Not what I planned!

Today did not go as I had planned, but that's okay. Dave is on vacation this week, and flexibility is a must!

I managed to talk to my mom and three of my four daughters today. As I talked, I did a little cleaning up around the house... not too much. I wouldn't want anyone to accuse me of being Suzy Homemaker!

About the only thing I truly accomplished this morning was to gather together the items I want to take with me to Tatting Corner Tat Days this weekend.

Daughter Carol is going to be in a play this summer, Rock of Ages. She's going to make her own costume, and she asked me to go fabric shopping with her. Carol is my daughter who refuses to be "drawn to the dark side" of crafting. Still, she realized a few years ago that sewing costumes can be a big money saver. We went out to lunch, and then I headed home.

It was a bit warm today, but Dave had a pretty big to-do list, so I worked outside with him for as long as I could stand it. The big task for the afternoon was to wash both of our cars. I don't remember it taking so long when I was in high school. Either I'm slowing down, or I'm doing a better job than I did back then!

There was no time for tatting until after dinner.

I've got a good start on the Peacock Ice Drop that I'm test tatting for Wally Sosa. The pattern will be in her ebook that will be available the end of this week, Itty Bitty Zoo. Luckily, I'm not the only test tatter, and I know this one has been done already, so I don't need to worry that I'm holding up anything!
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Out of excuses

For the past five weeks, I've had plenty of excuses for setting aside my tatting, crocheting, weaving, sewing, and knitting. After all, I had grandchildren to play with! However, my excuses went back to Minnesota today. It's been very quiet and a little lonely around here today, but I can't be too sad. I get to see them again at the end of the month when I attend the Twin Cities Tatters retreat!

Papa got a little bit of quality time in with the grandkids before they left.

He has a magic iPad. When he opens it up, the kids come running!

It was a little bit tricky for him to answer emails, but I think he was okay with it.

June was a sad month for Ice Drops. I only managed to tat 12. I'll try to do better in July!

Janko's Christmas present is coming along pretty well. When this afghan is finished, I will have three Christmas presents done. I like getting started early!

I set aside Renulek's Wiosna 2018 for too long. I no longer had this round committed to memory. I did manage a few pattern repeats, though!

I finished the snail from Wally Sosa's Itty Bitty Zoo book. I only have one pattern left to test tat, and I'm hoping to start that tonight so that I can finish it tomorrow. Please don't go by my picture. I don't have the Beaded Twist & Fold Picot down, so my eyes aren't correct on this. I'm hoping that there is someone at Tat Days this weekend who can show me how to do this. The snail is so cute! He deserves to have proper eyes!

Wally's ebook will be available the end of this week, with a printed copy available at the end of the month.

Dave needed to do some shopping in Kankakee this afternoon. The cushion for our porch swing was ruined several years ago, and I could never find one that I liked. I really didn't like the last one. I felt like I hit the jackpot when I saw this blue one! I think I'll go out and sit on my swing for a little while before starting dinner. That pretty blue cushion is calling me!
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Fun on the tollway!

Yesterday was another fun day of tatting on the tollway! I managed to tat two more of Wally Sosa's Itty Bitty Zoo animals. The mouse and turtle are so cute! I think the turtle is my favorite so far.

We haven't seen Carrie in a while, so it was great to catch up with her. Sue comes all the way from Michigan and can only come when we meet on a Saturday.

I did a second take when I looked at this picture of Nancy. I thought it was me! I think we could be sisters!

Sue Anna, Marilee, and Sue... all very talented ladies!

Barb has many talents. She sews like a dream, does bobbin lace, tats... she probably does a whole lot more!

We always have a great time when we get together. July is turning out to be quite a busy month, so we've set our next get together for Tuesday, July 17. I know weekdays can be tough with people working, but if you can join us, we would love to have you!

More Itty Bitty Zoo critters

Yesterday was another one of those days that just flew by. I had planned to spend time practicing split rings, following some tips from my dear friend Stephanie. It never happened.

If you've been following my blog for a while, you'll know that Friday is laundry day. It's a habit I developed years ago after having a conversation with one of my colleagues (who was also a former student). We were discussing how it was so easy to feel like we worked seven days a week between teaching and mother/wife duties. Penny told me that she had started doing her laundry when she got up on Friday morning. She would wash and dry as many loads as she could before leaving for school, and then finish up when she got home. No matter how late she had to stay up, she finished her laundry on Friday, leaving her weekend free for family activities. I decided to try Penny's idea, and it worked so well for me, I've kept it up in retirement.

I usually set goals for accomplishing things between laundry loads. Sometimes they're housework goals, and sometimes they're craft related. Yesterday was fun with grandchildren! Lucky me... they're staying for one more week! Joanne's husband has had to travel for work, so rather than stay home alone, they've stayed home with me. Dave and I are thoroughly enjoying having them around!

During the kids' nap time yesterday, I went to visit Denise for her birthday. Of course we talked tatting!

In the afternoon, I managed to test tat two more little critters from Wally Sosa's upcoming book, Itty Bitty Zoo. Janko chose the colors for the dog, and Kara chose the colors for the fish. I think they both chose well!

Test tatting for Wally

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am test tatting patterns for Wally Sosa. Her new ebook will be released in July, and a print version will be available in August. I love the title of the book, Itty Bitty Zoo. There are eight adorable little Ice Drop animals in the book.

Sophia's current favorite colors are purple and pink, so she wanted a purple owl. I wish I had tatted this little guy in two colors as Wally did. I also think that if the main color had been brown, he would have looked much more like an owl!

My first kitty was a failure. I got distracted by the grandkids, and left off the face! I also learned from Wally that I was putting the gems in backwards. With these patterns, the gem is inserted flat side up. That way, the critters look much more like Wally's when they're finished.

Late last night (9 o'clock is late for me), I finished the kitty correctly. Isn't she adorable? I think I'll retat the owl with brown as the main color and the glass gem inserted correctly. Now that I have the kitty pattern down, I'll retat her with longer whiskers!

Wally does both needle and shuttle tatting, and these little critters are tatted in size 10 thread. I've had several requests for patterns that use size 10 thread, but I've never tried coming up with a stitch count since the thickest thread I like to work with is size 20. Wally also encases her gems differently than I do. It's always fun to learn a different way of accomplishing something!

You can follow Wally on Facebook to learn more about her patterns, or you can visit her Etsy shop to adopt one of her little critters. Wally also has a web site.