At it again...

I can't help myself... I love this pattern! This Spinning Wheel glass mat (Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior) is in size 10 Lizbeth, #122 Caribbean. This is one of my favorite Lizbeth colors.

I've had this book for several years. I can't remember if it was a gift or if I purchased it myself, but I've been meaning to make good use of it by knitting some unique dishcloths.

I started with the January 1 pattern, Basket Rib. It's a very simple pattern to follow. All I have to do is take time to knit!

I didn't make it over to the boutique this weekend. Instead I crocheted some more button flowers for Rita.

I hope to get there next weekend. I'm really looking forward to seeing how Rita has made use of these! 

Waste not, want not

My dish cloths are looking really dingy, so today was a knit day. Unfortunately, I did not have enough of this oatmeal colored yarn to finish the dish cloth, but since it's for me, I'm fine with a blob of color in one corner.

I decided to try a new pattern today. This is the Almost Lost Washcloth Pattern. It was a fun knit, and I think I'll probably make it again.

My button journey continues.

I'm hoping to finish up Rita's buttons by the time school is out.

I've enjoyed working on them, but I'm ready to do some of my own!

Who does that?

Apparently, I do! What is that, you might ask? Well, I packed up some tatting to work on at lunchtime today (that never happened), and I left my tatting supplies at school. Even though I live less than ten minutes from school, I was not inclined to go back and get my goodies, so I took an alternate course of action...

I put together my new cart from IKEA and reorganized my stash for making crocheted button flowers.

I took the supplies for Rita's button flowers out of the cardboard box and put them in this cute little carryall... much more attractive than the cardboard box!

I cleared off the clutter from my little table with my Jan Stawasz Masterpiece and Renulek's Spring doilies close at hand. I'll dust the table tomorrow. ;-)

Since I didn't have my picot gauges handy for my tatting projects, I decided to crochet some button flowers for Rita.

Tomorrow, I will bring my tatting supplies home so that I can tat. If I'm going to be this forgetful, I think I'd better not take tatting to school with me again... or I could just put together a tatting kit to keep at school that doesn't require the tools I need at home!

One tiny butterfly

The week before Mother's Day is Dave's busiest week of the year. It's the one that carries his business for the rest of the year, so it's really important. Because of two truck breakdowns, his Saturday plant delivery arrived on Tuesday. So, it was all hands on deck yesterday, and daughter Carol and I headed over to help out after school. Doing physical labor sure has a way of letting you know how out of shape you are!

After a quick bite to eat and paperwork, we were both ready to collapse by 8:30. Posting about tatting was definitely the last thing on my mind!

While I was getting ready for school this morning, I realized that I did get some tatting done yesterday despite all the activity...

...one tiny butterfly tatted before school. I'm thinking yesterday was a great day! :-)

Masterpiece Doily progress

I was able to tat for about an hour and a half today, and I'm pleased to say that I'm getting close to the halfway point on this round of the Jan Stawasz Masterpiece doily!

The kids at school are really in to these sliding knot paracord bracelets. Hobby Lobby had several packets of cord on clearance this weekend, so I put together some bracelets for the kids. I hope they're up to snuff!

Tatting in the truck

Dave had deliveries north of Chicago today, so I went along for the ride. We left at 6 a.m. and arrived home at 1:30 p.m., and that was a short day for Dave!

While we were waiting to unload at our first stop, Dave took a picture of me tatting... just to prove that I was tatting in the truck! ;-)

The big advantage to spending the day in the truck was that I was able to finish my Western Sunset Spinning Wheel glass mat. The down side is that my wrists are really sore right now, so I think I'll take a break for the night. I think I deserve a little down time!

I can't help myself...

I just had to start another Spinning Wheel glass mat! This one is in size 10 Lizbeth, #102 Western Sunset. I do love this pattern.

No, I haven't given up on my Jan Stawasz or Renulke doilies. I just haven't made enough progress to post pictures. Does anyone really want to see only one or two rings of progress a day? I think not. So, I will post pictures of my progress when there's something worth noting.

This morning I went to our new local quilt shop, Rocking Chair Quilts, and I purchased some beautiful fabric for Origami pouches, which I learned to make from Quiltsalott. Who doesn't like pretty quilt fabrics?

I also went to Hobby Lobby to get some cording for both my Origami pouches and my woven bags. I was very disappointed to see how reduced the tatting selection has become. Tatting supplies have been moved to a new aisle, so maybe they're just in the middle of restocking. I order most of my tatting supplies online, but it is nice to be able to go to the store and see threads, shuttles, and hankies just waiting for me!

I can't believe how many more button flowers I managed to crochet for Rita this week!

I think the secret of getting so many done is working in groups of five.

A few minutes here,

...a few minutes there,

...and before I know it,

...I've complete 25 button flowers!

As I've been working on these for Rita, I've been trying to come up with ideas for ways to use the button flowers I'm going to make for myself. My buttons are smaller and work up more quickly. I'm not overly concerned about how they can be used. I kind of like just looking at them in my button can!