Margarets Designer Cards

Hi I'm back

2012-03-04T14:17:00.004Z

Hi,
Vernon and I spent a few days away, as usual we go away in March up to Sheffield, the reason is known only to family and very close friends. This year the weather was perfect, real spring days in fact it was so warm we were walking around in just our tops with no coat or cardigans. There were crocuses out in flower, daffodils coming out by the roadside, the sun was shining, I really beautiful few days.
I do have what I call some retail therapy in Meadow Hall, which is just outside of Sheffield. If you have never been to Meadow Hall all I can say is its big, There is every store there you can think of and more, its so big we still have not seen it all. The pictures I took are from House of Frazer in Meadow Hall, all I can say hes been there so long peddling, hes lost a lot of weight? When I saw him I had to get a picture he look so funny, hope you enjoy the pictures.
On Friday we went into Worksop, we usually stay at the Travel Lodge just outside Worksop, why its cheaper than staying in Sheffield and its only 15 miles out of Sheffield. I have never seen such a large market in this country before, Worksop has a long pedestrian shopping center and the market went from one end to the other.
Then we had a drive though the countryside and had a look at a village which I had a cousin lived in, I had never seen her, she saw me when I was three weeks old, when she died some years ago her son wrote to me to tell me she had died. In the letter he said she had fond memories of me, funny I had never meet her, anyway we went and had drive to see this village where she lived, Charlton in Limerick, very pretty little village, they had a post office, fish and chip shop, pub and restaurant and what looked a gorgeous church. I did not get to look at the church, her husband was once the vicar there. On our travels we passed a wood, with a gate, well lets put it this way there was no fence, wall, or hedge, just this gate standing proud by the roadside. It just looked a bit odd why bother to open a gate when you could walk either side of it.
Today the weather has changed, its windy and cold, this morning we had rain, then sleet with some snow and now the sun is shining. Not the sort of day to go out, but my washing machine packed up before we went away, so we went and brought a new one, delivery is Thursday, I am hoping for a few fine days to catch up on the washing when it comes.
If you were wondering what I did I had another go at my knitted cloth, its been sitting on the floor by my settee for months, so as Vernon drove I knitted, I worked out that I have 1,152 stitches, not many, I did 5 rounds going up and I was on my third coming back when disaster struck, the needle broke, they are old and have been used a lot, but the plastic end of the round broke off, spilling stitches, luckily there was a lay by so Vernon stopped while I tried to pick up and sort out the stitches. Last night I got out another round needle and transferred the stitches on to it. I hope I have not lost any, tonight I will finish the round and try and do another to check its OK. I also designed two pairs of earrings in tatting, and knitted another square for mothers blanket, I just have to knit another white one and do the edging for it. I will show you the blanket and the cloth when they are finished. The cloth will be going into my Esty store.
I hope you are OK and the world is treating you OK, I was given an award for my blog while I was away from Carol, thank you Carol, I will put it on my blog another day and find five blogs that are worthy of passing the award onto.
In the meantime, take care until we meet again
Hugs
Margaret

Happy Heart

2012-03-01T15:08:00.000Z

Hi,

This is a scheduled post, today I have my Happy Heart. The Pattern is by J Paulson (2012) link to blog which the pattern has been published http://www.leblogdefrivole.blogspot.com
This is a lovely pattern and has already become a favorite with me, I hope you like the colour I found it a very easy pattern to do. Do pop over to her blog there are some lovely tatted items being shown on there.
Its two years today since I started my blog, its been an interesting two years and this is the 233 post, I am looking forward to many more years.
Until we meet again in blog land take care and have a lovely weekend.
Hugs
Margaret

The Sunday CD Challenge - Recycling

2012-02-28T14:48:00.007Z

Hi,

Another dull day with some drizzle again today here in Somerset, where has the sun gone, funny they say we might get some sunshine and we get cloud, although the tempurature is quite mild around 10 to 11 degrees. The weather forecasters can never get the weather right.

Today I am showing my card for the Sunday CD Challenge, link here this week its Recycling. I expect you are wondering what I used for the recycling bit, well let me tell you first that the card is shaped into a point, and mark the lines using the Hougie board, then I used the Royal Horticultural Society Collection Cd by Joanna Sheen, the image is on Disc one and is one of Caroline Applebee pictures. I used her lily image and matted it on a gold card with the corners rounded and backing papers to match. The daisies are from a birthday card which was sent to me last year from a friend. Now for the best part of recycling is the lace, I had an old pair of knickers, knickers I hear you say, yes they were clean and I cut the lace panel out of the front lace part, I might add they were from Marks and Spencer. The ribbon is from stock.

I hope you like my card, I will be away for a few days, so I hope you have a good week and see you soon.

Until we meet away in blog land Take Care

Hugs

Margaret

Knitted Butterflies

2012-02-24T14:18:00.004Z

Hi,
Its another dull day in Somerset, where has the sun gone, the snowdrops and crocuses are out so spring is not far around the corner.
Today I am showing these knitted butterflies, they come from the book called 75 Birds, Butterflies and Beautiful Beasties to Knit and Crochet by Lesley Stanfield
I have used different double knitting wools in lots of colours and brown wool for the edges and bodies.
Although I like the patterns in this book I have one complaint, the person who wrote the book made up her own abbreviations which can throw you when knitting the patterns, I have been knitting since I was three so there's not a lot patterns i have not done. Well knitting patterns have been around just as long and there are a lot of abbreviations in knitting but never have I had to keep looking at the page with there meanings as I have with this book. I love the German patterns they are done on graph and once you have done one they are easy to master.
I hope you like my butterflies, I am also doing some knitted squares at the moment towards a new blanket for Mother, I found a lot of knitted squares in her bungalow so I thought by making a few more it would be nice to use them for a blanket for her knees, when its finished I will show you, it will take a few weeks to finish with the border as well.
I hope you have a lovely weekend, until we meet again take care.
Hugs
Margaret

The CD Sunday Challenge - Wings and Legs

2012-02-20T16:38:00.007Z

Hi,
Its quite mild today and they say its going to get even milder this week, what a funny month February has been. I hope we don't get snow next week as we are going away for a few days towards the end of the week.
I am sick of this bug, I have had it for a week and feel absolutely weak and tried, I still have the pains in my stomach and feel as if I have a cold now, the cough never seems to get any better. Anyway enough of me today I am showing you this weeks challenge card for the CD Sunday challenge which this week is Wings and legs. link here

This beautiful image comes from the Joanna Sheen's Cd Enchanted Dreams, its not one I have used before but I love the way the butterflies are pulling her along on a flower. I put the image on a blue card and punched the corners twice, once with one that's makes a slit for the corners to slid into and then the rounder corner punch. I put the multi colour peel off butterflies onto acetate and cut them out and stuck them together so the large butterfly has three layers, and the one at the bottom has two layers. The background paper I wanted to do something different so I folded it and made pleats for a change, the background paper is the one that goes with the image on the CD
I finished off the card with a blue ribbon from the Joanna Sheen online shop and silver peel offs.
I hope where ever you are you are keeping well and until we meet again take care
Hugs
Margaret

A tribute to Gina

Hi,
Today I bring you my card for the Sunday CD Challenge link here this week its A La Mode, I was not sure about what to do with this challenge. I used a blank white scalloped card and in the end I used Robert Addams Roses CD, for the backing paper and the pink rose ( I think its the wrong shade of pink) I only used part of the rose decoupage so I can make another card with the remaining pieces. I used the shoe from a pack of cards in the shape of shoe, I cut one in half and used just one side. The feathers I had in my craft box, the pale pink ribbon I placed under the ribbon roses top and bottom of the shoe, place a doily under the shoe for the lace effect and then used the heart ribbon and cut into pieces putting a heart on the roses and at the top where I put Mother for the wording, I thought it would make a nice mothers day card. This heart ribbon I found in a craft shop its brilliant you don't need to use a lot and its cuts into little hearts so my few meters is going a long way. I finished off the shoe and the card with gold peel offs.
Its not my usual card but its nice to try something different for a change.

Until we meet again take care and keep warm.
Hugs
Margaret

TIAS day 11

2012-02-08T15:13:00.003Z

Hi,
Another freezing cold day here, the temperature has not gone above freezing all day.

2012-01-27T18:34:00.003Z

Hi,
I hope you are keeping well and enjoying the TIAS.
This is Day 6 and half way so Jane says, two tails or two legs what do you think?
They are saying we might some snow, its certainly colder than it has been, we don't want snow at the moment, we are still working on clearing mothers bungalow, its been a hard job as due to her age shes not kept up with most things.
I was hoping to join in the Sunday Cd Challenge this week, but I have not had time, hopefully I will be able to join in soon, I really enjoy doing that challenge.
Tomorrow I am in cheese and Grain Frome doing my craft table, hope it does not snow over night.
Keep warm and take care until we meet again in blog land.
Hugs
Margaret

TIAS Day 5

2011-12-24T21:55:00.002Z

Hi,

I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and thank you for all the lovely comments you have left on my blog over the last year.
Hugs
Margaret

Christmas Stitched Cards

2011-12-22T19:00:00.006Z

Hi,
I hope you are getting into the Christmas mood, Unfortunately we are not there yet and possibly wont be. I stitched these two cards on holiday along with some others, I thought you might like to see these.
I used Starform peel offs, they have glittered centres and look lovely. This card has two large gold bells, and holly leaves with a red sheer ribbon bow. I used red and gold metallic thread with red and gold beads for the bells and green thread and beads for the leaves. They were stitched onto a white scalloped card, I sew the beads on as I go so they wont fall off. I don't use glue, I finds using the same thread when sewing them on makes them look better, although I did put the ribbon on with a spot of glue.

This card is also a white scalloped card I put three silver bubbles on stitched with red and silver metallic thread and red beads, with three red bows at the top of each bubble. The holly leaves are stitched with green metallic thread and green beads, I put some leaves in each corner of the card at the bottom.

A close up

Another close up.

One day is rain another day is cloudy, one day mild and the next day cold with a frost, the weather at the moment does not know what it wants to do, no wonder we get colds and flu in this country. I don't know what is worse, cold, dry and a frost, or mild and wet.

Until we meet again please don't over do it, its only a couple of days, the shops will only be closed for one day.

Take care

Hugs

Margaret

Santa Magical Sleigh

2011-12-18T15:35:00.004Z

Hi,
No this wonderful work is not mine, but if you would like the instructions for making this brilliant Santa Magical Sleigh, visit the following:-

Get a free "Santa's Magical Sleigh" card making template from Card Carousel.Just visit www.cardcarousel.co.uk/free/sleigh.html

I wont have time for this Christmas but it will be something different for next Christmas. My thanks to Suzanne for passing this on.
Hugs
Margaret

Embriodered cards and a Esty Treasury

2011-12-14T13:40:00.007Z

Hi,
I hope you are having a lovely day here in Somerset we have had snow, yep its back, its now raining and its very dark at 2pm I have the light on, the heating on, and more snow forecasted. Last year at this time of year I was getting ready for the last craft fair of the year and it was cancelled at the last minute for snow. I hope it does not happen again this year.
The above tablecloth which I knitted some time ago and has been in my Esty store was featured in Wonderful works by Gillian Holder from Stitches and jewels in a treasury, its the first item from my store that has been in a treasury. I feel really pleased at the moment.

These stitched cards went into my esty store last week and have been sold and are now on their way to the US, but I thought you might like to see them, I was stitching them on holiday, well its easy to take on Holiday just some thread, needle and beads oh and a pair of scissors. I also took my tatting and two balls of wool to make two scarfs.

Anyway back to these cards, these are oak leaves and acorns which I stitched with red/gold thread on the leaves and gold thread on the acorns and a bead in the middle, They are Starform peel offs with glitter center, I was quite pleased with these.

This card had three leaves on a green card, they were stitched with gold thread and had gold and red beads in the centers of the leaves. again they were Starform peel offs with glittered centers in the leaves.

The red beads were in the center of the leaf and the gold beads on the otter middle of the leaves if that makes sense.

This card had a heart with pink stitching and a smaller heart under which I used as a vase with an arrangement of flowers above and going down one side of the card in pink and multi coloured thread with pink beads in the center of the flowers.

I hope you like these cards, I have done some more which I will show you in a few days.

I have been busy today I finally got my case unpacked and most of it washed, its been so hectic since we got home with the funeral and mother in hospital, they send so much washing home, I am sure she only has to make a mark on her clothes and they change her. Its amazing how much washing she has had over the last week, not to mention the amount that I brought home from the first visit when we got back home. She will be in hospital for Christmas, and we wont know if the leg has healed until the next x-ray on the 28th December.

Our Friends are moving today, and Vernon has gone to help them, its been snowing in Shepton Mallet and he will be very wet and cold by the time he gets home later.

I hope to write a piece about our holiday over the next days.

I want to add that I am sorry I have not been around the blogs over the last few weeks, I hope you will understand that I will catch up with you all over the next few days, I have not forgotten you. I am sure you have some wonderful things on show so please accept my apologises for not visiting your blogs.

I hope you are keeping well and getting ready for Christmas, Vernon and I have decided to cancel Christmas with the events over the last month we don't feel in the Christmas mood.

Until we meet again take care

Hugs

Margaret

Peter Tyrer - African Childrens Fund

11.11.11

2011-11-11T10:40:00.003Z

Hi,
Today is a day of remembrance for those killed in the first war world, at 11am on the 11th November, the guns fell silent. Today it is not only the first world war, the second world war and those wars since that are remember in this country. Afghanistan is also high on remembrance not only for those who have lost their lives but those who are serving in Afghanistan and other countries around the world.

I have made this lovely tatting pattern for today, Its in white Lizbeth thread no 20 and red thread which I don't know I think it might be DMC by the shape of the ball, as there is no label and I know its been in the draw for a long time. The pattern is called Eternal Rose Cross by Yarnplayer
Its the first time I have done this pattern and I found really easy, I did make the bottom half of the cross longer than pattern.

--oo0oo--
Update on Mother she came out of theatre very late last night, I am going in to see her later, the only information I have is that they have put a plate in her leg and have managed to get the hip back in place. The hip was originally replaced back in 1989 as it was a war injury done by the Japanese in the second war world, they pined the hip, knee and ankle all on the same leg but the pin and hip had disintegrated. Mother is a Japanese POW and was captured by the Japanese when she was on the Australian conveys, she was assigned to the Royal navy as a nursing sister and spent two and half years in Japan. My father was in the army in the Dental Cor, he went in France, Belgium and Holland, he was on leave to go to Japan when the bomb was dropped. My mother never played ball with me as a child or ran any school sport day events, I have always known her as disabled. When I was at school the wars were never taught which annoyed my father greatly, many history teachers had their ears bent over not teaching about the wars, they always said it was not old enough history.

We should never forget those who either lost their lives in the wars or those who have suffered since from their injuries.

Hugs
Margaret

The Sunday CD challenge - Sunsets

2011-11-10T16:04:00.004Z

Hi,
After the forecast said heavy rain and wind today it has proved to be anything to what they said, the sun has been shining and I have seen some blue sky. Someone somewhere is getting the wind and rain but not here.
Today has been a bad day, at the moment my mother is still in the operating theatre and I am waiting to hear. She had two falls yesterday, well that's nothing new for my mother, she been walking badly and I had said to her on Tuesday why are you walking badly, all I got was it my knee. Late last night the ambulance was called again, they had already been out in the evening, I got a phone call at 1.30am this morning with a garbled message saying she was in hospital, After ringing the Royal United at Bath who said they had no one by that name I went back to bed, Vernon was not amused saying they might have got the wrong person for all we know, at 3.30am I still could not sleep and rang again, to find she had dislocated her bad hip (replacement hip) and fractured her other leg, I am not sure if she has been walking on these but knowing her possibly and would not say anything. Its been a day of getting Gertie to the kennels and getting her clothes together for the hospital, sorting out a few other things . I am still not sure if I will go in tonight she may not be around enough. Vernon took the day off work to help, he only has 6 more working days left before he retires. This is all we need as we go on holiday on the 21st, it appears she will be in hospital for several weeks and they have said I can go on holiday, with Gertie booked into kennels for the next three weeks plus, I am now left with my visitor, I will show you my visitor tomorrow in the meantime I wanted to show you my card for the The Sunday CD Challenge . This week it is sunsets, I have used an image from the Pamela West Collection Cd by Joanne Sheen, I used the image and the backing papers to match the image was mounted on purple miri board.
The velvet ribbon is two strand of ribbon, one purple and one violet to match the paper, and finished off with silver peel offs.
This image reminds me of the sunset off a Greek island, I was going to use a picture from a Greek island but I could not find the one I wanted, I expect it will turn up next week.
For those who are wondering I had the injection, and the shoulder and arm are very painful, not sure if its going to work.
Until we meet again I hope you are keeping well and take care
Hugs
Margaret

Butterfly Cards

2011-11-06T11:49:00.002Z

Hi,
What a beautiful day here in Somerset, after the bad weather we have had over the last week, its a real treat to see the sun, although the temperatures have remind high for this time of year its been very wet.
After the horrendous crash on the M5 on Friday night, my sympathies go out to any family who has lost someone, the weather was bad all day and the road would have been very wet, with patchy fog. At present the road is still closed and being the main motorway down to the West Country it does carry a vast amount of traffic. The cause of this accident is not known and may take some time to find out. Motorways are the safest roads we have and its been a long since there has been such a bad accident.
Back to today's post these two cards have been made with the same butterfly stamp and heat embossed. The top card I used red embossing power and backed it on red flowery card, with red ribbon and finished off with silver peel offs. The other card I used turquoise embossing power, with backing paper from Joann Sheen's Enchanted dreams CD, finished off with white ribbon. Both ribbon have come from Joanna Sheen's online shop and are really good quality. I have not made any cards for two weeks and these I was saving to use on schedule posts while I was away, anyway I thought it was time I put something on my blog and to say I am getting better slowly, this flu is taking a bit to shake off.
I have been having trouble with my shoulder, neck and arm for some time and tomorrow they are going to put a corrosion injection in my shoulder to try and to reduce the pain, just another thing in a long line of things this year, hopefully after our holiday in a couple of weeks time a the new year approaching life might get better, but I am not holding my breath.
I hope you like these two cards, I think by now everyone knows I love butterflies.
I hope you are having a lovely weekend, and until we meet again take care
Hugs

Margaret

Flu

2011-10-30T14:03:00.004Z

Hi,
I am sorry I have not been around this last week, I have been struck down with flu, and spent the last few days in bed, I need not say anymore. After all I have been through this year and just as I was getting back on my feet, and having a flu jab in September here I am with flu.
I hope to get back to blogging very soon, and leaving you all comments on your lovely blogs, so if you have missed me which I doubt don't worry I have not forgotten you, in the meantime take care and hope you don't get this flu.
Hugs
Margaret

New Knitted cup cakes.

2011-10-23T11:31:00.002+01:00

Hi,
Well the washing is out but not sure if it will dry, it was dizzying early on, the sun has shown its face on and off but its windy and that might dry the washing, its not cold in fact is quite warm.
I thought you might like to see my new knitted cup cakes, they went on my craft table yesterday for the first time, I used double knitting wool in a random blue/brown/white mixture for the base, cream for the top and then a small ruffle flower for the top. I am pleased with these they look pretty and the colours go so well together.
It was not the best craft fair but there was a lot of people in the hall at times, at least they are looking, I wont be there in November, and so my next one will be December.
The pattern for the flower is easy and I will put it on my pattern blog in the next couple of days.
I would like to say well done to New Zealand in the Ruby cup final, I am not a Ruby fan but Vernon watched some of it and it was a very even match, well he said it was, who am I to say otherwise.
I hope you have a lovely weekend and until we meet again take care.

Hugs
Margaret

The Sunday CD Challenge - Around the World

2011-10-20T09:49:00.005+01:00

Hi,

Very chilly this morning we did not get the frost they forecasted which was good, the sun is now shinning, I wonder for how long today. My mojo does not seem to have returned this week so I am hoping you will like my effort, several ideas did not work out until I finally went with this, not my best effort by far.

The challenge this week on the Sunday CD challenge is around the World you would think with all the travelling I have done it would be easy............ NO.

This card was made with the Art Deco ~~Timeless Keepsake CD, the backing paper and images both have come off this CD. There are many images with different scenes around the world until I went to print them off, Oh no only three showed the scene the rest the scene disappeared leaving the ladies in an art deco design, which made me cross. anyway I settled for these two, both in blue, I added the blue sheer ribbon which I brought from Joanna Sheen, brilliant ribbon and a wonderful price, plus free delivery even better. I finished off the card with silver peel offs.

I hope you are keeping well and the weather is not too bad where ever you are, until we meet again take care.

Hugs

Margaret

New Earrings, and new thread

2011-10-19T12:38:00.003+01:00

Hi,

2011-10-09T11:36:00.004+01:00

Hi,
I am having one of those I can't be bothered days, the weather is windy it has been raining a bit, dull, and not very interesting. The sun has just popped out but there's plenty of grey clouds around.
Today I am showing my tatted Angel, this is Katie Johnson's 3-Dimensional Angel pattern, she glues the skirt onto the body, but I have played with the pattern and by doing two picots at the bottom of the body I can attach the rings and make the skirt so she strands up. I have shown her before but I thought I would show her again.
This snowflake and the next one are from Anna Magazine December 1991, I wish they had not stop printing the English version, I know I have said it before but when I go abroad I always look to see if I can get a copy of any current German ones as they still print it in German.

Both of these are on sale in my Esty store at the moment. they are easy to tat and don't take very long to do.

This is a new snowflake from the book Christmas Angels and other Tatting Patterns by Monica Hahn, I found this pattern easy and I love the way the rings flow, a couple of the rings look a little drunk but I have not ironed it yet.
This Christmas tree pattern is also from the same book, I also loved this pattern although I had a few unpicking at first its not difficult and once you get the hang of the pattern worked up quite easy, I also did it in the Christmas thread by Lizbeth called Christmas Delight, I really love this thread, well I think by now you all know that. I am going to do it again with some beads. I do like to test a pattern without beads before tatting them in.

All the above were tatted in Lizbeth thread no 20.

I hope you are having a lovely weekend and the weather is a bit better where ever you are. I shall be watching the F1 later, I did not get up early for the race this morning so it will be the repeat, Japanese time is a bit too early for me, I hope Jensen Button our local boy will have a good race he was second on the row, I have not seen who won it that would spoil the race for me.

Until we meet again take care

Hugs

Margaret

Corinne's Game

2011-10-07T12:57:00.007+01:00

Hi,
I hope you are all well, and hopefully the weather has improved with you, it still windy here and although more sunshine today its feeling a chilly.
Today I bring you Corinne's Game as per her blog, she placed a pattern on her blog and then asked if anyone wanted to tat it, well as you can see I did it in the Christmas thread by Lizbeth, Christmas Delight no 20, I do love this thread. When I looked at her pattern I had to take a double look, as you see I have been doing some more snowflakes and this pattern is the same, as the snowflake pattern which I used from be-stitched.
Nancy's pattern called tatted 10-point Snowflake (2005) and this is the middle of her pattern, I liked it as it was it is so I have not done the otter round. It makes a lovely little snowflake, easy to tat and quick.
I have some more snowflakes to show you over the next few weeks, amazing how patterns can get repeated in many different forms. I enjoyed Corinne's game, and look forward to seeing when she does another one. There seems to be quite a bit going on in the tatting world at the moment, including a thread exchange on "intatters".
Until we meet again take care
Hugs
Margaret

The Sunday CD Challenge - Nature's Wonders

2011-10-05T15:51:00.007+01:00

Hi,
Not a very nice day here, its raining at the moment and been dull all day, just managed to get a photo of this card when we had a speck of brightness.
We are just a bit tried today, mother got up in the night and had a fall so I was called out in the middle of the night, 6 miles may not be very much but on unlit country roads with bends and possible nightlife animals roaming around Vernon drove. She was OK, just had a fall the paramedics checked her over and she's fine. Don't get me wrong I could do it if I had started driving again, hopefully this weekend I hope to get back on the car. I have had some good news re the cancerous mole, the skin they took around the mole scar is clear and after a visit to Frenchary Hospital last Friday I am OK, they will be checking me over every three months for the time being, I feel so much better. We went out today well Vernon had had no sleep so he stayed home. Late morning we popped out I had two people say how well I looked, that made me feel even more better, I think it was a bit of retail therapy that also helped. We went out last Sunday for the day to Weston Super Mare and did a vast amount of retail therapy, gosh it been over nine months since I really went out and did some shopping.
Back to today's cards, this card is for the Sunday CD Challenge this week it is Nature's Wonders. I wanted something different, something but in the end this is what I ended up with. I used Joanna Sheen's CD The Pamela West Collection, the image I used instead of putting it in the middle on top of each other I put it to the side and then built it up. The dragonflies are peel offs mounted onto parchment embossed and coloured to match the colour of the backing paper also from the same image on the CD, I used embossed miri board finished off with flowers from stock and gold peel offs. I put the smallest dragonfly on the flowers.

--oo0oo--

Do you remember this card from last week, well it came First on the Sunday CD challenge, I cant believe it. Thank you for choosing my card, I am totally speechless.

I hope you are all keeping well and the weather is better with you than it is here, we are due to have very strong winds tomorrow as another hurricane hits the UK, after that gorgeous weather we had at the weekend, we are back to usual UK weather.

The next post will be tatting, promise.

Until we meet again take care

Hugs

Margaret

The Sunday CD challenge - Winter Wonderland

2011-09-29T11:53:00.003+01:00

Hi,
What a beautiful day, yesterday was lovely and today is just as good but warmer, Summer has come back if only for a short while.
Today I bring you my card for the Sunday CD Challenge, this week it is winter wonderland. Oh I spent a long time thinking about this card and printed off several ideas and then came to this image. Its from my favorite Cd of Joanna Sheen, Enchanted Dreams,
I love this picture with the snowy Owls flying across her cape and the village scene at the bottom and northern lights at the top of the image, there is so much in these pictures and always something new every time you look at them. I mounted the image on silver card and used the backing paper off the CD matching the image. At the top I put white snowflakes and crystal blue flowers and clear gems in the middle of the snowflakes. At the bottom I made parchment flowers spaced then with ice blue sheer ribbon and the blue crystal flowers amongst the parchment flowers with clear gems in their middles. Glittered the flowers and image and finished off with ice blue sheer ribbon tired down the side.

I hope where ever you are the weather is as nice as it is here, take care until we meet again here in blog land.

Hugs

Margaret

Tatting Challenge Yourself - Look what I received.

2011-09-28T12:18:00.004+01:00

Hi,
Oh what a beautiful day, and really warm for the time of year, at last summer has come back, they say its going to last to the weekend, as far as I am concerned it can last until Christmas and beyond. I know I am stretching it a bit, but I hate winter, and I don't like snow, OK its lovely to look at but not when you need out and about in.
As you know from my last post we are doing a tatting challenge on "intatters", this is from my partner.
This beautiful lighthouse bookmark arrived this morning, its from Snowflake77, who lives in Germany. she included the pattern for it which was a Tat it and see 2008 by Ladyshuttlemaker (Sherry Pence) link to her blog she challenged herself to doing block tatting.
She did not include the name of the thread used so I cannot tell you what she used. but its very well made and will be used in my tatting books.
Thank you Snowflake77 (Karin)
I was asked about my last post, I forgot to say what thread I used on the card, its was a Coats yellow, I don't know the number it came from a very old ball and Lizbeth Gold, both were no 20 and worked in very well together even though they were different makes.
I hope you are enjoying this lovely weather and until we meet again take care.
Hugs
Margaret

Tatting Challenge Yourself Exchange - Celtic Motif

2011-09-23T10:15:00.001+01:00

Hi,
I thought you might like to see my tatting challenge, over on "intatters", we are doing a challenge called Challenge Yourself Exchange in doing something we have not done before.
This is Celtic tatting rather different from ordinary tatting, let me explain for those of my followers who are not tatters. In Celtic tatting the chains or rings are woven in the design. I used the 5 point Celtic motif, only I thought it was too small so I did 10 points instead, it worked out just as good as the 5 points pattern link here

This is the first part of the design a ring of single rings and chain.

Second part of the design.

Third part of the design parts one and two are interwoven.

Then after they are interwoven the last round is tatted around the whole design, this is a close up of the pattern, the top picture shows the whole design.

Last Sunday I said I could not show you Suzanne's birthday card, I used my first tatted piece of the Celtic motif on her card, I could not post it until my Challenge Exchange Partner had received my challenge piece in Romania.
Ladybird has now received her motif and I can now tell you I used Lizbeth thread No 20 in the new colour Raspberry Frappe. Its lovely colour of pink and raspberry and I think it will be a firm favorite for many tatted items in the future.

Until we meet again take care

Hugs

Margaret

The Sunday CD Challenge, Black and Blue

2011-09-21T13:37:00.004+01:00

Hi,
Well the sun has been shining, and I think its just a bit warmer today.
Here is my card for the Sunday CD Challenge this week, the theme is Black and Blue, I used the Glitter and Glitz Art Deco Christmas CD by Debbi Moore Designs. This is the first Christmas card I have made this year.
I used the backing paper and images off the CD, matted the images onto silver card, dark blue ribbon along the top of the card and bow, and used a piece of the backing paper for the silver peel off Happy Christmas, finished off with silver peel offs.

Close up of the art deco ladies, I add glitter to their dresses, but I don't think you can see it very well.

Another close up.

--oo0oo--

This was my card for the Sunday CD Challenge a couple of weeks ago (4th September) I made no three. Can't believe I managed to get third again.

I hope you are keeping well and in the meantime until we meet again take care

Hugs

Margaret

Can you help, an appeal on behalf of the African Childrens Fund

2011-09-19T10:05:00.003+01:00

Hi,

Its not very often I ask for help with something, but Dee Vernon's Sister runs a charity the African Children's Fund and they are trying to raise awareness to a problem that African girls have.
Tomorrow, the World Bank will be holding an Open Forum on Gender Equality and in preparation, individuals and organisations Have been invited to submit their suggestions for what initiatives could bridge the gender divide. The suggestions with the most support will be addressed during the Forum. In preparation for our forthcoming 'Education All Month, Every Month' campaign to give girls equal educational opportunities to boys, the African Children's Fund has proposed that the issue of sanitary towels for African girls is discussed during next week's Forum. If the powers of the world economy were aware of the need for such a campaign, perhaps they could do something to look at the issue.

It is a long shot perhaps, but of 155 proposals submitted so far we are recorded at number six. If we can climb just one place and get into the top five issues we have to believe we will be seen and read.

I would therefore be grateful if you could lend your 'support' to our suggestion simply by clicking on the link below & filling in the details. It will take less than 30 seconds of your time.

http://bit.ly/oaEuAb

Please feel free to pass on to any friends or colleagues whom you think might be interested.
Further news about our planned campaign will be available soon. To keep in touch with all that the charity is doing, you can also follow us on Twitter or Facebook at www.twitter.com/afchildfund or www.facebook.com/africanchildrensfund.

Thank you in advance.

If you could spare just a couple of minutes and follow the links they would be most grateful.
Its something that I am sure we ladies have never thought of, but in Africa girls cannot go to school, one reason they don't have knickers and monthly items. I was thinking during the night how would we get on in this country, how would we go shopping, to work, go out to dinner and do all the things we do, life as normal.
Thanks for reading.
Margaret

Knitted heart shape cakes.

2011-09-18T12:15:00.000+01:00

Hi,
I hope you are having a lovely weekend, today we are going to near Oxford to see Vernon's Dad, so this is a scheduled post. Today Saturday its pouring with rain and although this morning was not good we did have some sunshine between the showers but now late afternoon its dark and raining.
Today I bring you my knitted heart cakes, another pattern from the twenty to make knitted cakes by Susan Perry, I used some very old wool in pink/white that has knobby bits in for the top and maroon for the sides and bottom. I made a ribbon rose in pink with a little green ribbon at the base.

Close up.

I would like to wish my Friend Suzanne a lovely Birthday today and I am glad she enjoyed her cake and card. This is a picture of her cake, knitted so she can enjoy without the calories. Her card will be shown on another day, she knows why I have to wait to show you.

I hope you like my latest heart shape cakes, these are for sale in my Esty store.

Have a lovely weekend, and the weather is better with you than it is here in Somerset.

Take care

Hugs

Margaret

Me and the Basket. plus Dream Catchers pattern

2011-09-16T12:19:00.009+01:00

Have you ever thought to yourself why did I take this on, well I was asked by my friend to line a basket, she brought the material, some ribbon and the padding, plus basket.

Her daughter was having a baby and she wanted a basket for the baby things. (By the way she has had the baby a girl called Coco Sophia.) Now I know I have not been well and things have been hard to do but this basket proved challenging to say the least, or perhaps it was just me.

Its not very big but she wanted a handle, sorry in the end no handle, there are handles at the side which I managed to leave untouched so at least she has some handles.
The material proved more than a challenge for me and my little sewing machine. Lovely as it was Broderie Anglaise in squares with seams joining each two inch square together to make one piece of material looks nice but not until you try and sew it. The seams were thick in places and with the embroidery on it made the sewing hard and most of the basket ended up being sewn by hand.
In the end the basket was lined in plain cotton, I use the material for the pocket on one side and on the other made a section with some acetate and the material rolled around to make loops so she could put talc and shampoo upright in the basket.

The lid was the Broderie Anglaise, padded and lace trim, and I made some ribbon roses which she decided she wanted in the corners.

Close up of the ribbon rose I made.

This is not a very clear picture, but I made a hook with tatting, just a tatted ring and then sewed it onto the side of the basket so I could tie the ribbon from the lid onto the basket.

Close up with the ribbon tied

Some months ago I showed you some baby clothes I knitted for her, well this basket is for the same baby. Apparently my knitted clothes I made her are the best the baby has, and they are very pleased with them, I hope they will be as pleased with the basket.

I made this little jacket for the baby, its a very old pattern Lister pattern no K551 which I have done loads of times, in fact the pattern cost 15p to buy so it shows just how long ago I brought it. Its a pattern that can be used for a boy or girl, This time I made it in cream wool and two flower buttons.

--ooOoo--

I have put my Dream Catcher pattern on my pattern blog, its just a motif with a chain around the outside nothing special, just played around with bits and came up with it, cant say I designed it, it arrived after a play session when I was tatting. I don't mind anyone using the pattern for their own personal use or to sell just please don't say its your own design.

Its not a bad day here and the sun has been shining, I have done some washing and for the first time put it out on the line, trying not to stretch too far, I know I had done it as the scar was complaining, still at least I tried to do something.

I hope you are keeping well, and have a lovely weekend,

Until we meet again in blog land take care

Hugs

Margaret

The Sunday CD Challenge - Alphabets M

2011-09-13T15:08:00.008+01:00

Hi,
What another day of wind and rain, the day started off quite nice and the sun was shining, but by mid morning it clouded over the then the rain came, heavy showers and now its fine, sun shining but still windy. Its the reminds of Hurricane Katia, and now they say the hurricane off the British Virgin Islands could come up on the Jet stream too, so we could have another blast of windy weather. There does seem to be a lot of damage up north in Scotland and northern England but we have been spared some of the really bad weather that hit Scotland. Its only September and it feel like Autumn is really here.
Today I bring you my card for the Sunday Cd Challenge this week it is the Alphabets M, so M for mermaid. I used the image and backing papers from Joanna Sheen's CD Enchanted Dreams. Then I used some peel off images from a Kit I brought some time ago of mermaids and fish, and added some gold/silver peels offs of fish. Finished off the card with some white ribbon.

Close ups.

I hope where ever you are the weather is better with you than here and the sun is shining on you.

Until we meet again in blog land take care and stay safe.

Hugs

Margaret

Knitted Iced Doughnuts, plus 9/11

2011-09-11T11:27:00.004+01:00

Hi,

Well the sun is shining and its dry for now although there are some black clouds around, I have taken the opportunity to do the bedding, if it can stay dry just for a few hours then it will dry. The stitches are out, they hurt like hell when Beth from the Surgery did it, the surgeon had written a letter on how to take them out, she had never seen anything like it before. He had put a sticky plaster on the stitches I can tell you it was painful trying to get it off so she could cut the stitches. They were sewn in the middle, she had to cut the two middle stitches and then pull the thread from the end though the scar. I was hoping that I could move but no I have been told I still can't bend, stretch, exercise, drive, carry or lift for another two weeks while the dissoluble stitches heal. There I was thinking I could do some housework and get out and about. Vernon will have to do carry on, doing the things for me.

Today I bring you my knitted Doughnuts, I thought it would be a change from knitted cup cakes, they are not difficult to knit and sewn up in the middle of the ring, I used seed and bungle beads for decorations.

This pattern came from the book, Twenty to Make Knitted Cakes but Susan Penny.

--ooOoo--

Today is a sad day around the world, they were asking were you where on the day, I was at my

Mothers sitting on her settee knitting, waiting for the film to start on the television, when the

picture changed and all of sudden I was looking at the World Trade building burning and wondering if the film had started. Seeing another plane going into the other building and wonder what what going on and if it was a terrorist attack.

Then they were talking about Washington, and that a plane had hit the white house and then it was some where else, then they said the Pentagon. At that split second I knew Lou was in the Pentagon, my heart jumped. Lou is my American Penfriend and at that time was stationed in the Pentagon. I phoned her that evening Steve (her husband) said she was OK but he did not know when she would be home. Her story of the day was she watching the television in her boss's office watching New York, when a clown (her words not mine) said behind her that they would never hit the Pentagon, with that there was a bang and the building shook. Someone came running though the office and shouted everyone out, she picked up her cell phone (mobile phone) and run. She was in the next section to where the plane hit.

We have meet when she was over here on business, and she was coming over for our wedding but they cancelled her leave. She is now stationed in Nebraska, hopefully one day we will meet again.

I hope you are having a lovely weekend, and the weather is not too bad, we are in for some rough weather coming over the Atlantic and the remains of this hurricane, they say it will be no longer a hurricane but I have heard that before, I still remember the hurricane we had in October 1997.

In the meantime stay safe and take care.

Hugs

Margaret

The Sunday CD Challenge - Inspired by Peacocks

2011-09-07T15:23:00.006+01:00

Hi,
What a day yesterday, with a 9 force gale and what comes naturally we had a thoroughly wet day here in Somerset, today has been slightly better only showers and the wind is not so bad and seems to be dieing down. It was not only an Autumn day but felt cold and its only the beginning of September. I had to go to the surgery for the dressing to be changed I got soaked, only a couple more days and the stitches will be out.

Today I bring you my card for the Sunday Cd Challenge
this week it is Inspired by Peacocks. My card is a peacock stamp by Creative Expressions, which Vernon brought me last year. I heat embossed the image with white, a touch of green and purple embossing powders. The backing paper came from Joanna Sheen's, The royal horticultural Society CD collection which I cut into strips and weaved together for a change, the flowers are from Joanna Sheen's shop and the parchment feathers in white and purple parchment paper white which I made myself. The pattern for them came from the Parchment Magazine last year. I used up scraps of ribbon in a various colours of a peacock.
A close up. Unfortunately the colours of the peacock don't seem to have come out in the photo. Gold peel offs to finish the card off.
I hope you like my creation today.
Well I know the weather is going to be changeable this week so I hope its not too bad where ever you live.
Until we meet again in blog land, take care
Hugs
Margaret

Ruffle Scarfs

2011-09-04T11:35:00.007+01:00

Hi,
I hope you are having a lovely weekend, although at the present moment the sun is shining, there are some black clouds around, its not cold but not as warm as it has been. Looking at the weather forecast for this coming week, rain seems to be the thing.
I found this lovely wool in the wool shop in Shepton Mallet, I just could not resist trying it, Mike said they are selling well on the Internet, so these two scarfs are now in my esty store.
It does not take long to knit and on size 8mm a ball is soon becomes a scarf. The wool is called Tivoli and is made in Turkey.
This is purple and pinky violet although Vernon says is light purple, he is no good at colours!

This is a multi coloured one slightly shorter, it has six colours in the ball, still in the same wool,
I have another three balls to knit up in different colours, one is black and white, on in blue, and a bright red so far I have not made one for myself as yet I am seeing how they work out before deciding which one to have. I am sure when my grand daughter Bethany and Melissa see them they will be disappearing.
I can't wait to get the stitches out on Friday although it will be at least another two weeks before the dissoluble ones have gone. I get fed up with myself as I cant bend, carry, lift, stretch, exercise and Vernon is having to do most things for me. As I dropsy, and drop things very easily, its usually the small things that drop the most, I will one day have to have my carpol tunnel done on both hands, but at the moment they have to stay on the floor until Vernon gets home. He's had a variety of items from beads, knitting needles, pens, thread, wool, scissors, tatting shuttles and hooks. I made Fox laugh the other day as she was having a dropsy week and I left a comment for her about my week so far, I am glad Fox had a laugh, thanks Fox for the lovely comment you left on my blog.
I hope to bring you some more new items during the week, and I hope you like my new scarfs.
Until we meet again, take care
Hugs
Margaret

The CD sunday challenge - just because

2011-08-31T15:11:00.004+01:00

Hi,
Well the sun has now come out to play, they said it would be cloudy all day, but its nice to see the sun shine. We have had the coldest summer on record since 1993 and the its been wet, funny we had the warmest spring on since records began this year followed by the coldest summer, and they say we are having global warming!!!!
Today I bring you my card for the Sunday Cd challenge this week its Just because, so I thought of a red rose for my card. I used Robert Adams Roses CD for the roses image and backing sheet, I added the words from the computer, a piece of lace for down the side and red ribbon, with two red heart gems, finished off with gold peel offs.

I do like this Cd there are some lovely real life roses on it in so many different colours. Its a really good CD and a real must in my collection.

Its nearly a week since I had the latest operation, its still sore but they did go down so deep when they cut. I am trying to be good and not bend down, reach up, etc I just wish I did not feel so cold all the time, and not feeling very well. The surgery wondered if I had an infection but the scar is clean and looking good so they say, I cant see it as its on my back. So they have taken a blood test today to see if I have an infection.

I hope you like my challenge card today, and that you are keeping well, until we meet again in blog land take care

Hugs

Margaret

I got third on the CD challenge plus update on op.

2011-08-27T11:33:00.005+01:00

Hi,
The weather is very changeable today and we started off with sunshine and blue skies, so Vernon put the washing out, only in a few hours its cloudy and looks like the rain that was forecasted.
I was amazed and very over the moon to find out this week my card pictured here from the Sunday CD challenge (14.8.11) won third place, its only the third time I had entered so I was not expecting to even get anywhere.
I thought I would let you know how I am after this op, it went well, although I am very sore and have to rest over the weekend, which is a pity because we were going to Oxford to see Vernon's Dad and that's been cancelled, being shaken around in the car over potholes etc would make my back more painful, so hopefully we will be able to go up next week or in a couple of weeks. I had to cancel my craft table today as I am not well enough to go and do it.
They took one centimeter of skin around the scar, and went down to the white fat layer, he was adding more local anaesthetic as he cut. I have stitches in inside and out, he has done a drawing for nurse when the stitches are due to be taken out so they taken out how he wants it.
he was discussed with the scar and how it was done. He has been getting quite a few people from my area, he knows the doctor who did it, he had two nurse in the room with him helping him, one suggested that he comes to Frome Hospital and teach them and the other one suggested that he invites the doctor to the clinic and show her how to stitch up. He said he spends two days in Cornwall he does not have time to go and teach them.
The Bristol Plastic Surgery Clinic is a lovely place, clean, very clean, the waiting room had newspapers to read and they were the days not several days old and new magazines from this week, no old torn and well thumbed copies. A coffee machine severing fresh coffee/tea. All in all a really nice experience and place to have an operation
The clinic is in Queens Square in the heart of Bristol, these pictures I took on my mobile, this is the statue in the middle of the square, see the sea gull on his head, he never moved even with people walking passed and taking photos of the Gorilla

These Gorillas are all over Bristol, painted in all sorts of designs, these will be collected at the end of the summer and then auctioned off for charity.
This one had words painted all over him. Some have been vandalised already and one was set of fire and destroyed he was re-placed only a few days after.

Well I am still sore, I cant bend, or stretch up, no exercising, have to lay on my side in bed, not allowed to carry any heavy items or lift anything. The stitches will be in for 14 days, and a month for the stitches in inside to dissolve. I will be able to do some knitting and tatting if nothing else. I think the housework will have to wait for a while, as I am under strict instructions to have a rest over the weekend, at least Vernon has an extra day at home this bank holiday weekend.

I hope you have a lovely weekend. until we meet again take care

Hugs

Margaret

Dream catchers, Mobile phone charms, and update to new Op. appointment

2011-08-24T09:40:00.006+01:00

Hi
Well I thought it was going to rain but its a beautiful sunny morning, and quite warm. In the US on the east coast they have had an earthquake, not known earthquake's on this side of the US before, I thought it was the west coast that had them, this world is changing there has been so many this year and with the weather changing who knows whats going to happen next.
I am not doing the Sunday Cd challenge this week, its nursery rhymes this week, but my mojo is not working and I cant come up with anything, not surprising with this hospital op hanging over me.
Today I am showing you some dream catchers, I made from tatting, I made up a pattern for Vernon's Anniversary card and I thought it might be something new for my craft table. I will put my little pattern on my pattern blog when I get time and have written it out. It is hard to keep coming up with new ideas, and with my mojo not working at the moment. I have also made some mobile phone charms again with a tatted charm, in the picture there are butterflies, hearts and a funny looking dragonfly which I am going to take off and start again. I am going to make some flowers as well to go with them.

I should explain that I am going back into hospital tomorrow for a minor op, as you know I had a mole removed in June, after two opinions the mole was just beginning to change and turning cancerous, I am now under Frenchary Hospital who are going to cut out more skin around the scar and go deeper. Frenchary Hospital is too busy to get this done quickly so they are farming me out to the Bristol Plastic Surgery Clinic, in Queens Square, Bristol, to get the work done quickly. I am not looking forward to this op and having the scar opened up but if it clears up a bit quicker than it did last time and not pop open when the stitches come out then I might be a bit happy, as it has only just healed from the last time, it still itches and it sore. I wont be able to bend over for about month, I thought I had finished with hospitals hopefully this will be the end and I can get fully fit now.
Hope you are keeping well and until we meet again in blog land take care
Hugs
Margaret

The Revival of Tatting

2011-08-21T12:04:00.003+01:00

Hi,

I wrote this piece some years ago and was recently updated, I thought you might like to read it. Those who already do tatting will already know all this but for many of the readers of my blog that are not tatters I hope you enjoy this piece.

THE REVIVAL OF TATTING

Tatting dates back to the seventeenth century although it did die out towards the end of the eighteenth century and returned back by the middle of the nineteenth century, tatting as it is today was just beginning to develop.
There are many theories how tatting came by its name either it came from the English "tatters" as tatting is made up of bits and pieces of rings, chains, picots, ovals and scallops. Or from the French "tatter" which means feel or handle and in modern French the word for Tatting or Knotting (which is what tatting really is) is Frivolitã´. The English Dictionary defines Tatting as a kind of knotted Lace made be hand with a small shuttle and used for trimming, with its origin unknown.
The basic technical is very simple and involves using a shuttle and a ball of thread, also a tatting hook is necessary but a thin crochet hook would be alright if a tatting hook was not available. Antique shuttles are still around but do take a bit of finding. These were made of ivory, tortoise-shell and Mother-of-Pearl, but these days plastic has taken over making the shuttle is slightly larger than those made of these semi-precious materials, also there are wool ones available. Some shuttles come with a hook attached, or a hook lip. The smaller the shuttle the neater the work and the faster a tatter can tat too large and they became awkward and inhibit the movement of work. A tatting shuttle has two points each end, which only just meet this allows the cotton to be wound on to the shuttle more easily.
The best thread is Mercerised Crochet Cotton but alternatives can be used as long as they are evenly spun, smooth and hardest. Although there are some new threads on the market, with a metallic thread which are worth trying, anyone who loves tatting will find it is worth while trying to see how they look and work. Embroidery thread can be used with care. Some of the best thread is now coming from Turkey, and the USA with some beautiful colours and variegated threads.
The thickest thread that can be used is No.5 up to the thinnest No.150 although this thread is only just strong enough and would need to be used with caution as too much pulling will make the thread snap. No 5. Is the best for a Christmas tree stars making them large enough to be seen.
The finer the thread the smaller the tatting will finish up and the size of thread given in patterns are only given as a guide and a more experience tatter can adjust the thread to suit herself. At the beginning No 10 and 20 mercerised cottons are recommended and the use of finer threads will came in time. It is advisable to keep the hands clean when doing tatting although tatting can be hand washed carefully in either a mild washing up liquid or washing liquid, powder does not always dissolve so a liquid works better with tatting. Large items of tatting can be machine washed if put in a pillow case or similar item. As a final touch tatting should be pinned to shape and ironed under a cloth and then left to dry naturally this is called blocking.
Tatting is made up of knots, the knot is a double stitch comprising of two stitches, one a mirror image of each other worked on an independent thread. These are worked to form rings or chains or a mixture of both. Often the work is reversed when working in rings to chains but this must worry the beginner which sounds daunting at first but with patience and careful following of the pattern are simpler than first thought.
Picots are made by leaving a small space among the stitches, when the stitches are pushed together this forms a picot. Further rings can be made and joined to these picots to form designs. It is possible to work with two shuttles of different colours, thus making a design in more then one colour.
To make something even more special beads sequins or pearls can be added in the construction of the edging's or motifs. These can emphasise the design, and can be threaded on to the thread or onto the shuttle. Also picots can be pulled and then cut frayed to add more interest into making a picture such as blade of corn or a flower.
There are many books on the market with an array of patterns in with, and many patterns are both written and done with diagrams.
One of the stitches used is The Josephine Knot, which is a survival from the eighteenth century knotting and was named after Napoleon's Empress and is still used today. Is consists of a very small ring of single stitches which form into a perfect circle.
The use of Tatting can be very vast; Kipling's verse Laces for a Ladies and in Kipling's day Ladies did wear laces as well as the Gentleman. These could be tatted ruffles to the wrist, neck and knee and an theme of the Edwardian's was tatting put side by side in a juxtaposition in pin tucks on semi-transparent Georgette or lawn material for either a seductive or prim wear. Collars can also be made of tatting and can be added to a plain dress to enhance it.
There are many uses for Tatting including edges to tablecloths or doilies, collars to dresses or individual fragments such as butterflies, crosses, or flowers. Handkerchiefs can be either edged in tatting or have a tatted corner added and many who do tatting still make the tatted handkerchiefs as presents even though we now have tissues.
Smaller motifs can be used in paperweights, small frames or even on the back of the mirrors and brushes that have a clear plastic or glass top and where there is enough room to slide a motif in. Very small motifs can be made into a brooch or put in a pendant or key ring. Even blank cards can be used, by placing the motif on a plain piece of fabric (usually clipped by a couple of stitches) and then glued to the card these can then be used for any occasion. Motifs can even be used on a wedding veil together with an edging
With all the endless possibilities which Tatting can produce, tatting can become a worth while hobby not only enhancing one's home but as a gift.
I hope those who have never tried tatting maybe inspired to try this ancient art of lace.
Until the next time we meet take care
Hugs
Margaret

Tatted Booties

2011-08-19T14:07:00.006+01:00

Hi,

The sun is shining, and its a fine day after yesterday it rain all day, my washing is out on the line so hopefully it will dry.

Its Mother's birthday today, shes 89 today, when we got married we did a little birthday party for her 80th was only three days from our wedding.

Today I bring you the booties I was asked to make for a christening. This pattern is from Three-dimensional patterns, but I can't remember who wrote the book as I only have a copy of the pattern which I took when I borrowed the book years ago. OK I know the tatting police are now standing by to pounce but this copy was taken years and years ago possibly over twenty years ago, those who are members of "intatters" will know what I mean.

Each bootie takes 9 hours to tat, after Michelle worked out how long I timed myself and yes she is about right 9 hours is about right, the blue ones seem to drag on as the last one drove me up the wall and was nearly thrown across the room, all I did was mistakes the faster I tried to make it the worse it got, if it had been mine and not for someone else they would have gone into the garden.

They were both made with Lizbeth thread no 20 in white and the blue ones are Turquoise Twist.

These have not got the ribbon in as I don't know what colour she wanted so I have left it up to her to put in. In total 36 hours of work not bad to get them finished by the weekend seeing I was only asked for them at the end of last week.
I am sure you are looking at these flowers and saying .... Lovely, well yes they are but the perfume is driving me up the wall, I have already taken some percetamols for the headache which I am sure is down to them. I brought some end of last year and said never again, these were in bud (which is how you should buy flowers to enjoy the full benefits of them) and yes I did it again, they will be out in the garden bin soon, I have the windows open and still the perfume is too strong. Note to self don't buy them again.

Nearer the time next week I will tell you about the latest on the mole hole which is going to be re-operated on.

Will Kathy Niklewicz who left me a comment on my last piece, will you please contact me there is an e-mail button on my sidebar as I have some information on your question you asked.

I hope the weather is as nice with you as it is here, and you have a lovely weekend whatever you are doing, until we meet again in blog land take care

Hugs

Margaret

The Sunday CD Challenge - ovals

2011-08-17T09:50:00.005+01:00

Morning,

Today I am bring you my card for The Sunday CD Challenge - ovals I used the image from the Art Deco Timeless Keepsake CD, the oval background and backing paper also came from the same group of images for this art deco lady. Unfortunately the camera has not picked up the background as it was very pale, I added flower from my stock and the ribbon , and finished off the card with gold peel offs. Although this is only my third card for the challenge, I do enjoy doing them.

I hope you like this card and I look forward to seeing you again in blog land, as I have some new things coming in the next week.

I have nearly finished the booties, last night we had family over so I did not get a lot of tatting done, just one bootie to finish. Michelle left a comment saying it takes her 9 hours to do a booties, I worked it out and yes it does take me about the same time.

I also had my friend over yesterday afternoon she I liked the basket and it will soon be finished, I will bring you the photos of it soon. I was very pleased about that after the hours of hand sewing.

Until we meet again take care

Hugs

Margaret

Our 9th Wedding Anniversary

2011-08-15T13:31:00.009+01:00

Hi,

Tomorrow is our 9th Wedding Anniversary (16th August), gosh it does not seen nine years, it was a beautiful day one of the very few days we had that August 2002, it rained and rained most of August, it really looked like it was going to be a wet wedding but on the day the sun came out and it was hot. I remember one thing from the wedding I made a speech not many Brides make a speech but I had on one to give me away and walked down the aisle on my own, anyway we had guests from different parts of the country and I started my speech with welcome to Somerset. I heard a little voice say something that was Sheila I know it was but I don't think at that time she realised that some guests had travelled to our wedding, my only disappointment was that my penfriend from the US had her leave cancelled and was unable to come. Lou is a lawyer in the US navy at the time of our wedding she was stationed at the Pentagon. Someone said I should have written the US President and complained, looking back I wish I had, may not have made any difference but might have made us feel better. I got though most of my speech and then the little voice spoke again the speech went out of my head totally, you see I made one mistake I never wrote it down I had it in my head, never again always write it down before hand.

Anyway my mojo has not been working very well recently, what with the trouble with the mole and the gall bladder operation, and now waiting for Fenchary Hospital. I seem to have a hit as a writer (well I have written three novels nothing printed) a blank page. A couple of weeks ago on the Sunday Cd challenge Dreams there was a card made by Carol, she made a card with a dream catcher design, do pop over and have a look at her lovely blog, her parchment work is beautiful. Well that gave me an idea we had the Indian pray at our wedding, and as we are both into country music this gave me an idea to get out the American Frontier Cd by Joanna Sheen.
The image is actually an insert and the backing paper both come from the CD. I matted the image onto blue paper and used the corner punch to hold the image. I then made a dream catcher in tatting with the beads on the ends, I was going to make little tassels but I did not leave myself enough cotton, I used white and the blue Caribbean thread Lizbeth No 20. I did not have a pattern but made the centre based on the motif on the booties I am making at the moment, just change it a bit and then did I another round of just chains and picots for the hanging loops

I added the blue thread as I had blue on the card. What do you think?

I might think about trying to make a few more for my craft table I think it needs a little more work on them to get them completely right, I don't have any very small feathers at the moment but I think the beads do just as good a job.

Yesterday I post my butterfly only I forgot to tell you what thread I used it was the Turkish Altin Basak Thread.

I hope you like my wedding anniversary card today and until we meet again in blog land take care.

Hugs

Margaret

Beaded Butterfly

2011-08-14T11:39:00.003+01:00

Hi,
Today is just one of those days where Vernon and myself are not doing a lot. Hes cooking the dinner at the moment, something he enjoys so I let him get on with it. The weather is fine at the moment but there are a few clouds around, its breezy, and my washing is out so I am hopeful it might dry today.

I have some new bits for next week but in the meantime I don't think I have shown you this butterfly, its from the book Tatted Animals by Inga Madsen. I changed the butterfly a bit by putting beads instead of picots on the edges and inside the large wings I put the small wings, as I did not like having another butterfly in the large wings, as it was on the pattern. It worked out a bit wonky and loop sided next time I do it I will do a smaller version of the small wings for the inside of the larger wings.

My mojo is a bit missing at the moment, I have a job on doing two pairs of booties which I have been asked to do, I will post you a picture of them when they are both finished, I would have liked a bit more time to make them, I don't think people realise sometimes how long things take to do. It takes me three evening to do one bootie, either I am slow or its just the pattern needs time to get all the rounds done.

I have nearly finished the basket I have been lining for my friend whose daughter is soon to give birth, its been a hard job not helped by not feeling well when she asked me so I was a little naughty and left until I felt better, but I had a real go at it the other day, only my little sewing machine did not like it so theres a bit more hand sewing to finish it off. The material has been a pain as it Borderie Anglaise and its two inch squares joined together to make one piece and the seams are hard to stitch over, so I cut up an old sheet in the end and lined the basket with that plus the padding which she wanted made the seams harder for the machine to sew, hence the hand sewing, the pattern material is on the lid which I have mostly hand sewn. I will show the pictures when its finished.

It Sunday and the CD challenge is ovals, my mojo is working to think of something at the moment. I think I have something in mind but will let you see what I come up with later in the week.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend and until we meet again take care

Hugs

Margaret

The Sunday CD challenge - Buttons

2011-08-10T10:24:00.007+01:00

Hi,
Its a beautiful morning here in Somerset, the sun is shining and its quite warm, I hope its the same where ever you are. This for me seemed a hard challenge , I don't like buttons on cards, but that's me and then I lost my mojo, so this is not the best card in the world. I used an image from The Pamela West Collection from Joanna Sheen. I do like her Cd's and this is an image I have not used before.
I put the image on an oil water pink sheen card, which reflects the colours from the image, rainbow ribbon from Spiral. The pink buttons I sewn into the silk flowers and then used silicone glue to fix them onto the card. I finished off the card with silver peel offs. I used a white scalloped card as the base.

There are some lovely cards on the challenge site so do pop over and have a look link

I hope you are keeping well and until we meet again in blog land, take care

Hugs

Margaret

Mole News

2011-08-05T16:19:00.002+01:00

Hi,
Another beautiful day here in Somerset today after the rain of yesterday, although we have some cloud at times it is dry today and I have got most of my washing dry.
As many of you know I had a mole removed in June and then the scar opened up and Vernon had to dress it every other day on holiday in Italy.
After a second opinion on the mole which was done at Southampton Hospital, it was decided that the mole just just beginning to be cancerous.
I went to see a plastic surgeon from Fenchary Hospital today who does have a surgery at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. I have to have the scar re-opened up and the skin around it and deeper in the scar removed. Hopefully they will not find any more cancer. This will be done at Fenchary in the next few weeks as a day patient. Fenchary is the other side of Bristol so at least I wont be kept in over night and can come home the same day. I will be unable to bend over and pick anything up for a month. The scar will be longer and sewn up with dissolvable stitches inside and out and will take a month to dissolve.
I am so fed up with hospital's that the news of more treatment was not good news, and I did not say anything before as we were not sure what was going to happen. They have given me the once over for lumps under the arms and groin, which I have to check regularly in the future.
He said it was a good job she took the whole mole out as I would be in a worse position than I am now.
One day I will be free of hospital's, I don't think there can be much more than can do to me now, at least this is will be over quite quickly.
Have a lovely weekend and enjoy whatever you are doing.
Until we meet again in blog land take care
Hugs
Margaret

The Sunday CD Challenge - Bling it up

2011-08-03T10:16:00.004+01:00

Hi,
This is the first challenge I have ever done, I don't get a lot of time to do challenges, but this challenge took my eye so I thought I would have a go.
This is from the CD Kelver Konstruction On the Shelf - once in a lifetime Volume two. This is a new Cd for me but I wanted something different for my craft table so when they were on speical offer I grabbed them.

This is the first card I have made from this CD, I have blinged it up with glitter and 3d parts of the card plus I but some very very small flower gems, I found these in Rhodes a few years ago and kept them for very special cards, they are for nails but I thought they would look good on cards, when I had brought several packets I found they were made in this country, yet I have never seen them in our shops. they are in the middle of the voilet flowers, I also added a couple of gem butterflies.
I hope you like my card today, the link for this challenge
There some lovely cards on this blog so please pop over and have a look.
I hope you are keeping well, the weather this morning here in Somerset is gorgeous but they say we are going to have rain later. I might get a few hours in the garden later to read my book.
Until we meet again take care
Hugs
Margaret

I can't believe my luck

2011-08-02T13:51:00.002+01:00

Hi,
What a beautiful day, the sun is shining and its quite hot.
Today I bring you my new books, firstly my Mary Konior book, that I manage to find on Amazon on Friday, I know its secondhand but its a miracle that its even for sale, OK it was expensive compared to what I usually pay for a book, but now I have all four of her books. Mary died last year and these books are out of print so to find one that I could afford was a miracle. There are some lovely patterns I have some tatting on the go at the moment but I know which book I will be using for a while.
Now this book I got the other week, I wanted some inspiration for some flowers and this book has done it. If you have not yet got this book then I suggest you try it, it has some lovely flowers in it.

These are what I did with the book, the cream and gold thread is very old and I have no idea now what is was called as this was made from a bit of a ball left in the draw, I added gold beads to the middle. Then I made the other one with double knitting dark blue wool no label on the ball so I cant remember what that wool is was either, but I added so sparky thread in the middle, must have been good Melissa (DIL) walked off with it, saying she loved it. I have now knitted another one.
I did on Saturday brought the knitted cake book in the series as yet nothing as been knitted from it, will show you some lovely new knitted cakes when I have.
I hope the weather is good with you and until we meet again in blog land take care
Hugs
Margaret

Congratulations to Jenson Button F1

2011-08-01T14:25:00.003+01:00

Hi,
Many of you know I am F1 fan and with out local boy winning the Hungarian F1 yesterday, I just have to say congratulations to him. It was his 200 race and the first race he won was the Hungarian 5 years ago, in the same weather conditions.
It was a hard race, will a lot of charging the tyres due to the weather conditions, with 88 pit stops there was a lot of action, including a fire and what I have never seen before the car exploded with one of the marshals standing beside it.
Nice to have a race with a lot of action in.
Keep up the good work Jenson.
Hugs
Margaret

Tatting Demo

2011-07-31T11:21:00.006+01:00

Hi,
What a lovely day I had yesterday, the weather was at the beginning a bit of a problem. It was fine when we left home but as we drove nearer to Shepton Mallet it was raining, that put a very despondent mood before I even got there.
The shop (Shepton Cobbler) was having a mini craft day demonstrating what crafts there are and what the sell, this is something they have not done before and a nice way to promote craft. We each had a thin six foot table outside the shop which extended out each side of their double shop, (one half is a craft shop and then Jack the husband has the shoe repairers) the rain eased and although it remained cloudy with the sun popping out in the afternoon.
There was a lady spinning wool, a vast range of knitting and knitted items, Ruth was doing cross stitch and showing how to use plastic canvas with items that children could do. Grace was demonstrating card making. We had a lot of people stop and look watching different things.
I was delighted four ladies want to learn tatting, I had a woman beside me who had had a stoke but wanted to try, well done her, sorry I cant remember her name but I was delighted to help and give her the confidence of trying tatting. I sold quite a few items which was a bonus, I thought I might not sell anything but even better I never had to pay for the table, with the bonus of coffee (its the first time I have had more than one cup of coffee in a morning for ages) and a sandwich for lunch plus beautiful cakes. We were well looked after. They are planning to have another one and possibly once a month a demo of different crafts. I really enjoyed the day meet new people and came home with an order for a horseshoe.

This is a lovely horseshoe which I have been asked to make the pattern came from Nancy at Be-stitched
She has some beautiful patterns well worth checking out her site plus if you sign up for the newsletter there is a free pattern every month.

The cross at the top of the page is by Rachael called Split Ring Cross, her patterns are on "intatters", she is a lovely lady who is ill at the moment, she organised the Spring Bookmark exchange and is hoping to arrange another exchange soon. There is a link for "intatters" in my sidebar.
We went out last with friends for the first time since my op. That meal tasted even better as I had a pudding, Baileys Cheesecake one of my favorites, its been a long time since we went out and even longer since I had a pudding, oh it is so nice to be getting back to normal, just one blot on the horizon which I will take you about another day, but the mole hole is causing more problems.
I hope you are having a lovely weekend and until we meet again in blog land, take care.
Hugs
Margaret

2011-07-20T13:55:00.012+01:00

Hi,

I said I would bring you photos of our holiday, well were to start with this gorgeous hotel, Hotel Splendid Place, this is our second visit and it was just as good as before.
I don't have any photos of inside but believe me its lovely. The one thing that really surprised us the first time we went was how the hotel is arranged. The ground floor where the reception, bar and terrace, The restaurant is down a flight of stairs for those who find stairs there is a lift. The photo left shows the entrance, and then the next two show the road from the north of the lake Riva, the narrow road that runs though the tunnels and gullies between the cliffs which fall directly into the water at this point of the lake, before going though more tunnels into Limone, Hotel splendid is the third hotel on this road before it reaches the top of the town, as shown in the next picture.

The floor numbers go up as you go down to the pool and town of Limone. So you start at 0 for the reception and then as you travel down to the rooms the numbers go up, it a question of thinking totally opposite to a normal hotel. On the pool level there is steps down into Limone which is about 100 yards from the village centre. There are two pools plus an inside one with whirlpool and sauna, gym and beach, its not a sandy beach just a strip beside the lake.

Free afternoon tea and coffee at 4pm, plus a free welcome drink and a bottle of sparking wine makes this hotel even more special.

The restaurant is all buffet food with a vast choice for every meal, drink on tap yes you can have as much as you want of red,white,rosa wine, beer water and soft drinks.
We were also surprised to recognise many of the staff still there since our last visit in 2008.
This photo shows the paddle steamer that travels across the lake and up to to Riva, it also shows part of the hotel in the right top of the photo

This is the path down into Limone from the back of the hotel, its quite steep in places but its not a hard walk, and takes about five minutes to walk into the centre of Limone.

This is a path down to the lake, it is as steep as it looks and very narrow in fact the photo looks wider than it really was, no way would I even try walking down those steps.

Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy, it is divided between the provinces of Verona (southeast) Brescia (southwest) and Trento (north). It is easily accessible from the north via the Brenner Pass, and from the south from Verona.

Verona is famous for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare is extremely unlikely ever to have set foot in Verona. However, his source for the plot of Romeo and Juliet was derived at several removes from an Italian story set in the town, featuring two feuding families with names similar to those of historical Veronese dynasties. So there is a connection, but whether you wish to feel that the real town of Verona has any direct link to Shakespeare's work.

The climate is sub-Mediterranean with hot summers and low rainfall, mild winters. The lake is 32 miles long and 11 miles wide with the northern part of the lake being narrower, surrounded by mountains, the majority of which belong to the Mount Baldo chain.
Limone is the Italian word for 'lemon' and this shore of Lake Garda was once renowned for growing lemons and other citrus fruits. Limone's name, however, is no more than a happy chance, since it is said to be much older than the lemon groves, and to derive from a Latin word meaning 'boundary'. This is a display at one of the fruit shops in the town, yes they are lemons as big as the melons we buy in this country. Limone is served by the regular Lake Garda ferries, Riva at the northern end of the lake is are a reasonably short boat ride away. You can purchase a day ticket for either the whole lake or just this northern end at Riva. There are also private companies offering excursions across to Malcesine, this journey takes 20 minutes, they leave every hour in the morning and then return several times in the afternoon last crossing was 5.30pm. There are trips at night from one side to the other, these seem to be a couple times a week.
This is the lake front at Limone. On a Tuesday they have a large market where you buy plenty of leather handbags, shoes, clothes, and leather goods cheaper than the shops. Limone is very expensive for clothes and shoes, with designer shops everywhere, the streets are very narrow and get quite crowded at times, There are plenty of ferries and boats arriving and departing to Riva and Malcesine, I will tell you about Malcesine on another post, that was our only trip we did to the other side of the lake.
This is Vernon ( my husband) having a drink in one of the many cafes that line the lake side, it was very hot while we were there and when I took this picture is was around 28 to 29c enjoying a drink of sparking water.

This really pretty picture is in the middle of Limone, there is a designer cloths shop on the left hand side and a restaurant on the right,

These are views from our balcony, the first one is looking north
then straight down into the lake, the water is very clear and you can see the bottom of the lake. amazing when so many boats pass by all day.

Looking down on the second swimming pool which has a private entrance for guests to use and this also goes down to their beach which you can see at the top of the picture.

Limone from our balcony.

Limone at Night I am sorry its not the best picture but the best of a bunch I took, again from our balcony.

Parts of the 2008 James Bond movie Quantum of Solace were filmed around Limone, although the shoot was dogged by bad luck and talk of a 'curse'. Scenes include a car chase along the lakeside road, the Via Gardesana.

While we were there the football team FC Bayern Munich were training in the stadium of Arco, which is a small town above the lake at Riva in the North of the lake.

While we were there it was my birthday, on the same day there was another lady celebrating her 90th Birthday, she had a lovely day and said she had battered her credit card when she went shopping, well at 90 she possibly does not have a lot of other enjoyment she was there with her sister and they are planning to go back there next year to celebrate her 91st, amazing to us neither of them had glasses, walking sticks, or hearing aids and her sister age 89 is still driving her car around Hove. All I can say is I hope I will be as well as them if and when I might reach their age.

We took a trip to Malcesine which I will post another day, I think this post is long enough.

I hope you enjoy reading about our holiday and hope to see again in blog land soon until we meet again take care

Hugs

Margaret

Michelle's gift

2011-07-19T15:30:00.004+01:00

Hi,

A little while ago I said that my grand daughter Bethany wanted to learn tatting and that when I was better I would buy her a shuttle.

While I was away in Italy a small parcel arrived from Michelle for Bethany to start learning tatting. This wonderful box contained all these lovely threads and a metal shuttle which was given to Michelle from her great aunt who taught her to tat, plus a packet of clover shuttles. The card enclosed also contained a small tatted heart and bookmark.

Thank you Michelle for your very kind gift, it has been very much appreciated. Michelle has been reading my blog for sometime and wanted to send this lovely gift, it is so nice to receive gifts from someone who has enjoyed my blog as a thank you.

This is the link to Michelle's blog

I am very much behind with postings and hope to have at least one piece about my holiday in Italy on the blog by the end of the week. I am also trying to catch up with all the lovely blogs I follow so if I have not left you a comment recently I will try and catch up with your blog as soon as I can.

I hope you are all keeping well and in the meantime until we meet up again soon take care

Hugs

Margaret

Hospital Update.

2011-07-15T15:21:00.003+01:00

Hi,

I just wanted to let you know that I had my Gall Bladder operation on Monday in the Royal United Hospital in Bath. I am now home, a little sore, tired but OK, I should have posted this a couple of days ago, but I have spent most of the time falling asleep, they say that's normal its the anesthetic that's causing it. Keyhole surgery is quicker, I have four holes that are starting to heal, I would like to get rid of the wind from the air they use to blow up so they see what they are doing. Hopefully when everything is healed I can get back to normal.

I would like to thank those who have sent cards and messages it is very much appreciated. Hopefully next week I will feel up to posting about our holiday in Italy.

Until we meet again in blog land I hope you are keeping well and in the mean time take care
Hugs
Margaret

Hi

2011-07-10T16:53:00.003+01:00

This is a quick post to say Hi. We arrived back yesterday from Italy, I have a lot of photos of the holiday, I will do a post and show you where we were but I have to get ready today to go into hospital tomorrow (Monday).

We had lovely weather, it was very hot, three thunderstorms which you would think would clear the air but no it just go hotter. The final thunderstorm was on Thursday night, we had had dinner and was sitting on the terrace over looking the lake, it got blacker and blacker and then the lightning started, a few drops of rain and we went in and sat inside, some Germans came up from the restaurant and went and sat outside they said they would not get wet, funny that because suddenly after they got sat and comfortable the wind got up to hurricane force and the rain fell, there were several screams as they rushed in, tables and chairs flying in the wind, people were rushing back to their rooms as they had left towels on the balconies. The streets flooded and the whole resort was suddenly deserted. Friday the sun came out as if nothing had happen and it was even hotter.

My mole hole is healing so I hope it will not stop the op, a letter from the hospital has arrived while we were away saying they might need to take some more around the hole, they have sent the sample mole for a second opinion as is is inconclusive. The trouble we have had healing this up I don't feel I want to go though any more.

I am sorry I have not managed to catch up with all the blogs I follow, I had 93 e-mails to wade though, but I will when I am back to normal. In the meantime I hope you are all keeping well and thank you for your lovely comments you have left on my blog while I have been away.
Hugs
Margaret

A selection of cards

2011-07-08T13:31:00.000+01:00

Hi,

Its time I put some cards on my blog, it seems ages since I posted some cards. This is another scheduled post so I hope they are coming out OK. These are a few new cards which I have made recently, This fan is a stitching peel off, stitched and beads added with a few beads thread at the base of the fan to made a handle

Close up. The beads are stitched on and fastened at the back with the thread.

This is another one again a stitching peel off, stitched and with beads added. The beads are stitched and fastened at the back with the thread

This card is made from the Royal Horticultural Society CD by Joanne Sheen, the image is backed with green miri board and the backing sheet comes with the image on the CD.

This is another card from the same CD, I have mounted it on embossed miri board in pink to match the orchid and added a pale pink ribbon finished off with gold peel offs

Just a simple card with a punch out strip of paper and an embellishment that I got free from Crafts Beautiful magazine a few months ago, I finished off this card with silver peel offs

This wedding card has a backing sheet of white roses, the image was a Charlies Ark with him holding two glasses, mounted on a silver miri board and finished off with white sheer ribbon and silver peel offs.

I hope you have enjoyed my last few scheduled posts and that you are keeping well, until we meet again in blog land take care.

Hugs

Margaret

Knitted baby clothes finished

2011-07-06T10:50:00.000+01:00

Hi,
I have been doing some knitting for a Friend, this is the latest piece, it was knitted in Sidar Snuggly Crofter Baby Fair Isle effect double knitting wool. The pattern used is Sirdar 1893, I had enough wool left over to knit a matching hat, I used the number of stitches from the last pattern I did and worked the pattern for the caddie on it, it worked out very well, well I am pleased with it.
I am now lining a basket for her, but I am having a few problems doing it, when I have finished it I will post a picture for you all to see.
I hope you are keeping well and until we meet again take care.
Hugs
Margaret

Happy American Independence Day

2011-07-04T10:29:00.000+01:00

Hi,

To all my American followers I wish you a very happy American Independence Day, Its my birthday today I am 21 plus plus not telling you my age but Janette worked it a few months ago when I posted about my story of learning to tat, I am at the moment I am on holiday.
I hope you all have a nice day.
Hugs
Margaret

Spring Bookmark Exchange

2011-07-02T10:41:00.000+01:00

This bookmark arrived a week ago from Rachael, she organised a Spring Bookmark Exchange on intatters, but unfortunately my partner did not send a bookmark and has not been heard of since she agreed to do the exchange.

So Rachael made this bookmark for me so I would not be left out, that was really nice of her, as she is also ill herself and really suffering with her illness to the point she is now in bed all day. I really hope she gets better soon, her tatting is lovely. The card that came with the bookmark has a very small tatted heart on it, both are beautiful and will be quite for years to come, a real joy to receive.

I hope you are all keeping well,

take care

Hugs

Margaret