Inspired!

I've felt inspired since the Twin City Tatters retreat, and I really think I'm ready to get on a roll. and not just with tatting!

First thing this morning, I finished up the band I had on my Shining Glen loom. I think this may be my best band so far. The patterns seems nice and even for the entire length, and my width is nice and consistent. I meant to warp my new loom today, but I just ran out of time.

I used up the Green Coral Sea that was on my shuttles to make this Ice Drop. I think the white glass gem and ribbon really mute the colors, where the green glass gem seemed to brighten up the thread. Still, I think it's pretty.

I have many more things I want to work on. Cindy made beautiful Origami/Dorset bags for all of us attending the retreat. Cindy makes the bags slightly differently than I do, and I'm eager to try her method. The tutorial I follow uses some hand sewing. Cindy's method is all done by machine, and I'm eager to try it.

I'm also ready to start weaving bags to go with the bands I've been making. My loom is all set up, and I have my bobbins wound. All I need to do is spend a little time in my sewing room.

Why is there so little time? 😉

Change of pace

No, I haven't given up tatting Ice Drops!

In fact, I started off my day by tatting an Ice Drop, another one for Denise's tree.

We had thunderstorms this morning, and I love thunderstorms! I read for a while, and then I decided to do some weaving.

I found this band very difficult to weave. It may have been because I went for a fancy border. I think I should have kept it simple. The left side is the front, and the right side is the back.

I really need to work on consistency. The X patterns on the top part of this picture is much looser and longer than the ones on the bottom. The bottom was the end of the band where I finally developed a rhythm for this pattern. I think I may try this one again using only two colors.

I sure am learning a lot about weaving!

Oops... I did it again!

I forgot to blog last night. No, it's not necessary for me to blog every day, but I do find that blogging helps keep me inspired to learn new things!

I spent a lot of time reading about card weaving yesterday. It's a fascinating subject!

I also spent several hours cleaning and organizing, looking for my stash of Yarnplayer threads. Mistene is looking for size 20 Sugar Maple to finish a doily she's working on. I'm sure I have some, but I haven't yet found the really safe place I stored it! If you have some, Mistene would love to either purchase it from you or make a trade. Do you know where your stash is?

When doing chores, I always give myself little craft breaks. Doesn't everyone? It doesn't look it on my monitor, but this Baltic band is a very pretty green and purple. The pattern is from The Weaver's Inkle Pattern Directory by Anne Dixon. I used perle cotton, which makes a beautiful band!

With all the cleaning and reading yesterday, I only managed to finish one Ice Drop. One is better than none!

And the winner is...

Margie Crewse! Congratulations, Margie! You are the winner of my blogiversary give-away. Please pm your mailing info to me and I will get your surprise off to you this week.

I finished weaving another Baltic band pattern from The Weaver's Inkle Pattern Directory by Anne Dixon. Sophia loved the colors of this one!

Dave wanted to spend the day working on things he was interested in at his own pace. He spent quite a bit of time working in the yard, and while he worked outside, I sat on the front porch tatting. Dave likes having me sit on the porch while he's working in the yard, and I like sitting there!

Another hot day!

The air conditioning kicked in extra early this morning... 7:30! Luckily, thunderstorms rolled in late afternoon and it cooled of significantly.

I finished another Baltic band pattern last night. Part of the fun in weaving these bands is seeing what pattern emerges on the reverse side. I do love the red, white, and blue... perfect for Flag Day!

Sophia was very excited about this Ice Drop! She really liked the way the sparkly edge of the thread picked up the blue in the glass gem.

While the twins were napping this morning, Sophia helped me warp my loom. She loves drawing the thread down to the peg and slipping it in to place, and I love having her help!

Reunited

Daughter Joanne and the kiddos came back from their visit to Auntie Carol's yesterday morning. As expected, Sophia spied the new set of Ice Drops as soon as she walked into the living room!

The surprise was, she allowed the babies to help her decorate the tree!

While they were napping, I finished weaving my red and white Baltic band from The Weaver's Inkle Pattern Directory by Anne Dixon. I already have a pattern and colors in mind for my next band. I just need to find time to warp my loom!

I also managed to finish another Ice Drop. Sophia said, "Grandma you forgot to let me choose the ribbon, but it's okay because it's blue." I will definitely wait for her to choose the ribbon for the next Ice Drop!

After bath time, Sophia informed me that she is now big enough to learn tatting. She is four, after all! She chose a blue shuttle and turquoise thread and started winding her shuttle. After about 12" were wound, she asked if she was done. Hahaha! She filled the shuttle about halfway and told me she would tat some more tomorrow. She went to bed a very happy little girl!

Time to catch up

I don't think I've every gone so long without blogging! The past week has been extremely busy.

Saturday, Joanne started to come down with the bug the kids had last week. On Sunday I fought off a sinus headache. Monday, Joanne and I were both feeling better, so we went shopping for a few things to update my summer wardrobe.

Tuesday, Dave and I drove to Minnesota to attend our granddaughter Lily's 6th grade recognition. Today, Wednesday, we drove home. Whew! Needless to say, I didn't find time to post anything.

I'm still tatting with Rainbow Splash, mainly because Sophia loves the color. 😍

I've been working on another band. This one is a Baltic band from The Weaver's Inkle Pattern Directory by Anne Dixon. I love the red and white!

These are the only two things I managed to work on over the weekend.

Lily's 6th grade recognition was very nice! The 6th grade band and orchestra performed; the 6th grade choir sang; several of the 6th graders recapped the highlights of their school year. Cake and punch were served after the program, and there was a display in the small gym of some of their projects. It was all very impressive!

Unfortunately, we hit morning rush hour traffic on the way up, which meant that our drive took much longer than usual... 10 hours!

Lucky us, we hit evening rush hour traffic on the way back, giving us another 10 hour trip.

I don't think this has ever happened to us before!

The up side to these long drives, was that I had plenty of time to tat Ice Drops!

When we returned home this evening, I added the ribbons.

Joanne and the kids are visiting Auntie Carol and will be home tomorrow.

I can hardly wait to show Sophia all the new Rainbow Splash Ice Drops that she can add to the tree!