More Ice Drops and Some Zen

I finally branched out to another variation of the ice drop - I don't remember if this pattern has a name or not, but I like it!  I'm not sure what I'll try next - but I feel like I need to do several of a pattern before I move on.  OCD?  Ha ha.  

And it's been really nice outside here the past few days, so anything to get outside for a minute.  Even to get a photo - the yard isn't very nice looking yet, but it will do for a background - just to breathe in some fresh air :)

It's fun planning our summer tatting retreat - it's not until July, but I know it will come up fast.  We really don't want to plan a detailed retreat, but it helps to have some kind of outline.  I'm SO looking forward to it!

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I've been back to a little tangling this week too - and playing with some colored backgrounds.  It's been a few weeks since I played with Zentangle, so I feel like I've "lost" a little that I had learned about lines and shading. Like anything else, you have to keep practicing to keep growing.

I like the black ink over a colored background - and making the background is almost as much fun as the drawing :)

Found it!

Whew - I didn't throw it away by accident! It's a relief, for sure, as I have about 60 hours into this doily.  I was so worried!  It was in a strange, unexpected place, but safe and sound.  And crumply.  But that's OK!

It's my sign to FINISH it.  I will continue to keep track of the time it takes to make this beauty, but I don't think I will ever do that again. I think that may be why I stopped working on it - the stress of thinking about the time I was investing in it took away the joy of tatting it.  

A new goal!  Finish this doily (finally) by the end of July.  Maybe by county fair time?  It doesn't matter when.  I'm just so relieved to have found it!

Happy International Tatting Day!

We had a BONUS Twin Cities Tatters Day today - just for International Tatting Day!  

We all brought some show & tell, tatted in public at our usual Caribou Coffee, and even enjoyed some chocolate, thanks to Marlene! 

I looked for my Renulek Spring 2015 large doily project (the one I stopped working on way back here and have yet to finish) to bring along to show, but I'm now in a panic because I CAN'T FIND IT! I will be tearing my sewing/tatting room apart trying to find it, but for now I'm afraid after all that sorting and cleaning of additional fabric I've thrown it away by accident.  Yikes!  I hope it's just put away nice and safe, but . . . until I find it I will worry about its possible tragic demise.

I'll tat another Ice Drop, and then I will look some more for that unfinished doily.  Calmly.  Maybe.  Actually, I may tear my cave apart.

Weekend Cave Hideout

Well, I spent the weekend in my cave, sewing away like a madwoman.  Who wants to do housework anyway?  Haha!

I've been wanting to finish this table runner since JULY - I picked it up during the Quilt Minnesota Shop Hop with Mom, and even though it doesn't match anything I have, it's just cute.  During that shop hop, Mom also got this bag pattern for me - I've been trying to decide what fabric to use.

I remembered I had a few scraps of this sock monkey fabric - too cute!  I was bad and didn't cut my binding on the bias, and darn it!  I can tell how bad it is, but I guess that's what I get.  I'll just use it as is!

I didn't get much else done, but I guess it doesn't matter.  The dust and clutter will wait for me, haha!  It was relaxing to putter around in my cave with nothing else pressing.  That's what weekends are for, right?!  Now, what should I put in this bag? ...

Tatting, Quilting and Photography = My Life!

Wow - it's been over a month since I was last here, typing away!  How fast time flies.

Last weekend, our Twin Cities Tatters met and had the biggest group ever!  I think we've had 6 or so before, but we had 9 (count 'em - 9!) tatters join us and filled the table + more in the corner of Caribou Coffee.  Such fun to have so many tatters in one place to chat and tat and teach and share! We are so looking forward to our tatting retreat this summer - it will be fun!

I've been tatting away at some ice drops - I really do love Diane's creation.  I don't usually like to tat so many of one item, but they are not only enjoyable to tat, they are somewhat addicting!  I haven't branched out much from the original pattern much - I like the simplicity of the original pattern, but there are some really nice variations out there.  So I'm a bore, ha ha.

All that fabric Mom and I gathered last month from my Aunt's sewing room has been sorted and resorted.   I spent a few days with Mom just going through the fabric and sorting it into colors and groups and donations.  We ended up with 3 large totes to donate to mom's church and a couple of other churches as well. Mom shared with her quilt group also, and my daughters collected fabric for their projects, too.  I'm sure my Aunt would be thrilled to know it's being put to good use and enjoyed by so very many.

I've also spent a considerable amount of time sorting the fabric that ended up at my house - but it's been good to go through my own stash and clean that out to make room for the additional fabric.  It's crazy what we can accumulate without even realizing it!

My Sorting Room (or Cave #2 as hubby has dubbed)

Looking good better!

Yardage!

I really do save every piece of fabric, thinking it  will be put to good use in SOMETHING.  Haha.  I have enough projects and fabric to last me at least 10 years!

My Zentangle practice has been suffering lately - I haven't taken the time I'd like to for drawing.  I've been playing with camera settings instead, and have taken a few refresher classes for digital photography - so on top of work, my time has been limited.  I am so anxious for wonderful spring weather so I can get out and play with my camera again - I've been a big baby this winter, avoiding going out in the cold weather trying for frosty photos.  I did enter my 'frog in the lily' photo in a local Nature Center contest, and won a spot on their wall! I've titled this photo "Frog Spy".

Frog Spy

 I need to get over there to see it and all of the other winners displayed!

TGIF!  I'm tired after a busy week, and ready for some power relaxing.  Or crafting, whichever occurs :)