My First Attempt at needle tatting...what do you think?

Finally I had a chance to upload this photo of my very first attempt at needle tatting. I really need lots of practice as it is difficult to achieve even tension. My friendly ladies at etatters.com are helping me with this.

My friend sent me the address to a beautiful site...excactly what I needed to make me feel better. How softly my garden 'whispers' to me.
http://www.thepastwhispers.com/My_Friend.html
My garden is drenched today from the rain, but the moisture is needed.
Thought from above web site:
When you try your best, but you don't succeed,
When you get what you want, but not what you need,
And the tears come streaming down your face,
When you lose something you can't replace,
Lights will guide you home,
And I will try to fix you.
My friend, I will try to fix you.

-- "Fix You" from the CD "X & Y" by Coldplay

What to Blog

I was checking another blogger last evening and really enjoyed her creativity. I was intrigued by wonderful photos and her collection of quotes and inspirational little sayings. Please check out her blog: http://fourfiftythree.blogspot.com/
I had inserted another photo of one of my 'completed' WIP"S...hope you enjoy her as much as I enjoyed creating her. I wish i had a better camera to display the detail. My sister takes wonderful, CLEAR photos ...check out her dolls here:

http://search.stores.ebay.com/Chosen-Treasures4u_dolls_W0QQftsZ2QQsaselZ3896012QQsofpZ0

My creation is a Drew doll, friend of Barbie and I crocheted the teal beaded and sequined dress from a Paradise doll pattern. I am sorry the embellishments do not display well. I have ordered four more patterns from Paradise so looks like I may be busy this summer. The theme for our Doll Show in October is Pedlar dolls so I am working on my entry...stay tuned.
I am also very excited as I 'think' I have taught myself how to needle tat and am picking up a book from library to help me out. I am quite pleased I found online instructions to needle tat much easier than the conventional shuttle method. After being inspired by some lovely tatting blog sites:
1.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbA8KLjRXUfZXNCMwhGkdl0uuGoxfvrcisahaJyYMpq4DCCl97yMwzGOUsEyZjq5E-xj-ZoQZOAFftlYos0qnhPk67DpGv3dwRhtF8qA2Z28BhNo5_r7-vFFPhJuk-VMRQpGKqL0Yuso1e/s1600-h/PumpkinJuiceHeartBl.jpg
2.
http://25motifchallenge.blogspot.com/index.html
Just checked the time and I must say 'ciao' for this morn as I have a hair appointment this morning. Going to USA this weekend and need a trim.

Have a wonderful day everyone. And remeber to say 'thanks' for all we are blessed with.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

FLAP YOUR WINGS AND SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP .

Thankful to be Stitching.

I just can't seem to get enough of this embellishing. I still have several seams and more embellishing to do. I want to paint my butterfly so it won't look so stark...I have never done this before and am hoping Michael's have the dyes I need. Would you believe I have redone this pink seam several times, (yes the frog was here and I ripped out the green leaves and beads...rippit...rippit..) I wonder if other stitchers do the same as me to learn by their mistakes.

After adding this button cluster last night, I think I will QUIT this WIP for a bit and take a break from this block. My work area was a mess...felt like my brain was scrambled! Hopefully I will be inspired later.

After stitching last night I checked out some of my 'dream' sites that inspire me so much:

http://honeybeesbliss.blogspot.com/

Honey Bee's Bliss blog and has thoroughly inspired me to try tatting AGAIN. Yes, I have a tatting shuttle and took one class, only to end up with some beautiful KNOTS! Isn't Honey Bee's tatted heart awesome? Check out her Bible cover. I vowed I would not start another project until these four crazy patch blocks were COMPLETE for 2008, but sometimes, one has to 'experiment' a little. Or is it called practice? If only my husband would be this understanding. Off he goes on his bicycle to join his senior 'Gray Hares' bicycle group. Ever since my last 'wipeout', my bike looks so pitiful hanging from the rafters in the garage.

However, I am driving across the city shortly for my craft day with three other ladies to see is they will motivate me. I will still be thankful that I can find such therapy in my stitching! After hearing the tragedy in Burma, we are so SO very VERY fortunate to be safe and alive. We take so many things for granted in our awesome country.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." Author: Melody Beattie

I had FUN embellishing my new blocks!

Once I started, there was no stopping me. The weather was too windy to go for a walk so I was happy to continue with my present WIP...and if one did not have to sleep I would still be stitching...lol. I will still be adding more beads, etc, but thought I would update you all. I know how I love checking other blog sites FREQUENTLY, so here goes my day number 2 results. Hopefully there will be more 'rainy' days this summer for me to complete. Have a HAPPY everyone!

Three more seam treatments from Pam's Ebook

I absolutely LOVE stitching these seam treatments from Pam Kellogg's ebook:

Elegant Crazy Quilt Seam Treatments Volume 1 EBOOK

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9421393

A complete guide to working Crazy Quilt seam treatments with waste canvas. Create perfectly spaced and sized stitches every time!

I actually sat outside in the sun and really enjoyed stitching these three seams. Lighting was perfect, hubby and puppy were very happy to be outside in the sunshine with me and I thoroughly enjoyed my day (especially when refreshments were served too)! Too bad I had to stop and do some errands. Have a happy day everyone. I can't wait to stitch another seam and complete this block.

More seams before embellishment added

TRYING TO COMPLETE CRAZY QUILTING BLOCK

The bottom seam is something I just 'made up' ...was very confused what design to do - as usual, so just used some straight stitches for now. Sometimes I think I am too 'anal retentive' or fussy to do this free style work...(C:
After asking for hubby's 'approval', I added the beads to the TOP lace seam just this morning and am quite pleased so far...I must have tried 20 different beads before I felt these burgundy beads looked okay. (I guess). Any comments about what to do would be appreciated. Perhaps I should sign up for Sharon B's online course about crazy quilting as I LOVE stitching these blocks, however find ideas for properly embellishing can be over whelming at times. I see so many BEAUTIFUL and ELEGANT blocks you ladies stitch..