A Flying Week!

Some weeks just seem to fly by, while others seem to drag on forever.  This was a busy week at work,  so it really flew!

Though just posted on Thursday, I worked on Round 4 of the Spring Doily a little at a time all week.  This round, I decided to add some of my precious HDT.  Perfect to keep the doily in a more neutral color, I used “Parchment” from Yarnplayer that I’ve had stashed for 304575027 years.

I think it matches well enough to accent this doily - there’s just a tiny bit of the same ecru in it.  I just hope I will have enough to get through another larger round.

I’m ready to start Round 5!  I really do love focusing on just one round a week.  Even though I have the pattern and can work ahead a little, it’s not so overwhelming when focusing on just completing one round.  And notice I said “working ahead” - ha! I don’t think there’s a rule that you have to stick only to the current week. That is definitely not going to happen in later rounds.

On another note, I decided the end of January to try ordering from Wish-dot-com, as I’ve seen it advertised quite a bit. I saw a couple of people post on a Facebook group that they’ve successfully ordered many times from there, so I thought since it’s so inexpensive, I’d try it, knowing that it takes a few weeks to receive an order.  I ordered 4 items on January 27th, and have received 3 so far.

The packages were incredibly tiny - I can’t believe they didn’t get lost between China and Minnesota!

I ordered these pretty buttons - 100 of them for $1.  I thought they’d be perfect to tat on, and no, I didn’t need 100, but for a buck?  Why not?

Ha Ha - they are much smaller than I thought. I will need to use about size 80 thread for these!  It’s OK - I can use them on sewing too.

Still waiting on one more package of 100 buttons that say “Hand Made” on them.  Just because - ha!  These were $1 each - 100 labels, 100 buttons and 50 handmade charms. Should last me the rest of my life, LOL.

AND, I watched much of the Westminster Dog Show on Monday and Tuesday.  It’s interesting to hear the different breed qualities and what they were originally bred to do. Most people get a cute puppy without considering the natural temperament and behavior, and unfortunately, we then end up with so many rejected dogs in rescue situations. I also love to see the dog’s names, and then their fancy registered names too. I especially noticed the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever named “Ducky”.  Ooooh.  That’s a dangerous name, I thought.  Then I saw his fancy registered name - “What the Duck”. The more we thought about the play on words for a Duck Trolling Retriever, the more it made us laugh. (OK, weird humor.) In any case, we always cheer for a Boxer in the Working Group, but alas, the beautiful Giant Schnauzer won. Ruby disagreed.

Twin Cities Tatters meets today, so I’m in tatting mode.  What great group - I think we learn something or gain a new tip every single time we meet!

It’s Always Easy in the Beginning . . .

. . . to keep up, I mean.  Renulek’s Spring Doily 2018 is progressing nicely right now - of course, it’s only Round 3. I did purchase the pattern in anticipation of later rounds getting away from me, though.  (I know from experience how this is gonna go!) Her patterns are beautiful, so I love owning them anyway.

Renulek’s Spring Doily - Round 3

I’m enjoying this doily because it means SPRING is coming.  You wouldn’t know it by our Minnesota temperatures lately - mostly hovering around or below 0 F. We are definitely ready for winter to move along.

I also saw a cute heart pattern on a Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/SparklingLightCreationStudio.GloriaNelson/  and decided it would be a good, quick project.  Not sure what I’ll do with it yet, other than clip it onto one of my bags.  I feel like I need to add to it some more, but we’ll see. My creativity is at a stand-still lately - just give me a pattern for now and I’m good. That might change next week - ha!

I can’t believe it’s FEBRUARY already! ❤️

Jumping on the Bandwagon!

I decided to jump in on Renulek’s Spring Doily while it was still early, so I got the first 2 center rounds done this morning.  I’m ready to work on a larger piece once again, and her doilies are always so beautiful.

It’s definitely going to be another beauty!  It’s so easy at the beginning, and it’s a long wait until the next Thursday’s instructions - but I know all too well as the rounds get larger, it will be hard to keep up.  (I will most definitely not be timing myself on each round again - ha!)

I’ve decided to use some size 30 thread I have in my stash, along with some of Yarnplayer’s “Parchment” thread I purchased quite awhile ago.  It always takes me awhile to decide what to use my HDT on  :)  It’s always so enjoyable to watch tatters from all around the world working on the same piece in all of their various color choices.

I’ve also made a few squares for the Tat a Brussels Monument project.  I plan to mail 10 pink squares, and look forward to seeing this project come full circle during the World Lace Congress this summer in Belgium.  I can’t imagine stitching together 10,000 squares, but it will be quite a sight.  Many others are sending 50-100 squares - but I’ll be satisfied with completing and sending 10.

Of course, here in Minnesota, there are Superbowl crowds downtown in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.  I”m not a big football fan, but I love the creative events and displays to show off our state.  So many wonderful things going on, but I will watch from home (afar!) I would love to go downtown, but the crowds and parking are better left for the football fans, and those who can tolerate the huge crowds.  AND . . .  it’s snowing like crazy here with temperatures dropping for tomorrow’s big game - good thing the stadium is indoors!

Sewing Complete and Hoarding Thread!

Hooray for Friday!  And it’s a long weekend for me - with the Martin Luther King holiday on Monday.  An extra day to work on hobbies.  Or plan the next project.  Or finish a project in progress. Who knows?  We’ll see.  All I know is I got the supplies!

Yarnplayer’s “Solar Flare” and “Grayscale”

I have been thinking about Marilee’s Grayscale hand-dyed thread, but when I saw the Solar Flare, I decided it was time to revel in some new thread.  So, now that I have it, I need to find the “perfect” thing to use it on.  I can’t decide if I should make earrings, or if I should make a pretty doily with one of these as an accent to white.  Such decisions!  I will hoard it until I decide, ha ha!

I also finished the duffel bag for hubby.  I told him he should be aware of how spoiled he is!

Turned out pretty darned good, I think.  I’m kind of anxious to make another one - for ME.  Not that I need another bag, but because I have just the PERFECT fabric for it . . .

We shall see.  So many projects to consider, and so little time!

AND, we are also beginning the planning for our next Twin Cities Tatters Retreat!  It’s fun to get it started - our retreat center from last year leaves us definitely ready to go again.  Summer sure seems a loonngg way off.

It is -5 F in Minnesota tonite.  I’ll be inside this weekend, doing something!

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!