Saturday 16 February 2008

Completed hippos! Part 9

I thought I'd start a new 'page' in the blog for number 101 and any others!
Now up to 109 on 10th March! It's the 12th March now and another hippo's just wandered in! Number 110!!!

This one has just arrived from Hermien via Riet. Riet said the following -
"He or she came in my mailbox this morning The card is special made by Hermien. One side it says in Dutch: Beter laat dan nooit, dat is translated better late than never and the hippo is under a tree nice isn't it?"
Yes, Riet, it is lovely and I like the grass tickling the hippo's nose too!!!!


















Sunday morning and it's very cold here so the next one from Angela in Michigan has not come to a much warmer place!!! Angela said -
"Sorry I am so late in sending you my Hippo but it got very cold here in Michigan (below zero several days) and Honey Hippo could not stand it and went into hibernation. She finally came out today as it is almost 30 degrees and agreed to visit you and all of the other Hippos."













Another hippo has arrived on this cold Sunday morning. This one is from Eva
in Sweden. This is what she said -
"Finally I have finished my hippo. Very fun to tat. I can see a little tear in the eye but I hope it's a tear of joy."
Thanks, Eva. I'm sure it is!!












Another hippo from BJ with all his notes attached!!! Thanks SO much, BJ

"Height: Aprox 21/2" Length: Aprox 3 1/2"
Color: Pizzaz (size 30) and size 30 Finca yellow and blue
This is Miss Pearl. She returned with her mother from Texas. Plain Jane apparently fell in love when she saw the uncontrolable Texas Circus Hippo. They were seen frolicking in the Rio Grande. Fortunately, "Jane" came home before the snow hit New Mexico. Miss Pearl is colorful and she loves her pearl eye!"











This hippo came from Gepke van Bers. She is a new tatter and she had a few problems. She told Riet (who passed the hippo on to me) that she will try again, but she has now started working on the new TIAS!











Here is a hippo from Tine Bouma who is another member of Riet's group in The Netherlands.
Thank you, Tine.













This one is from Marie Smith who says -
"My Hippo traveled with me to Florida but did not want to return home. He met a new friend,whom he had to leave behind. That is why he is dragging his chin, and his color is much bluer than before. But doesn't he look cool in his Panama Hat! "
Way cool, Marie!!!












The next to join the bloat is from Marjorie Garland. Here's what she has to say -
"I have it finished! I now realise that I have gone wrong on the bit under its chin but i will call it my version. I struggled with the eye, I broke the thread closing the ring and had to join but then I worked out how to close the ring more easily. I have thoroughly enjoyed doing it and have learned a few things along the way. Maybe I will try doing again when I have time. In the mean time I have geckos to think about!"













This next one is from Ireland and Jackie Magnin. She says -
'Isn't she BEAUTIFUL! The garter is compliments to 'Mud, mud, glorious mud', with the eye I made life easy for myself by unwinding the shuttle- (I tried the pattern but wasn't happy with my result); Bring on the next mistery-tour! I still think it will make a nice rhino. Plenty of grey thread to try it out. See you!'











The next hippo has just arrived again from The Netherlands and via Riet!! The message Riet sent with it is as follows -
"Yesterday we had our guildmeeting and there came in all the hippo's and there was one made by Mrs Mooi, he just was ready and I took a picture and here is the picture for you here is the picture for you She had a problem with her eyes has had surgery and now she can tat, what she couldn't for a long time. She followed what was going on with the hippo and when she could tat she did it, nice isn't it greetings"











This one (number 110) is from Carmel Grimes one of the Irish tatting friends of Pamela Myers. She found this very intriguing.



Friday 8 February 2008

Completed hippos! Part 8

Saturday and two more have arrived making 91 in total.
Monday morning and 2 hippos arrived and they were followed by three more in the afternoon (96).
Tuesday and two more have arrived (98)!
Wednesday and number 99 has arrived.
Thursday and number 100 has wandered in.

The first is from Kate Huttar who said.
" Greetings from the Texan circus hippo. Finally got him finished today, though he could certainly use some blocking...er....training. :) I'll get another picture once he is more under control (and with a different background), but I was so excited about his appearance, I couldn't wait."











The next one is from Stephanie who must be having problems with hippos. I think hers are breeding as this is the ...... I'll leave it to her to explain!!!

"Rosie the Pink Potamus (Petunia's younger sister) *insisted* on playing outdoors today without sunscreen. She's already turning a bit pink in spots. This afternoon I caught her sitting at the computer - looking at all the hippos online. Suddenly she screeched, grabbed MY heart-shaped box of Valentine's Day candy, and ran out of the house. I suspect she's on her way to you at this very moment. You won't have to entice her to stay, I'm sure."












Next hippo to join the bloat is Carol Lawecki's. Here he is in his very pretty surroundings - it almost looks as if it's snowing!

















My worst fears have happened. The hippos are breeding! We now have hippy flower power hippos!! Stephanie's third one has arrived this morning!! This is the next part of Stephanie's story!! "Since Petunia and Rosie left home, Hyacinth, their younger sister, has been feeling very blue and lonely. Hyacinth the Blue Potamus just LOVES parades, so to help cheer her up, I promised if she would get dressed up in her prettiest outfit, I would let her go be PART of a parade. Oh, she is so VERY excited, there's even a hint of a smile on her face now....Poor Hyacinth was quite upset when the scanner smooshed her flower, but she is SO proud of that red bow! "













Next one in came via Diane Saunders. Her tatting student, Ruth made this one. Thank you, Diane and Ruth.













Mr. and Mrs. Karlheinz and Hildegarde Hippo-Potamus are on their way to the opera. Karlheinz is wearing his white bow tie and his favorite hat. Hildegarde has donned her diamond necklace and earrings. He wanted her to wear her large diamond earrings, but she prefers wearing the small diamond studs he gave her many years ago on her first birthday as "Mrs. Hippo-Potamus." They decided to look in on the hippo parade, since it was on their way.

















This is a hippo from Diane Cademartori. She says -
"I'm sending a picture of the hippo that our dear friend Laura tatted for me. I couldn't figure out any other way to send it... I hope this way works! Not only did Laura keep me interested in this project by sending photos each step of the way, she also used my favorite color, blue!"
Diane hasn't been able to tat for a while due to a broken arm. Hope you're better soon, Diane and thank you to Laura for sending her a hippo!!!











The next hippo is from Inge-Lise and she says

"Ich have made a hippo. I am 51 Years and have tatted since I was 12. Living in Denmark. Hope you like it."
It's a super hippo, Inge-Lise. Thank you for sending it such a long way.












This next hippo has come all the way from Egypt. Wally Sosa sent him on his way to me. This is what she had to say!
"Aw... I forgot to send you my lil' Egyptian hippo. Here he is. I will play more with the pattern a little later and will try to make it more Egyptian. Lol"
Thanks Wally.











This next arrival is from Gale Marshall in Canada. Sadly the first time her hippo set out for the UK he got lost. Fortunately this time he arrived safely. This is what Gale says. " He's been pushing pennies so that I could watch the dollars! LOL" Thanks, Gale.










Number 98 is from Brigitte Nettles who said -
"Thank you so much for the Tat it and See tatting mystery! I worked along at a steady pace and finished my little Hippo the day after you posted the last part. It’s tatted with a Size 30 Star “Gem” mercerized crochet thread. For a while there I thought it was going to be a Rhino. I finally remembered to bring it to work with me today to get it scanned. My colleagues said it looks cute."














Next is number 99 from Anna in Poland. She said the following -
"I've taken part in your 'tat it and see' and I would like to show you my hippo. I've changed a little his head but I've noticed today that other people did the same with his hippos, so I've decided to send you a photo of my hippo too. I guessed that it would be a hippo on 7th day of project. :-)"











Number 100 has just come in from Emily Garland. She said.
"I have finally taken a photo of my hippo, frozen solid blue as you can see! ;) He has not even been able to twist his tail properly in this cold, and is waiting for a nice t-shirt or card to sit upon while he thaws."



Monday 4 February 2008

Completed hippos! Part 7

Whoooopeee. Numbers 80, 81 and 82 have trundled in today (Tuesday).
Wednesday morning and number 83 has just arrived. This was followed in the afternoon by 84 and 85 and in the evening by number 86.

This hippo is from Eileen Roberts who has been struggling to get him out of her computer and into mine. Thanks to her son in law, Stephen, her hippo has now arrived. Thanks for persisting with getting him here, Eileen. He was well worth the struggle and you have also learnt lots of new computer skills too.












Next in is from Winnie van Vegchel who is another member of Riet's guild. Winnie said.
"I finally finished the hippo, although you wouldn't say it was one! Had some problems with it, but Riet told me to get on with it, and not to stop so near the end. I am sending you the picture, so you can see I did try! I did enjoy the project!"
Well done, Winnie. I love the colours of your hippo (and it DOES look like a hippo to me).











Dani the geek's hippo is now on her web site here.
Dani said that she'll blog it soon, but that I could have it first! She also said it was made with recycled string and that she had a heck of a time finishing the nose and changing strings at the same time!













Becky Snyder has been really busy and has done another hippo. A baby one to go with the big one!! She said -
"Here's my little one along with his Mom. I just haven't figured out who's the daddy yet!"


















The next hippo to arrive is from Anna Jean who said -
"Since I live in Memphis,
TN my hippo has been submerged in the Mississippi River for several days and has developed a case of the algae, hence his greenness. Lots of fun with the TIAS. " Thanks Anna Jean - he's great.












The next one is from Gerda Klumperman another member of Riet's guild. Thank you, Gerda - I love the colours of the thread.














This next one is from Stephanie who had a few problems getting Petunia to behave. Here's what she said.
"Petunia the Purple Potamus said she had a date with a gentleman hippopotamus this evening. I convinced her that a tiny bit of pressing with the steam iron would make her feel fresh and pretty, but when the first bit of steam hit her tail, she went screaming out of here. If she runs your way, grab her!" I caught her, Stephanie, and she's now being very well behaved.












The following two hippos are both from Gina Oschmann another member of Riet's guild in The Netherlands. Riet said that it seems to her that they are a he and a she but she doesn't know if it's true. I like the colours of these two and I'm sure they are related to each other some way.
They look as if they're talking to each other!!!!











Shirley Hill sent in the following hippo and said -
"I actually finished them on the last day as I was like a small child with a new toy and I could not put it down. (yes I did two one for me and one for you!!!!!!!!!!!

Goodness knows what I was thinking I forgot I could send it by email !!!!!!!!!!!!!! put it down to age!!!!!!!!"