Secret Shuttle Exchange Arrived!

Okay not the best photo, but I could not wait to share my package from Maria in Portugal. I participated in http://wickedtatsshroomfield.blogspot.com/  Secret Shuttle exchange. Believe it or not that was on October 21 almost a month ago to the day. I honestly though the post office walked it here from there.

Still I was so happy to get it and my how generous and clever Maria was. The shuttle which she decorated was in the cute little case she made from plastic shopping bags. Wow it is very nice and a nice way to carry my shuttles (I am a bit envious, they have "gold" shopping bags LOL). They sweet key chain was made from coffee or creamer containers and manipulated to make a star or flower pattern, a very Eco-friendly gift. A nice bookmark that tells of a Portuguese legend of a rooster, and a whole ball of the prettiest lavender thread. I have not used it yet but am searching for a pattern to try.

You were very generous Maria and a very talented lady. I was truly lucky to have you as my secret partner. Thank you again. (Also thank you Aileen for hosting)

Still at It

Yes, I am still tatting. I have completed the bag and even a few doilies. I have no teacher. Just a lot of You-tube and books. Although there have been some very nice ladies and blogs that have shared a lot of info. As always I was a bit surprised to find so many. Some very talented people both men and women, and all the beautiful tatting. I just wish I knew someone near me that taught it. For the time being I will plug along learning on my own. Hoping I am doing it right. I am trying my hand at an edging. This pattern from Jan Stawasz' book Tatted Treasures. It is the edging for a cap. The book has some fabulous work in it. Too bad for me it's all in Polish. Although the diagrams are there it isn't always clear,  I might have to guess on some of the repeats for a couple of the project. The photos of his work though are worth the price of the book alone.

I purchased some thread at a flea market to use for practice. Love this beige-tan thread, I think its a 20 thickness, nice and firm, not fuzzy like the white, very nice to use. The white however is thicker (maybe a 10) and although it is pretty next to the tan thread it's like using yarn. I doubt I will use it again (for tatting that is).

See my little snowflake in the box? That was done with size 80 thread. It was quite a difference, but I find I really prefer the thinner thread. So far I favor size 40 and 20 (20 being thicker, the larger the number the thinner the thread)

I have had to stop though and get crack-a-lackin on some soldering. So this will only get my attention when I get to watch my television (Friday night - Grimm and Dracula, yeah!). It has been hard though because once I start I do not want to stop until I see it complete.