MP: 2 finishes and a 3rd sad attempt

[txcraftnovice.livejournal.com]

 

I've had this cross done for a little while, since it was a practice piece, and decided that since one of my mother's co-workers thought that tatting was so wonderful and "a lost art" (I just smiled & nodded).  She gushed over the cross bookmark.  
It is a version of Tammy Rodgers' Tara's Cross (I just nixed the pearls, may eventually do one with seed beads, however).

















I did, however, recently (the other morning) complete this bookmark for a friend.  I sent it off today along with almost 4 dozen oatmeal raisin cookies in a care package.  I didn't add a "choking hazard" sticker to the bookmark, but I think he might have enough sense not to; if not, oops?  The bookmark is by Roger aka Freedman, although I changed up the colors (I think the black and red are more suitable than mauve and cream). 


The "sad attempt" was my attempt at making a Tudor rose.  Rosemarie Peel did a very lovely job creating this beautiful rose, and I made a pretty terrible specimen of it.  I was given some rather good advice on one of the Yahoo groups I belong to, so I will try another and see how it comes out.  Originally I was going to make 8 or so of the Tudor roses for the group I'm going with to the Texas Renaissance Festival this year (yes, I'm quite aware that tatting isn't seen as historically accurate, but I don't care, I always get compliments on my tatted lace at the festival), but today I was treated rather rudely by the individual who's "heading up" a group of 4, so my number has been reduced to 4 roses needed.  Of course, any suggestions would be lovely.

Type your cut contents here.

Comments

[aspiemama.livejournal.com]

On the Tudor Rose, tighten the chains up as tight as you can get them (rings too, if they are loose at all) and it should look just like the picture in her pattern. That is all I can see that needs altering, you just left the chains too loose and the chains are what gives the entire thing form. It's still a really cute pattern, even if it doesn't look just like the example.

[txcraftnovice.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the advice. I had worked on the Tudor rose for a while back in March, then put it down until the other night, so that may have been part of the problem as well. I also flubbed the rose up some in my even more pathetic attempt to actually pin it out (note to self: don't try that again). I'm actually trying again tonight, using some tips from another needle-tatter (I tend to be a very tight tatter 99% of the time). Hopefully this one will look better =) There should be a picture later.

[aspiemama.livejournal.com]

If you tighten the rings and chains enough then you shouldn't need to pin it at all, the rings and chains should naturally shape themselves.

[txcraftnovice.livejournal.com]

I will keep that in mind, thank you very much. Usually I spray the item lightly with starch, put a clean white towel over it, & run a warm iron over it, just to keep it flat (like bookmarks and snowflakes).