Sometimes it pays to be last!

Congratulations, Icela! You are the winner of one of my Mary Engelbreit blinged shuttles!

Please send me your mailing info, and I'll get it off to you by Monday. (DianeCademartori at gmail dot com)

Thanks for joining in the fun everyone!

Yes-U-Can Doily Challenge - Tatting Progress Day 2

I wasn't going to blog today, because I didn't feel like I made any progress. However, I truly believe there is so much to learn from our mistakes, and I made several last night!

At first, I attempted to tat this next round with bare thread between the rings. I'm not a fan of bare threads in tatting. To me, the tatting looks weak. I tried three different lengths of thread between the rings, and two different stitch counts on the larger ring. I didn't like any of them, so... snip! Snip!

What you see is my last attempt before heading off to bed. I like the look, but I can see that this round isn't going to ease into the curve. It's too straight. After looking at the picture more closely, I think I need to add one more picot and two double stitches to each larger ring. I think the solution to creating better ease might be to add stitches to the chains between the four segments and use longer joining picots between the outer rings.

If you have any ideas that you care to share with me, I'll be glad to try them out... that is, if you can understand my ramblings! I probably won't have a chance to try out my ideas today, but I'll keep you posted on my progress!

Yes-U-Can Doily Challenge - Tatting Progress Day 1

Not too bad for my first evening of tatting!

For those of you who might be interested in joining the fun, the Yes-U-Can Doily Challenge is going on at InTatters. There is no pattern, just a picture on a tin. The challenge is to tat your version with no time limits!

I'm using size 40 Lizbeth, color #663. My schedule looks pretty busy for the next three days, so I'm sure many of you will be able to surpass my efforts. I'm really looking forward to seeing how everyone interprets this doily!

Yes-U-Can Doily Challenge

A few years ago, Kersti found a tin with a picture of a tatted doily on the lid. The center of the lid says, "Yes-U-Can." She created a challenge on eTatters to tat the doily. The challenge has been resurrected, and I decided to join in the fun!

I've chosen size 40 Lizbeth, color #663. Will I stay the course? Can I figure out how to tat the doily? Will I become distracted and put it aside? Time will tell!

Care to join the fun? Go on over to InTatters, and you can find a picture of the tin to print out. Just think... I have another excuse to avoid housework! ; )

Update: For those of you who would like the link, here it is: http://www.intatters.com/showthread.php?6205-The-YES-U-CAN-Doily-Challenge&p=62053#post62053

Please note, there is no pattern, just a picture!

Back-to-school shuttles

Nothing says back-to-school like primary colors! For me, the queen of primary colors is Mary Engelbreit. So, for my September shuttles, I chose Mary Engelbreit fabric.

I love her saying, "Life is just a chair of bowlies." A bit discombobulated, but perfect for the way my school year has started! There are so many changes at school this year, and I had become very comfortable with my teaching routine. Luckily, I'm finding that I'm up to the new challenges!

Oh... I guess you're wondering about the shuttles...

As I've done before, one is for a drawing here on my blog, one is for Denise, and one is for me. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post, and tell me which of the three shuttles you like best... green, yellow, or orange. Since I've taken so long to decorate the shuttles, I'll have the drawing the last day of September... 30 days hath September, April, June, and November...

Look what came in the mail yesterday!

I've been interested in this book for a long time, so I was thrilled to find that Heidi had it re-printed! As I was flipping through, I was excited to discover that I own some of the shuttles shown in the book.

I don't think blinged Clover shuttles will ever be book material, but they sure are fun!

P.S. - After proofreading this post, I realize that it doesn't flow... very poor writing style. Sigh! I hope my discombobulation disappears quickly!

Done and done!

I finished binding my quilt Thursday morning before school... 7:05 to be exact... and I left the house at 7:10!

On Saturday I made matching pillowcases. It took me all day to make four pillowcases... too much time on the phone with friends and family, plus laundry. Somehow, the house cleaning never got done. : )

On Sunday afternoon I washed all the sheets and re-made the bed with my beautiful new quilt. Luckily, it was nice and cool last night!

Then tonight, best of all, I finished my blue doily! I am thrilled with it! This is Project #1 from Tatted Fashion by Teiko Fujito. The finished size is 12" in size 50 Altin Basak, color #363. It's 12" in diameter. I think this is the largest piece I've ever tatted! I don't think I ever would have attempted this piece without inspiration from Barbara Payne. Thank you, Barbara!


Now, I think I'll take a little time to catch up on all the blog posts I've been missing!

Tatting and singing in Illinois

Although we couldn't be at Palmetto Tat Days, Denise and I did get together from 5 - 5:30 central time to join in the fun. What fun you ask? Setting a record for the most tatters tatting the same pattern at the same time! Guinness Book of World Records... here we come! ... and yes, we did sing the song!