Progress

I am making progress on the Mary Konior Flowerpiece doily.  The pattern seems pretty straightforward and easy to follow - and I think I'm getting more confident in my tatting ability.

I was concerned that I couldn't get the chains very even, so I tried to be very conscious of my tension.  Improvement is always possible, but I am pretty happy with how the chains look.

The only thing I really wish I would have done is put Jane's "blipless join" to use on the chains. I don't like seeing those little blips!  Otherwise, I'm really quite thrilled at how this doily is looking.  And I do like the look of ecru thread with a color accent :) 

Being successful at a doily that I truly think looks nice and neat really makes me much more interested in trying more patterns. I really recognize the new confidence when I find myself saying "I should have" or "it would look better if".  Doily patterns are not looking so daunting anymore.

Next is a hanky edging - with beads!  I am forcing myself to finish this doily before starting anything else, however.  I really don't like having too many unfinished projects waiting for me - it's just too overwhelming!

Parasols?

I'm not sure why I was keeping these, but it was hard to finally decide to take them apart.  Silly to keep them, I know, but they were kind of cute.

A craft project of sorts.  My aunt gave them to me with some other hankies that had crocheted edges - she just knows I like these things, so she saves them for me.

For each parasol, there was a hanky wrapped around a pencil for the handle.  Then one hanky for the parasol part, stuffed with rolled up kleenex/toilet paper for filling.  The edges were pinned tightly into the hanky handle around the stuffed areas.  The tip had a little thread wrapped around it, and one of them had a ribbon handle. Very simple and cute!  I can only wonder if they were made for something special or just a cute little craft.

With all of the hanky tatting I've been seeing lately, I couldn't resist taking these apart to be able to see the hankies!  

I was happy to find them in good condition, and washed and ironed them up.  The only color for edging that seems appropriate to me is RED. Now I just need to find some spare time to tat some edges :)

A Great Find

My Mom happened across this great tatting find, and snapped it up for me. I rarely see any tatting in antique shops, and certainly none as wonderful as this set. When I unrolled this, I couldn't believe it!  The set is beautiful, and is hours of someone's embroidery and tatting. 

The tatting is with teeny-tiny thread, and lays nice and flat.  I have not tried tatting with anything smaller than size 40 thread, so this is just amazing to me.  I can barely see the stitches with my bifocals! 

What a great find!  I just don't know where to put it. Other than framing, any good ideas on how to display beautiful linens?

Since I showed winter photos into April, here are some spring shots - finally! 

The tulips that didn't get eaten by the deer:

Clouds during a thunderstorm/tornado warning last night:

And an Oriole arrived today.

They don't stay long, but they are beautiful to see and have a beautiful song:

No . . . I need another day!

Is it really Monday tomorrow?  Dang - I've been on a roll! 

I finally got a start on the Flowerpiece doily from Mary Konior's Tatting With Visual Patterns. (OK, I got more than one start.)

Took me a few tries to get it right.  The pattern is quite simple, it's my brain that didn't comprehend an extra picot and join from the diagrammed pattern.

Once I read the instructions and followed the pattern correctly, I got the center done.  Whew!  I really do make things difficult sometimes.

I'm using an ecru Cebelia size 20 for the main motifs, and I've started on the chains in Lizbeth size 20 "Mountain Breeze".  I really like using beautiful colored threads as an accent vs. an entire doily, so  "ecru" is not a swear word for me.  (Hate to admit it, but I know and use plenty of others anyway.)  I'm liking the look so far.



My plan is to continue the next 4 rounds of chains in the Mountain Breeze, and then do the final round of motifs in ecru again. 

On top of the tatting, I've been sewing like a madwoman this weekend. Again.  You know those bags I love to make? And the large purses that are so popular? Well, stuff ends up in the bottom of the bag, and I hate digging for everything. I started putzing around trying to come up with a purse organizer, and eventually found the perfect pattern. (Lazy Girl Designs.)  I met up with some friends on Saturday, and everyone agreed that a purse insert is a necessity!  So, these will make some purses smile:

My life is much easier with the contents of my purse organized and ready to move to the next bag at a moment's notice.

Need. Longer. Weekends.

A Special Mother's Day

I spent Mother's day with both my Mom and daughters.  I can't believe my youngest is now a college graduate!  A special day, indeed.