Latest Project!

A picture today, a post tomorrow!

What to do with scraps???

You know how you'll get all those unwanted leftover threads once you're done with a project? There is still thread wound on your shuttle and well, NOW WHAT? I used a square doily out of my newest book and decided to put those pesky threads to use. The picture is the result so far. Kinda a cute little thing, eh? Once I'm all done I'll block it and use it as a coaster. This has been good practice in joining to make sure the rings and chains all go where they should!
Ta-ta for now!
Allison

Tatting Buddies...

So I feel that I have to share this little adventure with you all. We have 8 cats. Most live outside, except for one house cat, Mocha, who is my special kitty. She doesn't like anyone else in the family, just me; even my sister who picked her out at PetsMart. Anyway, some of the outside kitties come in during the day and when they do they enjoy running around the house and snuggling with us. They are all named and have the most amusing and wonderful personalities...and then there is Sammy. Except we spell it Sami and pronounce it "Zzzami." She is the epitome of a preppy little house cat. She's just this gorgeous silver tabby that constantly has her tail up so high it tends to quiver! So what does this have to do with tatting?? Guess...

Yes. That is a new ball of thread and then Hurricane Sami hit!!! It was perfectly wound up; I had only used it for a few little tid-bits. I came home from work to find this in my tatting bad. My Mother got it away from her before it got TOO bad. Sooooo I believe I'll be starting a doily to try to salvage what I can from this little mess. I laughed, smiled and shrugged it off; It was to typical to something she would do and made me smile. I'm not about to get mad at my newest tatting fan. She's a doll! A hoot! a Joy! Besides, where would we be without the laughter in life?




Have a fantastic week all!
Toodles for now!
Allison

New Goodies!

I got a new book! I had made a few copies from this book about a year ago and really like how old the patterns look. There are almost 100 patterns in this book and I got it for $10!! What a deal! As it turns out, the pattern for the doily that I'll be showing in the Fair is from this book. When I had just started to tat, one of my earliest attempts using two shuttles was a sunflower doily from this books as well. I did a lot of SLT's to get the colors where I wanted so I had to use A LOT of starch for it to lay flat. What fun memories! All from buying a new book!

I also purchased some new white and soft, mint green size 40 threads. That will be fun to play around with (especially with new patterns from my book!) I have my eye on a couple motif/snowflakes that I'll start this week.

I also finished the doily for the baby shower - pics coming soon!
It's finally a warm, sunny day here in Illinois, so I'm headed out to the garden!
Love from the Midwest,
Allison

Thinkin' about the Fair...

Oh dear! It's been a while since I've dropped ya'll a note, but to be truthful, I haven't been able to tat too much. Lately I'm thinking about two projects: my hankie edging for the Boone Co. Fair and a doily for a baby shower that's coming up. A gal I go to school with is expecting a little one soon so she'll get a nice surprise on her shower from me! She has always admired tatting, so I thought I would bless her with a doily that could go in the baby's room. As for the hankie edging, I've picked out a light green, size 30 to decorate a hankie that Sarah gave me. The edges already have holes in them! I won't have to sew it on; I'll be able to attach it as I go! AAhhh, the little luxuries in life.

It was my Birthday yesterday and I was blessed beyond belief this past Memorial Day weekend as well. I am now being courted by the best man I've known. We've been long distance friends for around 10 years and now we're taking the next steps in our relationship. He lives all the way in upstate New York, so we'll have phone dates and continue to write letters. Both our families are sooo very happy for us, especially the mothers, and I don't think I've stopped smiling...oh and my Birthday was wonderful as well! I got two new Iris plants for my garden, a beauutiful apron from my Mom, a fantastic pocket-knife from my Dad, and a handmade notebook from my sister. I love how the gifts in our family are so meaningful and truly reflect how well we know one another.

The weather has been bouncing back and forth from hot and sunny to stormy and chilly. The other day we got 1.25" of rain in an hour! The pumpkins were planted last week for our farm stand in the fall and my family's plant sales are picking up! Us Henze's are starting to turn this farm into a working, hobby farm and it's such a fun journey. Check out our blog here to see what we've been up to!
Well, time flies when you're having fun! I'll catch you all later!
Allison