So Many Things to Blog About

I'm so excited to have won the Garden Giveaway that Clyde the Madtatter had on August 24, 2009. Clyde made a video slide show of his beautiful gardens and added a Giveaway if you could identify a plant in the slide show that was around when dinosaurs roamed the earth. I guessed the Sago Palm and won the Giveaway. Clyde tatted the most beautiful, delicate bookmark for me and sent it along with a skein of HDT. He used Yarnplayers HDT Lavender Orchid in Size 100. I love the bookmark Clyde. Thank you so much. Please visit Clyde's blog and watch his garden tour, his garden is so lovely. He also has a slide show of Rocks and Gems and Fossils that he collects, which is amazing. Thank you Clyde!! Hope your surgery went well and you are on the road to recovery!!




I also entered a Giveaway that IsDihara at Ambitatterous had. She wanted little motifs and edgings to send to Mothermark to use in the cards she makes. Mothermark makes such creative cards to resemble teapots she collects. My little tatted samples were chosen and will be sent off to Mothermark to be used in the future on one of the cards she creates. Just for entering the Giveaway, IsDihara sent me two packets of flowering tea and two balls of peach star thread. I have never heard of this kind of tea and am excited to give it a try. Thank you Isdihara!!


Then Heather The Tarnished Tatter, asked for a few tatters to test out her tiny shuttles that she made. They are so cute and so tiny. I have small hands, so tatting with them was fun, they fit in my little fingers perfectly. I used size 80 tatting thread and got at least 4 yards on each shuttle. Below is the heart I tatted with Heather's tiny shuttles. Thank you Heather for letting me test the shuttles.



Then I have been wanting to post this picture for sometime now. It is a pattern by Lenore English. I taught my best friend, Rayanna, to tat in 2006. We get together to tat in the evenings and she came over this fall when my Mom was here and we all tatted and chatted the night away. Rayanna tatted this Awareness Ribbon for my daughter, Katrina. I like how Rayanna added the Angel in the center of the ribbon. Rayanna just started blogging and has been putting her tatting up on her blog. You can visit Rayanna's blog here!

I wanted to say thank you to everyone who has been voting to help the"Kiski Marching Band" win Band of the Year. (((WE WON)))) KISKI was named as Band of the Year!! We already knew we were band of the year, you only have to look at Kiski's band competitions and see that they have won all their competitions. So Thank You again from Katrina and I for helping us to achieve that goal. We had almost 50,000 votes.

Tatting Tea Tuesday

IsDihara at Ambitatterous is having a fabulous Giveaway, but today is the last day to sign up. All you have to do is tat a small snippet of an edging or a doodle or small motif and put it on a 3x5 card to be entered. Just by entering the Giveaway, you will receive a flowering tea. If you win the Giveaway, your tatting will be sent to Mothermark and your tatting may be used on one of the cards she creates. If you haven't been to Mothermark's blog, go check it out. She collects teapots, very unique teapots and she creates cards resembling the teapots. The teapots are pretty awesome as well as the cards she creates.

I have more to blog about, but ran out of time. In my next post I will blog about the Giveaway I won when I entered Clyde The Mad Tatter's Giveaway. He has a slide show of his gardens, which are so beautiful. You really should go check it out. But more on that next time.

Here are the samples I did for IsDihara's Giveaway, just a few edgings and motifs out of Rebecca Jones book.
Happy Tatting!!

Fabulous Giveaways, Tatted Heart & Kiski Band Needs you Again

There are so many great giveaways going on right now, I hope I remembered to list them all and that you will click on over to the blogs and check the giveaways out!!
First There is a giveaway at Annabelle Stamps Blog




She is having a giveawy on the stamp set and sprinkles. She also has a blog Andrea's Stampin' Moments that she blogs about the cards she makes using her stamps and sprinkles.
I like to use stamps and embleshments to make cards and add tatting to them, so this would be a nice set to win!!

The next giveaway is by Elizabeth's Tatted Lace, Elizebeth is celebrating her 100th sale at her Etsy Store. She is giving away a pair of her Tatted Pumpkin Earrings, they will look similar to these earrings in the photo below. Aren't they just AWESOME!!!





Then LadyShuttle Maker at Tatting Tales, is still having her Random Monday Mondo Giveaway. She will pick a random Monday to give something away. So far she has had 15 winners and plans on doing the random giveaways indefinetly. Now how COOL is that!!!!




Of course I had to show some tatting in this post. Here is a quick little tatted heart that I made, the pattern can be found at Victats Blog. This little heart makes a great bookmark, or would look great as a pendant. Thank you for sharing the pattern. There are also other lovely patterns on her site, she just put a pattern up for a "Bandaid Heart" it is so cute!!


Now onto the Kiski Area Marching Band. Thank you all who helped vote Kiski Area Marching Band of Vandergrift, PA, to be band of the week in my last post. We did win band of the week and it was so exciting.

Now we are trying to win BAND OF THE YEAR!! If you could take a moment to help by voting for us, Katrina would be so happy!! VOTE FOR KISKI BAND OF THE YEAR Voting will go on until November 20th. So Vote often if you can. Thank you so Much!! CLICK HERE TO VOTE


Here is a clip of our band when we won band of the week. Katrina can be seen towards the very end of the clip, she is to the right of the drum major directing the band, her face is partially hidden by a boy infront of her, but you can see her playing her flute.

Here is a picture of Katrina, her Dad and myself. It was Senior Night at the football game and we got to escort her down the field with all the other seniors.

Tatting Tea Tuesdays - Tatted Leaves, Acorns & Pumpkin - OT Please vote for KISKI

Fall has arrived and I have been busy tatting all things Fall. For the last few weeks, I have been tatting leaves, acorns and a pumpkin. There are so many great patterns for tatted leaves and some really pretty variegated threads, that it makes the tatted leaves look authentic!!

Before I learned to tat and tatting took over my life, I use to cross-stitch. One of the pieces I did was a large table scarf with cross-stitched pumpkins and fall leaves as a border. I have used this on my dining room table every fall for about the last 25 years. Well, I thought maybe I could change it up a little bit by tatting some leaves and just laying them around on the table scarf. Here is what I have done so far.

First I have a lovely little pumpkin designed by, Sherry Matthews. I really like how the leaves are tatted.


The next two leaves I have done so many times. It is an old Workbasket pattern that was updated by Tammy Rodgers. Here I used Yarnplayer's Sugar Maple HDT and a solid butter cream Manuela and the right leaf center is also Manuela in light pumpkin. I also tatted a few acorns, which are designed by Karey Solomon and is in her book "Tatting Turns over a New Leaf.

Next is another leaf out of Karey's book mentioned above, it is called "Simple Leaf". These are also done in Yarnplayer's Sugar Maple HDT.

Here is another pattern out of "Tatting Turns Over a New Leaf" by Karey Solomon. This is a Silver Maple Leaf, done in Sugar Maple HDT and a solid red Manuela for the center. I like how this one turned out.
This cute little leaf is designed by Sherry "LadyShuttleMaker".I used Altin Basak thread.


My Last leaf is a desgin by Gale Marshall at Tats All, I used Yarnplayer's Nectrarine HDT
I really like this color.

Here is my dining room table all decorated for Fall. I think next year I will continue tatting a few more leaves and pumpkins. There are still some different leaves I didn't tat, but it will wait till next year. I'm ready to move on to my next project.

Wait a minute, I took this picture thinking I was done, I was putting my camera away and I noticed that something looked different on my dining room table. I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought I better take another picture, just to make sure...........

yes, I see him now..............

he just had to get in on this picture...........

I see he has made a new friend...................
Do you see him????????

He is hiding, and he just popped out to say...................

Happy Halloween!!!!!!

HI WILLIAM!!



p.s. Very OT - Could you take a moment to help vote Kiski Area Marching Band for Band of the week???


My daughter, Katrina is in the Kiski Area Marching Band. This is her senior year and she so enjoyed her time in our Marching Band. Kiski Area Band is in the National Class of Marching Bands and have won 1st place in their AA class 28 times in a row. They just had a regional competition in Masillon, Ohio and 21 bands from 6 states participated, they once again won 1st place in their class and took 1st place over all.


Our local news station WPXI in Pittsburgh always showcases a "Band of the Week". In all four years that Katrina has competed, the local news station has never done a story on our band. We sure would like to see Kiski get recognized and showcased on our news station. If you go to this link:

WPXI Vote for the Band of the WEEK

Just vote for Kiski Area that's all you need to do.

Whatever band has the most votes by Friday, October 30 at 12 noon will be showcased on the local news.

This is Katrina with tears of joy, after learning they took 1st over all!!!

Thank you so much!! Katrina appreciates your Vote.

Tatted Pig and Lady Shuttle Maker's Giveaway

I Tatted this cute little pig a few months ago and forgot to post a picture of her. She is a Pam Palmer design, she is in one of her Tatting Treats books. I'm not sure I like the background paper I used behind her, I may change it to a plain lighter pink bacground.

I think I am done tatting leaves and will start on some pumpkins tonight.

Happy Tatting!!

Tatted Crosses, Blog Award & Aileen's Halloween Mystery Giveaway

I have so much to blog about, but I am still not feeling 100% from being sick. But I would like to show a much honored blog award that I received from Carolyn at Draffin Bears. She has awarded me the Bella Sinclair Award. The Bella Sinclair award is for Art Inspiration, Friendship Sisterhood, Sharing, and Caring. Bella is such an awesome person who is a very talented artist and a very caring person. Please visit her blog as well as Carolyn's blog, they are both such wonderful ladies.



I would like to pass it along to a few people whom I enjoy sharing e-mails with and visiting their blogs as well:


Laura at Laura's Tatting Muse

Pamela at Tats a Kool Challenge

Isdihara at Ambitatterous Tatting Tea Tuesday

Aileen at Aileen's Wicked Tats

Thank you again Carolyn for passing this award on to me.

I also wanted to mention that Aileen at Aileen's Wicked Tats is having a Hallowversary Mystery Giveaway on her site. So far there will be three prizes awarded. How fun is that. Can't wait to see who wins and what the prizes are. Thank you Aileen for the chance to win a mystery gift. Click here to enter her giveaway.

Sometime ago I made a couple of crosses for a friend, I think the one on the left was from Rebecca Jones book and the other from a Ring of Tatters book. Both are very easy crosses to make.



I am currently tatting leaves to add to a table scarf that I have crossed stitched leaves on. I made the table scarf about 10 years ago and I thought the addition of some tatted leaves with Yarnplayer's HDT Sugar Maple would look good on the scarf. I am almost done tatting the leaves and I want to tat a few pumpkins as well. I will blog about it when I am finished.

Thank you for stopping by! Have a great weekend!!

My Tatting Throne - Where I Tat!

Sometime ago some tatters were blogging about where they spend their time tatting. I know this is soooo late, but this is where I spend my time tatting.

William - My Lucky Charm, is always by my side when tatting. He also helps me locate my tatting tools when they are misplaced. I had trouble finding my Birthstone Shuttle, he told me it was in my new tatting bag, the one made by Jane Eborall. Isn't it so cute, the material is musical notes.

So William kept insisting my shuttle was in the bag, so I told him to find it for me. He dove into the bag and pulled out my favorite shuttle. I was able to tat again. I was working on another Lotus Flower. I will post that next time.

I wanted to show the heart bookmarks I was tatting. The pattern was in an Australian Newsletter and is by Julie Patterson 2008. The purple and green one is Valdani Thread. The pink and rose one is Flora.

I am home sick today, I have a bad cold. I haven't had a bad cold like this in a long time. I hope I feel better by tomorrow. This is my third day of feeling awful.

Tatting Tea Tuesday

Does Ice Tea count? Because that is what I had. I made a pitcher of regular flavored tea, but I always add one flavored tea bag, and this time it was apple flavored tea. This way my tea always taste slightly different.


Now onto the tatting part of this post. My Mom and Niece were visiting this past week and I got to do some tatting with my Mom and good friend, Rayanna. It's always fun when we can get together and tat. I made a motif for my niece, she just had her 12 year molars out, so I wanted to tat something for her. Sarah picked out the colors, Navy, Variegated Pink and White. The pattern is Jane Eborall's Lotus Flower. I love how this motif looks.





We also went to the zoo when they were here visiting and I got some really good pictures of the animals, especially one of a shark in a new tank. The polar bears are in a tank like this also. The tank has two enormous underwater viewing tunnels offering unparalleled views of the animals. If you are in the tunnel and look up, the shark or polar bear can swim right above you. It is sooo neat. I got a picture of the shark as it was swimming above me and you can see the sky above the shark, so it looks like the shark is swimming in the sky.






Here is another picture of the new tanks. Katrina sitting in front of the shark and Cameron is watching the polar bear swim by.





This is my niece Sarah standing by the tank with the Sea Lions.



Some other pictures that I liked, the Zebra and an Orchid.




Here is the newest baby elephant at the Pittsburgh Zoo. Isn't he cute!!!



It was a fun day at the Zoo.

Catching Up

It sure has been a busy summer. I have not had time to update my blog in such a long time. I have been tatting, but have not had time to update my blog. I wish there was more time in the day, just for tatting and reading tatting blogs. I try to tat and read a few blogs everyday. This morning I took pictures of what I have been tatting over the last month. I forgot to take pictures of a few things before I gave them away :(


I did finally manage to add a picture to the top of my blog title. It is the Reversible Motif by Jane Eborall. I loved tatting this motif. I used Yarnplayer's HDT, Tourmaline with matching threads. This is such a pretty colorway.

This is the front side of the motif.

This is the back side of the motif. I don't know which side I like best.


I wanted to make earrings to match each motif and use them as a pendant/earring set. I am very pleased at how each set turned out.

Then I made another Peacock colored motif (see previous post). Using Jane's "Lotus Flower" pattern again. The last one I made I turned in to a pin for my jean jacket. This time I added a ribbon/cord and it is a lovely pendant with matching earrings. I just love the colors in this motif too.






One more picture to post. Jane's new Multi Beaded Earrings. I love how this is made and there are so many possibilities for the bottom of these earrings. Thanks for all your wonderful patterns Jane. As you can see I love tatting your patterns.




I still have more to show, but it will have to be on another day. I need to get out to the garden and pick peppers, basil, and dill to freeze. It sure is hot today, it's about time though. Our summer has been rather cool, which is ok too, but we need some hot days and nights to help our tomatoes ripen.



Thanks for visiting my blog today. I enjoy reading all the comments everyone leaves.



Have a great day!!

Memorial Day Pin & Peacock Colored Pin

Memorial Day was a great day. First there was the Memorial Day Parade in Vandergrift, PA. My daughter, Katrina, is in the Marching Band, and they marched at the parade. We had great weather for the parade.

Then we spent the day doing odds and ends outdoors, planting in the garden, took a long walk in our woods on the trails and cooked out!

Then in the evening I had time to tat. I saw that Kathy at "Kathy's Victorian Tatted Lace" tatted a red, white and blue motif. Which of course really fit the day and inspired me to tat something red, white and blue. So I found a pattern that I have wanted to tat for many years, and never have. It's a pretty little heart by Billy Heisler "Heisler's Creative Stitchery" the heart pattern can be found here. This was quick and easy to tat.

I have a jean jacket that has embroidered Peacock Feathers on the sleeve and back. I love the colors used in the feathers. Teal, Dark Lavendar, a Bright Green, the colors in the feathers are so vivid. I wanted to tat a pin in these colors to wear on my jean jacket. I thought how nice the pin would look with the embroidered feathers. Luckily I just ordered some Lizbeth thread and they were the perfect color for this project. I used Jane Eborall's Lotus Flower pattern. I love how the pin looks with my jean jacket.

All I have to do now is glue the tie tack pin to the back of the pin and I'm all set.

Now to go plan my next project. It will be another mixed media project with some tatting and a drawing.

Elmer, The Patchwork Elephant

Many of you with young children may know of the book series "Elmer" by David McKee. Elmer is not a normal color elephant, he was patchwork. Elmer was yellow, orange, red, purple, blue, green black and white. This series was a favorite for both my children when they were little. We read the books over and over again.

Well, I got this idea to tat Elmer in patchwork colors and add a drawing to go along with him. It was such fun creating this picture. I recently discovered how much fun it is to draw. I didn't think I could draw, anything but stick figures though. But I have been so inspired by art blogs lately that I have been doodling.
The elephant is a pattern by Jane Eborall. One of her many animal patterns on her website.

Here is "Elmer". Tell me what you think!



I also wanted to upload a few pictures that I took on Mother's Day weekend. Even though I had strep throat, I did get to go on a Nature Walk with my family in our woods. We made nature trails in our woods and it's fun to walk and enjoy the queit peaceful atmosphere.

This is heading back to the Nature Trails.