More shuttles coming

I got 20 shuttles cut out, drilled and routed today. I need to now sand and shape the shuttles. I am using Oak, Maple and Cherry this round. Once I get the shuttles completed I will be opening my Etsy shop. I should have this done on Wednesday. I also will have some hand dyed thread for sale. So excited to get this up and running.
I've been working on emptying my shuttles of existing thread. I'm making little flowers and joining them together to make a spring table covering. I told my hubby that it's going to take 10,000 little flowers to complete my table cover. I really have no idea how many I will need. It's just fun to see my bobbins getting emptied.

New puppy

I  have been away for a few days. I've been taking care of our new puppy. She's so sweet but takes up most of my time. Her name is Zura and she's a blue Pit Bull with white markings. She's getting some fawn coloring as well. She's only 9 weeks old but mostly house broken already. Our  older dog, D'Artagnan and our cat, Popcorn are still a little unsure about her. She's got a ton of energy most days and likes to play.

Water Lily motif

I just completed this motif. It's called Water Lily. I got the pattern from Pinterest from a turkish site. I had to figure out the pattern as it didn't translate well. The pattern is from the book "Tatting Patterns" by Lyn Morton. I must buy this book.

Snowflake design I did for a challenge.

I joined the Tat-It tatting challenge. The first one was to design a snowflake using Josephine knots and to make it more than 2.5 inches long. Here is what I came up with. I actually used a picture from a kalidescope drawing application I have on my tablet to give me a general idea of what my snowflake should look like. I think it turned out pretty good.I see where I could make come adjustments but I like the overall look.  

Pictures from my visit to the Finger Lakes Tatting Conference.
I had such a good time. I got to meet people that I've known only online and I met so many new friends. I feel truly blessed to have gone.

Pictures are: Dyan and I, we finally got to meet, Items I received from my secret angel, one of our class projects, Karey and I, Cynthia, shopping time, Leeanne, me and Mary Anna






Finger Lakes is this week

I am so excited that the Finger Lakes Tatting Conference is this weekend. I am almost ready to go. I have my shuttles loaded for each class. I have all the addresses written out that I will need to get me everywhere I am going - hotel. store, winery, location of conference.
I still need to get my "Secret Angel" gift ready. I am just not sure what to do there.
I have to bake brownies for Friday night's pot luck and get my Saturday evening dinner ready.
Packing my suitcase will be easy.
The last major thing I need to do is to decide which vehicle I will be taking. Decisions, decisions, decisions.
Here is the link to the conference: http://www.fingerlakestatting.com/

Visit from the owner of The Woodshop Customs

Shawn and I had a great weekend. Our son, Nathaniel came home for a quick visit yesterday and left today. He's the Owner and CEO of "The Woodshop Customs". He makes all kinds of wooden products, but his main product is plaques and paddles for Fraternities and Sororities. (sorry if I spelled them wrong). He's got an amazing mind for woodcrafts and is an Archetict by degree.

We bought a new car a couple weeks ago and gave him Shawn's old car. It's nice to be able to help our kids and save them some money. Nate needed a new car so it all worked out perfectly.

Nate evaluated our set up for woodworking and gave us a few pointers on how to make our area more effecient and strongly advised that I mount my scroll saw on a table because it vibrates when I use it. He likes what we are doing so that makes me feel good that a pro woodworker was OK with how I am working.

He left a while ago with a huge smile on  his face, driving away in his "new to him" car. It's nice to be able to see our kids when they get the chance to come visit.

More Hand Dyed Thread done.

Phew,
24 more 50 yard skeins of thread got dyed today. They are going with me to Finger Lakes to share with my fellow tatters. My hubby asked why I keep dying thread in verigated colors instead of single color threads. I just think that verigated thread is so much more fun to tat with. I did dye some thread for myself as well. I see a few doilies in some of the thread.

It took me 2 hours to dye and cure the thread in the microwave.

I'm hoping to be able to put some on Etsy to sell for a few $ to recoup some of my money along with my shuttles.

Speaking of shuttles, I am getting really good at making them. I've tried to streamline the process and have decided that I got a good routine down. No shuttles made today, but tomorrow I will try to complete 5 more.

Well off to tatting land for me.

10 days to Finger Lakes

I am getting excited that 10 days from now I will be on my way to New York to attend the Finger Lakes Tatting Conference.
I am getting ready for it by making shuttles, dyeing thread, preparing my shuttles for the classes I am taking, and planning what extra stuff I am bringing. I know that I have been planning this trip for a while - ever since I saw a reference on a tatting group site about it, (I think December). So anyway, now that it's almost here, I am getting giddy.
Shawn offered to let me take the new car because of the gas mileage. Not sure if I want to drive the Mustang up there. I am so comfortable in my Flex, but man that Mustang is sweet. Pros for the Flex are  - lots of room, Sirus radio, a fridge in the car, a 110 power outlet, built in Nav system. Pros for the Mustang are - pretty sweet ride, fast, MUSTANG, good gas mileage. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions. I won't make the decision until just before I leave.
Well, back to work getting HDT done.

International Tatting Day

Happy International Tatting Day.
Today is not only April Fools Day, It's International Tatting Day, I guess it's approperate since most of us that tat are fools. That's why we have an association: Nuts About Tatting Association.
I stepped away from tatting for a while due to work and other obligations. I am so happy to have picked up my shuttles and thread again. Happy to the point that I am not making shuttles, going to tatting conferences and even selling my thread and shuttles that I have made myself. I am also still teaching young people to tat and keep our wonderful craft alive.