Christmas Gifts, Crafts, and Cookies!!

These are my latest in the world of tatting. There's four of each, and I will be joining them together with jump rings when they are fully starched and blocked:

I joined the 25 Motif Challenge this last week, so I will say that these are four different motifs. They're not fully finished, but they will be the first in my go at the challenge!

These were all tatted in a size 20 of HDT from Lady Shuttlemaker, "Icicle." I used two different patterns, one was the December pattern from Georgia Seitz site for beginner tatters, located here. The next one up was the same pattern, just doubled and taking out a ring/chain and joining to one picot in the center. The third was a crochet pattern that was translated into tatting, however I've lost the pattern. I'll see if I can find it before my next post..

Since I have gotten confirmation on some of my threads getting through the mail, I feel its alright for me to post what the cards looked like before being put in the envelope:

I had the origami paper sitting around from about three Christmases ago when I made a tree that was completely decorated with nothing but origami cranes. Wow, that was a while back.. I was still in school at ITT..

The envelope is made the same way that Katie did over at Katie's Tatting Khronicles, though I think I may have made mine before she did, except she made them way better than mine!

It may not seem like much of a Christmas craft, however I am working on M's Christmas present at the moment:



He's getting a nice journal; parchment, 200 total write-able pages (or 50 sheets folded in half) and bound with some thread that I need to dye tonight so it will be ready in the morning. I'm using tea for this one, which will be a new experience for me. It's going to be bound in a Japanese stab-binding style, mostly because I like the stitch and it's easier than some of the other styles. I'll try to post some pictures of the entire process -- this is a really good way for re-binding books that are loosing their spine or have been passed down.

I also got bored when I was taking the pictures of the parchment, and decided to share with everyone one of my orchids before the blooms fall off:



This is my newest addition to the growing plant life of my home. I'm surprised that the blooms have lasted this long.. Maybe it's because I'm keeping the temperature the same constant 73 degrees?

Thread Exchange

I sent out my thread earlier today and it should be in everyone's hands by end of week. I've been procrastinating cleaning house, and today I have cause to put it off:


At top left, from Marcella, is a collection of thread that includes a DMC Perle Cotton in size 12, and a vintage thread from Clark's Boilfast, size 50. Next is from Marji, Lizabeth size 20 Springtime. Thanks to both!

Now that I have them, I don't know what to do with them! Perhaps some pretty ornaments?

I'll post pictures of the cards I sent out later, once they've reached their destination!

Holiday Thread Exchange, and other Holiday things!

As promised, here are some pictures of my latest thread dying exploits. The yarn took around three rinsing before they were fully dye-free, and the thread twice (but only for the darker colors. I didn't realize it took so much to get the brown out!!)

Size 10 Bamboo
Colors:
Orchid Blossom
Grape Vine
Orchid Blush
Chocolate-Strawberry Swirl
Black Friday

Size 10
Colors:
Grape Vine
Chocolate-Strawberry Swirl
Arctic Slushie
Flames
Orchid Blossom
Peach
Rose-Pink
Black Friday
Size 20
Colors:
Flames
Chocolate-Strawberry Swirl
Black Friday
Grape Vine
Peach

Size 30
Colors:
Black Friday
Orchid Blush
Arctic Slushie
Chocolate-Strawberry Swirl
Rose-Pink
Grape Vine
Orchid Blossom

I now have more thread than I know what to do with.. But that's alright. :) If anyone wants to try some of this out, send me a comment and I'll respond.

There's a Holiday Shop in my local strip mall. They come every year, but the best thing about them this year is that I found two books for tatting!


Anyone know where to find a "crochet tatting hook"? This book calls for one, but I have no idea where to find one! I think I can re-work the patterns to use a shuttle, but I'm not too sure... Crochet is not my forte, it's more of my mothers. and she seems interested in this book (I asked her if she could figure it out and teach me.. It's a good trade -- I teach her needle tatting and she teaches me this!). All I need is to do is get some hooks and I'm set!

Also, Kelly gave me a nice $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble. Yay! Now I can go crazy again! I've found a few books/pamphlets that I really want to get, but will need to see if I can have them shipped to the store. I'm not too fond of waiting for anything to come to my mailbox, especially since it's a tiny thing! lol I guess I need to figure out which books I want!

I'll be sending out my parts in a thread exchange tomorrow. It's kind of funny -- I didn't realize that two of my partners are from my home state! And one is in an area that I go to frequently! Weird..

Also, another note on the Christmas shopping woes.. I managed to get my sister a gift that I know she will like (since I don't have the time to get hers made..), only to bungle it up and have her see the box it was in! This wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for the fact that it was from one of the stores that she loves.. And that the smell of the tea she wanted me to get her is currently filling my house with it's candy sweetness!

Dye Again!

I'll try to post pics when I get home, but I've finally took the time to dye more thread (and also some yarn!) the way I wanted. All that's left is to rinse everything (and in some cases, again!!) and let them dry. I've came up with some new color combinations, and did away with some of my others.

Now, I just need to build my skeining machine and I'll be off to the races! ^^

I am seriously thinking about sending some of these out to be test-tatted, since I won't have time to make something out of every color combination. Any takers?

.. Well, I guess that would have to wait until I get the pictures posted, yeah? lol

Finals, Yarn, Thread, and Dye

Finals are next week, and I only have to go for three days, and two aren't for tests! ^^

Anywho, I'm gearing up for another round of dying. I didn't get the chance a week ago to dye, mostly because it was Black Friday and I had to work the early shift (whew! so glad that is over!!) This time, I'm making a Christmas gift for a friend who crochets (making a skein of HDT.. erm.. hand-dyed yarn?) that is purple and black. She chose the colors! I'm also going to be dying some thread, so I've got to choose my colors soon!

I'm trying to get everything skeined, so keep a look out! I will also be adding some more tatting, as well as a full pattern to my Clover Square. I've only got to finish the final corner and type up the pattern and I will be done! ^^

Pics will be up (save those for the thread exchange.. I'll add those when my partners get their thread! lol) sometime later, after it's all said and done. Happy tatting everyone! ^^