Busy weekend

 

I thought about starting another hanky edging, but instead I chose to start a new doily. This is Clematis1 from Renulek. I've chosen two colors to work with, of course hoping that I have enough of each! 

I started with size 20 Lizbeth #628 Salmon Med.

Alternating rounds will be done in size 20 hand-dyed thread from Lady Shuttlemaker, size 20 Hakelgarn Peach Pandorea.

A couple of weeks ago, I started knitting the Bramwell shawl. 

I'm on a quest to use craft materials that I have on hand, because I have way too much. Honestly, I could open a small shop if I lived in a tourist area where visitors look for unique items and are willing to pay premium prices. However, I live in a small farming community. Therefore, I will use up my materials to the best of my ability and enjoy working with my treasures!

A new day

Yesterday I accomplished nothing. I was laid low by a sinus headache, something that seems to come with changes in weather patterns for me. The good thing is, I got plenty of rest!

Today I accomplished a lot! All the laundry is done. I finished ironing and folding all the fabric I washed the other day. I worked on the curtains for the treehouse, and I hope to finish them this weekend. 

I also had time to tat an Ice Drop. Tatting with spring-fresh colors certainly is uplifting!

I'm making slow progress on round 11 of Renulek's Wiosna 2018, but I have the pattern down pat now. All I need now is more free time for tatting!

Chicken!

I decided I needed to get on board with Dave's new found interest in chickens. I like eggs and I like to eat chicken, I'm just not thrilled with the idea of taking care of the little critters. However, I know my help will be needed, so I bought a pair of Sloggers decorated with chickens. I figure I need something that can be washed off on a regular basis. I think they're pretty cute!

I've been leaving thread on my shuttles so that I know which ones I've actually used. Since I had lots of thread left on these two shuttles, I decided to make a two-tone Ice Drop. It doesn't show in the picture, but the glass gem has a bit of iridescence that picks up the pinks in the thread.

I worked on the curtains for the treehouse today. The valance is finished and I have the sides finished for each of the five panels. My iron started sticking to the fabric, so I decided it was time for a good cleaning. It was gunkier than I thought, so it took a while to get it nice and clean. Now I'm ready to work on the curtains again tomorrow!

It's going to take a while to tat round 11 of Renulek's Wiosna 2018. I don't have the pattern repeat memorized yet, but I'm sure I'll have it soon. I think it will be really pretty when it's done!

Round 10

Today I concentrated on round 10 of Renulek's Wiosna 2018. There was only one little snag. When I was close to finishing the round, I found a ring with one too many picots. Luckily, it was in a spot where I was able to snip out the ring and replace it with the correct ring. Whew!

Cascade Collection

I am in love with the new Cascade Collection from Grizzly Mountain Arts! I have a beautiful box and three tatting shuttles, and now I've added a spool knitter with matching hook and a pin cushion. Dave's woodworking skills are amazing, and I love these new airbrushed designs. The pin cushion is Dave's latest addition to the collection, and I am thrilled to have the first one!

This has been a busy week subbing at the high school. Unfortunately, one of the teachers has been down with tonsilitis. I'm glad I was able to help out. Much of what I was doing was supervising for the week, and during that time I worked on Renulek's Wiosna 2018. I've been double checking each motif as I finished it. This far along, I didn't want to make any major mistakes!

Luckily, I've been able to find time to tat an Ice Drop each day!

Cocobolo Rosewood

I love exotic woods! This Cocobolo Rosewood just might be my favorite Pop-A-Bobbin shuttle. The Liz Metallic Raspberry Pink was close at hand today, and the color just kept calling to me. It does make a lovely Ice Drop.

Most of my time today was spent finishing round 9 of Renulek's Wiosna 2018. My shuttles are wound and I'm ready for round 10!

Liz Metallic Frappe

Are you tired of seeing my tests of the new Liz Metallic threads? I'm not! 😁

As with the other metallic threads I've tested, this one does not show up nearly as nicely on the computer monitor as it does in person. The glass gem is a perfect accent to the thread. I think a flat shuttle works best for me when working with metallic threads. It's easy to wind and unwind the thread, and I don't have to worry about rubbing the threads between the tips of a post shuttle. I do like the bobbin shuttles for metallics, but I find that I can tat more evenly with the flat shuttle. This shuttle is from Grizzly Mountain Arts.

I'm making good progress on Renulek's Wiosna 2018, but I'm falling behind all because I snipped off round 8. I'll catch up!

I dusted off my sewing machine and made this lined drawstring bag today. I love this pattern by Jeni Baker! Using four fat quarters, I was able to cut out the pieces for two bags. I finished this one and started another. I would have finished them both, but my sewing machine was acting up so I took it in for servicing. Luckily, I have another sewing machine!
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Liz Metallic Iridescent

You guessed it... I played with another metallic thread today!

I think this thread is really pretty, but I found it a little more difficult to work with than the other Liz Metallics. It seemed bumpier to me. Maybe my fingers are just sore from working with metallics. I do like the look, and I think it makes a great Ice Drop. As you can see, I used another beautiful shuttle from LaCossette.

While bobbin shuttles are not my go-to shuttles, I do enjoy using them with the metallic threads. My main reason for not using bobbin shuttles is that I feel I can wind so much more thread on a post shuttle. However, since Ice Drops take from 3 - 5 yards of thread on the shuttle, I find the bobbin shuttles to be very convenient!

I finally finished round 8 of Renulek's Wiosna 2018! It did cup a little, but a quick shot of steam from the iron set everything right. On to round 9!

Liz Metallic Gold Dust

Have you guessed that I'm trying out all of my new metallic threads? Since I'm multi-crafting these days, an Ice Drop a day is a great way to keep tatting on my mind!

I'm sticking with the basic Ice Drop pattern for these tests. I do love Gold Dust! The shuttle is another of my beauties from LaCossette. She has a beautiful Red Glass Tiles shuttle in her shop, but I'll have to pay all my bills at the first of the month before ordering another shuttle. I'm trying to be good! 😉

I made pretty good progress on round 8 of Renulek's Wiosna 2018. It's all about setting goals for myself!

I didn't spend as much time on the phone today, and my rounds are getting longer, so it doesn't look like I made much progress on my Granny Square afghan. I'm using Lion Brand Mandala. It's kind of nice to have color changes without having to change yarns!

Today I learned how to use my mini warping reel from The Woolery. It's about time! I've had this for a couple of years. The design of the ones available now are slightly different. I've only used warping pegs before today, and I'm so glad Mom kept encouraging me to try my warping reel. It's so fast!

I've put the warp on the loom, but it's not threaded through the heddles yet. For some reason, I had a terrible time understanding how to use the reel and how to put the warp on the loom. I spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out both, but it took a morning and an afternoon call to Mom to finally put two and two together. I'm afraid of messing up because I'm brain weary from all the thinking I've done today. So, threading the loom will have to wait until morning when I'm sure my brain fog will have cleared!

Liz Metallic Violet

I had a lot that I wanted to accomplish today, so I set little goals for myself. As a result, I accomplished a lot!

First, I wanted to experiment with another color of Liz Metallic.

I love this color! Violet is a beautiful, deep purple. I wish the color and sparkle showed up well on the screen. My tatting was a little off today, so I noticed some uneven stitches as I was adding the ribbon. That's totally my fault, not the fault of the thread.

I used my newest shuttle from La Cossette. I love the bright colors! I've read that other tatters prefer to use a bobbin shuttle when working with metallic threads, so I decided I should give it a try. I can see where winding and unwinding the thread could damage these threads. I'm happy to report that this shuttle was a perfect fit for working with Liz Metallic.

Talking to my daughters, my mom, and a few close friends is part of my daily routine. I don't talk to all of them every day, but I do spend enough time on the phone that it would be easy for me to feel guilty about wasted time. So, I worked on my granny square afghan while chatting. It's an easy way to make progress!

I'm starting to feel like I'm falling behind on Renulek's Wiosna 2018, so I spent a good hour and a half with it today. Just think, I could have been finished with round 9 if I hadn't snipped of round 8. It's okay, though. I'm much happier with the way the round is fitting the second time around.

I made a meat pie for dinner, and while it was baking, I worked on my Park Avenue afghan. I feel like this one's working up quickly!

In addition to all of this, I went to a retiree's lunch today. It's great to get together with people I worked with for so many years. After that, daughter Carol and I went grocery shopping, and then I headed home. I think I may fall asleep in my chair tonight!

Starting the day off right

I started the day by working on Renulek's Wiosna 2018. No, I didn't get far, but I'm happy with the way this round is going. I'm pleased that I made the decision to snip the tight round.

I started another shawl, because I have a ton of yarn to use up! This is The Virus Shawl, which I learned about from my friend Denise. There are several YouTube videos showing how to work this pattern. I just happened to choose this one by Fiber Spider. The tutorial is excellent, and I found that I was able to keep just ahead of the video by the second pattern repeat.

A new little flat shuttle arrived in the mail today. This adorable little hedgehog is by Ayumi Horiai and is available at Tatting Corner. I haven't tatted with it yet, because I'm working with size 20 thread. This little cutie will probably work best with size 80 thread. I have such a weakness for hedgehogs!

Today's Ice Drop is one that I just might keep for myself! The bead is a coin pearl. It's so much prettier in person! The shuttle is one of my favorites from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design. The pearl background is perfect for this beautiful lighthouse scene. I have a fascination with lighthouses, and since high school I've had the romantic notion of living in one. I think the stairs would be too much for me these days, but it's fun to dream!

Easy decision

I woke up this morning and went right in to my sewing room to unpin my doily (Renulek's Wiosna 2018). I knew right away what I was going to do.

Snip! I have absolutely no regrets. The rings were stretched and ugly. Snipping never felt so good!

Tatting an Ice Drop seemed to be the way to get back in to a good tatting space.

Then, I was ready to start back with the doily. I can tell already that the slightly larger picots are going to work much better!

Round 8

I finished round 8 of Renulek's Wiosna 2018. It's pinned out because I needed to steam it to get it to lie flat. I think I need to snip this round off and re-tat it with larger picots for joining the rings. See how they're stretched out? I don't think I like that look. Seeing Jane's with slightly larger picots, I realize that the rounded look is so much better. What do you think? Should I snip or move on?

Since I didn't tat an Ice Drop yesterday, I decided to tat two today. I do love blue!

Movin' along

Today was a sub day, and while students were working diligently, I tatted and kept an eye on them. It's much easier to monitor students while doing handwork than while reading a book or surfing the Internet. It looks like I'll be able to finish this round this week.

I didn't get an Ice Drop tatted today. Maybe I'll have time before I head off to bed!

Where does the time go?

The day just flew by! Joanne, the kids, and I made a quick trip to Menards this morning, and then the day just disappeared.

I did manage to tat one Ice Drop. This color combination is dangerous for me. Just looking at it makes me crave a Werther's!

I started round 8 of Renulek's Wiosna 2018. I feel like I should have accomplished so much more today. At least I can say I had fun with my grandchildren!

Round 7, butterflies

Joanne and the kids took a long nap yesterday, so I had plenty of time to devote to tatting. When the kids are awake, someone always wants snuggles!

I finished round 7 of Renulek's Wiosna 2018. I really enjoyed tatting all those cute little butterflies!

Sophia kept asking for an Ice Drop in Lizbeth #130, Island Breeze. Pink was her favorite color of the day, so she chose a bright pink ribbon.

Pure joy!

Spa day

Two of my daughters and my oldest granddaughter had a spa day with me yesterday. My grandson opted out. I wonder why? We had great fun with foot baths, paraffin wax for our hands, and facials... all at home, of course!

I did have a little time for crafting yesterday, but not much. We had a fun filled day that started at 9 a.m. and went all the way to 7 p.m.

Today was another story. I had lots of time to myself.

My newest shuttle and picot hook from Grizzly Mountain Arts arrived on Friday. I put them to work right away! I actually started the Ice Drop Friday night and finished it Saturday night.

I worked on round 6 of Renulek's Wiosna 2018 today. I purchased the pattern from Etsy so that I could keep going when I was in the mood. I like that Renata releases her patterns in increments, but now that I'm retired, I like to tat when the mood strikes me.

Talking with Denise about triangular scarves and shawls got me in the mood to search the Internet. I found this Middle of the Road scarf by Sue Pinner and couldn't wait to get started. The yarn is Lion Brand Mandala and the color is Spirit. This pattern is done in v stitch, and is super simple.

I mad pretty good progress on the scarf/shawl pattern that Denise and I are working on. This is a heavier weight yarn that works up very nicely. I love the way the linen stitch pattern looks with the multiple colors!