I had plans

I really meant to get so much accomplished this afternoon, but somehow I got distracted... again!

We had rain showers all morning, so I worked on some reorganizing. My goodness, I have an awful lot of stuff! I really need to find new homes for some of it. There's no way I can use up everything I have.

I started off the afternoon with an Ice Drop in metallic thread. I was almost finished with the first round when I managed to knot the thread. Then I managed to shred it while trying to get the knot out. I gave up and threw it away. I'll try metallic thread another day!

I then moved on to a Beaded Bloom by Tamie Alliss. This one's okay, but I still struggle with getting those chains around the center bead.

Thinking that I might do better without beads, I tried again. I think this one looks worse! It really does look drab without the seed beads.

Then I moved in to the sewing room and finished two Origami pouches. I almost sewed up a lined drawstring bag as well, but the phone rang and I forgot! ;-)

Before starting this post I was finishing up the next Masquerade motif on my Sweet Tarts doily. I joined to the first square, but forgot to join to the second square, so I snipped!

I think it's time to call it a night!

I am really enjoying tatting Masquerade from the Lizbeth thread pack "Sweet Tarts." I'm pretty sure I have all of these colors in my stash, but I'm not sure I'd have ever put them together.

I tatted another of Tamie Alliss's "Beaded Bloom." I like the multi-colored beads on the outside, and the center bead is a little bit different from the other's I've used. The hole through the center is a little larger, which made it easier to thread the picot through the bead. I think it has an interesting shape.

Dave went to daughter Carol's to work on her tree again this afternoon. It was drizzling here, but clear at Carol's house. I chose to stay home. I get nervous watching my husband with a chain saw!

While Dave was busy working, I sat and watched a movie and tatted an Ice Drop. I didn't write down what I did, so I'll have to see if I can duplicate the pattern. I really like the way it turned out!

Lessons

This morning Becky and Kami came over for sewing lessons. Today we made Origami pouches. I've made plenty of these before, but never one this small. I followed a different tutorial that does not require any hand sewing. It's a nice little bag, but I think I might go back to the tutorial I've always used in the past from Quiltsalott so that I can have a slightly bigger bag.

I experimented with Tamie Alliss's Beaded Bloom today. I tried one less ring. Yesterday's looked a little squished to me, and this one looks a little stretched. I'm going to keep experimenting until I find what works for me.

Dave finished work early today, so we went over to daughter Carol's house to start cutting down one of the two dead trees left in her yard. Dave, Carol, Nick, Jon, and Alex worked on the tree for about three hours, while I supervised.

When we got home, I finished another Masquerade motif for my doily. I started an Ice Drop at Carol's, but I didn't have a crochet hook with me for joining. I did try to join using the pick on the shuttle, but I kept shredding the thread. I figured it was better to give up than to ruin the thread!
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Low key

I had a low key day today. Daughter Carol came over and we worked on her costume for the play for a couple of hours. Other than that, I just spent a little time tatting.

You know I had to tat an Ice Drop!

My Masquerade doily is coming along nicely. I decided to mark my beginning motif so that I could remember the color sequence I started.

I received some 15 mm beads in the mail today, so I was able to tat another Beaded Bloom by Tamie Alliss. The bead might be slightly smaller than 15 mm. The one side looks kind of scrunched up. I think I'll make another one with one less ring just to see how it looks. I do love the blue bead and the blue thread!

Feelin' the heat

It's been hot and humid here the past few days. It's been a lot worse, but I'm a wimp when it comes to the heat. I know I'd never make it in the deep south!

Today I worked on Tamie Alliss's Beaded Bloom in size 20, with beads this time! It's okay, but with this pattern I think I really prefer the size 10 thread. I asked Tamie for some guidance, and she said she uses an 11 mm bead with size 20 thread. This is a 20 mm bead, so maybe that's why I'm not happy with the result.

There's one less ring on the beaded version. I really like this pattern, so I know I'll do more experimenting.

Raspberry Pink Lt was the perfect cool color to use on a hot day!

I added another Masquerade motif to my doily. By tatting one motif a day, this doily will be complete in a few weeks.

It's hard to believe that my needle lace class with Victoria Ong was a week ago. This is the best flower center I've made so far, and I could actually see where my needle needs to go for the next round!

My leaves are getting better. I just need to practice!

Sewing and other things

Today was a sewing day. I was getting bored with my lined drawstring bags, so I cut out a dozen origami pouches. I haven't made one of those in a while. My fabric stash seems to grow by itself. I know that isn't true, but it is an indication that I don't make use of the fabric I purchase!

I played with adding chains to a basic Ice Drop yesterday. I'm not sure I like it, but it's going on the tree. Sometimes I like things better after I've seen them for a while.

I finished another Masquerade motif for my doily. I think it's going to be 5 x 5 motifs, but I may change my mind.

I finished another Beaded Bloom by Tamie Alliss. This one turned out much better. I followed Carolyn Craig's suggestion of snugging up my chains a little tighter, and it worked well.

I didn't have any more 15 mm beads, but this purple bead seemed like it would work well for Tamie's pattern. Since I have way more size 20 thread than size 10, I decided to see if I could adapt the pattern for a larger bead and smaller thread. I chose not to add seed beads to this one, because I wasn't sure now many rings would go around the bead. Now I know!

So, the pink one on the left was my first one. Although I like the colors, it looks a bit wonky. Should I snip it off and try again? I love the way the green one in the middle turned out. The one on the right is smaller despite having a larger bead. I have a few more of these beads, so I think my next one will be with the seed beads. It's fun to experiment!

Been There, Done Tat ~ Part 3

Although it was not technically part of Tat Days, Lisa did offer two needle lace classes with Victoria Ong on Sunday. I've been wanting to learn needle lace for a long time, and Denise was interested also, so we signed up. Victoria's new book is available exclusively at Tatting Corner.

It took me quite a while to get the feel for making the knots, but I was happy with my progress, and now I feel confident with practicing on my own.

Dave came in with broccoli before leaving for work this morning, so my first task of the day was to prepare nine quarts of broccoli for the freezer. It looks like time for peppers next!

I've added a third Masquerade motif to my doily. I don't think this is going to turn out as I originally thought, but that's okay. Today's motif is in Lizbeth #680, Spring Green.

Of course I had to tat a matching Ice Drop!

I finished another bag today... three down, thirteen to go!

I finished the day by tatting Beaded Bloom by Tamie Alliss. My last join looks a little funky, and my chains don't snug up, but I get the idea now, and I have plenty of beads that I can practice with!