Purple Splendor Spinning Wheel

It's finished! I really liked the way this Spinning Wheel turned out. I think I may start another! ;-)

Almost...

I really thought I could finish my Purple Splendor Spinning Wheel yesterday, but it was not meant to be. Dave has been really busy with his spring orders, and he's needed my help with paperwork. I really don't mind helping him, but it means I have to go to bed with it still unfinished. I can barely keep my eyes open! Maybe tomorrow...

Focus

I felt the need to focus on one project. I was getting too distracted, and I didn't feel like I was really accomplishing anything. So, I spent the past several days working on Rita's button flower pairs.

I've finished up the pairs, so now I can redirect my efforts... to tatting!

Not much progress...

I'm almost 1/4 of the way around the Jan Stawasz Masterpiece. I didn't have much time to tat this morning, because I decided to exercise when I got up. What was I thinking? ;-)

I didn't have any time to tat after lunch today, so I made no progress on my Spinning Wheel glass mat. After school I decided to do some yard work, so there was no tatting before dinner.

Dave had to go in to work super early this morning because of the cold weather. He had to make sure his plants didn't freeze. He went in for a "nap" around 6:30 tonight, and I've kept the house quiet (no t.v., no music) so that he could get some good sleep. I decided to work on more button flowers for Rita until he got up, but now I'm thinking of going to bed as I'm too tired to tat!

So, not much progress on the tatting front, but it was a very fulfilling day.

A new routine?

I followed the same routine as yesterday, and look what I accomplished!

I had about a half hour to work on the Jan Stawasz Masterpiece before school.

I was able to make a little progress on the Purple Passion Spinning Wheel after lunch.

And to top it all off, I managed to finish ten more button flowers for Rita. I'm feeling pretty good!

Before breakfast and after lunch

That's when I managed to fit in some tatting time today.

I was in the mood to work on my Jan Stawasz Masterpiece doily this morning. I didn't get much done, because I needed to refill one of my shuttles. Now that it's all set up to go, I should be able to tat quite a bit tomorrow.

Purple Splendor is the color I'm using for my next Spinning Wheel glass mat. This one just might have to go to daughter Carol, whose favorite color just happens to be purple!

Dave was an hour late coming home from work tonight. The wind gusts we were experiencing were causing problems with his greenhouses. So, while I was waiting for him I crocheted some more button flowers.

I wonder how this picture turned upside down?

I plan on visiting ReChic Unique Boutique in a couple of weeks, and I'd like to have a nice supply of button flowers for Rita.

I'm very happy with what I managed to accomplish today. I hope you had a day that was just as fulfilling!

And another...

I really enjoyed tatting my last Spinning Wheel glass mat, so I started another today. I'm using size 10 Lizbeth again, color #129 Purple Spendor. I'm thinking of putting these for sale in the boutique, although I have no idea how much they should go for. Any suggestions?

I feel like I'm falling behind in making crocheted button flowers for Rita.

I only managed to finish four today, but I do have a good excuse. This is Dave's busy season, and I help him with invoices in the evening. Math is not my forte, but I can handle simple calculations!

Jelly Bean Spinning Wheel

I'm feeling satisfied now that I've completed my first tatting project of the new year, the Spinning Wheel glass mat from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. The thread is size 10 Lizbeth, #119, Jelly Bean.

For those of you interested in seeing the difference in thread sizes, these are in size 10, 20, and 80. The size 10 is 7", size 20 is 5.5", and size 80 is 3.5". They take the same amount of time to tat. The only difference is the finished size.

I do love this pattern! Maybe I should start another. :-)

Mission NOT accomplished!

...but I sure had fun!

My morning task was to finish this bag. I needed a new bag to go out and celebrate my friend Peggy's birthday. ;-)

My Soup Club buddies and I went to Mi Ranchito to celebrate Peggy's birthday. That's Peggy in the sombrero, with Edna sitting next to her.

Photos are a big part of our get-togethers, mainly because Judy and Edna insist on it!

I usually forget about pictures unless Edna and Judy are around. In fact, I forgot all about pictures for the rest of the day!

After lunch, we took a field trip to ReChic Unique Boutique. We each found something we just had to have! Then, we headed back to Judy's house for Hello Kitty cookies and ice cold root beer... yum! We are party girls!

I had a lovely surprise when I arrived home. Daughter Carol, her friend Jon, and his kids were at the house. We ordered pizza, played foozball (is that how you spell it?), and had a wonderful time.

However, I did not finish my Spinning Wheel glass mat. Maybe today?

Today's the day!

I didn't make much progress on my Spinning Wheel glass mat yesterday, but I plan on finishing it today. One of the first graders asked me what I was making and she stood and watched me tat one ring and chain. She told me she could watch me tat all day. Now that's inspiration!

For some reason, I can't get this photo to rotate. It looks fine in Photo, but when I import to to Blogger, it reverts to the portrait position. Sometimes technology baffles me!

Yesterday's focus was buttons in pairs for Rita.

I love the selection of buttons she sent for me to use!

They're larger than the ones I have, and they're thicker. I'm really interested to see what she does with them!

Keep on Spinning!

It's no secret that Mary Konior's Spinning Wheel glass mat is my all-time-favorite pattern. I've mostly tatted it in size 20 and size 80, but I'm finding that I really am enjoying tatting it in size 10.

I know that I could have had it finished by now, but I'm really enjoying working at a leisurely pace.

Rita asked if I could make crocheted flower buttons in pairs for her. She has something special in mind, but I'm not sure exactly what she's planning. Of course I need to finish more than one pair so that she can get started!

My new shuttles by Ayumi Horiai arrived from Japan today! I guess I really liked the blue ones... I ordered on two different days and managed to choose the blue one both times. I wonder what that says about me? Do you think it means I like blue? ;-)

Wonderful Wednesday!

The weather was so beautiful today! I love seeing the sunshine, and the daffodils at school are in full bloom. It really was a perfect day weather-wise.

I was able to spend a little time tatting on my Jan Stawasz Masterpiece doily after school.

I also spent some time on my Spinning Wheel glass mat when the kids came in for lunch recess today. They were fascinated, so I had to tat really slowly so that they could see what I was doing.

A little early morning crocheting yielded some more button flowers.

I guess I spend more time on the phone than I realize!

These last ten were all crocheted after school. I'll need to sew some more on to headbands tonight. The girls at school are asking for more. Their wish is my command!

Tuesday already?

I can't believe that it's Tuesday already. Time just flies by!

Of course, I'm still managing to find time to crochet flower buttons. The kids at school really love them, but they wanted more headbands.

So, last night I raided my button flower stash and put together some more headbands...

which means I have to crochet more button flowers! I guess it's a good thing I enjoy making these!

I'm really enjoying working on Mary Konior's Spinning Wheel glass mat. I've never made one in size 10 thread before, so I'm paying close attention to each stitch. I don't want any funky bumps! The kids at school were fascinated with the color changes, and they noticed that the pattern goes from the inside to the outside and back again. Not much gets past kids these days!

Joining the Lafayette Lacemakers

Yesterday was the day to head to Lafayette, Indiana to attend their lace event. It was great to see so many familiar faces!

My dear friend Pat attended with me. We've known each other for years, and I was her son Brian's 4th grade teacher. That was my only year as a classroom teacher, and each of those students will always hold a special place in my heart.

I'm terrible about remembering to take pictures, but I did remember to take this one of Battatter and Yarnplayer aka Carol and Marilee. My good friends Carol and Sue Anna were also there, but I forgot to get pictures of them. If we had planned ahead, we could have worn our tie-dye t-shirts so that everyone would recognize the Tollway Tatters!

I decided I needed a break from the two large doilies, and I turned to my favorite pattern, Spinning Wheel glass mat from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. I'm not especially fond of tatting with size 10 thread, but I decided to try it out with the Spinning Wheel pattern. It's not too bad, but I'm looking forward to working with at lease size 20 again. I'm using my new Astro-Knot shuttles. They are very nice, and extremely light weight!

The girls at school have been asking for crocheted button flowers, hair clips, and headbands, so I decided to focus on crocheting button flowers this weekend. I managed to get quite a few done!

It doesn't look like very many in the can, but I'm guessing there are close to 100 button flowers finished. I guess I'll have to work on those hair clips and headbands now!