Green cat's eye

I only managed to tat one Ice Drop today. I had errands to run, and I really needed a nap this afternoon.

I do like these cat's eye cabochons! They're slightly smaller than the glass gems, and they're light weight. I think they might work well as earrings. I just may have enough Jelly Bean for one more Ice Drop. If not, I have some ideas for working with blue. I know... you're really surprised that I'm planning on working with blue!

Cat's eye cabochons

I found some cat's eye cabochons on Etsy.

They are very light weight, and in person they really shimmer!

I only have enough Jelly Bean left for one or two more Ice Drops, but I do have lots of cabochons!

Another treeful

My little tree was full, so now this batch of Ice Drops is safely tucked away in a little tin ready for the holidays.

Of course I started another right away! This one has a cat's eye cabochon that I found on Etsy. Unfortunately, the cat's eye doesn't show up on this orange gem.

Barbara gave us glass gems with the little floaty things in them. Are those called cat's eyes as well? No matter, it still looks pretty!

Palmetto Tat Days 2017 ~ threads

I told myself I wasn't going to buy any thread. There's no way in the world I can possibly use the thread that I had on hand before attending Tat Days. However, when beautiful colors hit you smack dab between the eyes, all attempts at maintaining will power fly out the window.

I absolutely love hand-dyed thread! I first became addicted to it when Marilee Rockley started dyeing around the time I began blogging. The hand dyeing process does something to the thread that makes it even more wonderful to use. These gorgeous colors are from Snapdragon Lace.

I also adore Karey Solomon's colors. I chose some in sizes 20, 30, and 40. I can hardly wait to use them!

If you saw my thread stash, you'd be asking me why in the world I was buying more Lizbeth thread. The quick answer is, I just can't resist the colors! The three blues on the bottom left were actually in my blue prize basket, or maybe it was just two of them. Can't you just picture these colors tatted up into Ice Drops?

Lisa Adams of Tatting Corner had some Penny Thread. I already had some, but again, the colors were hard to resist! I've been wanting to work with metallic threads, and luckily there were several colors to choose from. Lisa sure knows how to tempt tatters with goodies!

Today was a full sub day. Three days in one week has worn me out! Still, because of subbing I had time to tat another Ice Drop. When I got home, I discovered another Ice Drop in the bottom of my bag that I had tatted on the way home. So, I have two to show today!

Palmetto Tat Days 2017 ~ raffle

One of the fun aspects of attending Palmetto Tat Days was participating in a basket raffle, silent auction, and a live auction. Raffle baskets were put on display, and I was immediately drawn to a beautiful blue basket! However, the raffle tickets were not for each basket. Instead, raffle tickets were purchased and names were drawn at the banquet. Imagine my delight when I won the blue basket!

These ladies really do a bang-up job, and the raffle, silent auction, and live auction all benefit the scholarship fund. I was thrilled to win a raffle basket. This baby was loaded with goodies!

Look at this beautiful assortment of beads! I didn't really need beads, but it's nice to add to my stash!

I love this little box. It will be perfect as a little project box or maybe for shuttle storage. I do have a few shuttles!

I love window tins, and I haven't seen one this small before... perfect!

These little jars will be perfect for carrying beads or maybe even glass gems when going to Tollway Tatters.

Look at this... three little storage boxes!

Don't all tatters need lots of scissors. I believe the standard is one for each work in progress. 😉

I love Post-It notes, and these little flags will be perfect for keeping my place in my current pattern.

Another little blue jar! I love little containers! They come in so handy.

This little cardboard box will be great for gift giving.

Look at this... a box of chocolates from the President of the United States! Who knew the President was a fan of tatting?

Tape measures always come in handy, and this one can be worn around my neck.

I don't think I've ever seen a pen on a retractable clip, but I'm sure this will come in handy. I need seem to be able to find a pen when I need one. I know I'll always be able to identify it as mine with this beautiful tatting marking it.

And look... a matching lanyard!

This is a magnet from one of the Tat Days I would have loved to attended. There was no way to take off during September. The school district would have allowed it, but it would not have made a good start to the school year for me!

I'll have to think of a way to jazz up this cute necklace. I think if I look at Marie McCurry's tatsmithing books, I should be able to do something super cool!

What's a tatting raffle without a shuttle? No, it's not blue, but I believe purple is a shad of blue, right?

I did not win any of the silent auction items, but I did win a live auction item!

Yes, it is a shuttle by Rita Richmond.

It's not just any shuttle either, but a commemorative shuttle so that I can always remember attending Palmetto Tat Days in 2017!

Yes, it has taken me a few days to recover from all the activity. I started this Ice Drop near the end of the drive home on Sunday. I subbed all day Monday and Tuesday, so it took me until today to finish. I can't remember the name of this Ice Drop pattern. It's my Minty Fudge without picots, and I thought I had this one in my files, but I can't find it. Someone will be able to spark my memory!

Palmetto Tat Days 2017 ~ The Ice Drops, goodies, bags, and friends

I'm sure you've guessed by now that Ice Drops have become part of my daily routine, and I'm able to tat them in the car... as long as someone else is driving! 😉

One would think that with a 13 hour drive one way and a 12 hour drive the other, I could have tatted more than 8 Ice Drops. However, 8 is what I managed, and I guess I just have to be happy with that.

I added ribbons to them after dinner tonight. Ribbons seem to be the finishing touch for me!

Wanda was my roommate again this year. She is so much fun! We kept each other up way past our bedtimes the first two nights. The third night I fell asleep in the middle of our conversation. We had a good laugh over that.

Wanda gave me this adorable retractable clip. My scissors were clipped to it, but I took them off when I got home... I needed them! The little purple light at the bottom left was part of our gift bags. It's a black light that we were supposed to use to find 10 clues and reveal a secret phrase. Wanda and I found 5. It was really all Wanda. I was just along for the walk! I never did find out what the secret phrase was!

We all received these cue little boxes filled with goodies. There was a sheet in our folders giving suggestions for the use of each of the little items... very clever!

Wanda, Denise, and I helped tat little fox heads for the table decorations at the banquet. There were many other ladies who helped tat them as well, but I don't know who they all were. Karen's husband used his 3D printer to create these adorable little shuttles as a thank you for those who tatted foxes. I can't wait to try them out!

This conference was definitely a bag fest for me! The adorable little tote on the bottom right is what we each received when we arrived. The black bag at the back was from last year. I had left mine at home, but they had some for sale, and I needed one to carry all my purchases. The bag with the angel was a door prize that was delivered to me during one of my classes. I was so surprised to receive a door prize! It came just in time... I had gone shopping again!

And now some pictures of our first night of tatting...

Please help me out with names if you know them, especially if I got them wrong! I meant to keep track this year, but I failed miserably.

Arlene and Denise

Kayleigh

Sue Anna

Wanda and Arlene

Our teacher for the evening, Tanya. Thank you, Wanda!

 I loved Arlene's scissor case!

Her scissors really don't fall out!

Sorry, Linda... this was just to funny to not post!

The designer of our pattern for the first night... Linda!

Uh, oh! I've drawn a blank! That happens when you meet so many wonderful people at once. Katie... her name is Katie! Thank you again, Wanda!

Martha... I've wanted to meet her for so long, and now my dream has come true!

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Sewing day(s)

Yesterday I watched a video from Quilting in the Rain, and I was inspired to sew a tote bag! Of course I didn't have all the supplies I needed, so I made a trip to JoAnn Fabrics. Yes, I purchased more than I needed. My excuse is that I am easily inspired.

When I returned home, I unpacked my goodies and prepared my materials. I figured I could finish my tote bag in no time. After all, the video is less than 25 minutes. I was so wrong!

First of all, it took me longer to quilt my fabric than I anticipated. I may use pre quilted fabric next time, although that would reduce my fabric choices, and I do have quite a bit of fabric that would look nice in a tote bag.

My next hiccup was that I cut the material for the straps the wrong size. It took me a good 15 minutes to figure out what I'd done wrong. Once that was corrected, I decided I wanted pockets... not one pocket, multiple pockets. All was going well until I realized I had forgotten a step and need to completely take apart the pockets I had made. Sigh!

I finally got everything sorted out and...

My tote bag is finished! I think I want to add a closure of some sort, but I haven't decided what yet.

My pockets worked out well. There are actually 12 pockets in there. Six of them are loaded with little project bags for Palmetto Tat Days. I have plenty of room for my tatting notions, which are still in use, and there's plenty of room for my wallet, keys, and cell phone. I won't have to carry a purse! I think I may make some more of these totes now that I know what I am doing. 😊

So, guess what I did when sewing frustrated me?

If you guessed tatting an Ice Drop, you are correct! This is my Minty Fudge pattern tatted in size 20 Lizbeth #119, Jelly Bean. I do love this color!

If you'd like to try it, here's my Minty Fudge pattern:

Round 1:

•  Ring: 4-4-4-4, reverse work.
  
•  Chain: 6-6, 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: 16, reverse work.
  
•  Ring: Tat 6 picots separated by 1 ds + 6 picots separated by 1 ds, joining to picot
  
•  of round 1 chain, reverse work, slide bead(s) into place.
  
•  Chain: 16, reverse work. Lock join to base of ring in first round.
  
•  Continue in this manner for a total of 6 pattern repeats. Cut, tie, hide ends.