A tale of two Ice Drops...

Today I tatted two Doodle Ice Drops, both in size 20 Lizbeth #683, Leaf Green Lt. The stitch count is the same on both, but the one on the left is smaller because of the size of the glass gem.

When using a smaller glass gem (3/4"), I prefer to use my original basic Ice Drop pattern as the base. I love the flower design on the back!

If the glass gem is slightly larger, I use the one pass method. In the one pass method, I tat the back ring, then the front ring, and finally the chain that links to the next set of rings. The advantage to using this method is that it is easy to increase the number of rings to accommodate the size of the glass gem. I do have quite a few larger glass gems on hand, so it's nice to have options!

Back to tatting

It's been more than a week since I've tatted or blogged. Honestly, it felt good to take a break!

I did get back to tatting today, and it just had to be Doodle Ice Drops. I really like this pattern, because it is quick and easy. I don't have to think too much!

These are in Lizbeth #684, Leaf Green Medium. I do like this shade of green! The shuttle is one of my favorites from LadyShuttleMaker, Sherry Pence.

Ceramic shuttles do need a little extra care. I've broken off the tips of a couple of them when I dropped them on the floor. Luckily, I was able to fix the two that I broke! One of the things I like about my ceramic shuttles is that they make a little "tink" sound when the thread passes through the tips. I like the weight of the shuttles, and I love that I'm working with little works of art!

Movin' stuff

Yes, I moved stuff today. I carried pieces of wood down to the basement for Dave. He didn't ask me to. I just figured it was a good way to get in some exercise. He was surprised when he arrived home!

I moved books, cookbooks to be exact. I kept half of my cookbooks, the ones that I love to browse through, and I gave the rest to a college student I've known since she was in kindergarten. It felt good to give a new home to beautiful books that I no longer use.

I was up early today, so I started an Ice Drop and tatted until Dave left for work. Once he left, I got to work moving wood. I managed to finish moving all the wood before breakfast, so I allowed myself some more tatting time after breakfast. As you can see, I chose another Doodle Ice Drop in Lizbeth Blue Ice. The shuttle is by Banyek.

The day passed quickly with odds and ends chores around the house. Since I was able to tat so much in the morning, I was able to finish this Ice Drop while dinner was cooking. All in all, it was a great day!

Keepin' busy

I've been really busy this week getting ready for Mom to come live with us! Don't misunderstand me. I do not work like I'm in a whirlwind. I go at a very slow and steady pace, and I don't accomplish much. Still, I've been busier than I normally am!

It took me most of the week to finish one Ice Drop... definitely not my normal pace! It's not that I didn't have time to tat. I just didn't have the inclination to do much of anything whenever I sat down.

My major accomplishment of the week was to go through my cookbooks and weed out the ones I really never use. Actually, I don't use cookbooks very often, but I do have favorites that I like to look through every so often. I'm not much of a cook, but I do enjoy reading cookbooks!

From looking at this bookcase, you'd think we're big wine drinkers. We're not. We drive to Michigan once a year and purchase our favorite wines, enough to last the year. Now that I've cleaned out this bookcase, there's room for Dave's Coke and Sprite!

Blue Ice

Lizbeth Blue Ice is one of my favorite colors! I think it looks extra nice with this frosted glass gem.

I used it to tat another Coronavirus Button Cross, this time using a two hole button. I'm happy to say that the two hole button works well with the pattern.

If you're on Facebook, join the Christmas in Tatting page to access this free pattern by Laura Blanton. If you can't find the page, send me a message, and I'll send you an invitation. Can there be too many tatting groups? I think not!

More crosses

Today was very relaxing! It was cold and rainy, so I wasn't motivated to do anything.

So, I tatted another Coronavirus Button Cross by Laura Blanton. I have the pattern memorized!

One of my former students, who is graduating from high school this year, admired the pink cross. I offered to tat one in her favorite color, which is blue. I used Lizbeth Blue Ice, which doesn't show up well in this picture, but it's very pretty in person!

Keepin' busy

I've been having great fun going through all the goodies in my sewing room. They're being warehoused upstairs for now so that the room can be remodeled. I'm very excited... Mom is moving in with us! Dave and I are making plans for repurposing spaces in the house, and I think I'm going to be very happy with the changes we will be making!

Yes, I did manage to take time for tatting during the week. I test tatted Lynne Urwin's Ankars Away. I just love all those rings!

I also test tatted Laura Blanton's Coronavirus Button Cross Number One. This pattern was so easy to follow! Laura will be posting it on her Christmas in Tatting Facebook page. Laura is hoping to share free patterns with everyone. If you're on Facebook, why not check it out?

I tatted the red cross according to Laura's directions. The green cross has a slightly larger button, 1/2" instead of 3/8". I thought I would need to change the stitch count for the four corners around the button. I should have just left the original stitch count.

The pink cross is according to Laura's directions, except for the button size. This is another 1/2" button. So, Laura's stitch count works for both 3/8" and 1/2" buttons... good to know!

This is a super simple pattern to follow! For the green and pink crosses, I practiced frontside/backside tatting. It's not necessary, but I think it does give a cleaner look. I have lots of buttons and lots of thread!

Lovely Jubbly

The cleaning out of the sewing room continues! I've accomplished so much, but I have so much to do still. I've found things that I had completely forgotten about. Yes, I have way too much stuff, but not for long!

I can't spend all of my time cleaning and organizing. I do need time for tatting! I was lucky enough to test tat Lovely Jubbly for Lynne Urwin. This was so much fun to tat! Lynne will be posting the pattern on the Ice Drop Addicts page on Facebook. I have another pattern to test for Lynne. I hope I have time tomorrow!

Doodling in yellow

It was a beautiful day here in Illinois! It was a little cooler than yesterday, but bright and sunny. I spent time working in my sewing room, boxing up books and organizing fabric. My goal is to have everything small moved out of the room by Wednesday. I think I can do it!

Of course I needed to take breaks, so I decided to Doodle! The Doodle Loops in this Ice Drop have 8 double stitches.

This one has 10 double stitches. Should I try 12?

I finished off my day with a normal Doodle. I think it's time to rest!

Doodle Loops

I had so much I could have done today, but I chose to spend the day tatting. Yes, there's still a lot to be done in the sewing room, but I figure it will still be there tomorrow!

I started the day by finishing my test tat of Lynne Urwin's Poppy. This was great fun! Lynne decided she didn't like her first leaf pattern, and she managed to have her rewrite done in time for me to start last night. There are actually two leaves sewn on to the back of this Ice Drop, and I think it would make a beautiful brooch. Lynne will be sharing her pattern soon on the Ice Drop Addicts page on Facebook.

With several balls of thread sitting on the table by my chair, I didn't feel the urge to go looking for something different to tat. When I started this one in Grape Dk #645, I decided to try something a little different. This is my Doodle Ice Drop pattern. Instead of having picots on each point, I made loops with 8 ds. Aha! The advent of Doodle Loops!

Since I was so pleased with the results, I tatted another one in Seagreen Lt #686.

Then I tatted another in Kelly Green #713. This time I increased the loops to 10 ds. I think both sizes look good. What color should I use next?

No tatting today

While working in my sewing room yesterday, I found fabric and pillow forms that I meant to use for Dave's and my chairs. Somehow, everything got tucked away and never used.

So this morning, I decided it was time to sew up those pillows!

Our old pillows were well worn and ready to be replaced. I briefly thought about trying to center motifs, but I knew it would drive me crazy if they were off even a little bit. Instead, I just cut the fabric and sewed them up. I'm very happy with the way they turned out.

I didn't take a picture of my tree filled with April Ice Drops until this morning.

There were 36 this month! The tree is now empty and ready for the month of May. Will I have the energy to tat my first May Ice Drop before heading off to bed? We'll see!