spying again

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 I have been spending all my tatting time in front of a computer screen, writing, updating, coordinating, ..... Too much 'intellectual' activity without dirtying one's hands is not the way to have fun!  So I took a little time off last night and did a trial of this heart.

If you remember it is the 3rd hearts that I outlined in Endrucks' doily #37 here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/12/cupping-hearts.html. [pattern for the '2nd' one has already been shared here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2022/01/a-hearty-meal-of-tinies.html 

Tatted in Anchor size 20, the size is perfect for earrings or pendant. Or a brooch or charm.

This was a quick trial to get a feel of the shape, etc. Worked continuously in one pass.

A few things that need tweaking -

1. Proportion - it should be taller!

2. The side ring on the left bottom needs to face in opposite direction for symmetry. Also, the joining picot there was a bit too long, hence the untidy effect.

3. The side rings can be asymmetrical in order to achieve a better overall shape and height.

4. Make the topmost chains longer and also join them above the center.

5. Decorative picots/beads

What else do you think needs improvement?

I have this idea to add long picots in one pair of negative spaces, and join the chains above to these --- like a filling. But it will be in the faraway future unless somebody gets in on the game ;-D

just for kicks and koels

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 I find myself mired, happily enough, in several tasks and commitments some with a definite deadline. It means that even though I've  been taking pics to share, and collecting patterns to share, blogging might have to take a backseat for a few weeks. I certainly hope there will be a few hours to spare once in a while to publish a post.

Pausing with a few quick shots ....

I don't like to throw away pruned twigs. This morning, when I snipped off a few overgrown shoots from our ficus plant, I put them in a little pot of water. Let's see how long they last.

And I stuck the Happy Hands Daffodil to brighten the greens 😄

Remember I told you how hubby has taken to displaying my lacework? These are a few on the dining table. There are a few more under the bowls. I took this pic over a week back, without proper lighting.

Same day same time, but a slightly different angle. I'm sure you can identify a few of them? 

Over a week back, while exercising in the morning, a female Koel alighted on the tree in front of our balcony. The plumage and beautiful mottled grey feathers were on full display and quite majestic. Unfortunately by the time I went in and brought out the phone, she had shifted. However, she was joined by a male.

I tried to take a good pic, but my skills are sorely lacking.

And in this video, my hands were shaking. 

Last year, we enjoyed the antics of a courting couple! The female would call, the male would approach, the female would hop on to another branch! This ritualistic dance step repeated several times and finally the female flew away leaving a desolate male behind. 

💗💖💗

bag a gift

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....or gift a bag!

What's happening here?! I'm bonkers for sure. I left you with 3 motifs extracted from Endrucks' pattern #37, joined to form a multi-use ornament here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2022/06/3d-multi-use-ornament.html. 

The beads were all snipped off and when I joined the 4th motif, this is what happened --- a gift bag!

4 motifs joined tip to tip. Then beaded strings brought the 2 free tips of opposite motifs together.

And we get a tiny gift bag. Good enough for little girls and their dolls, or for bigger girls and their balls (er, balls of thread)!

The stork is carrying a gift for sure !

 

Since the beads are again going to be snipped off in order to continue on my journey, I did not address the gaping holes between motifs. 

While the ball will stay put, a shuttle or any smaller object will slip through unless there is a fabric lining as is clearly visible in the video.

Instead of a fabric lining, one can use some tatted rings/elements to close that space (I used to and fro chains in this bag - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/10/bagatelle-to-bagaball.html). 

The Pony shuttle with Anchor size 20 ball gives you an idea of the size.

And this is another idea that crept in with the monsoons - a boat! Doesn't it remind you of our childhood paper boats? If we add more motifs to lengthen the sides, we get a longer boat or kayak, or whatever your sailor's heart desires!

Pattern pdf for the Square Diamond Motif  (I used the Mat modification)  - 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wqAPnOUZwLJ9tEUk55wDZhAMw2qCNFSj/view

Before I sign off, here are 2 short videos showing the gift bag ....

 

And in a few days I will post the final 3D piece. 

Related Posts -

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2020/11/arranging-motifs.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2022/05/single-motif-bonanza.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2022/06/3d-multi-use-ornament.html