Tat's Heaven

Today is quite special for many reasons it is Advent Sunday in the Church.  Advent is a term from the Latin word 'adventus' which means "arrival".  It is a time of waiting for the arrival of Christmas and is associated mainly with Advent Calendars and in particular the fun of opening to see what is revealed behind each number!  Whilst in Scotland the people are celebrating St. Andrew's day as he is the Patron Saint of Scotland.  Google has marked the day with a doodle of the Flying Scotsman - the world famous steam locomotive. However,  here on this blog there is a special giveaway.  Please leave a comment if you would like the chance of winning the shuttle and thread holder (please note this does not include the piece of wood underneath or the foliage), you have until 3rd December when I will announce the winner by using a random number generator. The shuttle is made out of sequoia,  the tree that the wood comes from stands in front of the ...

Which is the title of Marilee"s latest book which Sue Anna kindly gifted me whilst Jane brought it  back from Tat Days to eventually pass on.  I straight away, after only just getting the book into my hands, made the Flower Chain.  However, I added beads to the outside chains, just because I like beads really, for no other reason.   As I  did not have any size 10 thread I used 20 but otherwise stuck to the pattern, promise!   I am very pleased with the result and hope to wear it very soon - yes it is for me.  Fortunately if anyone requests another necklace, I do have enough of the larger beads to make at least one more.  They come from a rather lovely necklace that was in a charity shop, although not my style the beads are of a good quality . Look out for my next blog post which will include a give-away.  I have been very tempted to join one of the exchanges that have been taking place on the various Facebook groups.  But by offe...

Well all the shuttles have been sold and there are only the tree thread holders left in Jane's shop.  The shuttles are now jumping on aeroplanes and travelling all over the world, such a lovely thought and I hope they enjoy their new homes. Watch out for a give-away which I hope to do soon,  a sort of thank you to all who follow this blog and those who have bought shuttles. I am trying to get some Christmas tatting done and found this lovely bell from Renulek,   What I did not realise was that by using 20 thread it comes out quite large I also put some sparkly beads on it

At the moment the house and garage are in a complete mess as shuttles, tatting and other craft work seem to have invaded every available space.   Another batch of pop-a-bobbin shuttles and post shuttles will be on their way to Jane this weekend.   Included in the batch are some flat shuttles and a new thread winder just in time for the festive season. Although the thread winder is a new item and we are not sure if anyone would really want it! On Saturday there is a Christmas Fayre at one of the churches so I am taking some tatting. I am really not expecting to sell much as these events do not generate much income, but it is a chance to 'show case' my talent (with the usual helpful and unhelpful comments) and get all the items hidden in boxes out to see the light of day! I have also crocheted these corsages or brooches, which ever you wish to call them, for another stall, well it was much more fun to do than make cakes.  I do love cooking but find that my cakes never look ...

I have finally come to the end of the cup cake addiction and now on another one, which I will show you soon. Here are some to wet your appetite - strawberry, lemon, chocolate and mint cakes with two pairs of earrings.  What was particularly good about this pattern was that it used up some of my bead soup,  so much fun using random coloured beads together. A batch of pop-a-bobbin shuttles and post shuttles are just coming to the end of their production and now it is final testing, a stressful time!  Sadly there are always rejects, and here are some of them from past batches, we do not have the heart to throw them away so they stay in a special box.