Baby blue

 

I've started round 17 of Renulek's Spring Doily 2026 in size 20 Lizbeth #649 Baby Blue. I didn't get very far, but I'm pleased with what I did complete.

Today, I focused on finishing the blue bound quilt blocks, and they are now done! I plan on laying out the blocks tomorrow and pinning them together. I'm eager to see how this pot holder quilt method works for me. I already have ideas on how to improve my technique for my next project. I just need to decide what that project will be!

Round 16

 

I am so pleased that I was able to finish round 16 of Renulek's Spring Doily 2026 today. This round was done in size 20 Lizbeth #646 Purple Iris Lt. I've already chosen my color for round 17, which I hope to start tomorrow.

I was also able to finish two more quilt blocks. I only have three more to bind and then I can start putting the blocks together!

As expected

 

I knew that I would not have much time for tatting today, but I did have about an hour this morning to make a little progress.

Mom needed a couple of things returned, and after that I headed to daughter Carol's house so that we could attend a bridal shower for her step-son's fiancé. We had a wonderful time!

After that, I headed to a memorial gathering for my friend Mary Lou's mother. Phyllis was a wonderful lady who lived to be 102 years old. I know Mary Lou will miss her mother, but it's nice to know that we have great memories of her to share with each other.

So much activity in one day was a clear indicator that I would not be in the mood for cooking dinner. I picked up some carry-out. The bonus was an easy after dinner clean up!

Sewing day

We had another sewing day at school. Marley brought a sewing machine from her grandmother's house. Since we had already cleaned a machine the day before, she knew just what to do. After cleaning it, Marley did a practice run. She's all set to practice at home this weekend.

Lily practiced sewing straight lines one paper. She helped clean this machine yesterday, and was ready to give it a test run. Daron and James also took turns sewing along a line.

Next week, we hope to put together a prom dress made out of paper seed sacks, an FFA challenge. The official contest deadline has passed, but we figure that this is a trial run so that the students can enter the contest next year.

Two more quilt blocks are finished. I'm really looking forward to laying out these blocks and then sewing them together for a lap quilt.

I almost made it to the 3/4 mark on round 16 of Renulek's Spring Doily 2026. I'm not sure that I'll reach my goal of finishing this round by Saturday, but I should be able to finish it before the weekend is over.

Tomorrow will be a busy day, but also a fun one!

 

More than halfway

 

I spent some extra time at school helping kids learn about sewing machines today, so I didn't have much time to craft. However, I did manage to pass the halfway mark of round 16 of Renulek's Spring Doily 2026.

I also finished one quilt block. I'll be spending extra time at school tomorrow as well, so I probably won't get too much done. Oh, well. I'm still having fun!

Almost halfway

 

I almost hit the halfway mark of round 16 of Renulek's Spring Doily 2026. Maybe that means I can finish by Saturday.

Two more quilt blocks are finished. I hope to have them all finished by the end of next week. After that I will be able to lay out the blocks and start sewing them together. This should be fun!

1/4

 

I"m a little more than 1/4 of the way around round 16 of Renulek's Spring Doily 2026. I wonder if there's any chance of me finishing this round by Saturday?

Video day

 

I went down a rabbit hole of watching sewing and quilting videos on YouTube today. As a result, I finished off three more quilt blocks. However, there was no tatting. I feel like my day is incomplete!

Unexpected

We had some unexpected guests today. Daughter Andrea and family stopped by on their way home from Kentucky. It was a short visit, but oh so sweet!

I also had a phone call from my college roommate. Eileen and I have known each other since our senior year in high school. We were roommates in college for two years. I took a year off after sophomore year. Eileen left after junior year and married her husband Tom. Our friendship has been one of those where we might not talk for months, but we pick up where we left off. I couldn't ask for a better friend.

I missed Tollway Tatters, but I did manage to finish two more quilt blocks. I now have ten of the 24 blue blocks finished.

I've chosen my color for round 16 of Renulek's Spring Doily 2026, size 20 Lizbeth # 646 Purple Iris Lt. 

I'm itching to try some new patterns, so I may get started on another project. We'll see how the week goes!

Round 15

 

I've very pleased that I finished round 15 of Renulek's Spring Doily 2026 today. I took a quick peek at round 16, and it looks like another round that will be easy to memorize.

Back in the 1980s, I was fascinated with Georgia Bonesteel and her lap quilting method. There was only one station that aired the show, and it was not a local station. The video and sound quality were not fantastic because of the poor reception. 

I was thinking about that show this morning, and today I watched the whole first season on YouTube (Lap Quilting with Georgia Bonesteel) while tatting and working on quilt blocks. It's been a great day!

3/4

 

I'm a little more than 3/4 of the way around Renulek's Spring Doily 2026. I plan on finishing round 15 tomorrow.

Two more quilt blocks are ready to go. One thing good about spending so much time hand stitching is that I've been able to really think about ways to make this process easier. I feel committed to finishing this one the way I started it so that everything is consistent, but I'm eager to try out some of the ideas that have been going through my head. I'll be a little smarter next time and practice on small pieces that can be table toppers. I am having fun!

I made it!

 

I was able to get to the halfway point of round 15 of Renulek's Spring Doily 2026. That was the main thing I wanted to accomplish today, so I'm feeling pretty good.

I also finished one more quilt block. The quilt blocks are taking a little longer than I thought they would, mainly because I've been distracted by other things. Still, I'm not in a rush. After all, I am retired!

Almost halfway!

 

Last night I started round 15 of Renulek's Spring Doily 2026 in size 20 Lizbeth #633 Purple Dk. I only tatted a couple of rings and chains, but it was enough to get me started. I really just picked this up and tatted in between things I was doing around the house, so I was very pleased with my progress!

Round 14

 

The house is still pretty clean thanks to getting ready for Easter, so my chores were minimal today. That left me plenty of time for tatting.

Round 14 of Renulek's Spring Doily 2026 is in size 20 Lizbeth #640 Antique Violet Med. Daughter Joanne loves the way this one looks, so this one will be for her.

Now I have to decide which color to use next!

Family fun

 

We had a wonderful family gathering for Easter. Not everyone was able to be here, but we still had a great time.

I fell a little short of my goal today, which was to get 3/4 of round 14 of Renulek's Spring Doily 2026 finished. I have one pattern repeat to go. My hope is to complete this round by Wednesday.

Two of the blue bound blocks for my patriotic quilt are finished. I was only going to try and finish one per day, but I figured two is better than one!

Productive day

I'm very pleased with what I accomplished today.

I passed the halfway mark of round 14 of Renulek's Spring Doily 2026. It's an easy round, but it sure is taking me a long time!

My biggest accomplishment of the day was finishing the yellow and purple wall quilt to cover our bathroom window. The wall you are looking at is the old exterior of our house, with the bathroom window facing west. We built a room addition last summer, and that wall is now the east wall of our new room.

We didn't want to close up the bathroom window. It would have meant redoing one wall in our bathroom, which was not in our budget. Dave built the quilt rack for me last week, so it was time to finish the quilt.

I tried several techniques that were new to me. The quilt doesn't look bad from a distance, but there are lots of mistakes that could drive me crazy. Let's just say that I'm not overly fond of this creation. When I find a way that works for me, this quilt will be replaced. I'll take off the loops for hanging, and it can be used as a baby quilt.

I'm not expecting to get any crafting done tomorrow. We have family coming for Easter, and visiting with family is far more important than crafting!

Quilt day

Today I was determined to finish the squares with red binding.

I succeeded! It took me all day to finish the last four blocks. I seem to have slowed down with my hand stitching.

This will probably not be the final layout, but this is the look I want. Now I need to finish the 24 blocks bound in blue to go around the outside. Once those are finished, I will decide on the final layout.

I'll be going at a much slower pace now. If I finish one block each day, I will be happy. Obviously, I did not meet my goal of finishing Renulek's Spring Doily 2026 by Easter. My goal now is to finish by the time school is out, which is achievable. 

Tonight, while we watch t.v., I'll be back to tatting!

Shopping day

It's been a while since Mom and I have met up with daughter Carol for shopping and lunch, so we seized the opportunity to get together today.

After picking up Carol, we headed over to Hobby Lobby. Mom found these adorable gnomes that we will put in the garden when the weather gets a bit nicer.

Mom loves Highland cows, and she just couldn't resist this little guy.

After shopping, we went to Olive Garden for lunch. We then headed home for some much needed rest. Shopping can be exhausting!

Tatting was on hold today. I did manage to finish one quilt block before we went out and another when we got home. It's been a long day, and I'm tired. I wonder what I will accomplish tomorrow?

International Tatting Day

 

Happy International Tatting Day! I had hoped to get more tatting done than I did, but with all the errands and chores of the day, I guess I'll just have to be happy with what I did achieve. Tomorrow is another day!

Sick days

Oops! I wrote this post last night and forgot to publish it!

It's a good thing I posted early on Sunday. I never got around to posting in the evening, because I got sick mid-afternoon.

Before giving up for the day, I managed to finish four more quilt blocks.

Yesterday, all crafting was out of the question.

Today, I had enough energy to finish two more quilt blocks. Tomorrow, I should be able to focus on tatting. That's a must! After all, no tatter wants to miss International Tatting Day!