Leprechaun Rivalry!

The great news is that after three weeks of being AWOL, Feargal and Scarlett have landed on the ground, no one knows where yet.....well at least I don't...but as long as they are fine they can take their time before announcing their destination.

It is becoming increasingly clear that these Leps are not only a sporting bunch but also inclined to rivalry.

One just can't bear to be outdone by another. Or maybe they just like the same things!

It started with Blathnaid on her snowboard.

 Soon joined by Donnacha and his skateboard .....given to Feargal...generous Lep that he is!

NOW it has spread to Finnbarr who has just 'found' a skateboard ....which just happened to be lying around!

Well I needn't tell you what the feeling here was at Lep HQ when young Tadgh saw this.

He went green with envy.

He ranted and raved about wanting one and how it wasn't fair...and all that childish stuff!!

Then he went missing for days, seems that he was scouring Lep HQ convinced that there was something to ride on hidden away SOMEWHERE.

Wasn't the little blighter right!

Didn't he chance upon a couple of Snoopy's riding along minding their own business!

he tried his best to get them to hop off, offering bribes of unknown quantity, most likely Leprechaun Gold...more about that in another post!

Nothing would get these chaps to abandon their sport!

Right thought Tadgh....if they won't get off then

I will just have to hop on with them!

Whooo Hoooo!

Tadgh tried every which way to hang on!
First Snoopy the Flying Ace's scarf got in the way, then Joe Cool complained that he coudn't see where he was going.

Until finally he got it! Legs crossed hanging on.

Then it was off outside to find a slope to race down.

Ready to go...it's a tense moment at Lep HQ.

It was neck and neck as they careered down the hill.....hair and everything flying in the wind....faster than a speeding bullet..........would they be able to stop in time before they hit the garage........

Snoopy edges ahead, can Tadgh take the lead.......

Ooooops!!!!!

Man down!!
Snoopy the Ace hits a log while crossing the grid.
Tadgh and Joe Cool sail on.
Tadgh waves to his fans!

The winner!

How smug he looks.

A couple of stragglers!

A couple more Kokopelli tatted by my lassies.

 

The Chappie on the left made by Marjorie is in Coats 20 in a gorgeous lime green. The one on the right tatted by Carmel in an HDT by me. It is called Turquoise Teal and came about by accident when the green colour washed out of  a Green Teal that I dyed for my son's wedding tatting...more about that anon! Both did a really good job.

I really like the turquoise effect as this would often be a stone used for Indian art.

Also brought in to day is another finished potpourri sachet...remember my post about them.

 

This one decorated by Marjorie who was determined to finish it. Looks much prettier in real life with sparkly beads.

A Procession of Flautists!

I had always wanted intended to tat a Kokopelli since I first saw it on Jane's pattern pages.

It was on my to 'do list' waiting for it's moment............until I received Nancy Tracy's (of Be-Stitched)

May Newsletter. She had been on a visit to New Mexico and had fallen in love with the Kokopelli, and decided to design one.

You can find the pattern here.

No excuses now......I thought it would be fun to try to tat all three versions of the Kokopelli.

Now I must explain why there are three versions......

After a discussion with Debbie Flork about designing a Kokopelli, Jane suggested that they both try to design one. Jane says that with very little help Debbie came up with a design.

You can read about the Kokopelli here, but here is a brief summary.

Kokopelli is an ancient North American Indian legendary Flute player. He is featured in rock art in deserts and mountains in many sites....many over a thousand years old.

He is shown as a humpbacked flute player.

He is harbinger of Spring, bringing warmth and joy. He was often thought of as a fertility symbol and a trickster, visiting villages, playing his flute carrying his songs on his back, together with seeds and blankets. He would leave the village, leaving behind abundant crops and pregnant females!

The first Kokopelli that I tried was Jane's design.

The rings on his head twisted a lot so I cut and fringed them...looks quite cool!

Next up...here he is In my Coral Reef.....made a mistake with his hair..made the picots in the wrong order...another variation!

Then I wondered what he would look like in metallic thread...the One that I showed you here.

 

He was so lovely that I tried one in my favourite metallic gold, Coats Ophir.

They were soon marching along in a procession.

I think you can tell how much I like this design!

It really showcases Jane's skill and experience. Tatted in two sections..the flute and hands are tatted  last.

Next to try out was Debbie's design.

In Flora 20 and again in the Bronze Altin Basak Nakis Simi.

Here you can see the size comparison.

This Kokopelli is tatted in several sections resulting in lots of ends! If you can face all these ends tho the result is brilliant! He is so jaunty.

The final one to tat was Nancy's one.

In Flora 20 and in the metallic bronze.

A very different equally cute design. The hair was to be pulled straight but of course this was impossible in the metallic. A clever design made in one part...yippee only one lot of ends!

Thread amounts in Flora 20

Jane...body..Sh1...1.3m, Sh2..1.5m

flute....Sh1... 55cm,  Sh2 ...25cm

Debbie...body...Sh1..75cm ,Sh2..2.55.

for all the other little bits 1m is enough!

Nancy .... metallic...Sh1...1.85m, Sh2...1.35.

Here is a size comparison of the three designs in Flora 20.

Which do I like the best, which looks most like a Kokopelli... I can't say...they are soooh very different.

I hope this has been some use and interest to you, blogging takes such a long time that I often wonder if it is worth it.

Last week was my son's birthday ...never know what to get.. so along with his' dosh' I made him a Kokopelli in a coaster....with an explanation set into the back.

When he first saw it he thought that it was an 'amphipod'.....Jane you still haven't designed an amphipod for me!!!

His card was a footballer....in 3D Decoupage.

Oh but...

I had to tat some more Kokopelli just to see what they would look like......in...

my Flame Lantana and Oren Bayen .

Love 'em all....but it is so hard to stop those long picots twisting. It depends on the direction of the twist on the thread.  When it comes off a ball of Flora then I load shuttle 2 first. With HDT it's hard to know...and with Oren Bayen I should have loaded Shuttle 1 first.

That's all for today...see you when I have some free time!