Ice Drop

The last few days have been incredibly busy. This weekend has been filled with middle school drama club performances of Into the Woods, a musical I had never heard of until daughter Carol decided to produce it!

Yesterday I had a couple of hours of down time, so I decided to play with one of my newest patterns, How to make a bezel setting in tatting by Edda Guastalla. I've been reading many posts about encasing pennies and cabochons in tatting, and I decided it was time I learned how.

It's really very simple. This is the front view.

This is the back view.

This is the side view. Although this has six rings, it really didn't remind me of a snowflake, although I'm sure I could figure out how to extend the pattern to make a snowflake. So, I decided that I liked calling it an Ice Drop!

I have quite a supply of these little glass discs, so I think I might make some as Christmas presents.

The Chicago Cubs are not doing well in the World Series, but I'm still celebrating their participation for the first time since 1945. It looks like I'm going to need to make some adjustments, but I'm hoping  to having a piece of tatting worthy of commemorating my favorite baseball team!

Handi-wind shuttle love

So, I thought I'd try composing a blog post on my iPad. Apparently, there is a learning curve, because I've already had to delete and start over!

My newest Handi-wind shuttle arrived in the mail yesterday, and I love it! Dave at Grizzly Mountain Arts made this little beauty. One of the things I really like about the Handi-wind shuttles is that I have something to hold on to while winding my thread... that, and they're just plain gorgeous!

I spent some tatting yesterday. Do you recognize the pattern? Yes, it's Mary Konior's Spinning Wheel glass mat from Tatting with Visual Patterns. The thread is another Omega, a thread I'm really enjoying using. 

I also spent some time playing with another spinning wheel... my new Ladybug! I've never spun on a wheel before, but I found a wonderful class at Craftsy, and I'm pretty confident about learning. I just need to learn to coordinate my hands and feet!

What will I do with a spinning wheel? Well, with all the weaving I've been doing lately, I'm really intrigued with fiber. I'm hoping to spin well enough to create bags with my own hand spun yarn!

In the meantime, I'll just keep working with the yarn I have on hand. :-)

So, what are my thoughts about composing a blog post on my iPad? It's a little awkward, but I that once I get used to it, it might be a lot faster!

Update: I like the way the pictures taken with my iPad turned out; however, I do not like the way the landscape pictures show up on the blog post. I guess I'll stick with my computer!

Spinning Wheel in Omega

I do love tatting Spinning Wheels in multi-colored and variegated threads! I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I love seeing how the colors swirl around in this pretty pattern from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior.

The next week and a half will be very busy. My summer tatting students are coming today. Friday I plan to go to Stitches Midwest with my daughter and granddaughter. Tuesday will be our next Tollway Tatters meeting. Next Wednesday will be the last meeting of my summer tatting class. Then, it will be back to school on the 18th. Time flies when you're having fun!

I had fun playing with color yesterday. I really like the way the bag turned out, and I was thrilled to find an orange button in my stash. It seemed like the perfect focal point!

Spinning Wheel progress

It's time to get back in to my school routine, so yesterday I went in and set up the library for the new school year. Today I'll get some computer work done so that I don't feel overwhelmed once we get started on the 18th. I do enjoy getting ready for the new school year, but spending time at school makes me realize how much tatting, weaving, and reading time I'll be losing!

Every time I start a new Spinning Wheel glass mat (Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior), I feel like I am spending time with an old friend!

I think I've had enough of this green Omega thread. It's nice to work with, but I have so many threads to try, I think it's time to move on! I'm willing to share, so if you'd like to try this size 20 Omega, email your address to me, and I'll send off a 10 yd. sample. I'll share until I run out.

I thought I'd lost my weaving rhythm last night until I realized that Dave only spent 45 minutes mowing. I really thought I'd lost my touch! I'm nearing the end of my warp. I'm looking forward to counting my bags to see how many one warp yields!

Unplugged

Do you ever feel the need to unplug? Don't get me wrong. I've learned so much from reading blogs and having the instant access to information that the Internet provides, but there are days when I look at my devices and long for a simpler time.

Since last Tuesday, I just haven't had the desire to spend much time on my computer. I'm sure I've missed out on a lot, but I also found time to recharge my personal batteries! I spent time tatting, weaving, reading, visiting family, and taking naps... good old summer time fun!

I'm continuing with motifs from Tatting by Myra Piper. This is motif No. 11. I really should switch to a solid color for these motifs, but this green thread is so pretty, I just keep tatting with it!

As you probably guessed I would, I've started a Spinning Wheel glass mat from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. I'm curious to see how much this ball of green thread will yield!

My bag production has slowed down, probably a result of so much time spent reading and napping! I love using this chenille yarn that Mom sent to me. The fabric is soft, and I can make each bag unique by including snippets from other projects.

This bag did not yield the contrast I was hoping for. I used a bulky acrylic and a very soft bamboo yarn. Both had the same color scheme, but the textures are very different. You can fell the difference when you touch the bag, but you can't see the clasped weft results very well.

My summer tatting kids had a great time last Wednesday. There were 12 kids... 10 girls and 2 boys. We really have had wonderful weather for outdoor tatting this summer! The rest of this post is pictures of the kids and their tatting. Enjoy!

Look at them go!

Has it really been since Monday that I posted? I guess I've let time get away from me.

My third graders have been tatting up a storm, and I'm sad to say that I have not remembered to take pictures of all of the progress made. I just can't keep up with them!

As I looked through these pictures, I realized that I can't remember whose tatting is whose!

I know this is Paige's ring and chain combination. I remember her saying that this is one of her bags of tatting!

I think this may also be Paige. I'm pretty sure she's chosen from the tin every day this week!

This must be Shelby... I recognize her shuttle! Rings and chains are the theme this week!

I have drawn a blank. I just can't remember whose tatting this is. When I find out, I'll let you know!

Shelby earned a second motif this week!

Owen is not the only boy tatting, but he is certainly the most determined. He wanted to earn this bumble bee, and there was no way he was going to let anyone beat him to it!

As for me, I finished my latest Spinning Wheel glass mat. This one is in size 20 Flora, a lovely thread that is no longer available.

I have a couple of ideas rolling around in my head... nothing original, just projects that interest me. I wonder which one will catch my fancy?

Bazooka or Double Bubble?

That's the question that ran through my mind all weekend as I worked on my latest Spinning Wheel. I'm a Bazooka girl, or at least I was. I can't imagine sticking a wad of that sticky sweet stuff in my mouth any more... my fillings might fall out of my teeth! I remember reading the comics while softening that pink chunk in my mouth. I never did care for the taste of Double Bubble, but there were times when any pink would do... except for that awful stuff that came with baseball cards!

So, enquiring minds want to know... which bubble gum do/did you prefer?

Or maybe as a tatter, you'd rather say which thread you prefer. This is size 20 Flora, #37. I haven't checked in a long time. Is Flora even available any more?

There was a lovely surprise in the mail on Saturday...

goodies for my tatting students from Tatting Marie! The kids were so excited! Thank you, Marie!

Paige chose this pretty snowflake as her reward for tatting a ring and chain pattern... two of them, in fact! Paige told me that she has tatted a whole ball of thread at home. It must be time to go shopping!

Grace has been practicing her chain and picot pattern. She chose an adorable tatted nativity.

Yesterday at church, a friend of mine whose oldest child is in second grade, asked me if her daughter would be learning to tat next year in third grade. I guess the word is spreading!

I give up!

I've spent the past hour trying to catch up on reading blogs, and I still have 136 to go. I can't do it, so I give up! I need to get back into my morning routine of reading blogs while I have my morning coffee. A little bit here, a little bit there, and soon I have caught up with all my friends in the blogosphere. Somehow, I've lost my routine and I must get it back! I've marked all posts as read, and I'm starting with a clean slate. Let's see how I do this week! ;-)

My little tatters are progressing nicely!

Paige has been using the thread and shuttles she purchased at Hobby Lobby to make bunches of rings. She's hoping to get more for her birthday... Diane the Enabler strikes again! ;-)

Shelby practiced her rings on one continuous thread. Isn't her little purse adorable? Several of the girls have these little bags for carrying their works-in-progress. They also have larger bags for holding their samples and prizes. I might have to go shopping for one of these little purses. They are so adorable!

Owen finished his six inches of Fancy Pants and claimed the tiny tatted bumble bee that he fell in love with. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture. The four 5th grade girls have been practicing, but are not ready to show their progress yet. 

I'm making slow progress on my hanky edging...

and my Spinning Wheel. Why? To be honest, I've spent too much time playing games on my iPad. My grandson got me started on Hay Day, which he no longer plays. I am totally addicted to harvesting crops, producing and selling goods, and moving on to higher levels. One of the teacher aides at school finally got me to try Candy Crush... stay away! Danger! Danger! Why do I feel the need to earn a Sugar Crush? Maybe it's because after playing with all that candy, I have no desire to eat sweets. I think it's time to unplug!

It's amazing!

I now have four 5th grade girls learning to tat! Guess who's teaching them? If you guessed 3rd graders, you are right!

When do we get our work done? Before taking time for tatting, of course! The kids come in for about 10 minutes after lunch every day, and then if they finish all their required library/computer work, there's usually about 10 minutes at the end of class, time for reading, research, or tatting! I don't have time to help everyone with those time constraints, but I am able to teach a few at a time, and those few help their classmates. The kids are very good about helping each other. They're even learning to recognize their mistakes, and they're figuring out how to correct them. It's wonderful to see them all working together!

Kate has been practicing her picots, earning an adorable tatted spider!

Delaney has absolutely perfected Fancy Pants! I was very flattered that she chose a two layer flower that I tatted.

What have I been up to, you ask?

Why, I've started another Spinning Wheel, of course! That size 20 Flora was just crying to be made into a Spinning Wheel!

What a day!

... a great day! I made a special arrangement with the third grade teachers. On Wednesday, Mrs. S's class has library 20 minutes after their lunch time. On Thursday, Miss N's class has library. These two lovely teachers have agreed to allow the kids who are tatting to stay in the library for that extra 20 minutes. Isn't that great?

Paige has been working hard on Fancy Pants. Today I showed her how to make picots, and that's what she'll be working on tonight.

Dylan came up with her own pattern of chains and picots. Now she's ready for rings!

Spinning Wheel glass mat from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior

I finished Mom's dark green Spinning Wheel today. I'll try and remember to take it with me so that I can get it off in the mail tomorrow. I do love this pattern!

There was a wonderful surprise in the mail today, not for me, for the kids. Sarah read about my "Future Tatters of America" (her words), and decided to send along motifs for the kids to choose from. They will be so excited! Thank you, Sarah!