nuntium centesimum quinquagesimum quintum - This is still a tatting blog

I've really been working on the Quatrain runner.  It's such a wonderful pattern.  I love when the design is so elegant that it lays correctly as you make it!  But progress on a runner made of the same motif over and over makes for dull blogging.
So, on a different note, today was The Neighborhood Block Party(note the capital letters).  This is an extreme event which starts around 3:00pm and goes until midnight.  Every year, we make the same thing- bruschetta.  Here are some pictures of this year's offering.

Yum! I think this is the 19th year. And now- back to the Quatrain.

nuntium centesimum quinquagesimum quartum - surprise!

Imagine my surprise yesterday when there were two women intently gazing at my front garden.  They had clipboards and were conferring seriously.  My courageous husband (on the scaffolding again) finally asked them what they were doing.

Wow!

Apparently one of my neighbors or nearby nominated our front garden!  I was SO surprised.  We garden and enjoy it but are rank amateurs for sure.  But I'm thrilled that someone enjoys it enough to nominate us.

Here are some pictures that younger daughter took for me this morning.

And I got three motifs done for the Quatrain last night too!

nuntium centesimum quinquagesimum tertium - sale

We had a little "Art Fair" at the pavilion on the lake.  Here in the Twin Cities there are many lakes and this was the one closest to our home.  It was a gorgeous day with great weather, a lovely venue, live music and good company.  The girls and I shared two tables with my sister too.  Every one left happy if not staggeringly rich.
Here's my part of the display:

The dreamcatchers were NOT the big hit I thought they might be but the little notecards in the front were! Several men commented on the Christmas tree being untimely but the women had no problem with buying snowflakes.
There was a lot of "that's too hard to do" and "My (female relative) tatted".  It's always fun to hear the stories.  Although I'm never quite sure what to say to the "too hard" comment.  One woman was surprised at the variety of things one can make with tatting.  That made me chuckle as I always feel I'm so mundane compared to others.
And one woman told me that her mother (who lives in rural MN) loves to tat and has a collection of shuttles so I directed her to La Cossette for the truly lovely stuff.

Now back to the Quatrain! (And painting the dining room and prepping for the new French textbook and making pizza crusts and redoing the 6th grade curriculum and reading books, and, and, and...)

nuntium centesimum quinquagesimum secundum- Fox to the rescue!

So, I was worried about that giant feather with the teeny dreamcatchers.  Thank goodness for Fox since I can't think outside the box.  (sheesh, I sound like Dr. Seuss)  She suggested beads!
Tada!

Ancient thread from Aunt Rose, size 80

And here are two more dreamcatchers as pendants.  I wonder if they'll sell.

Grape Splash and Sea Green DK

And in other news but still crafty, my elder daughter has been making steampunk jewelry.  She's hoping to sell it on Sunday but is unsure if people will like it.  I think it's wonderful!

pendant- less blurry in real life

pin/brooch

pendant

pendant

nuntium centesimum quinquagesimum primum- dreamcatcher solution

My younger daughter requested a dreamcatcher like her sister's.  When I'd finished, I gave it to her and she gave me one of those incredulous looks that only a teenager can create.

"Where's the tassel, Maman?"
"I thought you wanted a pendant like your sister's."

The look.

"So, you'd like another bookmark?"
"Well, yes." (The "duh" was implied.)

Blue ice, size 20 (does it count as a different motif since the count changes each time?)

And lest I make her sound horrible, she gave me a huge smile and hug and gushed about how much she liked it later.

I liked it so well, I made three more!

Herbal Garden, Blue Ice, Blue River Glades all size 20

What tickles me the most is that #1 daughter is the reader.  (She blew through Storm Front yesterday- I think that was Karen who got me on Harry Dresden.) Even though I've made her several bookmarks, she just shoves whatever is nearby into whatever book she's reading.  Typically she reads them so fast, she doesn't need a bookmark.

#2 daughter, who now has a dreamcatcher bookmark, would rather be outside or socializing even though she does read.

Aren't kids funny?

I'm still of two minds about the little dreamcatcher- it's awfully "cute" but I'm not sure about the feather.

nuntium centesimum quinquagesimum - too small?

Well, is it too small for the feather?  Size 80 thread and the ring is small enough for an earring (according to the fashion mavens in my house who are both under 21).  Thank you again, Sue for the tutorial!!!

What do you think?

nuntium centesimum undequinquagesimum- Dreamcatchers

So, off of my "designing" kick, I finally had the nerve to try something I've been wanting to do for a year! My daughter loves Dreamcatchers and after I saw the lovely ones on Tatting Lace in Grace, I asked for help on how to make them.  Most graciously, she made a tutorial for me!
I'm so pleased with the results!

1st effort- Herbal Garden Lizbeth #20  MOTIF #25!

Blue Ice for my other daughter

Both girls said they were too big for earrings so #1 is going to be a pendant and tomorrow I'll show you what #2 asked for.

Minnesota is truly the land of extremes- very cold winters but oh, the summers!  My lovely tatting spot (the patio) is so wonderful right now and the hibiscus has gone crazy.

And in a surprise move, my wonderful husband took me to get more plants and we found jasmine for only $10.  It will never survive the winter and usually it's so outrageously expensive, I can only sniff it at the garden shop.

After he put it in the pot, it went to the patio.  I tatted both dream catchers right by it!

nuntium centesimum duodequinquagesimum -I'm no designer

 Thought I would try my hand at designing after I saw this lovely bracelet at http://maryshandmade.blogspot.it/2014/06/bratara-in-culori.html.  

No good.  Sigh