Busy weekend

Daughter Alison called Friday morning to ask if she and the kids could come visit for the weekend. Of course I said yes! We hadn't seen them since daughter Joanne's visit in June. Between their activities and ours, there just hasn't been a good time to get together.

We had a great time shopping, looking at houses, cooking, and enjoying each other's company. The weekend just flew by!

Lucky me... I am a test tatter for one of Robin Perfetti's new bookmark patterns! This is Five Petals Bookmark, and I love it! There was a challenge in this one for me. I had to learn to do a Catherine Wheel join. Luckily, there are some wonderful YouTube videos to help with the learning process. I used the one by my dear friend Marilee Rockley. I'm quite pleased with my results!

After taking my first picture, I remembered that I had purchased bookmark sleeves on Amazon a while back. Since I'm planning on giving bookmarks as Christmas presents this year, I thought the sleeves might be a good idea. The tatting will stay clean and the recipients won't have to worry so much about how to care for their bookmarks.

I think I'll start another bookmark tonight!

Test tatting

I had the great honor of test tatting Robin Perfetti's new pattern, Classic Heart. I tatted it two times and found both the written directions and the diagram very easy to follow. This one is done in size 20 Lizbeth #173, Purple Marble.

One of my tatting friends asked if I had tried tatting around a heart shaped gem. I hadn't, so I decided to give it a try. I think it looks more like Minnie Mouse than a heart, but at least I gave it a try!

Test tatting for Robin

I was extremely flattered when Robin Perfetti contacted me and asked if I would be willing to test tat one of the patterns from her newest ebook, Snowflake Variations. Of course I said yes!

I liked the Small Crystal Snowflake pattern so much, I made three in a row!

I printed off my copy of the 40 page book this morning, and it is fantastic! I love that Robin gives both written and diagrammed instructions, making it very easy to follow. The illustrations are large, and the instructions are detailed.

I wonder if Perfetti translates as perfection? 😄

Square Coaster finished

I finished Robin Perfetti's Square Coaster today, with a couple of hiccups. I was watching the Chicago Cubs baseball game and messed up a corner. I decided to retro-tat rather than snip. Looking back, I wish I had snipped! It took me over two hours to get back to my mistake and fix it. I really think I could have re-tatted in less time. Then when I was pressing it, I noticed that one of the chains is missing a picot and three double stitches. I haven't decided yet, but I may snip the second round and tat it over again.

I do love this pattern, and I was very happy that Lizbeth #709 River Blue Dk is such a good match for the hand-dyed Pond from Yarnplayer.

So what do you think? Should I fix round two or leave well enough alone?

Square Coaster, round 1

Traveling took its toll on me. I was beat today! Not only did I sleep in, I took a nap as well. Somehow, I managed to tat round 1 of Robin Perfetti's Square Coaster from her newest pattern pack, Tatted Coasters. This is the last of my hand-dyed-thread Pond from Yarnplayer, so I will have to choose a coordinating color for the second round.

I was very excited to see my newest tatting shuttles arrive today!

I know I don't need any more shuttles, but when I see these gorgeous woods, I just can't resist!

I think the Bocote shuttle is my favorite. Which one do you like?

Campfire Spinning Wheel

I spent quite a bit of time tatting today, so I was able to finish my Spinning Wheel glass mat. I do love this thread! It's size 20 Campfire hand-dyed thread from Yarnplayer.

I hope I have enough of this beautiful color left to finish Robin Perfetti's Rosette Coaster (Variation) from her new book, Tatted Coasters. So far, I'm loving this pattern!

Save the date ~ Tollway Tatters

It's been a while since we've been able to get together, but we have set a meeting date of Saturday, July 9. If you're in the Chicago area and would like to join us, we meet at the Hinsdale Oasis on 294 at 10 a.m. We've been known to stay as late as 4 p.m., but anyone should feel free to join us for even a few minutes. You'll be able to tell us by our tie-dye t-shirts!

Today was blistering hot again. I do not like hot weather. Sophia spent a lot of time in her puddle pool today, and I sat inside and tatted while watching her. She sure had a lot of fun! So did I!

I finished test tatting Robin Perfetti's Victorian Doily from her soon-to-be-published book of coasters. I love the way it turned out! I used size 20 Lizbeth, Wedgewood Dk. It's 4 3/4" across, just the right size for a coaster.

The shuttles are two that I blinged last year. I'm feeling the urge to bling again, but it will have to wait until I get a little more reorganizing done, and I have a few things to finish up for The Little Mermaid.

I also worked a little more on my newest Spinning Wheel glass mat. I'm using size 20 hand-dyed thread from LadyShuttleMaker, Helm's Deep. The shuttles are from Shuttle by Design. I do enjoy collecting and using patterns, threads, and shuttles!

Shhh! They're napping!

It's been a busy two days since my son-in-law Jan brought daughter Joanne and granddaughter Sophia down to visit. Jan is already back home in Minnesota, working hard. The rest of us have been busy playing! Right now, Joanne and Sophia are napping, so I have a few minutes to blog.

Sophia helped Grandpa fill the planters on the porch.

She wandered through the garden and played in the treehouse and on the slide.

Before it started raining, Sophia and Grandpa did a little lawn mowing...

and watched the water fountain and waterfall, with toes being tickled by the grass!

A little t.v. never hurt anyone, especially when time is taken out for dancing!

Of course, I did manage to find time to crochet some more button flowers.

Joanne asked how many I had finished, so I counted.

210! Maybe it's time to start attaching them to headbands and hair clips!

I also managed to find time to tat another snowflake from Robin Perfetti's newest collection, which is now available in her Etsy shop. This one is Eclipse, a very pretty pattern, and so much fun to tat!

Now that I've taken care of business, should I take a nap or start another snowflake? Decisions, decisions.

So forgetful...

I forgot my own birthday party! My friend Peggy called about 4:30 yesterday, worried about me. Our Soup Club was supposed to meet at 4:00 to go out for dinner to celebrate Judy's and my birthdays. I was so busy enjoying myself, that I totally forgot it was Friday. Good thing Peggy called... our dinner at the Japanese steak house was delicious!

After dinner, we went back to Peggy's house where Edna had fun activities planned, and she made one of her fabulous cakes! I've known these ladies for 30 years, and we always have a great time. Peggy is a retired 5th grade teacher, Judy retired from teaching 3rd grade, and Edna is a kindergarten teacher. We used to try and get together once a month, but somehow life has gotten too busy. We always get together for Edna's birthday in September, Peggy's in April, and Judy's and mine in June. I feel very lucky to have such wonderful friends!

So what had me so distracted?

I decided to clean and rearrange my hutch, a project I really get into once school is out. The hutch belonged to my mom and dad, and I was lucky enough to acquire it when they moved from their house to their retirement village ten years ago. Of course, that means washing and blocking all the doilies that decorate it! The white doily at the top left goes on my coffee table in the sun room, and the coffee colored one under it goes on top of my curio cabinet. The rest decorate my hutch.

I was up early this morning, and most of the doilies are now back in place. Three of the thicker ones are still damp, so they'll need the rest of the day to dry out. I wonder which detail project I'll take on next? The curio cabinet is in dire need of dusting. We'll see!

I did tat another Noelle in Aunt Lydia's. The pastel thread was a little rougher than the others, making it a little more difficult to close the rings. I thought it was interesting that the opposite points of the snowflake match. I don't think I've ever had that happen with a multi-colored thread before. Robin's pattern pack of snowflakes is now available in her Etsy shop, and I highly recommend her beautiful patterns!

Could it be the dye?

Last night I decided to unload my shuttles by crocheting a few more button flowers.

These don't take much thread, so I was pretty close on winding enough thread to finish my snowflake.

I may be doing this backwards, but I chose the next thread for button flowers and when I had them finished, I decided the thread would make a pretty snowflake.

I was right! Although 3 cord thread isn't ideal for tatting (in my mind), I really have enjoyed using it for these snowflakes. I believe this teal, bronze, and white thread is Artiste from Hobby Lobby. It's slightly smaller than the pink one. It's 5.5", and the pink is 6". I know that dye can make a difference in yarn, so I'm guessing the dye made a difference in the thread. It doesn't really matter. I'm not going to wear them! In case you haven't been reading my blog, I've been test tatting the pattern Noelle by Robin Perfetti. I love this snowflake!

Again, I used up the thread left on the shuttles for crocheted button flowers. Obviously, I wound a little more thread this time!

Off to a slow start

I really thought I'd accomplish a lot my first two days of summer break. My sinuses thought otherwise!

So, it took me two days to finish my second Noelle by Robin Perfetti. This one is in size 10 Aunt Lydia's. I like Aunt Lydia's for crocheting, but it's not my favorite for tatting, because it so so soft. It's fine if I don't make any mistakes, but it shreds if I have to unpick a stitch. Still, it turned out pretty!

It's 6" across, about an inch and a half bigger than the green one tatted in size 20 Omega. I think I like the way the colors flow better in the pink.

A trip to the mailbox yesterday yielded a pleasant surprise. Fox had some David Reed Smith shuttles for sale, and I love his shuttles! Although I had made up my mind that I really didn't need any more shuttles, I just couldn't resist. The surprise was the two lovely hankies. Thank you my Foxy friend!

Pretty in pink

I've been using Aunt Lydia's and Artiste threads for my crocheted button flowers.

I decided to try tatting with it. It's not my favorite thread for tatting, but I think it looks pretty good!

Stormy weather

What do you do when it storms? I read, or tat, or knit, or crochet. I do not do anything with electronics... no Internet, no phones, no sewing machine. 30 years or so ago, a friend of mine was typing on her electric typewriter during a thunder storm. Yes, she was struck by lightning. Luckily, she wasn't hurt badly, but her scrape with nature was enough to keep me away from any sort of technology during a storm!

So, yesterday I read, I tatted, and I crocheted.

This is Robin Perfetti's Noelle in size 20 Omega. I love this pattern, and I'm really looking forward to all of the patterns in the set being released! I wasn't sure how the size 20 Omega compared to the size 20 Lizbeth. It turns out that although the two threads feel different, they work up to the same size. Noelle is 4.5" across.

I'll bet you guessed that I crocheted more button flowers.

I just can't help myself.

It's much easier to pick up a button and a crochet hook than to decide which project to start on next. Besides, while I'm crocheting, my mind usually wanders and during the ten minutes it takes to finish one, I usually am inspired to look at a book I haven't pulled off the shelf in a while.

Today is the last day of school, and I am looking forward to a summer of weaving, sewing, knitting, crocheting, and tatting!

Operator error

I had to give up on my first attempt at Robin Perfetti's very pretty snowflake, Noelle. I made two major errors...

Somehow, I twisted the chain before joining to the picot. I didn't notice until I'd finished another spoke of the snowflake.

I was watching t.v. while tatting this afternoon, and I skipped a section of chain. It just wasn't worth it to  untat my mistakes, so I just started over.

Luckily, Robin's pattern is well written and really easy to follow. I should easily finish this tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to the release of the full set of snowflakes!

My crocheted button flower collection is growing!

... and growing!

and growing!

Winding down

Today is the last day of school with the kids. Monday is teacher institute day, and then I'll be free to catch up on everything I've let slide!

My obsession with crocheted button flowers continues.

They're kind of like eating popcorn... I just can't stop! I think it's because they are so quick and easy.

I finished a blanket for daughter Joanne's baby girl, due in September. I've started another for baby boy. They're taking me much longer than they used to, but that's okay. I have a little time! The edge looks rippled now, but once the blankets are washed, they'll be nice and smooth.

Last night I started test tatting Robin Perfetti's "Noelle." It's such a pretty snowflake. I'm using size 20 Omega. This thread seems finer than size 20 Lizbeth, so it will be interesting to see the finished size.