Busy day

 

I accomplished a lot today. First, I finished tatting another bookmark, "Curds & Whey" from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. This was the last of "Harvest Moon" hand-dyed thread from LadyShuttleMaker.

The glue basting dried for more than 24 hours, and the five blocks that I quilted went very smoothly. The only negative is that on the purple color on the left, the glue shows through. Out of all the squares in these blocks, that color is the only one that showed this. Since the glue is supposed to wash out, I think all will be fine.

Late this afternoon, I finished sewing the two sets of strips together. I only have three strips to go. I really like the way this looks!

Curds & Whey

 

Have you noticed that I've been finishing off each skein of hand-dyed thread with Mary Konior's Curds & Whey? That's because this is a simple one shuttle pattern that looks good no matter where I end it. I've even been saving small pattern repeats to use as embellishments. Where or when I use them has not been determined!

I wasn't really in the mood to sew yesterday. Another book has caught my interest, and I wanted to be lazy and have another reading day. However, I also have a strong desire to see how this quilt is going to turn out. So, I spent the better part of the afternoon binding the next set of blocks.

I've watched videos on yet another way of attaching the binding, but the finished look is different, so I won't be experimenting with this quilt. I do have an idea for my next quilt!

Family time

Our youngest daughter Joanne and her family arrived Friday. They live in southern Georgia, and we live in northern Illinois, so it's a long journey. We had family cookouts Saturday and Sunday so that most everyone could spend some time visiting. Not everyone could make it, which is completely understandable!

Despite all the activity, I did get some craft time in. The last of "Granny Delicious" hand-dyed thread from LadyShuttleMaker is now a Curds & Whey bookmark (Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior). I had a little bit of thread left on three different shuttles. I"m pleased that I was able to join the threads so easily, and I like the way the color changes worked out.

As I started squaring up my pot holder blocks, I decided that I wanted more quilting on the rail fence pattern. It's taking quite a bit of time, but I think it's going to make the quilt look extra nice.

I added hanging tabs to my most recent pot holder quilt, and Joanne helped me hang it yesterday. It really does brighten up my sewing corner. Granddaughter Kara claimed the purple and yellow one that I took down. 

Three of my daughters and Joanne's three kids are headed to the beach today. I do have a bit of housework to take care of, but I"m hoping the also have some quality craft time!

Curds & Whey

 

There was just enough of LadyShuttleMaker's "Autumn Medley" left to tat a Curds & Whey bookmark, pattern from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. On to the next color!

I finished quilting the last of my 10" squares for my new patriotic quilt. This afternoon I laid out the strips for the rail fence blocks. Once I have those finished, I will decide on the layout and the method of finishing the blocks.

It was a rainy afternoon here, and it looks like it will be rainy again tomorrow... perfect crafting weather!

Hot and humid

It was too hot and humid to do much of anything yesterday. I did shampoo porch cushions early in the morning, but I was done working outside by 7:30.

Before church, I started a hedgehog. It's been a few months since I've made one, and it was like I was making one for the first time. I can't believe how much I'd forgotten!

I finished him after lunch, and decided that I'd better make another one quickly while my mistakes were still fresh in my mind.

This one was completed with much less stress!

I have several shuttles with bits of thread left on them, so I spent the evening working on another Curds & Whey bookmark from Mary Konior's Tatting with Visual Patterns. The thread is size 20 Lizbeth #710 Bright Blue Lt. 

I think I have enough of this left to tat two more bookmarks. We'll see how that goes!

Another bookmark finished

 

Yesterday and today were slow craft days for me. Even though I didn't accomplish much, I did manage to finish another Curds & Whey bookmark. This has become one of my favorite patterns from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konnor.

I've been asked about my photograph background. It's the lid to my new tatting basket.

We went to Shipshewana, Indiana this summer and stopped at an Amish basket maker, where I found this beautiful basket.

There's a lovely little tray that, when organized, holds my current project.

There's plenty of storage in the bottom, so I can keep lots of supplies close at hand. Now all I have to do is organize my corner of the living room. It has become quite messy!

Second finish

 

I finished my second bookmark of the day, Curds & Whey from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konnor. I started this one a few weeks ago, and I decided I should finish it before starting another project. 

It's good to finish projects!

Today was a tatting day

 

I decided that today was as good a day as any to start tatting bookmarks. I turned to my favorite bookmark pattern, Curds and Whey from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. If I could only keep one of my tatting books, this would be the one. I get so much inspiration from it.

While reorganizing upstairs, I decided it was time to pull out my Great-grandma Morris's quilts. I think she must have made this as a bedspread, because it pretty well covers my queen. I know that our family's biggest beds were full size back then. Grandma Morris passed when I was 10 years old. I'm 71 now. So, I know this quilt is at least 61 years old.

I did a lot of crocheting over the past three months. I wanted to use up the leftover yarn from last years hats. My sister Janet claimed this lapghan.

Daughter Alison claimed the full size afghan. I sure did get a lot out of those skeins of yarn!

Queen of Hearts

 

It's getting to be that time of year... hearts and flowers for Valentine's Day! I was looking back in my blog, and I haven't attempted Mary Konior's Queen of Hearts from Tatting with Visual Patterns since April of 2010. This is the first time I've come close to tatting this heart in a way that pleases me. I guess having more tatting experience pays off!

I greatly admire those who can design heart patterns. I've tried with no success. Hearts are hard! This one is in size 40 Lizbeth Poppy Red #669. 

I haven't done much tatting since Christmas. I needed to give my hands and wrists a rest. I also find that it's more difficult to tat in the cold weather. So, knitting and crocheting have been my go-to projects.

Daughter Carol bought Wally a teepee. He really enjoyed sitting under the Christmas tree, so this seemed like a fun idea. Carol put the teepee together several days ago, but Wally resisted spending time in there until last night. He looks quite content in his special space!

Still reading

 

Still inspired by my binge watching of Downton Abbey, I spent the last two days reading Lady Catherine, the Earl, and the Real Downton Abbey. This book was just as enjoyable as the first one!

Yes, I did do a little tatting. It's been a while since I've worked on a hanky edging. This one is "Clover" from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. The thread is hand-dyed size 40 from Yarnplayer, Brilliant Sunset. I think it's gorgeous!

Back to tatting

 

It was wonderful to spend two days reading, but today it was time to get back to tatting. Any time I can't decide what to work on next, I find that working on a Spinning Wheel glass mat (Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior) is a great way to relax and consider my options.

I haven't decided what I'll tackle next, but I sure had fun thinking about possibilities!

14 years

It's hard to believe that I started my blog 14 years ago on my 55th birthday. Where has the time gone?

Today was bookmark day, and I chose to work with Daffodil Dell by Tatskool. This is the Workbasket pattern I love minus the picots.

When I want to work with just one shuttle, I love tatting Curds & Whey from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior.

Finally, I decided to try tatting Christina from  Tatted Bookmarks ~ cross-shaped by Lene Bjorn. This time I left off the picots for a totally different look.

I still have a little bit of Daffodil Dell left, but I'm pretty sure I'll need to choose another color tomorrow!

Too late

I've found that I prefer blogging at night. That way I can keep a record of what I've accomplished in a day. That didn't happen last night, because I finished my last tatted piece too late. I just didn't have any energy left for blogging!

I started my day with another Workbasket cross in size 40 Lizbeth #117 Country Side. I left the picots off on this one, and I really like the sleek look. I laid the cross on a large white envelope, because I knew it would disappear on my Kindle cover. I like using my Kindle as a backdrop because of the texture, but I've realized that it seems to suck the life out of some colors.

With that in mind, I re-photographed yesterday's Curds & Whey bookmark. Now you can see more of the true beauty of this color combination from Tatskool!

I spent some time de-cluttering upstairs in the morning. Then, I loaded up the back of the car with items I no longer could use, and Mom and I headed to Goodwill. We visited daughter Carol for lunch and then headed back home. I was thrilled to see that Victoria Ong's new needle lace book had arrived in the mail!

This is Victoria's third book on needle lace, and I am thrilled to have it! It is very detailed and beautifully done. I've had the pleasure of taking a class with Victoria, and she has attended Tollway Tatters. She is a very patient teacher, and I am happy that she took the time to write three wonderful books on needle lace!

It took me until late afternoon to finish the Workbasket cross. I'm still adjusting to tatting with size 40 thread. I love working with it, but I haven't developed a feel for working with it, so it takes me quite a bit longer than when I use size 20. After dinner, I decided to tat another donut necklace. The donut is 5/8" donut and it works well with the size 40 thread.

My friend Sue has been using these 3/4" plastic rings in her sun catchers. They also work well with the size 40 thread. 

So, why did I switch from hand-dyed threads to Lizbeth? When I'm experimenting, I prefer to use the Lizbeth. It's less expensive. Once I know my ideas will work, I feel better switching to the hand-dyed threads. Truth be told, I have way more thread than I will ever be able to use (both Lizbeth and hand-dyed). Still, I hate to be wasteful!

Busy weekend

We had a very busy weekend with work around the house and spending time with family. Saturday was very hot and humid, but Sunday was absolutely gorgeous!

Somehow, I can't stop myself from collecting tatting supplies, and I love collecting bags. This weekend I received two of Jane Eborall's Roly Poly tatting bags. These are perfect for carrying around in my purse! I was only going to order one, the one on the left. However, those cute little bugs were calling to me, so I had to have two.

I finished the last of my skein of the pretty blue/green. I didn't quite have enough thread to go around the button. It still makes a cute pendant!

Moving on to another hand-dyed thread, I was in the mood to tat another Curds & Whey bookmark from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. The thread is Just Daffodils by Tatskool. I could not get a good picture of this thread. It is absolutely gorgeous!

I love the way the colors flow on the Workbasket cross pattern. I am so glad I decided to start using my hand-dyed threads. Life's too short to save everything for something special. Sometimes we need to enjoy what we have right now!

True confessions

I must confess that not all of the tatting I'm posting about today was done today. I finished the Curds & Whey bookmark on Friday, but forgot to take it out of my tatting bag.

I also found another December 1 button ornament in my tatting bag. I guess I wasn't too careful about checking on Friday!

However, I did tat the December 2 and December 3 button ornaments today. I think the December 2 in the middle is my favorite of the three!

Back to tatting

Today was just a half day of school for me, so I was able to get in some quality tatting time. I started with a bookmark in a new color, Lizbeth #712 Kelly Green Med.

After that, I went back to working on button ornaments in Lizbeth #109 Wild Flower. These are like candy. They work up quickly, and they're so cheerful!

31

 

I worked on bookmarks at school today.

I managed to tat two.

These are the bookmarks I've finished so far. I managed to tat 31 out of the ball of size 10 Elisa. The three colorful ones at the bottom. They're in size 20 thread. There is one more that I'm using right now for a grand total of 35. I'm very pleased that I was able to get 31 bookmarks out of one ball of thread!

Spring break

Today was the first day of spring break for me! I celebrated by doing laundry and doing some organizing upstairs. I didn't get too carried away, but I do feel good about what I accomplished.

My big accomplishment of the day was finishing round 10 of Renulek's Spring 2021 doily. I'm eager to start round 11!

I didn't get any ice drops or button ornaments tatted today, but I did manage to finish another bookmark. My ball of green thread is close to being used up. I'm guessing I have three or four bookmarks worth of thread left. Time will tell!

New shuttles

 

Opening the mail was fun today, because I received new shuttles from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design. They're so much prettier in person!

Today I decided to tat two bookmarks, one in size 10 and one in size 20. I personally prefer the one in size 20, but the size 10 bookmarks are much quicker to finish!