Progress!

Today was a gloomy day with a mixture of rain and snow. It was a great day for making progress on projects!

The end is in sight for daughter Alison's waffle stitch afghan. It was wonderful to have it covering my toes on this chilly day!

The back of my Marly Bird knit-along sweater is now 15" long. I had hoped to be 5" further along by tonight, but I can tell that's not going to happen. Still, I'm happy with the progress I've made.

This is the eighth Easter theme Ice Drop for daughter Joanne. It might not seem like there's much difference between them, but I do try to make each one just a little different. The shuttle is by Veronica of TattingShuttles on Etsy. Oh, be be artistically talented!

Testing, testing

It's testing week at school. Yesterday I proctored sophomores taking the PSAT, and today I proctored juniors taking the SAT. Tatting was not an option. The sounds that I find soothing would have been a distraction to the kids taking the test. So, I tatted when I got home!

I mailed off 18 Easter themed Ice Drops to Mom yesterday, depleting my supply. Not to worry... I have plenty of thread and glass gems!

I decided to start with the basic Ice Drop. I liked the shuttle so much, I decided to show both sides of it! This beautiful piece of art work is from Veronica of Tatting Shuttles.

In the meantime, daughter Joanne requested some Easter Ice Drops. I'm so happy to have a reason to tat Ice Drops. This wonderful shuttle is from Grizzly Mountain Arts.

One of the nicest things about the basic Ice Drop pattern is that I can complete one in about an hour. It doesn't matter if I use 1, 3, or 5 picots. I do love the basic pattern!

I would love to figure out a tatted design to mimic this delightful shuttle from Banyek. I love collecting shuttles from around the world!

Liz Metallic Turquoise Blue and Christmas Red

Subbing wore me out this week, so I didn't post yesterday. However, I did tat an Ice Drop!

This is Liz Metallic Turquoise Blue. I do love this color! I used another of my Grizzly Mountain Arts shuttles.

Today I chose to use Liz Metallic Christmas Red.

Yes, this is another Grizzly Mountain Arts shuttle. It's covered up by thread, but there is a beautiful letter "D", just for me!

Yesterday's mail brought two lovely shuttles from Veronica of Tatting Shuttles. I think it's wonderful that we have the ability to collect tatting shuttles from around the world!

Yesterday's mail also included two beautiful new shuttles and picot hooks from Grizzly Mountain Arts. I'm so glad Dave is making shuttles again!

Today I received my newest shuttle from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design. I've never been to Paris, and I probably never will get there, but I love having a shuttle with the Eiffel Tower on it!

Dave and I had a big thrill today. We saw daughter Carol on t.v.! She's the enthusiastic brunette on the right. She was on screen just before the final pitch of the game, and the Cubs won! This is the second time we've seen Carol on t.v. when she was attending a Cubs game. The first time was two years ago at Wrigley Field. I guess being on t.v. two times makes her a star! ;-)

Number two

I didn't have much time to tat today because of subbing, but I did manage to complete one Ice Drop using another of my new shuttles!

New shuttles

I guess some would say I have a problem. I think I have a passion. Yes, indeed, a passion for shuttles! These beauties arrived from Russia today.

I couldn't wait to put at least one of them to work!

Takin' it easy

Yesterday was a pretty full day, so I decided to take it easy today. By that I mean that I did a lot of reading!

After a morning of reading and doing laundry, I decided it was time to tat an Ice Drop. I can't believe I'm still on the same ball of Rainbow Splash!

Part of my morning reading was to try and understand Inkle weaving patterns. I do have an Inkle loom, but I am determined to figure out how to make Inkle patterns work on a rigid heddle loom. I warped my Hard Maple card loom following the pattern, or so I thought. It didn't take me long to figure out that the pattern just wasn't going to work, so I took out what I had done and started weaving my own adaptation. It's not quite what I envisioned, but I figure this is all a learning process!

It was fun opening my mail today!

When Veronica posted these beauties in her Etsy shop, I just couldn't resist!

I love the artistry!
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Good intentions

I intended to get a lot of tatting done today. I really did have good intentions, but reality set in and I chose to work on the mundane household chores necessary to keeping the household together. I think I made the right choice! ;-)

Lots of goodies arrived in the mail today. I received this beautiful hand-painted shuttle from a new Etsy shop, PainTatPlus. I was her very first customer, and I received a lovely note along with the shuttle verifying that I was the first to purchase from her. Kind of cool!

While at Palmetto Tat Days, Jane Eborall kept encouraging me to work on my split rings. When I saw Karen Bovard advertise her newest tatting book, I just had to have it. Now I can practice those split rings, Jane. I know. I know. I have several split ring books, so I didn't need this one to get started, but I sure am glad I have it! I also have another of Karen's beautiful enamel shuttles. Maybe this will be the shuttle to get me working on those split rings!

I know I need two shuttles to work on split rings, so I consider myself very lucky that my newest purchases from Shuttle by Design arrived today! I guess I got a little carried away, but I know I will use them!

This little beauty from Tatting Shuttles arrived over the weekend. I was attracted to it because of the red inlay. Red is my mom's favorite color!

I love enameled shuttles, and these little beauties from Middy Clark at The Knotted Vine arrived today. I love these little works of art!

Yes, I am still obsessed with Handi-Wind Shuttles from Grizzly Mountain Arts! I have been a customer of Dave and Jo for years, and I am always impressed with the craftsmanship that goes into each and every piece!

In between laundry loads, I wove some more squares for Mom. I know I have a Zoom Loom somewhere in the house, unless I gave it away. I don't really need it. I have been using my Weavette loom, which works just fine, but there's this little nagging voice at the back of my head saying, "You must find your Zoom Loom!"

So, as you can see, I had lots of reasons for not finishing my Spinning Wheel today. Maybe I'll get it finished tomorrow! ;-)