Tatting Question

Fellow Tatters, I have a question. Do you consider the join as the first half of your ds? Last night I started a rather large project and I do consider the join as the first half. Suddenly it occurred to me that maybe I was taught incorrectly and it shouldn't be. Will some one please let me know if I am doing it correctly?

I just went to see what I could find out on youtube and I came upon this very informative video provided by Tattyhead, Linda Davies. She explains how to put a bead on and how to make the last join without getting a twisted picot. Both of these techniques are sooo much easier than what I have been doing. I also believe she says that her join is considered as the first half of the ds, which would mean I have been doing it correctly all of this time.

To all of the youtube tatters, I would really enjoy seeing a video on how you join a new thread when you are in the middle of a project, as well as how you hide your tails. Last night when I was cutting off, tieing and hiding tails, I wondered if I was doing that right......... So I join the end to the beginning, cut, tie a knot (a knot should that be??) and weave back and front, back and front thru the work a couple of times with each tail individually, then cut off the extra thread.

As for joining thread in the middle of the project I had to do that last night too. Oh the horror of it all! I'm thinking I did it okay, probably not correctly. It was right before a ring, so I wove the thread under the short previous chain and once or twice thru the previous ring. I'm sure I'm not doing it correctly but can't grasp how else to do it. I've tried adding using the floss trick but I can't figure out how to tat over top of it.

I guess my one question turned into a couple here.

Happy Tatting,

Bonnie

#8 of 25 Motif Challenge

Gina has revealed her May Mystery Motif so I can show my attempt at it.

It was good practice for me to not have a pattern which included a picture to work off of. I must admit that I had to start it a second time because I did not pay attention to the pattern and only put in 12 picots instead of 13. However after that I watched the pattern pretty good and didn't have a problem again.

I am considering this to be #8 of 25 Motif Challenge.

Happy Tatting,

Bonnie

Happy Mother's Day (not Tatting related)

Happy Mother's Day!

To date, I have been a mother for 23 Mother's Days. By all means it has been the best thing I've ever done!!!! Thank you God for our Holly!

To Holly I'd like to say:

I am very proud of the beautiful, responsible adult you have become, Babes. Thank you for being the reason I celebrate Mother's Day as a Mom.

And to my mother:

I love you, Mommasetta!, Happy Mother's Day!

To the rest of you mothers I want to pass along a heart-felt "Happy Mother's Day" and a wish that you have a great day.

And to each and every one of you in blogger land I wish you a Happy Sunday!

The Official Naming of The Shuttles

In my last posting I asked Sherry to name the 2 shuttles I received from her. As I said I believe they are works of art and should have official names from their creator. This is her reply to my request.

"Shuttle #1 "Patchwork Fields" because this reminds me of an aerial view of farmers colorful rolling fields, like those that can be found in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.

Shuttle #2 "Honeysuckle Pond", no explanation needed."

Shuttle #1 being my first shuttle and Shuttle #2 being my second - the pic shuttle, see my previous post for pictures.

Thank you for taking the time to do that, Sherry, you did a great job, both names are very appropriate.

Also I will use this time to tell all my blogger friends that I will be gone April 19 thur April 26. Our daughter, Holly, and I are going to North Dakota to visit my/our family. I look forward to visiting all of your blogs when I return.

Happy Tatting,

Bonnie

#7 of 25 Motif Challenge

To the right is the finished bookmark I showed a teaser of when I blogged on April 2nd about my new shuttle I received from Sherry. I must tell you it is a dream to work with!

The pattern is from Kersit, and is called Floral. I used Marilee's size 30 Deep Ocean HDT. I had a hard time getting this piece to photograph well and I'm still not happy with it, but hopefully you get the idea. And I had to include the shuttle for anyone who may have missed it the first time around.

And now .............................

introducing my second Sherry shuttle purchase. This time it is a pic shuttle.

I used it to make this bookmark. The pattern is called Heart of the Butterfly by Irene Woo. (again I must repeat what I originally wrote, "Although I made it from a picture and didn't have her pattern, so I'm sure the the stitches probably aren't the exact same as Irene's") This was made using Marilee's size 30 Peace HDT . I have done this motif many times in the past and really enjoy it. I made one for my sister Anita for her birthday, and wanted to make one for our other sister, Nancy, for her bday as well. Actually both of these pieces will go to her. Nancy's bday is April 19th, and since I live in NY and she lives in Boise ID, I better get these in the mail on Monday.

These 2 shuttles are great works of art. I enjoy using them. I do feel that as with all great works of art they should have names, though. I hesitate to put more pressure on you right now, Sherry, but would you do the honors of naming my shuttles at some point in the future? Days, weeks, months from now I don't care when. I just feel that works of art should be named by their creator. Thank you.

I am not considering this second piece as another motif for the 25 Motif Challenge, as I have made it a number of times before.

Happy Tatting,

Bonnie