Back to tatting

 

It was wonderful to spend two days reading, but today it was time to get back to tatting. Any time I can't decide what to work on next, I find that working on a Spinning Wheel glass mat (Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior) is a great way to relax and consider my options.

I haven't decided what I'll tackle next, but I sure had fun thinking about possibilities!

Sharing the love

I almost always carry tatting with me. It's nice to be able to pull out some lace and create a few rings and chains rather than sit and be idle.

Today I subbed in second grade. Some of the kids have older siblings who learned to tat from me, and they will sometimes ask if I have my tatting with me. Today I was asked, and I was able to show them the Spinning Wheel glass mat I had in my purse. One little boy, who is new to the district, was pretty impressed. His last sentence on this page of his writing practice says, "She is vary good at tating."

That little boy made my day!

Ducks in the pond

Can you see them? In all the years we've lived here, this is the first time we've seen ducks in the pond. We've seen a heron a few times, but these are our first ducks!

I finished up the warp on Dad's box loom. I did a little experimenting with finishing off the ends. There's just a knot on the left side, but on the right I did a little bit of braiding before knotting it. I'm still having trouble with getting an even weave, and I'm wondering if it's because I don't keep an even tension as I'm holding the woven end. I think I'll go back to my Shining Glen loom to see if I can do better.

I subbed at the high school today, so I took some tatting along. I really only tatted a few rings and chains on this Spinning Wheel glass mat. I've been carrying it in my purse for several weeks. It needed a shot of steam, and now I'm inspired to work on it again. 😊

Today was a four Ice Drop day. Aren't these colorful? They're each done in Marilee Rockley's size 20 hand-dyed thread, Candy Mint. I think they look good enough to eat!

I finally started round 9 of Renulek's Wiosna 2017. I thought it would be complicated, but the pattern was really easy to memorize. It just will take a while to get all the way around!
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Three more

I subbed today, but before leaving for school, I managed to finish two Ice Drops. Yes, I woke up very early... 4:30... and I didn't have to leave until 7:30. I had plenty of time to get ready for school and tat!

I love that different glass gems and ribbons can change the look so much!

During the teacher's plan time, I was able to finish my latest Spinning Wheel glass mat from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. The wood shuttles are from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design. The cross shuttle is a decal, and the flowers are hand painted.

After school, I had time for one more Ice Drop. This one is with a glow-in-the-dark gem. I wonder if I'll ever think to look at it in the dark to see if it really glows? 😀

Deja vu

I subbed in the library today! It was like old home week. I greeted the kids as I always did, took attendance, monitored keyboarding skills, read, checked books in and out, shelved... I felt totally at home!

While I thoroughly enjoyed myself today, I know that I made the right decision to retire at the end of last school year. I am TIRED!

Before heading in to school this morning, I finished a Spinning Wheel glass mat.

It's funny, now that I don't have a goal of finishing one each week, I find it easier to take on other projects, such as Ice Drops! ;-)

I have chosen the next project for my sewing students. We're going to make these cute little pocket tissue holders. They work up so quickly and easily! The directions are on YouTube. All you need is two pieces of fabric, one 5 1/2" x 7 1/2" and the other 5 1/2" x 6 1/2". The whole project can be done in less than 15 minutes... easy peasy!

I only finished one Ice Drop today. Maybe I'll have time to make more tomorrow!

Dave's getting close to finishing my kitchen countertop. All that's left to do is put the turntable back in place and seal the seams. I'd like a new dishwasher, but I think that will have to wait for a while. Tomorrow I start cleaning cabinets and putting things away. I think I may do a little rearranging while I"m at it!

A year of Spinning Wheels

I can't believe that this is the last day of 2016. The time sure flew by quickly!

I felt like I was falling behind in tatting Spinning Wheels, but I guess I was wrong. I managed to finish five in December, along with all the Ice Drops I've been making.

My goal for 2016 was to tat one Spinning Wheel each week in 2016. I exceeded my goal with a grand total of 66!

I don't think I'll set any goals for 2017. I think I'll just enjoy myself. How about you?

It's good to be back home!

We had a wonderful visit with daughters Andrea and Joanne and their families, but I'm happy to be home! I wish we all lived closer to each other, but I'm glad that my daughters are independent enough to live where they're happy!

I can usually get a lot of tatting done in the care, but not this trip. I fell asleep too often! I did finish this Spinning Wheel glass mat in size 20 Lizbeth #646, Purple Iris Lt. The shuttles are two of my newer ones from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design.

Andrea surprised with a gift card to Hobby Lobby, my favorite store!. Daughter Joanne looked for a shuttle maker on Etsy and found Banyek.

She had no idea I collect his shuttles! I guess my daughters are enablers! ;-)

I took a four day break from tatting Ice Drops. I had plenty to carry with me since we had Christmas gifts for all the kids.

After we unpacked and put everything away, I got right back in to Ice Drop mode! I'm feeling very festive this year, so the Christmas decorations may stay up just a little bit longer!

Holiday spirit

I'm really getting in to the holiday spirit!

Today some new shuttles arrived from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design. They arrived in an adorable little box that looks like a book... perfect for a retired librarian! I think my favorite is the white shuttle with the rose. I love roses!

I finished three more Ice Drops today. I'm slowly refilling my tree. It's looking a little bare, because I mailed some off to friends and relatives today. I am truly addicted to making these little ornaments!

I also finished my Spinning Wheel glass mat (Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior) in size 20 Lizbeth #689, Mint Light. Yes, I do love my tatting shuttles, and I try to show how much I love them by using each of them at least once!

Where does the time go?

Christmas has snuck up on me again! Oh, I have all the presents wrapped and under the tree. The ravioli is made for Christmas Eve. I've even managed to tat a few ornaments! ;-)

However, it just struck me that today is Wednesday, and family will be descending upon us on Saturday! I need to mail off Ice Drops to some friends and relatives. I meant to do it earlier, but tatting got in the way. I'm pretty sure they won't arrive by Christmas, but I enjoy getting mail after Christmas... hopefully the recipients will feel the same way!

We're taking a two week break from sewing lessons, so the sewing machines can be put away. There's an awful lot of tidying and dusting and vacuuming to do, so I think I will crank up the volume on my iPod and sing my way to a Christmas-ready house!

I only managed to tat one Ice Drop yesterday. I subbed at the middle school, had a two-hour sewing lesson with my little girls, and took care of my sick hubby. Why is it that miserable colds seem to rear their ugly heads right before the holidays? I'm taking preventive measures for myself. I do not want to be sick this weekend!

Subbing at the middle school allowed for quite a bit of tatting time, so I made great progress on my newest Spinning Wheel glass mat. Many of the kids were taking end-of-term assessments, and I find it very easy to tat this pattern while keeping an eye on the kids. I felt especially festive using my shuttles from Rita Richmond... anything to promote the Christmas spirit!

Having fun!

I did do a little around the house today, but mostly I had fun!

I added three more Ice Drops to my little silver tree. I don't know if you can see it on your monitor, but the one on the left is iridescent, and the one on the right is a deep silver blue. All three are much prettier in person!

I also finished another Spinning Wheel glass mat from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. This one is in size 20 Lizbeth #615, Yellow Light. I like that I was able to choose two of Rita Richmond's beautiful shuttles that had the same yellow in them! (Shuttle by Design)

Baby pink

I finished my Baby Pink Spinning Wheel glass mat today! I'm not really a fan of pink, but I had it in my stash, and it was the first ball of thread I grabbed. If you read my blog on a regular basis, you already know that this is my favorite pattern from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. I used size 20 Lizbeth this time, and the shuttles are from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design.

Since I had Baby Pink left on my shuttles, I decided to use it for my next Ice Drop. I'm trying to think of someone who had a baby girl this year. I think it would be the perfect ornament for baby's first Christmas!

Don't they look nice together?

Snow has come to the midwest, and granddaughter Sophia built her first snowman today! She was very pleased with herself!

Christmas in the Village

Today was Christmas in the Village, and I had a table full of goodies to sell!

I had scarves made by Mom and me... woven, crocheted, knitted. I sold two. No one was interested in my pin cushions. That's okay. I'm sure find a good home for them. I had three size of bags that Mom made; she wove her own fabric and then sewed the bags. I sold three of them. Mom also sent up some mug rugs; I sold one.

My little silver tree was loaded with Ice Drops and Lucky Pennies. I sold six. I know it doesn't seem like I sold much, but the shoppers were few, so I consider myself pretty fortunate.

Denise stopped by with another bag of glass gems for me. I think I may have to come up with some other patterns to use up all these gems!

I think they look much prettier in a bowl. I would have liked a clear glass bowl, but apparently they're all filled. :-)

I finished the pink Ice Drop while sitting at my table today. I tatted the yellow one at home tonight.

I even managed to work on my Baby Pink Spinning Wheel glass mat today. All in all, I think it was a wonderful day!

Falling behind

With all the Ice Drops and Lucky Pennies I've been tatting, I've fallen behind with my Spinning Wheel glass mat challenge. In order to catch up, I either need to tat three Spinning Wheels this week or two this week and two next week. I think the latter is more likely!

I did finish one today. This Spinning Wheel is in size 80 Lizbeth #708, River Blue Med. The shuttles are from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design. The Spinning Wheel pattern is from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior.

I only managed to finish one Lucky Penny today. I guess we all have choices to make!

I did start another Spinning Wheel in size 20 Lizbeth #619, Baby Pink. Why Baby Pink? It was the first ball of thread I saw!

The shuttles are from Shuttle by Design, and I'm happy to say that each shuttle is loaded with 20 yards of size 20 thread, which will be plenty to finish this Spinning Wheel.

November tatting

I only completed four Spinning Wheel glass mats in November, but I'm still ahead of my goal of tatting one per week for 2016.

This is the one I should have finished last week. It's in size 80 Lizbeth #708, River Blue Med. No worries... I will finish it this week!

Yes, these are two more of Rita Richmond's shuttles (Shuttle by Design). I'm developing quite a collection of these little beauties!

I finished two more Lucky Pennies today, for a total of five in the month of November.

That reminds me... I also tatted 42 Ice Drops in November... not too shabby! ;-)

Dusty Blue Spinning Wheel

I finished my Dusty Blue Spinning Wheel glass mat, and I think it's really pretty! The thread is Oren Bayan size 50. I guess I really don't understand thread sizes, because this is the same size as the ones I've tatted in size 20 Lizbeth, 5 1/2". Oren Bayan thread is much softer than Lizbeth, so I don't think it will work well for snowflakes. However, it does make a pretty doily!

As I've mentioned before, I love Rita Richmond's shuttles! (Shuttle by Design)

I filled both shuttles, and as you can see, I have plenty of thread left. I do like tatting the Spinning Wheel (Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior) with two shuttles. I find it's easier to carry my tatting with me, and I prefer switching shuttles to using the shoelace trick.

If I finish an Ice Drop each day between now and Christmas, I should have plenty to decorate my own tree as well as enough to give away. Besides, I have some more beads I'd like to try!

Because they're blue!

I didn't need another set of Clover picot gauges, nor did I need any more Clover shuttles. However, when I saw this beautiful blue set, I just had to order it. They came all the way from Japan, and they came very quickly. So, now I have two sets of Clover picot gauges, one in brown and one in blue. I hope they don't come out with any other colors that I just have to have!

A couple of more Ice Drops have been added to my little silver tree.

I used up the spool of 1/8" satin ribbon I had, and I decided to switch to grosgrain ribbon for a different look. I like it!

My progress on this Spinning Wheel glass mat is slow, mainly because I haven't been home much this week. Have I told you how much I love my Rita Richmond shuttles?

Today I received a lovely note from Eliz with this beautiful little snowflake enclosed. I love the block tatting, but I still haven't tried it myself. Now that I have this beautiful example, maybe I'll take the time to give it a try. Thank you, Eliz!

Another thank you goes out to Sherry of Createology. How did she know that I love Swarovski crystals? The bracelet will be the perfect accessory when I dress up for family get-togethers during the holiday season. I plan to use the dragonfly and angel as scissor fobs on my favorite embroidery scissors. Have I told you I collect pretty scissors? Maybe I'll show you my collection some day!