Another busy day

I sure hope the three day weekend will help put an end to this flu bug. There aren't enough subs available, so today schedules were juggled and subs were fit in wherever possible. I subbed in fifth grade this morning and then headed up to the high school. I am tired and ready for the long weekend!

I did have time before and after school to do a little tatting, and of course I chose to tat a Doodle Ice Drop! This one is in size 20 Lizbeth #693, Linen Med. I don't remember where the shuttle is from, but it was lovely to use!

Fox asked

Fox remembered that I had tried a blogging app on my iPad a while back. I had forgotten! With a little bit of looking, I found that the app I had used was called Blogo. I tried this morning, and Blogo seems to work no longer... sigh! The Blogger app doesn’t work either, as I found out from reading Jane Eborall’s post from Fringe.

After about a half hour, I had the brilliant idea to access my blog through Safari. Duh! Simple solution! It’s just like blogging from my computer! However, I can’t add pictures. On to the next step... when in doubt, ask! Now I’m working through Chrome. There are three little vertical dots in the upper right hand corner. I tapped in that, then on Request Desktop Site, and I now have full functionality, just like I have on my computer! There is a little bit of lag time, but nothing I can't deal with.

I haven’t allowed much time for tatting the past few days. Instead, I’ve been helping daughter Carol (aka Madam Director) with last minute preparations for the middle school production of James and the Giant Peach. I’m pretty good at last minute shopping and costume alterations, if I do say so myself. Las t night was opening night, and it was wonderful! Dave and I will be heading off to help set up for dinner theater as soon as Carol calls..

I made a little progress on my sister-in-law’s runner, and I’ve made very few mistakes!

This morning I started another Ice Drop. I feel like I need to play catch-up!

Save the date!

Tollway Tatters will be meeting on Saturday, March 18. If you're in the Chicago area, we would love to have you join us! We meet at the Hinsdale Oasis on 294 at 10 a.m. We always have a lot of fun!

Now that I'm working on length, I will post pictures of my sister-in-law's runner as I finish a row of three motifs... if I remember! The pattern is Eightsome Reel from A Pattern Book of Tatting by Mary Konior. the thread is size 20 Lizbeth #693, Linen Med.

I really didn't need any more gems for tatting Ice Drops, but when I searched 20 mm coins on Etsy, I saw these beautiful pieces and just had to have them!

I also found these. Just think of the possibilities!

I tatted one Ice Drop ornament today.

I also tatted my first Ice Drop pin.

 A little bar pin stitched to the back, and I'm all set for St. Patrick's Day!

Fudge!

Fudge Dk to be exact!

It was right next to my favorite chair, and I could see lovely blue glass gems over on the coffee table. I thought they'd make a beautiful combination, and I think I was right! The pattern is a variation on the Ice Drop.

Mary Donohue had shown something similar on the Ice Drop Addicts page on Facebook. I wanted to try her pattern, but my Internet connection was so slow this morning, I decided to try and do it from memory. Mine isn't exactly like Mary's, but it's close enough! Thank you for the inspiration, Mary!

I added another motif to my runner project today. I wonder how many motifs I'll get out of one ball of thread? I guess I'll find out!

This silver glass gem just called out for the silver and white ribbon.

I'm surprised at how much I like the white gem with this thread. So far, I have 16 Ice Drops out of my ball of Lizbeth #153, Rainbow Taffy. It's kind of fun to try and make each one different while determining how many can be made from one ball of thread!

A tatting filled day!

I started my day finishing another Eightsome Reel motif for my sister-in-law's runner.

Then I decided to move on to Ice Drops. I had a new ball of Lizbeth #153, Rainbow Taffy sitting by my chair. Keeping with the basic pattern, I managed to tat five Ice Drops today.

All five are tatted in Rainbow Taffy, but I used different glass gems, ribbons, and charms for each one. This adorable bird charm was too large for the front, so I put it on the back.

I love this turquoise gem! 💕

The leaf charm seemed perfect for the green glass gem.

This glass gem is gold with peach undertones... really pretty!

This glass gem looks more pink than purple in person.

Here are all five together. I wonder how many Ice Drops can be made with one ball of thread? Maybe I'll keep going with this ball so that I can find out! :-)

Cousin love

Do you have cousins who live close by? I did when I was little. I grew up in Philadelphia, and my cousins Pam and Debbie lived in Upper Darby, not too far away from us. Their sister Laura was born around the time we moved from Philadelphia to Chicago. My cousins Scott and Eric lived in the same neighborhood as us, but they were ten and twelve years younger than me.

When I was in high school, we took a trip to Colorado to visit my Uncle Walter and Aunt Josie. It was great fun! Most of us met up again for my grandparents' 50th anniversary when I was in college. About 15 years or so ago, Dave and I took a vacation to Colorado and met up with Aunt Josie and some of my Colorado cousins again.

I also have cousins in Texas. I've met Nancy and Ann, but haven't met my cousin Brian yet... some day!

Despite the fact that we don't live anywhere near each other, I feel a bond with my cousins. Family stories have reinforced that bond over the years, and I am very grateful to be part of such a loving family!

Recently, my cousin Trish and I reconnected on Facebook. There are many things I do not like about Facebook, but one thing I do like is that I have been able to keep in touch with relatives around the country. We may not communicated directly very often, but we do have a way of keeping up with what's going on in the family.

Trish has been a great admirer of all the handwork that my mom and I have done. She makes us feel like super stars!

The other day, I received a Rita Richmond shuttle in the mail from Trish. I was totally surprised!

What better way is there to show my appreciation than to tat an Ice Drop? Thank you again, Trish!

I finished Jane's TIAS this morning. I never would have guessed that it was a Crinoline Lady! I still see a fancy letter D in there, but there are no signs of the jellyfish that I guessed at one point. :-)

I'm making slow but steady progress on my sister-in-law's runner. If I tat one motif a day, I think this will take me about two months to make. I'm enjoying the square motif, so maybe I'll experiment with some other square patterns that I have!

Sun, no sun

Yesterday was sunny, bright, warm, and cheerful! Today is rainy, dull, and chilly. What a difference a day makes!

I think I placed the charm in a funny way on this Ice Drop, or maybe it's because the ribbon is so stiff. I now have another St. Patrick's Day Ice Drop, but this one is not my favorite.

I had a wonderful surprise in the mail yesterday. The cat shuttle is a present from my cousin Trish, and the heart shuttle is a present from my friend Rita. Thank you, Trish and Rita! These little beauties are from Shuttle By Design.

My newest shuttles from Russia arrived. Doesn't Veronica do beautiful work?

I managed to tat another motif for my sister-in-law's runner. I'm almost to the point of having the pattern memorized!

Super Bowl tatting

I enjoy football when it's on, but I don't consider myself a fanatic. If there's something better to do, I do it. Dave's the same way.

So, we did turn on the Super Bowl last night. While it was on, I tatted and Dave watched videos on installing floor tiles. At about 8:30, I went to bed... I was tired!

I'm still thinking green! Although blue remains my favorite color, green is right up there in my top five. I'm not sure what the top five are... I'm just giving myself a little leeway! ;-)

I tatted the first motif for my sister-in-law's runner. The thread is size 20 Lizbeth #693, Linen Med.

I finished off the evening with another Valentine's Ice Drop. I'm happy if I manage to tat one each day, but I'm thrilled if I manage to tat two!

Day 6 TIAS

It's hard to believe that we're already on Day 6 of Jane's TIAS! I'm still not fond of split rings that have a picot on the second side, but I am getting better with them. I guess the old saying is true, practice makes perfect!

I'm not much for Valentine's Day, but I do enjoy St. Patrick's Day. Yes, I am part Irish, but that's not the draw. I think it's the abundance of green, reminding us that spring is right around the corner.

I found some cut St. Patrick's Day charms at JoAnn Fabrics last week, so I think I'll make use of them and my green threads for a bit.

My sister-in-law asked if I would be willing to make a runner for her mantle. Mary Konior's Masquerade came to mind immediately! I'm practicing the pattern in size 20 Lizbeth #628, Salmon Med, because that was what was closest to me. 😊 However, the Linen Med is closer to what Karen would like.

Needless to say, I'm having fun!