Tat's Heaven

' Im in the Garage was asked by the owner of a restaurant if he could make some bespoke cutlery holders.   No particular design was given only that they should not look like wooden boxes,  rather that the cutlery should fit snugly into small compartments. This is the result and we went to the restaurant for a meal a couple of weeks ago to see them in use.   They are made from the Cedar of Lebanon tree and look great on the tables

Just started Jane's Fandango Square Doily,   but could not decide what colours to use.  At the moment sticking to blue, but that may change!  The colour probably reflects how a lot of the country is feeling after voting to come out of the European Union and the English team knocked out of Euro 2016 (football). For a long time now I have wanted to crochet an "Amigurumi".  The word is derived from a combination of the Japanese words ami , meaning crocheted or knitted, and nuigurumi , meaning stuffed doll.       On my travels yesterday I picked up this book. Now to find time to actually make one!

A colleague of mine who is a Mental Health Chaplain has sent out a request to the church community asking if there are people who could crochet flowers to be made into fridge magnets.    Having already made some crochet brooches I asked her if she would like them too, as they are being sold in aid of a mental health support group.  The group meets in a coffee shop on a Monday afternoon.    I then began to wonder what else would look good crocheted and was quick and easy to make.    I came up with paper clip butterflies which you can see in the picture, only made two so far but plan to make many more. The other news is that the next batch of pop-a-bobbin shuttles will be in Jane's shop tomorrow Wednesday, there is a lovely selection of woods as you can see in this post

It has taken me weeks to complete this doily because I have had so many other things to do, and sadly not enough time to sit down and tat.   Off to see Jane this week for a few days and need to take some tatting with me, but can't decide what. My son and his wife from Singapore are also with us at the moment, which is lovely as we rarely see them.    It has also given us an opportunity to visit many interesting places. The weather is at the moment typically 'British' a lot of rain and a little sunshine.    This is what one city did to decorate their shopping area. It looked fantastic

A new batch of shuttles will soon be on sale.  There has been a long gap since the last ones as 'im in the garage has been making other wooden items.   He has been completing an order from a restaurant who were wanting some very classy cutlery holders to be made, which I am unable to show you just yet. It is quite an exciting weekend for us in UK as up and down the country people are celebrating the Queen's 90th birthday.     However, the typical English weather means that it is now raining in the south of England.    A few days ago it was really sunny and they were putting the finishing touches to this in the city of Bath.

I think that tatting can be very difficult to display and package especially when trying to sell it, either indoors or outdoors.   Some people have been able to create some exquisite displays and I really admire the thought and care they have put into their presentations.   If you can get it right it means that your tatting will attract customers and make them more likely to buy. This isn't a particular good photograph, mainly because it is dull and dreary today and pouring with rain, and the packing is catching the little light there is. However,  I am sure you can understand what I am trying to say.   We have to be careful that we show our work to the best advantage, but I must admit this is the bit I find the hardest to do.  Not all my work is neatly put in packages because I either don't have something suitable, or I prefer the customer to actual pick it up and look at the craftsmanship before they decide to buy.   So if anyone has any bright ...

I needed to tat things that are quick and easy, and could be classed as no-brainers! The reason being that I am finding it very hard to concentrate on the doily pattern,  but must get back to it some time.  So I made some brooches which will go to a Summer Fete to be sold (well possibly) next weekend. I plan to make a few more because after finishing each one I do not necessary like it and want to make a prettier brooch.  The pattern I am using is this one  , and with adding lots of beads and a large bead in the middle they look quite good.    I am trying to think of the colours people will like but not actually sure I have chosen the right ones, so more are going to have to be made!