Shopping day!

Denise asked if I wanted to go shopping and out to lunch yesterday, and I said yes! We each needed one item. I needed ink for my printer. Denise was looking for a suitcase. Needless to say, we each returned home with many more bargains than we had planned for. 😁

For lunch, we went to a little place called Blue's Cafe in Kankakee. We each ordered one of the lunch specials, a half pound bacon cheddar burger with onion rings. Oh, my! We cleaned our plates and took pie home for later. I was so full, I couldn't eat dinner. Luckily, I had planned on a pot of chili for dinner, so Dave was able to chow down without me.

I managed to get all my purchases put away and start my pot of chili before Bella arrived. She was eager to start weaving, and I think she made great progress! Yes, there were a few hiccups, but isn't that how we learn?

I started another Ice Drop last night. This is my Purple Fudge pattern, using Jelly Bean. I'm not very good at choosing names, so Purple Fudge was named for the color gem stone and the thread color I used in the first one. It does seem like a silly name with all of these bright colors!

Here's a copy of my pattern, if you'd like to give it a try. For the one I tatted in Jelly Bean, I changed to order of rounds by tatting round 1, then 3, and finishing up with round 2. Changing it this way allowed me to give the back a shot of steam to make it lie nicely. Isn't it cheerful?


Purple Fudge Ice Drop
Diane Cademartori (https://lacelovinlibrarian.blogspot.com February 22, 2017
Size 20 Lizbeth #697, Fudge Dark


Round 1:

•  Ring: 4-4-4-4, reverse work.
  
•  Chain: 7-7, reverse work.
  
•  Repeat for a total of 6 rings and 6 chains.
  
•  Join last chain to base of first ring with a lock join, reverse work.
  
  Round 2:
  

•  Ring: 6-6-6. Fold ring away from you, toward center of first round.
  
•  Chain: 8. Lock join to base of ring from first round.
  
•  Repeat for a total of 6 rings and 6 chains, joining rings as you go. Note: insert
  
•  glass gem before joining last ring to first ring.
  
  Round 3:
  

•  Chain: 7, reverse work.
  
•  Ring: 6+6, joining to picot of round 1 chain, reverse work.
  
•  Chain: 9, reverse work.
  
•  Ring: 6+6, joining to same picot of round 1 chain, shoelace trick.
  
•  Ring: 6-6, shoelace trick. Lock join to base of previous ring.
  
•  Chain: 9, reverse work.
  
•  Ring: 6+6, joining to same picot of round 1 chain, reverse work.
  
•  Chain: 7. Lock join to base of ring in first round.
  
•  Continue in this manner for a total of 6 pattern repeats. Cut, tie, hide ends.
  

Another one gets away

I had a very busy and productive day yesterday, but blogging eluded me. I just plain forgot to post!

I started the second book in the Poldark series. I'm not rushing through these books. Instead, I'm making sure I savor every page!

I still have plenty of Lizbeth Jelly Bean left. It goes well with many of the glass gems I have.

It's also easy to find ribbons to coordinate with the thread.

It's been a while since I worked on Renulek's Wiosna 2017. I misplaced the pattern, and I finally printed out another copy. I do like this pattern!

School started this week, and Bella is coming over after school every day. Bella is now in 5th grade and wants to learn to weave. She chose the colors and is now set to start weaving next week.

Bella also started designing warping patterns for inkle bands. The second from the bottom is the patterns she followed for her first band.

I love sharing the little I know with others!

Stormy weather

We had a series of thunderstorms today. I love thunderstorms! The temperature dropped significantly, making it very pleasant to walk on the porch. 😀

Since I didn't tat an Ice Drop yesterday, I felt it was important to start the day off right using blue!

I worked on my inkle band today. I was very pleased that my experiment worked, and both sides look the same!

That's not to say I have inkle weaving down pat. I look at it that I'm finally starting to understand how patterns are created!

This afternoon I concentrated on Alenalea's mystery doily. I really like the blue and white together.

I hear thunder, so I guess I'd better get off the computer quickly. I don't compute during thunderstorms!

A walk in the park

I woke up bright and early this morning, so I took the opportunity to warp my new mini loom. It's so cute, and it fits on my lap!

It was such a beautiful morning, I called daughter Carol and asked her if she wanted to walk around Perry Farm with me. I realized that I haven't done much walking in the past week and a half, and I really needed the exercise. Perry Farm is about five minutes from Carol's house, so she was willing to go along. We walked for an hour, which is a lot for me. Afterwards, we had salad and iced tea for lunch, and then I headed home.

I managed to tat an Ice Drop, but then I was done for the day. I think I'll plan a shorter walk for tomorrow!

Fun filled Saturday

I finished weaving my latest band on my mini rigid heddle loom. I like this loom from Hard Maple Looms, because it fits nicely on my lap and it's perfect for my little Stoorstalka heddle.

My bands are a more consistent width. I guess lots of practice really helps!

Tollway Tatters met today, and we had a wonderful time! Denise had us in stitches, and Mary joined us for the first time.

Sue Anna worked on a pair of earrings designed by our friend Marilee Rockley. Unfortunately, I did not remember to take pictures of any projects. I barely remembered to take pictures of everyone!

Sue was able to join us this time. I think she has the longest drive, coming all the way from Michigan.

Barbara and Ana drove in from Wisconsin.

My project of the day was a Tudor Rose Ice Drop with red, white, and gold.

I think it turned out pretty good!

Another shopping day

I really don't enjoy shopping, but I forgot a few things the other day, so I met up with daughter Carol and we went shopping for everything from toothpaste to floor tiles. Of course shopping did not keep me from enjoying some time with my hobbies!

I'm pretty sure it's a given now that I will tat an Ice Drop a day. I have to... I have a lifetime supply of glass gems! This one is in size 20 Lizbeth #115, Springtime.

I'm very happy that I finally figured out how to convert an Inkle loom pattern to one that can be used with a rigid heddle. This pattern is exactly what I was trying to accomplish! Sometimes it takes me a while to understand how something works, and understanding a draft for an Inkle pattern really challenged me!

I'm back to working on my sister-in-law's runner. I do love this pattern, and I'm finding that even thought I haven't worked on it in quite a while, I haven't lost the rhythm of the pattern! In case you've forgotten, this pattern is Eightsome Reel from A Pattern Book of Tatting by Mary Konior.

I hope to stay home tomorrow. I have lots of catching up to do!

Just another Saturday

Nothing special went on around here today, just housework, yard work, and a little relaxation.

Of course relaxation means time for a little tatting!

I also finished off the band I was weaving. I'm not real happy with this one. It just wasn't what I wanted. Still, I'm sure I'll find a use for it.