Sometimes it pays to be last!

Congratulations, Icela! You are the winner of one of my Mary Engelbreit blinged shuttles!

Please send me your mailing info, and I'll get it off to you by Monday. (DianeCademartori at gmail dot com)

Thanks for joining in the fun everyone!

Yes-U-Can Doily Challenge - Tatting Progress Day 2

I wasn't going to blog today, because I didn't feel like I made any progress. However, I truly believe there is so much to learn from our mistakes, and I made several last night!

At first, I attempted to tat this next round with bare thread between the rings. I'm not a fan of bare threads in tatting. To me, the tatting looks weak. I tried three different lengths of thread between the rings, and two different stitch counts on the larger ring. I didn't like any of them, so... snip! Snip!

What you see is my last attempt before heading off to bed. I like the look, but I can see that this round isn't going to ease into the curve. It's too straight. After looking at the picture more closely, I think I need to add one more picot and two double stitches to each larger ring. I think the solution to creating better ease might be to add stitches to the chains between the four segments and use longer joining picots between the outer rings.

If you have any ideas that you care to share with me, I'll be glad to try them out... that is, if you can understand my ramblings! I probably won't have a chance to try out my ideas today, but I'll keep you posted on my progress!

Yes-U-Can Doily Challenge - Tatting Progress Day 1

Not too bad for my first evening of tatting!

For those of you who might be interested in joining the fun, the Yes-U-Can Doily Challenge is going on at InTatters. There is no pattern, just a picture on a tin. The challenge is to tat your version with no time limits!

I'm using size 40 Lizbeth, color #663. My schedule looks pretty busy for the next three days, so I'm sure many of you will be able to surpass my efforts. I'm really looking forward to seeing how everyone interprets this doily!

Yes-U-Can Doily Challenge

A few years ago, Kersti found a tin with a picture of a tatted doily on the lid. The center of the lid says, "Yes-U-Can." She created a challenge on eTatters to tat the doily. The challenge has been resurrected, and I decided to join in the fun!

I've chosen size 40 Lizbeth, color #663. Will I stay the course? Can I figure out how to tat the doily? Will I become distracted and put it aside? Time will tell!

Care to join the fun? Go on over to InTatters, and you can find a picture of the tin to print out. Just think... I have another excuse to avoid housework! ; )

Update: For those of you who would like the link, here it is: http://www.intatters.com/showthread.php?6205-The-YES-U-CAN-Doily-Challenge&p=62053#post62053

Please note, there is no pattern, just a picture!

Back-to-school shuttles

Nothing says back-to-school like primary colors! For me, the queen of primary colors is Mary Engelbreit. So, for my September shuttles, I chose Mary Engelbreit fabric.

I love her saying, "Life is just a chair of bowlies." A bit discombobulated, but perfect for the way my school year has started! There are so many changes at school this year, and I had become very comfortable with my teaching routine. Luckily, I'm finding that I'm up to the new challenges!

Oh... I guess you're wondering about the shuttles...

As I've done before, one is for a drawing here on my blog, one is for Denise, and one is for me. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post, and tell me which of the three shuttles you like best... green, yellow, or orange. Since I've taken so long to decorate the shuttles, I'll have the drawing the last day of September... 30 days hath September, April, June, and November...

Look what came in the mail yesterday!

I've been interested in this book for a long time, so I was thrilled to find that Heidi had it re-printed! As I was flipping through, I was excited to discover that I own some of the shuttles shown in the book.

I don't think blinged Clover shuttles will ever be book material, but they sure are fun!

P.S. - After proofreading this post, I realize that it doesn't flow... very poor writing style. Sigh! I hope my discombobulation disappears quickly!

Done and done!

I finished binding my quilt Thursday morning before school... 7:05 to be exact... and I left the house at 7:10!

On Saturday I made matching pillowcases. It took me all day to make four pillowcases... too much time on the phone with friends and family, plus laundry. Somehow, the house cleaning never got done. : )

On Sunday afternoon I washed all the sheets and re-made the bed with my beautiful new quilt. Luckily, it was nice and cool last night!

Then tonight, best of all, I finished my blue doily! I am thrilled with it! This is Project #1 from Tatted Fashion by Teiko Fujito. The finished size is 12" in size 50 Altin Basak, color #363. It's 12" in diameter. I think this is the largest piece I've ever tatted! I don't think I ever would have attempted this piece without inspiration from Barbara Payne. Thank you, Barbara!


Now, I think I'll take a little time to catch up on all the blog posts I've been missing!

Tatting and singing in Illinois

Although we couldn't be at Palmetto Tat Days, Denise and I did get together from 5 - 5:30 central time to join in the fun. What fun you ask? Setting a record for the most tatters tatting the same pattern at the same time! Guinness Book of World Records... here we come! ... and yes, we did sing the song!

I love my dining room table!

It belonged to my mom and dad.

It's great for family gatherings!

And when there just isn't enough space in my sewing room...

it makes a great work table!

While Dave worked on the replacing siding all weekend (yes, even in the rain), I worked on the binding for my quilt. The machine stitching went fairly quickly, but the hand sewn part is taking forever! I've stitched about 2/3 of the seam binding, so I know my quilt will be ready for the big cold snap when it arrives.

Yes, I did spend some time tatting!

I'm about half way around the next to the last row. My goal is to finish the quilt and the doily this week. Wish me luck!

Hangin' off the edge!

My blue doily has grown to the point where it hangs off the edge of my computer! This round was the most difficult for me for one reason only... each of those little flower motifs cupped terribly. Thank goodness for Best Press and a little shot of steam! If I had noticed the cupping while I was tatting, I think I would have increased the stitch count from 3 to 5 on the short chain either side of the flower.

Still, I can't complain. All worked out well, and the good news is... I only have two rounds left! Time to wind the shuttles!

Quilted!

My friend Carol finished quilting my quilt! I'm so excited! I was told it would take two to three weeks, and Carol finished it in eight days. Now, that's what I call service!

I picked it up last week, and I've had a tough time deciding which fabric to use for the binding... the blue paisley backing, the subtle yellow, or the pink and green swirled design.

So, every night I have unfolded and fondled my beautiful quilt trying to decide which fabric to use. Finally, I asked Dave for his opinion, and he chose...

my favorite fabric in the quilt! I made my binding last night. Now I have to make some space in my sewing room so that I can attach it. I've made many things over the years, but this is the first quilt I've made for me! I can hardly wait to see it finished. I promise I'll share pictures!

Out of sync

Apparently I shouldn't try to blog, fix rotated pictures, talk to my daughter, and cook dinner at the same time! I was just re-reading my earlier blog post, and I realized that three of my pictures were missing. I must have neglected to click on something...

A few weeks back, I won a drawing from Clyde the Mad Tatter. Clyde and I share a love of HDT (hand-dyed thread). I have long admired his tatting, and I was thrilled to win this beautiful doily!

I've been showing it off to my friends, Clyde. They're all impressed with your beautiful tatting! Thank you so much! This is a doily I will cherish forever!

Lelia and I met at the Downers Grove Lace Day. She is so sweet, and she takes on so much to promote all sorts of fiber arts! She even took the time to tat this beautiful little heart for me. Thank you, Lelia! Your friendship and thoughtfulness mean so much to me. I hope to see you in Peotone on Sunday!

Another tatter I greatly admire is Frivole. Have you watched her videos? Her movements are so smooth and fast, and everything she tats is beautiful! Recently Frivole posted pics of some adorable pin cushions she made. I was so surprised when I opened the mail last week and found this little beauty, along with a bit of Frivole's beautiful tatting and a lovely bee charm. Thank you, Frivole! Your thoughtful gift made my day!

Now I ask you... am I the luckiest girl around, or what? I think I'll take some time to tat tonight. : )

To blog, or not to blog...

That is the question! If I take time to blog, I have less time to tat. If I don't take time to blog, I lose touch with all my blog buddies. The more I think about it, the more I realize that I'll soon be ready for retirement. Don't get me wrong... I LOVE my job! However, there are days when I just want to stay home and tat, knit, crochet, sew, quilt, read... my list goes on and on!

Since I haven't been blogging much, I have accomplished a lot! Just look...

I finished a Lily-sized shrug (girls 7/8)...

and I started an Eva-sized shrug (girls 9/10).

I made a little progress with Corinne's doily, which I really like...

and I finished a little over half of the next round on my blue doily. Some day I'll figure out why some of my pictures rotated, and I'll find out how to fix the problem! : )

I also received some wonderful surprises in the mail!

JennyPennyPoppy sent me a blue Kanzashi flower. I love it, and some day I will make one... or two... or three... Thank you, Jeanette!

I received a lovely thank you note from Jane along with this beautiful cross. Believe it or not, I was just thinking of purchasing a frame at Hobby Lobby specifically for framing a cross! I think the frame I had my eye on will be perfect for this beautiful piece. Thank you so much, Jane!

Oops! Here's another picture that won't rotate... grrr! Kelly sent me a beautifully tatted piece in my favorite color... blue! She also sent me a piece of fabric so that I can decorate a shuttle. I was totally surprised! Thank you, Kelly!

I guess I really have accomplished a lot in the past week... so, again... to blog, or not to blog? What do you think?

WIP no longer!

As you may have guessed from my blog name, I love lace! So, when I saw this design, I just knew I had to make it. What is it?

An adorable little shrug from Berniolies Designs! This is the lady who designed the shrug that I made for daughter Joanne's wedding last year. This one is Ella-sized (3T). Ella is really into Minnie Mouse (in pink) right now. Her sister loves blue, and her cousin loves pink. Guess what I'll be working on next? : )

Corinne's game

Corinne posted a challenge or game the other day. Tat this motif in colors of your choice and post the picture. Last night, I decided to play the game while Dave and I watched a movie. I used size 20 Lizbeth, colors #628 and #684. It was a very easy piece to tat, and I really like the color combination I chose. Thanks for the bit of fun, Corinne!

For me, one of the joys of tatting is using beautiful shuttles. My all-time favorites are my wood post shuttles, but I do enjoy working with these little beauties from La Cossette. She has a mocha paisley shuttle in her shop that I adore, but I've gone a little crazy with my spending this summer, and it's time to stop spending and start using what I have! Sometimes being a tatting shuttle addict can be so burdensome. ; )

At last!

I've finally found some time to tat!

The beginning of this school year has been unusually busy. My schedule changed three or four times, and I've had to adjust my yearly library/computer goals because of the number of times classes will meet. Just about the time I thought I had everything straight in my mind (and my plan book), our building principal would apologetically tell me that she needed to make another change. It looks like everything's on track now, so hopefully I'll be able to develop a routine that allows more tatting time!

I picked up my shuttles and my blue doily yesterday, and I was able to complete another round today... only three more to go!

I'm really enjoying having a large project to work on. There's something very relaxing about finishing a section of each round in between other activities. However, I am feeling a very strong urge to tat snowflakes!

I'm going to try and be good and finish this doily before starting another project. Or maybe I should finish one of the three hankies I'm working on, or the beaded bag, or the star afghan, or... oh, dear! It looks like I've bitten off more than I can chew again! : )