Polar Whiplash!

I think there were 80 days in January!  Seriously. Yes, it’s hard to believe it’s already February, but January was long here in the frozen tundra.  This week, we had such record breaking below zero weather that the U.S. Postal Service even shut down. No mail on Wednesday, and no schools for most of the week while we had -33 air temperatures with -54 wind chills. Dangerously cold for everyone.  (Frozen water pipes add to the excitement.) But, here we are today with a high of about 36, and tomorrow’s high of 40. That’s a 70 degree swing in just 4 days! Typical Minnesota - big temperature swings. No wonder we don’t know how to dress from one day to the next.

A bonus to hibernating for a few days is the opportunity to either tat or sew or create something - more hours than usual to spend in my cave studio.  I stayed home from work on Wednesday and worked on a duffel bag I’ve had cut out since . . . well . . . for months. Today I will finish the straps, and it will be usable.  For my next getaway. Hopefully somewhere warmer than here.

This is from my 2016 Quilt Minnesota Fabric. I love to get some each year because it’s limited, and it just represents “home”.  (Notice there are no winter scenes in this particular line!)  The 2019 fabric is gorgeous - I can’t wait to get some of that for a future project. 

Other than weather, January was fun.  We met my folks and my brother’s family for a buffet lunch at a casino for my Dad’s birthday one Saturday - I actually won a few $ this time.  Nothing big, but considering I usually just lose $20 within 15 minutes, it was a good day.  I also tried out wheel throwing pottery with one of my daughters - another fun hobby I could get into, but what a mess! I still need to wash the clay off the shoes I wore 😬.

On with February!

It’s October What?

Wow - here we are, more than halfway through October already.  Our weather in Minnesota has been unseasonably COLD!  Our average temps this time of year are about 60 F, and we’ve had 40’s. Brrrr!  There was even a little snow last weekend, but it melted quickly (thank heavens!)

I have been working on the “secret quilt”, so I haven’t been tatting.  I’ve also been working on a weekend duffel for ME!  Unfortunately, I’m at a bit of a standstill until I can re-cut my straps.  I can’t find the hardware required in the pattern, so I’ll have to do a bit of adjusting to the fabric I’ve already cut.  No problem, I just need to have a good block of time to think straight so I don’t make errors that I can’t correct.  Dang it, I hate when patterns need something that I can’t run to Joann’s and get with a coupon!

My sweet sidekick - Ruby - has crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  She was 12 years and 3 months old, which is pretty old for a boxer.  She was “losing her legs” and experiencing tipping and tripping, and I was terrified that she would fall down the stairs in our home while I was at work.  We’d been watching the progress all summer, and it started to deteriorate quickly.  My heart is broken and we miss her presence so much!  All the daily routines have changed.

Are you joining in on the Tatting Corner Secret Santa Exchange?  I am!  Email Lisa@tattingcorner.com if you’re interested!  I haven’t participated in an exchange for several years, but it really is fun.  I’m looking forward to doing it again.

Last weekend, I attended a lecture by Kaffe Fassett, well known for vibrant, colorful fabric designs.  I love the Kaffe fabric collection, and can’t wait to get creative with some of his fabric.  So many ideas, so little time - as usual.  The lecture was great - so many good thoughts about where inspiration really comes from.  Everywhere!  Look at the color around you.  I love vibrant color, but my home is rather boring and “safe” with tan painted walls 😬.

What inspires you?

Tatting AND Quilting, Oh My!

Round 6 of Renulek’s Spring Doily 2018 - done!  I’m really enjoying tatting this doily so far - it’s been simple rounds, and is going well.  I’m not sure where to add some plain cream thread yet, but that’s the plan.  And then eventually another round of the variegated.  We’ll see where each color seems to fit.

I also got my pink squares mailed off for the Tat a Brussels Monument project.  That is such a huge project - it will be fun to see how it is displayed this summer.  I can’t imagine putting all of these little squares (10,000?!) together - I have a hard enough time completing a doily!  It’s been fun to follow along and see the submissions from all over the world.  I only managed to get 6 squares completed, but a submission nonetheless, and with heartfelt wishes for all women.  What a wonderful project to bring attention to tatting, and how so many from all over the world can come together with a common interest.

And [as if I don’t have enough projects and interests already]  I saw this wonderful collage quilt in my local quilt shop last fall.  I’ve been watching for classes ever since, and finally they had one!  I thoroughly enjoyed learning this new technique, and though I’m not thoroughly satisfied yet, here’s my start:

I am continuing to add to the seahorse’s tail, and I’m going to cover the orange fin with flowers - that orange is really bugging me!   I also tried a small Minnesota shaped collage - another collage style with strips of fabric covering the image.  This small one, of course, is a little quicker - and can be used on smaller items or glued to greeting cards.  I see a few of these in my future, not sure what I will use them on, but they will be handy for something!

My sewing room is a disaster, so tonite I think I’ll tat.  HA!

I’m In Sewing Mode Again

Yep - back to sewing for a bit.  I’ve been working on a bag this week - no surprise, I know!  This is a more complicated bag than I’ve made before, so it’s also keeping me in “learning” mode.  I am making a duffel bag for my hubby for those weekend trips hunting or fishing, and he knows it’s all practice and won’t be perfect.  Fortunately, I had some non-floral fabric, ha ha!

I’ve been looking at Craftsy classes, and have purchased a few now - I am a very visual learner, so even though I might have a pattern, it helps to SEE how it goes.  This particular class is for making 2 sizes of the “Weekend Duffel”.  The content is well worth the cost.

As in everything, the prep and clean up seems to take the longest.  (Makes me practice patience!) I’m not crazy about cutting everything out all at once, but it’s a necessary evil to keep all the pieces straight.  Definitely helpful to be able to grab pieces that are ready for construction, too.  I use a drying rack to store the pieces until I need them.

I’ve always been intimidated by the internal zipper pockets, so this was a great way to learn how to do it.  And realize it’s really quite simple!  Too bad my stitching was all crooked.  Oops.  It’s on the inside anyway.

I have also learned how easy it really is to add hardware like twist and magnetic closures, as well as metal rings to attach straps to.  I guess I didn’t think it could be that difficult, I had just never attempted to do it for fear of ruining a project.  Never thought about the difference between a “pleated” pocket and a “bellows” pocket either - both are easy to construct, and as I like lots of pockets, this will be helpful for future bags.

It’s coming together nicely - I should be able to finish this weekend.  It’s beginning to look like a duffel bag!

Tatting, Sewing and Thankful

It's been a busy week!  I finished another Ice Drop – this time with a faceted gem from Diane.  I love the royal blue, but I ended up running out for the rings to enclose the gem – a little darker blue worked just fine.  Which, of course, makes me start thinking about using a different color on purpose for those last 6 rings!  Thread color combinations are so enjoyable to me.  While I love blue, I think this needed a different color for beads and those enclosing rings.  It's OK - it's still pretty!

I also love putting together color combinations in fabrics. I’ve got a new obsession making these bags.  Well, OK, a bag making obsession is not NEW for me, but this pattern is!  I tend to like bags/pouches that I can zip closed, and these are perfect!

I’ve been making sets of 1 bag with 1 small pod to match, and extra pods as stand-alone items. It’s fun to dig out coordinating fabrics, and all the while I’m sewing I’m trying to think of all the things one could use these bags for.  The little pods would be perfect for throwing small tatting projects in my purse to have on hand. Something I don’t normally do, but found out at our tatting retreat that everyone else does!   I will most likely be using these for gifts, and maybe to sell as well. 

The end of July always brings Quilt Minnesota – fabrics by Minnesota designers featuring Minnesota!  I ALWAYS have to get some of this fabric – I just love it.  I love that it represents my home. This year’s purchase included these lovelies – birds, fish, dragonflies, agates, wild mushrooms and cute turtles. 

More bags?!!  Hehehehe.

It’s also been an emotional week here -  for the Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul as well as for my own family.  Indirectly, thank heavens, but it still affects one’s being.  We had the awful Minnehaha Academy explosion and collapse killing 2.  My tatting friends Michelle and Katie both teach there, so I was a little panicky and then thankful to know they were OK. Their sadness of losing coworkers and part of their workplace is a reminder of how fast life can change.

We also had a construction worker hit by a distracted teen driver.  The gal was flagging traffic, and was thrown 70 feet.  She has suffered both broken legs, a broken arm and pelvis, as well as a broken skull.   She was just doing her job.  You may not know this, but I work with road construction contracts and compliance.  I didn’t know her, but this was on one of our projects, and while I only visit project sites once or twice a month, my coworkers are on these sites daily.  My own neighborhood has been under construction all summer as well – by the same contractor.  My husband and daughter are also involved in traffic on the roads every day. The mood at work, at home and on my neighborhood streets was very heavy all week. Please drive safe in construction zones, no matter how irritating road construction can be.  These folks are just doing their job, and deal with angry AND distracted drivers every single day.

Other tragedies in the cities involved a murder of a woman, again, just doing her job. Random killing.  Another lovely person that was a friend of a friend.  

Today, I’m thankful just to be here.  

Snowflakes and Wool #2

I lost this darned post!  I think I started it on my iPad, and finished it on my laptop.  I didn't save it on the iPad, and when I went back POOF.  Just the photos remained.  I have a love/hate relationship with technology sometimes.  We'll see, now I'll probably end up with two posts.

In summary - this snowflake is from somewhere on the Internet - I'd love to give credit if anyone knows where I got this?

This is my first attempt at Frivole's Snowdrop.  This is a GREAT pattern, but my tatting is needing some better concentration to avoid small mistakes.  

So much for keeping this one for Christmas - gifted already to a retiring coworker with a large Christmas tree.  I think of her when I see or make ornaments, so it was fitting! 

And I can't duplicate the story of this coat :(  BUT, this beautiful red wool liner was given to me to use the wool.  I took it apart and washed it to felt the wool.

I made this bag (surprised?) I followed the pattern, but found that he straps are too long for my taste.  The loop button closure is a bit too thick, so I'm not sure if it will be good to use, or fumbly. I saved the tag from the coat and put it in the pocket to add some decoration. A great bag for someone I think, I just don't need another.  SO, I offered it back to my aunt, who gave me the wool.

As it turns out, the bag will go back to my aunts friend - the woman who gave up the wool in the first place.  I can't wait to hear how she likes it.  It was her mother's coat!

And now, I have more beautiful red wool to use somehow.  The color just screams Christmas!

P.S.  And how weird is it that comments from the lost post remained?  It's not even Monday.

Little Motifs and a Messy Cave

My cave has been one busy room today!  (It also looks like a tornado hit it - ha!)

I needed to get some tatting time in, so I dug through my thread to find some to match my new bag.

Wait. I had to finish the bag first.

Yesterday, I decided to make another of a bag I really like for carting around many different items.  It is divided into 3 sections, so it's great for work, my camera stuff, or various projects.  I decided to make one to match one of the dorset bags I made with the same fabric. (Fancy, no?)  

This is the "X" bag:

It actually holds a lot more than it looks like it would.  Maybe that's why I like it?

Then I needed to cover up my horrible sewing on the little tab closure. So, I thought a little tatted motif would be better than a large button.  I found a couple of matching threads, and quickly realized that size 20 was too large - so did it again in size 80. (This rifling through the thread contributed to the tornadic look of my cave. Who puts bins back until thoroughly satisfied?)  

The New Tatting book by Tomoko Morimoto has many great motifs to choose from - this is the Square Flower Motif.  It's still a little big, but it will be fine when I get it tacked down.   I'm still deciding if maybe a burgundy motif would be better before I do any final tacking.  More rifling ahead, I'm afraid.

Since I'm obsessed with the amount of time it takes me to tat something, I discovered this little bugger takes me 40 minutes to make.  No wonder it's hard for me to work on a large project.  I have a hard time sitting still that long! The button would have been faster - but I like the tatted accent.  This does explain why I turn to sewing in between tatting projects, though.  I feel like I really accomplish something for the hours I spend in my cave :)

Now I have a complete set.  I really do love this fabric ;)

And, a few folks have asked about some wedding photos!  We are ANXIOUSLY awaiting the professional photos to see some great shots of that beautiful day.  Unfortunately, all we have are a few phone pictures that don't show off the dress and sash, but I'll share a couple of the beautiful bride!  The straps made from mom's wedding dress show the best on this one:

And someone grabbed this shot from their seat:

Makes me tear up just reliving the moment.  There WILL be more photos.  Eventually.  You can be sure I will be sharing!

P.S.  Did I mention we will have another wedding in October 2016?  My other daughter!  It's such an exciting time for our family right now!

Finally - Vacation!

I'm finally enjoying some much needed vacation time to work on those "someday" projects.  While everyone else is getting ready to get back to school or get kids off to college, I'm enjoying some  post-wedding free time to do whatever I want :) I'm excited to have some time to hide out in my 'cave'!

It's very hot and humid in Minnesota this Labor Day weekend, so I am choosing to stay indoors where it's cool and sew.  My new tatting print fabric was calling me to do SOMETHING with it, so I made a few Dorset Bags. Cuz I need 4 of them, ha!  Gifts maybe?

This pattern makes my favorite tatting bag because of the two outside pockets - so handy for needle cases, extra thread and scissors.  

I'm thinking I can make some table toppers with this fabric as well, and add a tatted edge.  Maybe a new larger carry-all bag?  I also have some dish towels to make and another quilt to bind - not to mention enough fabric to work on another quilt (or ten).  What to do?!

I should prepare for Christmas.  I'm always too late to make much, but maybe I could change that?  In any case, here's to a productive week of Bluebird time!

Secret Project - Done!

Remember the Secret Quilt from my post back here? I just finished sewing the binding on it. Yay! The birthday is exactly one month from today, so I am so pleased and relieved to not have to rush in between wedding preparations.  I love it when plans come to fruition without setbacks!

Can you see the quilting?  Fish jumping.

Here's a better look ...

I was so excited to see that option when I was choosing the stitch pattern for the quilting - a perfect finish.  The only thing left to make is the label for the back with the date and quilt info, along with the birthday message.  Just need to get the right permanent pen. There is a new Hobby Lobby that just opened nearby that needs some investigation anyway ;) 

Almost Done.

My weekend goal is pretty much accomplished - it's nice when things go according to plan, and I've actually given myself ample time.  I definitely like to be 'done' with things ahead of time, and not rushing at the last minute! Just a little top stitching left, but that will wait until the bride can try them out with the dress.  And give her final approval.  

Hopefully these straps will look and work the way we envisioned!  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  I don't think the organza base shows as much on top of skin as it does in the photo - we'll see.

Did I mention how slippery organza is to sew on?  Sheesh.  And did I mention how the lace on my mom's dress was tiered and sewn in a way that made it a little difficult to get good lengths of lace?  I hated to cut into it more, but I did have to.  A pile of scratchy tulle netting is left.  Still makes me feel a bit guilty.

This is actually a weight off my shoulders.  I knew it had to be done, but I knew DOING it would require a good stretch of uninterrupted time.  Thank heavens hubby is self-sufficient when I'm in my cave :) 

And Ruby doesn't care as long as she gets a little sun.

Dragging My Feet ...

The Task: Make straps for daughter's wedding dress.

Out of lace.  

Lace from my mother's wedding dress. 

Yikes!

My daughter's wedding will be on my parents' anniversary, so the plan was to use mom's dress, but it didn't fit right to wear as is. Then we figured we could use the lace somehow, some way.  Grandma and granddaughter will share a wedding anniversary, so shared lace would be awesome.

Straps!  Not crazy about a strapless dress, but we could add straps!  The bridal shop charges a pretty penny to add straps.  The lace from mom's dress was originally white, but is discolored enough after all these years to match the ivory lace of the new dress.  Perfect.  We like to be sentimental, we do. 

How do I get myself into these things?  "Sure, I can do that - that's a great idea!" Boy, I have a big mouth sometimes.  

I have been the Queen of Procrastination on this task. But it's time to get it done, so it's my goal for this weekend. When it came down to it, I really had to force myself to cut into that lace. The lace on THAT dress. Mom is OK with it.  It's been sitting in a box for over 50 years.  But still. I CUT UP MY MOM'S WEDDING DRESS! 

A daunting task, but finally, the straps are in process.  The lace is so pretty, but the pattern is a bit too wide to use as we wanted.

Some modification to the original idea will be necessary.  I will be sewing it to some organza, so I have some figuring to do.  I think one edge will have to be straight to get it to the desired width. Dang it. 

To be continued ...

A Little Quilting

After all that doily tatting, I'm taking a little break to finish a lap-sized quilt.  This is a fun, secret project for my oldest daughter's boyfriend - he's turning 30 this summer.  A significant birthday, and the first of my kids to hit this one. With all of the wedding plans for my youngest daughter, he'll never suspect anyone is even thinking of his big day - which is just 2 weeks before the wedding.

I tell this young man that he is going to turn into a fish. If he's not working, he's usually fishing. Summer or Winter.  Cold or Hot.  He doesn't care, he just loves to fish.  

So, it was only appropriate to find some FISH fabric.  

Now I'm questioning my choice to add so much of that very light fabric.  I won't go back and change it, it really looks fine.  I'm just kind of wishing I would have used a little less of it. It does add some contrast! What do you think?

I'm adding a border of wonderful matching colors, and then it will be off to the quilter so I can get it back in time to add the binding and tuck it away until August.  Then I'll be ahead of schedule, and can get back to tatting and wedding planning stuff.