Another oops!

Daughter Joanne asked if I would tat a bookmark for her as well as one for Sophia. I love getting tatting requests from family members

Feeling confident after tatting Robin Perfetti's Five Petals Bookmark, I set out to tat another reversing the colors. As I was blocking the second bookmark, I noticed that I joined the last Star Flower motif in the wrong place. It looks a little unbalanced, but now I know to be careful of where my joins are. I guess I'll have to tat another... oh, darn!

I haven't posted the last few days, because I've been busy adjusting to my new schedule. Yesterday morning I finished Janko's afghan... three down, four to go!

I took the time to sort yarn, and came up with ideas for the next four afghans. This one is Ella's. The pattern is Lunar Crossings Rectangle Blanket from Crochet Kim. The yarn is Lion Brand Mandala, "Pixie." I had to pay attention to the set up, but now that the pattern is established, I think it's going to be fairly easy to crochet.

On the chicken front, we've had our first blue and green eggs!

Busy weekend

Daughter Alison called Friday morning to ask if she and the kids could come visit for the weekend. Of course I said yes! We hadn't seen them since daughter Joanne's visit in June. Between their activities and ours, there just hasn't been a good time to get together.

We had a great time shopping, looking at houses, cooking, and enjoying each other's company. The weekend just flew by!

Lucky me... I am a test tatter for one of Robin Perfetti's new bookmark patterns! This is Five Petals Bookmark, and I love it! There was a challenge in this one for me. I had to learn to do a Catherine Wheel join. Luckily, there are some wonderful YouTube videos to help with the learning process. I used the one by my dear friend Marilee Rockley. I'm quite pleased with my results!

After taking my first picture, I remembered that I had purchased bookmark sleeves on Amazon a while back. Since I'm planning on giving bookmarks as Christmas presents this year, I thought the sleeves might be a good idea. The tatting will stay clean and the recipients won't have to worry so much about how to care for their bookmarks.

I think I'll start another bookmark tonight!

Sharing

I love sharing with others, especially when I know my gift will be appreciated. Recently, my friend Sherry Townsend asked if I would make her an Origami pouch with Irish themed fabric. Of course! Then she asked if I'd be willing to try making a smaller matching bag to hold shuttles. Why not?

Sherry received her package yesterday and set up this beautiful display to take a picture for me. Yes, I forgot to take a picture of the bags before mailing them off to her. Maybe I'll learn to take pictures some day. ;-)

The beautiful doily in the picture is Sherry's Corona, designed by Ben Fikkert. Isn't it gorgeous? Sherry's planning on taking her new bags with her to Palmetto Tat Days. I'll be interested to find out if they meet her expectations as she uses them over the next few weeks. Right now, she loves them, which makes me very happy!

I managed to tat one Ice Drop before heading off to school today. I also worked on my grandson's Granny Square afghan this morning. I hope to have it finished in the next week, because I've found another pattern I want to try out!

Mom's been busy weaving, and this morning she sent me a photo of this beautiful scarf she just finished. I'm in the mood to weave, but I must finish crocheting Janko's afghan. I think I might have a few too many interests... nah!

Closet day

I decided to reorganize my clothes closet this morning, and I'm so glad I did! I was ready to go shopping, and now I realize I don't need to!

Organizing didn't keep me from tatting! I think the green and white looks so refreshing.

Keeping with the green them, I crocheted another spool pin doily and button flower. I wonder how long it will take me to use up all the crochet cotton I have on hand?

Crochet day

I have so much crochet cotton around, I feel I have to use it up or give it away. It's amazing how long one ball of thread can last. I decided that it would be nice to have a box of spool pin doilies just in case. So, I crocheted a spool pin doily this morning.

Then I got to thinking about Dorset buttons. I've been wanting to try those for a long time. However, it was easier to crochet around a button. I found a tutorial on YouTube that was different from anything I had tried before. The front reminds me of a Dorset button.

The back is snugly encased. This crochet button cover was pretty easy to do, but it didn't inspire me.

I watched another YouTube video about crocheted button flowers. The tutorial used chunky buttons and DK yarn, which I have, but I wanted to do thread crochet. I followed the tutorial using size 10 cotton and my little buttons. It turned out pretty good.

The big difference between this button flower and the ones I did a few years ago is the number of petals. I think I prefer the ones I made with five petals, but I think this one might curl less.

I had these three pieces finished before 9 a.m. It's kind of nice to work on quick and easy projects!

I wanted to tat another Ice Drop today, and it's been a while since I've tatted my Blue Fudge Ice Drop. This is not one of my favorite Ice Drops, but I wanted to review the pattern. Guess what? It worked! The beautiful shuttle is from Grizzly Mountain Arts. I do love using beautiful tools!

Back to school

Yes, it's true. I headed back to school today. I'm going to work part-time this year as lunch room supervisor and library supervisor for 3.5 hours a day. It's an aide position, and I'm very happy to take on this new responsibility. I'll still be available to sub if no other subs are available.

Today was safety training, and it was very informative. I don't have to be at school tomorrow for meetings, but I will be there the rest of the week. Maybe I will get back into a productive routine!

I was pretty tired when I got home. The training was six hours. Still, I found time to tat an Ice Drop! I kind of miss tatting Ice Drops in white. I can use any color glass gem with white, and I'm more tempted to add matching beads. The shuttle is from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design. I do love Rita's shuttles! This one was listed on eBay. It's impossible to pick up the true beauty of this shuttle with a camera. You'll just have to trust me... it's gorgeous!

Tollway Tatters

We had a lovely day yesterday!

Sue was working on her gorgeous rainbow doily.

Carrie worked on adorable hair pins.

Denise was focused on Turtle Ice Drops from Wally Sosa's new book, Itty Bitty Zoo.

Carolyn has been wanting to join us for a while, and was finally able to make the trip yesterday. She brought lots of goodies to share and show.

 
Carolyn and her husband made her shuttle winders. She said she always uses them. I have a shuttle winder from England, but I haven't used it in years.

These are pieces Carolyn has made for crowns. She tats over a fine wire along with the core thread so that they don't fall over.

When I first met Carolyn years ago, she told me about her wire tatting. I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but it is beautiful!

She's also an Ice Drop Addict and brought along some of her beautiful pieces.

I worked on my Renulek Wiosna 2018, but didn't think to take any pictures.

Carrie had to leave early for a wedding. She was brave and asked a young man to take a group photo for us.

All in all, it was a lovely time. I was tired when I got home, so read in stead of tatting or blogging.

Today I focused on finishing up the last of Mom's spool pin doilies. I hope to get them in the mail tomorrow.

I finished reading The Forgotten Seamstress by Liz Trenow. I guess the ending correctly, but I didn't mind because the author unfolded the secret beautifully.

I'm on to my next book, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. I had watched the movie last week when Mom recommended it to me. The book is written as a series of letters between the characters in the book, which makes it very easy to read bits and pieces as time allows.

I managed a little sewing today, but I can't show pictures. I want the recipient to be surprised!

Reading time

I admit it. I've been caught up in reading The Forgotten Seamstress. Usually I don't care for stories that jump back and forth between time periods, but this one has really caught my interest.

Walking on my porch was interesting today. Some of the chickens spent a good deal of chicken in the front yard. They are fun to watch!

This is Henry, our rooster. He's quite a handsome guy, and he really enjoys strutting around the yard and keeping the hens in line.

It took me two days to complete the next set of spool pin doilies for Mom. I do like the blue and white!

I made a little bit of progress on my hanky edging. I didn't get very far because... I kept reading my book! I think I'll do a little more reading before heading off to bed!

Starting the day off right

I really am enjoying crocheting these little spool pin doilies for Mom! I make one while drinking my morning coffee, and then I pick up my crochet hook throughout the day and do a little bit here and a little bit there. I actually completed one of these yesterday, and I was close to finishing another. The second one didn't get finished last night, because my wrist just wouldn't cooperate. I can't sit and crochet for long periods of time as I used to. It's a good thing I have varied interests!

Daughter Carol was at the Cubs game today, so I sat and watched it on t.v. I didn't spot her this time. However, I did manage to finish the first edge of my hanky!

Our mail lady was much later than usual today. As it turns out, her truck broke down while she was on deliveries, and she had to be rescued. I'm glad she was able to finish her deliveries today, because my newest shuttle from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design was in the mail! Isn't it a beauty?

When the Cubs game was over, I sat down to read for a little bit. I'm only two chapters in, but the book seems like it's going to be a good one!

While looking for something else, I found my pin backs. I sewed them on to my dark green lucky pennies, but the lighter green will have to wait. I can't find the thread!

Not much to show... again!

Today was jam packed with fun! Becky and Kami came over for a sewing lesson this morning. The girls are making kimonos for themselves. They didn't finish, but they did get quite a bit done! It was the last lesson before school starts next week. From now on, lessons will be after school. Where has the summer gone?

I went to daughter Carol's house for lunch, and then we did a little shopping. We found a shoe sale, and we each bought two pairs. I felt like I was being quite extravagant, but I haven't bought a new pair of shoes in over two years. Mine were looking a bit shabby! We also found a clothing sale, and Carol was able to find a few things to freshen up her back-to-school wardrobe.

I did start a hanky edging in Marilee Rockley's "Beach Cafe," a very cheerful color! The pattern is from page 42 of The Craft of Tatting by Bessie M. Attenborough. I know size 20 thread isn't ideal for hanky edgings, but it was what I was in the mood to work with. So there!

I was checking Facebook this morning and I saw a post from Madhur Dadlani from a few years ago showing how she uses up bits of thread on her shuttles. I decided to give it a try. It looks pretty good so far, but I'm not sure how long I'll stick with it.

Not much progress was made with spool pin doilies today. I'll try to finish the second one before I head off to bed tonight.

When I saw that Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design was selling Madeira thread, I ordered some right away! It's much finer than the Liz Metallic. So far, so good!

Chicken fun

I was sitting in my chair enjoying the afternoon yesterday, when Dave called to me. I looked out the window, and there he was with a chicken on his back!

I quickly ran outside to take a closer look.

Meet Henrietta. She loves Dave! She follows him around the yard, hoping he will feed her mealworms. Do you see the chickens at the end of the porch? Dave was at the bottom of the steps, watching the chickens (they are NOT allowed on the porch) when Henrietta flew on to his shoulder. She stayed on his back until I shooed her away. Sometimes I wonder if Henrietta is really a silly goose! ;-)

How was I enjoying the afternoon? Why I was crocheting spool pin doilies for Mom!

I worked on more today. I now have 35 finished... only 15 to go!

No, I haven't given up on tatting. I just want to make sure I finish the spool pin doilies and get them off to Mom. I have a bad habit of setting things aside and forgetting them!

This afternoon I wound these adorable wooden spools with hand-dyed thread from Marilee Rockley (Beach Cafe and Garden Afternoon). I love using my little swift for holding the skeins of thread as I wind them. I found the spools on Etsy, and I think they're great!

Tollway Tatters

If you're in the Chicago area... Tollway Tatters will be meeting at the Hinsdale Oasis on 294 at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 18, 2018. We usually stay until 2 or 3 p.m. and we try to sit near Starbucks. Look for tatting supplies and tie dyed t-shirts! We'd love to have you join us!

Rock of Ages

This weekend was the alumni and directors' showcase to benefit the school drama club. Every two or three years, students who have graduated are invited to participate in a summer performance raise money for something specific. The group has been able to raise money for new lighting and mics. This year, their goal is to replace the stage curtains.

My role in all of this is to provide whatever support Madame Director needs. My duties this year were pretty simple: help with Carol's costume, provide dinner for Carol the two nights of the performance, and sell raffle tickets. I had the easy part!

Rock of Ages is a musical I had never heard of, so I was completely surprised by the performance. The cast was fantastic! I understand they cleaned up the language quite a bit... it was performed in a school.

Minor rant here... why do entertainers feel the need to litter movies, plays, music, and books with foul language and graphic scenes? I must lead a very sheltered life, because the people I know do not speak or act the way I see characters portrayed. A good story is a good story. Why muck it up? Rant over.

Because unexpected things happen on performance weekends, I try to keep crafting simple and at a minimum. I don't want to be frustrated my interruptions!

I chose to work on the spool pin doilies for Mom. They're quick and easy, and I don't have to worry about losing my place in the pattern!

I think these are going to be some fun table decorations!

Oh, and I finished my doily! Presenting "Masquerade" from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior, tatted in size 20 Lizbeth thread pack, Sweet Tarts. It didn't turn out the way I had envisioned it, but I like it!