Today's project

Today's project was to empty the closet in my sewing room.

Mission accomplished!

Tomorrow I will wipe down the shelves and the walls. Then it will be ready for a fresh coat of paint!

Needless to say, I'm a bit worn out from all that work. Still, I managed to tat one Ice Drop today in size 20 Lizbeth #645, Grape Dk. The shuttle is from Banyek. I love tatting with pretty shuttles!

Seagreen Lt

I only had time to tat one Ice Drop today. I do love this color, size 20 Lizbeth #686 Seagreen Lt. I'm not fond of the seven points, but that's how this one worked out!

At Mom's suggestion, I've started an inventory of my books. For now, I'm sorting them and storing them in boxes. Once I've finished, I'll be ready to set up my craft space in a different part of the house. I'm having fun going through everything, and so far I've only found one duplicate book!

Green streak

It must be that Spring is in the air. I'm really attracted to green lately! Or, it could be that there's green wound on shuttles sitting on my table! For this Doodle Ice Drop I chose to use two shades of green. I know there are advocates of blipless joins, but I kind of like those little blips of color showing through.

I've been avoiding using this glass gem, because I didn't feel like tatting extra rings. How silly! I think the eight points look just fine.

I felt the urge to clean today. That urge doesn't hit very often. Don't get me wrong. I do keep up with regular chores, but today I tore apart two bathrooms and cleaned every nook and cranny. I have a love/hate relationship with cleaning bathrooms. I hate the chore, but I love the results. What's your least favorite but most satisfying chore?

Oh, my!

I have been very lax with blogging lately. I've been busy, in a relaxed sort of way. I get plenty done, but I'm working at a very slow pace. There's no need to rush, because I'm not going anywhere!

Jane Eborall has been busy translating and drawing A Bow called Medina. Last Thursday, Jane asked if anyone would be willing to test tat the pattern, and I volunteered. I was concerned about tatting the top part of the bow, but it turned out to be a pretty easy pattern to follow. The tails were another story! Again, the pattern is pretty easy to follow, but I made the mistake of having conversations with Dave while tatting. I found several mistakes as I was tatting, but once I was finished, I found even more!

Don't be put off by this pattern when Jane posts it. It really is enjoyable. The next time I tat it, I'll make sure Dave is outside working so that I can concentrate and not lose my place in the pattern!

While I thoroughly enjoyed testing the pattern for Jane, I felt the need to doodle with Ice Drops! This is the Doodle Ice Drop pattern with beads in place of picots.

Of course I then needed to tat another!

I've been managing to get my 10,000 steps in each day. I keep going outside for fresh air, so I'm probably missing phone calls. I'm not very good about checking to see if someone has called. I figure that if it's important, they will call back!

Think green!

Way back in the 60s, there was a call to Think Green! after a blizzard hit the Chicago area. I remember a picture of The Thinker in the newspaper with the words Think Green! emblazoned across the page. My sisters and I enjoyed the theme, because our last name was Green. My brother was too young to remember.

I've been thinking about green, because of the beautiful ball of thread sitting on the table next to my chair!

My day started with another Rock & Roll Ice Drop by Lynne Urwin. The design looks complex, but it's really fairly simple. Lynne has posted her pattern on the Ice Drop Addicts page on Facebook.

I flitted from one task to another today. I did some space measuring and planning, dreaming of ways to rearrange things in the house. I found that ideas came to me more easily while tatting. What can be easier than tatting a Doodle Ice Drop?

Why stop at one? I did enjoy my tatting time today, and while I like to think I accomplished a lot around the house, the truth is I didn't! Haha! I love fooling myself into thinking I'll get things done!

I did take time for another Puzzle Impossible. The 5x5 puzzle was a little more challenging than the 3x3, but it didn't really take me too long. I'll admit, I've spent quite a bit of time looking at jigsaw puzzles lately!

Long time, no blog!

I've been having way too much fun to play with technology. Yes, I've been taking a quick peek at blogs every day, and I've been checking emails, but I've been having so much fun playing with thread, there's been no time for blogging!

I've been spending a lot of time test tatting for Lynne Urwin, and enjoying every minute of it! This is Lorna's Wish, a design that looks fabulous with the outlining in a different color. This is Lynne's tatting, not mine!

My first attempt was in purple and green. I must have a different tension with my chains, because I had to increase the number of chain stitches to get everything to fit. Tension is everything!

My second attempt was in blue and green. I was able to use Lynne's stitch count, but I had to remove the bottom ring to make it work for me. I also decided to use Catherine Wheel joins on the outer rings for a smoother look. It's been a while since I've attempted the Catherine Wheel join, and I had to keep my YouTube video open for most of the last round. They're not perfect, but I had fun trying! I could not figure out how to use both the join and the picot on the rings to make it look right. I'm going to keep trying with this pattern, because I think it's so pretty!

I haven't been tatting the entire time. I took a break to work on my first Puzzle Impossible. I ordered all four sizes and started with the easiest. The next one is 25x25 pieces, then 7x7, and finally 12x12. I think these will be fun when grandchildren are visiting!

Doodle Ice Drops give me a mental break. I can pretty much tat them without thinking about what I'm doing!

The next pattern I tested for Lynne was Rock & Roll. Isn't it pretty? This one is wrong! I misread the directions, and this looks nothing like Lynne's pattern. With every ring and chain, I would look at Lynne's picture to try and figure out what I did wrong. I couldn't see it. I decided the best thing to do would be to start over. I was getting the same results.

Then I used a technique I used to do with crochet doily patterns. I read the pattern out loud and realized I had forgotten to reverse my work after the large ring.

Success! This is Lynne's Rock & Roll Ice Drop as she intended it! Well, sort of... I didn't start with the basic Ice Drop pattern as Lynne did, so there's a row of chains missing. When using the slightly larger glass gems, I use the one pass method. Now that I know what to do, I'm going to hunt for the right size gem and tat Lynne's pattern as written!

Testing, testing

As I was test tatting for Vicki Clarke, I realized that this would be a great project for practicing front side/back side tatting. I find the technique to be quite confusing, and I've never been able to complete any project properly.

I was quite pleased that I was able to finish this tatting project using front side/back side tatting... until I realized I had inserted my bottle cap the wrong way!

So, today it was back to the drawing board. I was very excited to finally complete a project using this technique!

Sorry... you'll have to wait for the big reveal from Vicki Clarke to find out what this project is. When it is revealed, I hope to see many versions posted online!

This morning I decided it was time to tackle one of the closets upstairs. I managed to sort through and clean out three big bins and pass some craft supplies on to my friend Lilly. She will choose what she would like to use and pass on the rest. I have no regrets. I enjoyed collecting all of the supplies once upon a time, and I had great aspirations for finishing way more projects than would be humanly possible. It's really kind of a relief to not feel obligated to try and finish those long forgotten projects!

Too busy to blog

I've been busy test tatting!

Lynne Urwin asked me to test tat her Rocky Road design. It reminds me of a Celtic knot!

This one has more beads, and Lynne said she likes this version. I prefer her original!

This version has little halos tatted around three of the rings. I'm not sure about this one. Lynne will be posting this pattern on the Ice Drop Addicts page on Facebook when she has it the way she likes it... soon!

I also did some test tatting for Vicki Clarke. Sorry, this little peek-a-boo is all you will get out of me!

Everything's coming up roses!

I've been test tatting Lynne Urwin's Summer Rose. This was my first attempt, and I think it turned out pretty good! My glass gem is a little small, and it pops out easily, so I decided to try again.

I rearranged the stitch count for the domed side rings, and it worked well. However, I messed up on both the flower and the leaf!

My third attempt turned out just as I wanted, so I decided to try another.

I should have stopped at three. I messed up on the leaf on this one. Still, they're all pretty! The leaf is Frivole's pattern, and she graciously gave Lynne permission to link the leaf pattern to the Summer Rose pattern. Lynne will be offering this pattern soon on the Ice Drop Addicts page on Facebook.

Tonight I hope to start testing another pattern for Lynne!

Comparison tatting

In case you haven't guessed, I really enjoy tatting Ice Drops! It's a good thing, because I have an awful lot of glass gems and size 20 thread to get through. I have a feeling they'll last for years!

Today I tatted two Doodle Ice Drops. The green one on the left is my original design. The yellow one on the left was tatted with the one pass method. I really prefer the original way. I like the flower on the back, and I like the chain next to the gem. However, if the glass gem is larger than 3/4", the original pattern does not work well. It's too tight a fit, and I'm too lazy to go back and play with stitch counts.

The one pass method is more open, and I understand its appeal. I guess we all have our preferences!

Tollway Tatters were supposed to meet today, but we had to cancel because of the stay-at-home order.  Sue suggested we put on our tie-dye t-shirts and take a photo of our tatting. I'm not good at taking selfies, and Dave was busy out in the garden. So, here I am in my tatting corner, wearing my tie-dye t-shirt and holding today's Doodle Ice Drops!

This morning I did something for the first time... I participated in a Zoom meeting! Twin Cities Tatters met this morning and I was invited to join. It was great fun, and I was able to put some faces to names. Who says you can't have fun at home? Maybe I should plan a Tollway Tatters meeting on Zoom!

And suddenly it's Friday!

I just didn't think to blog yesterday.

I was busy sewing face masks! I only finished a dozen, but I like to think that my small contribution will be helpful.

Today I focused on finishing my second Sanditon MKAL. I love the way it looks in a solid color!

Granddaughter Sophia received a sewing basket, plastic canvas, yarn needles, and scissors for her birthday. It's a grandma's duty to encourage fiber crafts! I was thrilled that Joanne sent me a picture of Sophia working with her supplies today. Maybe she'll be able to come visit this summer so that I can load her up with more craft supplies!

Wednesday?

I just looked at my phone, and I couldn't believe it's Wednesday already! Where does the time go?

I've been busy cutting fabric for face masks. My production isn't great, but if I'm helping even a little, I glad to do my part.

We had a pink moon last night. I've never heard of a pink moon before. It was still too light out for the pink to show well when I took this picture, but by the time it was dark enough clouds had rolled in. I could see a little bit of pink around the edges of the clouds, but I never did see the pink moon in all its glory.

Staying home has caused me to give in to the temptation of online shopping a little more than I normally do. I just couldn't help myself! I guess the only way to avoid buying things is to not go shopping. All of these are from Banyek on Etsy.

I've been playing some more with Lynne Urwin's Lilly's Star. We've been chatting back and forth about different ring configurations. It's really pretty fascinating!

I liked the purple variation so much, I decided to tat it again today. These aren't as quick to tat as my Doodle pattern, but I do love tatting them!

Another version

Lynne Urwin and I have been messaging each other about her Lilly's Star pattern, trying out new ideas. This is the latest version. It will be fun to see which one Lynne settles on!

I spent most of today cutting fabric and making double fold bias tape. My first attempt at making bias tape took me four hours. The second one took two hours. I have two more fabrics I'd like to make into bias tape, but I'm not sure I have the stamina for it!

Lilly's Star

Lynne Urwin asked me to test tat another pattern for her, and I was happy to help! This one is called Lilly's Star. Lynne and I have been messaging back and forth on this one all weekend. This is the first version. Lynne decided the rings were a little too squished together, so she did some tweaking.

I've been cutting it pretty close on my threads lately, not really leaving enough for the little flower motifs for Vicki Clarke. When I went to wind this shuttle with thread, I thought I'd give it a try rather than just taking the thread off. I finished the flower with nearly 6" of thread left!

This is the second version of Lilly's Star, with one less small ring. It helped that I used the correct size gem this time!

Update! I forgot to acknowledge my shuttle makers! The pierced wood shuttle is from Veronica of TattingShuttles on Etsy. The Ice Drop Addict shuttle and purple butterfly shuttle are from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design. The multi-colored flower shuttle is from Middy Clark of The Knotted Vine on Etsy. I love all of the talented shuttle makers I've "met" over the years!

Tattika

Tattika the tatting fairy is a year old! To celebrate, Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design offered tatting shuttles and these adorable tote bags. Mine arrived on April 1st, a perfect way to celebrate International Tatting Day!

I put my new shuttle to use today. I'm still enjoying tatting Ice Drops, especially my Doodle pattern. I'm nearly finished with my ball of Lizbeth #115, Springtime. I think I probably have enough for three more Ice Drops, so I'll keep trying different picot variations.

I finished another bookmark today, again using size 20 Lizbeth Springtime. The pattern is Autumn Bookmark from Tatted Bookmarks by Robin Perfetti. The shuttle is by Veronica of TattingShuttles on Etsy. The pattern calls for a tail with a tassel, which I left off so that I could use a bookmark sleeve. Done in autumn colors, this bookmark reminds me of falling leaves. In Springtime, I just see a pretty bookmark!

Before and after

I know I posted that my sewing room was out of control, and I wasn't kidding!

When Dave and I were decorating for Christmas, everything got tossed into the sewing room.

The room is back in order now.

I've even started some sewing projects! Don't get too excited, though. A lot of what I took out of the sewing room is now in the sun room waiting to be sorted. I've tried to spend at least fifteen minutes a day going through things and I am getting organized, but it's a very slow process.

I managed to get my 10,000 steps in today, and I tatted an Ice Drop. It was a great day!