I thought I'd get more done...

I only managed to tat one Ice Drop today. I meant to accomplish so much more! I did iron some fabric, and I balanced my check book after going to the bank and the post office. However, the cold weather we're experiencing made me super sleepy, and I wound up taking a nap!

I'm practicing basic loops for oya. Some look really good, and some look awful! I watched some more YouTube videos today, and I'm sure that all I need is to keep trying. I hope I don't give up before developing at least a modicum of proficiency!

Happy new year!

My new year is off to a great start! How about yours?

First, I found an Ice Drop that I finished Christmas day.

Next, I practiced oya, following a YouTube video. It looked so simple! My results are horrible, but I will try again. I have a feeling this pattern was a little too advanced for me.

In order to make myself feel better about my skills with thread, I tatted a basic Ice Drop. This one is in Karey Solomon's Distant Mountains hand-dyed thread. I do love this color, and I feel much better knowing that I have a little bit of skill when using a shuttle and thread!

Refreshed!

It felt good to take a week off from blogging, tatting, and other crafting. Now my creative juices are refreshed!

It's been a fabulous week! All four of my daughters, their significant others, and their children were all together for Christmas and a trip to Alabama to visit my mom. As an additional surprise, my mom's youngest brother arrived in Alabama on Christmas Eve and chose to stay and visit with us. I did consider getting together with tatting friends in the Mobile area, but Mom doesn't like to stray far from home, and we chose to spend time visiting in her apartment while the rest of the family explored the area.

When we arrive Tuesday night, we all took Mom out to dinner. The staff at Ruby Tuesday was fantastic and handled our group of 17 wonderfully!

It was impossible to get a good picture of everyone.

We were all having too much fun!

Luckily, there weren't many other patrons that night!

For me, the highlight of the trip was visiting with Mom's friend Sezer, and seeing many of her fabulous Oya pieces as well as other lace.

I didn't take pictures of everything.

Some of the pieces were made by Sezer.

Some of them were made by Sezer's mother.

Some were gifts.

Sezer explained how her mother used store bought pieces to enhance some of her fabric.

She also explained how some of the pieces were made.

I was in total awe!

Sezer doesn't do much Oya any longer.

She gave me a spool of beautiful silk thread, as well as some silk needles. So, you know what I'm going to try out in the new year!

We were only in Alabama three days, but it was wonderful!

Yes, I did watch YouTube videos this morning, and I pulled out my two books on Mediterranean knotted lace. I have a long way to go, but I am glad to finally have the inspiration I need to learn something new!

No, I haven't given up on Ice Drops. In fact, I came up with the idea for this one in the car. It needs some tweaking. I have to figure out some stitch changes, and I want to figure out a sequence of switching shuttles and reversing work to enhance the pattern. I think this one will take me a few days to figure out, but I'm having fun and I think that's what it's all about!

Merry Christmas!

I did it!

I had to stay off my computer, ignore the housework and dishes (luckily, Dave pitched in and did more than his fair share!), stay up late, and get up early, but I finished my sister-in-law's mantle runner!

She was thrilled with it! Will I tat another large project again? Of course! At times a large project seems like it will never be finished, but when it is... what a feeling of accomplishment!

All of my daughters and their families will be here today, and I am really excited to have them! I'm planning on lots of snuggles, playing, and laughter, and I think I will give my wrists a break and set down the tatting while they're here.

Merry Christmas, dear friends! I'll see you in the new year!

A gift from the North Pole!

As I posted before, this week is incredibly busy, so I'm sure you can imagine how excited I get from packages in the mail!

I love these little boxes that look like books...

but even more exciting is what can be found inside! Isn't this shuttle gorgeous? I don't think it shows well in the picture, but the background is mother of pearl. I love anything related to the sea, and lighthouses are among my favorite designs. Thank you for another beautiful shuttle, Rita!

Yes, I did receive a tree shuttle last week. That one was one of Rita Richmond's shuttles. This one is a Moonlit shuttle that she decorated. The Moonlit shuttles are great for traveling... I don't have to worry about dropping my crochet hook!

My friend Denise ordered a reindeer shuttle for herself. When she showed it to me, I just had to order another. Yes, I said another. Last year I ordered a blue one and a red one. They're just so cute, I couldn't resist! I also ordered one of Rita's new chocolate shuttles... yum! This looks good enough to eat!

Last week, Denise and I exchanged Christmas presents. Denise is so clever in coming up with themes, and this year she focused on books. As I said, I love these book boxes!

There were lots of goodies inside!

Denise loves making thread pickers, and I love using them! Well, I don't like picking out double stitches, but I do enjoy having pretty pickers to use!

Denise also has made several of these beautiful Ice Drops designed by Nicola Bowersox, based on Wally Sosa's 2015 Birthday Motif. This one is definitely on my to-do list!

My biggest surprise was one of Rita's shuttles that Denise special ordered. Denise loves pink, and I love blue. So, Denise commissioned Rita to design "Friends" shuttles for us. Yes, Denise did receive Rita shuttles from me, but not ones inspired by my ideas. Luckily, Denise loved the shuttles I gave her!

I finished the Christmas stockings about an hour ago. Now I really need to concentrate on my sister-in-law's mantle runner. I'm not sure I can finish in time, but I'm sure going to try! 

Makin' a list and checkin' it twice!

I'm taking a breather. It's been a busy weekend, and I'm gearing up for a busy week. A lot has been accomplished, but there's still so much to do! I decided I need a checklist...

☑ finish decorating (I finally added my favorite Ice Drops to my tree!)
☑ ravioli made
☑ Christmas shopping done
🗹  presents wrapped (I'm getting there)
🗹  grocery shopping
🗹  banking
🗹  Christmas stockings made
🗹  mantle runner finished
🗹  catch up on reading blog posts (may never happen)

Although we've been busy, it's been a fun busy. I enjoy getting ready for family get-togethers, but I pace myself. I don't worry about everything being perfect. I just want my guests to feel comfortable, and I want to be able to enjoy the festivities!

My shuttle collecting continues! I love my new shuttles from Rita Richmond. Have you tried the shuttles that she makes? The have a wonderful feel and hold so much thread. I also like the Moonlit shuttles that she decorates. The hooks come in handy when I'm traveling.

I also ordered the newest design from Emiko Suenaga. The detail that these two ladies put in to their shuttles amazes me!

Can you tell that I love sapphire blue?
SaveSave

Falling behind

Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. I said that to a student just yesterday. I guess I should heed my own advice.

I've been so caught up with tatting Ice Drops this past year, that I haven't taken much time to work on anything else, and now the Christmas crunch is on!

I was planning on making stockings for my grandchildren this week, finishing up the little bit of Christmas shopping I need to do, and enjoying the Christmas season.

However, as Robert Burns said, "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft a-gley." I've been called in to sub five times in the past week. Dave "forced" me to clean the upstairs with him (a task that I had been dreading, and I'm very happy to have it done!). I spent a good part of the day with my friends Denise and Mary Lou, something we hadn't done in years.

Little has been accomplished! I did manage to cut out one Christmas stocking before heading in to school yesterday... only three to go! Yesterday, I was able to tat while subbing.

I am making progress on my sister-in-law's runner. I believe I need eleven more rows of three to finish it. At a rate of four hours per row, I really have my work cut out for me.

So, you might not be reading much here in the next week. I've been glancing at blogs, but haven't really taken much time to read or comment. Yes, the Christmas crunch is on, and I am determined to achieve my goals!