Think spring!

The warmer temperatures this week sure have me thinking about spring. Most of the snow has melted, so I'm ready for the grass to turn green and the plants to start blooming!

Thinking of spring helps fuel my desire to crochet button flowers. I don't like the way the flower turned out on the yellow headband. I think I'll find a different way to use those larger buttons.

I'm excited that the end of this round of the Jan Stawasz Masterpiece is in sight... only seven pattern repeats to go! We'll just have to see how long this actually takes. The high school play is this weekend, and I will be on call to help daughter Carol with any last minute emergencies. Drama club weekends are always very exciting and a lot of fun!

An afternoon with Jan

...Stawasz, that is!

Dave and I were supposed to attend granddaughter Eva's concert with the Elgin Children's Chorus this afternoon, but Dave forgot to change the clock at work and he got home too late for us to attend. So, while we missed the concert, I had some unplanned down time that I could use for tatting.

I'm amazed that I'm now 3/4 of the way around!

Early this morning, I finished the back side of the shuttles for the kids. I think they turned out really cute. I think I have about a dozen dedicated tatters this year, mostly third graders, although I do have a few second graders who just won't wait for third grade!

The headbands just keep multiplying! 

and two more makes...

23 pattern repeats!

I know this round seems to be taking forever, but I really don't mind. I just keep thinking about how beautiful the finished piece will be!

I'm really enjoying making these headbands. Luckily, I have four granddaughters who just might be interested in having headbands to go with every outfit!

Why blog?

I blog to keep myself motivated. I've found that since I started blogging, I've accomplished much more than I used to. I also blog to keep a record of my accomplishments. It's easy to forget what has been made, especially since I give so much of my handwork as gifts. As a bonus, I receive comments from readers around the world. Knowing that there are others who enjoy connecting through technology just makes the whole blogging experience even more fun!

So what did I accomplish today?

I started my day off right by tatting two pattern repeats on the Jan Stawasz Masterpiece. Have I mentioned how much I'm enjoying this pattern? ;-)

I decided to work on a few more headbands after school. These bright colors sure are popular among the kids!

Now I'm tired, so I think I'll turn in early... or maybe I'll do just a little more!

Lovin' this doily!

I think I'm at the halfway point of this round, and I am loving every moment of tatting! Need I say more?

Multi-tasking

I had a hard time focusing on one thing today, so it's a good thing I have several projects to keep me going!

I got a good start on round 6 of Renulek's Spring Doily today. This is the first time I've tatted a doily in multiple colors, and I really like the way it's turning out.

I'm not quite at the halfway point of the Jan Stawasz Masterpiece, but since I'm making good progress, I'm sure not going to complain!

I had several people call me today, and I find that crocheting button flowers and attaching them to headbands is something I can easily accomplish while talking on the phone.

I finished my scarf today. The color doesn't show up well, again because it's night time. I'll take a better picture tomorrow once this is dried and pressed. I didn't think I had enough warp left to finish a scarf, so this was a pleasant surprise. To make it even better, it looks like I have enough warp left to make either another scarf or a table runner. The big question will be which yarn(s) to use!

A little Wizardry!

Today was an exciting day in our little town... the Dragon Dribblers, made up of staff members, the police chief, a fireman (and former student), and our mayor, played basketball against the Harlem Wizards. The gym was packed and we had lots of laughs. My daughter Carol scored 10 points... I'm one proud mama! ;-)

I'm almost 1/3 of the way around the Jan Stawasz Masterpiece! With any luck, I'll make it to the halfway mark by the end of the weekend.

I'm sorry for the bad pictures. Night has fallen, and unless I clear off the dining room table, which is set up for blinging shuttles, there's no good place to take a picture right now. As I thought I would, I finished the last two flowers on Renulek's Spring Doily early this morning. I'm eager to start the next round!

I also managed to work a little on my friend's throw. It is soft and thick, but I really do think this is the only one I'll ever make... unless I find that I just have to have one for myself!

Two to go

I found a little more time to tat today, and as a result I only have two flowers left to tat on Renulek's Spring Doily. I think I'll finish them up in the morning and then move on to the next round.

I also managed three more pattern repeats on the Jan Stawasz Masterpiece. I love the way this round looks!

Do you remember Paige? She's picked up her tatting shuttles again, and this time she's started a motif... without a pattern! Isn't she doing great? 

Just having fun

I didn't want to think much today, or count, or pay attention to patterns. So, I played with buttons again...

I love the colors of these headbands!

I did manage two repeats on the Jan Stawasz Masterpiece before school...

and I tatted one more flower on Renulek's Spring Doily at lunch time. I wonder what I'll feel like doing tomorrow?

Making the most of every minute

I took my tatting to school again today, and at lunch time I managed to tat a few more flowers on Renulek's Spring Doily. I'm halfway done with this round!

I didn't have as much luck working on the Jan Stawasz Masterpiece. I only managed one pattern repeat, because I kept making mistakes and having to fix them. With all the time I put in, I should have finished three pattern repeats. Oh, well! Maybe I'll get more done tomorrow.

I spent an hour working on the throw for my friend. I'm afraid an hour a day will be my limit with this. I find working with such large needles to be very hard on my hands.

My new set of headbands arrived today. I can finish one in about 15 minutes, so they're great for instant gratification!

What did you work on today? I guess I'd better start blog hopping and find out!

Dedicated to my 3rd graders

This post is dedicated to my third graders, especially those who read my blog! I love working with all of you, and I am thrilled that you enjoy reading what I write!

I took Renulek's Spring Doily to school today and showed some of the kids how to tat the flowers and join them to the doily. Several of them commented on how much they like the colors in this doily. I like them, too!

I managed a few more pattern repeats on Jan Stawasz's Masterpiece while catching up on Downton Abbey before school. I really like the way this looks... lacy and substantial at the same time.

A friend asked if I could knit a super bulky throw for her. This is about 2 hours worth of work. I find it very difficult to work with size 36 needles and two strands of super bulky held together. I'm pretty sure this will be a one time deal. The yarn is super soft (Bernat Baby Blanket). I think it will be very nice when it's finished, just not my cup of tea!

Spreading the love

Last week I took my napkin collection in to school and let the kids who wanted to try blinging their shuttles choose some. 

Today, one of my third grade girls, Alejandra, showed off her initial efforts. Didn't she do a great job?

We had meetings after school today, and then I had to pick Dave up from work, so I didn't have a whole lot of time to tat. Still, I managed to get in a couple of pattern repeats in, and that makes me happy!

Only one today

I let myself get involved in too many projects today.

As a result, I only managed to tat one pattern repeat on the Jan Stawasz Masterpiece. I really need to take my pictures when there is still some light. I can't seem to avoid shadows!

I was up pretty early today, so I finished up some more crocheted button flowers.

I also worked on Renulek's tat-along doily.

I was on the phone for quite a while after school, so I crocheted some more button flowers!

My stretchy headbands arrived in the mail today, so my afternoon buttons are now sewn on to the headbands. I'll be taking them to school tomorrow. I want to see how they look on kids!

Splitting my time

I can't believe I took on two doily projects at the same time. I'm enjoying myself, but I'm not making very fast progress on either one since I'm splitting my time between the two.

I think I counted 33 pattern repeats on the Masterpiece Doily, leaving 7 to be tatted. The end is in sight... again!

I also finished another pattern repeat on Renulek's tat-along. I'm really enjoying this pattern!

A bone chilling day

It was so cold today! I'm glad that I was able to get together with the Tollway Tatters. It helped me get my mind off the frigid temperature. True to form, I forgot to take pictures of the group. I guess I was having too much fun tatting and chatting!

Sue Anna brought along a fun project for us to try... making Froggers! These are the two I made. I think I might try to make some more before our next get-together.

Carol came up with this design with split rings on either side of the bead... very cool!

I managed two more pattern repeats on the Jan Stawasz Masterpiece, and then one more when I arrived home. Three is good!

I also tatted one more pattern repeat on Renulek's doily. All in all, it was a fabulous day with good friends... despite the bitter cold!

3...2...1

I crocheted three of these scarves today while we were visiting friends. You only see one, because I gave two away!

I managed to complete two pattern repeats on round 4 of Renulek's tat-along.

And, I spent about an hour on my Jan Stawasz Masterpiece Doily. It's been a very good day!

Tomorrow is our Tollway Tatters meeting! 

Three more!

Despite an after-school shopping trip, I managed to tat three more pattern repeats today. That puts me at 22! It doesn't seem to be going as fast as it did the first time, but I am enjoying this round

Bit by bit

I'm slowly getting my computer back to where it was. I'm still not sure what I did to it, but I do know that I didn't do anything absolutely horrible. It just doesn't look the same as it did. I'll just keep plugging away, and I'm pretty sure that in no time at all I will forget what the settings used to be and be happy with how they are.

Of course all of the time I spent working on the computer meant less time for tatting. Still, I managed to complete three more pattern repeats, and that makes me very happy!

Time to reload the shuttles!

I can't believe I already have 14 pattern repeats! The round is going really smoothly this time.

Sunday afternoon

Dave had to go in to work today, so I had a relaxing Sunday afternoon to do whatever I chose.

Naturally, I worked on the Jan Stawasz Masterpiece!

I also spent some time weaving. I do enjoy experimenting with different yarns, and I'm having fun putting waves into my weaving.