My Adventures in Tatting

Tatting is my newest hobby.  I first took up a shuttle in late August of 2012.  Since then, I have had a blast making all sorts of things.  Some of them I have followed patterns to complete (like the heart from Patti Duff's Minitats 69 Petite Motifs and Anne Bruvold's Minor Norwegian Dragon), some of them I have looked at images and done my best to imitate (like yarnplayer's "Belle" pendant), some of them have resulted from improperly following patterns (Mistakes can be pretty!), and some of them have just resulted from me playing around with thread and shuttles.

Making jewelry is my latest enjoyment with tatting.  It is fun to see family member's eyes light up when I give them a new necklace or a new pair of earrings.  I love telling people that I made something I'm wearing.

Tatting is great because it is a highly portable craft.  There is rarely a time when my purse doesn't have a work-in-progess in it.  I have taken my tatting on planes, in cars, to church, to waiting rooms, and much more.  I've enjoyed tatting during ladies thread art nights.  I am so glad that my mom's neighbor taught me how to do this.  I have also begun teaching five others how to tat as well.  Between my tatting mentor and youtube videos, I have progressed rather quickly in the tatting art, though I would not delude myself into thinking that I am done learning.  There are so many more skills that I want to learn.  I hope to end 2013 being able to say that I have learned even more tatting skills to increase my ability.  I also hope to show off the items completed by the people I am teaching.

I plan on showing off some of these pieces in further detail in later blog posts and I plan on trying my hand at some new projects.

2013 To Do List

This list is long and I know I won't be able to complete everything on it and I am okay with that.  I did a list last year and I did accomplish a lot of things on it.  Making a list of the goals I want to accomplish does help me get more done.  So this is the list for this year.  I'm sure I will add somethings to the list and take somethings off the list, but here is my starting point for this year's goals.
        

         January:

Tat at least 2 new items

Finish at least 3 more rows on Bevan’s Roxas blanket

Paint the second coat in the office

Start on the Tetris bookshelves for the office

Make five things to sell on the website

Get the website up and running again

Complete one Amigurumi

Learn 2 new songs on one of my instruments

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story

Finish carving the Tauntaun horns and skull
Pack up Christmas decorations [Done]

Unpack Trail of Painted Horses [Done]

February:

Finish up the Tetris bookshelves

Finish at least 3 more rows on Bevan’s Roxas blanket

Complete one Amigurumi

Make 5 things to list on Crafty Cranes

Learn a new song on one of my instruments

Finish Tauntaun frame

Tat at least 2 things

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story

Host a “Try a New Recipe Potluck”

March:

Start sewing Tauntaun musculature

Finish at least 3 more rows on Bevan’s Roxas blanket

Complete one Amigurumi

Tat at least 2 things

Make five things to list on Crafty Cranes

Learn a new song on one of my instruments

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story

Host a “Try a New Recipe Potluck”

April:

Finish sewing Tauntaun musculature

Finish at least 3 more rows on Bevan’s Roxas blanket

Complete one Amigurumi

Tat at least two things

Make five things to list on Crafty Cranes

Learn a new song on one of my instruments

Start t-shirt quilt

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story

Start working on my garden

Host a “Try a New Recipe Potluck”

May:

Start adding fur to the Tauntaun

Finish at least 3 more rows on Bevan’s Roxas blanket

Complete one Amigurumi

Tat at least two things

Make five things to list on Crafty Cranes

Learn a new song on one of my instruments

Continue working on t-shirt quilt

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story

Host a “Try a New Recipe Potluck”

June:

Finish adding fur to the Tauntaun

Finish at least 3 more rows on Bevan’s Roxas blanket

Complete one Amigurumi

Tat at least two things

Make five things to list on Crafty Cranes

Learn a new song on one of my instruments

Continue working on t-shirt quilt

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story

Fix garage roof

Host a “Try a New Recipe Potluck”

July:

Put the finishing touches on the Tauntaun

Finish Bevan’s Roxas blanket

Complete one Amigurumi

Tat at least two things

Make five things to list on Crafty Cranes

Learn a new song on one of my instruments

Continue working on t-shirt quilt

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story

Host a “Try a New Recipe Potluck”

August:

Debut the Tauntaun

Complete one Amigurumi

Tat at least two things

Make five things to list on Crafty Cranes

Learn a new song on one of my instruments

Finish t-shirt quilt

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story

Host a “Try a New Recipe Potluck”

September:

Complete one Amigurumi

Tat at least two things

Make five things to list on Crafty Cranes

Learn a new song on one of my instruments

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story

Host a “Try a New Recipe Potluck”

October:

Complete one Amigurumi

Tat at least two things

Make five things to list on Crafty Cranes

Learn a new song on one of my instruments

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story

Complete half-marathon number 4

Host a “Try a New Recipe Potluck”

November:

Complete one Amigurumi

Tat at least two things

Make five things to list on Crafty Cranes

Learn a new song on one of my instruments

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write 50,000 words in a novel (aka NaNoWriMo) - going for win # 4

Help siblings with NaNoWriMo

Decorate for Christmas after Thanksgiving

Host a “Try a New Recipe Potluck”

December:

Complete one Amigurumi

Tat at least two things

Make five things to list on Crafty Cranes

Learn a new song on one of my instruments

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story

Attend NaNoWriMo TGIO Party

Host a “Try a New Recipe Potluck”

2012 To Do List Updated - Happy New Year Everyone!

January

Bevan's Roxas blanket [In Progress]

Millennium Falcon coffee table [Hubby Completed]

back room shelves [Eventually Completed]

back room sorting and organizing [Eventually Completed]

Five things to sell on the website [Done]

Website up and functioning completely [Completed - then Hacked - In Progress Again]

Find another part time job

One Star Wars Amigurumi

One Bomb Omb Amigurumi

Learn 2 new songs on one of my instruments

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week [Done]

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story [Done]

Print out Filk song book [Done]
Rapunzel yarn hair hat [Done]
Kandra's Doll (she named her Kendra) [Done]

February

2 Amigurumi [Done]

5 things to list on Crafty Cranes [Done]

Learn 2 new songs on one of my instruments

Special t-shirts quilt

Dance workout three times a week every week [Done]

Strength training workout three times a week every week [Done]

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story [Done]

March

2 Amigurumi [Done]

5 things to list on Crafty Cranes

Learn 2 new songs on one of my instruments

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week [Done]

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story [Done]

April

Tauntaun

2 Amigurumi [Done]

5 things to list on Crafty Cranes

Learn 2 new songs on one of my instruments

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story [Done]

May

2 Amigurumi

5 things to list on Crafty Cranes

Learn 2 new songs on one of my instruments

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story [Done]

June

2 Amigurumi

5 things to list on Crafty Cranes

Learn 2 new songs on one of my instruments

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story [Done]

July

2 Amigurumi [Done]

5 things to list on Crafty Cranes

Dragon footy pajamas

Learn 2 new songs on one of my instruments

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story [Done]

August

2 Amigurumi

5 things to list on Crafty Cranes

Learn 2 new songs on one of my instruments

Dance workout three times a week every week [Done]

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story[Done]

Learn how to tat [Done]

Tat 2 items [Done]

September

2 Amigurumi

5 things to list on Crafty Cranes

Learn 2 new songs on one of my instruments

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week [Done]

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story [Done]

Tat 2 items [Done]

Pack and move out [Done]

October

2 Amigurumi

5 things to list on Crafty Cranes

Learn 2 new songs on one of my instruments

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week [Done]

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story [Done]

Half-Marathon [Done]

Tat 2 items [Done]

Finish tatting my dragon [Done]

Plan and run Mom’s 50th Birthday Party [Done - and I’d say it was a success with the 92 guests who celebrated with her]
Attend NaNoWriMo Kick Off Party [Done]

November

2 Amigurumi

5 things to list on Crafty Cranes

Learn 2 new songs on one of my instruments

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write 50,000 words in a novel (aka NaNoWriMo) - going for win #3 [Done]

Buy a house [Done]

Pack and prep for move again [Done]

Remove popcorn from ceilings [Done]

Paint all ceilings on main floor [Done*]

Paint Bathroom [Done]

Replace Main Floor Lighting [Hubby Did]

Tat 2 items [Done]

Finish tatted dragon number 2 [Done]

Tat Mom’s necklace and earrings [Done]

Tat earrings for Kandra [Done]

Demo closet for office to expand bedroom closet [Done by hubby & brother with some demo help from my uncle]

Put dresser into closet [Done]

Help at a tatting demonstration [Done]

Help Siblings with NaNoWriMo [Done]

December

2 Amigurumi

5 things to list on Crafty Cranes

Learn 2 new songs on one of my instruments

Dance workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story [Done]

Attend NaNoWriMo TGIO Party and bring siblings [Done]

Paint Kitchen [Done]

Paint Living Room [Done]

Paint Fireplace [Done]

Paint Office [Started]

Paint Board Game Shelves [Done]

Paint Kitchen Shelves [Mostly Done - I still need to do one more coat of red on the back wall]

Finish patching outlet repair in living room [Started - I’m really glad hubby and my father-in-law found that out and started fixing it. It needs another layer of mud, sanding, texturing, then paint]

Organize cookbooks on shelf [Done]

Start moving things into the house [Started]

Move Kaylee (our cat) into the house [Done]

Set up Christmas tree and decorations [Done]

Update electrical [Hubby & father-in-law Did]

Tat pendant necklace for Linda [Done]

Tat pendant necklace for Lauree [Done]

Tat monkey charm anklet for Mom [Done]

Tat 2 additional items [Done]

Host Star Wars FanForce White Bantha Christmas party [Done]

Get house as ready as possible for In-Laws visiting after Christmas [Done]

Enjoy visit with In-Laws [Done and tons of fun]

Get clothing rod hung in newly enlarged closet [Done by hubby and Mum-in-law]

***

*Because it is easier to list here than it is to list everywhere. Most of the house improvements were made possible by all the help we have received from awesome family and friends.

***I’m sure there are other things that got done that I don’t remember as well. For the fact that I got hit with a large amount of family drama starting in March when my dad ran off and continuing throughout the year, I feel like I accomplished a ton of things this year. I would not wish to relive this year (due to the drama), but I also wouldn’t say the year was a total bust either. I still did a lot and I’ve grown through the trails. I am looking forward greatly to 2013. There are things that I will change about me, projects that I will complete, and most importantly the company of those I love and interact with that I will enjoy. *raises a glass in toast* Here is to the end of a roller coaster year and a healthy outlook for the adventures I will have in 2013. Also, 13 is my favorite number, so I look forward to being able to write it in the date all year long. May 2013 be full of many wonderful blessings for you and yours. Have a Happy New Year! I will be getting my list of things I hope to accomplish in 2013 together and should have it up within the next few days. Enjoy the rest of 2012 (unless it is already completed for you) and lets have a blast in the new year.

Angry Birds For My Little Brother

My adorable little brother loves angry birds.  So as an incentive for potty training, I made him his favorite bird... who kind of looks like Bert from Sesame Street... {made from a pattern I found online}.

Then for his birthday, I came up with a pig pattern and made him this adorable little guy and a set of cardboard towers that he can now set up, place the pig on, and throw his bird at.

My cat, of course, had to inspect my work.  It seems she was quite familiar with the game concept...

My little brother greatly enjoys his crochet version of Angry Birds.  I suspect, I may try to make him a few more birds/pigs for Christmas.

Adventures in Tatting

On Thursday night, my friend introduced me to the wonderful world of tatting.  She taught me the basics: double stitch, picot, join, chain, and ring.

My practice thread.  It starts out with a chain of double stitches using two threads.  The the work goes to a single thread as she taught me how to make rings.  Then I learned how to add picots.  After I had practiced two rings with picots side by side, she decided I needed to learn how to join rings through a picot.  Then I started making a flower.  I got partway around it and realized that my gap between petals was too large.  So I abandoned the partial flower to start on my first project.

This project was started and completed Friday morning.  I had a lot of fun making it.

This is my first completed (minus tucking in the final strings) project.  I needed youtube's help to learn a few more steps for this project.

When I first tried joining the last petal of my flower to the first petal of my flower it ended up twisted.  So I undid my join and started hunting for a video.  I found one that showed me how to make a folded join to complete a circular motif.  I also learned how to add a bead to the center of a tatted ring, which I practiced at the end of my bracelet chain.  I also stumbled across a fantastic way to hide tail threads, unfortunately, it was after I had already finished my bracelet.  So until I get around to buying a special needle, my tails will remain loose on this one.

Close up of the flower details.

Another shot of my first complete flower.

On to project number two, which I started Saturday.  This project uses the pattern found here, except that I've added an extra picot on the two outer rings of the clover.

Project #2 - Rambling Flowers Pattern

I started this project with two threads and used the thread hiding method found here.  I also learned how to open a closed ring, because I accidentally closed the center ring of the second clover a picot and five double stitches sooner than I should have.  I wouldn't want to make a habit out of reopening closed rings, but it wasn't as painful as the tutorial made it sound.

I am very excited to work on this project some more this morning and, after church, I will be meeting with the gal that taught me to show her my progress and to tat some more.

Star Crochet Blanket - Blues and Purples

This is the largest star blanket I have made at this point.  It is very soft and perfect for snuggling.  I finished it earlier today.

I have been working on this blanked on and off for three weeks and I am really pleased with how it turned out.

 

My four year old brother giving you a size comparison.

Edge detail - I really like how the edge turned out.

Edge detail again - this time in dark purple.

Playing the Hurry Up and Wait Game

Hubby and I made an offer on a house that we absolutely love a little over a week ago.  It is a beautiful house that needs work, but that's okay.  We are still waiting to hear back from the bank on our offer.  It is rather hard waiting and I'm trying not to drive hubby (my real estate agent) crazy while waiting.  So that is the exciting/anxious piece of news in my life.  Please pray for good news from the bank. :)

I'm still learning to cope with decisions made by a family member that has turned my entire families' life upside-down.  I know that I will jump for joy when I am finally able to sleep straight through the night without waking up in the middle due to nightmares.  I've had three solid months of nightmare filled nights and it's getting hard to function on this lack of sleep.  I don't like being tired all the time.

It may just be that I notice the rain more right now, but the last three months seem to have been filled with more rain and grey days than normal.  Currently, it is pouring.  The parking lot has a river of rain water flowing through it and the thunder is cracking loudly as flashes occasionally light up the sky.

Overall, my heart is happy for the blessings in my life and the hope I cling to.  I know that when this tough period of time has come to an end, I will emerge from the other side stronger than when I entered and I know that God is in control and He is my strength through this stormy time.