ARTE PICO AWARD

Who would have thought that I would ever receive an award. I'm so surprised and honored. Thank you Verito!

ARTE Y PICO AWARD

There’re rules, yes, there are:
Reglas (español):1) Debes elegir a 5 blog que consideres sean merecedores de este premio por su creatividad, diseño, material interesante y aporte a la comunidad bloguera, sin importar su idioma.
2) Cada premio otorgado debe tener el nombre de su autora y el enlace a su blog para que todos lo visiten.
3) Cada premiada, debe exhibir el premio y colocar el nombre y enlace al blog de la persona que la ha premiado.
4) Premiada y premiadora deben exhibir el enlace de Arte y pico, para que todas sepan el origen de este premio.
5) Exhibir estas reglas
~~~~~~~~~~~
Rules:
1) You have to choose 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award due to their creativity, design, interesting material and also contribute to the blogger community, no matter in what language they are.2) Each award must have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog in order to be visited by everyone.3) Each award-winner has to show the award and include the name and link to the blog that has given it.4) The award winner and the one who has given it have to show the link of “Arte y pico” blog, so that everyone will know the origin of this award.5) Show these rules.
~~~~~~~~♥♥♥♥~~~~~~~~
I chose to give the award to Pamela - Tats's a Kool Challenge, TattyCat - Laura's Tatting Muse, Joy - Joy in Tatting, Judy- CJStitching and Blooms, Diane - Lace-Lovin' Librarian.

I hope I did this right.

DISCLAIMER:

Awards and tags can be fun. But do not feel obligated to accept the award if you find it a burden or otherwise makes you uncomfortable it's okay by me if you do not accept it.

Please take it as a compliment from me and consider it OPTIONAL.

Tatting Again, Motif #12

I am finally getting back into tatting. A few weeks ago I sliced my index finger while cutting celery and had to go to the emergency room and get 7 stitches. OOUCH, it sure did hurt. I got my stitches out and my finger is feeling better now, so I am finally able to tat again.

But while I was not tatting, William, my Leprechaun, (see post below for William's story) finished tatting the motif he started one day while I wasn't looking. To my delight, he tatted a flower pin. I use to make these when I learned to tat 19 years ago. The back of the pin has a tie-tack fastener. These pins are quick to make, they are just basically two rosettes put together with a porcelain flower in the center.

My husband was out of town at the end of May, he was in Guthrie, Oklahoma, on business and he had some free time and wondered into an antique shop to see if he could find me a birthday present and he found a little antique sterling silver shuttle for me. I was so surprised when he gave it to me. It is about 2-1/2" long and has the initials A.M. engraved on the top and the bottom of the shuttle is stamped with C.B.&H. Sterling. If anyone knows the company, C.B.&H. or anything about the shuttle, please let me know.

My Lephrechaun - William

I am one of the lucky ones to have received a Leprechaun from Pam in Ireland. She sent him to me when we had our Secret Santa Exchange. Well, I was reading Pam's Tats A Kool Challenge Blog, and she wanted all her Leprechaun's to check in. I am happy to report that William is having a grand time in Apollo, Pennsylvania. Let me tell you a little bit about William.

I have named my Leprechaun ,William , and he is my lucky charm. He sits by my computer and watches me while I visit tatting sites. Sometimes he sits and watches me tat too! He is a funny little fellow whom I feel so privileged to have.

I was tatting the other day and had to get up to answer the phone and when I came back, William had started tatting on my motif. He reminded me of the Fairy Tale by the Grimm Brothers "The Elves and the Shoemaker". Maybe William will have the motif done tonight.



Then two days ago, I couldn't find William. I wondered where he had gone off to. I searched high and low for him. Then I heard squeals of delight and you'll never guess where I found him. Did you ever see a ball pit at an amusement park? Well, I found William have a grand time with my thread. He dived right in just like a ball pit, only this was a pit full of thread. I had a heck of a time untangling him from the thread.




Yesterday I found him studying a pattern out of Mark Myers Book "Tatted Gathering of Angels". Maybe that is what he is going to tat for me tonight while I'm in bed.



That leads us to today. I came home from work and found him sitting at the computer. He sees all his friends and wants to know where they are and what they are up to. Are they as happy as I am, William asks.







So these are William's adventures for now. Who knows what mischief he will get into tomorrow. Thank you Pam, I adore William......


The reason for naming my Leprechaun William:

Why William you ask, well, I just watched the movie "P.S. I Love You" with Gerad Butler and Hilary Swank & Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Part of the movie was shot in Ireland and one of the Irish characters was William. So I named my Leprechaun after William in this movie. If you haven't seen this movie and like Romantic Comedies, you've got to see this one. I have to warn you that it is a tear jerker. I laughed and cried through the whole movie.

Nectarine Heart - Motif #11

I finally had a chance to tat with some of the new (HDT) Hand Dyed Threads I got from Yarnplayer (Marilee). The color is Nectarine and the thread has such pretty colors in it. I can't wait until the Nectarine set of solid colors arrives, I bought some of these too!

I found the prettiest Heart to tat with this thread. The Heart was designed by Sandra. Sandra has a slide show of some of her tatting on her site and there are some lovely crosses and bookmarks, earrings and two snoods. If you get a chance, check it out.



I've been going through all my tatting books, mostly the really old ones, looking for something different to tat. I saw many edgings that would look nice as bookmarks and littls tatting bits that would look good for earrings. That's what I do when I am too tired to tat, I'll just look at the books for a little bit and dream about what I could tat.

Motif #10 - Partridge in a Pear

Moving right along with the 25 Motif Challenge, I am already at motif #10, which I am very happy about, since I only joined the challenge on March 4, 2008. Here I have tatted Pam Palmer's Partridge in a Pear again. I tatted this one last year for a Secret Santa Exchange that I was in and posted about it earlier and can be seen on the post for February 6, 2008. My exchage partner was Jane Eborall, so she has the first one I tatted, which was tatted in all white. But I did this one a little different and tatted the pear in a beautiful golden color, which was made by Marilee (Yarnplayer), the color is called Golden Fleece, which you can get in her Etsy Shop. The Partridge is still in white. I used a pearl colored piece of heavy scrapbook paper and a piece of gold paper and used a fancy punch in the corners. I really like how this one looks with the golden pear.



Now I am thinking of what I will tat next. So many things I want to work on. I think I will tat a bookmark so I can use more of the HDT that I got from Marilee. I bought some of the beautiful color Nectarine. I think a floral bookmark would look nice in this color. I recently saw a floral bookmark that would look great with this thread. Now I can't remember where I saw it. Someone tatted about 8 of these bookmarks all in HDT's. I think the pattern might have been Kersti's, but I'm not sure. If anyone knows this bookmark, and knows where the pattern is, please let me know.

Tatting at Old Economy Village

Below is a picture of my Mom, Peg. She taught me to tat in 1989. My Mom learned how to tat from her friend, Evelyn. My Mom, Evelyn, and Kathy Nicklewicz and a few other ladies from Beaver County demonstrate tatting at the historical village of Old Economy. I taught my daughter to tat a few years ago, so we have three generations tatting now! I have only demonstrated a couple of times with them and I wanted to post a picture of us at old Economy from 2005. It is a lot of fun to demonstrate at Old Economy, I hope to do it again this summer with my Mom.


Peg, Katrina & Evelyn

Katrina & Carol (that's me)


Peg (my Mom), Evelyn, & Carol


Tatting display that Kathy puts together.
To see more of Kathy's tatting click on her name.

Old Economy Village, Ambridge, PA, the third and final home of the Harmony Society, was built by one of America's ost successful Christian communal groups. In 1804, the Harmonists migrated to America from Iptingen (near Stuttgart) in southwest Germany seeking religious and economic freedom. Nearly 800 farmers and craftsmen followed their leader George Rapp (1757-1847) first to Butler County, Pennsylvania and then to Posey County, Indiana. They stayed 10 years in each, building and naming their towns Harmony. The towns were designed by Frederick Rapp (1775-1834), the adopted son of the Founder.

In 1824, the Harmony Society returned to Beaver County, Pennsylvania and settled in Old Economy. To read more about this restored historical village, click on the link at the beginning of this post.

Tatted Heart - A Workbasket Pattern

I tatted this heart many years ago, it is from a Workbasket Magazine, I'm not sure of the year or month, I can't locate my copy of the magazine at the moment. But this heart reminded me of spring, with the daisies in the center of the heart.

Motif #9 - Bead Tatted Earrings

I just finished another pair of earrings using Coats & Clark Button Craft thread. The pattern is Jane Eborall's, with a little variations that she has added. The colors I used give the earring a southwest look with the peach, turquoise, cream and brown.

I was at JoAnn Fabrics this past weekend. I wanted to get more of the Coats & Clark Button Craft thread, and I noticed they don't have as many colors anymore. They didn't have the peach thread that I like or the Copenhagen blue. I'll have to go to the Coats & Clark site to see if these colors were discontinued. I sure hope not, I really like using this thread for tatted jewelry.

Tatted Parrot

I was going through my bookmarks of tatted sites and came across a link that I didn't think was there anymore. The site is from TatChat and there are still some patterns on that site that some you of may not have seen before. A mini heart by Liz, a heart by Betsy, a bracelet by Debbie, a butterfly by Lenore, three different tatted shuttle patterns and my favorite is the tatted Parrot by Mary Parrott. I tatted this a few times, once for a bookmark for a friend who loves birds, then I tatted it and sewed it on my daughters lunchbox when she was in 2nd grade. I think I still have the lunchbox somewhere. Katrina is 16 now, but I kept the lunchbox because I put tatting all over it. I also tatted the Parrot and framed it. I kept one for myself, which I made in 1998 and the other two framed Parrots's I donated to a bird club for an auction.

I found the lunchbox, I put on it my favorite butterfly by Mary McCarthy, parrot by Mary Parrott, a swan and chicken by Pam Palmer, a caterpillar and ladybug by Brenda Bonnila. On the other side I have a snake (who lost an eye) and turtle by Brenda Bonilla, a mermaid and seahorse by Jane Eborall. I think I will clean this lunchbox up and fix the snakes eye and put some of my tatting in it. I haven't thought about this lunchbox in so long, I guess I forgot about it.

Motif #8 - Bead Tatted Earrings



Another quick item to tat are these beautiful earrings by Jane Eborall. This is my favorite earring pattern. I like to use Coats and Clark button craft thread, which is like a size 30 thread, but gives the earring a firm shape. There aren't many colors to choose from, but your beads can give you the color. The thread comes in white, black, cream, tan, natural, green, blue, red, maroon and blue. At least that is all I can recall right now. You can find this thread at JoAnn Fabrics with sewing threads.

Motif #6 & 7 - Tatted Butterflies

I did manage to tat some last night. Just a few quick butterflies. This is such a cute butterfly. I added them to some birthday cards. This pattern is by Mary McCarthy and is in an old Workbasket Magazine.

Motif #5 - Tatted Cat Bookmark



I seem to be on a roll with these tatted bookmarks. I always like to have some on hand. I have a few of the Tatted Cat Bookmarks already, this is the latest one I have made. The pattern is by Diana Howe and was in the KNOTS Newsletter, November 2002. I have made this bookmark many times. It is fast and easy and kids love this bookmark. You can also find the pattern in Dianna Stevens book "Animal Bookmarks, A Tatted Zoo" . Dianna turned this Cat Bookmark into a Lion Bookmark by making long picots on all sides of the face. Its so cute! You can find information on the book on her website. Just click on her name and it will take you there. As I was looking up her web address, I see that she has the Lion Bookmark Pattern on her website, along with many other nice patterns.

I didn't get to tat on April 1st, International Tatting Day, but I did have the required chocolate! :) I will make up for the tatting tonight. I'm not sure what to start on. I think I will get back to making earrings.

Motif #4 - Tatted Thistle Bookmark

Moving right along with the 25 Motif Challenge. I have tatted another of my favorite bookmarks to make. The Tatted Thistle Bookmark by Jean N. Faeih.

I have done this bookmark many times and in many different colors, but my favorite colors are the thistle colors. This tats up quickly and makes a nice gift. I made a slight mistake on this bookmark though. At the top where all the long picots are, this is usually the rose color and the rings are the blue. I must not have been paying attention when I tatted this. Oh well, it still looks good. I think my next bookmark will be a cat bookmark. Kids love this one.

Motif #3 - TIAS - Tat It and See by Diane Saunders



Looks like the TIAS is a big hit. Diane Saunders started the second TIAS. This was a lot of fun tatting. She put little bits of the pattern up on her website every couple of days. The finished piece turned out to be a Tulip, so the color I chose to tat with, a varigated peach, worked out just fine. I added a tassle on my Tulip, for a bookmark, that I will give as a gift. If you want to seee all of the Tulips, Diane has them on her blog here.

Motif #2 - TIAS - Tat It and See - by Jane Eborall

This certainly was a fun project. Thanks to Jane for coming up with this idea. Giving us directions to tat something that we had no idea what we were making, until the project was almost finished. It was like making a jigsaw puzzle without the picture. I enjoyed tatting this project.

Jane had more than 100 people tatting this mystery motif. Check out all the Hippos on Jane's TIAS Blog.

I have been doing a lot of tatting lately and will eventually upload my next tatted piece to add to my 25 Motif Challenge.

Bead Tatted Butterfly Earrings Motif #1



I finally did it. I joined the 25 Motif Challenge. This is my first motif in the challenge. I made these earrings as a gift for a friend. This is such a pretty butterfly. The pattern is by Teri Dusenbury. I used Coats and Clark Button Craft thread, which is like a size 30, this is a light peach colored thread.

I am looking for a supplier for these heart beads I used at the top of the butterfly. They are a 6mm Mother of Pearl flat heart bead. If you know where I can find some, let me know. I only have a few of these left and I like to use them with this earrings.

I just starting tatting a bookmark by Jean N. Faeih, Tatted Thistle Bookmark. I love this bookmark and have made many of them. Usually I use Manuella thread, but this time I am going to use the Altin Basak thread, so the finished size will be slightly smaller this time. I'll post a picture of the bookmark when I am done.

I found this really interesting looking shuttle at Morning Glory Antiques. It has a gothic face on the sterling silver shuttle. They have some unique lookng shuttles listed. Its fun just to look at what is available. I like the shuttle that has the Dogwood blossom on it.

Tatted Butterfly Earrings





I have been tatting these lovely Teri Dusenbury Beaded Butterfly Earrings. I need to find a supplier for the flat 6mm Mother of Pearl Heart Bead. I don't have many left. If anyone knows of a supplier, let me know. I love to tat these earrings and give as gifts. These earrings always get lots of comments. I use Coats & Clark Button Craft Thread, which is like a size 30. This color is like a peach color. I think I'll use a tan colored thread next, but I'm not sure on the bead colors yet. I also have started tatting a Thistle Bookmark. This is one of my favorite bookmarks to make. It was designed by Jean N. Faeth. I'll post a picture of that when I am done.

Pam Palmer Designs


I am working my way through Pam Palmer's designs. I really like tatting from her patterns. As you saw in my last post, I am tatting from her "Twelve Days of Christmas" book. I have already tatted the Partridge in a Pear and next comes Two Turtle Doves. But in the mean time I will post pictures of some other Pam Palmer designs that I have tatted. First is her Festive Elephant. I enjoyed tatting this one so much. I used vibrant colors for the blanket on the elephants back and shiny gold beads on almost every picot on the blanket, including all the picot joins. The picture doesn't show how truly shiny this piece looks. It still needs framed, I really need to do that so I can get him up on my wall.



I also enjoyed tatting her Peacocks. Again, the picture doesn't do the piece justice. I used a gold metallic thread with the greens and blue colors of the peacock's tail.

Secret Santa Exchange

It has been so long since I updated my blog. I have been tatting, I just haven't uploaded any of my finished pieces. One thing I want to post is a piece I tatted for the Secret Santa Exchange I was in. My exchange partner was Jane Eborall. I tatted a piece by Pam Palmer, from her book "The Twelve Days of Christmas." I tatted the Partridge in a Pear. I framed it using some scrapbook paper and a fancy corner punch. I loved this piece so much that I made an exact duplicate for myself. : )



I also tatted a heart and put it in a keychain, tatted a name tag, and sent a few other goodies like M&M's, Dark Chocolate Cinamon Altoids, notecards with tatting on them and some different flavored teas.





I received some wonderful gifts from my exchange partner, Pamela Myers from Ireland. She sent me a beautiful handmade cloth tree with tatting on it. I still have it hanging in my livingroom. There is room on the back for me to add 6 motifs. It can be reversed and hung with either side showing as there will be tatting on both sides.





Pamela spoiled me with so many nice things. She tatted a beautiful red and white snowflake and made me a Leprechaun with a piece of gold in his hand and he has a tatted sash. He is adorable. There is also a lovely hand made card with a tatted pointsette, and music to my ears, some irish music on cd's. The cute little Ireland Teddy Bear will get some tatting added to him soon, a little coin purse that I can use to put a little ball of size 70 thread and a shuttle to put in my purse, some silver metallic thread and last but not least, some yummy chocolate. Thank you Pamela for all the goodies you sent me!!!

Tatting Seahorses and Dolphins

I've been busy tatting Seahorses. I just love Jane Eborall's patterns. She has three fantastic Seahorse patterns on her site. First there is the little Seahorse earrings. These are so quick and easy to make up for a little gift. I like to display them on pretty scrapbook paper or print off a background from American Greetings Creata card program that I have, to present them when giving as a gift. This background was perfect for the earrings.

I also made some of Jane's medium size Seahorses and put them in bangle bracelets like she was doing. I am having fun doing that. I also did her dolphin in a bangle bracelet too.