SPRING is almost upon us so I've been getting my bike ready. She's been out a few times over the winter but not much. So off came her pannier bags and basket and out came the cleaning cloths. She's now sparkling all over. The only thing I didn't do was the tyres, I'll have to wait for a sunny day for that. Even did the Brooks leather treatment on the saddle. And of course when I was polishing the spokes, Pitch the cat had to supervise.
* I love my bike *
Urgh I have been really poorly for nearly a week now. Not been able to get any tatting done til yesterday when I started the first row of a necklace. It's going to be quite a lacey one this.
Saw this dirty great big trike when I was out shopping today. So I parked my lovely bike up next to it and took a quick piccie. Well, it made me smile :-)
Something that isn't making me smile at the moment is my tatting. Try as I might I just can't seem to do anything right. I'm having artists block I think!
I've been wanting to try putting tatted motifs in tatting - covered rings for a while now. This is my first attempt and it's far from perfect! But it's a learning curve and yes it's a total cliché but... Practice makes perfect.
This one will be cut apart and started again from scratch.
Once I get it right I'll be adding a couple of faceted crystals on the bottom to make Suncatchers.
Beautiful Black Lace Hand-Tatted Gothic Choker
I love this, I've just listed it on etsy, ebay next. Going to have to make one for me too.
This thread was given to me after the family of an elderly lady cleared out her house. I received a large bag of vintage Coates Tatting thread, all in shades of cream and beige. The sizes are 20, 40 and 60. This one is size 60. I just can't make my mind up about it. I'm making a choker which will also have some beads hanging from it.
But I can't decide if it looks vintagey ( which is what I want) or if it just looks crap, grubby. Because the thread is so fine and the design is quite intricate ( this is just the first round) it will take me a very long time to make.
I suppose all I can do is see what it looks like once I start on the second round. It's such a pain when you spend a lot of time tatting something then realise it looks rubbish!
Sometimes I can be very stupid. Today I decided to enlarge a hole in my new belt. Being in a rush, I had the brilliant idea of grabbing a crochet hook out of my tatting bag and pushing it through the belt. That's the belt that was in my hand. Surprise surprise the hook went straight through the belt and into my finger. DEEP into my finger.
After much cursing I expected lots of blood but there was very little. A tiny little dot marks the point of entry. But my finger is throbbing like when Jerry hits Toms paw with a hammer!
Sooooo no tatting today. I can't even bend my finger. I'm about to start the last round of a Victorian style collar / necklace. But it's going to have to wait. I'll see what it's like tomorrow.
I feel very stupid lol.
