Small projects

 

I pulled out one of my boxes of hand-dyed threads today and wound the skein onto this thread winder. The back is dated '08. I guess I've had it a while! The thread is a beautiful navy blue and lime green, colors that do not show up well on the red bow. I've lost the tag to it, so I don't know for sure what size it is or the color name. I'm pretty sure it's size 40. Now I have to decide what I want to tat!

Two new shuttles arrived from Australia today. They are made by Elizabeth Lacey of happens2behandmade on Etsy. I haven't tried them out yet, but they are lovely!

I decided to take a break from the doily. I've just been making too many mistakes. Maybe a little time away from it will do me good. Instead, I worked on small projects today. The flower is short one ring. I ran out of thread on the shuttle, and rather than join more thread, I decided to leave it as it is. It's still pretty!

 

We were back in school today, and everyone seemed to be happy to resume the school year routine. I managed to tat an Ice Drop while supervising.

I spent the afternoon working on my Granny Rectangle, and I'm very pleased with how quickly it is growing!

Variations

I pulled out a Christmas candy tin today, lined it with felt, and gently tucked away my December button ornaments. I didn't count how many there are, but there are many more than I remembered tatting!

I really like this Lizbeth Seafood Green Lt, and I've decided to decorate a white Christmas tree with ornaments tatted in this color for a local fundraiser, Mean Green Goes Pink. The event is held at the end of October every year, and I'm hoping that things are back to normal so that the big event can take place again. I would love for my donation to be a fully decorated tree!

The button ornament is my design from December 13.

While working on the button, I got to thinking that I might like the pattern as an Ice Drop. The one on the right is the first one I tatted. The chains were a little too short, which caused some cupping. I increased the length of the chains on the left one, but I think they're a little too long. I'm not sure I like this design for an Ice Drop, but these two will still go in my ornament tin. When I decorate the tree, I'll see if these two make the cut!

 

Slow day

 

Today was a slow tatting day, but I don't mind slow days. I have one Ice Drop finished.

I also managed to tat one button ornament. All in all, it was a good day!

Sticking with a theme

 

Yes, I tatted another Coronavirus Button Cross by Laura Blanton today. I did change to a darker green.

I also tatted another Ice Drop. I know there's not much variety in my tatting, but I'm happy knowing that I'm building my stash for Christmas gift giving!

Monday, Monday

Mom and I had a busy day. We started off with a little housework and some crafting. I sorted through one of my jars of buttons, deciding which ones I realistically might use and baggings up the rest to give away. 

My main reason for sorting through buttons was so that I'd have easy access to the size needed for tatting these crosses. I do like this pattern, Coronavirus Button Cross by Laura Blanton. It takes me about two hours to tat one of these crosses, which is pretty good time.

It's been a while since I've tatted an Ice Drop. It felt good to get back into the Ice Drop groove!

I finished my sixth pattern repeat today. Mom is quickly catching up to me, the difference being that she's on her second border and I'm still on my first. I am enjoying knitting this Orenburg warm shawl!

Keeping busy

Between school and a visit to the doctor, today was a busy day. Still, I found a little time to tat and knit.

Lynne Urwin asked me to test tat an Ice Drop pattern for her a while back. Needless to say, life got in the way. I found time to work the first three rounds of Lynne's pattern today. She reworked round 4, and I hope to finish it up tomorrow.

I'm not doing a very good job of catching up to Mom. She has completed four pattern repeats and is well into the fifth repeat. I'm almost at the halfway point of the first pattern repeat. We really are enjoying knitting our Orenburg warm shawls!

Slacker!

 I know I look like a slacker since I haven't been blogging, but I have been busy!

I worked on test tatting a new Ice Drop pattern for Lynne Urwin this week. As you can see, I really messed up! I hope to give it another try this weekend.

Since I had thread on my shuttle, I decided to start Curds & Whey from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. I love this pattern!

When sorting out my tatting bag, I found this Ice Drop almost finished. I really have no idea how long I've been carrying it around. At least it's finished now!

I've been busy making lavender eye pillows.

I've decided that the proceeds will benefit the Grant Park Drama Club. They're badly in need of new stage curtains. I sure do hope the kids get to put on a play this year!

13 years

13 years ago today, I started blogging. I remember the year, because it was my 55th birthday. Those of you who have been following my blog for a long time may remember that I was encouraged to start blogging by Sherry Pence aka LadyShuttleMaker. I'm so glad I received that encouragement. Blogging has helped me make friendships around the world!

My friend Edna stopped by with a birthday cake for me today. Edna makes the best cakes I've ever tasted!

I'm so glad to have Mom here! She's adjusting to her new life on the farm, and has been busy winding warps so that she can weave a blanket for my brother. The warps are all ready. We'll have to find something else for her to work on until her loom arrives next Tuesday!

I tatted a new Ice Drop today. My sister thinks it looks like a daisy. Maybe I'll tat one in white with a golden center just for her!

The last one

This is the last Curds & Whey bookmark for the Harry Potter club... for now! It's not the last bookmark for me, but I may explore other patterns.

This Ice Drop sat in my bag for almost a week! I tried making the little picots a different way than I have been. I much prefer my original Doodle Ice Drop pattern. This one isn't a total failure, but it's definitely not to my liking!

Not much to show

I only tatted an Ice Drop yesterday, and I was concentrating on another project, so I didn't post a picture yesterday.

Instead, I focused on Mike Lyon's Lagniappe. This pattern is so pretty, and I'm really enjoying working with size 40 Lizbeth. I completed round 5 just before dinner, and I ready to start on round 6. After round 5, it's about 6" across. It's kind of fun to have a big project to work on!

Thursday tatting

I made tatting an Ice Drop my priority today, and I was successful! Why was it a priority? Well, I spent a lot of time on my computer looking at vintage tatting patterns. I wasn't looking for anything in particular. I was just enjoying browsing!

First day of school

Today was the first day with students! Yes, I've attended meetings the past two days, but those don't count. It was great to see the kids again!

I did my best to get back on track with my goals today. My first goal was to finish the third motif of my Eightsome Reel doily, pattern by Mary Konior. I love my new shuttle from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design!

I started another Ice Drop before leaving for school, but I had to wait until I returned home to finish it. My other big accomplishment was completing my 10,000 steps before I left for school!

Our friend Ann stopped by this afternoon. Ann is in her 80s, and she is one of the most energetic people I have ever met. She brought this cute little crocheted flower basket and asked if I could make a tatted version.

I'm really not a designer, and I'm hoping there is a pattern that would work somewhere out there. If you know of one, please let me know!

Ha!

I spoke too soon about new routines. I managed to get my 10,000 steps in today, but the rest...

Well, let's just say I only managed to finish one Ice Drop. The day just got away from me!

Hot spell

We're having a bit of a hot spell here in Illinois, and I don't deal well with heat. Still, I managed to tat an Ice Drop today.

I also managed to finish up four more Origami pouches that I found when I was cleaning up my sewing room.

I spent a lot of time looking at all sorts of things dealing with honey bees: fabric, cross stitch patterns, jewelry, honey, bees wax. I really didn't have a reason for looking at these things. It just seemed like a natural choice for a hot and lazy day!

Functional

I had hoped to get down to Anderson, Indiana for Tatting Corner's Lace Days, but it didn't work out. Yesterday was spent helping daughter Carol out at her house doing storm cleanup, and today Dave needed to get supplies ordered for getting back to work next week. This is the longest vacation Dave has ever taken (July 4 through this Sunday), and it was important to do things that he wanted to do. I have a lot more free time than he does!

I decided to push myself with my porch walking since it was nice and cool this morning. I walk in 15 minute spurts, which is about all I can handle. In between porch walks, I managed to finish the week's laundry, clean the kitchen, and tat!

I wasn't sure if a light blue glass gem would look good with Boysenberry Dk, but I decided to give it a try, and I like the way it looks!

After finishing my porch walks, I decided it was time to tackle my sewing room. Daughter Joanne and granddaughter Eve did so much to help get me on track a few weeks ago. It was time to move the project along. My sewing room is now functional! No, it is not completely clean or organized, but I can now walk through the room, sit in my chair, and I have room to sew!

I love having Origami Pouches on hand as project bags. I've even been known to give them as gifts. I found these five partially done, and I spent the afternoon finishing them. It pays to get organized!

Something new

Last night I decided to start a new project. A while back I purchased all three Curls books by Hunter Hammersen. After a conversation with my friend Denise a few weeks ago, I decided it was time I actually tried knitting something from the books, rather than just admiring the pictures!

I had read the first book before starting the Marly Bird Mystery Knit-along a few months ago. No, I haven't finished that project yet. I will. Anyway, participating in the knit-along helped me better understand the concept of Curls. I think I sometimes do better when I blindly follow the directions instead of trying to understand all that's going on. At least that was the case with this particular concept. I was reading way too much into the design, and I became very confused.

I decided to practice with some leftover Mandala yarn. This might not end up being large enough to be useful, but I'm enjoying practicing! This pattern is Caesious. It's a simple four row pattern repeat. Who knows? I may even end up memorizing this one!

I am slowly rebuilding my Ice Drop stash. Since I have so many projects going right now, I've been sticking with super simple designs. They're quick and easy, and I don't have to think too much about what I'm doing!

Daughter Carol really wanted this light brown integrated into her afghan. There will be a little more of the dark brown than we had originally planned, but that's okay. As it turns out, the dark brown is the color that Carol likes best of the ones she chose. Isn't it wonderful when things work out?

Oops!

I forgot to blog yesterday! I didn't have much to share, just one Ice Drop.

I went for a maintenance check on my car after school yesterday, and I managed to tat an Ice Drop while I was waiting. It was a long maintenance check!

I'm making good progress on daughter Carol's waffle stitch afghan. I did rip out four rows today. I didn't like the shade of light brown next to the green, and when I took out the light brown I found a mistake two rows back in the green. I just couldn't leave it. I've reworked those rows, and I'm very happy with how much I've accomplished in the past week.

This afternoon my friend Kathy came over and gave me a lesson on my spinning wheel. I purchased it nearly five years ago and just wasn't getting the hang of it. I did not do well today, but I do have a better understanding of what I should be doing. Now I need to practice, practice, practice!

Winding down

The school year is winding down, which means a variety of activities that are outside the normal scope. Now that I'm not a full time employee, I find I enjoy these end-of-year activities a whole lot more!

Art students are finishing up projects, and Summer was eager to show me her most recent project. I had given her some glittery thread that I bought because it was pretty. Once I got it home, I couldn't figure out what to do with it. So, it's been sitting in a basket for a couple of years. When I found out Summer loved glittery objects, I was pretty sure she'd find a clever use for it. She had fun!

Today I showed Selest how to tat. She loved watching me, but decided she didn't really want to learn. That's okay. I'm glad she was interested in watching and that she spent so much time talking with me. She'll be heading off to college soon, and I hope she is able to spend some time doing the knitting that she enjoys so much!

Daughter Carol's waffle stitch afghan is coming along. I'm really enjoying crocheting with I Love This Yarn from Hobby Lobby, and I do like Carol's color choices.

I started sewing my sweater together this morning. I finished the two shoulder sections and attached one sleeve. Maybe I'll be able to finish tomorrow!

Starting over

Tonight is prom night, and we've had spirit week at school to get kids in to the excitement of prom. Yesterday was class distinction day. Each class was asked to dress according to a specified decade. Staff members dressed like it was the 80s. Daughter Carol, aka Madam Director, really gets in to dressing up for some of these days. Her costume for the 80s made me chuckle. If she had been a teenager in the 80s, I never would have let her out of the house dressed like this!

Opening the mail is often an adventure around here. Yesterday's mail included a reminder that it's time for me to renew my Tatting Times subscription. I also received some adorable shuttles from Roseground. I love these little beauties, and they're very reasonably priced. I believe I have every hand-painted shuttle they offer... what a surprise!

As for starting over... I've given away all of my Easter themed Ice Drops! I promised a set to daughter Joanne, and I really want a set for myself, so I'm starting over. It's a good thing I enjoy tatting Ice Drops!

Another goal has been achieved! I finished daughter Alison's waffle stitch afghan! I used a reverse shell stitch for the border.

I really like the way it turned out! I may wind up making one of these for myself!

Anyone who has been to my house, knows I don't need any more coffee cups. However, I just couldn't resist either one of these. The one on the left is so me!