Sharing the love

I almost always carry tatting with me. It's nice to be able to pull out some lace and create a few rings and chains rather than sit and be idle.

Today I subbed in second grade. Some of the kids have older siblings who learned to tat from me, and they will sometimes ask if I have my tatting with me. Today I was asked, and I was able to show them the Spinning Wheel glass mat I had in my purse. One little boy, who is new to the district, was pretty impressed. His last sentence on this page of his writing practice says, "She is vary good at tating."

That little boy made my day!

Wee Snowballs

Wee Snowballs is an Ice Drop pattern by Jean Inglis. This was a fun tat loaded with Josephine rings. However, I know I did something wrong, because Jean's sample is much more compact and truly looks like snowballs!

I have this adorable metal tree in my bedroom. It's loaded with my January tatting, 33 Ice Drops and 6 snowflakes. Not bad, I think!

Playing with thread

I didn't have anything to post yesterday, because I spent most of the day working on my design and pattern for Tatting Corner Tat Days. Sorry, no sneak peeks or sharing of the pattern until after Tat Days, July 5-7!

After sending off my pattern for test tatting, I decided to play with the thread I had left on my shuttles. I kind of like the way this one turned out. Dave named it Hexagon Ice Drop. The pattern's really pretty simple.

Tat the basic Ice Drop using two shuttles.

For round 3:
Ch 9; reverse work
Ring: 6+6, joining to picot on chain from round 1; reverse work; switch shuttles
Josephine ring (I used one ds followed by 11 second half stitch); switch shuttles
Ch 7; reverse work.
Ring: 6+6, joining to picot on chain from round 1; reverse work; switch shuttles
Josephine ring (I used one ds followed by 11 second half stitch); switch shuttles
Ch 7; reverse work
Ring: 6+6, joining to picot on chain from round 1; reverse work; switch shuttles
Josephine ring (I used one ds followed by 11 second half stitch); switch shuttles
Ch 9; join to base of ring on round 2

Repeat pattern five times. Cut, tie, and hide ends.

Design day

After Dave and I spent the morning doing housework, I had the afternoon all to myself... time to work on my design for Tatting Corner's Tat Days July 5-7!

I am so close to finishing my design. In fact, I was sure I was finished, but I had an idea to make it even better as I was working on the second pattern repeat. I'm going to finish the version I'm working on now, but I think I'll be trying a different twist to the design tomorrow.

So, there was only time for one basic Ice Drop today. It was a good day!

Puff!

This has been a busy two weeks for subbing! Conferences, flu, and doctor appointments have kept me busy... as a sub, that is.

Today's little Ice Drop looks like a little puff to me. I returned to my basic Ice Drop pattern for this one. The chain next to the glass gem has three picots, and the outer gem has five picots.

The picots on this one are smaller than the ones on the last two ice drops. Puff!

A lovely surprise!

Thanks to Kathy, I found out that my Ice Drop pattern was voted Best New Pattern on Craftree! I've been a member for a long time, but I haven't been very good about visiting on a regular basis in the past year or so.

Thank you to all who voted for my pattern. I am surprised, flattered, and very grateful for all the interest in my little pattern. I truly am surprised at the number of people who have worked with my designs and have adapted the basic Ice Drop pattern in ways that I never could have imagined!

Today was another sub day. Tomorrow will be also. Today I chose to do three rows of picots. This Ice Drop is very fluffy! I was asked to take a picture with the light shining through. I like that the back side of the Ice Drop shows through.

Working a full week has tired me out! I think I'll go to bed early tonight.

Ruffled

I was subbing in 5th grade again today. I really do like those kids!

When I got home, I finished the Ice Drop I started this morning. I like the two rows of picots. It looks so frilly and it ruffles slightly, which I really like.

Maybe I'll try three rows next!