Unbelievable!

We had 44 students in the after-school tatting class today, including the two second grade teachers! I admit, I cheated a little. With so many after-school activities at this time of year, i knew we wouldn't have as large a group as last time, so I invited the second graders. The response was... unbelievable!

During the after-school class, two students finished a challenge. Of course, I can't remember who this is, maybe Jessalyn. She was practicing chains with picots.

I remember this is the prize that Paige S. chose. When she came to get her picture taken, she couldn't find her tatting, a beautiful length of chain in size 80. Paige S. is moving on to picots now.

On a recent trip to Hobby Lobby, I found these foam slap bracelets. I thought they would be great for the kids to decorate with tatting.

Dylan took up the challenge, and she has been wearing her beautiful bracelet to school!

Recently, Lou Dawn sent some paperclips with tatting. The kids fell in love with them, naturally!

They have been very popular. In fact, the kids asked me today if I could learn how to do this so that there would be more available. I guess I'll have to go to Staples this weekend to find some cute paperclips!

I also received a box of goodies from Ann. Included were blank note cards that can be decorated with tatting. I thought I took a picture of all the cards, but I can't find it. There was also a bag of size 10 thread, but the kids were so excited with the colors, they were off winding their shuttles before I could take a picture. Since these threads are so pretty and glittery, the kids suggested that I keep these for prizes. I work with some pretty awesome kids!

Thank you Lou Dawn and Ann! You have really helped to keep my group of tatters motivated!

Where does the time go?

Is it just me, or does time seem to be flying by? I think that with the warmer weather finally here, I'm easily distracted by all sorts of activities... watching the birds build nests, rabbits bounding around the yard, mowing grass. Yet, I still manage to find time for tatting!

It's time for another Tollway Tatters meeting. Sue Anna and I decided on Saturday, May 24. If you can make it and need details, please email me. We always have loads of fun!

I wish my tatting buddies from school could come along. They're so much fun!

Last week, they surprised me by showing me that it is possible for two friends to tat together!

This is the ultimate in sharing! I didn't ask, but I'm guessing that some of the kids left their tatting supplies at home and felt the urge to tat. They say necessity is the mother of invention!

One of my fifth graders finished her first length of chain, and of course I can't remember who it was, but she did a beautiful job! I'm blaming the number of tatters I have rather than my poor memory for forgetting who tats what!

I'm making progress on Renulek's Letnia. I find the colors in Arctic Waters very soothing!

My very talented mother has been weaving up a storm with her new love... Saoria weaving!

She sent me this beautiful bag for my iPad mini.

This one is for my Kindle.

This one is just big enough for my cell phone, keys, and wallet.

And to top it all off, Mom made this beautiful silk table scarf! I haven't decided where I want this yet. For now, it's sitting by my side so that I can fondle its luscious texture!

Arches

First, I'd like to thank all of you for your kind words yesterday! I'm resting and taking my medicine, so I'm confident that all will be well soon.

I was a little distracted over the weekend, so I forgot to post a picture of Paige's latest motif. I'm looking forward to getting back to school so that I can see what the kids have been tatting!

I finished Marilee Rockley's "Arches" doily in size 20 Lizbeth, #670. It's about 7" in diameter. This is for Mom, because red is her favorite color! 

I'm sure the word is out...

...that my dear friend Fox has moved her blog. Just in case you were unaware of the move, you can find her new blog here... http://tat-ology.blogspot.ca.

I'm getting ready to sit down and do some tatting. I haven't had a chance yet today, because I've been designing an order sheet for Dave's spring listings, which will really start booming at the end of this week... or so we hope!

Paige completed a motif of her own design today!

I know that Grace finished her six rings, and she chose an angel motif as her prize, but somehow I didn't get a picture.

I've spent some time decorating Boye tatting shuttles this week. I snipped off the pick tip, which I really don't like, and then I went to town! This is the first side.

This is the back side. As you can see, I didn't have enough of the first fabric to decorate both sides of all ten shuttles. With a little bit of planning, I could have had seven shuttles covered in the colorful fabric. I don't mind, though. I like them just the way they are!

Arches, Round 4

After snipping off my unfortunate mistake, I finally finished Round 4 of Marilee Rockley's "Arches" doily.

I've started the final round, and I hope to have it finished by the end of the week.

Peyton finished six rings, and now she's ready to tat a ring and chain pattern.

4th grader Zoe tatted 12 inches over the weekend. She's going to be concentrating on Fancy Pants now.

I've been busy decorating tatting shuttles. I just can't help myself! I'll show pictures when they're finished.

Tollway Tatters ~ Reggae Style

We were a small but happy group today...

Sue Anna, Barb, me, and...

a Reggae musician! Yes, he was right next to us, and he was playing and singing for four of the five hours we were together. He was a very talented musician. We liked him so much, we each bought his CD!

I finished Round 3 of Marilee Rockley's "Arches" doily last night, and this is what I chose to work on today... no pictures of that, though. With all the wonderful music in the background and the tatting and chatting with Sue Anna and Barb, I blithely snipped my threads and prepared to sew in my ends. The problem was, I hadn't finished the round. I was only half way there! I put it away and worked on my hanky edging. When I got home, I snipped off what I had accomplished today, rather than try to add new thread. It just seemed easier.

I wish I could remember who conquered rings yesterday. Doesn't this string of rings look nice?

And another young tatter has been working hard on long chains. The kids really enjoyed our after-school tatting class on Wednesday, so much so that they've asked when we can do it again. Can you feel my happiness from where you're sitting? :-)

37!

 It has been an unbelievably busy and exciting week... too much to blog about... but one of the most wonderful parts of this past week was the after-school tatting class today. Why? There were 37 students in attendance! We met for about an hour and had more fun than should be allowed. I meant to take a picture, but the time flew by and kids were headed for softball practice or home before I had time to remember my camera.

I did get pictures of tatting throughout the week, though.

Fancy Pants

Fancy Pants

Fancy Pants

Alternating threads for Fancy Pants using two shuttles

A tatted bracelet

A tatted ring - alternating threads using two shuttles

Shelby's first motif, earning her one of Marty's shuttles

Tatted ring and bracelet

Long chain with picots

A long, long chain!

A tatted ring and bracelet

A tatted ring and bracelet

Owen's Fancy Pants

Fancy Pants

Grace's bracelet

Fancy Pants

Picots!

 As you can see, the kids have been very busy tatting!

And what have I been up to?

I finally finished round 2 of Marilee Rockley's "Arches" doily tonight! I looks like it needs a little blocking, but I'm too tired for that tonight. I think I'll take the Scarlett O'Hara attitude and think about it tomorrow... "After all tomorrow is another day!"

Good night, all!

Arches, Round 1

This was a nice, easy round to tat. I really like seeing the Victorian Red next to my grey pants. I actually considered using charcoal grey thread for this round, but when the ball of thread wasn't where I thought it should be, I continued with the red. I was just too lazy to continue looking!

Chains seem to be in fashion at Grant Park Elementary!

Today, I gave a lesson in blocking to a group of girls. Paige finished another motif. I showed the girls how to hide the ends of the thread, and then Paige thoroughly wet the motif. The girls watched as I pressed the motif into shape with my fingers. Paige carefully carried her motif back to class to dry.

Shelby is getting very close to finishing her motif. I can hardly wait to show it!

Starting another doily

I couldn't help myself. I'm really into doilies right now. I've been wanting to tat Marilee Rockley's "Arches" doily for quite a while, so after school today I took the plunge!

I decided to keep tatting with the Victorian Red. Now that I have the center finished, I'm ready for Round 1!

Molly has been perfecting her chains, as well as learning to make picots.

Grace is having trouble with rings, so she decided to practice her Fancy Pants and picots for now. There's nothing wrong with practicing the familiar before moving on to something new!