Finishing projects

Dave and I spent time with friends yesterday, but I still managed some tatting time!

Tatting friend Jeanne sent me some ribbon to experiment with, and I was pleased to tat an Ice Drop. The ribbon is thicker than size 20 Lizbeth, so this is a five pointed pattern instead of six. I really enjoyed tatting with ribbon. It's very slippery, so I had to pay close attention to make sure my rings were closed and that I didn't have any spaces between my double stitches.

I can't remember who, but someone on Facebook commented that ribbon was nice for brooches because of the stiffness of the stitches. I do think ribbon would make a beautiful tatted brooch.

I was putting away my Tollway Tatters supplies and came across a hanky I had started over a year ago. I don't know why I stopped, but now it's finished and I really like the way it turned out. The hanky blank is from Handy Hands, and the thread is hand-dyed Beach Cafe from Marilee Rockley aka Yarnplayer.

It's a little late for a summer hanky. Do I dare start one in fall colors, or should I move right on to winter? Hmmm... I guess you'll have to wait and see!

The next set of bookmarks for Madelyn will be in black and yellow. The black looks so elegant! I think it would make a beautiful choker.

Ice Drop fun

I do enjoy playing with the basic Ice Drop to see how I can vary the look without a full blown design change. This is the basic pattern with five graduated picots. The shuttle is from Pekalo Designs on Etsy. The little took is for adjusting the tips, and it works very well!

This is the basic pattern done in one pass, which eliminates the chains next to the glass gem. Most of the time, I prefer the basic pattern, but I do understand the appeal of showing more of the glass gem. The shuttle is from Grizzly Mountain Arts. I love Dave's new rose design!

Mandy Kerwell-Bez designed "Hope." She's a needle tatter from France, and her designer are marvelous! I love my little owl shuttle from Grizzly Mountain Arts!

Today was an organizing day. I worked on my desk, which I had neglected for way too long. I pulled everything out and put it in a box, then worked my way through all the clutter. I probably threw away half of what was in there. It's not finished, but it's much better than it was!

I managed to tat two Ice Drops today. This is the basic pattern with three picots. I do love this shuttle from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design!

The second one is the basic pattern done in one pass. I like both, but the top one is my favorite. This shuttle is from Middy Clark of The Knotted Vine. I love the weight of this shuttle, and I like that it can be plain or have the background in one of six colors. You know I just had to have blue!
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What's new, pussycat?

With the beginning of a new month, I decided it was time to get back in to the Ice Drop groove. My supply is seriously depleted, which is a good thing, but I want to make sure I have plenty on hand for the holidays. This is the basic Ice Drop pattern with five graduated picots in Lizbeth Spring Green, not your typical holiday colors, but I like it! The shuttle is from Grizzly Mountain Arts. Isn't the cat adorable?

My tatted hanky edging is coming along slowly but surely.

Ella's afghan is growing. I'll need to crochet faster if I'm going to finish four afghans in time for Christmas!

I spent time decorating bottle caps today. I have some ideas for these, so stay tuned. Who knows? I may come up with something worth trying!

Starting the day off right

I really am enjoying crocheting these little spool pin doilies for Mom! I make one while drinking my morning coffee, and then I pick up my crochet hook throughout the day and do a little bit here and a little bit there. I actually completed one of these yesterday, and I was close to finishing another. The second one didn't get finished last night, because my wrist just wouldn't cooperate. I can't sit and crochet for long periods of time as I used to. It's a good thing I have varied interests!

Daughter Carol was at the Cubs game today, so I sat and watched it on t.v. I didn't spot her this time. However, I did manage to finish the first edge of my hanky!

Our mail lady was much later than usual today. As it turns out, her truck broke down while she was on deliveries, and she had to be rescued. I'm glad she was able to finish her deliveries today, because my newest shuttle from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design was in the mail! Isn't it a beauty?

When the Cubs game was over, I sat down to read for a little bit. I'm only two chapters in, but the book seems like it's going to be a good one!

While looking for something else, I found my pin backs. I sewed them on to my dark green lucky pennies, but the lighter green will have to wait. I can't find the thread!

Not much to show... again!

Today was jam packed with fun! Becky and Kami came over for a sewing lesson this morning. The girls are making kimonos for themselves. They didn't finish, but they did get quite a bit done! It was the last lesson before school starts next week. From now on, lessons will be after school. Where has the summer gone?

I went to daughter Carol's house for lunch, and then we did a little shopping. We found a shoe sale, and we each bought two pairs. I felt like I was being quite extravagant, but I haven't bought a new pair of shoes in over two years. Mine were looking a bit shabby! We also found a clothing sale, and Carol was able to find a few things to freshen up her back-to-school wardrobe.

I did start a hanky edging in Marilee Rockley's "Beach Cafe," a very cheerful color! The pattern is from page 42 of The Craft of Tatting by Bessie M. Attenborough. I know size 20 thread isn't ideal for hanky edgings, but it was what I was in the mood to work with. So there!

I was checking Facebook this morning and I saw a post from Madhur Dadlani from a few years ago showing how she uses up bits of thread on her shuttles. I decided to give it a try. It looks pretty good so far, but I'm not sure how long I'll stick with it.

Not much progress was made with spool pin doilies today. I'll try to finish the second one before I head off to bed tonight.

When I saw that Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design was selling Madeira thread, I ordered some right away! It's much finer than the Liz Metallic. So far, so good!

Chicken fun

I was sitting in my chair enjoying the afternoon yesterday, when Dave called to me. I looked out the window, and there he was with a chicken on his back!

I quickly ran outside to take a closer look.

Meet Henrietta. She loves Dave! She follows him around the yard, hoping he will feed her mealworms. Do you see the chickens at the end of the porch? Dave was at the bottom of the steps, watching the chickens (they are NOT allowed on the porch) when Henrietta flew on to his shoulder. She stayed on his back until I shooed her away. Sometimes I wonder if Henrietta is really a silly goose! ;-)

How was I enjoying the afternoon? Why I was crocheting spool pin doilies for Mom!

I worked on more today. I now have 35 finished... only 15 to go!

No, I haven't given up on tatting. I just want to make sure I finish the spool pin doilies and get them off to Mom. I have a bad habit of setting things aside and forgetting them!

This afternoon I wound these adorable wooden spools with hand-dyed thread from Marilee Rockley (Beach Cafe and Garden Afternoon). I love using my little swift for holding the skeins of thread as I wind them. I found the spools on Etsy, and I think they're great!