Family Vacation

 We just got back from a wonderful family vacation. I had meant to post a little something while we were gone, but I forgot to ensure I had the password to get into my blog. Oops! I didn't get much tatting done, anyway.

We started our vacation with a visit to an aunt and uncle, at their cabin west of Pueblo, Colorado. It was restful and so quiet! Mostly we just visited on their front porch and watched the critters pass by. They have several hummingbird feeders, which are well used. We also saw deer, squirrels, rabbits, and a lot of birds from the porch. Antelope were around, but only when we drove out to the valley. 

 This is the only tatting I can say I finished while we were gone. I took plenty of thread and shuttles, but time and energy for tatting was in short supply. Time was spent with family, not always doing but a lot of being together. Energy was in short supply after we did get around to doing things.

After a few days in the mountains by Pueblo we headed to Grandby, Colorado, to spend time with our daughters and their families. We arrived a day earlier than they did, so we drove around the area seeing it in June. We've been there a handful of times, but always in the fall. It is so different and green! There is also more water in the rivers and lakes, and snow on the mountains!

This is the view from Hoosier pass. It was getting late by the time we went through but we had to stop for the view and the obligatory picture by the sign.

In Grandby the family had a great time together in a beautiful setting. We played games, went out on the lake in a pontoon to fish, did some easy hiking, and just hung out together. It was fabulous.

One evening we enjoyed s'mores on the patio and a marvelous view. Good times!

Now we are back home in sweltering heat. The temperatures are in the 90's(F), with a lot of humidity. We're not even in the south! And it has rained every day, sometimes for hours, sometimes for just a few minutes. Since last night we got 1.75" of rain, with more expected over the next week. We've been in a drought for three years, but I'm ready for a break from the rain!

I have several tatting projects in mind now we are home for a while. With the temperatures so hot, I am happy to have things to do in the house.

How is your summer? 

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them." Desmond Tutu

Flag Day 2025

 Happy Flag Day!

This is the only flag I've put out today so far. There is a storm moving in and I would have to bring it in anyway. If it clears up later I will fly our big flag on my porch.

"Flag Day is a holiday celebrated on June 14 in the United States. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress." Wikipedia

More Waves

 I wore my blue Wave earrings Sunday morning. They look great!

I am very happy how well they go with my blouse. They are a wonderful accent. 

I made another pair of Wave earrings by CM-Handmade, this time in Lizbeth #671, Christmas red, size 20. I used blue beads and a pearl large bead, so they give a patriotic feel. I had a few issues making these. The thread kept twisting so bad that the large rings were hard to close. I finally figured out what I could do to minimize that, but it was still a pain. The large picot with the pearl is way too large, but I made the second earring the same as the first so they look the pair. I'll probably make another pair and be a bit more careful out that. I don't tat with beads often, which leads me to a this kind of problem.

Muskaan made a suggestion for making the earrings more patriotic, but I haven't tried it yet. It will not be quite as straightforward to make them as the original pattern. I will have to plan well before I start. It's not just the color changes, but the bead placement as well. It does sound intriguing. 

I plan on wearing this pair for Flag Day, which is coming up on June 14. If I don't get lazy, I might even make a pair for each of my daughters. Time will tell.

I have a few more things in line to tat this summer. What do you have planned?

"Women should never go without earrings. Passing on them is an opportunity missed."

Jennifer Lopez

Wave Earrings Done!

 The Wave earrings are done! I look forward to wearing them.

You might remember that I ran out of thread on the second earring. I had debated about starting over or adding thread to finish. I decided that I would add thread and finish what I started, that way I only had to load the remaining beads, instead of all 24. 

I chose Lizbeth thread size 20, color 657, Ocean Turquoise Dark, which matches a color in one of my blouses. This time I thought ahead and chose a color that made sense with my wardrobe. Usually, I just choose a color I like on the ball, not necessarily what works with my clothes. I need to remember this! LOL!

I've been looking at this, a one shuttle pattern, and trying to decide how I could make these patriotic, as Flag Day and Independence Day are coming up soon. The earring thread in white with a large red or blue bead, then the opposite for the little beads. This combination will most likely work with any shirt I wear. Matching blues and reds can be tricky, but if it's just the beads it shouldn't be that much of a problem. 

I've been tatting crosses lately, my Medallion Cross Bookmark, from 2016. I'll share them soon, once I sew in all the ends. Check back later.

"A fun pair of earrings is basically the finishing touch to any outfit; a nice watch is both practical and decorative, while the perfect unique bag is not only eye-catching but also timeless - it can be passed on to future generations." Liu Wen

CWT Project Almost Done

 Before going to Camp Wanna Tat we had homework to do. It was winding shuttles with enough thread to do the different projects. I did that. I didn't plan on making mistakes where I would cut off the thread and start over. Cue the surprise when I didn't have enough thread on my shuttle for the second earring.

This is the "Wave" earring pattern, by CM-Handmade, taught by Theresa Orren. I have admired this pattern for a long time, but I didn't realize this is what we would make when I wound my shuttle with the beads. The directions given told me what pattern it would be, but I didn't realize it was this pattern. I'm glad I had a few miscellaneous beads with me, as the "large" bead I had strung was not very large. It would have been nice to have a little bit bigger bead, but it still looks better than the one I originally strung. I finished the first earring at camp.

But that isn't what caused my biggest issue.

I am an experienced tatter, having learned more than 40 years ago, and tatted a lot since then. This does not mean that I don't make mistakes. Which I did on the first two rings of the first earring. Twice. Bad enough, I had to cut off and start again. Twice. Third time's the charm, I guess. But it did reduce the amount of thread left on my shuttle. Which I forgot when I started the second earring at home.

I'm now debating with myself about starting the earring again, or adding thread on this one. This is a single shuttle pattern with beads on the thread between rings. Do I want to fuss with this? Or just start it over?

Decisions, decisions.

I look forward to wearing these earrings and making a few more in different colors. I'll use different beads next time and make sure I have enough thread for each earring, too.

"Mistakes are the portals of discovery." James Joyce