Yes U can update...

I was just about to start on the next row of this challenge and suddenly remembered that I hadn't scanned my progress so far... so here is my version thus far:

I've decided to use Lizbeth size 40 Blue Ice or color number 163 :o) and it's sitting on a navy blue leather bible, but on my screen the bible looks kind of green.

My baby girl is just too cute

So I'll post a little later on today about my tatting updates, but i was just looking at my baby girl's school pictures and just had to blog about it. lol She is such a cutie! She is so delightful too. I tell people she's borderline angelic :o)  So... here's is my Livi (Olivia):

And I feel bad about putting the proof copies... just because copyright laws are so insane these days, but I've also added their information, so maybe that makes it better in some ways. But isn't she adorable?

"Yes U Can doily"

Thank you Lace-lovin' Librarian-Diane for directing my attention to this challenge with your post about it. I'm excited about the challenge. To help others that are going to attempt it, but are having trouble seeing the stitch counts, I have broken out my usb microscope and took a couple of close up pictures (using a print out) of some of the "repeating units".  I hope this helps, because I was hurting my eyes trying to look at them.  However, my little microscope does have its limits though, so they aren't the best "quality"

Here is a close up of one of the 12 rings from the center of the doily

Here is a closeup of part of the flower medallions that repeat  in what I would assume is a row

Here's the botton portion of the outside row's repeating units

And this part of the outside portion of that  the above picture.

Here is a closeup of the rings that  connect the outside row to the flower medallions

And here is a closeup of the connection between  the outside pieces.

If you would like to see a close up of any other portion, try to explain where it's located, or take a picture of the portion circled and I'll try to get a good picture of it as well :o)

Figured it out...

Well, I solved my scanner issues... I don't know how, but the important thing is it's working now.  So, here on some pieces I would have liked to included in yesterday's post:

Here is Lizbeth size 40 Tropical Fruit. This is the first little motif I did with the same general design that I showed yesterday.  I meant to only do six repeating units, but forgot to do a join so I went ahead and did seven.

Here is Lizbeth size 80 Grape Splash. This is the same one from yesterday's post, just a better quality picture :o)

And here is what I've worked on so far today.  I quite like it.  Again, it's same general pattern, but with 4 units. When I started it I thought it might end up like a butterfly but, it really just looks like a flower I think :o)


Tonight I have to study for a Microbiology test that I have tomorrow, BUT I also have my first "craft date" with one of my best friends, we've been friends even since we were tiny tots (like 5 years old or so).   So hopefully I'll have some pictures tomorrow of the things we create tonight! I'm so excited.  My babygirl Livi is excited too, because my friend Mandy has a little boy, Alex. So Livi and Alex will have their own playdate while Mandy and I have ours.

Scanner problems...

So, I wanted to post some pictures of this motif that I came up with that I've been somewhat obsessed with, just "perfecting" it I guess.  Here is a picture I took of it in Lizbeth size 80 Grape Spash.  (One of the new colors... I love it, the photo does not do it justice) Unfortunately my scanner has decided to not work today, so I took the picture using my webcam... so, I'm sorry that quality is not so great.

I've done it in some other colors and other sizes as well.... once I can figure out what I'm doing wrong with my scanner, I'll post some pictures.

The general pattern however is:

2 shuttles

R1: 6-4-4-6

Ch1: 6-6

RoCh1: 6-6-6

Ch2:6-6

R2(shuttle 1): 6 + (to R1) 4-4-6

R3(shuttle 2): 6+(to Ch2) 6+(To RoCh1)6-6-6-6

Ch3: 6+ (to R3) 6

RoCh2: 6+ (to R3) 6-6

Ch4: 6-6

R4: 6+ (to R2) 6-6

Ch5: 3-3

R1: 6+ (to R4) 4-4-6

What do you think about it?  I think's it's cute... but I'd like to hear some feedback from others.

Posts seem boring without pictures...

Today I went in Hobby Lobby and to my amazement.... Lizbeth (size 20 since that's all they carry) was on sale for $2.66 a ball. (For those of you who don't do dollars, they are usually $3.99 a ball) Then you figure in that I live in Tennessee so, we have 9.25% sales tax... and a ball of Lizbeth from Hobby Lobby cost ~4.50.  So, I bought a few (or more than just a few).
I've been working a new "pattern".  I don't like to say that I design just because I don't feel like I know enough to effectively do that.  Plus, when I have come up with these "patterns", it's usually when I'm just playing around and I know that there tatters out there that are WAY more talented than myself, that actually sit and work hard at coming up with designs.... and my process does not do given any justice to the design process.  Does that make sense or am I just rambling?
My sweet daughter is asleep in the room that has the scanner, so after she has a good nap I'll put up some pictures. She's been sick lately. She started preschool week before last, and all you mothers already know what happens at the beginning of every school year. It's like all summer they were stashing away germs just so they could swap them when school started back up.

Hello Again

Hello World! This is just going to be a quick update because I have a BioOrganic test on Tuesday that needs my immediate attention.

So, I know just about everyone has seen this pattern, but if you haven't it's Jon's Merriment Doily/Coaster

I love it. I think it's beautiful! (Which is why I tatted it twice) The top one is Lizbeth size 40 Confetti and the bottom one is Lizbeth size 40 Denim whisper. Which reminds, I read somewhere that someone didn't understand why denim whisper had pink in it, but that didn't bother me since I actually had a pair of jeans that color. lol Also, after tatting these, I fell in love with size 40 thread. So I order 5 more colors from Handy Hands.  I plan to make my next 5 motifs in the 5 new colors. :o)

Here's another little diddy I did a few weeks ago. it's size 20 Lizbeth I don't remember the colors though.

For this one, I was out of town and didn't have any access to internet, so I just kept tatting hoping that the two ends would get close enough to close. So, you can see from the high number of rings in the middle that it took a while. 

Being a Biology person, I have a digital microscope next to my computer. I actually tried to get a microscopic few of this motif/ medallion but for some reason it's acting up and wouldn't take a picture. When I have more time to work though, I'll share some pictures of a microscopic few of the tatting.  It will probably end up showing the importance of washing your work after handling it. It's amazing the amount of oils and other particles that end up on things that are handled a lot.... or even just left to lay out. I'm taking microbiology this semester (along with 5 other classes), so I am now even more aware of these things.

One more thing... when i first started tatting, I was of course using larger threads. BUT, I just happened to go in Hancock Fabrics and while looking over their clearance section I found this:

Tatting thread on clearance for 30 cents. They had 4 balls, so even though at the time I knew it was too small for me to use, I went ahead and got all four of them. In retrospect, I should have also gotten the couple of balls of white that they had for $1, but I didn't know what the regular price of a ball was, and when I returned to pick those up as well they were gone.  Now I scan clearance sections at such stores secretly hoping to come across little treasure finds like this one :o) This also means that if you see a lot of my work in this thread, it's not because I necessarily love the colors.... I just have a lot of it.