Improving

I started my day with another Dorset Crosswheel. I feel like I get a little better with each one I make!

I felt it needed a little embellishment, so I added a round of tatting.

I wasn't content until I had turned it into a December 8 button ornament. I love the way it looks!

After several false starts, I finally have a Lychett Basket button that I like. It's not perfect yet, but it is greatly improved!

It seemed appropriate that I end the day with a donut ornament. 

Tomorrow is our Tollway Tatters Zoom meeting. I won't be able to attend for the full time since it's the last day of Joanne's visit. I am looking forward to meeting up with tatting friends, even if it is for just a little while!

Still playing with buttons

 

Last night I decided to give the Lychett Basket pattern another try. I did the casting before heading off to bed. Casting is covering the ring with the blanket stitch. This morning I did the slicking (pushing the bumps formed by the blanket stitch to the back), laying (wrapping the spokes around the ring), and rounding (weaving the pattern. 

Although this looks better than yesterday's attempt, it's far from being acceptable!

Since I wasn't doing very well with the Lychett Basket, I decided to set Dorset buttons aside and work on a button ornament. It's very satisfying to tat a familiar pattern!

I have a little tin that's holding the buttons, donuts, and findings that I plan on using with size 40 Lizbeth #669 Poppy Red. To make things more interesting, I just reach into the tin and pull something out. It helps keep things interesting!

I was going to try another Lychett Basket, but after three false starts I decided to make it into a Dorset Crosswheel. It looks like I need to work on my tension!

Playing with thread

Mom and I went to get our hair cut this morning, and then I spent the rest of the day playing with thread!

My blog posts will probably be pretty boring for a while. I have quite a selection of buttons and donuts that I plan to tat around with size 40 Lizbeth #669 Poppy Red. My December 1 button ornament pattern is pretty simple and tats up quickly, and I want to be sure to have plenty of ornaments for Christmas in the Village!

I plan on having some Dorset Crosswheel centers, so I'll be stitching up some of them as well.

My 5/8" four hole button stash doesn't seem to be getting smaller, even though I feel like I've been going through them like crazy!

It took me a while to figure out the Dorset Crosswheel variation. This was another one of those times when I wondered why I found it so difficult once I was finished!

I gave away most of my 5/8" two hole buttons, but I found some more so I might as well use them!

My final button of the day was supposed to be a Lychett Basket. This looks nothing like the picture on the pattern page! I'll use it as a center for a button ornament, but I know I'll be much happier when I create one that looks like the pattern picture!

Last of the Red Burst

 

I finished my last button ornament in Red Burst this morning.

I had just enough thread left to make a 1/2" Dorset Button.

So, what was I able to tat with one ball of size 40 Lizbeth? There are two cross bookmarks.

There are 55 button ornaments and one Dorset button. I am very happy with how much I was able to tat with one ball of thread!

Now that I've finished with the ball of Red Burst, I've moved on to size 40 Lizbeth #669 Poppy Red. 

I've signed up for a spot at Christmas in the Village. I sure hope these little ornaments sell!

On the weaving front, I passed on one of my looms to my friend Irene's ten-year-old granddaughter. She sews, knits, and crochets. Weaving seemed like a natural hobby. As you can see, she has really taken to it!

My sister came to visit with her grandchildren today. That means that Great-grandma Green was able to spend time with all of her great grandchildren this summer!

Brookfield Zoo

We took the kids to Brookfield Zoo yesterday. We left about 8:30 in the morning and returned home around 4. It was a hot and sunny day, so we were all exhausted by the end of the day. I hadn't been to the zoo in about 30 years. It was pretty much as I remembered it. Some of the areas were closed, and some of the animals just didn't make an appearance. I imagine they didn't like the heat any more than we did!

I snuck in a little time for myself today. This morning I made two Dorset buttons.

This afternoon I tatted a donut ornament. I think I have just enough thread for one more ornament in Red Burst. I've already started it, and I should finish it tomorrow. 

It's taken me a little over two weeks to use up this ball of size 40 Lizbeth. When I finish the last ornament, I'll take a picture of what I've been able to tat from one ball of thread. It's pretty amazing!

Experimenting

After starting a load of laundry this morning, I sat down to tat. As I was working on this donut ornament, I couldn't help thinking about Dorset buttons.

So this afternoon I made a Dorset button and turned it into a button ornament. I love it! I'll be keeping this one. It took me a little over four hours to make, and I won't be selling it for $5 at a craft show!

Starting the day off right

Starting the day with tatting always seems to set things right! This ball of size 40 Lizbeth #147 Red Burst seems to go on forever! I may not achieve my goal of finishing up the ball this weekend.

We all headed over to daughter Carol's house for a delicious lunch of macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, and salad. Joanne and the kids spent the afternoon with Carol, and Mom and I headed home after lunch.

While Mom was napping, I made another Dorset button. This time I used size 10 Lizbeth and it went much faster. I think the stitches look more even, but I need to work on keeping my center in the center!

After dinner, I decided to try 12 wt Sulky Blendables with a smaller 1/2" ring. I love the sheen of the Sulky thread, and I think I did a much better job with the center this time.

Special buttons call for special storage, and I just happened to have this cute little button tin on hand!

My first

This is my very first Dorset button! I've been wanting to make one for years, and I've had the supplies. I just didn't have the nerve to get started. Today was the day. I followed a tutorial from Gina-B Silkworks, and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to make. 

I used a plastic ring from my stash and size 20 Lizbeth #115. I probably should have started with heavier thread as this button took me nearly three hours to make. It's not perfect, but I think it's pretty darned good for my first try!

My shuttle collection continues to grow. I got a little carried away ordering shuttles from Alexey Romanov. I don't feel a bit guilty. I love them all!

Today I received two beauties from Rita Richmond. Her artistry amazes me!

I only managed to tat one donut ornament today. I don't have too much left of size 40 Lizbeth #147 Red Burst. I'm hoping to finish this ball of thread this weekend. I wasn't too fond of this thread when I first saw it, but now I think it's wonderful!
 

Time flies!

We have some summer company, so time is flying by! Daughter Joanne and family haven't been here since last summer, and we weren't able to visit over the holidays.

It's hard to believe, but granddaughter Sophia is eight years old and heading into third grade. The twins are  five and will be in kindergarten.

The twins have been asking Grandma Green tons of questions, and they've joined her for her exercise regime.

Mom's walks have become a little more strenuous!

I have been tatting a little bit since last Thursday, but my production has really slowed down!

Exploring

I spent a lot of time exploring online today. I watched some very interesting sewing videos, and I looked up recipes. I decided to try a new zucchini recipe tonight. Mom and I loved it! Dave is not a fan of zucchini. He ate some, but wasn't impressed. That's okay. It means more for Mom and me!

I couldn't find the recipe again when it was time to fix dinner, so I did my best to remember. I sliced the zucchini into about 1/2" slices, coated them with olive oil, and seasoned them with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. I spread them out on a cookie sheet covered in aluminum foil, topped them with shredded cheese, and baked them at 425º for 10 minutes. Yum!

I did manage to tat two button ornaments today, both in my December 8 pattern. 

I'm still working with the same ball of size 40 Lizbeth Red Burst. I'm amazed at how much can be made with one little ball of thread!

 

Three more

 

Mom and I had a busy day, so I only had time to tat three more donuts.

We went to JoAnn Fabrics to get supplies for a sewing kit for my brother. Last night he asked Mom to teach him how to sew. What fun!

Of course we took time out for lunch. Then we headed home for nap time! After a short snooze, I spent the afternoon tatting. 

I still have some Red Burst thread left. Tomorrow I will need to decide if I should move on to a different color or continue with a different pattern. Decisions, decisions!

Another donut day

Tatting with donuts is so much fun!

Not only do I have donuts that I've purchased this year, I also have found some that I purchased a long time ago.

Some are plastic, while others are metal.

Some are smooth, and others are textured.

Some are round with perfectly centered holes, and some are slightly wonky. I love them all!