Working on round 7

I was volunteering at school today, so I didn't have much time to tat.

I started on round 7 of Renulek's Wiosna 2018 yesterday. Once I finished two pattern repeats, I was all set! Still, this is going to be a more time consuming round. I love the little butterflies!

After dinner, I tatted an Ice Drop. This is a very simple one, but I sure do like it!

Number two

I didn't have much time to tat today because of subbing, but I did manage to complete one Ice Drop using another of my new shuttles!

New shuttles

I guess some would say I have a problem. I think I have a passion. Yes, indeed, a passion for shuttles! These beauties arrived from Russia today.

I couldn't wait to put at least one of them to work!

Spa day

Two of my daughters and my oldest granddaughter had a spa day with me yesterday. My grandson opted out. I wonder why? We had great fun with foot baths, paraffin wax for our hands, and facials... all at home, of course!

I did have a little time for crafting yesterday, but not much. We had a fun filled day that started at 9 a.m. and went all the way to 7 p.m.

Today was another story. I had lots of time to myself.

My newest shuttle and picot hook from Grizzly Mountain Arts arrived on Friday. I put them to work right away! I actually started the Ice Drop Friday night and finished it Saturday night.

I worked on round 6 of Renulek's Wiosna 2018 today. I purchased the pattern from Etsy so that I could keep going when I was in the mood. I like that Renata releases her patterns in increments, but now that I'm retired, I like to tat when the mood strikes me.

Talking with Denise about triangular scarves and shawls got me in the mood to search the Internet. I found this Middle of the Road scarf by Sue Pinner and couldn't wait to get started. The yarn is Lion Brand Mandala and the color is Spirit. This pattern is done in v stitch, and is super simple.

I mad pretty good progress on the scarf/shawl pattern that Denise and I are working on. This is a heavier weight yarn that works up very nicely. I love the way the linen stitch pattern looks with the multiple colors!

Black Widow

I pulled out another of my beautiful Grizzly Mountain Arts shuttles today. I call this one the Black Widow, not because of the beautiful spider web on this side.

It's because of this side. I do love this shuttle! The Ice Drop isn't too bad, either. 😌

My friend Denise started a crocheted triangle shaw using the linen stitch. Hers was so pretty, I decided to crochet one also. The yarn is Impeccable from Loops & Threads, and the color is Folklore. This is a worsted weight yarn, so I had to move my crochet hook up from an H to a J to get some drape. Denise is doing hers in Lion Brand Mandala. I'm going to crochet one out of that, too. Denise is using a pink and gray combo. Mine will be... blue, of course!

Round 5

I subbed at the high school today, which meant I had a great deal of time for tatting. With the technology available in schools these days, it's so much easier for the classroom teachers to have projects that the students can work on. I did get to answer a few questions about research, but the students basically worked on their own, which meant that I was able to complete round 5 of Renulek's Wiosna 2018!

While watching the Olympics tonight, I attend another Ice Drop. I tried longer chains on the encasement round. I don't like them. I think they look sloppy. I think I'll stick with a maximum of 10 double stitches for my chains.

This shuttle is one of my favorites. It was custom made for me by Dave Stanbrough of Grizzly Mountain Arts after my dad passed away ten years ago.

The shuttle is beautifully made, and it is wonderfully smooth. My mom has been my inspiration for all fiber related crafts. She has tried so many things and has always done beautiful work. Dad was so supportive of her, buying or making her the tools she needed for her pursuits. When I showed interest in things that Mom was doing, Dad supported me as well. Luckily for me, Dave is also extremely supportive. How did Mom and I get so lucky?

Round 4

I finished round 4 of Renulek's Wiosna 2018 doily. I was a bit late getting started on this, but I'm hoping I can keep going at a steady pace. It just takes dedication, right?

And you knew that I just had to tat an Ice Drop today! 😉

Not in the mood

I just wasn't in the mood to blog yesterday. I had too much tatting I wanted to accomplish, and blogging would have taken up precious tatting time!

Before heading off to school, I started an Ice drop in two different colors, mainly because I was trying to us up thread on shuttles.

After school, I finished up the Ice Drop started in the morning and tatted another one with the colors switched. I like them both!

I started another Ice Drop before heading off to bed, and I managed to finish it before leaving for school this morning.

I do love tatting basic Ice Drops! I feel like I've really accomplished something, and it doesn't take a lot of time.

I'm booked for subbing the entire week. So much for retirement!

Waiting for spring

I know it's about a month before the official start of spring, but I really think the weather is taking a turn toward spring. Yes, we had snow yesterday afternoon... almost two inches... but it was warm enough today, that most of it melted. We're expecting rain for the next few days, so I figure we'll have no white stuff left by the end of the week.

It's going to be a busy week. I know I'm subbing Monday through Thursday, and on Friday daughter Alison is coming for a visit with her kids. I had to get my quality tatting time in today!

I decided it was time to get started with Renulek's 2018 tat-along. Round 1 is done in Lizbeth #115, Springtime. I used one of my new see through shuttles from Japan. This one is a pale lavender color. I like that I can easily see how much thread I have left, and I really like the super sharp tip! I found out about them from my friend Carol. They're available on eBay.

These shuttles are available three to a pack in small and large sizes, similar to Clover shuttles. I think I do prefer the Clovers because of the little grooves over the post. These do feel a little slick. Otherwise, there's not much difference between the two brands.

My day is not complete without an Ice Drop, and there was plenty of thread left on the shuttle. Doesn't this look cheerful?

Round 2 is in Lizbeth #680, Spring Green. The shuttle is from the same pack as the lavender, but as you can see, this one is clear.

Of course, another Ice Drop was needed!

Hmmm...

I thought I spent a lot of time tatting today... apparently not! I only tatted one Ice Drop, and it's my pattern for Tatting Corner Tat Days, so I can't even show it to you!

So, what did I do with my time? I cleaned the kitchen, baked a cake, fixed three meals, talked to Mom and three of my daughters, called my aunt, helped Dave troubleshoot a mail problem on his iPad... I guess I didn't really have as much time for tatting as I thought I did!

Back to normal

The weather was back to normal today... no fog, just warm enough to start melting the snow... it's starting to feel like winter is winding down.

I started off the day test tatting an Ice Drop pattern for a friend. Sorry, it's not ready for the big reveal just yet!

Next, I checked my pattern for Tatting Corner's Tat Days in July one more time. I'm not ready to show this one just yet. I think it may be after Tat Days, because I want this to be a special pattern for the event.

I finished up the day tatting this little motif from one of my Japanese tatting books, Tatting Lace 101 Edging & Motif Ideas.

I've been enjoying watching the Olympics. I get really excited watching curling, and I get the wits scared out of me watching the skiing and snowboarding events. I don't know how those athletes can do that stuff!

Fog day

School was delayed for two hours this morning because of dense fog. Daughter Carol called to let me know in case I was subbing. She then let me know around 9 that school was cancelled for the day. It was a wise call. All day long the fog was thick.

You'd think that with nowhere to go and nothing to do, I'd have accomplished a lot. I didn't. I only finished one Ice Drop. Why? The ups and downs in the weather mess with my sinuses, and I just didn't feel like doing much.

I did take two naps, and I talked to each of my daughters today. Gosh, I'm tired!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Red and white... the perfect combination for Valentine's Day!

Just one...

Today was another sub day, so I only had time for one Ice Drop. Luckily, I had a pretty new shuttle to use!

Snowed in

Well, it was self-imposed. We did get quite a bit of snow over the weekend, and there were times when it was nasty. However, it was never so bad that we couldn't have gotten out if we had wanted to. Yes, the roads were bad over the weekend, but it was anywhere near the monster storm that was predicted.

Still, I chose to take the long weekend to focus on decorating quilt squares for Palmetto Tat Days. I tried to stay off the computer, because it's easy for me to get lost in space and I really wanted to finish these pieces so that I can mail them off this week.

I chose Mary Konior's Curds and Whey from Tatting with Visual Patterns for this piece of sashing.

At first I wanted to tat something that resembled beer foam for this beer stein fabric. However, my imagination wouldn't work to give me what I wanted, so I looked through Tatting with Visual Patterns again. The pattern is called "Skipping Ropes." It doesn't look at all like beer foam, but I like it!

I'm not fond of skulls, and I wasn't sure what to do with this fabric. I decided to pick up on the flower motif on the skulls. One of the motifs is from one of my Japanese tatting books. The other two just kind of fell off my shuttles.

The butterfly edging is from another of my Japanese tatting books, and the tiny butterfly on the pink is simply rings. I'm sure someone else has tatted this one before. Basic butterflies really don't take much thought!

While looking through my Japanese books, I found this butterfly pattern. I took the shuttle closest to my chair, which happened to have Purple Marble wound on it. I really like this butterfly, but the size and color were completely wrong for the quilt block project.

The pieces have all been packaged for mailing, and I'll send them off when I'm in town tomorrow. I think I may tat an Ice Drop tonight. I'm suffering from Ice Drop withdrawal!

If you haven't guessed by now, I love collecting tatting shuttles! I also love using them! This little beauty is from my long-time friend, Dave Stanbrough of Grizzly Mountain Arts. Dave doesn't make many shuttles any more, so I was thrilled to be able to purchase this one! I would love to travel west and meet Dave and Jo in person. I'm not sure that's in the cards, though!

I try to avoid eBay, because I'm always tempted to bid on items I really don't need. However, when I saw this American flag shuttle, I knew it had to be part of my collection. I can be so bad! ;-)

Snow day!

School was cancelled for today because of predicted nasty weather. We didn't really get much snow last night, but it's been snowing steadily all day long. My mail lady said the main roads were okay, but the side roads are pretty bad. I was happy to stay home all day!

I was able to catch up on some housework and laundry, and then I sat down to tat this beautiful Posy Ice Drop by Nicola Bowersox. Nicola provided anther version of this pattern that includes another round, which I think I'll try soon.

If you're a member of the Ice Drops Addicts page on Facebook, you'll find the pattern for free under Files.

Today's mail included my newest shuttle, Painted Metal Tatting Shuttle - Marbled from The Knotted Vine. I love collecting new and unusual shuttles. I bet you didn't know that! ;-)

Yesterday, I received my newest fish shuttle from Handy Hands. My friend Denise ordered the same shuttle, and we both think that we were meant to own these shuttles. Denise's has pink eyes (pink is her favorite color), and mine has blue eyes (blue is my favorite color). I think it was serendipitous that we each received the shuttle that was perfect for us!

More Maple Butter

I had so much fun in first grade today! Then, after school, I was able to give sewing lessons to a fourth grader and her mom, as well as a fifth grader. I do love sharing what I know how to do with others!

Luckily, I didn't have anything that needed to be done after dinner, so I was able to tat another Ice Drop in Maple Butter. This is such a yummy color! 

Playing around

I do enjoy tatting the basic Ice Drop pattern, because it can be completed so quickly. I usually can finish one in about an hour. I wanted to do a little something more, but I wasn't in the mood to follow a pattern. So, I played with chain length and number of picots. This one is tatted in Lizbeth #648, Pearl Blush. The outer chains have seven picots, and the inner chains have five picots.

While I liked the way the Pearl Blush Ice Drop turned out, I wanted the picots to be more defined. So, I increased the outer chains to nine picots and left the inner picots at five. I do like the way this one turned out. The thread is Lizbeth #189, Pink Ice.

I'm pleased that I was able to tat two Ice Drops today. I'm subbing every day this week, and I'm scheduled to sub Tuesday and Wednesday next week. It's almost like working full time!

Emerald green

Today I subbed in first grade... what a wonderful time! Luckily, the teachers in our district always leave wonderful lesson plans, making it very easy for me to help keep their classes moving forward. The only down side is that it really eats into my tatting time!

I did manage to tat one Ice Drop today. I do like this emerald green glass gem!

Pink Ice

Do you remember when pink ice was all the rage? I've never thought of myself as a pink person, but I longed to have a pink ice ring. I never did get one.

I no longer need a pink ice ring, because now I have Pink Ice thread! I do love this new Lizbeth color!

Craving a Werther's

After finishing yesterday's Ice Drop, I quickly wound my shuttle with another new color, Lizbeth #716, Maple Syrup. All I could think of as I was tatting was Werther's! Luckily, I don't have any in the house. I'm pretty sure they'd all be gone!

I needed to get my mind off candy, so I next tatted with Lizbeth #190, Silver Ice. I don't know how well the shading shows up on a computer monitor, but in person it is gorgeous!

Yum!

I have more thread than I could possibly use, but when I saw the new Lizbeth colors, I just had to have them!

When I opened my packaged, I'll admit that I was not impressed with Maple Butter at first. However, once I decided what I was going to make and started winding my shuttle, I was in love! Be careful if you order this. It is mouth-wateringly beautiful!