Viv's Tatting Quest

Etsy Plug :)

2010-07-20T18:14:00.003-04:00

Not only do I have knitting stitch markers on etsy but i have TATTING STRIVERS!!!!!! SEEEEEEEEEEEEE....go lookie :)

Lapidolite Striver

Yellow Jade Striver

Bown Clay and Jade Striver

Brown clay and agate Stich Marker

Blown Glass and Amethyst Stitch Marker

Etsy

2010-07-19T19:41:00.001-04:00

I think I have lost my mind....I set up my Etsy Shop!!!???!!!! So far all I have is stitch markers for knitting but I'll be adding strivers ASAP....hopefully before I move!!! EEK!!!!

Oh yeah I'm moving this week.....tons to pack and movers coming Thurs to get the heavy stuff!!!!

I made SOCKS

2010-06-26T21:02:00.002-04:00

I made socks :) Not even for me :) I made socks for B!!! The world cup has been VERY useful is having time for do these :) Started them them the 11th and finished them today :)

owl markers

2010-06-25T16:33:00.001-04:00

I've been making stitch markers...they are OSOOOOOOO cute and easy to make....here's my owls...ain't they cute :)

first sock

2010-06-14T18:17:00.003-04:00

I finished my first sock....its way to long.......obviously 2 inches meant 3-4 so I have a shrek sock and will probably not make its mate....who knows

hehe...natural dyed yarn

2010-06-13T21:21:00.004-04:00

I got B to dye me some yarn!!!! I wanted to go to the yarn store since I was in M'vallo this weekend (last minutish and he asked me to come up). While I was talking to the owner he was wandering around the dying books (not unusual). He found a recipe for TUMERIC dyed yarn. Now how on earth did we not think of this....we eat SOOOOOO much indian and LOVE tumeric. So he mordanted a hank of Green Mountain Spinnery Mountain Mohair and dyed me some tumeric yarn :)

Here is the post soaking/mordant process

Here is the dye post...pre skiming. The tumeric mix left a skum that had to go

Yarn in the pot soaking

See how yellow....We let it soak for about another 30-45 minutes so it got much darker/brownish

a bit fuzzy FO but I haven't had a chance to crop the other pics....but colorwise ITS PRETTY!!!

sock :)

2010-06-11T15:16:00.002-04:00

I learned how to edit and write on pics with my CELL PHONE!!!!!!!!!WOOHOO...as a result here is my first sock. As you can see the heel and cuff at LABELED :) its all twisty but there is about 2 inches of the foot part done...so happy!!!

Class tonight and then M'Vallo bound to watch soccer and more soccer...gotta love the world cup

cute

2010-06-11T12:35:00.003-04:00

I dug through my new pretties and had some fun last night. I made up some single stitch markers. I have some beads that I don't have enough for a set or I could made sets of 5 and I played with them. One of my favs is the ladybug. On one side is a red lady bug and on the other is a flower! I added green and red seed beads to the head pin and it is CUTE...not great but cute :) I still need to add a jump ring but I need some smaller split rings to top this one off for use w/ the socks I'm now addicted to :)

hmmm...

2010-06-10T11:18:00.005-04:00

I started out so well....I blogged almost regularly and then it fell off. I need to get back to the blog. But, though I haven't stopped altogether, I have taken a break from tatting so the title no longer seems correct. I did try needle tatting yarn for a shawl but there must many tries before that is even an OPTION....it looked AWFUL and i put it aside for a time.
I have been knitting regularly even made my first sock heel the other night....so proud. I've even pulled BACK out the first attempt at a sock w/ actual sock yarn (that stuff is TINY) and I'll start working on that again today, or this afternoon after summer school.
But the newest fun thing.....i love making stitch markers!!!!! I'll have to do a pic post later because the school won't load flickr pics :( so sad.....but I have so much fun making them and they seem to fill that little need to create with stones and pretties. I've always loved the idea but wasn't so good w/ the jewelry, and tatting with beads just makes my hands shaky but this works for me. I've had so suggestions to sell and a lady offered to let me sell on her etsy store (not a bad idea, we increase her store popularity maybe and I can make some $$). The problem so far is cost....I want to use quality stuff but of course that makes them more expensive....but we'll have to see. First I have to get some made up (i have lots of pretties to play with) and get good pics to see if she likes, then we'll go from there. I might even see if anyone for the knitting/crochet/tatting class of Friday wants to buy some :) No I'm not above selling to the students....Oh that reminds me I need to make up the ones for Betty Jo....eeks must do that tonight!!!!

HI!!!!! I'm in a workshop learning ho...

2010-05-05T10:50:00.001-04:00

HI!!!!! I'm in a workshop learning how to use google docs so I thought I'd see how it posted to the blogger :) We'll See

creativity is dangerous at times

2010-03-01T12:19:00.001-05:00

Have you ever had a chocolate dipped peep. I have and its becasue I made them. they are tasty. Dangerous.

At least if you love peeps they are....

On to LESS dangerous things. I learned to knit hats. I've made two so far w/ more to come.

Here is B's Hat. Its Civil War sleeping cap

He likes to wear it in a very smurfy manner hehe

Here it is not on his big head :)

Here is MY hat...its perfect :)

random update

2010-02-28T13:01:00.003-05:00

Silly kitty wearing my hat :) This is being made out of Green Mountain Spinnery Mountain Mohair. Its gonna be almost a ckull cap type and I'm gonna see about some things to attach tatting wise....maybe a flower or two or even....well I don't kknow yet :)

my first hat

2010-02-07T21:01:00.001-05:00

I have been tatting I promise!!!! But I've also been knitting more :) I have a couple scarfs on the needles, and a dishcloth (I need several more) and tonight I started this...

I'm making a hat. This is the first time I've used the double points and I don't know how much I like them but I really want to make the pointed hat for events. Part of my issue w/ the hat is the yarn but it is homespun so its gonna have some issues..but Al (her mom made it) said it knits up nice at the end....we'll see....

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neck warmer

2010-01-09T21:03:00.003-05:00

I figured out how to knit in the round!!!! WOOHOO....I'm making a neck warmer. I was working back and forth but decided to switch to the round. After I finish it up I'll stitch the end closed (and thinking about adding tatting :) Little purple flowers maybe :) or butterflys since I don't do flowers verywell ) hehehe

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Quicky update

2009-12-30T13:49:00.002-05:00

SOOOOO much to catch up on!!!! The holidays were fun as always. I spent part in M'Vallo w/ B and Part in E'prise w/ the family :). Got LOTS of goodies!!!! Yarn from B; Yarn and LIZBETH!!!! from Manda; scarves, socks, gift cards, a bath stuff from B's fam; knitting needles, knitting accessories, bobbin lace pillow, pj pants, and SUper Mario WIIIIIII from the family; oh and probably more that I've forgotten!!!! didn't do a good job of getting pics and now dicombobulated on who and what :( but still a good holiday :)

When I left E'prise to go back to M'Vallo for new years I had the cat with me (he goes where I go). I had to stop at a gas station for a rr break and a drink just north of Troy...btw rest areas are good....tearing them down is BAAAAAAD......anyway, I step outside after buying my drink and what do i see....

Shadow sitting on the dashboard!!!! Now I drive a Prius so there is amble dashboard space but it is very difficult to drive when the cat is between you and the speedometer :) I still haven't figured out how he got UP there but he used ME as a ladder to get down!!!!! More to update later....need to get back to the knitting and tatting and do less playing on super Mario bros WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII :)

Motif #12

2009-12-21T18:41:00.005-05:00

Dahlia medalion for Christmas Ornaments First Beads with Shuttle tatting. Previous beading was with needle tatting.

Lizbeth white size 20 with metallic seed bead size 11/0

Tatskool HDT Rainbow Bright size 30 with white seed bead 11/9

Viv sent the photo from her phone and since she is computerless visiting away from home, I (mama) am finishing up this post for her.

Happy Birthday!!!!

2009-12-15T15:38:00.003-05:00

My Secret Santa sent me FLOWERS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I NEVER get flowers so I was TOTALLY shocked!!!! I sent a school wide email to say thank you right away!!!! But WOOHOO I'm 30!!!!!

Later tonight I might even get time to tat or knit but who knows?????

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knitting update

2009-12-06T16:02:00.003-05:00

This item turned sideways and looking funny is my new needle caddy....or etui as mom calls it. When I saw it I couldn't say no. I had just gotten the set of 15 sizes of bamboo needles and needed something to put them in right???? :)

Anf here is my first complete (and mostly correct) knitted wash/dish cloth. Its the letter A. I'm so proud. I made one mistake really and well now I can't find it!!!! So I'm gonna do more as gifts now that i know that I can do them correctly and with fewer mistakes that the poor sad turtle that I left in Montevallo :(

secret santa part 2

2009-12-05T11:47:00.002-05:00

I got ANOTHER secret santa gift!!!! I really didn't expect TWO. Deb spoiled me a bit. She sent me two books-tatting patterns for one shuttle and the little book of tatted angels- two spools of thread, pearle cotton, a package of beads, and a lovely snowflake w/ a bead suspended in the center!!!!

I got a couple of things in the mail-not neat gifts though- but those will come later....ooooo maybe a tatting tea tuesday post----oooohhhh but its not tatting it knitting. I'll think of something :)

fun week :) lots of goodies!!!!

2009-12-03T17:52:00.003-05:00

So papa made me all the kick but wooden stuff but he did one more big thing for me on Friday morning. He went and got a piece of metal to make a marker board for my patterns. He painted it silver (smelly) and handed me some magnets and now I can keep up w/ where I am in both knitting AND tatting patterns!!!

OK so after I left the parents house on Friday I headed to M'Vallo to see B and his family and attend a wedding on Sat.
On the way up I talked to B and we decided to go ahead a do birthday's early (his was 12/2 and mine is 12/15). I gave him a framed pic of the green dog (poor puppy lol) and this is what I got!!!!
He made me a new scarf. Actually I think I was supposed to get it last yr or the yr before but he gave it to me Sat. B does fingerweaving. He learned as a boyscout and still work on it. He's thought about selling but decided for now not to. ANYWAY!!!! a couple yrs ago he gave me a small brown scarf and this one is gorgeous shades of blue with a braided fringe that is woven straight from the scarf....soooooooooooooo pretty!!!!! And thats not ALL.

For a while, since mom and I started tatting, I've been looking for the reseach to tat in colors and w/ either a second shuttle or a ball for civil war. I have to have proper documentation of dates of publications and if possible the reprints of the originals. I had done the reading for all the websites about Riego and her publications but didn't have ALL the info to get away w/ tatting more "modern" at an 1865ish event. B found a book I'd been looking at as a possible resource, and no i hadn't told him it was one i wanted. But he got me the correct tatting book that lays out all the info clearly and exaclty like i need to do what I want at events!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its Flitting Fingers Tatting in the Nineteenth Century by Virginia Mescher. LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!

As I perusing Etsy the other day (I searched tatting as usual) i ran across a lovely shuttle for $10. Now I have SEVERAL shuttles and wasn't looking for any new ones but this was a black filigree shuttle. Period correct I believe. So I grabbed it :) I got it today...sooooooooo fast.

And finally....I got my exchange present from my InTatters secret santa!!!!!! WOOOOOHHOOOOOOO. Barbara was marvelous There was a card with a lovely christmas snowflake tucked inside. A Romanian Point Lace kit. TWO shuttles, a green Lacis AND a white one that I've never seen before!!!!. There was also a skein of HDT in Golden Glow sz 20. AND a bag with 2 types of beads, a purple and metallic oblong, and a clear triangle type. I almost forgot, I really neat pair of thread snips!!! Already played with them and NO gets their hands on these!!!! She spoiled me a bit!!!!! I can't wait to see how my partners like their presents????? Yikes!!!!

Thanksgiving-Tues, Wed and Thurs

2009-11-26T17:32:00.000-05:00

So after school Tues was the drive to the parents...and Shadow was being his usual charming traveling cat self. After the emergency stop for me....look at where the cat chose to sit in the car...

I don't know HOW he fit his LARGE 18 lb self across the headrests on the backseat but he rode for over an hour and a half like this....

On Wed. evening mom and I went to Michaels....craft store w/ two tatters, one who also knits and both do tons of other crafty things....dangerous!!!!! I got some cotton yarn for knitting dishcloths and washcloths and some bamboo needles (ok so mom get all of it but this was for me :) ) and we got supplies for the corking. Once the nephew, a scout, saw the corking w/ leather he wanted to do it!!!! So I taught the kid to cork (evil giggle).

Now you can't cork w/ leather on the plastic thing I bought....but you can on the ones papa made me!!!

The one on the far left is MY walnut one, 6 nails.

The one in the center is of osage orange, 6 nails. DO you know how hard it is to use these when you keep stopping to sniff the wood?

And the one on the right is for the nephew. It is also walnut but w/ only 3 nails for the leather...

On top of these lovelies he also made a yarn spinner for me!!!

Its made of walnut and osage orange....as you can see it didn't take long to wind a skein of yarn onto it :) Yeah!!!!!

Soon will come shuttles............

motif #11

2009-11-21T12:37:00.003-05:00

Pulled the basic pattern from be-stiched. It was a earring pattern that I was gonna do as an earring but messed up :) I added my pretty sparkly new beads to the picots and the loop at the bottom (there was supposed to be three loops) but I don't know. I might add a pin to the back but right now its just cute. I was gonna do a lot more tatting today but I'm all shaky cause I didn't eat bfast soon enough after I got up so everythings all wacky...

I can KNIT :)

2009-11-20T20:28:00.003-05:00

I can KNIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOHOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! I promise the piece is actually squarish and not as weird looking as it seems but it was all rolly and wouldn't photograph square :)

tatted cross, motif #10

2009-11-20T18:22:00.004-05:00

I promise I have been tatting!!!! the knitting and corking aren't TOTALLY distracting!!!! Last night at tatting class I borrowed a Birget Phelps pattern adn tatted up the button cross. GOnna have to do many more. I really think I'd like to give some of these as Christmas gifts as ornaments. I think one or two of these and some different snowflakes would be a nice small gift for pp. I'm also looking at some beaded earing patterns for some friends :)

Oh this is in Lizbeth Caribean size 20 :)

inspiration

2009-11-15T20:59:00.004-05:00

So.....apparently one new craft at a time isn't enough...LOL. So having been inspired by TatsKool I have begun what she calls Corking. Around here you look for a french knitter but still its the same thing!!!! So anyway....after I finally dug through the gazillion piles of various sizes of thread and yarn I began playing w/ my new toy. I started w/ a simple white yarn to see what I was doing. After playing I tried to make a two colored bit but couldn't figure it out :( booooo....then I got creative hehehehehe

I figured out that I could use a smaller thread, like a 20, as a contrasting color against the white. Now I don't have a lot of thread that i have MORE than enough of to playu w/ (OK I do but didn't wanna use the lizbeth thats for tatting) so instead I pulled out one of the several balls of 10 FLORA that I don't like tatting w/. Now I have no idea how or where I'm going to use a white and pink cording but I'll have it. Part of the orginial inspiration was the idea of sewing the yarns of easy to creat cording into a rug. Mom wants white rugs and you can't FIND them!!!! So i can make them....maybe :) I'll try to turn the white and pink into a rug maybe :)