09.16.09
Tatted bookmark
Just something I’ve been carrying around and working on during ball games, waiting in the car, etc.
It’s not my design; and I couldn’t find the pattern in my file so I had to copy it off an existing bookmark I made many years ago. It’s one of my favorites.
08.12.09
I love fans
The kind that move a breeze, that is! I am a sucker for fan patterns and am likely to buy them whenever I see one. Once upon a time I tatted a mini fan in a variegated black and grey thread. This was before I learned how to hide the ends while I’m tatting, so this little piece is absolutely hidden beneath all the thread ends that need to be darned in. Needless to say that thing is lying in a drawer! Also, the best advice I ever received was to buy the fansticks first and make sure the pattern you choose fits the sticks instead of spending HOURS making the lace and not finding sticks to fit it. I had started the ’s Gravenmoerse fan pattern that I bought last summer, but I was unhappy with the start and decided to cut it off and start over.
In the display room of the IOLI convention, there were many beautiful fans to look at.
01.25.09
Finished Objects
Wow, I’ve never known Startitis to culminate in Finished Objects quite so quickly! Cold days outside make for good knitting and crafting days inside.
Finished my green vest and boy do I love it! I need to put a zipper in, but I couldn’t resist wearing it today anyway. I have a brown zipper, but I want to go to the fabric store tomorrow night and find a green one if possible.
I also made a nice tatted pendant that happens to go well with the new vest. It’s from Boutique Tatting by Marilee Rockley; a book I received from my honey for Christmas. I got the beads at Galena beads and it took me an hour to pick out a handful of beads. I’m hopeless and just agonized over the colors and having just the right beads for the project. I think I’ll get a lot of use out of this pendant. Mom saw it today and suggested what colors she would like to have!
And then I also finished my lace scarf last weekend. I wore it to work one day but forgot to take a photo of it. So, three big projects finished in the space of about 10 days. I finally cast on for Ted’s socks today, but I haven’t gotten my bobbin lace project going yet. That’s next on the list. I also have the beads to make some tatting earrings out of the book and I’m looking forward to making them.
08.20.08
Tatting things I learned at the IOLI convention
I’m finally getting all my bits and pieces unpacked from convention and stopped to take photos of the techniques we sampled in Georgia’s tatting class.
This little shoe pincushion shows some of the different things we did with picots.
We snipped some of the picots open, interlaced them before closing, and made little inverted picots that make the ring look like a heart.
I loved the interlaced picots – that is something I know I will be using in the future.
I also really loved the block tatting. I immediately taught my neighbor how to do it also.
I think I should have used a larger thread to make this little bell pattern go over the glass bell ornament, or at least added a couple more rows to move the blocks further down so they show off more. I’ll probably try that; I do like how the pink shows on the pink ornament!
Here are my bits and pieces:
Block tatting
Interlaced picots
Encapsulation
Oversized picot
I think the whole class had a good time; I know I did. I’m inspired…
08.10.08
More IOLI convention
I started out with the intention of taking lots of photos during the week…I think somewhere after Monday I fell behind on that goal!
Here are some of the fabulous drawing prizes we had. The crazy quilt was absolutely beautiful with pieces of lace from all of us, including the convention logo piece that Janice Blair designed. There were door prize drawings at all the meal gatherings and some of the most special pieces were saved for the banquet on Friday evening.
Monday evening was the Teacher Showcase. This is a great time to meet all the teachers, see their work, and talk with them. As organizers it was extremely helpful a couple of years ago when we were in the planning stages. Many of them teach various techniques. Click on the photos for a larger more detailed view.
This is the work of Jean Leader.
This is the work of Judy Zeiss, she is seated on the right. 
This is the work of Ulrike Voelker.
Galina Khlemeva – knitted lace,
Sylvia Murariu and her Romanian Point Lace,
Susan Wenzel’s ’s Gravenmoerse lace.
One of the fun events was the Tatting Olympics. There were several events – team relay tatting, tatting while walking backwards, two-person tatting (one working the right hand and the other working the left hand), team crossword puzzle, tatting with a bag on your head (or blindfolded). I was glad to take 3rd place in the tatting while walking backward!
IOLI Convention
The convention is over and it was a very busy week. Janice, Jan, Brenda, Kris, and Sylvie all worked really hard and were extraordinarily organized, I thought. It was a great thing to be a part of and I admit there was a little let-down when it was all over with. I hope everyone who attended got home safely. I had show and tell at home with all the things I bought and have already started preparing a pricking so I can get a new pattern going on the pillow.
One of the best parts was connecting with members of the newly chartered Doris Southard Lace Guild. There are a couple in Dubuque who meet regularly and I hope to join them later this month.
I took 2 tatting self-improvement classes with Georgia Seitz. While I didn’t complete many projects I learned so many techniques that are absolutely inspiring. Things I’ve read about but never done like encapsulation and self-closing mock rings. We did great things with picots, see the interlaced picots below. I needed something to rejuvenate my tatting and this class really fit the bill.
The convention started with a welcome by President and Mrs. Lincoln:
More later…
01.12.08
Land of Lincoln Lacemakers
The Land of Lincoln Lacemakers are hosting the annual convention for the International Old Lacers Inc. (IOLI) in August of this year. I have finished the website and you can find the information here:
http://www.landoflincolnlacemakers.com
Please go and look at it…we are offering great classes, vendors, and social gatherings.
