Cecelia Doily, Day 21

Well, the image is a bit dark, but you see that the doily has gotten larger. Forty of the planned 48 motifs are almost finished--one corner left to tat on number 40. A sick child kept me home this evening so I didn't get my coffee shop time to work on the TAT proficiency projects. But that meant additional time to work on the doily while we watched movies together.

Online Class Homework

The challenge to tat today's Online Class homework in two colors with two shuttles obsessed me so I didn't get a single knot done on the doily. I was watching a movie with my girls as I tatted and missed several of the joins in my first piece. This is sample number two of Tina Frauberger's Edging published in 1913, tatted in size 30 crochet cotton.

Blog Changes

I've reorganized my blog space. The list of blogs I like to follow was getting really long, so I've moved those links from here. At the bottom of the page, you'll now find a list of links for those learning to shuttle tat, needle tat, or for those like me who are working on new techniques. I reduced the number of posts visible on the main page so that it won't be so far down to those links. That means that the most recent of my images is about to get moved to "old posts." Sorry! I'll try to get an updated image posted today or tomorrow of the Cecelia Doily. It is coming along nicely.

Cecelia Doily, Day 17

33 motifs completed!!! I obviously missed my original estimated completion date of April 11, but I'm not unhappy with the rate of progress.

Cecelia Doily, Day 16

Motif #30 of 48 is finished. Obviously I haven't accomplished much on this project lately. I tried to tat when I got off the computer last night, but I was doing more untatting than tatting and gave it up! The shuttle was moving smoothly this morning during the time I spent with my dad at his doctor's office though. So three more motifs were completed. I'm over half way there!

Nothing for Show, but a little to Tell.

Life has been extremely busy and a bit stressful--much of it good stress, but stress nonetheless. The Cecelia Doily has been neglected for several days. I plan to pull it out for a little while when I get off the computer in just a few moments.

Part of my good news is that I've signed up for Phase I (Apprentice) of the Tatting Proficiency Program offered by Tatters Across Time, Inc. My notebook arrived Monday and I took a long (5 1/2 hour) break from the stresses of my life to play with the first project. I spent yesterday afternoon (3 1/2 hours) tatting at the local coffee shop. After dropping my teen off at an activity last night, I returned for another couple of hours. The same young man was working the counter and he was surprised to see me back so soon. Though I don't use all of the techniques covered at this level on a regular basis, I'm familiar with them. The tatting challenge for me is producing an error-free piece that is consistent throughout. Of course, the tatting projects are only part of the tasks to be completed. The program seems well designed to make sure you understand the different techniques and their uses. I'm very impressed and look forward to working at the various tasks they've assigned me. And did I mention I've been assigned a mentor? It is a confidence booster to know that another tatter who has successfully completed this level is available for advice and encouragement.

Well, I'd better go work on the doily while I can.

Happy tatting!

Greeting Card Idea

Scans of some of my favorite pieces of tatting (especially my own designs) are sometimes used as the artwork on my own greeting cards. I use a computer program to add text like "Happy Birthday", "Happy Anniversary" (that one used to have a scan of a bobbin lace bell), etc. When I'm ready to use the cards, I can add some tatted flowers, a tatted cap, a balloon sticker, etc, to personalize the card and it is ready to go. A search of my card collection turned up one teddy bear birthday card. It is obviously time to make some more cards.

Cecelia Doily, Day 10

Twenty-seven motifs done, at least twenty-one more to go. You are seeing the work in progress so it is a bit wrinkled. I took a 24 hour tatting break yesterday to rest my left hand. Somehow I strained the reach of my pinkie. It is much better, but not yet up to several hours a day of tatting. It is a bit stiff after 3 motifs this evening.

Ruth Perry shared her Tatted Bullion Stitch Cross pattern in the Tat Calendar for March 31 and with the Online Tatting Class on Monday. Here is an image of my first effort. The technique has lots of possibilities, I think, and Ruth's instructions are good.

Cecelia Doily, Day 6

It was a lovely day to tat and I celebrated by making a long distance call to wish a Happy International Tatting Day to the woman who first taught me to tat. Then I settled in to work on the Cecelia Doily. As I packed up for the day, I count 20 completed motifs and the beginning of number 21. After our small group Bible study tonight, I did a bit of show and tell and whipped out my tatting bag to display the doily in progress. Having no tatting history in my family that I know of, I really love the tatting stories that others share about their relatives and tonight was no exception.