Heart basket

 A good friend recently shared tickets to a concert with me. We had fun, enjoyed the music, and relaxed away from the chores and tasks! As a thank you, I went looking for a little something tatted to gift her. Nothing in my stash fit. I decided to tat up a basket for a kiss. 

 

I’ve done this with several heart patterns. This one is my favorite. Rosemarie Peel got all the details right!

Now to find several kisses to place in jar or bag along with a thank you note

Raft of otters

 This is not a tatting post. Nor is it a music post. It’s a life happened post.

Looking towards Marina

I walk along the Bay for exercise. The storms have definitely made that a scheduled event. The other day, I spotted a raft of otters. There’s all kinds of explanations. Watching them always make me grateful. I’m grateful I don’t need to eat 25% of my body weight each day. 10-15 lbs of shellfish would be a challenge. No wonder they don’t have time to tat. Living in the water may be inconvenient for that also.

blurry close up with my phone

For more information, watch your newsfeed of nature stories, visit the Aquarium website, or come down to watch the otters yourself!

 

Announcing a better way to tat a SCMR

 

For those of you just dipping your toe into tatting (WELCOME!) a SCMR is a Self Closing Mock Ring. You complete a chain having left a loop in your core thread that you use to close the chain into a ring. For those tatting with needle, you probably learned this before a true ring.

To the right is a photo of the tool I helped designed for use in tatting a SCMR. It is available through Stephanie Cervi designs and this Etsy shop. You will also find the Tatting Tool Box. I helped make a short video that demonstrated how the tool is used. I’ve used my hands for a lotta things, but seeing them in the video helped make the decision NOT to be a hand model. Too many calluses, scars, and marks from real life!

For those of you local to me, I’ll be happy to meet up and work through the SCMR with you. Just drop me line by comment or let me know when you see me!

Turning the corner some more

 I’m making progress finalizing my corner for the edging I want to add to the huck lace sample. It’s slow progress as next week starts Lent and I have lots of details to work through at the organ. Once things start next week, I’ll have more time to puzzle the last few stitches.

How many of us like making a SCMR (Self-closing mock ring) in the midst of a pattern? Well, from my favorite 3-D printing company that brought you the Tatting Tool box, I have a tool to help! Pictures soon! Link to the store equally soon!

Sorry for the teaser, but I’m truly excited about it!

Meet my friend

Well, I’m assuming it’s friendly. I don’t like scary movies. Or movies that make my adrenaline go wild. I’m intense enough without that! I left the hand over the chin/mouth on purpose. We had some fabulous news this week!! But…. We have to wait a few days to announce it. My friend almost spilled the beans!

Tatting Toolbox has been improved

 We’re continuing to refine the design of this little beauty. Here’s a couple of links to where you can find more info:

The Tatting Toolbox 3D Printed Shuttle & Needle Caddy and - Etsy

The Tatting Toolbox - Stephanie Cervi Design Shop

[Coupon code PICOTSNKEYS for 15% off, limit 1 use per customer for 1 week.] (Expired) Shipping is free within the continental US and calculated based on size and weight of box for elsewhere.

I really like being able to have everything ready to use upon opening up the top. I also like being able to close it and carry it to the shelf where it lives when I’m not tatting!

Continued impact

My COVID journey continues. I’m testing negative, so I’ve been able to slowly get back to a normal schedule. Tomorrow I meet with 2 new students. One has been waiting patiently for weeks. My eyes are still not back to 100%. I hadn’t heard of anyone having vision problems with COVID, but it makes sense to me. Things just aren’t crystal clear, even with correction. It gets better as the day wears on, so I’m trying to adjust. I gave up finishing my sample of the edging. I’m using size 70 thread, and it’s been a bit of a challenge to see clearly when the light is best (morning) and when the eyes are best (after dark) and just not easy. I will persevere!

In the meantime, here’s a photo of my TIAS 2023 so far:

I say, “Olé!!”

When you get the stitch count confused

 Many of you have tatted this vintage pattern. I wanted to use it to tat an edging as I described here.

So far, so good. I feel like I know the pattern well. One possibility for that corner came to mind rather quickly. I’d probably have a photo of the trial ready IF…..  

The vintage thread didn’t keep breaking…..

I had quite a few challenges in January that impacted my tatting time…..

I actually followed my written notes……

Have you spotted the mistake yet?

Hint: I muffed the stitch count of some of the rings.

All will be revealed next post……