Unblocked

I finished!

This is the unblocked version of Doily VI from Tatted Treasures by Jan Stawasz. It's 14" across, and I used size 20 Lizbeth, Latte Foam.

I wanted to block it before the big reveal, but I can't find where I put my blocking board. I'm sure it's someplace really safe!

And now for a proud Grandma moment...

I think Sophia likes her tummy time!

Grabbing tiny bits of time

This is Dave's busy time selling blooming tropical plants. I don't have a head for business, but I can alphabetize invoices and record payments, so that's how I spent my evening... not much time for tatting!

This is a picture of the cross from the December 1958 issue of The Workbasket. I will be tatting this one soon! I kind of like the squared off arms, different from the crosses I usually decide to make.

Yesterday morning I found time to begin the last round of Doily VI from Tatted Treasures by Jan Stawasz. I think it will go fairly quickly... once I get some time to tat!

One of my nightly routines is to soak my feet in Epsom salts after dinner. I find it really relaxes me. Maybe that's because I'm rooted to a chair and I have 20 minutes to call mine! One of my Origami pouches was sitting right next to me, so I opened it up and found another pink cross that I started a couple of weeks ago. What's a girl to do? I worked on the cross, of course!

One round to go!

I finished Round VII of Doily VI from Tatted Treasures by Jan Stawasz. I'm using size 20 Latte Foam, and it now measures 13" across. I can't believe I have only one round to go!

Almost halfway!

I'm really enjoying Round VII of Doily VI from Tatted Treasures by Jan Stawasz. The pattern repeat is really fairly simple, although I do keep my copy of the pattern close at hand so that I don't make any mistakes. ;-)

Doily VI, Round VI

Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! I finished Round VI (from Tatted Treasures by Jan Stawasz) last night, and I love the way this doily is looking! I'm so happy with Latte Foam (size 20 Lizbeth #168) for this project. It may be difficult to see in the picture, but the thread looks tea-dyed, something I have never tried and never plan on trying. Why should I when this beautiful thread is available?

Margaret asked for a close-up of Grandfather Clock, so...

front,

back,

one side,

and the other. Carol aka Battatter has told me I can do this. I'm a bit skeptical. I don't think I have the imagination for it, but some day I'll probably get the urge to try, then look out!

Half way around

I've just reached the halfway point on round VI of Doily VI from Tatted Treasures by Jan Stawasz. As I was tatting the last ring, I realized that I made a mistake on one small part. I don't think anyone will notice, so I'm just going to leave it. However, if you choose to look closely and figure out my mistake, I will gladly admit it to you!

I had to place an order for more thread today. I wound my shuttles with the last of my Latte Foam this morning, and I know there isn't enough to finish this doily. After all, I still have 2 1/2 rounds to go! Denise and I made a trip to Hobby Lobby. Unfortunately, they did not have this color. That didn't stop either one of us from shopping! Denise found several threads that she "needed" to add to her stash. We both bought wooden eggs to decorate. We found some findings in the clearance section, and we each found some fabric we just had to have! When we got back to Denise's, her husband Warren had gone to the bakery and bought pastries for us... coffee and pastry... yum!

She's at it again!

Daughter Joanne has been bugging me about posting on my blog. She reminded me again that I haven't posted since Tuesday. Since her baby is due any day, I guess I should do my best to keep her happy!

I needed something simple to take in the car yesterday, so I decided to once again set a goal of tatting all 69 motifs from Minitats by Patti Duff.

This is #1 in size 20 Lizbeth #149, Peacock Blues. It measures 1 1/2" across.

I'm making progress on the second side of the beaded bag. For those of you who are interested, the pattern can be found in Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Crochet, a fantastic crochet reference!

I have started the next round of Doily VI from Tatted Treasures by Jan Stawasz. I hope that with having the week off for spring break I'll be able to make more progress with this beautiful doily!

Round V... done!

This round was so simple, yet it seemed to take me forever! Maybe I should have spent less time shopping for eggs. ;-)

Pattern: Doily VI from Tatted Treasures by Jan Stawasz
Thread: size 20 Lizbeth #168, Latte Foam
Size: 10 1/4"

Three rounds to go!

Beads for the Bride

My niece Phoebe is getting married! Phoebe and I share a special relationship. When she was born, Dave and I were among the first to see and hold her. My nephew Eric was born three months to the day after Phoebe. My daughter Carol was born three months later, although she missed the special date by two weeks! Phoebe grew up in Virginia and now lives in Washington D.C., so I've only seen her a handful of times through the years. When Eric asked her to marry him, she called me to share the good news. Phoebe is a bright and beautiful young lady, and I wish the two of them all the best!

I asked Phoebe if she would like a beaded crocheted bag for her wedding, and she replied that she would be thrilled to have one! That warms my heart. When Phoebe was visiting last summer, she told me she was interested in tatting, so she will receive a hanky as well. I started with the beaded bag so that I have plenty of time to consider which hanky edging I want to tat!

I've started on Round V of Doily 6 from Tatted Treasures by Jan Stawasz. This is a very easy round, and now that I'm using my new shuttles from La Cossette, I'm sure I'll have plenty of thread to complete the round!

West Side Story weekend

One of the fun things about being the mother of the director is going backstage before each performance. Friday night I took pictures of kids getting their make-up on, and once that was finished a little restlessness set in.

The play... West Side Story!

Slowly, cast members made their way onto the stage trying to get comfortable for the first performance.

Some walked through steps, some practiced lines, some just spent time talking with friends.

One more run-through was needed for one of the dances... at the kids' request! It was kind of funny to see them going through their stretches on the gym floor.

The kids went through the dance, singing softly. One run-through was all they needed!

While the kids were going through their vocal warm-ups in the music room, I shot this picture of the empty stage, curtains closed. It's so exciting to hear the sounds of the audience from behind the curtain!

Today was the final performance, and the kids posed on stage so that family and friends could take pictures. It was a fabulous weekend, and the kids did a marvelous job of performing!

I did manage to get a little tatting time in between performances and various duties. I finished Round 4 of Doily VI from Tatted Treasures by Jan Stawasz. It's now 8 1/2" from point to point, and I really love the pattern!

I think I'll be ready for bed early tonight. I don't think the time change will affect me at all!

Switching shuttles

I was almost to the end of Round 3 of Doily VI from Tatted Treasures by Jan Stawasz, when I ran out of thread. Rather than wind thread onto the empty shuttle, I decided to load up my new altered Starlit shuttle from La Cossette. It holds an incredible amount of thread, and it is a joy to use!

As you may know, I've been blinging shuttles for a while now. However, none of my shuttles have the smooth finished look and feel of La Cossette's. I would love to take a workshop with her so that I could refine my technique.

What do you think tatting friends? Should we have a shuttle blinging workshop at my house this summer? ;-)

Pattern: Doily VI from Tatted Treasures by Jan Stawasz
Thread: size 20 Lizbeth #168 Latte Foam
Shuttles: altered Starlit from La Cossette and post shuttle from Grizzly Mountain Arts
Size after Round 3: 7 1/2"

I almost did it again!

I fired up my computer last night, read blogs, shut down, and then realized that I forgot to blog. So this morning I fired up my computer, read blogs, shut down, and again realized that I forgot to blog. This evening I fired up my computer, read blogs, and was getting ready to shut down, when I realized I still hadn't blogged. I'm happy to say that I caught myself just in time!

As you can see, I've finished Round 2 of Doily VI from Tatted Treasures by Jan Stawasz. I'm not sure if I'll get much done tonight. It's been a long week at school, and I'm feeling kind of lazy. So maybe I'll just put my feet up and doze in my chair for a change of pace! ;-)

Starting Round 2

Doily VI from Tatted Treasures by Jan Stawasz, size 20 Lizbeth #168 Latte Foam

Round 2 is easy-peasy! I just need a little more energy at the end of the day so that I can get more tatting done. ;-)

Before school, I worked a little bit on my newest Spinning Wheel in size 10 Teenybopper from Yarnplayer.

If only we had a snow day... I could get so much done!

Doily VI, Round 1

This is my newest project, Doily VI from Tatted Treasures by Jan Stawasz. I'm using size 20 Lizbeth #168, Latte Foam. Round 1 went smoothly until I reached the last ring. For some reason, I had trouble getting it to work, and the last inside ring looks a little squished. If anyone else has tatted this doily and has any tips, I'd love to hear them!