I am Sometimes Compliant

OKAY; Readers, please understand. My buddy, Jane Eborall, has been "tutoring" me, virtually, as she searched for a drawing program for our Macs. We tried 'em all; and, I even bought one that didn't work out! The best one for tatting design purposes, is user friendly and produces good results ~ EasyDraw.

I admit that I haven't tried it on a tatting design; however, I have played a bit. I sent my self-portrait (above) to Jane, as a joke, in response to her blogged 'self-portrait' . She told me to put my result on my blog ~ I am 'sometimes' compliant and with apologies to true artists out there. . .

I am still tatting on Christmas themes; although, I do have my Secret Santa recipients' piece tatted and am filling the packet. In Tatters suggested using a padded envelope. That made it difficult, having to limit my choices; to those that are fairly 'flat', unbreakable seem to meet the value set. I'd rather use a box!

Also busily winding a variety of threads for the thread exchange on Celtic Tatting forum. I believe we each have 5 people. Next up is a Mark Meyer's Turkey because it is easy and quick, for cousin Trudy. Trudy requested holiday motif as she is going to make a calendar with my tatted appliques. Also, there is a special piece of tatting going out to Debbie in Oklahoma. Not a tatter but certainly a devoted Mother and woman of faith, as am I.

I'm working on an adaptation of Karey Solomon's Candle, from Make Many Merrily. Remember that whenever Bev says, "Adaptation" the meaning is, "made an error early on; and changed the pattern." I will post it later but it will be going on my cousin's Christmas Card ('cause she won't 'see' the mistake, not being a tatter). But, you tatters will notice! One of these days I'll tat Karey's pattern as stated, although I'm confused about the beginning ~ obviously, because that is where I made the error.

Rebekah's Wedding Edging

Finished Rebekah's bit of tatting for her wedding head piece. Zena Herbert at "The Sea of Dreams", Moracambie UK, is designing a wedding head adornment and she and Bekah requested that 'Oma' tat six-inches of edging for the piece.

Pattern is from Mary Konier, "beauty spots" which incorporates all rings and Josephine knots. It is tatted in Anchor, size 30 and is about 3/4" wide and is meant to have a curve.
Rebekah and Omar will be married in June of 2010; as soon as he gets his Secondary Teaching Degree and a position!

November, still tatting!

A sweet design from my new little booklet with designs by Debbie Munoz. All of the designs have rose centers with various outer rounds that form snowflakes.

I wanted to practice rosettes, which for some reason have been an on-going challenge! And, I'm still working on my block tatting; consequently this pattern fit the bill. All of her snowflakes are easy to do and have the same center. After doing one the rest come quickly!

This was tatted in Lizbeth Snowy White in size 30.

Remember what I said about the design-tat class I was perusing? That little number in Chocolate Raspberry (Pamela Myers HDT) is my design. I'd love to see this tatted by someone else, as I was so distracted with writing the pattern, trying to learn a design program (I never conquered it); and just 'catch up' with the class. The 'lotus' on the four ends are too crowded and I don't like my rings that turn inward and my chains are sloppy; it was 'free tatted' and the first attempt. Guess I should tat it again! LOL I'm now in official 'lurk mode'. Many entered the race but fewer are finishing! It is a great class; but, be prepared to do a great deal of homework! I received the critique of my drawing (done with Paint) and lets just say it was less than stellar. I also tatted Pamela's design which I'll scan and share later.

Remember those tatting projects I promised?

SUCCESS! I can now scan and upload from my mac!

I keep my promises! First up is a Butterfly from Palmetto Tatter's Book of Butterflies!

In a rose hue in Valdini ~ size 12. This was for the October Tangled Challenge at In Tatters.

My big project this fall is my first doily, "Sheep May Safely Graze" ~ a pattern by Karey Solomon. BTW,

only a limited number of copies and it will not be reprinted.

The roses are in HDT ~ Pizzazz! and the leaves are

Valdini ~ a dark green soft cotton in size 12.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the stores, and every one is tatting Christmas motif for gifts, exchanges and . . . just because!

This is my first (this year) tree and it has beads, but they are hard to see Designer: Pam Palmer from, "Tatting Treats 2".

This too was done in dark green Valdini, size 12 as I had the thread on my shuttle! The bottom is red DMC size 30.

This is a very easy tree and works up really quick!

NEWS FOR NOVEMBER: ART SHOW, TATTING, NEW BOOKS

Loyal, Bev (tatting) and Rebekah at her BFA Senior Awards Show on November 7, '09 ~ WNMU

Grandma's communicating with love ~ Luz Melendez and Beverly June ~
I so wish I could speak Spanish!

Graphic Below: is from Penniwig's Blog. I'm also addicted to her lovely, light-weight earrings! Perfect stocking stuffer if I could actually send a pair away! LOL This scene looks similar to an area just down the ridge from our home. There is a dry creek bed (has water during winter run off or thunder storms) and it is lined with Cottonwood and a variety of annuals. When the sun sets in the west and one is driving east ~ the light plays on the leaves and it is just beautiful. I noticed it particularly, last Saturday, when we drove home from Rebekah's BFA, Gallery Show of her latest 'soft-focus' work. Check out her blog url from the list on the right; as, she has new work up on her site. She did a fine presentation and those in attendance seemed to enjoy her talk as well as her fine art photographs.

The Artists put on a Tea with lemon bars, tiny sandwiches and other goodies; then, opened the Gallery doors for the attendees. This was followed by the two presentations from BFA Senior Students. Rebekah did a good job of giving a brief history of how she became interested in art, learning to draw; and, later why she turned to fine art photography. She explained the dark room color process (they don't teach that at Western New Mexico) Most of what she actually learned of her craft came by way of Yuba College and her mentor/Professor Rick Murai. I was surprised and alarmed by an early slide which was a photo of ME. She credits me for teaching her all of the basics of art. I gave her a 'fat' pencil when she was a toddler and encouraged her to draw outside the lines. She was a very busy little girl and so I gave her the task of drawing single blades of grass, to slow her up and to teach her to 'see.' She graduated to a sketch book and an early drawing book of mine that taught perspective and forms. She began taking photo classes so she could photograph scenes that she later painted. She learned that she could cut out the middle step and compose art pieces with a lens!

Rick M. has taught 3 generations of Davis women; myself, my late daughter Lori Elayne and Rebekah. Lori was very gifted in this area also; but, as with most things she was not willing to be devoted to the work of the art. Partly because everything came so easily to her, that she soon became bored.

Rebekah had the first large gallery room, followed by a mid-sized room housing another student who did water colors and print making (graphic flowers); and, the largest, back room held the other two artists ceramics and small paintings. Rebekah sold one of her large format fine art photos called, "Lovely Lady." She calls it that since it was taken in Paris and reminded her of her stage work in Le Miz (high school); when, as well as understudy for Cossette, she was a ' lovely lady.' This work was very different from her former pieces and quite large!

I ordered some new threads from DS9Deigns and HandyHands. Also a couple of books; namely, Debbie Munoz, "Snowflake Roses" and Pam Palmer's "Tatting Treats Two". So many of my books are now out of print, or the prices have gotten so dear, or the book won't be re printed that I've been picking up those books that were on my list this past two years. Because of that I also bought 2 of the "Sampler" tatting books with a nice selection of Motif; but, the patterns are all written out long style ~ so will have to rewrite them to a shorter version or I'll get totally lost in the paragraphs! I've put those back for later in the year. I was browsing through Abebooks.com and saw some great buys; there was even a copy of Pam Palmer's 12 Days of Christmas, which one just doesn't find that easily. Mine was found by Sue Hanson in the UK and Patti Duff sent it to me.

I continue to tat Sheep May Safely Graze and have completed the 3 rosettes and the surrounding leaves. I also finished Pam's Christmas tree with beads for a Holiday card, and am on the second round of a Snowflake Rose in snowy white Lizbeth thread. Trying to get my Christmas tatting done for exchanges and special gifts to friends; and, to take a break from the larger project.

My thread from LadyShuttleMaker (it is a red ~ but like an old fashioned 'ashes of roses' kind of red) and one of her neat hook pens (Sunflower) arrived. The pen is so nice and flat as a bookmark that it fits in the small Rose Snowflake's booklet. I also received some new threads from Yarnplayer; and, Pamela Meyers' thread Antique Bronze, and Rasp. Sorbet, which I really like. I should take pictures; a lovely variety of colors. I'm choosing more solids of late that will work with some of the variegated threads. From HH and DS9Designs were mostly Valdini in dark greens (Christmas), a soft green that I admired, and a nice creamy color (Anchor) for the Sheep, and some Olympus (I didn't want to tat white nor ecru sheep). I bought a few balls of Lisbeth to put into Secret Santa and exchange boxes; so not telling those colors. LOL I'm tatting with a lot more size 40 thread and using 20 less; but, I have a huge stash of size 20 threads in Flora.

THE COLORS OF FALL

For those not from California, this is Half-Dome at sunset ~ in the Fall. Son-in-love took the photo and sent it to me with the question; memories?

Oh yes, many memories of Yosemite and Half Dome; my Senior trip, flirting with boys! Racing my 'buddies' from the football team up to Vernal Falls. Walking through crunchy leaves a bit later with my husband-to-be and having picnics. Much later, taking the 3 girls to run and squeal through the woods and climb the rocks. One of my daughter's honeymooned there; and, most recently BB and SIL went camping and hiking for relaxation to see the fall colors. I'm very partial to photos taken at what used to be our back yard playground (only an hour away).

My friend, Carol, shared this poem and I 'borrowed' it from her blog, "Sclew's Views."

October's Party

By George Cooper
October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came—
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.
The Chestnuts came in yellow,
The Oaks in crimson dressed;
The lovely Misses Maple
In scarlet looked their best;
All balanced to their partners,
And gaily fluttered by;
The sight was like a rainbow
New fallen from the sky.
Then, in the rustic hollow,
At hide-and-seek they played,
The party closed at sundown,
And everybody stayed.
Professor Wind played louder;
They flew along the ground;
And then the party ended
In jolly "hands around."

A gift for the Fall Season for my Followers

I'M GETTING CLOSER

I'm a bit closer to being able to upload to the blog! At least I was able to add a new GAGET at the top ~ LadyShuttleMaker has a 'new twist' which sounds like fun! Check out her blog!

LadyShuttleMaker@blogspot.com (clickable like at the right side of this blog)

A NEW Book arrived from the UK that I found on E-Bay. It is the book, Butterflies, by Adelheid Dangela, and was published in Denmark. The butterflies are beautiful; but, I'm not too sure I'm capable of such work! Her shuttle work looks like bobbin lace! It is nicely illustrated (by Kirstine Nikolajsen and Inge Lise Nikolajsen. I think it would be wise to begin with an easy one! LOL