Category: gift

Back on bookmarks

I usually keep several tatted bookmarks on hand for small gifts to go inside cards.  These are for condolences, just-because, (forgotten) birthdays, or other special occasions.   Recently I’ve found I don’t have any bookmarks made.  Oops, I need to get busy!

Tatted 'Branson' bookmark in Lizbeth Caribbean size 20 on wandasknottythoughts
‘Branson’ bookmark in Lizbeth Caribbean size 20

I made my ‘Branson’ bookmark in Lizbeth Caribbean size 20.  This one is easy to do while a passenger in the car on the way to work.  I already had one shuttle which needed to be emptied so I can count it as finishing up a project, right?

Unfinished tatted bookmark from Alaska pattern
Unfinished bookmark

I found a partially done bookmark to work on next.  The pattern is from one of my Alaska bookmarks.  The picture makes it look like a variegated thread though it is not.  Unfortunately, I lost the ball of the thread for this.  I’m almost done but both shuttles are too low on thread to finish.  Back in the UFO (Un-Finished Object) drawer.

I told myself I would work on UFOs before starting new projects.   But I really need to stock up on bookmarks.  Maybe I have another unfinished bookmark somewhere.  I’ll have to look.  If not, I’ll just have to start another project and finish it so as not to add to the UFOs.

The ‘Branson’ bookmark pattern can be found on my Pattern Page.  I have not written out the Alaska bookmark.

“I just got out of the hospital.
I was in a speed-reading accident.
I hit a bookmark.”                          Steve Write

“Thank You” Doily Finished

I finished the “thank you” doily for my aunt.

Aunt Irene's tatted thank you doily on wandasknottythoughts
Aunt Irene’s thank you doily

There are many beautiful tatted doily patterns out there – I have books full of them.  The Internet has a lot, also.  Do I make one of those?  Of course not, that would be too easy.  I designed another one.

A few years ago I made a snowflake/medallion with a finding in the center.  I used that medallion as the center but made a ring of rings in place of the finding.  That was the easy part.  Some of the rounds went very smooth, the others took more thought.  And several tries.  The end result is a bit ruffle-y until it’s blocked, but still looks nice.  This needs more blocking – it’s amazing how a picture will show things that ‘in person’ isn’t so obvious.

This doily is seven inches across made in Lizbeth #603 Ecru size 20 thread.  I’m not sure of my aunt’s tastes in colors and decorating so chose a ‘traditional’ color. I noticed I put spokes in this doily like several of my other doilies.  I need to try something else next time.  Doing a little more planning in the beginning would probably help, don’t you think?

I had planned to mail it today but will block it a bit better first.  I want it to look good when she gets it.

“Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities.  Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning. ” Gloria Steinem                   brainyquote.com

An Unexpected Gift

I received a unexpected gift in the mail a couple of months ago: a padded envelope with no return address.  Wrapped in several layers of padding was an old metal shuttle.

Pretty tatting shuttle from my aunt on wandasknottythoughts
Pretty tatting shuttle from my aunt

A sweet aunt of mine found it in her sewing box.  She’s not sure how long she had it. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t tat, either, but she knows I do and sent it to me.

It is a post shuttle with etchings on both sides but no company markings.   There are gaps at both tips. Size 10 and 20 thread do not come unwound when the shuttle is hung to untwist the thread if done with care.  I’m surprised but happy at this, the gaps look big.  One end has a sharp point that looks bent, which I can’t decide if this is original or the last tatter bent it this way.  It works great as a pick.  The other end has been flattened a bit; I’m guessing this is not the original look.  The shuttle has no rust or any other blemishes.

I don’t know how old this is.  Who knows how long my aunt had it or if it was new when she got it?  It doesn’t really matter, it is a wonderful gift, which I appreciate very much.

I’m working on a small doily to send her as a thank you.  It’s the least I can do, don’t you think?

“The best gifts are those we not only cherish but put to use.” Les Brown                     www.brainyquote.com