luv n' stuff,

TattingChic :)