One more day

I've been home sick with what turned out to be a sinus and ear infection for well over a week now. I finally managed to get to the doctor over the weekend, and I'm on four different medications. I do feel better, but Dave asked me to stay home and rest for one more day, so that's what I'm going to do.

As you can imagine, I wasn't really in the mood to do much of anything. Still, I managed to finish a Curds & Whey bookmark with what I had left of Marilee Rockley's Beach Cafe. I would have preferred one more pattern repeat and a tassel out of the same thread, but this one's for me and I'm happy to have it!

Ice Drops still cheer me up! I love that I can tat one so quickly and have something pretty to hang on my tree.

On Thursday I received my newest roly poly bag from Jane Eborall. I love these little bags! They're perfect for carry-along projects. Yes I could, and probably should, make something similar and start using up my fabric stash, but this one suited me perfectly and I was thrilled to be able to purchase it!

Yesterday I was feeling quite a bit better, and I decided a red ribbon would finish off this Ice Drop perfectly. Red is my mom's favorite color, and I think of her whenever I work with it. If you want it, Mom, this one's for you!

International mail day

After spending the morning at school yesterday, I was ready for some tatting time in the afternoon. My tatting time was interrupted because of some wonderful packages in the mail!

I've been eagerly awaiting this clear Clover tatting shuttle from Japan. They cost a bit more than the other Clover shuttles, but I don't mind. I really like this shuttle! I wonder if the clear plastic will ever become more readily available? I guess time will tell!

I find it very hard to resist when new Pop-A-Bobbin shuttles become available in Jane's shop across the pond in England! And yes, I can and do sew, but why should I? Jane makes such lovely bags, and I get to brag that I have something made by one of my tatting mentors!

Veronica's lovely shuttles came all the way from Russia! I just can't help myself... I love collecting and using shuttles!

Despite all the excitement of receiving goodies in the mail today, I did manage to finish another pattern repeat of rows 10 and 11 of my Jan Stawasz Masterpiece. I'm headed off to do some more work at school today, but I am hoping to stay on track and complete another repeat today!

On the road again...

Yesterday was road trip day, driving up to daughter Alison's house to pick up Alison and her two kids to come visit Grandma and Grandpa for five days of fun!

About a half hour after I left, daughter Joanne called to say she was locked out of the house. Little Sophia had escaped out the front door and Joanne quickly followed. Luckily, she was just finishing up a phone call and had a phone in her hand! Dave was able to come home and let her in, or she'd have been stuck on the front porch until Alison, the kids, and I returned around 4 p.m.

Sophia's adventures exhausted her! I think this is the first time she's passed out at my house. :-)

Daughter Joanne is doing her Vanna White impression, showing off the newly organized closet space. Which door would you choose? Door #1?

Door #2?

Door #3?

Door #4? Believe it or not, there are no tatting supplies here! You will find fabric, knitting, crocheting, weaving, and bobbin lace supplies. I think I'm set!

Did you notice that LadyShuttleMaker's Etsy shop has reopened? I love Sherry's ceramic shuttles, and I've been collecting them from the beginning. I think I was her second or third shuttle customer. Yes, you do have to be careful not to drop them. They are ceramic. I love the weight, and many of them are musical... there's a little musical ping as the thread passes through the tips. I've purchased at least one shuttle each year. I'll post a picture of my collection one of these days.

This is a slightly larger shuttle in my favorite color, blue! Thank you, Sherry! I love your little works of art!

Another package arrived in the mail yesterday. This was my latest purchase from Jane Eborall's Etsy shop. I love Jane's All Square Tat Bag! It's great for carrying projects in my purse. You do carry tatting projects in your purse, don't you?

I was really excited for the latest release of Pop-A-Bobbin shuttles created by "'im in the garage." This is probably the fourth time that I've been lucky enough to purchase the shuttles I wanted after seeing Sally's post about new shuttles. Who wouldn't want a shuttle made of Raspberry Jam? I think I might crave toast and jam while using this shuttle.

I also wanted the Laburnum shuttle. I guess it was my lucky day! Sally, please thank 'im in the garage for his fabulous shuttles, and Jane, thank you for listing them in your shop. You two ladies help feed my tatting supply addiction!

I didn't spend much time tatting this weekend. My newest granddaughter is due the end of this month, and daughter Joanne requested flannel receiving blankets. Her wish is my command!

This is one of my favorite baby gifts. I buy a yard of flannel, trim off the selvedges, and round off the corners. Next, I put a wing needle in my sewing machine, and without thread I go around the blanket using basting stitch length. I like to use size 20 Cebelia for the single crochet, chain one edging. It's time consuming, but it makes a very nice blanket.

I did make a little progress with Doily VI from Tatted Treasures by Jan Stawasz.

I also spent a little time working on my Spinning Wheel in Teenybopper from Yarnplayer.

I recently ordered one of Jane Eborall's Wrap It Flip It Mark It bookmarks. I couldn't pass it up... it's blue! It arrived in the mail today, and I've already put it to use. Even though I love my Kindle, I still read plenty of hard cover and paperback books!

Look at what else was in the envelope...

one of Jane's button snowflakes! Thank you, Jane! I love it!

Last, but certainly not least, I received my two new custom-made shuttles from La Cossette today! I love using Starlit shuttles for hand-dyed thread. I can wind one skein CTM between the two shuttles and not have to cut and tie... very important for my Spinning Wheels!

I was fascinated when I read Frivole's post about her altered Starlits. I got up the nerve to ask her if she would consider making a pair for me, and she said yes! The purple is Florantique, and the green is Lace-lovin'. I especially love the green one... it goes with a shuttle that was sent as a gift from a friend in Pineville, North Carolina this past summer. 

Don't they go well together? I can hardly wait to start another Spinning Wheel!

Tatting with Jan Stawasz

I managed to sneak in a little extra tatting time today, and since I've ordered Jan Stawasz's new book, I figured I should probably tat something from the first book!

I'm not overly fond of front side/back side tatting. I get lost, confused, and frustrated. Still, I decided to give it a go today. Yes, there are mistakes, but at least I tried. Now if I could only figure out how to consistently focus with my camera!

Now for the details...

Pattern ~ sample for Jan's Method
Book ~ Tatting theory and patterns by Jan Stawasz
Thread ~ size 40 Lizbeth, Cranberry Bush #181
Finished size ~ 3" long
Special tools ~
Penguin shuttle from Margaret Wall (purchased on eBay)
Holly shuttle from "'im in the garage" (sold in Jane Eborall's Etsy shop)
crochet hook from Grizzly Mountain Arts
picot gauge from Georgia Seitz

Another lovely mail call!

We all love LaCossette's shuttles, don't we? Did you know that she's started offering Clover shuttles? I feel so lucky to have been able to purchase these two. I love blinking shuttles, but LaCossette's are much more refined than mine, and I just had to have a pair. I love the names, too... Rose on Blue and Regency. Maybe I should read some Jane Austen now! ; )

I also "had" to order another Roly Poly Bag and Poke Proof Pouch from Jane Eborall. When my daughter Alison and her family were down visiting a couple of weeks ago, granddaughter Eva decided she wanted to learn how to tat. Eva was really excited to learn that I have a friend in England who enjoys tatting, so I gave her the last set I had purchased from Jane. That's okay, because I really wanted this set as well. : )

A perfect match!

Did you see the pretty pendants that Jane's been making? I'm the lucky recipient of one of them! I wore it to school the other day with my new sweater, and oh... the compliments I received! Not on the sweater, mind you... on the pendant! I was very pleased to tell all of my admirers that my friend Jane made it for me. The kids were especially impressed by it, and I was asked questions about lace, England, and William Shakespeare... gotta love those teachable moments!

Thank you, Jane!