The best laid plans...

I really did have a great day of tatting and crafting planned out, but once again I let myself become distracted.

I must have spent three hours flitting from one page to another on the Internet. It all started because I wanted inspiration for my next band. I never did find what I was looking for, and to top it off, I didn't get my loom warped... not good!

I needed to move around some, so I worked in my sewing room until lunch time. I didn't accomplish much... I spent too much time looking at the books I was trying to organize. I did manage to gather up two bags of trash. That's progress, right?

After lunch, I sat down with my tatting. I finished "Maria" from Tatted Bookmarks ~ cross-shaped by Lene Bjorn. I had started this cross yesterday, but I made several mistakes. Why does it take so much more time to fix a mistake?

Once again, the left-over thread on the shuttles was used for an Ice Drop. I really like the way this one turned out!

Inspired!

I've felt inspired since the Twin City Tatters retreat, and I really think I'm ready to get on a roll. and not just with tatting!

First thing this morning, I finished up the band I had on my Shining Glen loom. I think this may be my best band so far. The patterns seems nice and even for the entire length, and my width is nice and consistent. I meant to warp my new loom today, but I just ran out of time.

I used up the Green Coral Sea that was on my shuttles to make this Ice Drop. I think the white glass gem and ribbon really mute the colors, where the green glass gem seemed to brighten up the thread. Still, I think it's pretty.

I have many more things I want to work on. Cindy made beautiful Origami/Dorset bags for all of us attending the retreat. Cindy makes the bags slightly differently than I do, and I'm eager to try her method. The tutorial I follow uses some hand sewing. Cindy's method is all done by machine, and I'm eager to try it.

I'm also ready to start weaving bags to go with the bands I've been making. My loom is all set up, and I have my bobbins wound. All I need to do is spend a little time in my sewing room.

Why is there so little time? 😉

Green Coral Sea

The last time I was in Hobby Lobby, I found a ball of Lizbeth Green Coral Sea #171. This is one of my favorite colors, so I purchased it to use at the Twin City Tatters retreat.

Before leaving the retreat, I started tatting "Monica" from Tatted Bookmarks ~ cross-shaped by Lene Bjorn. I love the patterns in this book!

With the thread left on the shuttles, I tatted an Ice Drop... of course! Mom requested six Ice Drops in light colors. I think I can do that!

In exchange, I received this beautiful mini loom from Hard Maple Looms. Gene Marino made this loom to Mom's specifications. Isn't it adorable? I plan on finishing the band I'm working on, then I will warp this little beauty and go to town!

Twin City Tatters retreat, part 3

So, what did I accomplish at the tatting retreat? Plenty!

You know I had to tat Ice Drops! This one is done with a tiddly wink.

This one is done with a widow's mite. I was able to get a bag full on Amazon. I think the dark purple is a bit too dark, but I still like it.

This was a fun tat done with a faceted bead. Cindy liked it so much, she decided to try one too!

As you may have guessed, I like working with crackled glass gems!

I wasn't sure I'd like the white gem, but I think it shows off the thread nicely.

Although I've tatted Christina from Tatted Bookmarks ~ cross-shaped by Line Bjorn many times, this one gave me fits! I think I had to retro-tat seven rings... unbelievable! The best part of tatting this cross was learning how Michelle makes her tassels. I need to perfect my technique, but that will have to come later. This time I just wanted to finish!

I finished one more motif on my sister-in-law's runner. Somehow, I thought I'd have this finished by the end of the retreat. Ha!

On the last day, after everything was packed up and put away, I started another cross. I hope I do better with this one!

Twin City Tatters retreat, part 2

Getting together with tatting friends is wonderful, and I made some new friends on this retreat!

It was great fun to watch Michelle and Cindy trying to set up this selfie! Luckily, no tatters were injured while mounting the camera at the proper angle. 😁

Heidi

Kathy

Kathryn

Michelle

Theresa

Cindy

I can't believe I didn't get a close up of Denise! I am a terrible friend.

Cindy made bags for each of us to decorate. Of course they were filled with goodies! Let's see if I can remember who made which bags...

Kathy

Diane

Denise

Heidi

Kathryn

Michelle

Cindy

I don't know how, but somehow I missed taking a picture of Theresa's bag. I guess it's a good thing that I'm not in charge of taking pictures!

Twin City Tatters retreat

I have to start off by saying that this retreat was a fabulous experience! Thank you to Cindy and Michelle for organizing a wonderful, low key tatting retreat. We all had so much fun tatting, chatting, sharing ideas and supplies, and relaxing in a beautiful setting!

Where should I begin?

This was our craft room. Each of us had our own area including table, chair, trash basket, thread catcher, cup holder, and access to a surge protector. There were table Ott lights for us to use, but I found I didn't need one. The lighting was magnificent!

We didn't spend much time in the living room, but it was a nice relaxing space if anyone wanted to take a break from tatting.

The kitchen had everything we could possibly want other than food. Cindy went shopping for us, so we could have just stayed inside the whole time!

There were two full baths and a laundry area for us to use.

We each had our own twin bed, 5 in one room, 2 in another, and one single room. I slept very well!

Timberhaze Retreat is in Center City, MN, and I would recommend it to anyone for a crafting retreat.

Denise's dozen

I finished #12 of the dozen Ice Drops I promised to make for Denise.

They're safely tucked into a bag and are ready for delivery tomorrow morning.

I'm picking up Denise bright and early tomorrow, and we'll be heading to Minnesota for Twin Cities Tatters retreat. I'm not sure if I'll make any blog posts for the next several days. I guess it depends on if I have wifi access and if I remember to take pictures!

Dave will be holding down the fort for the next several days. It ill probably be Thursday night or Friday morning when I blog again. I'm hoping to complete a lot of tatting!

Having fun with picots

Today was my day to tat between laundry loads, and I decided to play with picots and the basic Ice Drop pattern.

For me, the best part of tatting the basic pattern is that I can finish an Ice Drop in about an hour.

I do enjoy the patterns with a third round, but they take so much longer to complete. Besides, there is an awful lot of variety possible with the basic pattern!

Change of pace

No, I haven't given up tatting Ice Drops!

In fact, I started off my day by tatting an Ice Drop, another one for Denise's tree.

We had thunderstorms this morning, and I love thunderstorms! I read for a while, and then I decided to do some weaving.

I found this band very difficult to weave. It may have been because I went for a fancy border. I think I should have kept it simple. The left side is the front, and the right side is the back.

I really need to work on consistency. The X patterns on the top part of this picture is much looser and longer than the ones on the bottom. The bottom was the end of the band where I finally developed a rhythm for this pattern. I think I may try this one again using only two colors.

I sure am learning a lot about weaving!

In a rut?

I think not!

If I were in a rut, I don't think I'd enjoy working on Ice Drops every day just to see how different glass gems, threads, beads, and ribbons fit together.

I suppose my little experiments could be boring to others, but I am thoroughly enjoying myself!

Some lovely new shuttles arrived in the mail today. I do love Rita Richmond's designs. These are wooden shuttles, and I love tatting with wooden shuttles!

Round 5 of Alenalea's mystery doily has been posted. This was a very simple round, but I think I should have made my picots slightly larger. I needed to steam my tatting into submission!

Denise and I are getting ready to attend the Twin City Tatters retreat in Minnesota next week! Poor Dave will have to fend for himself for five days. I guess I should stop tatting and prepare some meals for him to help ease the pain. Maybe I can get daughter Carol to come over and cook dinner for him one night. We haven't spent much time apart over the past 37 years, so it's very strange for both of us. I'm very happy to be married to a man who supports my interests!

Feeling relaxed

I don't know why, but I feel extra relaxed today. It must be the beautiful weather!

The bottom of my Mochila bag is finished. Now I'm ready to move up the sides. I think I need to take a break from it now. Crocheting is really hard on my hands.

I decided it was time to add beads to the Ice Drops I'm tatting for Denise's library Christmas tree. Here, I've replaced the picot with one bead.

This one has two beads in place of the picot. I do like the stacked look!

With these two, I now have five completed.

My newest shuttle from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design has arrived!

The back is almost as pretty as the front!