Finishes

I can't tell you how happy I am that Blogger and Safari are working well together again. After months of tinkering around and trying to figure out what I accidentally clicked, everything is magically working again. What a relief!

Before school yesterday, I managed to complete Clue 4 of the Sanditon MKAL. I did have a little trouble with the last eyelet row. I dropped stitches twice, but I realized it right away and was able to get them back in place before they became too much of a problem. This is the end of the main color, the light blue, and as you can see, I have plenty of yarn left. I'm glad I switched from the recommended size 4 needles to the size 2. I'm pretty sure I would have run out of yarn!

Yesterday was another two blue Ice Drops day. I love this shade of blue, size 20 Lizbeth #656 Wedgewood Dk.

This one is size 20 Lizbeth #657 Ocean Turquoise Dk. I do love both blues, but when they're side by side, the Wedgewood Dk is my favorite. The shuttle is my newest one from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design. I believe the art work was done by Rita's college friend. It's beautiful!

I didn't post yesterday, because it took me until 9 p.m. to finish grafting the two ends of daughter Joanne's Sneak a Peek cowl. I love the textured side!

The striped side is pretty, but I know that I goofed on that center stripe. It's one row larger than the other stripes. Luckily, it's in the center and looks like a design element! I'll block it this morning, and then it will be ready to mail off to Joanne. I hope the weather stays cold in Minnesota so that she has a chance to wear it this year!

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!

Do opposites really attract?

I really wanted to know, so I worked diligently to finish my Spinning Wheel glass mat.

In this case, I believe opposites really do attract. I'm not sure which one I like better. They may have to stay together forever!

Since this is the last day of March, it's time for a picture of my March tatting. I did have five more motifs, but those were sent off to Michelle's students. All in all, March seems to have been a very productive month!

Grandma, I like it!

Thank you, Sophia! I like it too!

This is my first time to finish a Spinning Wheel glass mat in two colors. I wasn't sure I would like it. I'm not fond of the way it looks in the picture, but in person it's stunning!

This one is in size 20 Lizbeth Leaf Green Lt and Wedgewood Dk. I really like the two colors together!

Snuggle time

I spent lots of time snuggling babies today, so I didn't tat much. However...

I did manage to find time to start another Spinning Wheel glass mat! I decided to use two colors this time. I'm eager to see how this one turns out!

Almost there

I had quite a bit of tatting time today, so I'm almost finished... only two pattern repeats to go!

Primrose Path doily for A Pattern Book of Tatting by Mary Konior, size 20 Lizbeth Wedgwood DK and Angel's Love

Having fun

Yes, I did get some housework done today and I did finish all the laundry, so I did not feel at all guilty about the time I took out for tatting!

I'm very happy to be halfway around the outside edge of my Primrose Path doily. With any luck, I'll finish it this weekend.

Part of my success with my Spinning Wheel goal is that I reload my shuttles as soon as I finish one. I'm always prepared with carry-along tatting!

I didn't go anywhere today, but I did take the time to start another Spinning Wheel. This one is in size 20 Lizbeth Twirlz, Midnight Mist #407. It reminds me of charcoal sketches. I think I must have received this color as a gift, as it doesn't seem like a color I would normally be drawn to. I do like the way it looks!

Blaze Spinning Wheel

I finished another Spinning Wheel glass mat today. This one is in size 20 Lizbeth Twirlz, Blaze #409. It has a similar look to Jane's HWT. However, since Jane is combining her own threads, she has many more color possibilities!

In case you haven't been following my Spinning Wheel challenge, the pattern is from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. It's my all-time-favorite pattern!

I also made good progress on my Primrose Path doily, another pattern by Mary Konior. This one is from A Pattern Book of Tatting. The thread is size 20 Lizbeth, Angel's Love and Wedgewood DK.

We have no school tomorrow in celebration of Lincoln's birthday. I could spend the day tatting, but I think I'm going to get my housework out of the way so that I can enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Starting the final round

I'm feeling kind of tired tonight, so I'm going to be satisfied with one primrose motif on the final round. Do you see the bow on the top left? I decided that I didn't want to look for the right side every time I start a new motif, so I marked the first one. Now I know where to go next!

Primrose Path doily is from A Pattern Book of Tatting by Mary Konior. The thread is size 20 Lizbeth, Wedgwood DK and Angel's Love.

Chain, chain, chain

Chains of blue!

The middle section of my Primrose Path doily is finished, and I'm ready four the outer primrose motifs. I do love this pattern!

Wedgewood DK Spinning Wheel

I finished it! I do love this shade of blue.

I've been leafing through my pattern books, trying to decide what to work on next. There are so many patterns I want to try, but I need something simple. Maybe I'll try another hanky edging. For tonight, I think I'll just take a mine break from tatting.

Keep on spinning!

This week's Spinning Wheel glass mat is coming along great! I'm using Lizbeth size 20, Wedgewood DK #656. I do love this color!

Tollway Tatters

Oh, how I wish all of you could have joined us today! The Tollway Tatters always have a lot of fun, and I am so grateful that I have been able to spend time with these wonderful ladies!

Granddaughter Eva finished tatting a friendship bracelet, and she wanted to use some of Marilee's hand-dyed thread for her next project. Luckily, her mom was willing to hold the skein of thread while Eva wound it on to shuttles. Alison didn't get a chance to tat today, but she said she enjoyed the time spent together. Sometimes it's okay to just sit and soak it all in!

Sue Anna is always so much fun to be around! In addition to tatting, we did a little tech talking today. We have to try and keep up with the times you know. ;-)

Denise almost didn't come, but her husband Warren encouraged her to join us. He even washed floors and vacuumed so that she didn't have to feel guilty about taking the day for herself. He's a gem!

Marilee, our personal thread vendor, brought along some gorgeous threads, including her new Blue Streak. Can you guess what I bought?

Denise worked on a baby bonnet. The pattern is from Workbasket, one that my mom saved for years. Some day I'll try the pattern! Denise is using some Greek crochet cotton that I found on Etsy. It's so soft!

Sue Anna worked on Marilee's snowflake pattern, Marian... so pretty!

Marilee claims that we help her get her creative juices going. Today she was working on Clunys separated by Double Core Single Shuttle Split Rings. Now that's a mouthful! With this technique, Marilee can tat two split rings in a row in two different colors... very cool!

Right before we left for the day, I snapped this picture of Sue Anna's progress with Marian. I love the two shades of peach together!

And what did I accomplish? Well...

I finished this "Christmas Decoration" from page 64 of Tatting theory and patterns by Jan Stawasz. The thread is size 20 Lizbeth, Snow White.

This is Motif #2 from Minitats: 69 Petite Motifs by Patti Duff. Again, the thread is size 20 Lizbeth, Snow White. I think I need to use a larger picot in the center. The rings are too close together and distorted. I didn't have the patience for pinning it neatly, so the chains are distorted as well. Maybe I'll take the time to fix it tomorrow, or maybe I'll just tat another!

I skipped to Motif #6 in Minitats, because I wanted to use up thread on a shuttle. This is size 20 Lizbeth, Wedgewood Dk, one of my favorite colors!

We talked a little bit about scissors today, and I remembered that I had this little pair on my ironing board. These have the thinnest blades of all the scissors I own, and they are great for snipping threads very closely. I wish I could remember where I bought them!

In case I forget to post about it, our next Tollway Tatters meeting will be on President's Day in February. If you'd like to join us, drop me a line and I'll give you the details!

A snowflake a day for December?

It's a goal, and it's totally achievable if I keep my eye on the prize... a beautiful tree!  You'd think I'd be sick of tatting snowflakes by now, but I'm not. What inspired me? Allison posted her goal today, and I'm going to try and match her snowflake for snowflake!

So, sticking with blue, here's my first entry...

Again, I've chosen size 20 Lizbeth, Wedgewood DK #656. The shuttle on the right is a cherry wood Pop-A-Bobbin made by 'im in the garage, and they're sold in Jane's shop when they're available. Keep your eyes peeled... they go fast! The shuttle on the left is a Clover shuttle that I blinged. I do go on blinging binges... I just can't help myself!

It had to be blue...

I just had to indulge in a blue snowflake! I think this one may be for me!

Size 20 Lizbeth, #656, Wedgewood DK