Secret Santa Tatting

 

These are the pictures of the tatting that I received from Tatskool in my Secret Santa package.

The variegated pink doily is nearly five inches accross.

The white snowflake measures 2 1/4 inches accross.

They are both so pretty, I am so pleased that Tatskool was chosen as my Secret Santa.

Secret Santa

 On the Tatting Goddess List we have a Secret Santa swap.  This is what I received from Tatskool.  Here is it when I eventually opened it on Christmas morning.  I was warned not to open it before Christmas, when I received it, as it was from Ireland and it could have been enchanted and turn to ashes in my hands...  So I waited.                                       

 

Imagine my joy, when I opened all the separate packages... So much...
3 pairs of gorgeously thick socks
a lovely 5 piece manicure set
a pretty small pink rose soap
a sparkly silver candle
6 tasty pieces of chocolate, yum yum
a large silver coated chocolate euro
2 vanilla flavoured teas
Flora 20 tatting thread in a smashing dark red/maroon
a spool of silver thread Oya Dentel? something new to try
A beautiful little doily in variegated pinks and reds 

a fantastic white snowflake with silver beads   

AND  
last and best of all a new friend .......  Lorcan the Leprechaun.

He is so cute and  will definitely help me with my designing and tatting in the future.  I have seen some of his friends on other blogs, but never thought in a million years that a Leprechaun would want to come and live with me. He is meticulously dressed in yellow, red and green. A red belt with some fine green tatting tucked into it and holding a lucky euro.  He is settling in quite well and I hope, will be with me for many years to come.
ooh and I forgot... he came carrying some beautiful HDT 'rainbow bright' thread over his arm.

Star of David

 
When I tatted the triangles, each in a different colour, the change was obviously right.  The centre has the 6 sided shape clearly shown.  It is such a simple design, I wonder if it has been tatted before, if so please let me know and I will remove my copywrite.  It is probably too late for Hanukkah this year, but in plenty of time for next.

Star of David Snowflake

I have been trying to design a Star of David and although it looked fine on paper, when tatted it turned into an ordinary snowflake, the middle losing the distinctive 6 sided shape.  After  several attempts,  I quite like this version, but only as a snowflake.

Tatted Christmas Cake Band

This is my Christmas cake... The icing didn't go as well as previous years, it was cracked when it came out of the box!!

I tatted the band a few years ago, and use it every year, with a different theme for the top.  This year my daughter Mandy made Christmas trees from icing and mazipan cut into stars, with 2 snowmen.  The tatting is from Rosemarie Peel's Yuletide Tatting.

What do you do with your leftovers

Whenever I finish a piece of tatting, there is always some thread left on the shuttle.  Too much to throw away but not enough to bother winding back on the ball.  So I make butterflies or flowers, and use them for cards or simply putting in the envelope when sending something.

Bordered Split Ring Cross

I tatted this cross in 2 colours. This shows how colours can be used in split rings. I used Flora 20 in gold for the body of the cross and the outside purple is Lizbeth.  The Lizbeth is slightly finer that the Flora, so the outside half of the split rings has worked up smaller. The purple border is not so prominent as it would be with the smae thread.   I think the next one I tat I will use the same make of thread and see the difference. I have now completed the instruction diagram and have put a pdf on my website on the Tatting page.

Split Ring Cross

This is a little cross I designed, consisting mainly of Split rings, hence the name.  It measures just 2 inches long, worked in Flora 20

If you are good at split rings, it is quite quick to tat.  If you are not, it is a very good way to practice them.