Peacock options

This weekend was very busy with the high school Drama Club performance of Big Fish. If you have never seen the musical, I highly recommend it!

I did find some time to tat, first by finishing round 3 of Renulek's Wiosna 2017. So far, so good!

I've been exploring different options for the peacock coins that I recently purchased. As suggested by one of the ladies on the Ice Drop Addicts page on Facebook, I tried changing the ring count on round 2 to 3-7-3. Although I like the size of the rings, the opening is actually smaller than with my original stitch count. I do love Wedgewood Dk, but it overwhelms the peacock coin.

Next, I experimented with Edda Guastalla's pattern, the one that got me started on this tatting adventure. I think Edda's pattern shows off the peacock coin better than my Ice Drop pattern.

It looks especially nice on the back side. For this version I used Lizbeth Herbal Garden.

I was pleasantly surprised with the Lizbeth Gold. I think it really makes the colors in the peacock coin pop!

I have some more thread colors I'd like to try and luckily, I have several more peacock coins!
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A day off from blogging

Yesterday was a busy day! I subbed for the third time this week, which was great fun. I subbed for special ed, band, art, and chorus... all groups of kids I enjoy seeing.

Last night was opening night for the high school performance of Big Fish. I didn't have much to contribute to this play, just measuring for costumes and setting up for the dinner theater.

Despite all the hectic last-minute activity, daughter Carol maintained her normal good humor, including posing for a "candid" picture!

I did finish another Ice Drop yesterday. After working with color for so long, this one really does look icy to me!

I was in the mood to tat something big, so I've joined Renulek's tat-along. I had a false start with round one, because I tried to follow the diagram without also looking at the directions. If I had just followed the written instructions, I wouldn't have had any retro-tatting. Luckily, it didn't take me long to realize that it's much easier if I take time to read!

I finished round 2 this morning. I have a little catching up to do, as round 4 was posted this week!

We'll be heading off in a few minutes to set up for the dinner theater. I hope I manage to find some time for tatting this afternoon!
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Final count

I finished off my ball of size 20 Lizbeth #153, Rainbow Taffy, this morning.

Don't they look pretty laid out? There are 38 here, plus the 5 that daughter Joanne took home with her, making a total of 43 basic Ice Drops from one ball of thread. I think that's pretty impressive!

Someone was asking how I store my Ice Drops. I found these little window top tins online a couple of years ago. The Ice Drops fit in very nicely. They don't get crumpled, they stay dust free, and I can see what is inside. I think I'll probably use painter's tape for labels on the side of the tin. That way I can stack the tins in my closet and still be able to find what I'm looking for.

How do you store your tatted pieces?

New beads!

I went to Etsy over the weekend, looking for 20 mm coins. I really meant coins, but my search results were mainly cabochons and beads.

I did order a few, and this was one of the first to arrive. It works great for an Ice Drop, and it's very light.

The listing was for 20 clear antique acrylic beads. When I checked a few minutes ago, there was only one package left. I wonder who will order it?

Of course, I also had to tat some colorful Ice Drops... and yes, I do still have some Rainbow Taffy left on the ball!

Getting ready for St. Patrick's Day!

I had fun creating Ice Drop lapel pins today! Now I have some choices for wearin' of the green!

Save the date!

Tollway Tatters will be meeting on Saturday, March 18. If you're in the Chicago area, we would love to have you join us! We meet at the Hinsdale Oasis on 294 at 10 a.m. We always have a lot of fun!

Now that I'm working on length, I will post pictures of my sister-in-law's runner as I finish a row of three motifs... if I remember! The pattern is Eightsome Reel from A Pattern Book of Tatting by Mary Konior. the thread is size 20 Lizbeth #693, Linen Med.

I really didn't need any more gems for tatting Ice Drops, but when I searched 20 mm coins on Etsy, I saw these beautiful pieces and just had to have them!

I also found these. Just think of the possibilities!

I tatted one Ice Drop ornament today.

I also tatted my first Ice Drop pin.

 A little bar pin stitched to the back, and I'm all set for St. Patrick's Day!

Still pullin' taffy!

Yes, indeed. I am still pulling thread off the same ball of Rainbow Taffy!

Today I played with picots. From left to right, the chains have 1, 3, 5, and 15 picots. I sure am getting a lot of Ice Drops from this ball of thread!