I forgot to blog last night!

I knew I had picked up my computer for something. I watched some interesting YouTube videos last night, and then I went to bed feeling like I had forgotten something. I had... blogging!

We had about 8" of snow over the weekend with quite a bit of drifting. So, yesterday was a remote learning day. I managed to finish my Granny Rectangle while monitoring student activity. It's not a full-sized afghan, but it's definitely large enough to cover my legs on a chilly evening!

When I was looking for donuts on Fire Mountain Gems, I found these 15mm braided circles. It took me a while to find a stitch count I liked. This one in Lizbeth Sky Blue Dark has rings of 6-6-6-6 and chains of 12 ds. It seemed a bit too snug for my taste.

Next I tried Lizbeth Azalea Med. The rings are the same size, but I increased the chains the 15. I like it much better!

I'm a big fan of post shuttles, probably because I learned to tat with a post shuttle. I especially love Rita Richmond's hand-made shuttles. I don't know how she does it, but the size and shape work perfectly for me. The dark purple and lavender shuttles are from her new line of Sparkle & Shine shuttles. No, they don't have a pick or a hook. I don't mind one bit. It's easy enough to pick up a crochet hook when I need one for a join, and I like that I have better control of the thread length with this style shuttle. Isn't it wonderful that we have so many choices?

Experimenting

Since I was forgetful over the past two days, I decided to try adding to my post as I complete things throughout the day. I'm not sure if it's worth the effort, but I'll give it a try!

I didn't mean to spend the first four hours of my day tatting, but that's how long it took for these three pieces. No, I did not spend the entire time tatting. I took out time to talk with Mom and daughter Joanne!

The thread is size 20 Lizbeth #698, Fudge Med. Yes, I do have a craving for chocolate right now! If you enlarge the picture, you can see that I put a gold bead in the center of the top flower motif. It's a much better size than the pearl beads I've been using. I do have some pearl beads that I think would be perfect, but I'll have to find out where I stashed them!

I love all of Sherry Pence's shuttles, but the ones in cobalt blue are my absolute favorites!

Before heading off to school, I managed to tat another Ice Drop. This one is in size 20 Lizbeth #184, Rainbow Splash. Sherry Pence's artistic ability really shows through in this gorgeous shuttle!

After school, I tatted a Doodle Ice Drop in size 20 Lizbeth #620, Azalea Med. I also finished two six petal flowers for Vicki Clarke's and Cynthia Stevenson's fund raiser project, A Celebration of a Classic. I think I have 14 of these little flower motifs tatted. I'm excited to see what these ladies are able to create!

Do you see the fish in the shuttle? I do!

I'll be doing some test tatting tonight for my friend Shelley Perreault. No, I won't be showing my work. It's a surprise!

Pink set complete!

This is the last of my set of six pink snowflakes, and I really like it!

Don't they look pretty all together? I may have to make a set for my tree. These are all Christmas presents.

My friend Jules asked me to tat a purple snowflake with an initial charm in the center. It turned out pretty nice. Hmmm... an idea for next year's Christmas presents! ;-)

Five down, one to go!

Here it is... the fifth of my six pink snowflakes!

size 20 Lizbeth, Azalea Med #620

Which shuttle did I choose?

Why, the blue of course!

...Caribbean Sky to be precise. I tatted up another pendant in size 20 Lizbeth, Purple Dk #633 so that I could evaluate my newest purchase. I give this pretty little shuttle 5 stars. First, I love each and every color. I'm glad I have one of each. Second, I love the fact that the bobbin actually fits on the end of the shuttle. It made winding so much easier. Third, I love the clickety click click click as the bobbin moves. It's a little stiff, but I don't mind. To me, that's an indication that it will last for a long time!

I finished another Azalea Med Doodad Snowflake last night... two more to go, and I'll have a set of six. It seems to me that since snowflakes have six points, each set should have six snowflakes. What color should I use next? Just thinking ahead! ;-)

Too many?

I couldn't decide which color to order, so I ordered them all! Too many? I think not! ;-)

I did finish another Azalea Med Doodad Snowflake. Who knew pink snowflakes could be so attractive?

Doodad Snowflake #3 in Azalea Med

I think this is my favorite of my Doodad Snowflakes. I just love those Josephine rings!

A little more pink...

I moved on to Motif #2 in Minitats by Patti Duff. I really like this shade of pink! Maybe it's because my mother had azalea bushes in the front yard when we were growing up in Philadelphia. I loved those azaleas! My husband tells me azaleas won't survive here south of Chicago. I may have to retire further east and/or south! ;-)

This is motif #2 as shown in the book. I think I should have made the first picot slightly larger, and I prefer slightly larger picots around the edges.

This is my second attempt with a doodad in the middle and a jump ring attached to one of the outer picots so that it can be worn as a pendant. I thought it was a little too loose, so I decided to add picots to the rings.

I like the look of the one without the joining picots better, but the pendant with the joining picots is much firmer.

Isn't it amazing how much can be accomplished with one more hour of sleep?