Eventually finished my UFO - a doily !  The coloured thread used is Lizbeth size 20 Jewels.  Am disappointed that it is out of shape.  It took me a while trying to pin it into shape but gave up half way.  It is very challenging tatting a doily as one never know how the finished piece will turn out.   I suppose it all boils down to tension.  Lesson learnt is never to put aside a tatted piece halfway but to try to complete the piece before embarking on another.

Tailored made this China blue silk cheongsam in Shanghai a couple years ago but never worn it ever.  It is fully lined with beautiful and intricately made chinese buttons. If anyone is interested to buy over this piece let me know.  Price - S$100.00.  I have another piece which I will post later once I see response to this.

Measurement as follows:

back - 39cm, front (bust) 41cm, waist 92cm, hip 84cm

length of cheongsam from armpit - 76cm, armhole 46cm

snow flakes

Living in the sunny part of Asia, I've never experienced streets or places covered with snow. I came close to feel how cold is really like when I first sent my daughter to UK to study in 2008. I felt miserable then and did not really enjoy going out into the cold having to put on layers and layers of clothes before going out. However come Christmas, I always imagine myself walking out into the streets and feeling snow coming down on my face. This kind of feeling led me to tat 2 little snow flakes from Elizabeth Zipay's patterns. The snow flakes were tatted in 10 and 20 sizes white threads. They are easy to tat once you get the hang of it.

Blessed Christmas to all.

Christmas

Somehow it is very difficult to bring out the right green colour of my tatting when placed on different backgrounds. I have tried is on a red cushion but the green showed up as lemon green! Here are 2 different backgrounds I have used to show the beaded, supposedly to be a snowflake, but I have used green yarn instead. I like it better on the cream colour bobbin lace table cloth bought years ago. This tatted piece pattern was taken from Christmas Angels and Other Tatting Patterns by Monica Hahn called "Wheel of Nine Rings".

colourful doily

My doily, a not so perfect round, completed eventually, size 25cm in diameter. I had to cut away one whole row when it bowled. This doily has taken me quite a bit of my time in the car and mostly in the bus. I have always wondered how anyone could complete a large tatting project like a runner or a doily within a short time. Any advice on how to stretch it to a perfect round would be appreciated.

Silent Shuttle

I bought this shuttle from Grizzly Mountain Arts last year and tried several times trying to get used to using this lovely shuttle by tatting from it. However, as much I tried, I just could not tat anything using this shuttle because I just do not know how to handle it. I bought this at S$93 and if anyone is willing to buy over this shuttle, please let me know.

Shuttle is still in mint condition.

Unfinished doily

I have had this Japanese tatting book for years now but never got down to really tat anything from this lovely book. Managed to find some time last week to tat a doily. Most of the patterns in the book are tatted in white thread but I have decided to put colours on my doily. I just picked the coloured threads I could find in my box and amazingly the doily turns out alright. 3 more rows to go before completion.

Star of Leaves

Star of Leaves tatted in white from book entitled "Christmas Angels & Other Tatting Patterns" by Monica Hahn. Lots of nice patterns to tat from.

Exhcange arrived !

Look what I have received today! All these were sent in exchange for the Valdani Threads. Thank you so much Bob. There are altogether 8 Workbasket booklets and 2 other books on quilting and needlework. I am amazed how he managed to keep them for so many years, some of the books are dated way back in 1969!! And there are threads he has included in the package too - a ball of lizbeth thread and others. Unfortunately could not find any stocking which is mentioned in his letter though.

Stourhead Gardens. Wiltshire

Painted the Stourhead Gardens in Wiltshire from a newspaper clipping dated Nov 5, 2010. It was sent to me by my former boss. When he learnt that I was into watercolour art and have never ever seen Autumn season before, he sent me the newspaper cutting. How sweet of him! Took me awhile to master the orangey colours and glad that I managed to complete it and have it framed recently. Size is 33" x 22" with frame.