What a weekend!

First, I received Fox's traveling copy of Let's Tat by Angeline H. Crichelow. Marie sent it to me from Florida, along with a nice little note and a beautiful tatted piece. I've read about a third of the book, and I find it very interesting! Yes, I'm reading the patterns. I'm finding that the more I read the patterns, the easier it is to understand Angeline's directions. Of course, I find that true of any tatting book!

I don't know why, but every time I start a new book, I have the desire to go back and look at my Mary Konior books. That happened this weekend! I looked through A Pattern Book of Tatting and decided to edge a hanky in Forget-me-not. The hanky is one I found in a dollar store in Alabama when I was visiting my mom. I'm using size 20 Lizbeth, Juicy Watermelon. I think the colors match perfectly!


Tattin' Kat sent me some blinging paper. She didn't want me to run out of things to do over my spring break! So, I obliged and blinged up the last of my shuttles. Thanks Tattin' Kat!

Two of the black and white ones were made previously, but I added bling to the back, so I included them in the picture. I guess I'll take a break from blinging now. I'm out of shuttles, at least until I finish cleaning my sewing room!


Today I felt the urge to tat a motif, and Nancy Tracy's Tatted Medallion called to me! If you haven't signed up for Nancy's free newsletter, now's the time. She sends out recipes and free tatting patterns every month. You can find her store and information about the free newsletter at http://be-stitched.com.


This morning I spent time reading The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri. This was a gift from Lelia in the One World One Heart event. It's light reading, and I'm already half way through the story! This afternoon Dave and I caught up on some t.v. shows we had recorded. I'm amazed at how much of my hanky edging I completed. Now, if I'd only get off the computer, I might get some more done! ; )

Janet's edging finished!

With the flash...


and without the flash.

I had to follow the pattern very carefully, and now that I've finished, I see that I missed a join. Oh, well! I'm going to take a break from this pattern, and then I'm going to try it without the shoelace trick between motifs.

I hope Janet likes it! Then again, what's not to like? : )

Too much fun!

My friend Denise, Lace Rn, and I don't get to actually get together very often, even though we only live about 5 minutes away from each other. I'm a teacher, and she's an emergency room nurse. I work 8-3:30, Monday through Friday. She works 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. whenever she is scheduled. We talk on the phone almost every day, but we're lucky to actually see each other a few times a year! Tuesday was one of those lucky days!


Back when I first started blinging shuttles, Denise was able to come over one day, and we played around. I think we blinged half a dozen shuttles, and we were thrilled! This time, we got carried away, and between the two of us, we must have decorated two dozen shuttles!


I had so much fun arranging the shuttles into flowers. Spring must be in the air! I just can't part with this group. I think I'll be selfish and keep all of them for myself!


These three shuttles were decorated with fabric from Bree,


and these three shuttles were decorated with paper from Marty. I'm saving them for future giveaways on my blog. The pictures are terrible, but the shuttles are beautiful!


I really love the way the black and white paper shows up on these Clovers! Sorry, everyone... these are all mine! However, if you'd like some black and white paper, I still have a ton of it left! Just send me your mailing info.


This batch is going with me to the lace event in Lafayette, Indiana, in April. Denise and I are so excited about going! Who knows, if you come up to me and tell me you read my blog, you just might walk away with your favorite!


Denise found these adorable little frog containers at the dollar store. They're filled with a skein of HDT and a blinged shuttle. Tatters will be able to find them on the raffle table in Lafayette.


Yes, we prepared more raffle items! Denise filled these adorable little chests with Lizbeth thread and Sew Mate shuttles. The colors of all the items coordinate!


I found these little chests at Hobby Lobby. They have thread, EZ bobs, and blinged shuttles inside.


Last, but not least, Denise and I put together shuttle blinging kits! Each kit has a shuttle, an assortment of paper, and gems.

I suppose we went a little crazy, but we had so much fun! Hope to see you in Lafayette!

Oh, and Geraldine... we ate most of the chocolate you sent... it was scrumptious!

In between tatting...

I've been blinging! Why so many, you ask? Well, let me just say that there's a lace event in Lafayette, Indiana in April, and one in Downers Grove, Illinois in June, and you never know who I might run into. I thought it might be fun to take some goodies along. Who knows, maybe I'll see you there!

Leafy Greens for Janet

Leafy Greens arrived in the mail this week, so Friday night I wound my shuttles and started my fourth test tat for my sister Janet. I think the color Janet chose is perfect!

You're looking at two pattern repeats plus one ring, and it's 6 1/2" long. That means I'll need six pattern repeats to reach 18". I'm going to finish this piece following the directions, and then I'm going to make another without the shoelace trick between pattern repeats. I think that will give a more meandering look to the pattern. Janet can then choose which one she likes, or she can take them both!

Dear, sweet Noreen...

sent me the loveliest surprise package! Noreen claims I started it all, but I think she did... every once in a while, we send each other a little present. This time I received an adorable little organizer bag, a beautiful blue scarf, some luscious thread, and two gorgeous doilies crocheted by Reen!

I didn't start blogging so that I could send or receive gifts, but it seems that blogging brings out a desire to share with others. The gifts we exchange are wonderful, but far more important to me are the friendships I have developed. I love the warm words of encouragement when I try something new, and I get excited about tatting, blinging, crocheting, knitting, sewing, quilting, etc. by reading about what all of my new friends are doing.

Isn't blogging grand?

More gifts in the mail!

Look at all the lovely blinging goodies from Bree! I've already called Denise to see if there's a day we can get together next week. After looking through my new stash, my mind is reeling with possibilities. I really need Denise to reign me in! Did you see the beautiful amulet bag? Bree made it! It is so beautiful. Oh, and there's also a thread sample. Thank you for your generosity, Bree! I think I'm going to be doing a lot of show and tell in the near future!


Of course with all the goodies from Marty and Bree, I've been inspired to decorate more shuttles. Here's the latest batch. These are made with the adhesive paper I found at Hobby Lobby. I still have quite a bit of adhesive paper left, so if you're interested in trying some, let me know!




Believe it or not, I finally have a tatted piece I can show you! This is "Alexandra" from Tatting Patterns by Lyn Morton. I love Lyn's patterns, and I was inspired to pull her book off the shelf again when Geraldine told me that Lyn is part of her tatting group. Isn't that cool? I feel like I know someone famous!