A touch of sunshine

We had a tiny bit of sun today, not much, but enough to brighten my day!

Following my morning routine, I started off the day tatting an Ice Drop. I've given away or sold most of the ones I've made, and if I want to have them for Christmas, I really need to have a good supply on hand!

I spent quite a bit of time weaving today. This is the scarf I started several weeks ago. I really like the way it turned out. It's just under 100" long!

I also worked on my band weaving, but it really doesn't look any different, so I didn't see any point in posting another picture.

It was only natural to finish off the day with another Ice Drop. How did your day shape up?

The final round!

I am so pleased to be tatting the final round of Renulek's Letnia! I actually started on Friday, and I'm already about one third of the way around. While I've thoroughly enjoyed tatting this doily, I'm starting to feel the urge to tat snowflakes!

I've really been enjoying weaving. I'm sure there are many tatters who are in the same situation I am. Tatting is my first love, but I just can't tat for extended periods of time as I used to. I do enjoy knitting and crocheting, but they do not give me the rest that I need to keep on tatting.

I have several looms... Beka, Kromsky Harp, Cricket, Inkle, Inklette, ZoomLoom, Weavette... but I never really took to weaving until Mom gave me a Saori loom for my birthday. The difference? ...prewound warps!

Mom sent me a 10 lb cone of chenille yarn. Yes, it is huge! Mom calls it a foot stool. :-)

I had great dreams of quickly using up my yarn stash. Hah! Yarn goes a lot further when woven!

I've been asked what I will do with all these little bags. For the first time in years, I'm planning on attending a craft fair, the Oktoberfest in our little village. Will there be interest? Who knows? It doesn't matter. I'm having fun, and I can always start a gift closet!

I've also been asked if my bags are for sale. Of course! If you're interested in one, just email me and I'll give you the details of the bag you're interested in. Most of the bags will sell for $25. They're large enough to hold a cell phone, keys, and a small wallet. They're meant to be cross-body bags, and if the straps are too long, a simple overhand knot will shorten the strap to the length you prefer.

I've also been asked if these can be used as tatting bags. Yes, they are large enough to hold tatting essentials. However, the bags are not lined, so shuttles with pick tips or crochet hooks could get caught in the fabric.

Now, back to my doily! The end is in sight, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how my version will look when completed!

So, what have you been up to?

Not much, at least not much tatting!

As you can see, I've made very little progress on my doily, but at least I'm more than half way around!

Why the slow progress? Well...

Tuesday was the last day of school, and The Soup Club member celebrated Judy's and my birthdays (June 6 for Judy, June 16 for me).

Edna decorated her car, and

despite torrential rain showers, we mad it to a new Japanese steak house and had a wonderful meal. I'd never been to a Japanese steak house before. It was great fun, and I hope to go again!

Wednesday, I spent nine hours working on my sewing room. Yes, I made progress, but it's still not picture-worthy. I promise, when it's all put together, I'll show it off.

Thursday, was spent taking a friend to the doctor and shopping for blinging supplies. The kids have asked for more blinged shuttles, and I'm determined to give them what they want!

Friday was laundry and cleaning day. Does it ever stop?

Saturday, daughter Joanne and granddaughter Sophia flew in from Minnesota... no time for tatting with a 14-month-old occupying my time!

Sunday, Mom arrived... party time! My sister Janet brought Mom down, and we had a wonderful time visiting and eating pizza. Hmmm... somehow, there was no tatting time.

Monday... Mom gave me personalized instruction on my new Saori loom. It's a good thing. You wouldn't believe the number of mistakes I was making. With my new-found knowledge, I managed to weave fabric and sew a little bag for Sophia.

I love the way it turned out! Joanne chose the buttons. The warp is black cotton, and the weft is Hint of Silk from Hobby Lobby. I love the feel of the fabric, and...

I think Sophia really likes her new bag!

Did I mention that today is my 62nd birthday? Mom took us all out to dinner. It was delicious! Now I have to get back on the straight and narrow... I've gained five pounds since school got out... yikes!

Oh, and in case you didn't know, this is my seven year blogaversary! It's true... I started this blog on my 55th birthday, and it was one of the best things I've ever done! I've made new tatting friends around the world. I've been inspired to learn new tatting techniques and try new patterns. I've also been enabled by a few tatters, who shall remain nameless (you know who you are!), in my efforts to collect more shuttles, thread, and patterns than any individual could possibly use in a lifetime.

It's been a great seven years? What do you think... should I go for seven more? ;-)

New love

Yes, I have a new love... my Saori loom! Mom has been weaving on a Saori loom for several months, and I loved everything she wove. A few weeks ago, an early birthday present arrived... my very own loom!

I've used a pin loom and a Cricket loom before, and years ago a tried a floor loom that belonged to a friend of mine. I do pretty well with a pin loom, and the Cricket loom is very portable. I felt like I was totally inept when I tried my friend's floor loom. This loom is different, and I don't know how to explain it. Maybe it's the philosophy behind it... there are no mistakes when weaving on a Saori loom. I don't have to worry about whether I'm weaving correctly or not, because I am expressing myself.

It's taken me three full weeks, but I've finally finished my first piece!

No, it didn't take me three weeks to weave this. It took me three weeks to get up the courage to try on my own! Mom will be here to visit in a week, and I really thought I needed her looking over my shoulder to make sure I was weaving correctly.

I have the best Mom in the world! She has been encouraging me to be brave and enjoy my Saori loom since it arrived three weeks ago. It took me a week to put the loom together, because I was afraid I'd do something wrong. If I had been brave, I could have had it together in less than a half hour. The second week, I read about Saori, watched videos, and gathered yarns for weaving.

A week ago, I decided I was ready to weave, but I let all sorts of things keep me from starting. What a fool I've been! I had so much fun weaving yesterday.

Yes, I have a new love! Will it take the place of tatting? No, but I now have another fiber art that I truly enjoy. As much as I love tatting, there are times when I do have to stop. My wrist just gets tired. Just think... now I can create beautiful fabric that I might be able to embellish with tatting!

Lost photos

I guess it's time to clean up the photos on my phone, because I seem to be missing some very special ones.

Kayla in 4th grade has been teaching me how to make friendship bracelets. She's been very encouraging, and she's a very patient teacher. I know we took a picture of my bracelet to put on the blog, but I can't find it on my phone or on my computer. It's lost in space!

Yesterday, 2nd grader Atalissa came in to show me her third 6" piece of chain. She's trying very hard to achieve Fancy Pants, but is still tatting Josephine chain. She's not one to give up, but again, the picture of her progress is missing.

I'll try to remember to take new pictures today.

In the meantime, I've been decorating more shuttles for the kids. I used paper napkins for this batch. They're so cheerful!

I'm very excited about the newest addition to my little creative heaven, my Saori loom! Mom is an avid weaver, and I love all of the beautiful pieces she has created. Now I get to learn! The set-up is going very slowly, because I have never set up a floor loom before. I read each step at least 14 times, because I don't want to mess up! Mom and I plan to have lots of fun when she comes to visit in June!