Exploring possibilities

I didn't spend much time tatting today, because I spent a lot of time online! Yes, I did manage to tat three Ice Drops, but that was it.

Many of my tatting friends on Facebook have tried my little pattern, and many of us spent a lot of time commenting back and forth. It's great fun to see the choices others make to create their own versions of an Ice Drop. However, I did spend a tremendous amount of time watching my computer screen!

I also spent a great deal of time searching for different types of gems to use in the middle. Trust me... you should not do searches on Etsy unless you have tremendous will power! I do not. :-)

Christmas in the Village

Today was Christmas in the Village, and I had a table full of goodies to sell!

I had scarves made by Mom and me... woven, crocheted, knitted. I sold two. No one was interested in my pin cushions. That's okay. I'm sure find a good home for them. I had three size of bags that Mom made; she wove her own fabric and then sewed the bags. I sold three of them. Mom also sent up some mug rugs; I sold one.

My little silver tree was loaded with Ice Drops and Lucky Pennies. I sold six. I know it doesn't seem like I sold much, but the shoppers were few, so I consider myself pretty fortunate.

Denise stopped by with another bag of glass gems for me. I think I may have to come up with some other patterns to use up all these gems!

I think they look much prettier in a bowl. I would have liked a clear glass bowl, but apparently they're all filled. :-)

I finished the pink Ice Drop while sitting at my table today. I tatted the yellow one at home tonight.

I even managed to work on my Baby Pink Spinning Wheel glass mat today. All in all, I think it was a wonderful day!

Tiddlywinks and mirrors

My friend Denise and I have been having great fun tatting Ice Drops and Lucky Pennies! I know that many others have been enjoying making them also, because of all the pictures and comments I see on Facebook.

One reason Denise and I have been tatting Lucky Pennies is that they fit easily into a card, and they're thin enough to not cause problems in mailing. The two of us have been buying all the different colors of glass gems we see, but the challenge has been finding shiny flat pieces. I'm happy to say I've been up to that challenge!

One idea I had was to use tiddlywinks. How I came up with that one is beyond me! I was able to find them on Amazon, and they're much less expensive than the bags of glass gems I found there. However, they're also very light. I think I prefer a little more weight to my ornaments.

Another problem I see is that the thread does not fit the disc as snugly as the glass gems. I think I'll check my stash to see if I have size 40 in a color that looks festive.

I also found little glass mirrors on Amazon. The size is right, but I do worry about mailing little mirrors! The edges were a little rough, and I had to carefully sand them down. I do have to figure out a way to keep from smudging the mirror once I've inserted it into the tatting.

When Denise and I went shopping the other day, I found this pretty ribbon with glittery silver accents. It doesn't show well in the picture, but it does add extra sparkle!

I'm not sure I like the pearls with the pennies, but I have to keep trying new ideas!

My last tat of the day was another glass gem. I do love the blue!

Falling behind

With all the Ice Drops and Lucky Pennies I've been tatting, I've fallen behind with my Spinning Wheel glass mat challenge. In order to catch up, I either need to tat three Spinning Wheels this week or two this week and two next week. I think the latter is more likely!

I did finish one today. This Spinning Wheel is in size 80 Lizbeth #708, River Blue Med. The shuttles are from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design. The Spinning Wheel pattern is from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior.

I only managed to finish one Lucky Penny today. I guess we all have choices to make!

I did start another Spinning Wheel in size 20 Lizbeth #619, Baby Pink. Why Baby Pink? It was the first ball of thread I saw!

The shuttles are from Shuttle by Design, and I'm happy to say that each shuttle is loaded with 20 yards of size 20 thread, which will be plenty to finish this Spinning Wheel.

Getting ready for the deep freeze

We're expecting plunging temperatures next week, including two days with a high of 6º. So, it seems fitting that one of my new shuttles that arrived today looks like frost on the window!

Lucky Pennies, Shuttle by Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design

Isn't it beautiful? This may be my new favorite! I guess this really was my lucky day! ;-)

Lots of luck

Two more Lucky Pennies are on my little silver tree! I think I need lots of luck. I have a booth at my first craft/vendor show in years this coming Saturday. I was asked to bring my Ice Drops, and I'm very flattered that I've been asked. However, I'm not so sure people will be willing to pay my price.

I'm approaching this whole deal with a cautious attitude. I have never done well at craft shows. Granted, I've only participated in a handful, but I've never done more than cover the cost of the booth. So, I hope these Lucky Pennies bring me lots of luck!

Although I'm set in the price for my Ice Drops and Lucky Pennies, I'd be interested in knowing... what would you charge/pay for handmade ornaments like these?

Will this madness never end?

What madness, you might ask...

...collecting tatting shuttles, I would answer. It's true. It's a madness, and I truly hope that shuttle makers will continue creating little works of art that I cannot resist. Above you see my newest shuttles from Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design and Dave Stanbrough of Grizzly Mountain Arts. Could this be a new trend, collecting shuttles in groups of three?

I subbed in third grade today, and I attended Georgia Seitz's Online Tatting Class this evening. Still, I managed to finish two Lucky Pennies today!

I think I've found a stitch count I like. Follow the directions for the Ice Drop, but make some minor changes in the stitch count... On the back rings are 6-6, chains are 6-6. On the front, rings are 5-4-5, chains are 7. I've found that I greatly prefer 1/8" ribbon to 1/4" ribbon. There's nothing quite like shiny new pennies!