Having fun

 

I really am enjoying making donut necklaces! I don't need any more for gift giving right now, but they're easy enough to keep on hand for future use. This donut is a bit thicker than the ones I've been using. It's 3/4" across, and I used size 20 Lizbeth Rainbow Splash.

This donut is thin, but slightly larger at 1". The thread is size 20 Lizbeth Springtime. I guess I'm on a roll for tatting with donuts!

Experimenting

Since I was forgetful over the past two days, I decided to try adding to my post as I complete things throughout the day. I'm not sure if it's worth the effort, but I'll give it a try!

I didn't mean to spend the first four hours of my day tatting, but that's how long it took for these three pieces. No, I did not spend the entire time tatting. I took out time to talk with Mom and daughter Joanne!

The thread is size 20 Lizbeth #698, Fudge Med. Yes, I do have a craving for chocolate right now! If you enlarge the picture, you can see that I put a gold bead in the center of the top flower motif. It's a much better size than the pearl beads I've been using. I do have some pearl beads that I think would be perfect, but I'll have to find out where I stashed them!

I love all of Sherry Pence's shuttles, but the ones in cobalt blue are my absolute favorites!

Before heading off to school, I managed to tat another Ice Drop. This one is in size 20 Lizbeth #184, Rainbow Splash. Sherry Pence's artistic ability really shows through in this gorgeous shuttle!

After school, I tatted a Doodle Ice Drop in size 20 Lizbeth #620, Azalea Med. I also finished two six petal flowers for Vicki Clarke's and Cynthia Stevenson's fund raiser project, A Celebration of a Classic. I think I have 14 of these little flower motifs tatted. I'm excited to see what these ladies are able to create!

Do you see the fish in the shuttle? I do!

I'll be doing some test tatting tonight for my friend Shelley Perreault. No, I won't be showing my work. It's a surprise!

Done!

It took all day, but I finally finished off the ball of Rainbow Splash!

There are 40 here, but I gave three to a friend who is in the hospital giving me a total of 43 Ice Drops from one ball of Rainbow Splash!

I was really surprised that I had enough thread for four more Ice Drops.

I really thought there was only enough for two.

I've been picking the glass gems randomly, just sticking my hand in the bowl and pulling out the first one I touched.

When I'm finished, I look at my box of ribbons and decide which one I like best. I've learned a lot about choosing colors from granddaughter Sophia!

As you can see, 40 Ice Drops really fills my little tree. There are two on almost every branch.

I find that these little window tins are perfect for storage.

Now that I've completed this goal, I can return to some of my other tatting projects!

Shopping spree!

It sounds exciting, but it really wasn't. I was gone most of the day... grocery shopping, banking, searching for a few items Dave wanted. Daughter Carol invited me over for lunch, and we had the most delicious salsa and chips!

When I arrived home, I put away all my purchases and then sat down to tat.

I believe this is my 40th Ice Drop from my ball of Rainbow Splash, and I think I have enough for at least two more.

I had a wonderful surprise in the mail today, a birthday present from my mom! Mom hoped that it would arrive by my birthday, but this is a custom Sami shuttle all the way from Estonia. I think it's okay that it arrived a little bit late. The wood is as smooth as silk, and the cutouts are perfect!

Thank you, Mom!

Just another Saturday

Nothing special went on around here today, just housework, yard work, and a little relaxation.

Of course relaxation means time for a little tatting!

I also finished off the band I was weaving. I'm not real happy with this one. It just wasn't what I wanted. Still, I'm sure I'll find a use for it.

And the winner is...

Margie Crewse! Congratulations, Margie! You are the winner of my blogiversary give-away. Please pm your mailing info to me and I will get your surprise off to you this week.

I finished weaving another Baltic band pattern from The Weaver's Inkle Pattern Directory by Anne Dixon. Sophia loved the colors of this one!

Dave wanted to spend the day working on things he was interested in at his own pace. He spent quite a bit of time working in the yard, and while he worked outside, I sat on the front porch tatting. Dave likes having me sit on the porch while he's working in the yard, and I like sitting there!

Updates

I started the day off yesterday by installing updates on my computer. What a long process! I started around 5 a.m. when I got up, and the updates were not finished installing until almost 11. Granted, we don't have the fastest Internet access, and there were multiple users (Dave on his iPad, the kids streaming a movie while breakfast was being made, me installing updates). Still, that seemed like an awfully long time.

I did try posting yesterday morning, but since everything was so slow, I decided to put it off until later, and later just never came!

Sophia spent quite a bit of time "tatting" yesterday. She chose a dark pink shuttle and purple thread for her second project aka winding thread on the shuttle.

Every girl needs a project bag, so Sophia chose from my stash of Origami pouches. She told me she's making an Ice Drop. That's my girl! Think positively!

I finished another Sophia-approved Ice Drop before breakfast. I've noticed that some of the opaque glass gems are losing some of their paint from knocking against each other. I don't mind. I think it adds a little character!

Sophia cracks me up when she tells me she's going to just sit over here and do some tatting! I think she's toted her tatting to every chair in the house!

Janko is our little banana king! He eats several bananas every day, and he will only eat them if they're partially peeled. He does not like to share!

Kara gets all excited when Papa gets his iPad out!

I finished another Sophia-approved Ice Drop while the kids were napping. Then we all packed up and headed over to my sister-in-law's house for a cookout. Since we haven't had much rain in the past two weeks, there were not mosquitoes and the weather was perfect for sitting outside and enjoying each other's company!

Command performance

Granddaughter Sophia informed me that she needed more Ice Drops to hang on the tree.

So, I tatted!

The babies took long naps today, so I had plenty of time.

Of course, all the gem and ribbon colors are Sophia approved!

Tummy troubles

The little ones weren't feeling well today... tummy troubles. There was a lot of snuggle time, and all seemed to be doing much better by dinner time. Everyone went to bed early, leaving me time for just a bit of tatting...

Sophia chose the blue glass gem and pin ribbon. I think she may be going home with this one!

Splish splash

It rained on and off today, but I didn't mind.

I just played with Rainbow Splash!

I also finished weaving my Sami band. This one is in 5/2 perle cotton. I enjoyed weaving with the perle cotton. It makes a nice, substantial band.

Daughter Joanne and family are arriving tomorrow, so I spent time cleaning. I had to shoo some of my dust bunnies out the door to make room for the grandchildren! 😉

Tuesday tatting

I subbed in 5th grade today, so I only had time to tat one Ice Drop in Rainbow Splash. One is better than none, right?

I did warp my Hard Maple loom this morning. This is another Sami band pattern in red, blue, and green. I have two bands in progress right now, and I'm planning on warping another loom tomorrow. A girl can never have too many shuttles or too many looms!

Ready to tat!

All my bags are packed. I'm ready to go. I'm standing here outside the door. I hate to wake you up to say good-bye.

Oh, wait... Dave was up before me this morning! I am ready to go, though. Today, Tollway Tatters are meeting at the Hinsdale Oasis at 10 a.m. If you're in the Chicago area, we'd sure love to have you join us! Look for a bunch of crazy tatters in tie-dye t-shirts, and a table loaded with tatting supplies. We try to sit near Starbucks and the new Panera Bread. I can hardly wait for lunch! 😋

Denise and I braved the rain together to run some errands in Kankakee. We always enjoy ourselves when we're together. We tried out a little restaurant, Carlo's, that Denise had discovered and had a wonderful lunch. We looked at and talked about old sewing machines, family memories that inspired us to become fiber addicts, and... Ice Drops!

Denise has been taking some nature classes, learning about bugs, plants, watersheds... all things I listen to with great interest, although I have no interest in taking the classes myself. Anyway, Denise has been dreaming of tatting Ladybug Ice Drops, and this is her first interpretation. I like it!

I'm continuing to work with Rainbow Splash. I have a little window tin that I'm using to keep them clean.

I also want to see how many I get out of this ball! I'm not sure I'll tat with this color exclusively. Daughter Joanne is coming to visit next week, and she wants to organize my craft supplies for me. I'm pretty sure I'll find some colors I just have to use!