Sea Horse, Bookmarks and Dimpled Yorkies

Between medical problems and planning for some showers Tami had to take some tatting time to make Jane's seahorse.
Bev received her Brown Rose HDT including a sample bookmark tatted by Marilee.
Barbara tatted this heart from Rosemary Peel's web site in Manuela size 20 thread.
Carol L. received a Leprechaun from Pamela and she has named him William. It seems that William loves tatting.
Ellen has received her GR8 shuttles and tried them out using some of Sherry's HDT on a pattern from one of the Japanese tatting books. Lovely shuttles and beautiful tatting. She has also handwritten the instructions for her Heart Destiny which is on her blog. Look for the pattern or a simple bookmark next.
Ais has been have a terrible time tatting. None of the patterns want to co-operate, or maybe it's the thread that won't co-operate. Black Magic bit the dust and then the Tudor Rose gave her a headache. Ummm Ais? Did anyone ever tell you shuttle throwing out to be an Olympic event? We've all had moments when we'd like to pitch our tatting in the garbage, but we keep at it and eventually we have beautiful lace. Mistakes are always gook for embellishing CQ blocks, and covering bags, or some tatters have a "boo boo bear" for keeping all of those bits that aren't quite right.
Zarina received this lovely bookmark from Jon. Zarina tatted the Floral bookmark in Fuchsia the other bookmarks are the Sweetheart pattern. She has found that the ceramic shuttles hold a lot of thread. She tatted all three of these bookmarks in Coffee and Cream size 20 and the shuttle wasn't even fully loaded.Then she switched from HDT to some left over crochet thread and tatted 3 more bookmarks, Birgit's Suncatcher, Sweetheart and Peacock Heart. The Pink bookmarks are a Fan bookmark, Birgit's Butterfly, Sweetheart and Li'l Heart.
Diane has been working on "Beatrice" by Iris Niebach.
Arlene has a new podcast ready.
Jon finished work on the Anne Orr square and she has mailed it to someone for a surprise.
Marilee has sets of solid colours to blend with Rhubarb Pie.
Laura has completed another starfish in Sulky size 12 thread.
Melissa tatted Irene Woo's Butterfly Heart as a birthday present.
Sherry has dimpled rings and a dimpled "Yorkie".
Gina has links for lots of How To Tat resources and the May mystery tat has been revealed.

Angels, Leaves, Bookmarks and Hearts

Elizabeth had an awesome show with visits from other tatters that were the "frosting on the cake". One of the items she had for sale and taken by another tatter, was this romantic pin called "Flora Victoria". Bev's blog is filled with angel wings, a tatter's group hug to remind her that she's not alone in her sorrow. She was thrilled to see that her daughter won 3 awards at the WNMU Studen's Art Show Opening Reception. Bev has started the challenge over again with "Tatting Turns Over a New Leaf", leaf motif designs by Karey Solomon. Dimensional Dutch Iris Designer Marie Smith created this beauty that Bev tatted in yellow and blue. The Oak leaf and acorn also from Karey's book were tatted with size 12 Valdani.
Jeff received a pretty bookmark from Karin in an exchange. The bookmark is Karin's own design done in Coats Eldorado size 10 colour # 4288. Jeff is working on this piece but he isn't sharing what the finished project will be.

Aileen is stocking up on threads of all kinds which should give her lots of tatting options.

Barbara tatted this motif from a book called "TATTING DIMPLED RINGS" in Manuela, Country Blue 021, size 20 thread. Dimpled rings can be a bit of a challenge especially if you tat tightly.

Joy was working on a small motif while visiting with her niece in the hospital. The motif doesn't lay flat, but with the addition of a handle, it now makes a perfect little basket. Joy doesn't think she's a designer, but that's how a lot of designs are born, you just have to think outside the box. The pink edging was a little too heavy so Joy tried another variation. This one is much more delicate. Any thoughts as to a corner treatment?

Carol L. used Marilee's HDT "Nectarine" to tat this delicate little heart designed by Sandra.
Ellen's Lucky Sequin Clover pattern is now up on Jane's website under Guest Designers.

Ais has been stuck in a rut trying to work with finer thread than she is accustomed to and has had to cut it off and start again 3 times. We've all been there, done that and it isn't fun. It sounds like it's time to put that project down and try something different for a while.

Zarina has just received her shuttles and thread from Sherry and she is eager to get to work with them. Sherry's HDT thread colour Marina, is a gorgeous blend in colours.

I know I said I wouldn't do anything more than a link to the pages of people who have completed the challenge, but I couldn't resist!

Diane has finished the "Forget me not" edging.
Pamela has "Pumpkin Juice" in heart and starfish.
Jon has both a bookmark and an elaborate motif to show.
Snowy has square motives and booties in black.
Marilee has "Rhubarb Pie".
Laura has starfish patterns.
Marty is tatting in pink and green.
Melissa has tatted initials and a heart for her CQ Bible Handbag and the black edging is completed.
Sherry has made the move to Korea and shows some tatted angels and dimpled rings.
Gina has lots of interesting items including the May mystery motif.

Samples of Tatting

Anne tatted this doily in Flora 10, a thicker thread than she likes using. The pattern is from Jan Stawasz’s book Tatting theory and patterns.
Sapna posted the link to Kersti's bookmark she was working on.She was trying out one of Iris' patterns that needs a little concentration and lost track at one point and she doesn't think it looks as good as it might have. Now Sapna wants to start on a square doily and she's not sure where to begin.Anyone have any pointers? Some of the pattern books and shuttles she ordered have arrived, others that she ordered in October still haven't come.
Iris had many tatters test her patterns and she has posted some of them for us to see.
Shay has posted a picture of a vintage tatting pattern set in a checkerboard with fabric squares and surrounded with hens and chicks.
Joy just had to tat a snowflake since they have been having the unseasonable stuff floating down. This one from Tatting Patterns by the staff of Workbasket magazine is done in size 20 thread.
Carol L has tatted Pam Palmer's Partridge in a Pear again this time using Marilee's "Golden Fleece" for the pear. It's mounted on scrapbooking paper with gold paper trim punched in decorative corners. Absolutely gorgeous.
Ellen's Lucky Sequin Clover bookmark is made with some heart shaped sequins and will be available on Janes Eborall's web site soon.
Ais tatted this Mary Konior design again. The first was a bookmark but this one is a motif.
Diane has the crosses finished for her Mom
Pamela has apple blossom thread.
Clyde's doily is growing.
I have posted a beginner's pattern and given permission for tatting teachers to use and distribute it.
Marilee has Nectarine and Tourmaline ready.
Laura is tatting in Hand Dyed Threads again.
Marty has "Fantasia" done and some tatted jewellery for her sister.
Kathy has tatted the letter "H".
Gina tats a daffodil.