Calling all Tollway Tatters!

After several days with no Internet access at home, I'm finally reconnected... yeah! I managed to connect with Sue Anna pretty quickly, and we decided that it's time for another Tollway Tatters meeting. It's been quite a while since we've met, mostly because of all the cold and snow this winter. so, if you're interested in joining us, we're planning to meet on Friday, April 18. Sue Anna and I both have Good Friday off, so we thought it would be a good time to meet. If you'd like to join us, send me an email and I'll give you the details.

Yes, there has been lots of tatting going on. The kids know that I haven't had Internet access, and I've already warned them that I've probably forgotten whose tatting is whose, but here goes!

Rings and chains,

and Fancy Pants have earned these two tatters some very pretty motifs! I think these two might be 5th graders.

Over the weekend, I finished the next round of my Russian doily.

Paige tatted a large ring, earning another shuttle. This one was blinged by Marty.

A bookmark was earned,

and one of the boys... maybe it was Ken... chose this pretty pink motif. I think it's for his mom!

A first attempt at picots earned this eager tatter a beautiful little swan. I think this might be Karl.

Grace has been wanting this little tatted fairy for a long time!

I'm pretty sure that this is Owen's tatting. He started to learn rings today.

The kids and I did celebrate International Tatting Day with chocolate and tatting. One girl even brought her own big chocolate bar! I provided Hershey's Kisses for everyone... yum!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that spring storms don't mess with my Internet again. Now I have some catching up to do reading blogs!

Shuttle fun

I've lost track again. Why? The library was a busy place today. Our new order of shuttles from Handy Hands came in, and the kids were very excited to go shopping. They can now choose from Starlit, Sunlit, and Moonlit shuttles. With so much shopping fun going on, I didn't pay close attention to who finished tatting pieces. I'm very sorry, girls!

So, all I remember is that this is a very long chain of Fancy Pants, and that this lucky little lady chose a snowflake as her prize. Could this be Dylan?

Some of the kids are fascinated by Josephine chains, especially since I told them it is an advanced technique. This little sweetheart chose a tatted egg. Is this possibly Peyton? I think I need to start taking notes when the kids are in the library!

At home, I'm working on the next round of my Russian doily. This round is very loose because of its long chains and clovers, but it will all come together in the next two rounds. I think this one is going to be stunning!

Motifs!

Paige has finished her first two motifs! They're simple rings and chains, but she's very proud of her accomplishment, as she should be! As her prize, she chose one of LaCossette's beautiful shuttles. You should have seen the kids trying to help her choose the perfect shuttle!

I knew I'd forget, but I know the kids will remind me of who tatted this beautiful length of chain, and chose a bookmark as her prize.

Third and fifth graders swarmed the library after lunch today. It's so much fun to see them helping each other out, and it's amazing to me that they spend their precious 10 minutes of recess time practicing tatting!

Karl finished another length of chain and chose this tatted lion as his prize.

Madison is also enjoying tatting lengths of chain. She chose a tatted necklace as her prize.

My next project is from this book. I don't speak or read Russian, but it doesn't matter. This book has wonderful diagrams!

This is the first round of the doily found on page 53. The thread is Lizbeth Victorian Red, #670, size 20. The color doesn't show up well in this photo, but it is a beautiful deep red.

Tomorrow will be another fun day... more shuttles arrived from Handy Hands!

Back to work

I shouldn't call it work. I truly believe I have the best job in the school district, and it's so much fun!

I don't have lots of pictures today, because I was once again caught up in the frenzy of tatting that has overtaken our third, fourth, and fifth grad students!

I ordered more Sunlit shuttles, because the kids were so excited about the variety of colors. Unfortunately, I goofed and ordered Moonlit shuttles. Not to worry... the kids were so excited to see slightly larger shuttles with a built-in crochet hook!

Grace told me that when she and her mom went to work on blankets for the needy, the ladies of the group gave her a box of 30 balls of thread, all because they knew she was learning how to tat!

I only managed to take pictures of two fifth graders today.

Jaden has been working on chains. Her next step is to perfect her stitches. I was very pleased that she chose a motif that I tatted! She asked what the card was that I included. Aha! I explained that it had my blog address... another opportunity  to introduce blogging tatters to my students!

Karl told me that he loves tatting. His sister is in third grade, and she was one of the first to join my "little" group! Karl chose a bookworm tatted by my friend Denise.

Third graders are starting a new project in library today. They will be writing books that they will share with first graders. I wonder if any of them will write about tatting? ;-)

Done!

Despite hours of shopping, playing with grandchildren, cooking meals, and just plain having fun, I managed to finish Labor no. 10 from Frivolite 1 Creaciones Artime. The finished size is 9 1/4".

I think it looks really nice, but I'm not sure I'm in love with Lizbeth Twirlz. The thread is nice to work with, but I can't see the stitch definition that I love looking at in tatting. I think I'm going to go back to colors I love working with before trying another color of Twirlz.

Now, which pattern should I try next?

Round 4

Today was kind of dark and dreary, but luckily, I had a little ray of sunshine to brighten it up!

Sophia woke Mommy up early, about 6:30.

She didn't mind the cloudy day at all!

While she was napping, I managed to finish round 4 of Labor no. 10 from Frivolite 1 Creaciones Artime. On to round 5!

Keeping it simple?

Round 4 of Labor no. 10 is really very simple, yet I managed to mess it up! I was half way around the doily when I realized something was very wrong...

After the first pattern repeat, I totally messed up the pattern. Luckily, I had my scissors handy, and I made quick work of snipping out my mistake. I started again, but I was distracted by the mail lady.

Look at what arrived! These lovely little shuttles are available through Karen Cabrera. I love wood shuttles! The warmth of the wood in my hands really appeals to me.

I also received my newest Handi-wind shuttle from Grizzly Mountain Arts. Dave is my absolute favorite shuttle maker, and I love the cleverness of his newest shuttles!

The handles twist off for tatting, and there's a little ring at the top of the handle so that it can be worn on a ribbon or chain when not in use.

It's a rainy here today, so I expect to be able to tat quite a bit, even with grandchildren around! ;-)