Wedding Stuff Part 3b, Hankies and mum!

I  learned to tat in he late 1950's from a friend in school. She tells me that we were allowed to tat in our home economics class. I don't remember that, if fact I didn't even remember that she was the one who taught us.

I always had it in my mind that it must of been another of my friends....the real crafty one....I remember to my shame that she gave me a birthday present of two little tubes covered in linen with embroidery on the outside.

I was not impressed...I think I asked her what they were for!

They were meant to be for keeping hair grips in....I think.

I much preferred what my other friends gave, pretty notelets and teen age stuff.....oh how awful of me.

Now I would be so grateful that she took the trouble to make something especially for me.

What I do remember is coming home and telling mum that a friend was going to teach me to tat.

Imagine my surprise when she said that she thought she had a shuttle in her work box.

She never saw her mother use it so we can only assume that it must have been her grandmother...my great grandmother.

She found it and I can now identify it as hard rubber/vulcanite. It doesn't have the Novelty Rubber Company initials on it and I would imagine that it is British  made in the early 1900's.

I can tell that it is rubber as I get the smell of rubber when I rub it briskly.

This was my only shuttle for years and years, until probably the 1970's when I discovered Aero and Milward shuttles.

My mum????

She soon wanted to learn to tat too. People always assumed when they saw us tatting that she had taught me...but not so.

The funny thing was that she had to go out and buy a shuttle to use.

It was this little pink plastic one....

She tatted regularly or the next 40 years.

During that lifetime she only ever possessed three shuttles.

She only ever tatted edgings.

She never as far as I remember tatted
 a chain...I can't find evidence of a chain.

She never tatted with more that the one shuttle and she never tatted a motif.

She knew exactly what she liked to tat and edged endless hankies...which she used...they would go into the washing machine every week.

Sometimes she would tat an edging for a table cloth, or a tray cloth that she had embroidered.

She was still tatting at 89 when she died some 12 years ago. It kept her fingers supple and her mind occupied.

I have her little paper bag that she kept her tatting in,with her shuttles and the tatting that she was working on.

I have given away some of her hankies to special people and have about 12 left...some that she used so often they have holes in the material...but the tatting is perfect.

She really only did two different edgings, variations of the hens and chicks, and tatted in size 60 so good were her eyes.

My two favourite heirloom hankies of hers are...

I prefer the tatting in the second one, it has more definition.

I don't know where she got these hankies from they are heirloom quality.

Not only do we get beautiful hand embroidery...

...but also Drawn Thread Work and fancy filling stitches in he rectangular panel.

So 

What

has

this

all 

got 

to

do

with 

the 

wedding??

Well having given a hankie to daughter,

I thought that it would be nice to give one to daughter in law to be.  To have my son's grandmother represented at the wedding.

He will like that, hope she will too.

I chose one that fulfilled the something old, (made about 15-20 years ago), something new (it is) and something blue.....and this one filled the bill.

Maybe she is sentimental too!

I bet mum taught the angels how to tat!

Wedding Stuff Part 3.The Finished Hankie!

Oh my, Oh my!

Can you imagine how difficult it is to give this away !!

Do please excuse the number of photos I am going to show you!!

I can't believe how beautiful this is.

Just the embroidery on the hankie is stunning enough....

Madeiran hand embroidery is some of the best in the world.

This reminds me so much of the embroidery that was done in Ireland at the time of the famine.

Remember this post?

WOWEEE!

Did I really do that

I sure hope she likes it

It's an heirloom!

Let's talk more about hankies next time.

Wedding Stuff Part 2.The Hankie!

The Wedding Hankie

Played around with several different edgings.

This one is Lyn Morton's Pansy Edging from her book Tatting Patterns.

This is tatted in Coats Floretta 20 ( a bit smaller than Coats Mercer 20) in lavender and lime green.

This one tatting only the rings in the lime green....and joining the chains together...gives a stiffer edging....not sure which I like best. Very pretty tho'.
Looked at lots of others but kept coming back to this one.

So would it look as good in one colour....

Looking good but not as dramatic.

Now let's look at thread size....

I tend to find that 80 looks a bit stiff, not soft and gentle.....as well as taking a lot more work so decided that 40 was fine enough.

This is what it looks like at the moment....

The hankie is a beautiful hand embroidered one bought in Madeira just a few years ago. I bought so many as they were so gorgeous...I was very optimistic about my desire to tat edgings. This is only my third from my stock!

44 repeats of the design, only a few to go....should be finished in a couple of days.....fingers crossed!

Here is the wedding hankie that I did for my daughter.....the hand embroidered hankies from Madeira are exquisite.

and the other one that I did for myself.

Wedding Stuff Part 1.The Ring Pillow!

My Son is getting married in just under a months time......no I am not panicking ....YET! 

As I write the rain is still coming down in torrents so no more excuses.

Just trying to get things finished one by one.

The Ring Pillow first.

The material is ivory wild silk....the tatting is in Floretta 20 with pearls taken off an old jumper..that's the old bit!

The tatting design is from Emma Crew's 34 Hearts...sorry couldn't find a link to the pattern.

Here are a few close up's..

My tatting friend Marjorie did the machine embroidery for me.

The theme of the wedding is music as you can see.

It's pretty similar to the one that I did when my daughter got married, here is a link to that one....

why change a winning formula!! The edging helps to give the pillow stiffness.

This time her son, my little grandson who will be 21 months old is going to be the Ring Bearer.....with a little help from his mum!

Potpourri,ash,chocolate and cherries!

A motley mixture indeedy!

Who would have thought that volcanic ash would affect my tatting!

We were not due to fly anywhere, we were not stranded anywhere, we don't have ash raining down on top of us.....we just watched as the volcano erupted...thinking...thank goodness it doesn't affect us.

But of course it did affect us in ways we hadn't thought of.

My little story started 11 days ago when I went for an eye test...and decided that I wanted to keep my present rimless frames...and so had to part with my specs for a week.

In return I was to be astounded by some new state of the art, varifocal wideview digital lenses, said to be as different from  my present varifocals as they were from bifiocals.....mmmmm!

SO I put up with wearing my old single vision distance specs and constantly having to change to reading specs...how did I manage with this in the past...well I didn't tat while watching TV for one thing!!

Tatting and TV watching have both suffered until in the end I am just using up little bits of thread and tatting flowers.......I can't stop myself from picking up a shuttle no matter how good the TV programme is!

I stuck it for a week without a murmur and went to collect my new specs.....but...yes you guessed it....the orders come from the UK by AIRMAIL!

The manufacturer had finally resorted to sending is deliveries overland.....how archaic does that sound!

Then of course we realise that it affects all our mail....insects to feed the geckos.......birthday gift for a friend........incoming and outgoing...and yet the post office continued to accept mail.

Pause to answer phone.....yipee my specs have arrived....tatting can be resumed tonight!

So that's the ash..that leaves the potpourri, chocolate and cherries.

All our major supermarkets are offering meal deals.......for 10 euro or a little more we get a choice of main course, plus veg dish, plus dessert AND a bottle of wine. It's all good stuff, top of the range food (yeah I know its full of additives..but it's only once a week!)....

and the meal deal costs less than half the cost of the items bought individually.

Our favourite mains include paella, spinach and ricotta parcels wrapped in filo pastry, to name only two, there are yummy potatoes dauphinoise, boulangére potatoes and the wines are decent....oh but its the desserts!

Millionaire's chocolate tarts, chocolate and pecan puddings.......

This is supposed to be a dinner for two but recently they have introduced a huge Belgian Chocolate Gateaux to die for!

That view from above makes it look much thinner than it is!
We soon learned that it will do us for 3 days amply!

The white of the cream reminds me of our Cherry Tree.....which is flowering it's socks off ...the best ever as normally the blossom by this time would have been hit by a gale and be in tatters. But we have had no rain since it began to flower.

Tadgh went out to explore it's beauty...like any small boy he is in to climbing trees!

He almost disappeared..

The weather was so warm last Sunday that we lit our Chiminea and sat outside to eat our dinner, with the Cherry Tree in full bloom, what is the weather coming to when we have summer in April. Fingers crossed that it doesn't happen again that we have no summer in summer!

That just leaves the potpourri and that reminds me that I intended to talk about tatting!!

Every now and again I give my tat lassies a challenge and this was the most recent one.

This time I gave them each a large (about 5 inches sq')potpourri sachet scented with vanilla...my favourite.

I had had these sachets for a while, intending to dye some appropriate thread to match.

then I realised that I already had!

Dabbling with trials for Antique Bronze, I had 6 skeins that I didn't like one little bit....until I looked at them next to the sachet, and bingo....they were spot on!

They each got a skein...some were 20, some 40 or 80 and were to decorate the sachet however they wanted.....an edging all the way round, maybe only across the center or maybe just a motif.

Now I have to admit that usually I don't finish my own challenge!! but this time I did.

I edged it all the way round in size 40 and still had a lot  left from my 50yd skein.

Not a very good picture...but it's now on it's way...volcano permitting...to my friend in Mississippi for her 60th birthday today.

Here is a close up of the edging...I guess I was in edging mode in my TAT tests.

The design is from Star Book 30...pretty isn't it.

So what did the others do.....

Same edging in size 20 with 2 motifs.....

....and more on the back.

This one is much more ambitious, using size 80 and another vintage pattern Daisy edging...I forget where I found this one. She did get a lot further but unfortunately ran out before she could get all the way round and the thread is unrepeatable.

They haven't all come back yet but here is another in progress..together with the cards for Mary Konior that we had just finished.....had a lovely letter of thanks recently from Mary's daughter.

Just goes to show that no thread goes to waste!

STOP PRESS
D... ..and B..... my new specs hadn't arrived after all
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

B.............!!!!!! volcano!!!

Oh! so old!

I have been so busy lately, I haven't had time for much blogging.

BUT I promised myself that I would show you this before it was too late.

My grandson is being Christened on Saturday and I have been preparing...no not tatting.. I tatted the bootees before he was born, you can go and have a look at them here. he may wear them if they fit him or they may become part of my Christening heirloom.
Oh heck lets show them here too, you can see lots more photos and helpful hints on making them back in my blog posts on babies.



I also made her a Wedding hankie and the instructions as to how to make it into a bonnet but i don't think she was too keen to risk damaging her hankie.




Mt father was born in 1906 and I have the gown in which he was Christened. Pretty cool you say! yes VERY COOL.....It has been suggested that I make an underskirt and embroider on it the names and dates of all who have been Christened in it.
Isn't that a wonderful idea.....just need the time and some really nice fine cotton material...and the inclination to do it. My best mate said that she would do the embroidery on her machine.

Trying to work out actually who had been Christened in it...well my dad was the eldest of three boys so I guess that's 3 for that generation, could be more and I will never know now.

I was the last of my generation to be Christened in it preceeded by my three brothers, the first two of whom died as babies...I will never know how my parents got over that loss..things which would have been easy to cure today. Well I wouldn't have been here if they had lived.

My two children were both Christened in it, the last being some 33 years ago and now it goes into a 4th generation.

I asked the ones who know these things at my lace guild if they thought that it had been new in 1906....and they thought yes. Some of the lace is machine made but the embroidery is made by hand.

You want to see some photos???? of course you do.



This shows the detail of the bodice...all hand embroidered. the fine cotton is beginning to pull away from the braid...so I decided that I would line the top to reinforce it and help tp take some pressure off the material. I found a fine handerkerchief belonging appropriately to my dad and used that.

The stitching was so neat on the inside that I photographed it before I covered it up.



At some time in the past the bodice has been shortened (you can see on the photo above) but I will keep it that way.



The skirt is done with panels of lace set between panels of pintucking, ending with tow deep frills of lace.



I liked the patchwork quilt as a background but maybe this will give you more idea of size if I lay it out on the bed.



But even better still is to show you some photos of it in action.

First my daughter in 1972....



them my son in 1975 it's last outing.





Isn't that just stunning.

After the repairs I soaked it in Steradent....used for whitening false teeth, as the lace guild say that is the best way to whiten old lace with out harsh detergents. Ironed gently and wrapped in acid free tissue paper will it get an outing on Saturday or not.

Is it bad to risk damaging an anique or should it continue to do what it was designed to do. Will it fit him, and how/where would we dress him as it has never had to face the thought of being strapped into a baby car seat..an impossible feat I think.

My Lucky Day

Three nice things in one day, now how often does that happen.

Firstly I was sitting at my computer eating my breakfast...as everybody does! First post that I saw was from Gina telling me that I had won her April draw in her 5th Anniversary year extravaganza.

I can now tell you that I have had my fingers so tightly crossed since I put my name in her hat that I was beginning to wonder if I could keep it up for a whole year. I knew that it would be worth it as having a piece of someone else's tatting is worth suffering for...especially when it's from someone as nice as Gina.....there that should have buttered her up enough to make sure I get something spectacular!!!!

Well that kept me on top of the world until the postman came and then my cup began to run over....with not one but two items.

First to be opened was a little box from Ladyshuttlemaker Sherry Pence. My curiosity had finally got the better of me and I had ordered one of her ceramic shuttles. I knew it would look gorgeous but would it work a a tatting shuttle!!!

I have played with clay both hand built and on the wheel in a couple of evening classes a long while ago. I was so taken with it that I used to bring lumps of clay home to make more than I could do in a class. I longed to have a kiln of my own.
The teacher was so pleased that someone as so keen that she fired all my things and my house is still littered with them...how could I throw them away.

But making a tatting shuttle out of a material that has no spring in it,now that is a challenge indeed.

I can now tell you that she has succeeded.....magnificently. I now have a fully working state of the art, one of a kind, unique tatting shuttle. It even has a pick, all I have to do now is to make sure that I don't drop it!!



Don't you just love the matching Clover shuttles!! and now the lovely orangey one from Sherry. It makes a lovely tinkling sound when you pull the thread through one end.



Here is the edging by Jane Eborall made in trial pieces in Flora 10 and Flora 20 and then in my own hand dyed Coats 40. The colours are Pumpkin Juice and Apple Greens....don't you just love being able to name your own colours!!

This edging is made in one pass using Jane's continuous thread join and is quite easy once you get the hang of it but does need some concentration with all the rings coming off rings. This is a work in progress..or is it!!

So what was the third nice thing you all want to know...don't you??

After looking forward to getting my hands on Martha Ess's new book Holidays on the block...see previous posts for info about it, didn't the book get lost in the post!
It must have travelled several times round the world in the month it took to cross the big pond.

But hurrah! it's here at last and is well worth the wait. It's a big selection box of non fattening patterns! I can't even begin to decide which are my favorites or which to do first, but I'll let you into a little secret...I have dyed some threads that will be perfect for a bat and an eagle.

I explored the book and drooled over the designs and it was along time before I got to the acknowledgments page where I knew Martha would have said thanks for to her test tatters. All of a sudden something else caught my eye and my mouth fell open........
Martha has dedicated the book to ME!!!

Pause while I read it again to make sure it is not some other person with a name similar to mine....nope it really is me!

Martha says that it was my enquiry at an opportune moment that led her to start tatting 'block critters'.
I remember that moment well, it was back in 2005 when I wrote to her to ask if I could teach her block tatted bumble bee to my group. She generously said yes and remarked that she had forgotten all about the little bee.
I think this was the first block tatting that we did and it was an instant hit.
I often like to send a photo to the designers of what we tat and Martha says that their smiling faces make her day...they make my day too!

Can't show you their smiling faces as I haven't asked their permission but I can show you the little critters that they made and were so proud of.



It is so nice to think that all those lovely block tatted patterns were spawned from this little enquiry.

Thank you so much Martha, I am honoured more than I can say and so pleased to have you as my friend.

March 17th and all things Green, White and Orange!

St Patrick was brought to Ireland in 492 as a young slave boy. He lived here for six years working as a shepherd, a very lonely life until he managed to escape. Later in his life he returned to Ireland as a missionary.

He is said to put a curse on all the venomous snakes in Ireland and driven them into the sea where they drowned. A remarkable task as we never had anything venomous. The most dangerous animal we face is the wasp!

Well he didn't get rid of this snake...but he looks harmless enough.



Another Irish tale which may have an element of truth about it, tells how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He apparently used it to show how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing the shamrock on his feast day, and shamrock green remains the essential colour for today’s festivities and celebrations.

So today I am going to celebrate all things green, white and orange, some in tatting some not!

My favorite shamrocks to tat are these, my favorites being the one with three beads on the long picots and the bunch of shamrocks and beads. A little bunch of shamrock is always worn on St Patrick's Day, it's a small leaved creeping low growing plant.

I am not sure who designed the original with the twisted picots, it is slightly different from the ones I can now find. The beaded one is my own modification..



This piece of shamrock tatting is my reworking of a design in Godey's Lady's Book and magazine Vol 85 August 1872.





Here is a Shamrock type edging for a handkerchief tatted in almost patriotic colours, but definitely spring like.
I rarely tat handkerchief edgings after a lifetime of tatting white ones in my early tat days. But a couple of years ago I bought way too many beautiful hand embroidered hankerchiefs in Madiera. each one I saw was nicer than the others and I thought they would look so beautiful with modern, colour matched tatted edgings. Well this is the only one finished so far. The pattern is by Judith Connors in Contemporary Tatting.



This is my favorite card to make for friends. Using simple shamrocks is a great card for a beginner to make...see my website for instructions.



Nothing is more emotive of Ireland than the Leprechaun and so this is what I have been making to send as my trademark in exchanges and to special tatting friends. I wish I could send one to every tatting friend....well maybe next year!! I learned to make them at an International Girl Guide camp in a field next to Blarney Castle to celebrate Cork 800 in 1985! Lots of Guides and Girl Scouts from all over the world.I remember it as if it were today.
800 years as a city ..wow.

I was trying to think of something hand made and Irish to send for my Christmas exchange...not the usual tacky stuff in the gift shops and suddenly remembered this little fella. He didn't look half as cute as these guys do tho.

Two went to America for Christmas, one to Pennsylvania and another to Mississippi.
I hear that one just made it to New York for a certain somebody's birthday and another is winging it's way to......!
So that only leaves two, must make some more.

Here they are in various stages of completion.



And here nearly ready to go.



They're a jolly lot and infinitely poseable







Now to some silly stuff, things my daughter and I made over the years. Oh those were the days, such fun we had...well we still do.She still loves to make things and is way, way more talented and original than I will ever be.

Earrings in enamelled copper from my enamelling days. Oh and a green lizard..also enamelled copper...well he is green.






More earrings made for me by my daughter from beads and fancy pipe cleaners and yes I do wear them...my Brownies love them.



More things we made with Brownies, a cute snake brooch for them to wear, more pipe cleaners.



Finally another leprechaun that I made with Brownies. More of an elf I think as he looks like a working shoemaker with his leather apron. What would we do without pipe cleaners and wool.



Of course geckos are often green!!! There are going to be more to show but better leave them till later...and I have started dying my own thread as i can't get enough greens!! Marilee and sherry what have you started!!

P.S. I have been asked what the difference is between a Leprechaun and an Elf, so here is my take on it.

1. A Leprechaun is native only to Ireland and should have been born here, they often travel a lot tho' and can be found all over the world nowadays..especially hand made ones!! Beware of phoney leprechauns.
Elves on the other hand are endemic to many countries.

2. Elves are hard working and are often shoemakers, work diligently for Father Christmas or can be found in Brownie Guide packs.
Leprechauns have never been know to do physical work (correct me if you know one that does, I may be wrong about this). Their mission in life is to bring good luck to those who meet them...can't say own them as you never really own a leprechaun...a bit like a cat really.

3. Leprechauns have a wicked sense of humour and are often very mischievous...they get up to all sorts of shanagings......don't know much about elves in this respect.