In today's mail...

I bet you think I'm spoiled, and I guess I am! I recently finished paying off some major bills, and I've rewarded myself by purchasing some goodies. That must seem counter-productive, but like many people, I am inspired by new purchases!

The thread is from Tatskool's mouth-watering collection of colors: CocoLime, Rusty Red, Bracken Crunch, and Antique Bronze. The shuttle is from Chris and Erin Hinton at The Shuttle Shop. The mitten pin is from Paulette at Beedeebabee... a beautiful decoration for my winter coat!

Yes, I've been tatting on and off today... pictures tomorrow!

Tatting "Beatrice" - Day 1

I only had about an hour to tat yesterday, but I managed to get a good start on "Beatrice." I forgot to do one thing. I usually write all the numbers in for the rings and chains before making my copies. Oops! I guess I'll just have to pay attention!

Would you like to tat along with me?

I've been inspired to get back to some serious tatting! Yesterday I received my newest basket from Grizzly Mountain Arts, and it's the perfect size for holding a new tatting project!

I do have a confession to make... since joining facebook to keep in touch with high school classmates, I've been distracted by the farm games. Last week I timed myself to see how much time was being sucked up by these games, and I was shocked at how much valuable time was just slipping through my fingers! I need to break the addiction! My solution... tat one of my favorite patterns, "Beatrice" from Tatted Doilies by Iris Niebach, using my favorite thread in the world... HDT!

I tend to spend way too much time trying to decide which pattern, thread, and/or shuttle to use. Not this time! I went to my bookshelf and pulled off Iris's pattern book. Then I went to my thread stash... you wouldn't believe how much HDT I have just waiting for the perfect pattern... and grabbed the first skein of thread I saw. In this case, it's Tatskool's Raspberry Sorbet... probably a poor choice since my mouth will be watering the whole time I'm tatting! I'll try to control myself! But then, I had to choose a shuttle. Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while have seen my shuttle collection... well, most of it. I decided to use two of my GMA flat shuttles as thread winders, and one of my GMA post shuttles for the actual tatting.

I am fascinated by the way Iris's pattern weaves in and out between the center and the edge, but I get easily confused. So, I enlarge the pattern and make one copy for each pattern repeat. I pencil in each chain and ring as I complete it. That way I make fewer mistakes. Notice I said fewer... I know I'll still make mistakes!

Now I'm set to tat! I probably won't go cold turkey giving up the farm games, but I know that by using some of my favorite tatting supplies I'll be more inspired to live up to my chosen name... Lace-lovin' Librarian!

Pointy toed socks... completed!

On the sock blockers... I still see pointy toes!


Off the sock blockers... I still see pointy toes!


On the feet... I don't see pointy toes! Well, not too pointy... besides, the toes will be inside shoes! ; )

Tatted Snowflake #2

It sure is hard to get a good picture when it's still dark outside! Same pattern, same thread, same frame as #1... I need to do a little experimenting to figure out which threads and patterns will result in a snowflake that will fit in the frame. Right now, I don't have enough brain power to do that, so I'll just stick with the tried and true!

Tatted Snowflake #1

The Bears are playing terribly today, so it's very easy to sit and tat! I think "Itsy-Bitsy Snowflake" is my favorite pattern in Samantha Melnychuk's A Veritable Tatted Blizzard. I used Cebelia, size 20. I've tried using the metallic threads for more glitter, but with very poor results. I looked all over for these little picture frame ornaments the past two years, and it was well worth waiting for after-Christmas clearance sales! I sure I am glad I found my stash in time for Christmas this year!

No, we haven't started decorating for Christmas yet. Dave has so many trees, it's hard to find places to store them. So, one decorates our back porch year round. It works for me!

A little bit here, a little bit there...

and pretty soon I've accomplished something!


I"m having a hard time finishing my pointy toed socks. I'm just not in love with either the toe or the yarn. I will finish them though. I joined a sock club, and I really want to work with my new yarn, but not until I've finished this sock!

The teal and goldenrod is the first of my new pair of mittens! The pattern is from my blog buddy Carolina. It is wonderfully written and easy to follow! I need to add the cording around the wrist, but otherwise, this mitten is finished!

I really did start to clean my sewing room, but I didn't get very far! I found three packages of socks that need some lace edging. I know that tatting would look much nicer, but I can crochet edges on a pair of socks in an hour. I can't tat that fast, and I need to get these off to my granddaughters before they're too big to wear them! To be honest, Ella will be getting socks that I bought for Lily. Lily will be getting socks that I bought for Eva, and Eva will be getting socks that... well, you get the idea!

Where's my tatting, you ask? Well, I just pulled out a ball of white thread, a shuttle, and a pattern book. While I was cleaning, or starting to clean, I found picture frame ornaments that I bought on clearance a year or two ago. I got the idea to put tatting in the picture frame ornaments from Gina. If I get them made up, my Christmas to do list will get much shorter. Get your shuttles ready, Tattycat! It's time for the flurry of snowflakes to begin!