It's Coming Along!

I'm so happy! It's coming along and coming together, MOSTLY like I would like. You see, I don't often get as far as this. I usually mess up WAY before this. :-) So, I need to work on my sewing in ends and I REALLY need to figure out how to climb out of rows. It obviously needs blocking and it's only 4 rows out of (hopefully) 14, but here's what I have so far!

Rounds 1 and 2 completed. If you scroll down (or back), you'll see I've gotten this far before. This was as far as I've ever gotten.

Just a little closer.

Row 3, completed! Had to start this one with a chain, never done that before. :-) Gotta work on sewing in my ends though.

Row 4, done! Ya!!! It will REALLY need blocking, badly, I have some wonky parts that didn't turn right, but this is a work in progress, something to stretch me. Can't wait to get more done!

Here We Go Again

We went to the States for Thanksgiving. My brother came back from Afghanistan for good at the end of September and requested that we all be together for Thanksgiving. We were happy to oblige. It's been 8+ years since we were in the States for Thanksgiving.
  While we were there I got a lot of tatting done. I don't have a lot to show for it though. :-( I tried 4 or 5 TIMES to do that Glass Mat by Mary Konior, the one Lace Lovin' Librarian does so well. I have yet to make that right. The pattern is my nemesis! I will come back to it someday, but for now, I have moved on.

This is the first round of Mary Konior's Hostess Set: Centerpiece. I tried it before, got the stitch count wrong on the second row and put it down. I am starting again. I will pay MUCH more attention this time and try getting past there and being able to start the third row on a chain will be a challenge, but I look forward to learning new things. We'll see how it goes. I will not be beaten though! :-) Hoping to update again much sooner than before. Don't you love my shuttle?! I do! I also love my winding stick. Frivole makes the most beautiful tools!!! Looking forward to the new one!

Getting Back To It

I've been absent for a while. We homeschool 3 of our 4 children and that's been keeping me busy. We have a 6th, 3rd and 1st grader this year along with a 3.5 year old! We do weekly nature walks and that leaves little time for crafting. I tried starting a snowflake a couple of nights ago, but I missed my join! I couldn't believe it. I'm going to be trying again soon and hoping to make an order of some thread soon! I can't wait!
  My husband's grandmother passed away yesterday, so we'll be heading to the States to see his parent's on Friday. The memorial service isn't until the last week of the month, hoping the logistics of that get worked out easily.
  Hoping to post photos of something that actually worked out soon!

Been Busy and I have a problem....

Alright, so here it is. I got as far as you've seen on the pink doily, but then I realized as I was attempting to start the third row and noticed two things. First, I can't figure out how to start a round with a chain! So, I need to figure that out. Second, I did the second row WRONG!! You'd think I'd have learned after the bowl fiasco, but no, I didn't learn anything apparently. I made only 2 picots per chain instead of 3!!!! So, I started again with an even BETTER color choice, it looked great! and then I ruined it and have started over again. Hopefully tonight I'll pick it up again and get it far enough along to take pictures.

2 down, 12 to go!

I've gotten the second round of my doily done. Only 12 more to go! I really like the way it's turning out so far.

1st Round Done!

FINALLY!! The first round of my doily is DONE!! It's the Hostess Set from Mary Konior's Tatting Patterns. I'm using two colors (obviously) for it. Mostly because I don't have two balls of ANY color. Hoping to start the second round today!

Biopsy On My Arm Today

I have a lump on my arm. They are pretty sure it's just a fatty tumor. It's quite large. The dermatologist said it's one of the biggest he's seen. He recommended a biopsy just to be on the safe side. So, today I had it biopsied. He said they were going to have to go quite deep because of the size of the tumor and they did. My arm was frozen (well, that part of my arm) and they took a decent size bit out of it and closed it with three stitches. I was doing fine till I looked after only one stitch was in it! Then I got sweaty and clammy and my blood pressure dropped.... I recommend NOT looking into open wounds like that on yourself. :-)  Starting tomorrow, I have to clean it twice a day with salt water and put Rx strength antibiotic ointment on it and change the bandage. I can't take baths or sit in hot tubs and it is recommended to cover it before getting into the shower. I do this for 2 weeks and then go on July 25th to get the stitches out and the results of the biopsy. My arm is quite sore at the moment, so I'm not sure how much tatting on my fantastic doily I'm going to get done tonight.
  On another note, Tuesday is my little Aurora's 8th birthday!! My parents are coming up from Pa tomorrow night and staying till Wed. morning! Can't wait!!! I'll try and take pictures of my tatting soon though, in progress. I have high hopes for this doily!!!