Christmas Gifts 2015

For my youngest daughter, I made a jeans apron.  It was so easy to make.  The hardest part was figuring out what size tie to make. I'll probably make a few more.  I bought several pairs of jeans from Goodwill to use.

For oldest daughter, I machine embroidered some kitchen towels in a beach theme.  They're ok.  I'm disappointed that the towel itself is distorted.







For the deacon, I machine embroidered a picture.  I had a ton of ideas which made it very difficult to decide on what to make until he gave a homily on which this was the theme.  After I made it, I had to decide how to finish it.  Thankfully I found this green frame at JoAnn's.  It matches the green of the leaves perfectly.

Off the Shuttles: Lanyard

It's finally finished!  I decided to not wait for Spring softball season. Tatting with the Tatsy shuttle wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. Yes, it's big but with a large enough ring, it's just fine to work with.


 

Off the Shuttles: Easy Tatted Cross

I really like this cross pattern.  It's easy and tats up quickly.  I finished it last night.  I probably should have made the tail longer but I was tired of doing the balanced double stitch.  I made it for the deacon's sister-in-law as a thank you for making sure the doily went with the Pope when he returned to the Vatican last month.

Off the Shuttles: Ruth Perry Snowflake

I used Lizbeth, size 10 in white and Ice Blue.  It makes a nice size ornament.  I plan to make a few more using smaller thread and turn them into earrings.

I have a couple of projects in progress -- a lanyard, a cross bookmark, and a book edging.

Off the Shuttle: Hanky Edging - Rings and Chains

 I have finally completed my first hanky edging.  I only tatted on it at my granddaughter's softball games, doctor visits, etc. so as you can imagine, it took me quite some time to finish it.

I used size 40 Lizbeth thread in white.  I made it in white so I can use it in reenacting.  It's just a simple rings and chains edging that was attached to the hanky as I went.  It's actually the foundation row of a two row edging for a long table runner.  Because the table runner was rectangular and my hanky was square, I don't think the count really worked out very well at the corners.  I won't be adding row 2.

Cobweb Doily

I finished the Craftree's Cobweb Doily Tat Along.  I used Lizbeth thread in size 20 in colors 112 Carousel and 684 Leaf Green Medium.  The pattern is "Cobweb Doily No. 8150" by the  Spool Cotton Company.  The pattern can be found Tatting Doilies and Edgings by Rita Weiss and Tatting Book No. 111 by the Spool Cotton Company. It's a nice,  easy doily.  In size 20 thread, it's 5 1/4 inches wide.

In the machine embroidery workshop a few weeks ago, I learned how to make free standing lace. It was a lace spool of thread.  After class, I immediately started making lace angels.  I have been making these angels ever since.  I decided to make some for the Palmetto Tatting Guild's Teacher Appreciation Bags for the 2015 Tat Days since the theme this year is Angels Among Us.  What's nice about the machine embroidered lace is not having to change thread colors.  One you push the start button, 35 minutes later you have a tatted angel. Couldn't ask for anything easier.

This past Sunday afternoon I decided to tear apart the sewing room and the other room.  That meant moving super heavy rock maple furniture.  I put the second desk/vanity/dresser combo into the sewing room so I could put the embroidery machine on it while my sewing machine was on the other one.  That way, I can multi-task machine embroidery and sewing.  I moved the dresser from the sewing room into the other room.  Now to decide what will go into all the drawers.

The sewing room is slowing getting put back together. At least I can get to the two machines and ironing board now. 

At an ASG meeting, I made this tote bag. I've been wanting to make this type of bag. Unfortunately, my dog chewed on one of the handles through the fabric.




I've been tatting ornaments for the trees the North Florida Tatters are donating to the Palmetto Tatting Guild silent auction.





I've been making baby clothes.






And I've been working on 2 doilies.  This one is a mystery doily on Craftree.  I'm a couple of rows behind.  I'm using Omega variegated in size 20.

The other doily is called Cobweb and originally published in Tatting Book No. 111 published by the Spool Company in 1938.  I'm on the last row.

More Bibs

I made more bibs as baby gifts.  These 2 sets were mailed off yesterday.  I try to match the machine embroidery design to the cotton print I'm using.  With the blue bib, I could also do a dog design.

Anita Goodesign Embroidery Party

I spent all day Friday and Saturday at an Anita Goodesign Embroidery Party hosted by the Fabric Art Shop in Lake City.  I got to learn a few new techniques.  The raccoon is a coin purse, the mouse is a stuffed toy, and the bear is a bookmark. 

I know I shouldn't have but I signed up for the All Access VIP club.  I won the 50 States collection.  That's a $400 value that I got for free just for signing up for a collection.

Not only did I get a ton of free designs/collections, I'll also get 6 free designs/projects each month for the next 12 months.  Depending on the projects I receive this year, will determine if I want to continue this club next  year.

I would love to upgrade to the Janome 12000 model because it has a frame that's 9" x 12" but I really like my 9900.

Candle Holder & Bib

I made this bib for my newest grandson.  I've used this machine embroidery pattern on 2 other bibs (for other people) but I just had to make one for my grandson.  I just think this turtle is so cute!  I did get some other terrycloth and prints so I can use other embroidery designs.

My experiment on putting lace on a candle holder is complete.  One lesson already learned - soak the price labels off first.

 I will have to find a glue that's easier to apply.  I used one of Aileen's glues and used a toothpick.  I learned you have to be careful and not get the glue where you don't necessarily want it.  I put one of those LED tealights in it.  It's ok but not the effect I was looking for.  I want the light to shine through the tatting.  I'll either get a votive-size LED candle or put in a smaller votive holder and try a real candle.  I'd be interested to see if the heat will melt the glue.

Or maybe I'll just fill it with those little candy bars. Now that's a fattening thought!



 

I haven't been sitting completely idle all these months.  I finally finished the Clover doily in November and it's now at the Apostolic Nuncio in Washington, DC.

 I went to Italy in November and was completely surprised by the designs of the marble floors.  They were all quilt patterns.  It certainly changed my knowledge of quilt history in America.  I bought some Stonehenge fabric and I'm going to make a quilt based on some of the designs from the various floors.

I fell in love with the hedgehog fabric and just had to make a quilt for my 4th grandchild who is due to arrive in June. It's about 54" x 74".  It certainly has enough growing room built into it.  It still has to be quilted.