Tatted Flock of Birds

Tatted Teapot

I decided to take a break from tatting a flock of birds and tatted this pattern from"Tea is for Tatting" by Martha Ess. I love her patterns. This one was definitely a challenge for me. This is not a pattern you just whip out. I'm such a slow tatter I thought I would never get this finished. I love how it turned out and now I will have to figure out what I'm going to do with it now. Disregard the date on the photo I just finished this project this weekend and didn't notice the date on my camera when I took this photo.

Halloween Centerpiece

I finished a Halloween centerpiece this past week....well almost. I still need to seal it and I'm thinking about adding some more bling to it but for the most part it's finished. The orange dots are glitter but don't show up real well in the photos. This was painted on a paper mache surface with acrylic paints. I'm still working on my stocking but I don't have much to show for now. Maybe next week.

Still plugging along...

I added the wave stitch to the heel and the seam to the right I just blinged up with some beads. I'm not sure if I am done with that area. Feels like it needs something else.

Couple of things to show

I managed to paint a post-it note holder and stitch a couple of seam treatments. I'm having a problem getting motivated to do anything right now. I'm hoping that it will pass.....soon.

Latest Project

Click image for a larger view.

What I've been working on is this crazy quilted stocking. I got it pieced last weekend and finished a minor seam treatment so far. This is a project from my embroidery class I'm taking. The simple stitch in gold is called Ermine Stitch. I hope to get a seam treatment done each week. You know Christmas is just around the corner.

WIP Finally Finished

I started this painting project last year or maybe even the year before that. I finally got it finished this week. I love anything Americana or Patriotic. Now all I need is a plate holder.

Is it a Turtle or a Pig?

So, I finish tatting this little guy last night and I make the mistake of asking my husband.....what does this look like to you? His answer was a turtle. What the heck, who asked you anyway. Well, of course it's supposed to be a pig. So, my question is....does anyone else think it looks like a turtle? I was hoping to send it to a gal who is crazy about pigs but now I'm not sure. He turned out a lot smaller than I expected as you can see. I used Jane Eborall's (sp?) pattern but had to make some adjustments because I was having problems tatting an onion ring to my liking. I used the rose motif pattern for the body instead. Maybe that's why my husband thinks it looks like a turtle. So if anyone else thinks it looks like a turtle I'll have to go back to the drawing board and try those darn onion rings again. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Giving it up

Well, there's no need for me to post a pic of my crazy quilting block before anyone has stitched on it because I'm never going to see it again. The first lady to get my block has decided to disappear and not return my block. I'm going to finish my commitment with the swap but I'm done with swaps and may even give up crazy quilting and go back to my painting and tatting. I enjoyed it in the beginning but I knew after the first few weeks into it I was never going to see my block again. I know it's just fabric but I tatted the crinoline lady for my sister that was on the block and I was hoping to give the finished block to my sister.

Here's to happier blogging going forward!

Quick Update

Now that the Holidays are over I have managed to get a couple of things tatted. I just love these teapots. The patterns are from the book "Tea is for Tatting" by Martha Ess. I used size 20 Lizbeth thread. I'm trading them for some CQ supplies because...somehow I was signed up (I won't mention names) to join the HGTV Second Annual CQRR (Crazy Quilting Round Robin). I'm a little nervous about this since I've only done one crazy quilt block and it's not totally done. There are five ladies per group and we will be passing our blocks around to each other until everyone has worked on everyone's block. I will post about it as we go along. Our first mailing is due Feb. 15th. I hope to have my block completely pieced this weekend and I will post a picture of it before anyone has done any stitching to it. When I finally get it back I believe it's June or July I will post a picture of the finished block.

Here's what I got

Here's what I got in exchange for my crazy quilted ornament. As far as an ornament goes it's cute. The rules were to include some of the stitches we learned but this did not have any hand stitching. Everything was glued or machine stitched. Oh well, it was fun anyway.

Done!

I finally finished the last of my Christmas projects. Phew! Now I can work on what I really want to work on. The first pic is my first crazy quilt ornament I've ever made. It's not perfect and I learned a lot making it. It's for an exchange at our crazy quilt class this weekend. I'll post a pic of the one I get in exchange. The second pic is a framed piece of screen that I painted on. I painted three of these. One for each of the girls that work for me. I just need to add some raffia to it. I hope they like them.

Have a great weekend.

Two things done

I just love these teapots. I made this for a friend to put on a crazy quilt block. The pattern is from Martha Ess' Tea is for Tatting. I love this book and her patterns are awesome. This was tatted in Yarnplayer's Peace colorway. I love her thread. I hope to get the other three pieces tatted that go with this teapot before Christmas. I'm starting to feel the pressure of meeting my deadlines on all my projects.

The second picture is a painting on canvas we did. It's painted to look like an old window. We used a couple of different texture mediums for the side of the house and on the peeling paint. We've all seen old windows like this. You know the kind where care isn't taken to keep the paint off the glass. I still have a couple of shadows to make around the bottom sill but it's pretty much done. Since I used an Artist Wrapped Canvas I may not frame it. It doesn't go with my decor so it will probably end up with the rest of my paintings I have stored in my craft room.

I'm doing what I shouldn't be doing

This is what I have been working on. I've been working on needlepoint ornaments. I should be making a Crazy Quilt ornament for my crazy class for our exchange and I should be painting some things for Christmas. Oh, and I should be tatting some teapots. I always paint something for Christmas for the gals at work and I have my projects ready but I can't get my behind in gear. I went to my annual retreat for making cards and I'll show those at another time. Some of them are Christmas cards which I can't show until after Christmas. Well. here's hoping that I get back on track next weekend.

Back to Tatting

I decided to put the crazy quilt block to the side and picked up my shuttles. This is what I tatted. It's a challenge piece from the HGTV board. It's supposed to be a full size doily but we only had to do the first three rounds. I tatted it in size 60 Choco-Raspberry from Tatskool. The pattern is from Georgia Seitz's website. I love the color. I think I'm going to try a teapot in this same color. I'm also working on a needle point piece, painting on screen and I need to start my July crazy quilt block. I better get going.

My first button cluster & beaded ribbon

I attempted my first beaded ribbon. It turned out OK. I didn't have much space to work in but I wanted to give it a try anyway. I also made my first button cluster and I'm really pleased with it. I still need to add some fillers above the cluster, I just haven't figured out what yet. Click on any of the pictures for a closer look.

The last picture is a large clothes pin I painted Saturday. I know it's a little early for Halloween. I stuck a piece of paper in it so you could see that it can hold a picture, recipe, etc.... I still need to add black and purple glitter to it but I thought I would show it. I took a side view picture but my camera will not upload it to my computer. It does that to me sometimes and I can't figure out why. I just noticed the date is wrong too. I just took the pictures today.

I hope my next post is to say that this block is finally done. You probably will be too!

Special Addition

After having tatted a couple of pieces I thought I could use on my CQ block they all wound up in my pile of "what am I going to do with these" pile. Nothing I tatted seemed to work on this block for me. When TattingChic blogged about Tat Like An Egyptian I made a comment that the little pink heart she tatted would look perfect on my CQ block. She was kind enough to send me her little pink heart and I just love it! I would post a link to her blog but I don't know how but I'm sure if you google TattingChic you will be able to find her blog. She's very creative with her writing and a very talented lady. Thank you so much TattingChic for sharing with me! I think the little heart tatted in Egyptian thread looks great on my first CQ block.

Thanks for stopping by.

A Smidgen more Progress

I finally got a new camera cord since losing mine on my family trip to Kentucky. I've really been lazy since getting back but I thought I would post my little bit of progress.

I received some awesome "do-dad" packages from some of my favorite people. I've added some things from those gifts. I think if you click on the pic you can get a better view. You can almost see the little bird I tatted. He's kind of washed out in that area so I'm not sure he's a keeper. I keep tatting things for this block but nothing is working for me yet. I tatted a blue bird for a friend but for some reason it didn't upload. I'm "electronically challenged" so I'm not surprised. I'm going to add some more seam treatments but those are challenging for me. I admire all the beautiful embroidery and SRE work I've seen in blog land and wish I could duplicate some of them. I feel the upper left corner needs something else. Or, is it over done? Any suggestions?

Not much progress

I thought I would post what little bit of progress I've made so far on my CQ block. I don't have a lot of "doo-dads" to work with. The embellishment kit that we got at class only had pearl beads and a few strands of floss. But, luckily one of my fellow HGTV friends Joyce is sending me a package with some things to build my supply of "doo-dads". The one little flower that looks crocheted is actually something I pulled from my card making supplies. The rose colored beads I bought at the NQA show this past Saturday. Oh, the green trim came from my card making stuff also. The NQA show was awesome. I took about 40 pictures of the quilts but I don't know if I'm allowed to post the photos. I would love to show some of my favorites but I don't want to do anything wrong by posting them. If anyone knows whether I can or not, please let me know.

I also completed another oil painting but it's not framed yet. Once I get a frame I'll post a pic of it. I think they always look better once they're framed. The only thing I'm not happy with are my leaves on the trees. She taught a sponge technique which I felt didn't give me enough control. Lord knows, I like to be in control. My husband calls me the commander.

I'm also excited about getting to see my sisters and brother in the next couple of weeks. It's been a really long time since we've all been together at one time.

P.S. Don't forget this is my first CQ block so don't judge me to harshly.

What I've been doing

I had my first CQ class Saturday and I was hoping to have something to show. She had us practice embroidery stitches on scrap fabric so I don't have anything on my block as of yet. This is going to be a little more difficult than what I anticipated. All the decisions such as what stitch to use, color choices and what to do to each section is what I'm finding hard.

I did get a bird bath painted. He's painted on a clay pot and saucer. I hope he doesn't scare the birds but I thought he was cute as heck. I did get a couple of things tatted but I only have a pic of one of them. Excuse the threads, I haven't hidden them yet. I'll post the other things I tatted at a later time.