I've never met Grace Tyler in real life, but I'm pretty sure if I ever did, we would be friends.
She has such nice ways of popping in and reminding me that somebody else is out there and interested in what I'm doing...
...or not doing, as the case may be.
My last post was, a couple weeks ago, and yesterday Grace popped by the blog and asked:
Ok, so maybe not nothing, nothing, but compared to the amazing things everybody else is producing these days, it's nothing. (Seriously, if you are not a member of the Tatting group on Facebook, and you want to get a complex about all the amazing tatting going on out there, ask them to join...it's amazing. It's inspiring. And humbling. Mostly humbling.)
Excuses about as to my tatting patheticness...work, volunteer teaching, presentations at a local college, dog, husband, cooking, laundry, yoga (seriously, a major culprit--Ashtanga yoga is awesome, but amazingly physical, and practicing 2-3 times a week leaves me tired and SORE, especially in my shoulders, which just gets worse when I sit and tat for a long time...), even just going to bed is getting in my way. (One cannot sleep and tat at the same time, sadly.)
Mostly I just can't seem to get started...and then when I start, I have issues (like three rings in it's time to go to bed) or just don't like what I'm doing, or what I'm doing doesn't work.
For example:
This is half of a Lyn Morton patten, done in size 3 Lizbeth. I made two trefoils and have no desire to make any more. Size 3 is not for me, that's for sure.
So then last night I started this:
Someday, if I keep on, this will be the inner motif to Jon Yusoff's 'Quantiesque' Snowflake, a pattern I really like and want to tat...but maybe not in size 10 Lizbeth... (so why the heck did I load the shuttle all the way full of size 10 Lizbeth?!)
I've also started on another of the mignonette doilies that I keep making and giving away because they look so nice but they are are SUCH A PAIN IN THE BUTT to make when your rings won't close properly so you have to pull really hard hoping the thing will budge just a bit and instead the thread breaks...GAH!
I am, however, quite proud that the first 4 rows were all started and/or completed with split chains and single shuttle split rings, and I defy you to find them...I'm not sure I could even find them. Small victory.
And really, that's it. Pathetic, right?
Oh, and after successfully tatting around one bead, I haven't been able to do it again, and especially not around smaller beads. Bah.
So, grumpy Kristen doesn't have much to show for herself, except for amazing blog followers like Grace who remind me that even though I don't have much to show for myself, I do have people interested in not seeing what I haven't accomplished.
:)
KF
She has such nice ways of popping in and reminding me that somebody else is out there and interested in what I'm doing...
...or not doing, as the case may be.
My last post was, a couple weeks ago, and yesterday Grace popped by the blog and asked:
Honestly, Grace? Nothing.
Ok, so maybe not nothing, nothing, but compared to the amazing things everybody else is producing these days, it's nothing. (Seriously, if you are not a member of the Tatting group on Facebook, and you want to get a complex about all the amazing tatting going on out there, ask them to join...it's amazing. It's inspiring. And humbling. Mostly humbling.)
Excuses about as to my tatting patheticness...work, volunteer teaching, presentations at a local college, dog, husband, cooking, laundry, yoga (seriously, a major culprit--Ashtanga yoga is awesome, but amazingly physical, and practicing 2-3 times a week leaves me tired and SORE, especially in my shoulders, which just gets worse when I sit and tat for a long time...), even just going to bed is getting in my way. (One cannot sleep and tat at the same time, sadly.)
Mostly I just can't seem to get started...and then when I start, I have issues (like three rings in it's time to go to bed) or just don't like what I'm doing, or what I'm doing doesn't work.
For example:
So then last night I started this:
I've also started on another of the mignonette doilies that I keep making and giving away because they look so nice but they are are SUCH A PAIN IN THE BUTT to make when your rings won't close properly so you have to pull really hard hoping the thing will budge just a bit and instead the thread breaks...GAH!
And really, that's it. Pathetic, right?
Oh, and after successfully tatting around one bead, I haven't been able to do it again, and especially not around smaller beads. Bah.
So, grumpy Kristen doesn't have much to show for herself, except for amazing blog followers like Grace who remind me that even though I don't have much to show for myself, I do have people interested in not seeing what I haven't accomplished.
:)
KF
Yes, that would be me reading this and nodding!
ReplyDelete:) Thanks for reading (and nodding!) :)
DeleteWell Kirsten, you are not the only one who has not done a lot of tatting, I look forward to seeing what you have tatted when you have done some.
ReplyDeleteMargaret
Yes, but I have zero excuses except laziness and...well mostly laziness. How are you feeling?!
DeleteYea that size 3 is ruff and hard on the hands for me, but do love the color! sorry it was all annoying for you but know how it goes :) they do look nice I just save it and use it for other projects like on the bags I make on my blog.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was surprisingly hard on the hands! And the thread wouldn't stay wrapped around my pinky finger for more than one or two stitches...grrr...I think I'm a size 40-80 girl for good! :)
DeleteI,m nodding too! Keep going, I love to see your transition to shuttle, no more needle?
ReplyDeletePretty much no, sad to say. The perks of the shuttle outweigh the perks of the needle, I guess. Someday I'm going to do a post on the pros and cons...someday :)
DeleteLove your motif starts and the colors!! :)
ReplyDeleteLove your Sunburst doily(spiderweb-I know)!!! I proudly have it displayed on our tv stand! You do such an amazing job on them!!! :)
Thank you!! :) This is the third time I've made it and I can't imagine making it in any other colors than the orange. I like Sunburst better than spiderweb, and I'm so glad you like yours! You have the original specimen, and after the issues I've had with this one, yours may end up being only one of two I make (for a long while, at least)! :)
DeleteAw thanks, Kristen. I too think we would be friends, but you're too far away right now. We'll have to keep having virtual tea and sharing our successes and failures in tatting online.
ReplyDeleteKeep on trying! We all have those UGH what was I thinking/doing moments. Don't give up! And congrats on the split rings and chains. Well done!
If I had a nickel for every time I'm told I'm too far away for something...story of my life. I guess it's the price I pay for living my fun and crazy life! :) Virtual tea it is (less caffeine, less potential to spill on the tatting or computer! ;)
DeleteThings are slowly getting better, finally finished something so that's a step in the right direction! :)
here is a small thing I have learned over the years. If you ring doesn't want to close, pull it back open just a bit. Likely the thread has gotten a bit twisted and if you pull it back open just a bit, you can smooth out the twist, let it rest for a couple seconds and then try to close it again. It usually works every time and you don't need to pull that hard. I don't think I have broken any threads since I figured this out many years ago.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the doily.
Thank you! Do you think this will work if the ring is *almost* closed? (I'm working with size 80 thread and the (literal) sticking point seems to come just as I'm really getting the ring closed, with maybe 1/2 cm or less thread between the sides of the ring.) Maybe if I use tweezers to pull it back open?? I will for sure give this a try!! :)
ReplyDeletesometimes all you have to do is smooth the stitches to cover the bare thread, they get bunched up too. Then you can finish pulling the ring snug.
DeleteLifesaver. This idea has been quite helpful! Thank you!!! :)
Delete