Tatted Animal Bookmarks and Bobbin Lace Progress

 Hello, my friends. I took a break from working on pattern creation with Inkscape to just have some fun. Summer holidays will begin in a few weeks and I wanted to make some fun bookmarks for my grandchildren to use and share with their friends to add a little extra fun to summer reading. Here you see the Gold Fish and the Alligator. Neither are exactly like the patterns (noted in the photos) as I just can't seem to resist tweaking as I go when something more convenient or interesting suggests itself, but they are close. I highly recommend both original patterns. Both are tatted in size 20. The fish was done with a Manuela thread still in my stash and the the alligator was done with a hand-dyed thread I bought many years ago.

My first bookmark was actually an adorable bobbin lace fish, but I mailed it off as a birthday present to a young relative of mine without thinking to take a picture first. I plan to make another one, though, so I hope to get a picture of the next one.

I also completed this Three Stitch Sampler (source in the photo) which certainly highlights my need for plait practice. I gained some wonderful help with the instructions and some great tips to improve those troublesome plaits with my next practice.

April also saw my first needle tatted project completed as part of Natia Vallee's Needle Tatting Classes, part of the Online Tatting Classes through https://www.theonlinetattingclass.com. It isn't too late to join the class. Just visit the website to find out more.

I hope your own projects are coming along well.

Tatted Bookmark with tiny pince-nez

I found myself in the backseat of a moving vehicle on my way to see the latest Harry Potter movie with only one loaded shuttle in my purse so I started playing around with what I had. The result is this edging strip bookmark with a tiny pince-nez dangling from the tail. I started with the little pince-nez ornament and worked my way to the other end. Since I didn't have enough thread to add a chain between the rings, I worked it as ring only and wrapped the other end of the thread around the bare thread and then hid the end in the last ring. It was fun to make. I like the idea of the reading glasses reminder dangling outside my book so I think I'll play with this idea a bit more.

Enjoying the Holidays

When finals were over I got busy decorating for the holidays and shopping for presents. I have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with my family and getting things done here at home. I'm afraid that, in my haste to get presents wrapped and delivered, I forgot to take some pictures of the bookmarks I made for my great-niece and great-nephews. I tatted Mark Myers football for the boys, adding tassels in their individual team colors. Their sister received Heather Johnson's Tatted Lady 2 in variegated pinks.

I'm catching up on my blog reading and I look forward to spending some time at the forums before I get back into the swing of another college semester. See you around!