In and out Internet

We had a terrific storm that lasted about three minutes last night. Short, but not so sweet. Apparently, our local radio station had its transmitter knocked out, so we aren't able to get any local news. Our tv is out, and our Internet has been spotty. I'll post when I can!

Babylace is crawling along.

I think I've only finished one more pattern repeat of Chain Reaction since the last time I posted about it.

Flowerpiece needs one more pattern repeat to finish the center.

I finished an Origami pouch with shuttles for myself. I LOVE this fabric, and I couldn't resist making a set to match Allison's!

Last, but not least, I have started another Spinning Wheel glass mat in Yarnplayer's Tourmaline. Why? Because I can! ; )

I've started using Word Verification again. I find it very annoying and sometimes hard to read, but I've gotten so much spam since I took it off! Plus, I've accidentally deleted a few comments that I was trying to publish. So, I'm choosing the lesser of the two evils. I hope you don't find the Word Verification too frustrating!

Spinning Wheel, how do I love thee?

Let me count the ways...

1. size 20 thread
2. size 40 thread
3. size 50 thread
4. size 80 thread
5. Sulky Blendables
6. King Tut
7. Oliver Twists
8. and of course...

HDT! In this case, size 20 Aurora from Jess aka Tat-ilicious.

I never tire of this pattern. It seems that I always have at least one in progress. It is my comfort tat, my tat-on-the-go, in other words... my favorite!

Finally!

I finished my birthday giveaway!

I found this adorable fabric when daughter Joanne was visiting back in April. I knew what I wanted for my birthday giveaway, but somehow I didn't manage to get around to it until this week. I really need to keep some of those round tuits on hand.

Anyway, the winner is receiving the Origami pouch bag, two decorated shuttles, and a bookmark in Juicy Watermelon. I have a matching set, so the winner and I will be Twinkies... at least that's what the kids at school tell me!

I received a new shuttle and a key chain from Irene Ho yesterday. Irene's dad carved the shuttle out of bamboo, and I am lucky to be one of the people she chose to test it out. It is so smooth and warm to the touch. It did take a little bit of adjustment. For a little while I was catching the thread in the fork. I adapted quickly, though! It's the shuttle I used to tat the Juicy Watermelon bookmark.

Granddaughter Eva called me this morning to let me know that she's working on her chain. A few of her stitches didn't flip, and she can tell because she can see the green instead of the pink. Now, I call that progress! Oh, and she's teaching her mom (Alison) to tat!

It's incredibly hot here, and my sinuses are not liking the current weather pattern. I guess that's as good excuse as any to sit around and tat!

Oh... did you want to know who won my 60th birthday/5th blogaversary giveaway? Allison! Congratulations! Don't you think it's appropriate that a young lady who just graduated with a horticulture degree should win a bag and shuttles decorated with watermelon-inspired flowers?

Special request

I received a request from my 10-year-old granddaughter, Eva. 

In case you can't read the fine print, it says, "I want to learn how to tat." What's a grandma to do?

This morning we purchased Marilee Rockley's tatting class from Craftsy (see link in my sidebar if you're interested), and we set up shop. Eva's tatting supplies are at the top of the photo, mine are at the bottom. Jane, Eva LOVES her Roly Poly bag!

Eva wants to tat like Grandma, so she's pinching the thread between her thumb and middle finger. What can I say? It's easier for me. My hand goes kind of numb when I pinch between my pointer and thumb.

We're still working on winding the thread around her pointer finger the correct way. For now, we're both very pleased that she can manage the flip!

Eva's going to practice making a long chain this week. We're hoping to get together next week for another lesson. Luckily, she has a marvelous teacher online whenever she wants to move forward. Eva loves your class, Marilee!

Should I use it?

I was showing Mom my hankie collection this morning, you know the hankies I've been meaning to tat edgings for? After I sat down in my chair, I spied a ball of size 80 Lizbeth, Rainbow Taffy. It looked perfect, and I was very excited to start tatting an edging for it!

As I progressed with the pattern, I got to thinking that maybe the bright blue light was too different from the blue embroidered on the hankie. The other colors look great, but what about the blue?

What do you think? Should I use this thread for this hankie, or should I try a different color? The edging won't go to waste. I have a peach colored hankie that looks great with this thread!

Have you seen?

Marilee Rockley aka Yarnplayer has a shuttle tatting course on Craftsy! Yes, I purchased it, and I think it's great! I had the entire course running while I was working on getting the house ready for the big birthday bash, and I've already decided I need to go back and learn some more from Marilee.

It's a great course, Marilee! I wish you loads of success!

20? 40? 80?

Nope! 60! Today is my 60th birthday and my 5 year blogaversary!

Thank you to everyone who reads my blog. Your comments keep me tatting, blinging, collecting, and having a wonderful time.

This was supposed to be a no presents birthday, but Dave surprised me with a new apothecary jar. My sister Janet had given me one for my birthday two years ago, but last summer I tripped on the rug and knocked it to the ground. Who knew glass could shatter into so many pieces?

Dave asked me if I needed to buy some more thread, because the jar is not full. No, I don't need to buy more thread... I just need to clean my sewing room, where I know there is plenty more 20, 40, and 80 Lizbeth thread... probably more than will fit in the jar!

P.S. ~ There will be a giveaway to celebrate this special day. I'm not telling what the surprise is, because it's not finished yet. A winner will be chosen from the comments to this post. The drawing will be sometime next week, once all the family has returned home and I have recovered from the celebration!

Sulky Blendables #4032 ~ Iris

Whenever I see an iris, I think of my friend Lil Chapman. Lil was a wonderful lady. When we first moved here, she had her own local radio show. Remember the old local shows that had daily swap shops? Lil didn't have a swap shop show. Hers was a self-help family advocacy show. Lil would read books, interview experts, and answer callers' questions about how to deal with family problems. She was a school board member and an advocate for children with disabilities. She was also a lover of irises! Lil's yard was filled with them, and when we built our house 19 years ago, Lil invited me over, dug up some of her favorite plants and gave them to me for my garden. Sadly, Lil's home, which was filled with antiques, burned to the ground about a year later. We talked about dividing the irises she had given me so that she could start a new garden, but somehow that never happened. So, whenever I see an iris, I smile and think of Lil!

I also remember having irises by the steps up to our house in Philadelphia, back when I was very little! We called them flags back then. I really don't remember why. Who would think that one little spool of thread could bring back so many memories?

Yes, that is another Clover shuttle decorated with fabric from Ann!

Joanne and I have been very busy getting ready for the big birthday celebration on Saturday. I have taken a little time to tat, mainly using what's left of the skein of Easter in August from Anika. Doesn't it make pretty butterflies and flowers? I've been inspired by the newest book in my collection...

Tatting Collage by Lindsay Rogers. The book was sitting on my no-longer-messy tatting table (the one to the left of my chair), and Dave noticed it. He kind of chuckled and told me that if you didn't look carefully, you might think the title is Tatting College! He's a very observant man! : )

Presents from Poland

Last fall, my son-in-law Jan's father visited from Slovakia. Jan Sr. is a chemistry professor, and for part of his visit he wanted to see the Chicago area. So, down they drove from Minnesota for the weekend!

Jan Sr. showed an interest in my tatting shuttles. One can never tell if there is true interest, or if the visitor is just being polite. This time, I think there was true interest! Jan Sr. traveled to Poland, and he found tatting shuttles for me! Joanne drove down yesterday to help me get the house ready for my birthday party on Saturday, and she gave me the shuttles last night. Thank you Jan Sr.! I'm thrilled that you have added to my collection!

I have never seen Pony or Prym shuttles in a store around here. I do have some, but I ordered them online. This is my first tortoise-colored Prym! I would love to bling two of these Pony shuttles, but I have no idea of how to begin with a bobbin style shuttle. Maybe if I travel to the UK La Cossette would give me a lesson or two! ; )

Napkin love

I love this napkin! It seemed perfect for decorating shuttles, so I tried and I'm very happy with the results! I have some extra napkins, so if you'd like one for blinging your own shuttles, please let me know. I'll probably mail them out Tuesday.

For those of you who requested one of the other napkins, please let me know if you'd like one of these and I'll be happy to mail the two together. Since school is out, I only make it into town when necessary. I'm very much a homebody, and I have to force myself to get in the car and go somewhere!

Sometimes I prefer the pattern placement on the back to what I did on the front. Good thing I can look at both sides! ; )

I found a pink shuttle in my stash, so I decorated it with the bright pink paper from the last napkin. It really looks red here. I think granddaughter Eva will be getting three shuttles for her birthday!

I finished another Spinning Wheel glass mat this morning. This one is in HDT from Anika, Easter in August. I have plans for the rest of the skein... a new project!

Sulky Blendables #4031 ~ Country Colonial

I think Country Colonial is a very pretty color combo, and it goes very well with the shuttle... purely accidental! Yes, this is another shuttle I decorated with fabric from Ann. I do like the flexibility and the color/pattern choices when using fabric. However, it is much thicker than the single layer of napkin. On this shuttle, one end had come unglued, so I dabbed a little on, held it in place for a few minutes, and it was as good as new!

Another set of Stumpy motifs is on its way to The Shuttle Shop!

Lazy days...

I am suddenly feeling very lazy, and I'm not accomplishing much. However, I have managed to bling some more shuttles! I liked the roses so much, I decided to do another batch. What will I do with them all? I really don't know right now.

Granddaughter Eva, the one who wants to learn how to tat is going to get a special birthday gift this year... blinged shuttles, and her very own beginning tatting book! Knots in Thread by Sparrow Kelley has wonderful large illustrations, large print, and 6 simple patterns, perfect for a 10-year-old! There's even a template for making picot gauges in the back. I can hardly wait for her birthday party on Sunday!

I bought a package of these napkins when I was out shopping earlier in the week. I think the shuttles look perfect for a little girl, and I have enough left from the napkin to decorate several more shuttles. I think Grandma might need a set to match Eva's!

The question now is, what shall I do with the 11 remaining napkins? How about a giveaway? The first 11 people to email their mailing info to me will get one of these cheerful napkins. Let the blinging begin!

Out of control!

Yes, dear friends. It's true... my project space is out of control!

As I sit in my favorite chair, this is the mess to my left...

and this is the mess to my right. How did I reach this point? My friend Denise would tell you that we both suffer from "Flight of Fancy." In other words, we're each easily distracted. I really don't know how I reached this point. Shall I share with you what created this mess?

About a year ago, my granddaughter Lily asked me to make her a star blanket in light blue and dark blue. Crocheting afghans is not my favorite thing to do, but how can a grandma say no? Lily will be here in one week. I'm hoping to finish her star blanket by then. I wonder if she even remembers asking for it?

I was inspired to start a crocheted doily because of Anika's posts. Honestly, I love thread crochet, but it doesn't hold a candle to tatting. So, a doily that I used to be able to finish in one day is now in its second week.

The Grant Park Drama Club alumni are going to perform Chicago at the beginning of August as a fund raiser. I was asked to contribute a raffle item, so I'm knitting a shawlette in this pretty peach color. Denise told me about a free pattern on Ravelry called Summer Flies. The pattern is very easy to follow, and I know I have time to finish it!

I'm still tatting Stumpy motifs for The Shuttle Shop. You might think that this would be a tiresome project,  but it's not! I love seeing how each color thread looks tatted up, and I'm really enjoying using pretty shuttles from my collection!

Speaking of shuttles from my collection... the blinging bug has struck, and I found some shuttles stashed away that were just screaming for a little bling! Sigh... what's a girl to do?

I really need to clean up/organize my mess. I have family descending in a week to celebrate my 60th birthday... at my request... so I guess I'd better get to work... after a little tatting. ; )

Paper Roses

My newest shuttles from Emsyjane arrived last week, and I love them! My oldest granddaughter, Eva, has expressed an interest in learning to tat, and if she likes the two on the right, they will be hers. I suppose I'd let her have the two on the left if she really wanted them. ; )

This pretty paper napkin was part of the packing material, and I decided to put the paper to use...

blinging shuttles! I decided to use an entire set of the pastel Clovers, because I wanted to see how the color showing through the napkin would look. They're all so pretty! Could it be that I just love roses?

Sulky Blendables #4030 ~ Vintage Rose

Roses are my favorite flower, so I really enjoyed tatting this beautiful color, Vintage Rose. The shuttle is another one that I decorated with fabric from Ann. Can you see the bit of sparkle?

I hope to have another rose inspired post later today... just had to tease you! : )

Sulky Blendables #4029 ~ Mocha Mauve

School is out for the summer, so I'm hoping I have more time to tat. So far, I've been too busy to spend very much time with my shuttles. I did manage to complete this set of Stumpy motifs for Chris and Erin Hinton. I'm really looking forward to the day when they start posting pictures of their Tatted Shuttles!

This Clover shuttle is another one that I decorated with fabric from Ann. She certainly was generous with her fabrics!