Blue Denim Cotton Afghan...

Here is an afghan that I started 2 years ago for the eldest son of my sister, right after finishing one for a new brother to be, and finished for my nephew while I was up in Montana recently... 

 

It is made from Lily Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn in blue denim and off white.  I chose cotton yarn as my sister is allergic/sensitive to many synthetic fibers and this makes it comfortable for her to use and snuggle with her boys while they are wrapped up in them.

I used nearly all of 3 ~ 14 gram cones of yarn for this afghan.  It is done in the giant granny pattern that I enjoy, as are most of my afghans.  I vary the pattern of the color rows to achieve different effects, and the final edging, but not the stitch pattern itself.  It's a pattern that I can work without looking at and still enjoy scenery on a drive or read while I am working it.  I hope that it will be something my nephew will treasure, enjoy, and use...

A Silver Necklace...

The morning of my Grandfather's memorial service, my Dad asked the ladies in the family to go through Grandma's jewelry and for each of us chose a piece.  It was really a special thing to have and each of us chose to wear what we had received to the memorial service.  I have a beautiful necklace that I chose that had belonged to my Great Grandmother May and been passed on to Grandma Stella after her Mother (May Clark) passed away, and a tatted lavendar necklace for my little Rosie Posie that will be hers someday when she is a bit older.  My older daughter made her own choice and also received a lovely treasure. 

There were many many treasures, and among them several tatted pieces...

This is a lovely piece that I snapped a couple of photos of to share with all of you as I thought you would enjoy seeing it...

I do wish that I had thought to flip it over and snap a photo of the back so that we could see how that doodad was added...but here is a close up of the motif for you at least...

Grandma created quite a number of tatted jewelry pieces...primarily necklaces. I thought this one particularly lovely. My photos really do not do the piece justice, but at least you get to see it! The silver thread is very pretty, with a lot of pretty gold sparkle to it, and the motif is just lovely. 

Blue Dress...Completed!

I first blogged about this little dress and it's tatted trim here, so if it looks like something you have seen before...well, you have. I laid the dress aside for one reason or another, and it didn't come back out to be finished until I ran across it while packing for my recent travels. I finished it on the 10th, but lacked internet access at the time...so am sharing it today...

How I went about attaching the edging, stitching down the picots on both sides as this will be regularly laundered...

 

The little Rosie Posie in her new dress...she had to put it on the moment it was finished.  Fortunately, I had purchased a 5T size, so she will likely still get another year to wear this little blue dress...

  

I love how the tatting added just the right accent to this otherwise plain flowered dress.  It really brings out the details...and my little one loves it!  It took nearly 3 massively overfilled clover shuttles plus the ball thread to finish the bottom trim...lots and lots of tatting, even though it was a larger size 10 thread.

With this round of the 25 motif challenge, I wanted only to count new (to me) patterns once completed, but I think I will just count whatever I finish as I seem to be tatting the same patterns quite a lot the past few months and essentially haven't even started my new round though I've been tatting.  Therefore, we'll just start here, with this dress...so this is 1 of 25!

Squared up...and lovely!

Here is another of my Grandmother's pieces...this lovely rectangular doily is somewhat unusual.  I really love the simplicity of the design and think it is stunning...

Reminds me of the giant granny square afghan pattern that I love so much in a way...the double rings at the corners serving as the increase for each round...much more beautiful in tatting though...

Here is a closer view of the corner so that you can see how the rectangular design was achieved...

I have so much to share with all of you, both many many photos of my Grandmother's work and finishes of my own...I had truelly hoped to post more, but we were away from home for 3 weeks and ended up either not having internet access at various locations or being too busy to post when I did have access.  I have tried to post from my phone, but it downsizes the photos to such a degree that you can see no detail in the tatting at all...and that's just not acceptable as one wants to be able to see the stitches to fully admire a piece of tatting!  At any rate, I have more to share over the next few days!!!

Pretty in Pink...

I have a treasure to share with you today, a doily tatted by my Grandmother Stella.  This also happens to be my favorite of all of the doily's that I have seen tatted by my Grandmother. 

I absolutely love the soft pink.  I have thought this the prettiest of lace pieces since I was a little girl...I was just in complete awe of the beauty of this lusterous thread and the soft rose pink of this doily...

 Now, the thread is some type of rayon or synthetic thread. I remember my Mother telling me that Grandma said she would never tat anything with that thread again...but it certainly made a lovely doily...

I hope to have more treasures to share.  I am in Montana, visiting my family...it has been a busy time thus far.  Tomorrow, we travel over to the farm where my Grandmother lived her life...to celebrate my Grandfather's memorial service and to lay both of my Grandparents ashes to rest together in the cemetery there.  Grandpa passed away in November, but the memorial service was put off to accomodate family coming from the far reaches of the states.  It is to be a celebration of their lives...and a gathering of family.

I have been crocheting and tatting here and there, finished an afghan on Saturday that I will try to photograph and share before it goes to my nephew.  I have another crochet project underway, and about 4 tatting projects that just need the last repeat or so and ends hidden...I am also going to try to take photos of any of Grandma's tatting that I can while up here to share as I know that many of you will enjoy seeing her work.

Pretty Seaside Poppy Tins...

Last night, my girl scout troop met.  We meet once a month, as they are busy with many other activites as well.  As they get older (12 and 13 now), it has been more of a challenge to find crafts that are fun and something that will be deemed "cool" enough by the girls...this one seems to have been a hit though.  Last night, we created...

Pretty Seaside Poppy Tins

(Decorated Cans...a Recycling Craft)

Here are the supplies we used:  well washed cans in various sizes, sisal twine, small sea shells, and some silk poppies, plus a pair of scissors and a glue gun...

These are not difficult to make, but they really do turn out quite prettily.  One simply hot glues the first round of sisal twine to the can, then wraps the twine round and round the can pushing it down periodically so it is nice and tight.  When you get to the top, you hot glue the last row.  Then you decorate it as you like or leave it plain.  I expected that this would be a quick craft, 10 minutes and done...but the girls loved it and spent the entire hour on their creations.

A dozen less cans in the landfill as well...always a good thing.  We used three different sizes, I believe a well washed vegetable, a tuna/chicken, and a tomato paste can where what we used.  It makes a cute set...

These are my daughter's...

...and two more sets by two of the other girls...

These are mine...I had to get in on the fun too...

...and here they are on my desk this morning (ignore the surrounding clutter please)...

I think they look really nice there, will keep some of the clutter prettily contained...and I certainly enjoyed making them with the girls.   Another, plain wrapped can holds the remainder of the shells we used.  I think I may make a few more...there are other items that could use a pretty holder to contain them around the house as well...

For right now though, I want to go and tat Frivole's beautiful new Minuet pattern...she asked for naming suggestions, and subsequently chose the name I suggested for her lovely motif.  I am absolutely thrilled...her work is so exquisite, I admire it greatly.  Being able to contribute in a small way was a pleasure...and she very graciously gave me a copy of her pattern.  I am most anxious to try it...

Until later,

Julie

County Fair Open Class Results...

This has been a most interesting experience. I was very nervous about doing this for some reason, and somewhat unwilling to let my creations out of my personal care. The later maybe somewhat warranted. In fact, as I was walking over to see what my results were...a little boy ducked under the rope and sat on my crocheted basket! I truely would still enter again though...

I haven't entered anything in a fair since I was 18 years old, a good while ago as I am 37 now. I think it is a good thing to do, I just haven't done it in a very long time. It is good to get some outside input as to the quality of one's work, and to share with others what one has created. 

Here are the results for my five open class entries.  I have listed the title of the class and then the ribbon awarded...

Any Garment - Knit or Crochet

Blue

(This is the rose colored shrug I made for my older daughter)

Any Item - apparel or household - reconstructed or made from recycled materials

Red

(I am most curious to see the judging sheet on this one as I am quite partial to this little pillow and wonder what they didn't care for there, but must wait until Sunday to get to peruse that yellow page you can see behind the ribbon)

Any Accessory - apparel or household - knit or crochet

Blue

(I was naughty and reached over the rope and "fixed" my basket a bit after it was sat upon, it is still a touch squished on the front side though)

Any afghan - size 45"x60" or larger - knit or crochet

Blue and Reserve Champion

Any other needlework technique not listed above (tatting, bobbin lace, latch hook, etc.)

Blue

(fuzzy photo ~ very hard to get a decent picture from as far back as one is behind their ropes)

Our particular county fair is at the point where I have been told that they may lose the open class division entirely if they don't start getting more participation.  Hence, I suppose, the very very limited classes.  I do hope they will be able to promote the availability of this more in future years and don't just decide to eliminate it...that would be very sad.  County Fair is a tradition that should not be lost.

Overall, I am pleased with my results.  They use the Danish system of judging.  I actually prefer the method of a single blue, red, white, etc. being awarded in each class.  I like the competitive aspect of that.  The only thing that really does that here is the reserve and champion ribbons, if warranted, within a class and then within the division a reserve and grand champion ribbon (big pretty rosettes like my daughter was awarded along with some gift certificates and other prizes).

My tatted piece was the only one of it's kind.  I would love to see more, of everything to be honest...I love looking at everyone's work, comparing, contrasting, admiring...planning for next year.  I will say that I plan to do my best to increase participation next year...more of my own work, and encouraging others to enter as well.

Thank you all for your encouragement...

Julie