Masquerade... again

Since I can't find the Masquerade piece I tatted a few months ago, it was time to tat a new one!

Rock of Ages

This weekend was the alumni and directors' showcase to benefit the school drama club. Every two or three years, students who have graduated are invited to participate in a summer performance raise money for something specific. The group has been able to raise money for new lighting and mics. This year, their goal is to replace the stage curtains.

My role in all of this is to provide whatever support Madame Director needs. My duties this year were pretty simple: help with Carol's costume, provide dinner for Carol the two nights of the performance, and sell raffle tickets. I had the easy part!

Rock of Ages is a musical I had never heard of, so I was completely surprised by the performance. The cast was fantastic! I understand they cleaned up the language quite a bit... it was performed in a school.

Minor rant here... why do entertainers feel the need to litter movies, plays, music, and books with foul language and graphic scenes? I must lead a very sheltered life, because the people I know do not speak or act the way I see characters portrayed. A good story is a good story. Why muck it up? Rant over.

Because unexpected things happen on performance weekends, I try to keep crafting simple and at a minimum. I don't want to be frustrated my interruptions!

I chose to work on the spool pin doilies for Mom. They're quick and easy, and I don't have to worry about losing my place in the pattern!

I think these are going to be some fun table decorations!

Oh, and I finished my doily! Presenting "Masquerade" from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior, tatted in size 20 Lizbeth thread pack, Sweet Tarts. It didn't turn out the way I had envisioned it, but I like it!

Not much to show

Today was one of those days when I felt like I worked all day, but there isn't much to show for it!

I did manage to finish another Masquerade square... just one more to go!

I also typed up the directions for my Frivolity Ice Drop. For those of you who are interested and aren't on Facebook:

Frivolity Ice Drop

2 shuttle pattern

Materials: 3/4” glass gem, two shuttles wound continuous thread method, size 20 Lizbeth thread (approximately 6 yards on each shuttle), 12” ribbon for hanger (optional)

Note: this pattern follows the one pass method for encasing the glass gem (back ring, front ring, chain, repeat around)

Round 1

Set 1 ~

Ring: 4-4---4-4; RW

Ring: 6-6-6; fold ring down and away from you

Chain: 6-6; RW

Sets 2 - 5 ~

Ring: 4+4+4-4; RW (join to first ring and large picot)

Ring: 6+6-6 (join to second ring); fold ring down and away from you

Chain: 6-6; RW

Set 6 ~

Ring: 4+4+4+4; RW

Ring: 6+6, insert glass gem, +6; turn piece away from you

Chain: 6-6; lock join to base of first ring; RW

Round 2 (domed side of glass gem facing you) 

Chain 12; RW

Ring: 6+6 (join to picot in first round; RW

Chain 12; lock join to base of next ring in first round.

Repeat sequence 5x.

Round 3

Chain 16; lock join to base of ring in round 2; switch shuttles

Ring: 2--2--2---2--2--2; switch shuttles

Chain 16; lock join to base of ring in round 1

Repeat 5x

A different look

I tried Shelley Perreault's Peacock Coins pattern with fewer beads. I still used a penny, the same thread, and the same beads, just fewer of them. While this is pretty, it just doesn't have the dazzle dazzle of the other one. I'll bet you can guess which one I prefer!

Five more spool pin doilies are ready for Mom's Christmas table decorations!

Believe it or not, I only have two squares to go on my Masquerade doily! If I had completed one yesterday and one today, I'd only have one to go. Oh, well! It's not like I'm in a race!

Remember this?

It wasn't too long ago that I posted this picture of my newest Ice Drop. the more I look at it, the more I like it! I hadn't decided on a name, and I did receive many wonderful suggestions bother here and on Facebook. I have to go with the name my mom suggested, because she is my mom and I always value her suggestions.

Oh, you'd like to know what name Mom suggested? Frivolity. I think it fits. I had to re-tat it today so that I could write down the instructions.

I haven't typed them up yet, but for those of you who just can't wait, I took a picture of my notes.

There are only three motifs left to tat on my Masquerade doily! This one will be finished soon!

I managed to sew another origami pouch today. I do love this fabric!

I did manage to finish a Masquerade square before I went to bed last night. The end is in sight!

It was a good mail day! I received my nylon mold from Linda Williams, along with lots of goodies! I love the card she made, and she also sent me an Ice Drop. This one's definitely going on my tree!

Linda also sent a bag of cabochons and the Oren Bayan thread she likes for her boxes.

Lucky me... Linda also sent a jewelry set. I have a silver neck chain that will work perfectly with the pendant. Thank you for everything, Linda!

Inspired by Linda's fabulous package, I decided to sit down and tat with metallic thread. I chose to experiment with Liz Metallic Rose. I plan on this becoming an Ice Drop. I even remembered to take notes this time! This pattern will not work for the nylon mold, at least not with the Liz Metallic. The motif is too large, but I think it will make a pretty Ice Drop.

I did spend some time writing up a pattern I designed a week or so ago. Several people have asked for the pattern, and I really had to think about what I had done. I've decided it's time to keep a design journal so that I don't forget what I've done!

This evening I started the last row of my Masquerade doily... only four motifs to go!

A week between posts?

Yes, it has been a week since I posted, and it's been a very busy week!

In prepration for our retreat, I put together little tatting tins for everyone. Shawna Wachs was kind enough to make the decals for me. I think they turned out great!

Denise and I drove up to Minnesota on Sunday and spent Sunday night with daughter Joanne. Sophia and Kara were willing to pose for me, but Janko kept hiding from the camera... little stinker!

We treated each other to lots of goodies!

Not all were strictly tatting related.

But everything was opened with oohs and ahhhs!

There were fun gifts, practical gifts, food gifts, and tatting gifts.

It's going to be fun deciding how to use everything!

And, it will be fun remembering the wonderful three days we had together!

Timberhaze is a beautiful retreat center. This is our workroom with all of us enjoying ourselves.

Our commemorative shuttles were by Frivole.

Although bobbin shuttles are not my first choice, I do like working with these little beauties!

Our motif for the year is depicted on the back side of the shuttle.

I did work on my Masquerade doily, but I only finished one motif. I think we were having too much fun talking and sharing ideas!

Michelle brought along 2018 pennies to share. I chose to used Shelley Perreault's Peacock Coins pattern. I'm going to tat around a penny again with a different bead configuration.

Mom would like to have one as a pin. I think that's a great idea!

I also tried Shelley's pattern with a peacock coin bead and S-Lon beading thread. I need to perfect my tatting with this thread, but I found it very nice to work with.

The retreat was fabulous, and I'm really looking forward to getting together with this wonderful group of ladies again next year!

Denise and I had a long ride home, 10.5 hours. We did take a brief side trip to Norske Nook for lunch, which was delicious!

There was a lot of mail to open when I got home, and my first package was from Rita Richmond. Aren't these shuttles beautiful? I bet you know why I was attracted to them! ;-)

Remember when Marlene and Cathy came to Tollway Tatters? Marlene had a wonderful name tag stitched by a friend of Cathy's. Cathy was kind enough to have one stitched up for me. I love it!

So, now it's time to try and get back into a routine of some sort. I feel like I've been saying that a lot lately!

Laundry day... again

Friday is laundry day, and sometimes that means lots of crafting time, and sometimes it doesn't. I don't have much to show, but I did have a lot of crafting time today!

I sewed on my origami pouches this morning, but there's nothing but a stack of squares... nothing to show.

I also worked on sorting through a few boxes of my craft stuff, putting things in more logical places. Again, there's nothing to show.

I even spent time putting together the things I want to take to Minnesota, but there's nothing interesting to show their either. Maybe I'll have something good to show when I get back!

As I was sorting today, I found a few of Rita Richmond's shuttles tucked in to project bags. The projects have been long forgotten, so the shuttles have been put back with their buddies, except for this one. I needed it for today's tatting!

Shelley Perreault asked if I would check her Peacock Coins pattern. She's had it available on the Ice Drop Addicts page for a while, but I hadn't gotten around to trying it until now. Shelley's directions are easy to follow, and I like the way her pattern shows off the peacock bead.

I started the next Masquerade motif for my doily, but I didn't get very far.

I only managed to complete one spool pin doily today. I hope to get more done tomorrow. Dave wants to finish cutting down the tree in Carol's front yard, so we'll see how the day goes.

Peppers!

Dave brought in the first of our peppers this morning. I set aside three for daughter Carol, cut up two for our dinner tonight, and prepared the rest for freezing. Yum!

I was very happy to complete a Masquerade motif with no mistakes. I think this is going to be perfect!

Five more spool pin doilies are ready for Mom's table decorations!

As for dinner... it was delicious! We had fried peppers and onions, and a salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, broccoli, and cabbage... all from our garden. No, we didn't eat it all. It was way too much food. We both finished our peppers and onions. Dave ate about half of his salad, and I didn't touch mine. The good news is, I have lunch ready for tomorrow!

Helping Mom

Mom is working on table decorations for the dining room for her retirement village. Yes, she's working ahead and making Christmas trees. She came up with the idea of using spool pin doilies as tree skirts. Isn't that a great idea?

Mom is weaving the squares and putting the decorations together, and I'm helping her out by crocheting the spool pin doilies for her. I finished the first five today... only 45 to go!

I must not be concentrating while tatting. I had to tat the lavender motif two times. Luckily, I have enough thread!

I started putting together the things I want to take with me to the Twin Cities Tatters retreat next week. I have so many works in progress, it's difficult to choose. Right now I'm organizing the projects I have and then I'll be able to decide which ones to take with me.

My day wouldn't be complete without an Ice Drop! I had just enough thread left on the shuttle from yesterday's Ice Drop. I thought you might like to see the back of the shuttle decorated by Sarah. I love it!

Playing with napkins

During my mini reorganizing spree yesterday, I found a basket of cloth napkins that Mom had given me a while back. They were meant for origami pouches, so that's what I used them for.

The floral bag on the top left is not one of the napkins, but the others are. I whipped these up this morning. The nice thing about using the napkins is they're heavy weight and don't need to be lined.

I had so much fun, I made two more after lunch!

Despite spending time sorting through and organizing skeins of yarn, I found time to tat my next Masquerade motif. Only two more rows to go, and this doily will be finished... unless I decide to put a border around it. I think a border would give it a more finished look, but I'm not sure what I'd do. Any ideas?

While dinner was cooking, I started another Ice Drop. I was trying to remember what I did the other day. Of course I didn't look at what I did before, so this one turned out different. Nothing wrong with that, I guess! The thread is size 20 Lizbeth Royal Wave. The shuttle is by Sarah Ruth Wood, who I met at Tatting Corner Tat Days. She's a lovely lady, and I hope to meet her again. Sarah's shuttles are available at Tatting Corner.

I had fun today. I wonder what tomorrow will bring?