Family time

Our youngest daughter Joanne and her family arrived Friday. They live in southern Georgia, and we live in northern Illinois, so it's a long journey. We had family cookouts Saturday and Sunday so that most everyone could spend some time visiting. Not everyone could make it, which is completely understandable!

Despite all the activity, I did get some craft time in. The last of "Granny Delicious" hand-dyed thread from LadyShuttleMaker is now a Curds & Whey bookmark (Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior). I had a little bit of thread left on three different shuttles. I"m pleased that I was able to join the threads so easily, and I like the way the color changes worked out.

As I started squaring up my pot holder blocks, I decided that I wanted more quilting on the rail fence pattern. It's taking quite a bit of time, but I think it's going to make the quilt look extra nice.

I added hanging tabs to my most recent pot holder quilt, and Joanne helped me hang it yesterday. It really does brighten up my sewing corner. Granddaughter Kara claimed the purple and yellow one that I took down. 

Three of my daughters and Joanne's three kids are headed to the beach today. I do have a bit of housework to take care of, but I"m hoping the also have some quality craft time!

Curds & Whey

 

There was just enough of LadyShuttleMaker's "Autumn Medley" left to tat a Curds & Whey bookmark, pattern from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. On to the next color!

I finished quilting the last of my 10" squares for my new patriotic quilt. This afternoon I laid out the strips for the rail fence blocks. Once I have those finished, I will decide on the layout and the method of finishing the blocks.

It was a rainy afternoon here, and it looks like it will be rainy again tomorrow... perfect crafting weather!

Curds & Whey

 

Another bookmark is finished! This is Curds & Whey from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konnor. I love this pattern!

Done!

Today was a day for big finishes. 

While looking for tatting supplies, I came across three Curds & Whey pieces that I had tatted. All they needed was to be blocked and put in bookmark sleeves. The pattern is from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konnor. Done!

I had two of these braided circle doodads left.

They are now ornaments. Done!

These flower shaped centers are what I was searching for. They were my favorite centers for my original doodads years ago.

My biggest accomplishment of the day was finishing the red, white, and blue tree. I spent about 5 hours today, and probably 15 hours total to complete this tree. It will be raffled off at the high school play, Bandstand, in mid-March. The raffle will benefit two groups, Adopt A Soldier and Project Headspace. 

Daughter Carol, who is the drama club director, asked for a red, white, and blue tree for the raffle. Of course I was flattered to be asked! When I sent her this video clip today, she told me she loves it. There is no great compliment in my opinion.

The best news is that I have another project checked of my list. Done!

Back to tatting

 

Yes, I'm still knitting on my Bramwell shawl, but I really had the itch to get back into tatting. My sister Janet requested a Concentric Rectangles doily in white, off-white, or ecru. I prefer making this doily in multiple colors, but I'm happy to make this one for my sister.

Thank you to my friend Shelley Perreault for my beautiful new shuttles! These are what I will be using for this doily.

Keeping up with the tatting theme, I finished up another Curds & Whey bookmark (pattern from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konnor). I only had one pattern repeat left to tat, so I'm not sure why I let this one sit so long.

I'm slowly re-building my supply of tatted bookmarks. For a while, I had so many on hand that I stopped making bookmarks. When I realized I only had two left, I decided to stick with this pattern until I have two dozen on hand. I'm up to 17 already! 

One can never have too many bookmarks!

Where did the week go?

I really can't believe how quickly this past week went by. I did get a little done this week. I just forgot to post about it. One more dishcloth has been added to my stash, as well as a pretty blue bookmark.

I also finished a yellow bookmark. That, however, was all I managed to accomplish.

My sister and her husband came down this afternoon, and we planted a pagoda dogwood in memory of their son Andrew who passed away in April. They only expect to live in their house for another two or three years, and they wanted a place where the tree could thrive. I'm honored that they asked us if they could plant the tree on our farm. We found the perfect place in our side yard. The tree can be seen from the front porch, the side porch, and the fire pit. We've also been thinking of putting a seating area in the side yard. I'm sure that my sister will enjoy tending to the tree when she comes to visit.

Getting back to normal

We had an exciting weekend here on the farm. We hosted our step-granddaughter's wedding. Everyone had a fantastic time, but setting up and cleaning up for a wedding with 260 guests is quite tiring. By 3:00 Sunday afternoon, no one would have known that a wedding had taken place here the day before. Many hands make light the work!

Needless to say, it took me a couple of days to recover. My mind says that I can do things that my body disagrees with!

Part of my recovery process was to choose a new tatting project, a Curds & Whey bookmark, and catch up on YouTube videos that I enjoy. 

One of my favorites is Fruity Knitting, and I was thrilled that this week's episode #157 included tatting! Madeleine married recently, and she learned to tat so that she could add a bit of lace to her wedding dress. She learned to tat by watching a class on Craftsy hosted by my dear friend Marilee Rockley! I was so excited, I messaged Marilee right away. 

I've been a fan of Marilee's hand-dyed threads ever since I discovered her when I started blogging years ago. My daughter Alison and I even drove to Wisconsin to meet her at a craft show. I felt a bit like a stalker, but I had to meet the lovely lady who provided me with so many gorgeous threads.We attended Palmetto Tat Days together one year with our friend Sue Anna, and we get to see each other on our Tollway Tatters meetings.

In other news, construction on our new room addition is well underway. This is something I have dreamed of for years. We finally had the money saved up to move forward, and we started the process in January. We're hoping the room will be done by the end of October, which is possible if the weather holds out. 

Life is good!

Hot and humid

It was too hot and humid to do much of anything yesterday. I did shampoo porch cushions early in the morning, but I was done working outside by 7:30.

Before church, I started a hedgehog. It's been a few months since I've made one, and it was like I was making one for the first time. I can't believe how much I'd forgotten!

I finished him after lunch, and decided that I'd better make another one quickly while my mistakes were still fresh in my mind.

This one was completed with much less stress!

I have several shuttles with bits of thread left on them, so I spent the evening working on another Curds & Whey bookmark from Mary Konior's Tatting with Visual Patterns. The thread is size 20 Lizbeth #710 Bright Blue Lt. 

I think I have enough of this left to tat two more bookmarks. We'll see how that goes!

Curds & Whey

 

Ever since I figured out how to tat Mary Konior's Curds & Whey from Tatting with Visual Patterns, it has been a favorite for using up thread on a shuttle. 

This was all I had left of my hand-dyed Peach Pandorea from LadyShuttleMaker. It's a little shorter than I like my bookmarks, but it will be perfect for someone!

A craft day

 

Today I felt like making a Christmas button tree, so that's how I spent my morning. I love the way it turned out!

This afternoon I felt like finishing up projects. So, my Drapey Cowl (pattern from Yarnspirations) in "Dakota" I Love This Yarn! from Hobby Lobby was first on my list. I highly recommend this pattern. It is so easy!

Next up was finishing my Curds & Whey bookmark from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konnor. I love this pattern, because the only thing I need to carry is my shuttle and the work in progress.

I wonder what I'll be inspired to work on next?

Progress

 

Once again, I didn't have much time for crafting. However, I did make progress with my Curds & Whey bookmark... just two and a half pattern repeats to go!

Slow craft day

Today turned out to be incredibly busy, but I couldn't begin to tell you how!

I did manage to start a Curds & Whey bookmark. I didn't get much done, but every little bit counts!

Another bookmark finished

 

Yesterday and today were slow craft days for me. Even though I didn't accomplish much, I did manage to finish another Curds & Whey bookmark. This has become one of my favorite patterns from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konnor.

I've been asked about my photograph background. It's the lid to my new tatting basket.

We went to Shipshewana, Indiana this summer and stopped at an Amish basket maker, where I found this beautiful basket.

There's a lovely little tray that, when organized, holds my current project.

There's plenty of storage in the bottom, so I can keep lots of supplies close at hand. Now all I have to do is organize my corner of the living room. It has become quite messy!

Second finish

 

I finished my second bookmark of the day, Curds & Whey from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konnor. I started this one a few weeks ago, and I decided I should finish it before starting another project. 

It's good to finish projects!

Tollway Tatters

 

Tollway Tatters met this morning, and while we chatted, I managed to finish a bookmark. I'm falling way short in my goal to tat bookmarks for all the seniors. I only have two finished, and I'll need to work at a much faster pace if I want to give each one a bookmark. Maybe I should just give each of them a button ornament!