Showing posts with label TIAS 2017. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TIAS 2017. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Cousin love

Do you have cousins who live close by? I did when I was little. I grew up in Philadelphia, and my cousins Pam and Debbie lived in Upper Darby, not too far away from us. Their sister Laura was born around the time we moved from Philadelphia to Chicago. My cousins Scott and Eric lived in the same neighborhood as us, but they were ten and twelve years younger than me.

When I was in high school, we took a trip to Colorado to visit my Uncle Walter and Aunt Josie. It was great fun! Most of us met up again for my grandparents' 50th anniversary when I was in college. About 15 years or so ago, Dave and I took a vacation to Colorado and met up with Aunt Josie and some of my Colorado cousins again.

I also have cousins in Texas. I've met Nancy and Ann, but haven't met my cousin Brian yet... some day!

Despite the fact that we don't live anywhere near each other, I feel a bond with my cousins. Family stories have reinforced that bond over the years, and I am very grateful to be part of such a loving family!

Recently, my cousin Trish and I reconnected on Facebook. There are many things I do not like about Facebook, but one thing I do like is that I have been able to keep in touch with relatives around the country. We may not communicated directly very often, but we do have a way of keeping up with what's going on in the family.

Trish has been a great admirer of all the handwork that my mom and I have done. She makes us feel like super stars!

The other day, I received a Rita Richmond shuttle in the mail from Trish. I was totally surprised!


What better way is there to show my appreciation than to tat an Ice Drop? Thank you again, Trish!


I finished Jane's TIAS this morning. I never would have guessed that it was a Crinoline Lady! I still see a fancy letter D in there, but there are no signs of the jellyfish that I guessed at one point. :-)


I'm making slow but steady progress on my sister-in-law's runner. If I tat one motif a day, I think this will take me about two months to make. I'm enjoying the square motif, so maybe I'll experiment with some other square patterns that I have!

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Weekend in L.A.

No, not Los Angeles. My sister, brother, and I spent the weekend in Lower Alabama with our mom. Mom celebrated her 85th birthday on January 19, and this was the weekend that the three of us could fly down to visit her.


We had a wonderful time, but it went way too quickly!


Before leaving on Friday, I spent time working with Mary Konior's Eightsome Reel from A Pattern Book of Tatting.


Everything went fine with the first three motifs. However, I made so many mistakes on the fourth motif that I finally snipped it off and threw it away. I'll try again soon. I'd like to get this pattern down pat before starting on the runner for my sister-in-law.


My first finished piece of tatting after returning from Alabama was another St. Patrick's Day themed Ice Drop.


I don't add charms to all of my Ice Drops, but some of them just seem to fit!


This morning I finished Day 8 of Jane's TIAS. Somehow, I did manage to add a little extra decorative loop between rings 21 and 22. I didn't notice it until this morning, and I wasn't about to retro-tat, so it has become a design element. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Day 6 TIAS


It's hard to believe that we're already on Day 6 of Jane's TIAS! I'm still not fond of split rings that have a picot on the second side, but I am getting better with them. I guess the old saying is true, practice makes perfect!


I'm not much for Valentine's Day, but I do enjoy St. Patrick's Day. Yes, I am part Irish, but that's not the draw. I think it's the abundance of green, reminding us that spring is right around the corner.


I found some cut St. Patrick's Day charms at JoAnn Fabrics last week, so I think I'll make use of them and my green threads for a bit.


My sister-in-law asked if I would be willing to make a runner for her mantle. Mary Konior's Masquerade came to mind immediately! I'm practicing the pattern in size 20 Lizbeth #628, Salmon Med, because that was what was closest to me. 😊 However, the Linen Med is closer to what Karen would like.

Needless to say, I'm having fun!

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Catch up

This morning I saw that Jane is going to post the next part of the 2017 TIAS tomorrow, and I knew I had to play catch up!


Day 4 introduced a new skill for me, the zig zag chain. I think I may have miscounted my stitches, but I'm happy that I've learned something new!


Day 5 brought on more practice with split rings! I really do okay until I have to add picots to the second half of the split ring. Luckily, I didn't have to do that today!

Monday, January 16, 2017

Getting better

Day 3 of Jane's TIAS is up, and I did pretty well today.


I did not lock up one split ring! I credit that to the fact that there were no picots on the second side of the split ring. :-)

I will have to alter my original guess of this being a cheerleader. The appendage is simply in the wrong place. Now I'm guessing it's a jelly fish!


While Dave worked industriously on the new kitchen countertop yesterday, I finished up laundry, snoozed in my chair, and tatted... yes, in that order!

I know that 6/0 beads are too large for size 20 thread, yet I stubbornly keep trying. I do like the look of this Ice Drop, but the beads make the chain flop. I'll come up with a way to use this one, because it's one of my favorites. Where there's a will, there's a way!


Next, I tried with just two beads. I really like the stacked look, and this one does not flop!

Saturday, January 14, 2017

Practicing split rings

Jane has me practicing split rings... grumble, grumble, gripe. ;-)


Day 2 of her 2017 TIAS is available here.

I still think this is a cheerleader's skirt. Jane has been cheering me on to master split rings for years. I'd be fine if I could skip picots on the second side of the split ring. They lock up on me nearly every time. I'm pretty sure it should not take 25 minutes to tat 4 split rings!

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Jane's TIAS 2017 Day 1

Are you joining in the fun? Jane's TIAS starts today!


My guess is a cheerleader, cheering me on to practice split rings!

Note to self: do not practice split rings before having at least one cup of coffee! Thanks, Jane!