Not much to show

Today was one of those days when I felt like I worked all day, but there isn't much to show for it!

I did manage to finish another Masquerade square... just one more to go!

I also typed up the directions for my Frivolity Ice Drop. For those of you who are interested and aren't on Facebook:

Frivolity Ice Drop

2 shuttle pattern

Materials: 3/4” glass gem, two shuttles wound continuous thread method, size 20 Lizbeth thread (approximately 6 yards on each shuttle), 12” ribbon for hanger (optional)

Note: this pattern follows the one pass method for encasing the glass gem (back ring, front ring, chain, repeat around)

Round 1

Set 1 ~

Ring: 4-4---4-4; RW

Ring: 6-6-6; fold ring down and away from you

Chain: 6-6; RW

Sets 2 - 5 ~

Ring: 4+4+4-4; RW (join to first ring and large picot)

Ring: 6+6-6 (join to second ring); fold ring down and away from you

Chain: 6-6; RW

Set 6 ~

Ring: 4+4+4+4; RW

Ring: 6+6, insert glass gem, +6; turn piece away from you

Chain: 6-6; lock join to base of first ring; RW

Round 2 (domed side of glass gem facing you) 

Chain 12; RW

Ring: 6+6 (join to picot in first round; RW

Chain 12; lock join to base of next ring in first round.

Repeat sequence 5x.

Round 3

Chain 16; lock join to base of ring in round 2; switch shuttles

Ring: 2--2--2---2--2--2; switch shuttles

Chain 16; lock join to base of ring in round 1

Repeat 5x

A different look

I tried Shelley Perreault's Peacock Coins pattern with fewer beads. I still used a penny, the same thread, and the same beads, just fewer of them. While this is pretty, it just doesn't have the dazzle dazzle of the other one. I'll bet you can guess which one I prefer!

Five more spool pin doilies are ready for Mom's Christmas table decorations!

Believe it or not, I only have two squares to go on my Masquerade doily! If I had completed one yesterday and one today, I'd only have one to go. Oh, well! It's not like I'm in a race!

Oops!

I forgot to blog yesterday! I didn't really have anything to post. Daughter Carol and I went shopping for goodies to make up raffle baskets for the play this weekend. The directors and alumni are performing Rock of Ages. I'm not at all familiar with this musical, so it will be a complete surprise for me. They're trying to raise money for new stage curtains. I hope they're able to reach their goal!

I received a lovely surprise in the mail, an Ice Drop tatted by Mandy Kerwell-Bez, an Ice Drop Addict from France! She also sent me two rivolis so that I can tat my own. I've ordered a pretty silver neck chain to wear with it. I am thrilled to pieces! Thank you, Mandy!

I also received two new shuttles from Middy Clark of TheKnotted Vine. I adore these little shuttles! I love tatting with the teardrop shaped shuttles, and the red shuttle looked like something Mom would love... her favorite color is red!

Speaking of Mom, she loved the penny I tatted in the lighter green and asked if I could tat one in a darker green. Anything for Mom! The pattern is Shelley Perreault's Peacock Coins. I'll be adding a pin back to this at Mom's request. It does look pretty!

One of the chickens laid an egg today! It's not as large as it appears in the picture... camera angles and curled fingers can be deceiving. Dave found an egg over the weekend, but the chicken must have been in the rafters when she laid it. This is the first one found in a nesting box. I may grow to like these chickens after all! ;-)

Remember this?

It wasn't too long ago that I posted this picture of my newest Ice Drop. the more I look at it, the more I like it! I hadn't decided on a name, and I did receive many wonderful suggestions bother here and on Facebook. I have to go with the name my mom suggested, because she is my mom and I always value her suggestions.

Oh, you'd like to know what name Mom suggested? Frivolity. I think it fits. I had to re-tat it today so that I could write down the instructions.

I haven't typed them up yet, but for those of you who just can't wait, I took a picture of my notes.

There are only three motifs left to tat on my Masquerade doily! This one will be finished soon!

I managed to sew another origami pouch today. I do love this fabric!

I did manage to finish a Masquerade square before I went to bed last night. The end is in sight!

It was a good mail day! I received my nylon mold from Linda Williams, along with lots of goodies! I love the card she made, and she also sent me an Ice Drop. This one's definitely going on my tree!

Linda also sent a bag of cabochons and the Oren Bayan thread she likes for her boxes.

Lucky me... Linda also sent a jewelry set. I have a silver neck chain that will work perfectly with the pendant. Thank you for everything, Linda!

Inspired by Linda's fabulous package, I decided to sit down and tat with metallic thread. I chose to experiment with Liz Metallic Rose. I plan on this becoming an Ice Drop. I even remembered to take notes this time! This pattern will not work for the nylon mold, at least not with the Liz Metallic. The motif is too large, but I think it will make a pretty Ice Drop.

I did spend some time writing up a pattern I designed a week or so ago. Several people have asked for the pattern, and I really had to think about what I had done. I've decided it's time to keep a design journal so that I don't forget what I've done!

This evening I started the last row of my Masquerade doily... only four motifs to go!

A week between posts?

Yes, it has been a week since I posted, and it's been a very busy week!

In prepration for our retreat, I put together little tatting tins for everyone. Shawna Wachs was kind enough to make the decals for me. I think they turned out great!

Denise and I drove up to Minnesota on Sunday and spent Sunday night with daughter Joanne. Sophia and Kara were willing to pose for me, but Janko kept hiding from the camera... little stinker!

We treated each other to lots of goodies!

Not all were strictly tatting related.

But everything was opened with oohs and ahhhs!

There were fun gifts, practical gifts, food gifts, and tatting gifts.

It's going to be fun deciding how to use everything!

And, it will be fun remembering the wonderful three days we had together!

Timberhaze is a beautiful retreat center. This is our workroom with all of us enjoying ourselves.

Our commemorative shuttles were by Frivole.

Although bobbin shuttles are not my first choice, I do like working with these little beauties!

Our motif for the year is depicted on the back side of the shuttle.

I did work on my Masquerade doily, but I only finished one motif. I think we were having too much fun talking and sharing ideas!

Michelle brought along 2018 pennies to share. I chose to used Shelley Perreault's Peacock Coins pattern. I'm going to tat around a penny again with a different bead configuration.

Mom would like to have one as a pin. I think that's a great idea!

I also tried Shelley's pattern with a peacock coin bead and S-Lon beading thread. I need to perfect my tatting with this thread, but I found it very nice to work with.

The retreat was fabulous, and I'm really looking forward to getting together with this wonderful group of ladies again next year!

Denise and I had a long ride home, 10.5 hours. We did take a brief side trip to Norske Nook for lunch, which was delicious!

There was a lot of mail to open when I got home, and my first package was from Rita Richmond. Aren't these shuttles beautiful? I bet you know why I was attracted to them! ;-)

Remember when Marlene and Cathy came to Tollway Tatters? Marlene had a wonderful name tag stitched by a friend of Cathy's. Cathy was kind enough to have one stitched up for me. I love it!

So, now it's time to try and get back into a routine of some sort. I feel like I've been saying that a lot lately!

Laundry day... again

Friday is laundry day, and sometimes that means lots of crafting time, and sometimes it doesn't. I don't have much to show, but I did have a lot of crafting time today!

I sewed on my origami pouches this morning, but there's nothing but a stack of squares... nothing to show.

I also worked on sorting through a few boxes of my craft stuff, putting things in more logical places. Again, there's nothing to show.

I even spent time putting together the things I want to take to Minnesota, but there's nothing interesting to show their either. Maybe I'll have something good to show when I get back!

As I was sorting today, I found a few of Rita Richmond's shuttles tucked in to project bags. The projects have been long forgotten, so the shuttles have been put back with their buddies, except for this one. I needed it for today's tatting!

Shelley Perreault asked if I would check her Peacock Coins pattern. She's had it available on the Ice Drop Addicts page for a while, but I hadn't gotten around to trying it until now. Shelley's directions are easy to follow, and I like the way her pattern shows off the peacock bead.

I started the next Masquerade motif for my doily, but I didn't get very far.

I only managed to complete one spool pin doily today. I hope to get more done tomorrow. Dave wants to finish cutting down the tree in Carol's front yard, so we'll see how the day goes.