Tatting Along, and some of my recent between classes tatting

I am tatting along with Jon and Tatland with the Norman Benporath lace mat pattern that Jon so graciously charted.  Charts are so much easier to follow that written patterns.

I know they are harder to produce in some ways.  But they do make so much difference!

Thank you Jon for charting this beautiful pattern!

So here is my current progress:
I am using size 60.  This thread is the thread that I won a blue ribbon for at the fair this year.  It's "Young Hearts".  I have a promised colorway to dye this weekend but after I do that one I will do the first batch of "Young Hearts" for the shop! It's gorgeous so I think it's going to be a huge hit!!

And here is some of my tatting from this week:

The top right corner is my Starflower and Frivole's gorgeous creative little butterfly, Papillon both tatted in Karey Solomon's gorgeous HDT! This one is "Unicorn"!!

In the top Left corner, I am attempting Fox's Evelyn, but I think my doodad, while gorgeous, is a little small.  So I may have to do some slight tweaking to make it work.  Also, I want to redo with the rings attaching to doodad as Loop Tatted Rings.  Can you see the glitz?  The doodad has Swarovski crystals and the beads Swarovski crystal bicones.  They are so pretty!  I could go broke buying them.  I sure do talk a good plan to use beads, don't I?

I think it's the fact that you have to actually plan them and put them on the shuttle that bothers me most.  If I do try it.  I end up with a whole slew of beads together because I put to little thread in between them when loading the shuttle. OR I spend forever trying to unload between beads because I put too much thread.   How do you know much thread to load between each?  

**UPDATE**: Oh yeah! On the bottom, dark rainbow.  At some point I was away from the computer and my tatting book, so I decided to start a Spinning Wheel Glass Mat. (by MK)

So, some of the winnings for this past giveaway came today:

BEADS!!

Some are the Swarovski crystals, some are Miracle Beads, which look really cool!

A couple of doodads!

And some size 15 seed beads!

FUN!

One thing that I like to do with giveaways is to buy fun supplies, and then share them with my winner.  That way, they win, I win... we all win.  It's fun!

Also, the winners, will be receiving one crystal doodad, just like the one that I am attempting Fox's Evelyn around. :o)

I hope to do another giveaway soon!  So be on the lookout!

I will leave you with this!

Jane Eborall's Stinky the Skunk!

I tatted him at Tat Days!

Tat-ilicious Fireflies and Pastel Rainbow! (size 40)

The beads for his eyes are Swarovski pearls and he has a mood bead for a nose!

So, if he's in a good mood... you are safe..

Right now, his bead looks between blue and purple, so I think we are safe!

But, don't mention his gimp back leg too loudly or his condition may change lol