Joining the Lafayette Lacemakers

Yesterday was the day to head to Lafayette, Indiana to attend their lace event. It was great to see so many familiar faces!

My dear friend Pat attended with me. We've known each other for years, and I was her son Brian's 4th grade teacher. That was my only year as a classroom teacher, and each of those students will always hold a special place in my heart.

I'm terrible about remembering to take pictures, but I did remember to take this one of Battatter and Yarnplayer aka Carol and Marilee. My good friends Carol and Sue Anna were also there, but I forgot to get pictures of them. If we had planned ahead, we could have worn our tie-dye t-shirts so that everyone would recognize the Tollway Tatters!

I decided I needed a break from the two large doilies, and I turned to my favorite pattern, Spinning Wheel glass mat from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. I'm not especially fond of tatting with size 10 thread, but I decided to try it out with the Spinning Wheel pattern. It's not too bad, but I'm looking forward to working with at lease size 20 again. I'm using my new Astro-Knot shuttles. They are very nice, and extremely light weight!

The girls at school have been asking for crocheted button flowers, hair clips, and headbands, so I decided to focus on crocheting button flowers this weekend. I managed to get quite a few done!

It doesn't look like very many in the can, but I'm guessing there are close to 100 button flowers finished. I guess I'll have to work on those hair clips and headbands now!

2013 Indiana Lace Day

The Lafayette Lacemakers held their Indiana Lace Day today, and Denise and I headed out early this morning! Well, we thought it was early. We forgot that even though Lafayette is only an hour and a half away, they're in a different time zone!

Before we did anything else, we chatted with two friends we made at previous Lace Days, Carol and Carolyn. Unfortunately, I never thought to take even one picture! So, you only get to see pictures that I took after I arrived home.

Let me tell you, I am the luckiest girl alive!

Way back in January, Battatter asked what we would like to see in 3D tatting. In case you didn't know, she does fabulous 3D tatting. Her bats are unbelievable! Anyway, I replied that I would like to see a grandfather clock. I love grandfather clocks... it's kind of a family thing. I was so surprised when she gave me my very own 3D grandfather clock today!

Do you recognize the face? It's Grandfather Clock from Captain Kangaroo! Grandfather Clock was my favorite character! Thank you, Carol! This will be my most treasured tatting gift forever!

Oh, and do you see the pretty blue origami pouch in the background? I won it! It was made by another dear tatting friend, Lelia from Stitches of Life II.

...and it was stuffed with goodies! I wish you could have been there, Lelia. It was a great day, and now I have one of your origami pouches!

Yes, there was some retail therapy today... tatting shuttles, thread, books, patterns, bobbins... but I'll save all that for another post. I wouldn't want you to be too jealous of all the fun we had!