St. Louis and Back....

Hello dear friends! My oh My have I been Busy, with a capital 'B'!!! On February 16th-18th my fellow Horticulture Students and I went to St. Louis for our spring Field Study. We had a wonderful time and I even got to tat on the bus! I'm working on an antique pattern in Lizbeth red that I think will be a contestant for the Boone County Fair this year. In St. Louis we went to the Botanical Gardens and saw their Orchid Show and got behind-the-scenes tour of their production Greenhouses.
We made 7 stops and each one corresponded with one of the degree majors that Kishwaukee College offers. Our first stop was at Stark Brothers Nursery where we got to see them grafting tree stock for the upcoming season. Fruit and ornamental trees are their specialty. Next was that St. Louis Children's Hospital where we toured their roof-top garden that offered a glorious view of Forest Park in downtown St. Louis. The Botanical gardens were incredible and our tour guide was such a hoot! He's an older guy who has been there for 20-some years and loves tropicals. It was great to get to chat with him and learn more about tropicals and his job. On the 17th we saw Dierbergs floral headquarters and the cooler that they keep their flowers in is half the square footage as our house! It smelled amazing in there! Bellerive Country Club was the stop for the Golf Course/Turf majors. We had an great opportunity to see all the inner-workings of a VERY expensive golf course. I was afraid to touch anything! They have millions invested in equipment and their mowers are HUGE! The last day we were in Missouri, we visited the Nestle/Purina grounds in downtown St. Louis. They have extensive gardens, and trees, paths, and ponds at their headquarters. You can even bring your dog to work and bring Fido outside on your lunch break for a romp in the dog park.
The very last stop of the trip was to Buckley Growers. They have almost 4 acres of greenhouses were the concrete floors are heated and the roof gables will open up on an automated system to cool the houses! It was my favorite because, naturally being a Greenhouse Major, I'd love to work in that kind of environment.
It was amazing!


So even though this post doesn't have a whole lot to do with tatting I thought I would share with ya'll what I've been up too. I'll have pictures of the red antique doily up soon. OH! and I've finished the remake in the soft lime green, size 30 thread! Pictures are on their way! Be on the lookout!
Have a Blessed Sunday everyone!
Allison

Post #90!

WOW! We are ten away from 100 posts everyone!!! How exciting! I've been at this little online journal for over a year now, so one hundred posts a year is not bad at all!

My latest project is just as thrilling! The large, white doily pictured is one of my very first tatted creations in a size 10. Well, a Spring 'Re-Mix' is what I'm going to call this project. I found some lovely light green thread that I think will look nice all tatted up in the same pattern. I've been meaning to start a large doily for a while now and I like the simplicity of this pattern from Be*Stitched.com. So here we are! I'm branching out of 'Lizbeth and trying out some OMEGA size 30. I've finished the first round while watching American Idol with the family and eatin' ice cream. After a big test at school, nothin' could be better!
Catch 'ya later!
Allison

Workin', Workin', Workin'.....

Let's see, it's been a week since my last update and so far I've made 4 variegated bookmarks. They've even got little tassels! 'Too Cute!' my mom says. Two in purple, one in falls colors and one in the 'Caribbean' blues and purples. Currently, I'm working with the spring colors of my last doily. It's looking good so far. But frustrating because I wound my shuttles to full so they don't click. So whenever I let a shuttle hang loose, it unwinds two feet of thread! Yes, my friends I'm OBSESSED with the continuous tread method - I hate hiding ends. : ) But hey, what'cha gonna do?

Also started an antique, red doily. Golly those guys are fun....the instructions are so vague you have to rewrite the entire pattern! Mental tatting exercises. The first part is really cool. The outer part of the circles are tatted later and connected with chains. It's kinda hard to explain so be on the lookout for an update.
See ya!
Al

P.S. I was touring Jane Eborall's pages and have you seen her newest...news I guess you'd call it. For 11 days, one at a time, step by step, she's take you on a wild journey to create a little something special. Here's the link for the Introduction and all I have to say is that I can't wait to give it a try! http://www.janeeborall.freeservers.com/TIASintro.pdf

New Projects

Last night I finished and starched my Easter Doily. I was admiring the colors and thought to myself, if I had to name this one, I would call it 'Ring around the Rosie.' This large doily reminds me of a beautiful, warm and clear spring day....ah, yet with ice EVERYWHERE this morning, I hope that spring isn't be to far off. I just can't wait to get outside and garden. SPRING COME QUICK!!!



This is also a project I finished a week ago. And yes, I admit defeat. I don't have the human strength to block and starch this one. The 'network' (as the book calls it) is all chains and I kinda like the wave effect it has. Maybe I'm just lazy. Who knows?

Tomorrow holds promise for some excitement - all my Horticulture buddies and I are heading out to Chicago for the Mid-American Horticultural Trade show at McCormik Place! We are taking a Coach bus and are pulling out of campus at 8 'o clock sharp. Bon Voyage!!
Allison

Happy Birthday!

For me and my tatting adventures, today is a special day....The one year anniversary of this blog! I was looking back through my old patterns of where I started out and it brought back lovely memories. I took my first tatting class in the last months of 2008 and started this blog the following January. I've come pretty far, if I do say so myself. I've mastered split rings, clunies, and have started messing around with earrings and necklaces. I've also made some wonderful friends and joined a lace guild. I heard a quote some time ago that said 'You never know where you are, until you know where you've been' which rings pretty true to me. I sometimes wonder if I make any progress, whether in school, my tatting or my Faith. Then all I have to do is look where I was a year ago today, two years, even five years back. When I do look back, all I can see is God's sovereign blessings. How He cares for us and I am blessed to be able to find joy in the little things.

So, a hearty thank you to everyone who has taken time to tour my journey here on my blog. We're like family in a way! Speaking of family, a thanks is in order for them as well. Just think, they've endured a year, and then some, of shuttle clicking!! It's sweet in a way because my sister and mom both say that they don't mind it anymore. I sure am grateful for that. So, one year down, how many more will follow? Only the Good Lord knows, but I pray it'll continue for years to come. Blessings on you and yours!

Much love from Illinois,

Allison

The Lines are OPEN!!

I want to try something fun on here...Would all of you wonderful visitors, for one day, comment on this post where you are viewing my blog from? I have a little gadget on my blog that keeps track of where people are viewing my posts from and would love to hear from you.



So what do you say? Can we do it? Just leave a little note where you are from and perhaps a suggestion or two for my tatting blog in 2010!! Thanks for being a part of this little online journey of my for over a year now!
Allison