Eva's hat

A while back, I crocheted some really wonderful, thick hats. Thinking that the smallest one would fit my 5 year old granddaughter, Eva, I called her up and asked her if she would like me to make her a hat. Eva said yes, but what surprised me was that she didn't wait to hear about the hat I'd already made in her favorite color, blue. Before I could say anything, Eva told me that she wanted a red hat with blue flowers all around (not all over, all around), with ear flaps, and ties.

What's a grandma to do? I didn't have enough red on hand, so Dave and I went shopping for yarn yesterday. My friend Denise gave me the 2008 Pattern-A-Day Crochet calendar. As I was looking through it, I found a child's ear flap cap. With a few minor adjustments (thicker ties, and blue flowers), I finished Eva's hat a few minutes ago. We're taking it to her this afternoon. I hope she likes it!

Challenging myself...

My New Year's resolution is to complete one unfinished project per month... I'll still have many unfinished projects, but at least I'll get 12 finished before the end of 2008! This morning I finished an afghan for my friend Sue. The afghan was 2/3 completed when it was given to me... I just wasn't motivated to work on it. I'll take it to Sue today so that she can give it to her mother. What next? Let's see... there's the afghan I started 14 years ago when we moved into the house, the afghan I started for our 25th anniversary (2 years ago), the sweater that just needs the sleeves sewn on, the baby quilt for Aimee, the flannel baby quilt that I started when Alison was pregnant with Eva (she's 5), the quilt I started for Alison's high school graduation (1994), a Patricia Kristoffersen doily, the lace scarf... oh, dear! That's just off the top of my head!

I also need to catch up on my Square Deal Weave-Along... I think I'm four weeks behind now! I bought yarn to make hats, scarves, and mittens for each of my four daughters, my two sons-in-law, my three grandchildren, and my husband... for next Christmas. If I want to get tatted ornaments done, I'd better start that today... 2 per month is my minimum goal... 1 per week would be fabulous!

I think the only way I can accomplish all this is to retire, but that's 12 years away! I think I'd better get going right now!

37!

Just for kicks, I looked back at my posts and counted 37 completed motifs or projects, and I only counted the sock edgings I made once! Wow! Joining the 25 Motif Challenge really spurred me into action!

No tatting tonight... I'm too busy finishing up bookmarks. Some will have no tatting... oh, well!

Back to school

I was back at school today, and what a surprise! All of the students made cards for me, and they were displayed all around the library... on top of the bookcases and on some of the shelves. On my computer, I can click on the picture to enlarge it. The close-up shows better detail of how the cards were displayed and how many there were. I read every one... some made me laugh... some made me cry.

Two were especially poignant... a fifth grade girl whose father died when she was in kindergarten, and a fifth grade boy whose father died when he was in first grade wrote that they knew exactly how I felt, and that they knew my dad was in heaven watching over me. I had my father for about 50 more years than these two children did, yet they are comforting me. I am humbled.

Remembering Dad

Those of you who read my blog may be wondering why I haven't posted much lately. The reason is simple... I've been worried about my dad, but there is no need to worry any more. Dad is now at peace, and I'm sure he's in heaven watching over us.

Dad was hospitalized six weeks ago today. He had always been strong and healthy, so we all believed he would recover, but he didn't. Dad passed away peacefully at the age of 76, with Mom by his side, last Monday, December 10.

Mom, my sisters, my brother, and I all knew how special Dad was, but we were overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and friendship that was displayed over the weekend. Boyhood friends of my brother's flew to Alabama from Chicago. Cousins from Houston arrived. Over 200 people attended the memorial service.

I'm sure those of you who have lost a parent, or both parents, understand the emotions that are controlling my life right now. Dad would not want us to mourn, but rather celebrate the fact that we shared life's journey with him for as long as we did.

I'll do my best, Dad!

Six more!

I managed to finish six more bookmarks before going to bed last night... I may reach my goal. I've been trying to measure just enough thread to make the Sparkling Snowflake. If I still have some thread left on my shuttle, I doodle! I kind of like the doodles... doing them gives me a better feel for how everything fits together in tatting.

My sister gave me the book Golden Legacy as a Thanksgiving present. I just started reading it yesterday... it's fascinating! I've familiarized myself with the layout of the book... that means I've sniffed the pages (I love the smell of new books!), run my hand across each page (I love the feel of paper!), and read the captions for all the pictures. Thank you, Janet!

Four more bookmarks!

Who knows... I may finish little tattings for all my bookmarks! If not, I have a backup plan... more on that later!

Two of the bookmarks have "Sparkling Snowflake" from Tatted Snowflakes by Vida Sunderman. The other two were inspired by Tatting Rings of Flowers by Mary Maynard.

I took a nap, I mean a break from tatting this afternoon, and now I can't seem to wake up enough to get back in the groove. All I want to do is take another nap, I mean break from tatting. I think you get my drift!

Thank you, Jeff!

First, a big thank you to Jeff, who was able to identify the little angel I tatted last summer! The pattern is Tatted Angel by Lenore English. After comparing my angel to Lenore's I can see improvements that I want to make in my tatting. I've come a long way since I made this darling little angel over the summer! Thank you for the pattern Lenore!

I met my goal of making as many woven bookmarks as possible from one 3.5 oz. skein of Read Heart Carefree Cotton on my 2"x6" Weave-ette. I was able to make 29 in the past week! I probably could have squeezed #30 out of the skein if it hadn't been for two knots I had to cut out. I didn't want to mess with extra ends, so I just took the yarn off the loom and started over. I need 9 more, but I'll probably use some Red Heart Sport that I have on hand rather than going out and buying more cotton... we're expecting sleet today.

The bookmarks still need to be blocked... I know! I know! I said I wouldn't post a picture without blocking first, but I wanted to post, and these will take a while to dry. I found two tiny snowflake patterns in Vida Sunderman's Tatted Snowflakes. I'm not quite ready to tat most of the snowflakes in this book, but at least I've started! The snowflake on the right is "Simple Snowflake" on page 32. The one in the middle is "Sparkling Snowflake" on page 17. The one on the left is my own doodle. I was trying to remember the pattern for the middle snowflake at lunchtime the other day... I'd left my book at home. Not bad for a doodle, but I like Vida's "Sparkling Snowflake" better.

I have less than two weeks to finish these! I'd better get tatting!

Christmas bookmarks

I came to the sad realization yesterday that I do not have enough time to tat bookmarks for everyone on my Christmas list. So, I pulled out my 2x6" Weave-ette and got to work!

The bookmark at the top is really a pretty red, Cherry Red - Red Heart Sport. The next two are Clown #1720 sock yarn by Marks & Kattens. Next is Patons Grace - Spearmint, a 100% mercerized cotton. I wonder how it would tat? The bottom is a Christmas yarn that my friend Denise had on hand. It's a worsted weight and looks nice when finished, but it's a little thick for a bookmark. The bookmark on the right is some Lion Brand Baby Soft that I had wound on the loom and then forgot about.

If I have time, I'll tat little motifs to sew onto these.