Christmas Treasures

Eva received a lovely exchange package from her Secret Santa and shows us the treasures she received.

Elizabeth has tatted an ornament from a Japanese book by T Fujito in one strand of DMC metallic floss and one strand of Anchor size 80 in a copper color.

Sylvia shows us her very first motif using a split chain. Split chains aren't really hard to do, but since you only use them occasionally, it's hard to get enough practice to do them consistently well and as we all know practice makes perfect. There is a practice pattern on my web site that is a small repeated motif which uses both split rings and split chains. If you do several motives in size 20 or 30 it makes a nice bookmark so you get practice and a useful completed project. Sylvia has also included a picture displaying some of her tatting shuttles including several thought to be "pumpkin seed" shuttles.

Wendy has a whole selection of corsages added to her shop and she has displayed some of the family's Christmas gifts. Wendy has asked readers to let her know which of the things they have seen on her blog they'd like to see in her shop. Her current WIPs include a crocheted baby dress and a drop stitch scarf.

Anne has finished a knitted hood for use in cold weather, a shawl for her aunt and her Christmas stole.

Connie loves Bob's pattern and tatted it in Rubi variegated green. She had enough thread left on the shuttle to experiment with beads tatting the dove earring by JoAnn Stearns.

Norma has been trying to finish off some projects that are works in slow progress (WISP) and one of hers was a scarf in eyelash yarn. Her Christmas cap in Enterlac knitting was done some time ago but people still ask her about it. She has worked through the TAST challenge this year and increased her stitch library. Norma used some vintage silk threads to tat these motives the top piece is her favourite earring pattern and the middle piece is a variation of the bottom piece which comes from the Tatting Patterns and Designs book by Blomqvist and Persson. Some of Norma's antique shuttles are shown including a pumpkin seed shuttle. These distinctive antique shuttles in creamy white with the raised ridge, resemble the pumpkin seeds from which they take their name and are quite collectible.
Mary shares her Secret Santa treasures, including a wonderful Christmas ball ornament.

Margaret finished off her Christmas presents in time which included crocheted dishcloths.

Mrs John joins the challenge and she has just begun to tat and is doing both needle and shuttle tatting. These are some of her first pieces which she hasn't blocked yet. Did you notice I said beginning? I wish my first pieces looked this good.

Diane has decided to finish off some WIPs, one afghan down a dozen more projects to go. Diane's Christmas tree is sporting a lovely red cap that she made for her granddaughter Eva.

Carol participated in the tatted ornament exchange and shows the gifts she received in return. She has wanted to show what she sent out but had to keep it under wraps until now. It's a box of tatted chocolates. Yummy.

Ruth has tatted a reindeer with a red nose. Is his name Rudolph?

Clyde has moved his blog to Blogger so if anyone has bookmarked his blog, don't forget to update your links.

Marilee used a row of split rings tatted with 2 strands of size 10 thread to make a sturdy loop for a handwoven bag.

Laura received some more hand dyed thread as a Christmas present which she fully plans to enjoy. One more snowflake, this one is Lenore English's design in Sherry's Berries 'N Cream size 20. Don't drool over the cake she has pictured, it's Mark's "Tatter's Chocolate Cake". This rose centered snowflake started out according to the pattern, but somewhere it got sidetracked and so Laura just did her own thing for the outer round. I has a tendency to bowl, but it has been blocked into submission and now Laura can scan her own lace, since she was given a scanner for Christmas. Charlene has joined Bride's Tree stitch along.

Melissa did a silk ribbon poinsettia ornament for an exchange and completed a set of Mr and Mrs pillow slips for a Christmas gift.

Wally is working on a doily but things got stalled when she poured boiling water over her hand.