What took me so long?

I have long admired Carollyn Brown's tatted keys. I've been collecting keys ever since she first blogged about them, but I never took the time to try one... until now!

After watching a few YouTube videos about tatting over cabone rings, I decided to give it a try. I snipped off my first attempt, because I didn't like the way it looked. My second try was much better, and I think I'm going to have a lot of fun!

Tollway Tatters having fun!

 We had a nice sized group today!

Kathy, Carol, and Chris

Cathy worked on her cross stitch.

Carol always has the coolest things to show us. I just love her case for her travel tatting!

Chris was working on this beautiful piece.

Nancy

I forgot to ask Nancy what color thread she was using. Isn't it pretty?

Marlene

Marlene had a variety of projects to show us.

She spent time working on Mary Konior's Spinning Wheel glass mat, my all-time-favorite pattern! The green doily is one she started in perle cotton years ago. She came across it and decided to finish it. Her tatting is perfection!

Chris and Carol have their back to the camera. Thea and Marlene had a great time tatting and chatting!

I forgot to ask Thea about her book. There are so many conversations going on at our meetings, I forget my questions until I get home!

 Thea finished her first Ice Drop today! I love blue and white, so I quickly snapped a picture.

Sue Anna

Sue Anna is one of Marilee's biggest fans. She's tatted more of Marilee's patterns than anyone I know.

 Marilee and Barbara

Marilee was resting when I took this photo. I forgot to ask what she was working on today. Barbara recently had surgery on her hand, so she just enjoyed her time with us.

I managed to finish an Ice Drop in upholstery thread that I purchased at Hobby Lobby. I just wanted to see how it would work. I think the color is kind of dull in person. It shows up better in the picture. The thread is pretty smooth. I just had to watch for it fuzzing out when I went to pick out mistakes, which happened often! One thing I like about it is that when it did fuzz out, it went back to its shape once the thread was out of the stitch. It didn't get all kinky like cotton thread does.

We've set our next date for Saturday, July 20. I'm already looking forward to our next meeting!

Testing, testing!

Yesterday was the last day of school for students, teachers' aides, bus drivers, and me. The teachers and administrators have to be there today. So, school's out for summer!

I spent some time organizing projects for the summer. I have quite a bit I'd like to accomplish, and if all goes as planned, I will be sewing while daughter Joanne and the kids are napping. I don't want to sequester myself in my sewing room while they're visiting.

I volunteered to test a new crocheted sock pattern, 25 Ways Crocheted Sock by Denis Hannigan. It's been a long time since I've crocheted socks, and I've long been intrigued by toe-up socks. For now, there is no picture, which I think is a good idea in this case. Since there is nothing to look at, I will know if the pattern makes sense or not. So far, so good! I'm using Red Heart Heart and Sole in Victorian. I didn't need any more sock yarn, but it was on sale, and I decided it was a good enough deal to give it a try. I like it!

Another pendant?

I finished another Doodle Ice Drop variation in Marilee Rockley's hand-dyed thread, Lake Effect. I love the frosted glass gem, and I think this might be pendant-worthy!

The beautiful shuttle is from Emiko Suenaga of PaintatPlus on Etsy. I do love my shuttles!

Rolling in Clover

I do love my Clover shuttles! They're the style I learned with, and any time I use one I feel like I've reconnected with a long lost friend.

I'm still trying to decide on a square pattern for the doily I'd like to make. This is Patchwork from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. I think I'm going to tat this one again with two shuttles. I think it will look nicer, and I need to pay closer attention to my rings so that the center doesn't look wonky.

I'm still tatting with Marilee Rockley's Lake Effect hand-dyed thread. I didn't put a ribbon on this Doodle Ice Drop variation, because I'm thinking of turning it into a pendant. I really like the way this one turned out!

This is the Anniversary Motif from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. I don't think this one will be suitable for the doily I have in mind. The center is too open. I'm not sure if it's my tatting or my blocking, but my center opening is more square, and the one pictured in the book is round. I'm not going to worry about it, because I really don't think this is a contender for my doily. However, I do think it would make a nice picture frame!

Yesterday

Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous! The sun was shining. The temperature was perfect. There was a gentle breeze. Dave worked outside planting vegetables, mowing grass, taking care of chicks and ducks, while I sat in the shade watching him. It was just what the doctor ordered!

I enjoyed a little knitting, browsing through books, and tatting. I just love this beautiful hand-dyed thread, Lake Effect, from Marilee Rockley. Certain color combinations make me unbelievable happy, and this is one of them! The shuttle is another beauty from Veronica of TattingShuttles on Etsy. Etsy is a very dangerous place for me to visit. Too often I find something I must have!

I'm in the mood to tat a square mat. I love a little square mat. So, I'm going through my Mary Konior patterns and tatting some up so that I can decide which pattern I want to use. I'm tempted to do one in hand-dyed thread, but I also have a strong desire to tat one in a dark blue. This pattern is Masquerade from Tatting with Visual Patterns.

Practicing the patterns in light pink is easier on my eyes, with the added bonus of using up what's left on a ball of thread. I don't think I have enough of this pink left to tat all of the patterns I plan on trying, but time will tell!

Takin' it easy

I've been a bit under the weather the past two days, so I've been taking it easy.

I finished a second Ice Drop out of Marilee Rockley's beautiful hand-dyed thread, Lake Effect. The shuttle is from Middy Clark of The Knotted Vine. I love working with beautiful threads and shuttles!

When Alison and the kids were visiting a couple of weeks ago, we watched Mister Roberts, a movie from the 60s that I loved. For the first time, In noticed in the credits that it was based on the novel of the same name. Just imagine, it took me more than 50 years to realize there was a book! Luckily, it was available on Amazon. Although the movie and the book are quite different, I thoroughly enjoyed them both!

Yesterday daughter Joanne sent me a picture of Kara. She's pretending she's typing on her computer just like Mommy!

Dave called me out to see the roses in bloom. They were just buds the other day when I last looked at the bush.

I accomplished two things today. I finished the second lace section of my Blue Jean Saturday shawl by Deby Lake, a free download on Ravelry.

I also finished reading Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II by Robert Matzen. I knew that Audrey Hepburn had been in the Netherlands during the German occupation, but I really had no idea what she and her family had been through. I will now pass this on to daughter Carol, who loves European history. We are a family of readers!