I've got nothing

I've got no pictures or tatting related stuff to share, So I've decided to share a tale of toilet paper terror with you. In my house there is no toilet paper roll in the holder-Ever! The reason for this will soon come apparent....

My parents came to my house on New Year's Even to redo my kitchen floor. I have what can only be described as a major incline in the back of my house. I'm talking 4-6 inches across 12 feet. So they came to my house to create small step, a sub floor and to lay new vinyl flooring. Given that there were extra people in my house and they don't know where I keep extra toilet paper I thought it would be wise to put a basket of extra TP beside the toilet. This way no one is stuck in the bathroom without tp.
I left the house on Friday evening to visit some friends. When I came back at 2 am there was scattered toilet paper on the landing upstairs and a mangled roll of toilet paper that someone had placed on the back of the toilet. Mmmm, it was late and I was tired so I left the shreds of toilet paper on the floor and went to bed. BUT, there was still TP in the basket on the floor. Next morning I wake up and there's one more roll of mangled toilet paper on the back of the toilet. In addition, there are little piles of shredded toilet paper distributed throughout my small house. It's like it was snowing inside!

I know that my mom or my dad put the mangled toilet paper on the back of the toilet. I'm pretty sure that neither of my parents decided to toilet paper my house in the middle of the night. They just aren't the sort and they don't have claws. There's no CSI to examine the shreds of tp but I know who did it. I've had this experience before and without any video evidence I'm sure the culprit is grey, whiskered and not a mouse.

No confession was forthcoming and no guilty conscience on behalf of the accused. She was crying and weeping for treats the next morning like a spoiled rotten brat. I don't know why I keep feeding her.

This little piggy

I have a tendency to buy yarn with the erroneous belief that I'm going to make something. I never buy a pattern (no that would make sense) so I have stray yarn. Its not exactly a stash because quite frankly I try to stay away from the wool shops and I'm cheap. Yarn can add up and I can't justify spending money on a project that I may or may not complete in a satisfactory manner. Plus I get real bored real fast with knitting. I have a beautiful scarf in progress that my friend would have loved to receive a few years ago. So I'm not the person to ask for anything knitted. Yet I can't leave the wool shop without a ball of thread in hand.

So last year when Leanne (a friend) mentioned to me that she was knitting stuff for her son's school bizarre I asked her if she needed any yarn. I had some pink stuff left over from a poncho and guess what? Leanne was knitting pigs. Yep, pigs! I gave her the yarn and they sold out right away. Since then I have been whining for my share of the piggies. Guess what? Leanne dropped them off today and they are the cutest little piggy-wigglies that I've seen. Scanners just can't capture the 3-d glory of my pigs.

On another note, I received my Secret Santa package on New Years eve and was thrilled with my stash of goodies! I don't have a picture because I had to put everything tatting away to protect it from dust and dirt while we leveled the floor of my kitchen. Thanks. I really love doing the exchanges but haven't signed up for many this year because I'm always late.

note- spell check wanted to replace erroneous with erogenous. Go back up and read the first paragraph again with erogenous. Struck me as funny.

Christmas comes too quickly...

So Christmas is nigh and I'm wondering where the time went. Its definitely past time to draw a name from those who helped me with pattern suggestions. I got the most honest person I know our clinic director Hafeez, to draw a name out of a pile and he pulled out Connie. Connie can you send me your address information and fave colors? I was so happy with all who responded that if you email me at victats@gmail.com with your address I'll send you a thank-you gift!

More answers...

I've gotten a few more answers...

Sally's favorite was Jane's butterfly but since her sister Jane already chose that she went for her bauble at: http://tatsheaven-churchlog.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-baubles.htmlchurchlog.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-baubles.html . To find the pattern look in the right column, they're so fun. Its so nice to see sisters getting along and sharing, the same situation with my sister would result in a death match! (just kidding)

Isdihara's favorite pattern at the moment is Wendy Durell's 4 ring snowflake. The pattern can be found at http://www.durell.me.uk/Tatting/4%20Ring%20Snowflake%20diagram.pdf

Connie's contribution was "Erin H. tatted last year in church and is one of today's online tatting class patterns that she so kindly donated and named Connie's Snowflake. (I liked it even before she named the snowflake) You can find this snowflake at: http://www.georgiaseitz.com/2009/erinsnowflakepattern.html"

Gina thought about it for awhile then came up with her answer:
"Okay.....one year I was in a Christmas RR tatted ornament. I used it as an excuse to tat the motifs from Pam Palmer's Tatting Treats. I think that collection is my most favorite of all. The rocking horse, the teapot where you can put your own motif in the center(I used a holly sprig), the Christmas tree, the caroling mouse, a bell....and fairly easy. I also LOVE the chain tree from Sue Fuller's Potpourri of Tatting. So easy, so fast and so pretty. I've also done a wonderful tree by Julie, an Australian tatter who doesn't show up much these days. Can't say I have a favorite snowflake. Have never tatted a snowman. Not that keen on tatting wreaths. " You know you see these books but you just don't know if you should buy it. I'm going pick up Pam and Sue's books the next time I've got the chance.

Trayna said...
My favourite Christmas tatting pattern (thou I haven't done it this Xmas & can't do it now ;( ) is Jon's Rings Only Snowflake with beads http://tatsaway-patterns.blogspot.com/2008/08/rings-only-snowflake-with-beads.htmlI love the way it looks and how it flows as you are making it.See Jon's photo on my bloghttp://trayna.blogspot.com/2009/12/secret-santa-update-vics-bribe.html

So here's my additional bribe, forgive the picture quality. The last bit of incentive is a doily similar to the one in the picture. The colors are yet to be determined but its about 12 inches in diameter. If you are wondering what I'm talking about check out my previous post at http://victats.blogspot.com/2009/12/favorite-christmas-patterns-and-bribe.html)

A few great answers...

I have been asking everyone's favorite Christmas/seasonal patterns and offered a bribe in my last post as an incentive. (check out the post http://victats.blogspot.com/2009/12/favorite-christmas-patterns-and-bribe.html) A few of you have thought my question and shared:

Tatskool: "My favourite at the moment is Third day of December by Lene Bjorn in 24 Snowflakes in Tatting. I have blogged about it here: http://tatsakoolchallenge.blogspot.com/2009/12/third-day-of-december.html." I'm really happy to see someone else do this pattern because now I know that the rose in the middle is supposed to be 3-d. When I made it a few years ago I thought I was making a mistake.

HJ's favorite was Susan B. Taliaferro's Christmas Chain Wreath with beads, found at http://www.susansplanet.bravehost.com/ChristmasChainWreath.htm. I couldn't get the picture to copy over but you can check it out yourself.

Kook Vee: "My ultimate favourite Xmas pattern to tat up would have to be the Holly Garland by Pam Palmer which can be found on page 18 of Tatting Treats 3! It's fast to do up for last minute gifts and just so darned cute. I've made it into cards, brooches and even earrings. I love it =)."

Jane's Current favorite is her butterfly on her site: http://www.janeeborall.freeservers.com/butterfly2009.pdf. I'm kinda partial to her snowsettia pattern at: http://www.janeeborall.freeservers.com/Motif2009.pdf. I have to warn you if you stop at her pattern site make sure you have plenty of ink in your printer. There's so many great patterns!

Thanks so much to Kook Vee, Jane, Tatskool and HJ for writing down their faves. To the rest of you out there, I can see that I may have to offer a little more incentive...I'm working on it!

note: none of the pictures in this post are mine; they come from the sites noted beside them.

Christmas Patterns and The Bribe

Seeing all the different projects that people are making has given me an idea. There's just too many patterns and books out there to see what's available for Christmas. So I'm going to cheat and ask everyone to share their favorite Christmas tatting pattern. I'd like you to write in the comment section your favorite pattern, the creator and where it's found i.e. book, website, CD...

This seems like work and I hate work so I'm giving you an incentive. If you share your fave then I will enter you in a draw. If you write about this quest and share a picture of your fave pattern on your blog I'll enter you a second time (please let me know in the comment section). If your favorite thing isn't tatting (I don't know how that could happen), you may need a Shrink but you can still enter your favorite non-tatting Christmas pattern and the same rules apply.

THE BRIBE:

My copy of Tatting for the Tree by Karey Solomon which is currently my fave Christmas book. You can see a few samples of her patterns in previous posts. A tatted lavender sachet and a pair of pointsettia earings tatted by me. As well as a few other goodies that I'll throw in for fun.

How did she know?

Have you ever received a gift and wondered how did they know you would like it?
My sister finally gave me my Birthday gift when I was at her house on the weekend. It was a coat but now just any coat! Its one of those old black coats with the fur collars and I think the material is called Persian wool. I don't think these coats have been sold for a long time but its in such good condition that I almost thought it was new. Anyways, I don't think I've ever told her I love those coats. She won't tell me who it came from but assured me that they were clean (seniors can't always see the dirt due to eye stuff). It just amazes me that she picked that coat out for me. I'm very happy.