Dolphins for my soon-to-be-born nephew

Today I completed a little dolphin for my sister-in-law incoming baby. It's the first of a group of three, in two different tones of blue, that are supposed to be sewed on a baby bedding sheets set, let's see it when it will be finished!

The pattern of course is a free one from Jane Eborall's blog, I just adore working on her animal patterns, they're absolutely perfect for babies' birth equipment!

As I was giving a hint on a previous post, to follow the pattern I had to face my first split chain! The pattern contains two split chain (they're optional, but the dolphin looks better with than without, go and see it here to visualize the difference), being my first try the first one was a mess, the second one was almost right!

If you look at the picture it really contains plenty of mistakes - what a pity... what was I thinking about while tatting? But if you don't know the pattern the overall impact is not that bad... I think I will keep it and not trow it away in the end!

I will tat the other two dolphins with a new thread I bought yesterday, from a brand I've never tried called MFM, made in Italy... there are a lot of nice colors! I only bought two balls so far, I want to see how it works first!

Working on my first tatted jewelry design!

Today I tried to face my greatest tatting challenge: design my first tatting pattern!

It's been a long time I desired to design a pattern for some tatted jewelry, but each time I had the time to relax and think about it, I didn't have the inspiration, and each time I felt I had the inspiration I didn't have the time to work on that! How many times did it happen to you as well? It's the hard fate of craft designers, isn't it?

By the way, this afternoon I finally made some little steps on the designers' path! I was browsing once again in the DMC Library Tatting book, and my attention has been raped by #16 medallion. I don't know how, but in few minute I was frantically drawing rings and chains with a pen on my moleskine notebook. And somehow a small piece of that medallion, with new connections, a little bit of asymmetry and few beads turned out into a bracelet and earrings parure!

I haven't tried to tat it yet... so I'm pretty sure I will have to change more than once the stitch counting...



And what is worse, is that I have absolutely no clue on how to transfer my "handy" drawing in a smart tatting diagram... There must be some software... need to research a bit, hoping to find something enough user-friendly to me.

At least I've already decided thread color and beads I will be using for the first test... let's see how it works... wish me good luck!

An unforeseen cross-stitched baby bib

I know this blog is supposed to be mainly about tatting, but would it be that bad if I put in some different handcraft? I hope not... So here we are!

What about cross stitch? I've never been deeply in love with cross stitch, I learned how to do very basic projects from my grandmother when I was a child, and then I forgot everything about it... until now!

Why bring it back right now? Just for my baby! I had something in mind I wanted to do, and I've been surprised I could perfectly remember cross stitch! Here's the result, please don't be severe, it's been a long time since I learnt! It's nothing big, but I think it's a nice bib - a wonderful one when my baby wears it!!!

Co-Hosting Mel's Blog Hop! Join us!

Welcome to Bloglovin' Blog Hop #9

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A super cute handmade gift from Poland

Today's post won't be about tatting, but as I anticipated I received a super cute handmade gift from a new friend from Poland. I met here through this new blogging thing, that's the beauty of it!


Look at it, it's sweet, isn't it?

Her name (she is a lady) is Lea! And she is so small she can stay in a hand!


You can have a look at the Mulinowe Misie Little Bear world here.

What a productive Sunday... and what a struggle!

What a productive and happy Sunday!

Today I really put myself to the test, both in tatting and in blogging... I'm really tired now! But I succeeded! Do you think it's bad to say that I'm proud of myself? Hope not!

Concerning blogging stuff, it took me almost one hour but in the end I could add the Pinterest Widget to my blog page! Not easy for someone like me who doesn't understand anything about computer language, but not even an impossible challenge if following the Code it pretty instructions! I need to thank Rhondda Mol' post who shared this info!

And concerning tatting, I've been since yesterday evening trying to realize my first split chain, and I've finally done it! Never had problems with split rings, but the split chain has always been dreadful to me, I've always stepped away from pattern where you had to do it. Now I can say I master it (more or less), cannot show you because the piece is not yet ready... but it's been a great thing to me!

I only have a very small and quick tatting work to show today, a pair of earring, I remember I've seen the pattern on the internet but I didn't save it, I tatted it by memory, so forgive me if I can't give credits! If anybody knows who they're from, please let me know and I will add the link back to the pattern!

Have a nice Sunday afternoon!

A new gift for a friend: Yarnplayer Vision necklace

Happy thursday!

 Today we wake up with rain outside, but now the sun is shining again! so for the afternoon I'm planning to go to a yarn shop in a small city not far from here, hope I won't spend too much, I think you know how it goes every time!

What I'm showing you today is my version of the wonderful Vision necklace, designed by Yarnplayer, you can find her amazing free pattern here!

I tatted this one for a friend of mine, but I really hope I will find the time to tat more of this necklaces, for other friends and maybe for myself, because I find this pattern just amazing! 

The instructions are easy to follow, and I think it's a very versatile one, changing thread's color and beads' shape or size you can have very different results and different styles! 

I decided to use small stones instead of simple beads, 'cause I wanted to realize a special and a bit precious gift, so I used onyx (in two different sizes) and rough ruby, I feel they fit well with the design!

In the work-in-progress picture maybe the details are a little bit more clear, that's why I upload that one as well!I really recommend this pattern though, thanks Yarnplayer to sharing it!

Two big news today for a great thursday for a newbie blogger like me:

1. I found an e-mail from InTatters that says my membership request has been approved! very glad of it, can't wait to join the other tatters community (if only the day had 48 hours...)!
2. My husband is coming to the seaside this evening from Milan, and he is bringing with him a very special gift just arrived via mail from Poland, sent me by a new friend found blogging... It's a little bear from Mulinowe Misie... But I can't tell you more, I haven't met my little bear yet! I'm so happy that I want to dedicate one entire post to the first gift I received as a crafter! So be patient, I'll keep you posted!!!

I've been too long already, I will tell you my other news in the next days!