Sue Anna's Blog

A Tatting Angel

2012-02-14T18:11:00.000-08:00

Gina and Marilee.

It is with a sad heart that I say the Heavens have another angel tatting and watching over us. I received an email from Jane Eborall on the untimely death of Gina Brummett aka Tatting Goddess.
I only met her once last June at Lace Days in Downers Grove. She was gracious, encouraging, and a great lady. I enjoyed our email chats and all her comments on my blog. My prayers are with her family at this time. Gina, I will miss you and your beautiful smile.

My New Years With Jane Eborall's TIAS.

2012-02-11T07:08:00.000-08:00

For several January's Jane Eborall has run a fun tatting game called "Tat It And See" TIAS. Blog here . And many, many people from all over the globe play. I have played for three years and was completely stumped by this years. It wasn't until day 8 that I knew. As we don't know what it will be some color choices are very interesting, mine included.

The process is always the same, bug Jane when are you going to start, choose thread and beads(this process can take a week for me I change my mind several time) choose which shuttles to use (wood color and type that is) and wait for directions on how many shuttles, how many beads, if any, and when first day comes! Below are my pictures as it came to life!

In the beginning it looks like it could be anything.

Then we know it is square, but what is it??!!

The plot thickens.

At this point I know.I call him Billy Goat Gruff.

And here is my Mark the Billy Goat Gruff!
Jane thank you so much for the game. It was great to read others guesses and see their work.
Next time I have to tell you the update on the tale of the shuttles! *Sigh* You might loose faith in the postal system somewhat, though. Until next time( and not so long).

Passing of a friend

2011-11-29T04:07:00.000-08:00

sideways Oz

I uncovered my birds Monday morning and found Ozzy had passed during the night. His buddy Harry misses him and so do I. He was only 4 1/2 years old and the only clue anything was wrong is he didn't eat and was very quiet. So not like him. I believe there is a place in Heaven for pets that the angels watch them and play with them. Bye Ozzy you where loved and will be greatly missed.

October birthday Celeberties!

2011-10-05T07:29:00.000-07:00

The fall is a beautiful time of the year in Northern Illinois. Before the grey snow, ice and bare trees the Midwest dazzles us with the beautiful colors of the fall leaves. There are cooler temps and fewer misquotes so you can go for a walk and actually enjoy it! It is also the time of the year for the birthdays of two super stars in my book, Jane Eborall and my daughter-Becki! Surprisingly they are a day apart! (OK there are a few years difference in their ages too- lol)
Happy birthday to all the super stars born in October!
Then there is my tatting round robin. I finished my round, blocked it and have it ready for the next person.


Round 4 on the 4th doily I have done!

I seem to have a theme with rings and chains. lol. But I think it works and it sets a good foundation for the last two rounds. I think I see doilies more traditional so this has been good for me. I need to learn to think outside the box!
Now I know Yarnplayer has mentioned her new book available from Annie's Attic, well they have it on the web site as coming soon ! I am excited and it does look like a great book to add to my tatting collection,the web site ishere. Check it out! Anyone who has met Marilee or done any of her patterns knows her jewelry is unique and beautiful! Her patterns can be a challenge sometimes, but the result is worth it!
Well happy birthday Jane and happy birthday tomorrow Becki! :)

A Shuttle's Tale!

2011-09-28T19:29:00.000-07:00

original packet

Let me tell you a tale that started over a month ago across the pond. Sweet little shuttles were egarly awaiting to go to their new "mom" and be lovingly put to good use. Their "aunt Jane" kissed them good bye and put them in their mailer for their journey.(" Oh yes we were so happy, but the packet was dark. Aunt Jane told use it wouldn't be long and we would be at our new mommy!!!") Alas poor shuttles huddled together in their cold dark packet waited, and waited put they sat on a shelf in some sorting office. Then they found themelves not with their new home but back with their Aunt Jane with all sort of scribbles on their packet like not a small packet, not enough postage and it needed to go back to Canada. Canada? Yes Canada. Someone in the sorting office must think UK and USA and Canada are the same place. So sweet Aunt Jane put them in a new packet and sent them on their way . ("And we hope we make it to our new home soon") And now we wait.
Yes the shuttle tale continues only time will tell.
On a tatting note I did my 3rd round of our round robin. Pic below. I have never done these before and it takes a little design challege that I am learning as I go. I keep telling myself this suppose to be fun. It is and very educational.


Third round of round robin.

On a personal note my sister in law has been home for almost a month and does therapy 5 days a week. She is talking great and still has a little swallowing issue. Her balance gets better every day. She can walk with a little help and does stairs. We feel she will make a full recovery. Thanks for all the prayers! Until next time. :)

Life Happens

2011-08-27T12:58:00.000-07:00

Like Diane (lace lovin librarian) I have had school start and have been busy with that. Also I have had a little tragedy hit my own family. Nothing severe but enough to shake up my life some. My sister in law who is very active and in great shape suffered a mild stroke while running in a 10k race. She is doing better but it is hard on her young family and us. As you can see by the picture her girls are adorable, but they are lively!


The Scribner girls!

The youngest one is 3 and does not understand why mommy isn't there when she wakes up in the morning. The next youngest started kindergarten this year and the oldest middle school.
Life will change for everyone when mommy does come home, but I have faith she will be completely healed. It is only going to take time!
On a tatting note I am working on several things. Below I did and wrote down my center for the doily and made a snowflake out of it. I did it in 'Rhubarb Pie' size 20 by Marilee aka Yarnplayer.


Motif center.

I changed the stitch count on this version and it is too close to the start of one of Jon Yusoff's patterns that I don't feel comfortable writing it down here to share without talking to her first. That is fair to her and me. I don't need to make enemies with anyone.
I am helping a friend with her pattern and need to work a little harder this week on it. It has been fun to do. Hope to get back to her next week with all my comments.
So this has been the week of break downs too. Son's car died just helped out with buying new car. Ouch. My car needs to be replaced so does husbands. It is like when it rains it pours. lol.
Oh well it all works out in the end.


New motif that I am to do 3rd round.

So here is a pic of my next project. I get to design the third round for this doily. I'm thinking maybe a little Celtic thing with it . We shall see. Well time to run :)

Summer break nearing end. :(

2011-08-09T07:26:00.000-07:00

Well I go back to work in one week, what happened to summer break? Ok so I worked 5 weeks of it, got to participate in my first Pioneer Days in Kenosha, met some tatting 'Godesses' (Diane-Lace loving librarian, Gina-Threads of a tatting Godess), went to my first Lace days, road trip to Cincinnatti for the day with Diane to meet up with Jane Eborall, had visit from Alaskan daughter, did the fair and actually did some tatting!!


My first 'spinning wheel' in Autumn Spice.

One of the pieces I worked on May into June was the 'Spinning Wheel Mat' from Mary Konior' s "Tatting With Visual Patterns". The book doesn't tell you that you need two shuttles or that you switch shuttles to do the end turn rows. Diane and I had a discussion about that. What you can't tell unless you look close is all the cut and ties. Until I figured the pattern, there are several. My second one I am still working on( that Jane unpicked my boo boos on) is still not done. There are not a lot of cut and ties ( decided to unpick) just where I had to join more thread.


My part of the round robin piece for Lighthouse Lacers.

The next project I had was to design a second round for a motif we are doing a round robin in my lace group. The center was done by Barb Gorden a very talented lace maker and lady who is working with me on learning bobbin lace. (Oh yeah I'm learning bobbin lace this summer too!) My round I did in Lizbeth 'Easter Eggs' size 20. The color is darker in appearance than it actually is. I need to write down what I did. I am going to suggest we each send a sheet with the pattern so we can each have a copy of all the finished round robins.
Summer has gone by and fall with more mild temperatures will be quickly behind. Once again all my good intentions of cleaning, exercising and weeding have fallen to the way side. Oh well before long there will be snow covering the weeds, winter break to be ambitious about cleaning and tomorrow to get up early and exercise.(ha ha)
As a post script: the disturbed lady from earlier post broke off all my raspberry plants so no more raspberries this year. I will have to go in and mow down to 4" so next year than can come up again. It took me 4 years to get my plants to be were there are now. And this was a good year for berries! Ugh! Life is always exciting at my house. :)

We are having a heat wave!

2011-08-03T15:33:00.000-07:00

Anyone who lives in the Midwest know heat and humidity = awesome sweet. At the rate we have had our latest run on high heat index days we should have bushes and bushes of lovely sweet corn. lol. I do not have air conditioning except in the bedroom, so the heat slows me way down. To do anything strenuous means total wipe out and end up in the bedroom to bring core temp. down. But it hasn't stopped me from working on my tatting.


My motif for Lighthouse Lacers.

So my lace group (Lighthouse Lacers) is doing a tatting round robin. This is my entry. Jane made a suggestion since it starts with SCMR in doing a SR for the last ring . I haven't tried it that way since the motif would make a cute snowflake. I do have to give credit to Jon Yusoff for the center as it is inspired by her snowflake. And since it is similar to hers I don't think I can share a pattern for it legally as she has it published in "Tatted Snowflakes".
I have a very nice one that when I get my row done I'll share, until than anyone with a connection with the powers that be to cool the temps down please help! lol :)

Life's surprises!

2011-08-01T11:08:00.000-07:00

We are not hermits but can be close to it. Our house sits about 200 feet from the road surrounded by tall trees. You really can't see us from the road and we like it that way. We have three entrances to our driveway which is tree lined so you have to come around the bend of the driveway to see the house. People walking by who haven't been here have no idea that we are here. So when strangers pull into the yard it takes us by surprise and them too. ( I can tell when people drive up and they usually get met somewhere up the driveway). Ok we like our privacy . To continue with my story: Saturday my son was outside in the yard picking up his tools. He had just finished working on a friends car. A woman with a cat carrier(cockatoo inside) and a small dog walk up to him and asks if she could hide in our woods to hide from her ex boyfriend who was a cop.( there is about 4 acres of woods surrounding the property). Of course my son said no. He watched her leave or so we thought. He finished his clean up and didn't think anything about.
At 4 am the next morning my daughter came into our room and said she just got a text from my hubbie's phone. (see our spare room 'luxury accomidations' for guests)


The spare room.

My hubbie got up to look for his phone. No phone anywhere(he forgets it in his car all the time.) So he and Bec took the camping lantern out to his car, as my daughter hung back she heard her father yell 'What are you doing in my car!' The questionable woman was in his car sitting with her dog. Yeah that did not go over well. She plead with him not to call the police and took off thru the woods toward the road. My husband checked to make sure everything was ok with his car. He locked it and my car came in and went back to bed.
Sunday goes on and husband stays home from church to make sure the lady does not come back. Son and husband have to go outside for some reason and my son turns around and finds the lady asleep in the grass by my raspberry bushes! Police are called and when they finally get here she is still asleep. Apparently she has been on the police watch list for some time because she has a mental illness and there hadn't been enough to commit her.( not enough complaints so the police were grateful to us calling so she could get the help she needs!) Are we in the twilight zone??!! Or what?? At least all ended well.
So this morning Becki was to fly back this morning. She came out with two pieces of luggage and left with three more so she could take good Illinois corn home.
We are going on the tollroad and the car starts driving funny-flat tire and no jack! Quick call to son. He rescues us and hubbie and Bec are off to the airport-she made it with one minute literal to spare. Good thing her flight left late! Murphy's law what can I say.


Becki and Jim the Bee Whispers!


Jane's hexagon mat!

So I am closing with a few fun pictures. One of hubbie and daughter after checking our bees(yum home grown honey!) and a small sample of Jane's completed mat! So when life gives you those little speed bumps just smile and be happy you have good family and friends to be there for you-and of course tatting! :)

Lake County Fair And Presents!

2011-07-30T07:39:00.000-07:00

To say I crammed a lot into one week is an understatement. So Wednesday my daughter flew in from Alaska for her last big adventure before her work starts up . So she decided to visit to go to the fair and take home sweet corn. And there is nothing like Midwest corn! So on the way home it started to rain and plan b got put into play.


Beck and Bill at Fred's

So a quick stop to one of our favorite diners to have a great breakfast. After Fred's it stopped raining so off to the fair!


Bill with a pork chop on a stick .

We saw the piggies, the bunnies, the chickens, sheep, cows, and goats. After the livestock it was time to go inside for air conditioning and the exhibits. My youngest son Bill meet us there and had his traditional chop on a stick. He loves to 'ham' it up for the pictures. lol.
After 4 hours I was faired out( and broke).
That was Wednesday. Two aspirin a short night and I was on my way to Diane's and Cincinnati.


Lovely brooch that Jane gave me.

And we heard from both me and Diane how Thursday went. Isn't that a lovely brooch I received from Jane. Diane took the blue one.( of course)
Friday I spent the day shopping with Becki ( broke again lol). We went to a shoe store and Lane Byrant. It was nice to find clothes that fit for this full figured gal! So by Friday night I was falling asleep in the chair lol. Way too much fun I guess.
Today it is more shopping with Becki( food shopping this time). Find time when all three of my children can get together again. It is always nice when that happens. And more extended family time. We never know when Becki will have the time or money to come down to the lower 48. Well time to get going! Ta Ta for now.

Meeting of the Minds!!??

2011-07-29T05:23:00.000-07:00


Presents from Diane.

First let me say I did not die nor have I any real good excuse why I haven't posted for so long. I can say I have had a busy summer. With that said I say that on July 22nd we had the first meeting of the minds when Marilee Rockley (aka Yarnplayer) and I meet up with Diane Cademartori (lace loving librarian) at an Oasis on the Illinois Toll road. Gifts where exchanged, many laughs and a lady had to ask what we where doing. Then she said 'I thought that was tatting'. That was a great time and it was so great to get to know Diane and Marilee better.
But wait for it! The next best day of the summer was Diane and I drove to Cincinnati Ohio to meet up Jane Eborall truly one of the greatest minds in tatting! All I can say it was like we where friends always. Jane is such a sweet, funny and talented person! She sounds in person just like she does on her blog!
Ok yes I did take pictures, and will share. We spent six hours talking tatting , solving and learning. Jane even took my work and unpicked my mistakes lickity split. All the time telling me oh I love to unpick mistakes. She was so willing to show and share!
Diane showered us with more gifts and I gave her one of my pop a bobbin shuttles.


Diane, Jane and me.


Jane Eborall and her beautiful mat!

Doesn't it look like I had fun! I did!


Marilee from the 22nd.

So wish Marilee could have joined us I know she would have loved Jane. She was missed from Diane, Jane and my adventure!
Tatters are truly the nicest people!

What happened to Spring???!!!

2011-04-20T19:53:00.000-07:00

It seems like winter has come back! Woke up Monday to 1" snow on the ground. The last few days have been rainy, windy and in low 30's. My poor sinuses and Sunday is our big Easter program and my voice is getting froggy.Instead of Alto I'll be signing Bass!lol Mother Nature can't make up her mind. Last week we had 90 degrees on Sunday!
I thought you would enjoy a pic of a traffic stopper my daughter sent me.


a traffic stopper in Anchorage!

You don't see one of these every day in Illinois! But it is common place in Anchorage. Oh yeah, so are the bears!(Don't go alone and don't forget your gun!)
Now I have to brag about my friend I have been working with on tatting!


Lindsay working on Helen Bailey's Celtic Egg Pattern

Now Lindsay was originally taught to tat by her Grandmother when she was 6 years old. But she hadn't picked up a shuttle for a long time. We have been working together for about 8 months and Lindsay has mastered many techniques. This piece is tatted in size 20 Lizabeth thread. The pattern is off Georgia Sietz's web site and by Helen Bailey. Sorry no URL address, I have trouble getting to Georgia's site and usually google it.
I think Lindsay has done great so far and is by far a faster tatted than me! She hopes to get it done for Easter.
Weather hope continues as temps are suppose to get to 60 by the weekend. Of course we've been lied to before. lol :)

Happy Tatting Day!

2011-04-01T20:25:00.000-07:00

'Celery' and 'Rhubarb Pie' in size 20. Pattern from 'Workbasket'

Hope everyone had a great day wearing tatting, eating chocolate and tatting! My friend Lindsey worked on a very new techniques with her. We had wonderful Dove chocolate and I taught her Teri Dusenbury's folded join(or not really folded) and the Catherine Wheel join. Yarnplayer has a great video on the Catherine Join and Jane Eborall had a link to Teri's folded join. The picture is a pair of earrings using Teri's method for doing the last ring without a twisted picot!
The black thing the earrings are on is my new magnifier. It has two magnifications and is wonderful for seeing those small stitches for sewing in ends. It was a Hobby Lobby find and am sorry to say I use it a lot!
So Happy Tat Day and keep those shuttles and needles going!

Lighthouse Lacers' display.

2011-03-05T20:20:00.000-08:00

The month of March at the Kenosha Northside Library the Lighthouse Lacers are displaying several items of different handmade lace. We have Hardanger, Bobbin, Needle and Tatting laces displayed. Marilee Rockley (aka Yarnplayer) has a lot of her own designs on display. There are several pieces that where made for me by Jane Eborall( sorry I didn't have anything of mine to display this time.). Tatting is very well represented! Enjoy the pictures I took on my iPhone. Click on pics so you can see the beautiful detail of the work.


The vest is Hardanger, the earrings/necklace set Bobbin lace.


The green necklace is Marilee's. The butterfly I believe to be Bobbin as is the piece in the frame.


Several more Marilee necklaces, a practice doll that has tatting on it and another Bobbin lace with some bobbins.


This wall hanging was made by Silvia (?). She Bobbin laced this. You really need to click on it an see just how beautiful it is!


And last we have Needle, Tatting and more Bobbin lace. See the butterfly and seahorses, guess who (Jane E.) made them!

I hope you enjoy the pictures. Janet, Trish,Jim(Janet's husband) and I had fun creating this display. If you are in the Kenosha area visit the Library at 1500 27th Street, Kenosha, Wis.
Next Saturday the 12th from 1-3 pm members of the Lacers will be demonstrating different techniques.
On another note I did finish my TIAS! It is on Jane's TIAS blog. It was one of 80 Jane Airlines to 'fly' in.

Surprise package in the mail!

2011-02-09T15:45:00.000-08:00

Monday I received a surprise in the mail all the way from sunny New Mexico from Linda Mageske her blog is here.

There was this adorable little jar of jam with this hand made card and tatted topper!


Card opened with a bookmark surprise! Jam grown and made by Linda!

As you can see the jam is raspberry(yum) and from her own garden!


Surprise the topper is an adorable doily.

When I removed the yarn from the topper it transformed into a lovely pink doily! Linda is truly on talented lady! What a nice gift in time for Valentine's day. Thanks Linda!

Snow day and TIAS!

2011-02-02T19:11:00.000-08:00


Front yard with fresh 24" of snow!

Well the last 24 hours have been exciting in my neck of woods. We got hit with that lovely storm front that they said was making it's way across the the US and is now going toward the East coast. We had it all... Blizzard conditions, white outs, high winds, blowing snow and 5 ft. snow drifts. They put most of Illinois under civil emergency and our town literally was shut down. The only thing open was McDonald's (whats wrong with that picture). Fortunately we are prepared at our house and I got to spend the whole day tatting and watching TV.( some times a bad combination)


My day 8 TIAS.

Here is my day 8 of Jane's TIAS. Yeah I STILL have no idea. I don't even believe it's a real thing, just a wild and crazy idea Jane came up with. But It has been a blast playing along. At least all the others at Jane's site look the same!
Tomorrow is another snow day and I hope they have at least got the streets open so the banks, post office and stores open. The wind chill is suppose to be -25 degrees tomorrow so I am glad for the chance to stay home and work on my tatting! :)

SNOW, Snow, snow!

2011-01-31T08:02:00.000-08:00

Well the weather man said we it was coming and right now it is snowing. We are suppose to get 16-24 inches of the white stuff, then temps are suppose to drop. The joys of living in the Midwest. I'm so ready for all the bad weather around the world to stop!


Day 5 TIAS.

On a tatting note, here are pictures of day 5, 6 and 7. So the little guy is coming along and I still have no idea. I think Jane has a weird sense of humor and we all will have a great laugh at what it really is. Last year I ended up with a green and orange rooster! I really like the colors and hope it looks good on "UFO".( name I gave it, not for unfinished but for unidentified object! lol.)


Day 6 TIAS

And day 7 below.


Day 7 TIAS.

So with some luck we can get a snow day out of this! If not it will be slow driving and lots of crazy people out there! Ta Ta for now!

Day 4 of TIAS and GO BEARS!

2011-01-23T13:44:00.000-08:00

Today the rivalry is going again against Bears and Packers( so far Packers 6 Bears 0 at 1st quarter). I am not a big football fan, but I do support the Chicago teams. I don't know how many decades the rivalry has been between these two teams but living on the Ill/Wis boarder there are no fence sitters.
On a tatter's note I have been working on Jane's TIAS and finished day 4 . My guess was a blind mole rat with a hump.lol Since there is no such animal I don't think it's that! I know I'm going to have an ahha moment when it 's finally revealed.
(Bears not doing well. Figures.)


Day 4 TIAS

I really like the colors and how they change with this thread. It seems a little twisty , but hasn't been problematic closing rings or anything. I think it was the way I wound it on the shuttle, maybe too much twist.
We have had bitter cold weather and a little snow (2 or so inches) . When it's cold like this school buses really don't heat up well. Friday was -7 below and I had one chilly bus and several cold little guys. I feel bad for them because some of them just don't understand and only know they are cold.
My daughter has been doing some demolition on her bathroom. Previous owners didn't put the tile up right, nor did they use the right grout or sealed it. Water got behind the tile and now she has mold. It means taking out toilet, dry wall and what ever else she finds. Oh the joys of home ownership! There really should be something that protects the new homeowner.


Front of Becki House.

All in all it is a cute house and in spite of all the headaches that she doesn't really have extra money for. (No that is NOT my school bus) Becki sure likes it and is happy to be in Alaska.


A few fine feathered friends!

And for a parting shot a few winter Flamingos. Hope all are safe and have a great week. :)

Day 3 of TIAS! Package from Jane!

2011-01-19T18:49:00.000-08:00


oops cut day three TIAS picture off a little.

Well here is my day three TIAS and looking at the others I can tell I've done it right. I think it is a lovely thing-in-a-bob. Still no idea so hoping day 4 will shed some light on it. Of course I'm not holding my breath on that.


A special surprise from Jane.

Here are few pictures of some cool tatted piece I got yesterday from Jane Eborall in U.K.


A pig bookmark by Jane E.

I fell in love with this pig bookmark and had to get it for my brother-in-law. He grew up on a homestead and raised pigs, so any time I find a cute pig I get it for him!


Butterfly bookmark by Jane E.

I got this butterfly bookmark for my niece. She would rather read a book than just about anything else( like practice her instruments, do homework, get ready for bed).


Flower bookmark by Jane E.

Sorry for the picture quality, I was using the camera on my cell phone. I just liked this one. I have been waiting 4 weeks for 2 packages that are in 'limbo' in the void between with U.K. and U.S.A. so I got some 'replacements' since I wanted these for Christmas. I think the intended recipients will be happy as I am with them. I hope all tatters are well in spite of all the bad weather everywhere and happy tatting!

Jane is at it again!

2011-01-16T12:06:00.000-08:00

Day 1 TIAS.

Well as she promised Jane Eborall is doing it again! No nothing illegal (though gas prices in the Chicago area are a crime!), no she is hosting another TIAS! Last year we did 'Norman the Rooster' this year we are only into day 2 and I have no idea! I love doing TIAS with Jane. There are always new techniques to try, lovely directions clear and concise with great illustrations. Besides it is always fun to work on a mystery!
Above is my day 1 in size 20 Lizbeth's new colors 'Lime Green' and 'Juicy Watermelon'. The Watermelon color kind of reminds me of Yarnplayer's 'Rhubarb Pie' . I am using my pop-a-bobbin shuttles. The one on the left was a present from Sally Kerson ( whose husband is 'I'm in the garage' and the maker of these shuttles!) Did I mention I REALLY like these shuttles!

Day 2 TIAS.

Here is my day 2 sitting on one of Jane's poke proof pouches( which stores pop-a-bobbin shuttles snug as a bug in a rug).So if you want to play Jane's game catch her here. This a link to Jane's blog and there are links to her TIAS. So the more who play the game the more fun you will have besides learning some new and cool techniques!


Jim and Grizzly at airport.

A parting shot of my hubbie with the one that got away.lol. Actually this is the largest Kodiak Bear( Grizzly) shot in Alaska. It was over 20 feet tall. Sorry for the angle but it was the only way to get both in the picture. Well I hope that all in tat land are safe and dry, in spite of all the bad weather we have had globally. Tata for now.

As promised more pictures!

2011-01-04T19:27:00.000-08:00

A couple of
Moose.

Alaska has got to be one of the most beautiful states in the USA. It has the smallest population of any state (less than 700,000 people) and is almost 3 times as big as Texas! It is home to Mt McKinley and has more bears than people! And a lot of ugly Moose!


On the Seward highway south of Anchorage.

On a clear day you can see the mountain range that has Mt. McKinley in it in Denali (150 miles away). We went down the Seward Hwy. to see the inlet and some of the mountains. Anchorage has almost 270,000 people and is one of the largest cities in Alaska.


A mountain near my daughter's subdivision.


A frozen water fall on the side of the mountain. People actually climb theses, why?

By the pictures you can see how clear the skies can be. It was about zero degrees C out this day and warmed up to about 10 degrees. When we left it was 40 degrees in Anchorage and 14 in Chicago.


Downtown Gridwood/ gas station and store. Population about 200. My husband and yes even though it is about 5 degrees it doesn't feel like that! It feels warmer!

It is a dry cold there so it doesn't chill you to the bone when you go out. Most people wear sweatshirt hoodies!


Clark Middle School were my daughter works. This typical of schools in Anchorage.

In the school my daughter works there about 1200 middle school age children (6-8 grade).


On the road toward downtown. Silver building is part of the downtown.

All of Anchorage is earth quake proof. Their last earth quake was 5 something on the scale and Becki felt it. They get earth quakes more often than you would think. These are a few of the mason buildings we saw. Most houses and buildings are wood.
Well I hope you enjoyed a quick look at some of my adventures in Alaska. Until next time, happy tatting! :)

Visiting was great, but home is better!

2011-01-03T20:17:00.000-08:00


Flora (?) in Lizabeth size 20.


Heartflurry in another Lizabeth size 20.

Janua in Nitty Gritty.

A star in snowflake hdt.

Safe form of Moose!

Celtic Snowflake in size 10 snowflake hdt.


Mt. McKinley(in back ground) from the inlet at Anchorage.

I had a great with my daughter in Alaska( will post my scenic pics later), but it is so nice to be home.
Some high lights- saw a moose( they are big and ugly), had prim rib for Christmas dinner, had fresh Halibut and Scallops , and saw some of the most awesome scenery in the world!
Unfortunately I did no tatting. The tatting are ornaments I made for Becki's tree.
Will post more later. :)

Ring out the old year ring in the new!

2010-12-31T22:18:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all out there!

A Quick Up Date.

2010-12-30T13:09:00.000-08:00

I hope all have had a happy and safe Holidays. I and my husband have been out of town and so I have no pics to post just yet. We plan to return in 4 days from our adventures in Alaska. Weather here has been cold, but mild and the scenery is to die for. Have enjoyed time with my daughter and miss my other children.
I hope you all have a safe and wonderful New Year! Until then have fun tatting!

Anniversary, Lighthouse Lacers and Snowflakes!

2010-11-18T08:51:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday was not only my 31st wedding anniversary, but my first meeting with the Lighthouse Lacers! A couple of weeks ago Marilee (aka Yarnplayer) had invited me to come. My husband came with me since the meeting was at a library( his home away from home) and we went for a nice drive and tasty cheeseburger later.
The ladies at the meeting where just wonderful and so many of them do so many other kinds of lace other than tatting. I wish I could say I have all their names memorized, but I don't! It takes me a couple of weeks to get all my kids on my bus right. lol. One new member was bobbin lace making and it was more fun to watch her than my own tatting. There were some lovely bookmarks made by one of the ladies there and I can see I have a ways to go on perfecting my techniques.

"Celeste' by Yarnplayer.

The necklace (sorry for bad picture) was my anniversary present that I picked out. It is a lovely blue (I think 'Aqua Bay' ) with beautiful blue beads. Those of you who saw this in Marilee's Etsy shop will remember it. I'll try for a better picture.

"Janus' from 'Tatted Flurries'

This is 'Janus' made with Yarnplayer ' Med Aqua' . Pattern from Sharon Brigg's new book 'Tatted Flurries' you can get to her blog here. Ordering information and

and cost are available there as well as it is available as a PDF form.

I would like to say that I am reasonable intelligent but as I was doing this pattern ( and almost done) I was re-reading it and it was talking about the second row. I thought second row? Then I realized I had tatted it in complete one row and didn't need to make a split ring to go into the next round. I think I'll try it again and this time actually follow the directions. lol. Oh well what can I say. Until next time and sorry Marilee about my bad picture of your lovely necklace!

Earring pics as promised.

2010-11-04T08:24:00.000-07:00

These are one of the pair of earrings I bought at the Loominosity Show last Saturday. They are made by Marilee Rockley aka Yarnplayer . Her etsy shop is here. The thread is her own hand dyed 'Snowflake' and some very pretty blue beads with a cute pearl bead in the center.

I also got these lovely bear earrings made by one of the ladies from Loose Bead Society. They are pink quartz with crystals. I love quartz and think it it prettier than more expensive gem stones. Also this my attempt at Jane Eborall's flurry snowflake found at her pattern page here. I made it in Yarnplayer's 'Sugar Maple' size 10 with size 8 glass beads. This was fun to do and I learned a new way to do SCMR.
Well fall is in full swing and as the leaves fall it is the feeling Winter is not far away. I love Winter except for the sub zero temperatures. Snow is lovely and all the Christmas lights are nice. But it makes me realize it is also a hectic time to get all things done. So many snowflakes to make so little time! So with that said time to go back to work!
Please remember some of our dear tatting friends in your prayers like Sherry Pence(LadyShuttleMaker) that all goes well with her delivery and Tatting Chic who has a job lose coming up. I know there are others, and I know they appreciate our prayers in their behalf. TaTa for now.

Ah Ha! Got it to work!

2010-11-02T12:06:00.000-07:00

Marilee and me in front of one of the booths of lovely jewelry for sale. Marilee was wearing jewelry she tatted that had real gold in it. Simply gorgeous. She gave me one of her "Treasure" pendant piece and I bought a couple of earrings- one was hers and another was a cute pair of pink quartz bears. I post those another time.

Meeting Marilee...I Can't Believe It Has Been SOOO Long!

2010-11-02T11:47:00.000-07:00

This is to let you know:
1. I did not die in spite of what you may have heard.
2. I have done some tatting.
3. And I meet one of the nicest ladies of tatting!

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to go to the Loominosity show in New Berlin, Wis. Marilee Rockley aka Yarnplayer was there. I can't tell you how excited I was to finally get to meet Marilee. At first she must of thought I was a stalker until she remembered my name. I don't think I was that over zealous, but lets face it it was the high light of my day! She is as beautiful and gracious in person as she is on her blog. Yarnplayer (click on Yarnplayer to go to her blog). There are some wonderful pictures of some of the beautiful things at the exhibition and a great picture of Marilee and a bad picture of me! lol. ( stupid computer is NOT letting me down load picture I took to my blog. They improved it.Hahaha) So I will try later to see if I can get it to work.

A tatting we will, a tatting we will go high ho...

2010-06-02T14:50:00.000-07:00

Celtic Knot Earrings done in 'Celery' hdt by Yarnplyer Celtic Knot done in 'Aqua Bay' also by hdt by Yarnplayer.

The three 'trial and errors'. Two not finished yet.

Where does the time go! May has slipped away and June is here! Yeah last day of school tomorrow! Of course next year does not sound promising. But hey, I at least still have a job!

On another note, Becki has packed, moved and is job hunting. That seems to be the theme everywhere though. It is scary when you realize the economic distress US is feeling is being felt everywhere. Thank goodness for tatting! No matter what the language you speak you can understand tatting across the globe. And though things are 'tight' everywhere there is a sense of well being when you can create something of beauty with thread. It warms the heart,cheers the soul and makes on feel like YES! LOOK WHAT I DID!

I have been following several people far more talented and creative than I and always enjoy their blogs and views on life. Everyone that tats seems to able to find the silver lining in the darkest cloud. Even when health has prevented them from enjoying life, they take to the shuttle and create such things of beauty. I can think of several tatters that have had their own private battles and who are always sunny. And though I haven't had as many challenge as some of my fellow tatters, I enjoy the sense of well being I can get from knotting some thread.I think for me it is therapy and sometimes some form of torcher.

The 3rd picture is proving to be the latter. How hard can it be to follow a pattern? Especially when it is written out and diagrammed?! Obviously for me hard. The pattern is 'Folded Bookmark' by Jon Yusoff at http://tatsaway-patterns.blogspot.com/ . The sample are as follows: 'Garden Afternoon' size 50, 'Brilliant Sunset' size 20, and 'Aqua Bay' size 10.( working with size 10 thread felt like working with rope after working with size 20 for so long.) All three threads are Yarnplayer's HDT (http://yarnplayer.etsy.com/ ) All three bookmarks have a mistake in them. This was not on purpose, they just happened. Too few stitches on a chain and short a picot or two. I thought by the third time through I would not make mistakes- I was wrong. Oh well what are you going to do. Who ever get these will never know I can't follow directions. lol.

I also made some earrings( 1st and 2nd pictures) for a friend at work using 'Aqua Bay' size 20 and 'Celery' size 20(also HDT from Yarnplayer) for earrings and size 10 for pendant. The pattern for the Celtic knot is found in Rozella Linden's "Celtic Tatting Knots and Patterns" found at Handy Hands(http://www.handyhandstatting.com/ ). The blue earrings were shuttle tatted, the green set was needle tatted. It is straight forward ds stitches with following the diagram on how to do the Celtic knot Ruth Perry style. It goes quickly (once you get the knotting technique) and is fun to do. Add a nice bead and you have a masterpiece!

I seem to be stuck in bookmarker mode time to start something BIG. I would like to enter Lake County Fair with a piece of tatting. It is in July, maybe if I start now I can get it done in time since work starts up again June 8th.( Summer school for my little guys) I will have a 3 hour break Monday through Thursday so I can walk for 45 minutes and tat for and hour and a half. We will see how far I get on both plans.(Congrats to Tatting Chic on her diet and her sucess. I know how hard it is to loose weight. I've lost and found the same 100 + pounds for years! Good luck in keeping it off!) I plan to stick to the plan and will keep the tatting world informed. Also working on a pattern. We will see who it all works out! Well time to put this 'novel' to bed. I hope all are well and keeping those shuttles flying! TaTa for now.

Long time has past! Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T07:04:00.000-07:00

(Click on pic for a closer look)

It has been a LONG time since last post. That is not out of neglect just life getting in the way. I took the challenge for Internation Tat Day of designing a fish and sorry to say it is still being 'tweeked ' and not ready to share. Jane Eborall has been kind enough to help me with it and as soon as I get the bugs out of it (and Jane says it works) you will see it. Meanwhile you will just have to settle with my attempts at Jane's Butterfly bookmark found at http://www.e.n.e.btinternet.co.uk/ .

The first picture is really the second one I made in 'Tutti Fruity' Lizbeth thread size 20. The second is also a new color which escapes me now, but it is Lizbeth and size 20 and my first attempt. The tail for the second is lock stitch(or a poor attempt at it) and the tail for the first is something that I'm not sure what stitch it turned out to be. The fun of tatting! you can learn and create things all the time!

My little tatting group is going well and it is fun to work with someone who wants to learn. I don't consider myself an expert tatter but I know enough to get someone started on the right path. My three ladies are working on rings, chains, joining and following a pattern. One of my friends is actually working on dimple rings and doing a very good job. Lindsey was taught when she was 6 originally by her GGrand Mother but hadn't touched it for many years. She is really the more advanced and is having a great time. My other two ladies are knitters and crocheters so getting them to get the flip was a challenge. But they are determained!

It is Mother's day and I am enjoying lovely flowers my children sent to me. I am also getting over a very nasty reaction to a bee string I had several days ago. I ended up in the ER on IV for it. And now have to carry an EPI Pen with me along with Benadryl. I have been stung many time from bees(we raise them) this was the first time I ever had that kind of reaction. My GrandMother was allergic to bees so there is a predisposition there. My daughter swells from stings so she should be careful that later in life it could happen to her.

Becki has come and gone and will be home sometime in June to get her car. She resigned from her job as they didn't renew her contract so she is going through the nerve racking process of job hunting. She is hoping to go to Anchorage. Only because there are more job possiblities and it is the largest city in Alaska with a real town and everything! It still sits near the water, but you can get from one place to another by car! Not just by Ferry. Weather is like Northern Illinois so they have snow(still in April) and it gets colder than were she is now, but unlike Illinois there isn't the humidiy and 100+ degree temps in the summer. Actually weather here is more severe than most of Alaska. And I live in Illinois why?lol.

I would like to say that life has been good ,and in many ways it has. But because of how the State is treating schools and not paying them there has been many challenges for schools to make it all work. This effects my job next year in that since I am an 'At Will' employee they can cut our pay(again) and there is really nothing we can do about it. It means that because how pension funds are set up I will be looking for a different kind of job in 4 years so as not to have a dramatic drop in my pension payout. Trouble is I like what I do and being marketable at 60 is really hard. To old to start over, too young to retire. What are you going to do. Well I hope everyone has a great week and enjoy Spring! Just think how it makes you want to get out and tat! Happy tatting to all! :)

The Post Man Cometh.

2010-02-16T15:41:00.000-08:00

And he brought me 'presents'! This long awaited book came today. It is Sherry Pence's( aka LadyShuttleMaker) new butterfly book. It is full of fun butterflies and can't wait to tat a few!

Last fall I joined 'Ring Of Tatters' and got my renewal form some time ago. With the form was a form to order these next two books. I opened this first book and there are names of people I had several books from, who contributed to it. There is a wealth of knowledge, techniques and comments from such poeple as Mary Konoir and Pam Palmer. I will treasure these two books for along time. It is nice to read the history of ROT and see all the lovely lace that has been made.

On another note, there are 24 days left till the Becki cometh! (I'm NOT excited-much!) Happy Tatting to all and to all go night! :)

An 'Enchanter' Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T10:03:00.000-08:00

A happy Valentine's Day to all. Here is Jon Yusoff's latest pattern 'Enchanter' done in size 20 Lizbeth thread in 'Western Sunset' # 102. Jon's lovely pattern is at her web site http://tatsaway.blogspot.com/ . I saw the pattern and didn't know how big it would tat in 20 thread. ( It is about 1 -1/2" by 1 -3/4" perfect earring size) And when I finished one I said I have to make another.
The pattern tats up beautifully and quickly. I think I would like to make some more and add beads. This design lends itself easily to beads. A few seed beads in the picots and a little dagger bead at the tip maybe.
The hardest part is tying a bow! My fingers don't work like that any more. lol.
They are in time to wear for church on Valentine's Day. Nice addition to my earring collection.
The count down has begun for Becki sighting- 26 days and she will be here! :)

I finally have to face it. I'm addicted to... Thread!

2010-01-31T05:59:00.000-08:00

The first color picture her is LadyShuttleMaker's Victorian Valentine and Marina in size 20 6 strand cotton.

This is Yarnplayers 'Stardate' in size 20 and 40.

I have several skeins of this one. It is Yarnplayer's 'Nectarine' showing size 20 and 80.

Yes! I finally found a copy of Mary Konior's "Tatting Patterns" that wasn't an 'arm and leg' price. This brings my collection to 3 of her books. The tatting world will forever be indebted to her for all her contributions. As many have heard Mary passed on earlier this month. My prayers are with her family.

Here is 'Norman' done! I had so much fun with Jane Erborall's TIAS . Learned alot and have to make 'Norman' over with bigger bead for eye and no picots between split rings!( I didn't try for picots they just appeared-got to work on that!) Norm is done in size 20 thread and measures about4 inches tall. He would make a nice book marker by pearl tatting were you join a length and finish off with a 'chick' at the end. Pattern for Norman and his family are at Jane Erborall"s website. http:// janeeborall.blogspot.com/ can direct to the right spot.

And yes it is sad but true! I'm addicted to hdt thread. No matter how hard I resist Yarnplayer and LadyShuttle Maker have to go and bring out their brushes and the next thing I know I'm confirming purchases!LOL. Is there a cure for this "disease"? I hope not! I know there is SO much hdt out there and there isn't enough free money to have it all. I have plans for mine and right now am happy I have it. My new goals for me will let me indulge in my passion for tatting and get healthy too. I'll let you know how it works.

Day 5 and all is well....

2010-01-16T08:32:00.000-08:00

Here is my day 5 of Jane E.'s TIAS. Since it looks like the picture I 'm thinking I did it right!

Here is my second guess. I have been to South Australia, but never saw one of these in the wild. I saw Kangaroos and other Aussie animals in the wild, but missed this. If you don't think this how about picture #3?!

OK so it is a strange looking snowman, but it could work right?! Well this is just too fun and I really have enjoyed alot of the other people's guesses. :)

Days 1-4 TIAS together

2010-01-13T10:45:00.000-08:00

Becki chicken in one of her fav colors for Halloween back at her college days with her friend 'Bunny'. Maybe she is Jane E's inspiration for her TIAS?! What you think.

Days 1-4 together. If you flip the pic I think it being to look like.....

It has been great seeing all the different colors people are using. I personally picked my daughters fav colors (green and orange) to do this as I think I'll mail it to her when done! I think she will at least like the colors.Lol. :)

Monday Monday....

2010-01-11T15:51:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday! For those of you who like giveaways if you haven't stopped by LadySuttleMaker's blog do not delay she is having a giveaway! At http://ladyshuttlemaker.blogspot.com/ .

The above pic is my day 3 TIAS. It is done in hdt thread size 20? and is a burnt orange color. Not sure were I go this but I think I used it for crocheting a giant butterfly.

Well I hope all is well and that the rest of the week is good for you! :)

Happy Snow Day and day 2 TIAS!

2010-01-08T15:12:00.000-08:00

Happy 9 " of snow! And I did my day 2 of Jane's TIAS! Pic is of it and I couldn't tell you what it is even if my life depended on it because I have no clue. Had a great day tatting and spending time with my Sweetie. Have a safe and great weekend! :)

New HDT and Day 1 TIAS Done!

2010-01-07T16:41:00.000-08:00

Yes I got some lovely hdt from Marilee. I picked it up from the post today. It is Yarnplayer's new color 'Celery' and I got several skeins.

You can see it tats like a dream in this picture. I had one of those 'ah ha' moments( actually I re-read the directions) and it actually worked!lol. Funny how just reading how you are suppose to do something it just turns out that way.

This last pic was my first attempt at Jane Eborall (http://janeeborall.blogspot.com/ ) new TIAS. Visit her blog and there is a link to instructions and TIAS pattern. For those who don't know what a TIAS is = Tat It And See. You get a piece of the total pattern and then see if you can figure of what it is. But Jane doesn't want you to spoil it by telling everyone. Just tell her. A link to her email is there also so you can share, ask questions and guess. The middle pic is my day 1 done in 'Celery' size 20. I liked how the 'Celery' POPS out at you better than the original one done in Lizbeth thread 'Angel Love' size 20.

I had fun with this so far and see lots of room for improvement.I appreciate talented people who can come up with such fun ideas. I can see them in strange colors, but don't have much more of an imagination to invent. I'll have to get more comfortable with it. I'd like to do a whole bird themed idea. There are patterns for Parrots, but none that I found for the smallest member of the Snell Parrot group- Budgies(also know as parakeets). Maybe someday.... Well have a great week, me I'm personally doing a 'Snow Day' dance because I really hate driving a school bus when there is alot of snow falling. Illinois there is a joke about snow removal, they wait until it stops snowing to plow! Yes it is as fun to drive in as it sounds-not! :)

A few pics of Wrangell Alaska.

2010-01-03T19:05:00.001-08:00

The second pic is Rainbow falls in Wrangell where the stairs that tried to take out Becki is. This was the cliff she tried to go over. She has a bruise. The first pic is a tree root at Petroglyph Beach in Wrangell. Wrangell has about 3 state parks in the area, and has a well known glacier.

The next pic is downtown Wrangell. Looks alot like downtown Antioch! Except we don't have any mountains or an Ocean near us. And we have alot more snow!lol.

This is Becki hiding in a tree root at Rainbow Falls Park. All these pics are courtesy of the Bec and her friend Tasha.

Well doesn't that just make you want to take your next vacation to Alaska? With the scenery Becki has I don't think she will ever come back to boring Illinois. And who could blame her! Just a side note Metlakatla Alaska is 40 degrees at this writing, Antioch Illinois is 8 degrees. It is true, Northern Illinois weather is more server than parts of Alaska. Why do people live here again?

Hope you enjoyed the pic I know I did. :)

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T18:29:00.000-08:00

SCMR Snowflake pattern by Sally Magill of 'The Ring Of Tatters' done in size 20 htd 'Night Wind' by Yarnplayer(aka Marilee Rockely).

It is a brand new year and a time to reflect how to make this a better year. First, I need to remember the things that are truly important in my life-like family and friends. Then take more time to let them know and less time complaining. Second, I need to hone my tatting skills and work on more challenging things so I learn to be better. I need to do this for me and the small group of people who want to learn to tat from me. And one of the things I am working on today was SCMR.

I was given one of these scmr snowflakes from Sharon Fawns for my thread exchange.(It now hangs on my tree). And though I understood how scmr are done I hadn't tried them in a pattern before. When I got Sharon's lovely gift, I knew I had to try it and the above picture is my first attempt. I will make more because they go quickly and are fun to do.

On a different theme- Becki has been having fun visiting her friend in Wrangle Alaska and seeing the sights. She had to mention slipping on the steps at Rainbow Falls and have her feet dangling over a cliff. She thought it was funny,(I wouldn't have classified it that way-but hey I'm just her mom) and had a good laugh. She said it felt weird having her legs dangle in mid air. OK so maybe I said thank you Lord for NOT letting her get killed as she told me that. All in all she has had a wonderful time and seen so awesome scenery. I'll see if Bec will let use some of her pics to share with you all.

I have been battling a sinus infection this break so my tatting adventures have been very few. Wednesday evening I spent about 2 hours working with a friend who wants to learn to tat, on doing the ds. She finally got the 'flip' and wanted to jump for joy when she made her first ring. It was exciting and next Wednesday we are going to learn the picot and try joining rings together. I left her with homework, we will see how she does. She was very excited to learn and I have another person who tats already so maybe we can have our own little group. It amazes me how many people think of tatting as a dying art. First I'm not dead and neither is tatting! I'll keep tatting wherever I go hope it sparks interest!

I hope this new year is prosperous for everyone and may you and yous be safe.

Have a blessed Holiday season!

2009-12-25T09:24:00.001-08:00

A picture of beautiful downtown Antioch, Il. (without the snow). Wishing you and yours a very blessed and safe Holiday season! :)

Playing with split rings...

2009-12-23T06:31:00.000-08:00

I have been playing with split rings and thought I share with you some of my fun I have been having! My first pic is the center for '4 Ring Snowflake' by Wendy Durell( www.handicrafts.org.uk/ ). Problem, I ran out of thread on one of my shuttles so there are only 5 sets instead of 6. This sample done up in size 40 lizbeth thread 'Angel's Love'.( About the size of a quarter.) Done as double shuttle split rings with 2 shuttles.

Next is the body of the 'Flying Minor Norwegian Dragon' pattern by Anne Bruvold 2008. (Don't remember were I got this pattern from, best bet google.) Single shuttle split rings. So what DO you find easier to do double shuttle :(- or single shuttle :) split rings?! I obviously like single better, but both really make tatting fun! (Thread is size 20 I think Lizbeth, don't remember color number, sorry.) The dragon body is about 6-7 inches long. I threw in a crocheted snowflake I made a couple of years ago, to give it a little more Christmas feeling! This pattern makes a lovely 5 inch snowflake with bedspread weight crochet thread.

I have tatted no new snowflakes for Christmas yet. :( I have had a touch of the flu followed by a lovely sinus infection that has kept me up for 5 days. No fun. And if I could stop coughing long enough I'd finish Wendy's pattern! This has put a crimp in my Christmas gift making. Truffles, marshmallow creme and fudge are all waiting for me. I'm just waiting for the antibiotics to start to work so I can.lol. I have enjoyed sharing my small success with the split rings. More and more patterns use them and they are really handy to get from one round to the next without cutting and hiding ends!

Hope all have a safe and happy Holidays and kept those shuttles flying!:)

The attack of the flu 'bug'-Yuck and a Crane.

2009-12-14T13:14:00.000-08:00

This is one bug I really tried to avoid, but I wasn't that lucky:( . So as I sit with all the lovely side affects of it I thought I'd show you my little Cranes.This is one of MANY!(The material is a blue batik I got on ebay.)

I had alot of fun making them and then putting a hole for the hanger to go through. Now to put them in a card along with a candy cane and my gifts for my kids will be done! I chose the Crane because it was cute, but more importantly it was easy for me. It is also a tradition to make Cranes for the Chinese New year for luck and prosperity. I'm not Chinese but the idea is cool so hey, why not?!!

I thought about tatting eyes for them, but that didn't happen. I am working on a snowflake and when its done I'll share.( Better that then the flu!).

Oh yeah, now there are 10 tatting days left to get something done before Christmas! Happy tatting!!! :)

Thread, thread and more thread!

2009-12-12T11:27:00.001-08:00

First picture is a sample of the SEVERAL skeins of hdt I ordered. They are from Yarnplayer aka Marilee Rockely from her Etsy shop. (click on her blog link at the right on the tool bar and you can get to her etsy shop). They are size 20 in 'Snowflake','Tourmaline' and 'Vibrato'.

This group of thread is a sample of the three colors I got from LadyShuttleMaker aka Sherry Pence from her Etsy shop.( another website I have on my right tool bar). These are 100 % silk and in a size 20. They are 'Country Christmas', 'Hosta Leaf' and ' Holly Jolly Christmas'.

When questioned what I was going to do with all this thread I stated I was sharing with a few people. OK I am just hording some if it and will tat it into some thing fabulous.(snowflakes or maybe ANOTHER pair of earrings!lol)

I mailed off my thread exchange packages today. The hardest part was deciding what thread to send. I have also been doing fabric Origami ornaments in the shape of a Crane. These are for my students that ride my bus. I think I have folded at least 75 birds and have demolished one hands worth of nails. But the Cranes look great(will try to remember to take pics!). I sent one to each of my thread exchange so it really didn't fit in the regular envelope so I put them in a mailer. I had fun that's what counts!

Becki can't get her mail because the Post Office is temporary closed due to illness. You think they could borrow someone from the Ketchikan Post Office just so people can get their mail! I can't imagine not being able to get mail so close to Christmas. I hope not alot of people there are doing mail order for their holiday shopping.

Well as I get something do (so many projects so little time) I post it. Until then remember there are only 12 more tatting days left to have something for Christmas! :)-

Playing with cute little bugs!

2009-12-09T14:38:00.000-08:00

I was having way too much fun driving in the snow on my routes this afternoon, so I thought what could I do to my cute little bug and this is what I got.( 3 are just plain the other is my 'mutant' bug. I think I've seen some of these guys eating on my bushes this summer.) Why not make the big picot a double picot and see how it looks. The picture is above is the results. I notice on my second double I didn't get my joining thread all the way down so that side will be glued in place on the card. It is obvious I have tooo much time on my hands and am just tooo excited about my first thread exchange. Sometimes simple is the best. But you be the judge.
Winter has decided to come to northern Illinois. We have had freezing rain followed by snow followed by temps dropping followed by wind. OK so I like snow, but not with ice under it or up to 40 mph winds or sleet. Driving a school bus that slides is NOT fun!
I hope all are safe and warm now and have a great rest of the week! Remember only 15 tatting days left till Christmas! :)

Happy Birthday To Me!

2009-12-09T11:51:00.000-08:00

Ok a quick note, yes it's my birthday, no I'm not admitting how old I am. I told my 25 yr old son I was only 21. His remark was how was that possible since he was 25. Lol.
I have been making cute little 'bugs' to put on my letters for my thread exchange nothing complicated. A ring of 3ds with lp 2ds and 2 sp 2ds and lp finished with 3 ds clr. Leave a little thread at both ends tie in square knot and you have antennas. Glue on paper cute little bug thing.
I have had alot of well wishers already for my b-day and thank you. I really appreciate it. I hope everyone is enjoying their day as much as I am enjoying mine! :)

A new book and the Christmas tatting starts!

2009-11-29T12:10:00.000-08:00

A new book always inspires me to get in the Christmas season. And here is a picture of the new book edited by Barbara Foster from Handy Hands at www.hhtatting.com/ . It has 18 patterns for different snowflakes and motifs that can be pinned on satin covered balls. The directions are easy to follow and there are diagrams. The pictures of the finished work are done in color. (No I don't get paid for advertising-I just found this book fun and had some fast and easy, yet pretty snowflakes).

This is my attempt at snowflake #1. OK it's missing a point-so I guess mine is really a star. The directions call for a long picot that the other 5 center rings are going to be joined to. I hate to have too much picot left sooo I didn't make my center picot big enough. Oh well I'm still going to use it on one of my satin balls!:)- I used size 20 in 'Western Sunset' Lizbeth thread. I can say it didn't take long (less time if the telly is off!) and was fairly easy to tat since it really is only 2 rings repeated.I usually avoid things that have thread space-never really get them right. But this wasn't that hard. Maybe I'm just getting better at it, not. Well I need to get back to Sunday dessert making (we are having Raspberry Funny Cake yummm.!) TaTa for now.

Tatted angel with double picots.

2009-11-28T14:40:00.000-08:00

My little tatted angels pattern by Nancy Tracy of www.be-stitched.com/ , called 'Tatted Angel'. The angel on the left is shuttle tatted in size 20 Lizbeth thread 'Spring Fling'#106. The bigger angel is in size 5 hdt by Yarnplayer 'Rhubarb Pie' and is needle tatted. (I like to use the needle for size 3 and 5 Pearle cotton threads.)

Nancy's pattern only calls for 6 picots on the head, but I want to make the size 20 into earrings and the size 5 a tree ornament ; so for hanging purposes I added another picot. The penny is just for size comparisons. I also had to practice my double picots and see if they would work with needle tatting. They do.

Becki only has a 3 foot tree and large ornament would be over powering.

I also have made a few fabric origami pieces in the shape of cranes for her. They are done in green batik fabric I bought.( Not enough time to make my own, maybe make some batik fabric this summer for next Christmas. Anyone who has worked with dye will know what I say when I say that dying is time consuming. Batik requires several dye processes with set time between each one-so next time.)

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Turkey Day and have a great week! Remember there are only 27 tatting days left till Christmas! :)

Ah Ha moment.

2009-11-22T12:49:00.001-08:00

WE all have them, those moments when we look at something and it finally clicks! Well I had mine today. I have never tried double picots before. I just didn't- no good reason. Maybe because when I was doing most of my shuttle tatting I wasn't exposed to them. And I don't know if you can do them in needle tatting.(have to think about that for awhile) So I googled how to do them. Got directed to online tatting class and Mark Myers lovely pictures. Let me back up here I don't learn by just pics alone- I am an Audio and Visual learner. So to stare at picture alone doesn't cut it in the instruction group for me. But if I read them out loud I usually can figure things out. So the pic below is my 1st successful tatted double picot.Yeah!

O.K. so it isn't exciting and now I should make something that uses them I will in time. First have a whole bunch of ufos screaming 'finish me!'. Next pic is one of those pesky ufos- Marilee's pattern 'Keyed Up' available in her Etsy store, done in size 20 Lizbeth thread. (forgot which one I used I think it is Purple Pizzaz). Now to hide threads, get the other leaf on it's mate and stiffen- and ANOTHER pair of earrings!Lol
It was fun to make.

Last weekend we sent Becki back to Alaska. It was such a short time she was here. She really enjoyed her ORFF Conference in Milwaukee, but she was really tired. She stopped off in Anchorage on her way back to Met and didn't have as good of a time as she'd hoped.(ticket prices are $1200 or more so that is a very good reason she is not coimg home.)

So-we are putting a Christmas package together for her. Homemade fudge, tree trimmings, hand made ornaments and some other goodies so she can trim a tree and not be too homesick.(1st Christmas away from home ever for her). Of course what is tree without tatted snowflakes?! Jim wants to make some wood ornaments for her. She is going to have one fine tree there in Metlakatla Alaska if you ask me!

Life just keeps us all busy. Hope everyone out there in tat land has a great week! TaTa for now.

30 years and still counting!

2009-11-13T08:45:00.001-08:00

Happy anniversary to us! Today marks 30 years of wedded bliss! Here is a family photo taken on Bill's birthday of us all. The three striking 'children' in front are James, Becki and Bill. Me and Jim are in the the rear. It has been a wonderful 30 years and I really hope all of us are around for the next 30 years! :)

Tracy's Heart

2009-11-09T16:38:00.001-08:00

My first 'Heart for Tracy'. Sorry didn't quite get it straight on scanner, but you get the general idea. There is a story here about the love of someone who is helping a dear friend through a very hard time. The designer of this pattern is Heather Johnston and her dear friend Tracy has stage 4 Breast Cancer. Heather designed this heart and asked those who would to tat it and send it to her so she could use it in a fundraiser to help with the cost of Tracy's care. This is truly a labor of love. I have lost way too many dear friends to this horrible disease. Heather's friend is only 33.Way to young I think to leave your loved ones behind. So if you would like to tat this heart and send it to Heather to help her cause you can find out how by visiting her blog http://thetarnishedtatter.blogspot.com/ for Tracy's Heart pattern by Heather in her October posts. There will be more information there. There is a link about the fundraiser for Tracy when you access the pattern.
I will remember Heather and Tracy in my prayers and definitely will make more hearts.
(The thread is size 20 'Purple Pizzaz' in Lizbeth)

WOO HOO I Won!

2009-11-07T16:33:00.001-08:00

Woo Hoo. I found out Friday I had been one of 3 lucky winners of Yarnplayer's(a.k.a. Marilee Rockley) giveaway to celebrate her being published ! Well actually a beautiful picture of some of her lovely tatting! And today look what came in the mail! Here is a scan of the actual page that shows Marilee's beautiful necklace.

And then there was this very nicely wrapped package.

And inside- a nice surprise of size 20 of some Marilee's very own hand dyed thread! I screamed for about 5 minutes when I found out I won. I enter giveaways, but am the bridesmaid never the bride. Until this time!

Thank you Marilee for your very generous gift! I have to think of something someone would want that I do for a giveaway. Maybe a tie dyed T-shirt or crochet dishcloths or crocheted rug or maybe some of my many balls of thread and and some tatting shuttles? I have to work on it.

On a different note. I have been tatting, but I have had the attack of a pinched nerve in my back and left leg that has made even sitting less than fun. After many trips to the Chiropractor and Massage Therapist I can stand up straight-literally. So I hope to finish my ufo's soon.

And Becki the long lost child(not really she has been in Alaska working) is coming to town for the ORF Conference in Milwaukee this weekend. We are excited to see her as this will be the only time she will be down until summer! :(

I just can't thank Marilee enough and I am very excited I won. I am very proud of Marilee and am happy she is part of tat land. She is a very talented person. And I for one am blessed for having her out there! Ta ta for now.

'Lacy Treasures' with Lizabeth Thread.

2009-10-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

Below is a very lonely little Angel earring I tatted with Yarnplayer's hdt- can't remember the color but do know it is a size 50. I haven't stiffened it yet because my husband helped my by picking up my stiffy and I still haven't found it! (Beads are from DS9Designs at http://www.ds9designs.com/ ) These are Lizabeth thread # 117 size 20 and the pattern is Yarnplayer's "Lacy Treasure" available in her Etsy store. It is suppose to be a pendant and when Handy Hands has Lizabeth thread available in size 10 I will make a matching pendant from it. These are more earring size so that is what they will become. After all you can't have enough earrings!

This is another pair of earrings done in size 20 purple Lizabth thread. This is also a Yarnplayer pattern "Quadrille". I did these last summer and still haven't stiffened them. I think you can still get the pattern at her Etsy store. I really like Marilee's earring patterns and Jon's snowflake patterns. I also like a lot of other people's patterns. And if I can be honest I kind of have an obsession with collecting tatting patterns. I have close to 50 or so tatting books and hundreds (literally) printed patterns. I have 40-60 crochet books and dozens of knitting, Batik, Tye-die and weaving books. You might say I have my own little private library of books. Oh and lets not forget my collection of cook books, cake decorating books besides all the fiction and non fiction. OK I could have my own library-LOL. But someone has to have a reference center right? I have been collecting books for 40 years and I know that some patterns would be gone if someone like me didn't keep track of them .One day I will organize it all and label it so it can be easily accessed. Just NOT today.LOL. Well all good things must come to and end...so I need to get this on the web so I can get some other projects done. So TaTa for now. Smile, someone will think you are up to something!:)-
P.S. all the long beads are fairy daggers from DS9designs.

More fall leaves.

2009-10-18T12:14:00.000-07:00

This is a 'Maple leaf' pattern originally in a Workbasket but diagrammed and fixed by Tammy Rodgers, done in a size 80 in 'Sugar Maple' by Yarnplayer(link to her in side tool bar). I don't remember what web site I got pattern. I think Georgia Seitz had it under maple leaves. Anyways, I remembered why I really didn't like size 80 thread. (You mean besides the fact that if you pull a little too hard when you close rings it breaks or was it because it is so easy to get a small knot in it that you don't see until you try to close your work.) But I have other little projects I want to do and size 50 is too big for some of my earring patterns.

The above picture is to give you some idea of size of this pattern compared to a quarter and size 10 in the same thread. I haven't decided if my leaf pattern is too big for earrings(too wide actually), so I was thinking doing the clover with a ring on either side and a short stem. Something to play with. If it doesn't work out I'll send it to LadySuttleMaker for her art project as a 'bit'.

On a brighter note I have become the proud owner of several patterns from Battytatter (Carol Amich) and Yarnplayer(Marilee Rockley). You will have to be patient till I tat some of them. I also found someone who designs quilt designs in tatting. Yes all I need is 48 hours in a day!Lol. Never enough time for hobbies.

Speaking of hobbies I think I'll 'practice' some more with size 80 thread! TaTa for now :)

A new ring and leaf.

2009-10-11T08:53:00.000-07:00

The picture above is my Celtic tatted elm/rose leaf from Ruth Perry's book "Celtic Tatted Leaves and Flowers. The one on the left was needle tatted on a size 7 needle and the right one is my previously posted shuttle tatted one.The needle tatted one is bigger, and I wove it correctly, I like the look of the shuttle one better. No I'm not giving up needle tatting. There are some techniques I handle better with a needle than shuttle and visa verse. I just think for smaller threads shuttle looks nicer. When working with size 10 and 5 I don't think there is much difference in look. My opinion for what it is worth. The thread is Marilee Rockley(a.k.a. Yarnplayer) 'A Leaf Falls' in size 20.( Check her out at http://yarnplayertats.blogspot.com/ )

This is 'Melur' in size 20 'Lola' hdt by Marilee. The pattern is from Jon Yusoff's book "Tatting With Rings". The original pattern calls for size 30 but I used 20 without too much difficulty. I had a few glitches (not with pattern but with the tatter behind the shuttle) but as a whole unless you look REALLY close you don't see them. Decided Josphine knots and I are NOT really friends. But I keep working on them to make them better. I just close my rings a little too tight.
On a different note: LADYSHUTTLEMAKER needs bits and pieces of size 50 or smaller tatted pieces for her art. If any are interested in sending her some odds and ends you have ( maybe the frustrated with ufos you have laying around) check her out at her web site. There is a link to her web page on my side bar(Tatting Tales-All thing tatting).
I wish everyone happy 'tails' with your tatting and your other projects and I am going to work on a few of mine! TaTa till latter.
PS. I have links to both Jon and Marilee on my side bar so check them out! :)

A little leaf.

2009-10-03T07:01:00.000-07:00

My first attempt at a Celtic rose or elm leaf from Ruth's book "Celtic Tatted Leaves and Flowers"(contact Ruth at rjpoms@yahoo.com ). I did it in size 20 of Marilee's new color 'A Leaf Falls' (http://yarnplayerstats.blogspot.com/ ) . If you click on image you get a bigger picture.Be warned you will see ALL my mistakes too!
This is the first pattern in the book and it tatted easily enough. The trick is weaving correctly. I noticed I might have down some of the weaving wrong, but for first attempt I am happy with it. This was shuttle tatted and I am trying it again needle tatted. :)

A new 'leaf' on life!

2009-09-26T15:43:00.000-07:00

Look what came in the mail! Yes a 'new' book for me! "Celtic Tatted Leaves and Flowers" By Rozella Linden aka Ruth Perry! She can be reached at email address: rjpoms@yahoo.com or follow her at http://tatting.wordpress.com .
I am really excited to get to work on this book. Not that I profess any talent in Celtic tatting, but if you don't try you can't make it work! I also got some MORE thread from Marilee. Te he like I need more. Well just a quick note I can hardly put my shuttles down now, so off I go to tat!

Ladyshuttle Maker is having a giveaway.

2009-09-23T03:54:00.001-07:00

Lady Shuttle Maker is having a giveaway! Check her out at http://ladyshuttlemaker.blogspot.com/. Lady Shuttle Maker A.K.A. Sherry Pence is one of the many gifted artists in tat land and anything she has to share is truly beautiful! I have one of her ceramic shuttles and love it. Thank you for sharing with the rest of us, Sherry!

New thread, Book and tatting!

2009-09-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

Here it is ( it can a little bit ago) Jon's new book! And on the same day I got another surprise- Thread from Yarnplayer( Marilee)! This is just a picture of the three colors I got,but I got several different sizes! My fav is 'Sugar Maple', but there is 'Summer Trail' and 'Lola'. SOOOO

I started tatting little things( the butterflies are actually Lizabeth thread) and the really small triple ring is in 'Sugar Maple'. But that's not all-

I had to try one of Jon's patterns from her book 'Tatting With Rings'. As you can tell from 1st pic ,Jon sent some rings to practice with. No I haven't hid my ends yet(just lazy on my part), and I WON'T point out the mistakes. This is done in size 20 of Marilee's 'Sugar Maple' and the large ring. It is about 2 1/2 inches across and went fairly quickly.( Pattern is 'Melur')

I like how it turned out. I'm thinking of single shuttle split rings and make a 'tail' so I can make it a bookmark. Or maybe turn it into a tree ornament. Well it is a thought,but there are MORE fun patterns to try and I DO have so many new color to choose from! And you know what they say 'practise makes perfect!' Or as I like to say keep trying until you get it right! Ta Ta for now and happy tatting!

Washclothes are taking over the world!

2009-09-03T14:45:00.000-07:00

(Marilee's 'Sugar Maple' and tatted leaf pattern by Rodgers I believe)

This isn't tatted , but I have done a few tatted counterpart's! I just like the pic.Lol.

Meanwhile on the dishcloth trail......

Ok maybe I exaggerated a bit, but I sure have made ALOT of them recently. I should be as ambious about my shuttle as I have my crochet hook.

Here it is finishing up the second week of school and I am still sane! Ok maybe not really-let me explain. My schedule is hectic because I drive specials and this year is no exception. I start driving at 7:15 a.m. till 9:00a.m. Have a break until 10:50a.m. and finish up round two at 12:15 p.m. Get back on the road at 1:20p.m. and finish for the day at 3:10 p.m. Somewhere in there I get lunch take a few nature breaks and need to exercise. So if I have 5 minutes or so I work on something. Soon dish clothes will give way to tatting snowflakes and other winter and fall things(check out Yarnplayer at Esty- she has 'sugar maple' again! a MUST HAVE for tatting all those Fall things, like leaves and doilies etc.) Pic has been posted before, but the leave is Marilee's lovely 'sugar maple'. Ok the point is check her out and support the addiction of HDT so that people like Marilee keep creating lovely thread. And no I do not get a kick back from anyone. I just like HDT and all the lovely threads out there by some very talented ladies!

Well it has been along day already and tomorrow is coming. I wish everyone a safe and happy Labor's Day weekend! TaTa for now. :)

Have shuttle-Will travel

2009-08-19T07:00:00.001-07:00

Last night I had the opportunity to teach someone to tat! Ok I have taught others, but this was the first time I actually had someone who picked it up like a fish to water. She got the ds stitch, how to transfer the flip, picots, rings, joins and chains- all in about 2 hours. I left her with a copy of "Learn To Tat" by Jeanette Baker(pic to the right), a couple of shuttles and some thread. Now normally I wouldn't get excited, but she is under 30, not related to me and she is already a talented artist in her own right. It was fun and can't wait to get together again to see how she does! Who knows maybe we can start our own tatting club here in Northern Illinois!:)

Parting is such sweet sorrow...

2009-08-11T06:12:00.000-07:00

A family portrait taken for Bill's b-day party.(Bill is the little guy on the left). This will be the last photo of all of us as Bec has headed back to Alaska.(l-r Top-me, Jim 1st row-James, Becki and Bill).
Her father and I drove her to the airport and on the way home both of us were a little teary eyed. Even though she has lived in Alaska for over a year it was like sending her off all over again. It doesn't get easier. In the manual that didn't come with children when they where born the how you are suppose to cope with' their leaving the nest' chapter was missing. But that is the beautiful thing about families no matter were in life they are they are still your family and preparing them to have families of their own is one of our jobs.
Now I can take some time and pick up the aftermath and maybe get some tatting done.:).
P.S. To Tatting Chic- your blog goes into error when I try to open it. Just thought you would like to know.

Peaches, pickles and cherries!

2009-08-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

Bec and I canned about 45 quarts of peaches, 14 quarts of pie cherries and Bec did 60 pints of dills. (I did only 14 pints of bread and butter). This was in prep of her getting stuff ready to go back to Alaska. (She leaves tomorrow). Where has the summer gone?

We did the Lake County Fair, the Milwaukee Zoo and lots of clothes shopping the last couple of weeks. All in all we had a FULL summer! I even made 4 dish clothes for her to take back with her. Pic is one of the four dish cloths Bec will be giving to her friend in Anchorage. Sad to say I didn't finish any tatting(Have lots of ufos going around.lol-unfinished objects that is). Maybe when Bec leaves I can get them done.

All in all I will miss Bec and it will be a long spell before we see her again. So when I am having home canned peaches this winter I can smile and think how much fun we had this summer! Well TaTa for now.

Back home-AGAIN!

2009-07-26T06:28:00.000-07:00

Well here it is another post after a wild adventure. This time it was a genealogy fact finding mission. Bec and I scanned 400 pages of genealogy! And look what was waiting for me when I got home! This hdt from LadyShuttleMaker(a.k.a. Sherry Pence) in silk thread colors Witches Brew (L) and Marina(R). This is my first batch of silk thread. I think I want to make a special something for my two Aunts in Missouri.

The pic to the right is the project I'm working on. It will probably get done about the time school starts with as fast as I am working on it.(Canning season is upon me. Right now I have peaches calling me-mmmm peaches!)

I enjoyed seeing family-18 years is TOO long to go without seeing family!

Well this is a quick post and it is off to that never ending list of things to get done.:).

There's no place like home.

2009-06-29T07:02:00.000-07:00

The last leg of the journey. A few very bad pictures of the Sears tower coming into Chicago. When I see the Chicago skyline I know I am almost home. This is done kind of backwards and you get the trip from the the end to the beginning.
All in all it was a great adventure to see some of American history, taste foods that are in different parts of the country and visit family. As someone once said you only go around once so make the best of it! I hope you enjoy my memoirs of my trip!

One of three dish clothes I crocheted on this trip. I only tatted 1 pair of earrings and gave those away before I took a picture. More time was spent walking and site seeing than anything. I left home made gifts to each of our hosts. All in all it was a very fun trip.

The plaque on the spot were the first flight took place. It was very windy at Devil's Hill and there is sand for ground. Some ground cover and alot of little cactus everywhere.

The monument to commentate 100 years of flight at Kitty Hawk, South Carolina. The monument has each date in flights history making moment on each of the stones starting with Wilbur and Orville Wright. There is even a stone to honor the WW contributors to flight. Very cool.

The plaque from the statue. Click on pic to read. You can appreciate the sacrifices made to make this country.

This is the monument from the final battle of the Revolutionary War at Yorktown, Virginia.

The governor's mansion from Colonial Williamsburg. I was surprised to see so many brick homes. It was sooo big and had three buildings attached to the house.

The LL Bean gum boot out the window of the store.(Yes I was VERY involved in the shopping experience there.) This gives you an idea how BIG the store is here. There are different buildings through the town for all the different departments they have. This is the hunting and fishing building.

Becki living her life long dream to stand in the ocean in Maine. The weather was perfect and Maine was absolutely wonderful! The ocean is as lovely as it looks in the picture. Now I have been to as far east as you can go and as far west as you can go. ( Seen both oceans-each is spectacular)

These are some roses and daisies at Ben and Jerry's. They had a lovely garden of flowers all over the hill the factory sits on.

Here is a gorgeous waterfall on the way to Ben and Jerry's in Waterbury, Vermont.

The first part of journey took us to Kirtland, Ohio to see the Kirtland Temple. We are BIG history buffs in my house and we like historical landmarks.(I have pics of a few). Kirtland was nice, but it was humid. The grounds were lovely-sorry no pics of the flowers.

Thanks for sharing my journey through a little bit of Americana. Ta Ta for now.

Ps. Click on the pics and you get a better view of them! :)

Happy trails to me.

2009-06-26T20:24:00.000-07:00

Here is the ocean in Popham Maine.
Looking at pics of the trip it is hard to believe tomorrow we head back. It has been a very nice trip minus the two times we almost got killed by stupid drivers.(don't ask).
I was happy to see baby brother and his family, my nephew and his 3 year old twins and of course to be in Carbondale were Bec went to school.
Bec played in the Atlantic ocean, the York river and a giant gum boot at L.L. Bean. We had our lobster, lots of Sonic cherry limeade, and homemade brownies. Drove thru several mountain ranges and had some beautiful scenery. All in all it has been a good time and we are still all alive!Lol. But going home sounds really good now-miss hubbie, own bed, and of course Ozzy and Harriet.
I promise more pics later. Ta Ta for now.

Boldly going where I've never been before...

2009-06-24T02:37:00.000-07:00

Becki and me. Still fresh and spunky!
Ok. So I don't have alot of pics yet, but for the last week I've: had a lobster roll in Maine, seen the ocean in that part of the world, been to Ben and Jerry's in Vermont-yum ice cream, spent way too much money at LL Beans(cool store), tried to visit Goose Pond, and visited family.
Williamsburg was cool-not temp wise-I was expecting wooden cabins but the houses are mostly brick. I was hot in shorts I couldn't imagine long dresses w/ petite coats!
Today we head for Kentucky after spending the night in Tenn. to visit more family and eat more taste treats!:)

All my bags are packed. I'm ready to go...

2009-06-14T18:32:00.000-07:00

The big day is almost here. Leaving at 3 a.m. and we have had NO fatalities as we packed the car, take down the tent, roll all the sleeping bags.........yeah NOT yet. So hope all of you have a fun summer and will be blogging you in a couple of weeks!:)

Count Down!

2009-06-11T16:16:00.000-07:00

Maine here we come! OK so the pic is not Maine- but hey it is an Ocean. Just the wrong end of the country! :)-
WE LEAVE IN 4 DAYS!!!!!!
Fun in the car............ going across the eastern front......... seeking out new adventures and life forms on or never ending journey thru the fun states!
OK so I'm pumped.
Going to hit Ben & Jerrys. Going to a yarn/supply store -YES! Going to 'drop' in on family. Going to get berries. Going to be sick and tired of car ride-but loving every minute!
Got tent. Got sleeping bags. Zune is charged and I have my tatting! What more could I want!( besides chocolate). Will post pics for all you fun seeking people when I get back. By the way the pic is Bellingham Bay in Bellingham , Washington. Taken from the Ferry on the way to Alaska. Ta ta for now.

Yeah! School's almost done!

2009-06-09T14:43:00.000-07:00

Yes it is hard to believe school is done tomorrow! And the Becki trip is only 6 days away. 6 days away from another adventure with my fav traveling partner!

I tie-dyed 10 T-shirts and will help Becki dye her own shirt tonight. I haven't finished Beth's dragon but I am working on it (along with earrings, a doily and something else). My camera is MIA so I don't have pics. So I need to beg Bec to let me use her camera so I can show all my little projects.

My husband and I have been sleeping out in a tent since Becki has been home(too many people not enough beds!) All I can say is- yeah. I forgot how loud nature is at night. You don't notice all the noise when you are indoors. And the bathroom is alot harder to get to. But I like to camp and on the Becki trip we will be doing alot of that! (cheaper then motels!Lol.)

I can almost taste the Vermont maple syrup, the Ben and Jerrys and the fresh Maine lobster--yummmmmmmmm.

Hope all of you there in blog land have a great time in your adventures! :)-

A time to say 'Thank You'.

2009-05-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

Happy Memorial Day and thank you to all the men and women that have given so much that we can live in a free country. I am proud to be an American and I thank all those people all over the world who also fought and gave their lives to keep all of us all free. I appreciate their sacrifices and honor them today as well.

Time for fun!

2009-05-23T05:23:00.001-07:00

THIS PLUS THIS EQUALS

FUN!

More to come later!:)-

Oh my stars!

2009-05-19T04:02:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of my first idea for my friends book marker. It is a star pattern from 'TATTING Patterns & Designs by Blomqvist & Persson. It is done in Lizbeth 'Raspberry'. After tatting it , I realized it made a nice something but was too big for what I wanted to do. So it goes in the group of things that are waiting to be made into something else. I'm sure NO ONE has one of those piles.
Below is the book marker I finally made( and settled on), 'Black Widow' by Mary Konoir in 'Marble' Lizbeth thread. This book marker was about 2" across and 8" or 9" long. Good size so you don't lose it in the book!

Ok I know I posted the book marker earlier, but I like it so much I did it again! On the star, I think I might make several more and join either so it made a square or did it on the angle. But till now there are other projects calling me to work on them-so it will have to wait. :)

The BIG count down.

2009-05-18T07:47:00.000-07:00

This is a picture my daughter had on her blog that she took on YellowHill. (In Metelakata, Alaska) If you look carefully at the shadow you can see her silhouette in the background. And it reminds me that the final countdown has begun before she comes home!
8 DAYS TILL BECKI- 23 DAYS TILL SCHOOL OUT! But who's counting.LOl. And that means that there will be only a few more days after that until THE TRIP! I'm not excited at all- can you tell! :)-

New bags, yarn, and not enough time!

2009-05-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

Well the only excuse I have for not blogging sooner is that I have been working alot and working on time consuming projects. I know poor excuse but it is the Truth! Lol.
Here is a pic of a flyer from a lovely yarn shop I found on one of my long field trips I took to Rockford. Sorry I am not that suave with buttons and still don't link so you have to do it the old fashion way and enter it. For those of you not fortunate enough to live near yarn shops they do have a web site and do deliver.
OK a little blurb in here. We use to have places around were I live that sold yarn, thread, needles, tatting supplies and patterns. And I'm talking the good stuff not just the $2 a skein synthetic yarn(not that there is anything wrong with it) but not really good for wool socks. Then the scrape book invasion hit. Goodbye yarn,needles, thread, and tatting supplies hello cut out things to spend $$$ on. Hobby Lobby and Micheal's still have a limited selection, but looking for anything other than metal shuttles, larger than size 80 thread in limited colors or quality knitting needles is not there. To be fair to scrape Booker's, I hold no grudge but some times a picture is not the same as seeing the real thing. This summer I have plans to go east and I hope to find something in Maine or Vermont or on the way.( I will have to visit Goose Pond in Maine a great place for quality supplies for wool.)

This is a skein of orange creamsicle. It is 85% wool 15% mohair. Below is a pic of my socks. I was further along with a different size knitting needle and torn it out because it was making Paul Bunyon size socks. This is wool and will felt if washed in warm/hot water. But will be ok if washed in cold.

I am doing 2 socks on 2 circular knitting needles. You get both socks done at the same time and they are the same length! There are several books and instructions online about this technique. You can even do 2 socks on 1 long circular needle.( I would loose half my stitches doing it that way!lol)

I choose wool because wool/synthetic blends wear out so much faster than wool or wool blended with other natural fibers. And lets face it when you have a lot of hours in making socks or anything you don't want it wearing out too soon.

'Black magic' in Lizbeth thread. Finally! finished bookmark.(click pic to enlarge). I made it for a friend's b-day who likes flowers. I think the colors look like flowers, I hope she like it. I've already started on another.

Here it is! (pic courtesy of Jane) my new tatting bags by Jane Ebroll. It is already in use holding my latest project- a book marker using 'Marble' Lizbeth thread and Mary Konior's pattern 'Black Magic' found in 'Tatting with Visual Patterns'. (Pic of finished book marker above)

I am very excited for years I have been clumsily tatting how I learned from a book and I finally bought the 'Learn to Tat' by Jenette Baker. It has an interactive DVD with it that shows a faster way than I was doing. (OK I'm an audio/visual learner and have to hear and see it done- so to learn just from a book I repeat it several times and try to make it look like the few drawings. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.)The motions I was doing are pretty much the same, but I spend way to much time with how I pass the shuttle. I have seen 'UTube' videos of other tatters and could not fully get how they did it. I have to recommend this book . It always amazes me on how we can learn always learn something new from someone else!

Well, I will end here. There is always more things to do than time. I hope all of you had a wonderful Mothers day. My children sent me flowers and my son took me out. It was wonderful to hear from them all. But it was bitter sweet as this is the second Mothers day without my mom. You don't always know what you have until you lose it.

I hope life is good out there in blog land and that you all enjoy the beauty that God has created for each of us. Ta Ta for now.

For all who waited to the end...

2009-04-14T16:10:00.001-07:00

Happy tax day tomorrow. I have a t-shirt that says" Procrastinators Unite, Tomorrow". And with tax day that would be so true- but I did them already!

So for all those who still have to do them, good luck!

Now that they are done I can concentrate on more important things like -tatting! LOL. :)-

(Picture is of Becki and a stray buck we called Bob. He must have been raised by someone and let go into the wild. He wondered into our property and stayed for three weeks until he left.)

ITD shorthand for .....

2009-04-12T08:04:00.000-07:00

Sorry for confusion, but I can be kind of shorthand crazy( comes from texting). ITD was my shorthand for International Tatting Day. Hope this clears up any confusion. (Sorry Tatting Chic you are not missing out on anything!) :)
P.S. Happy Easter!

My tatting results from break and ITD.

2009-04-11T09:49:00.000-07:00

Ok here is what I did during spring break- earrings! This lot is 'Encore' and 'Dove' done in 'Roses', 'Snowflake' and Lizbeth thread that is a variegated turquoise and blue. All earrings are a size 20 with the exception of the 'Snowflake' thread which is a 50.

This group (OK it's earring again-SURPRISE!) are all done in 'Peace' hdt by none other than Yarnplayer! The patterns used are from L to R 'Tatted Oval Earrings', "Quadrille' and 'Encore'. 'Dove' and 'Tatted Oval Earrings' are the only patterns not by Marilee.

Yes outside of getting Harriet and Ozzy( once know as Bob) tatting earrings (because you can NEVER have enough earrings) is about all I did. When it gets warmer I get my dye going and start to tie dye things, batik and work on my quilt again. Of course this will in between canning peaches, making corn relish, jams, jellies and tomatoes sauces and salsa! Oh yeah maybe I'll get some work in there too. LOL. :)-

Meet Harriet and Bob.

2009-04-05T12:18:00.000-07:00

This is Harriet. A grey winged green English Budgie. She is about 9 months old.

This is Bob. A grey winged blue English Budgie. He is about 1yr 9 months old. (My husband calls him 'Ozzy'.

This is the 'happy' couple in their new cage. I can't say my husband was happy, but I missed Harry so much and I always planned on replacing him. My friend Janice and I went to a bird show in Racine, Wis. She came home with a Amazon named Fanny Mae that is about 2 months old. She was a really sweet parrot. (a little too rich for my blood at 700 $). I think the price of English Budgies was bad enough($35 for Bob and $25 for Harriet), but it is still cheaper than some I've priced. They are from a breeder my friend knows and trusts. Birds are safer from breeders than pet shops.

They are a little shy and it takes about 3 days for them to get use to their new home. I can't say my family is as enthused as I am. But I'm happy Bob and Harriet are here! :)

Happy International Tatting Day!

2009-04-01T07:46:00.000-07:00

This the apron on my husband's recaneing project so you can see how big it is.

Another view(sorry for fuzzy pic)

Against a blue chair back ground.

Close up detail of embroidery.

I thought I'd share with you a piece of my family history that started the wonderful world of tatting for me. This was my Great Great Grandmother Alice Atkin Gary's skirt apron she tatted and embroidered herself.(Sorry it is stained and because it is over 100 yrs old I don't know how to remove the stains without hurting it.). My Great Grandmother gave this to me when I was 15 and told me it was tatted by my gggrandmother , Alice. My ggrandmother , Bertha, didn't know how to tat( she was a wonderful cook and taught me cooking and sewing.) but it sparked my curiosity in tatting.

My gggrandmother Alice was a remarkable women for her time and died in 1040's. She supported herself by giving music lessons(in a time period that women didn't work), because her husband was confined to wheelchair. She taught my ggrandfather how to play the mandolin and she herself played the piano and sang.( I know were the music genes come from!).

There was no one to 'show' me how to tat so I taught myself from a book on how to tat. For the first several tries I almost gave up(glad I didn't.). But I was the one who caved her own crochet hook so I could teach myself to crochet because I wanted to make a crocheted poncho(yea I'm THAT old). So with being tired of making knots I finally found someone who could show me that little 'flip' that causes the thread to flip on itself.(I didn't release the tension on my left hand.) WOW! how simple was that and like they say the rest is history! I have been tatting now for close to 40 years and I think of Alice and how something she made out of necessity sparked a desire in one of her posterity. Now it is my job to pass it on. I have taught my daughter and look forward to teach grandchildren when they come.

Thanks for sharing a piece of my history with me on this important day!(Oh, don't forget the chocolate-I know I won't!) :)

"Spring"? Really? Someone forgot to tell Mother Nature.

2009-03-29T06:44:00.000-07:00

This was taken out my front door this morning. As you can see Mother Nature fooled us again here in beautiful (tongue in cheek) Northern Illinois. They cancelled church because we got 2" of ice under 8" of snow! Welcome Spring! ( Love snow on the Colorado Spruce but in December not March!) Oh well there are dozens of children screaming with glee they can get their snow suits on once again! LOL.

Here is 'Quadrille' earrings in size 20 in 'Brilliant Sunset' thread by Yarnplayer. Below is them compared to a penny-so you get some idea how big they are. I really like this pattern for earrings. They are light enough you don't notice they are in(no chance of ripping holes out either) but large enough they don't fall out!

Below are a pair done in 'Roses' size 50 (also Marilee's thread) compared to a penny . I already had to make a replacement earring because I lost one. These are lighter still and I would put a back on the wires so you don't miss place one. After all it is a shame to put all that work into them and loose them!

Here they are by themselves. Click on pictures to see them bigger. All of these have been needle tatted even though Marilee's pattern calls for shuttles. Next challenge is to make a pair using shuttles- but what color? So many to choose, so little time. :)

Earrings from Yarnplayer pattern!

2009-03-25T19:21:00.001-07:00

This is my first pair from Marilee's(aka Yarnplayer) pattern 'Quadrille'. She was selling it on her ESTY shop and I was lucky enough to get it! This is done in Lizbeth size 20. I didn't have the neat beads Marilee has but I like what I did. They tat up quickly(when you are not watching championship games for volleyball) and are alot of fun to wear! I have almost finished another pair in hdt thread 'Rose' and when I have them done I share. :)

'Springtime' earrings and other things.

2009-03-17T18:10:00.001-07:00

Here is the 'Anchor' pattern from the same issue as the 'Tatted Oval Earrings' by Millie W. in the 1991 issue of (June/July) Workbasket done in 'Springtime' Lizbeth thread. Yes I got carried away and overlapped things in the stiffing process.

The other picture is just for size comparison for size 80 (on the right) and the Lizbeth thread size 20.(Earring in 20 is about 2-3'' long).
I think I am going to try the 'Spinning Wheel' glass mat next in this color. :)

Earrings done!

2009-03-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

TaDa! Here they are in the 'Country Grape Swirl' Lizbeth thread. ( This time I actually did the pattern right-cold, tv bad combination.) I want to say they are about 2 1/2 " long. Nice size for dangling earrings.

Now if they made this thread in size 50 or 80 life would be perfect! :)

TaDa!First projects with 'Lizbeth' Thread.

2009-03-14T10:33:00.000-07:00

One earring (about 2 1/2 - 3 inches) in 'Lizbeth' 20 in 'Country Grape Swirl'. I put label to give you prospect of size. Pattern is from an old Workbasket June/July 1991 by Millie Wilcoxson called 'Tatted Oval Earrings'.

The two side by side. The big on is about 6-7 inches across. The size 20 thread makes it about 3-4 inches.

'Q' snowflake by Jon in size 5 hdt thread by Marilee aka Yarnplayer 'Morning Glory'

'Q' Snowflake from Jon done in Lizbeth 'Jewel' thread. Click on pic for a closer look!

Did I mention I REALLY like this new thread! It tat's like a dream(I've said that before!) and it doesn't twist as much as Flora can some times. It is smooth and rings close nicely.

OK enough about thread!

My daughter is MIA!( Not really she just doesn't want to talk to her family right now.) She had regionals for Basketball in Ketchikan and it was like 4 games one day 4 games the next and 7 on the last day. Her chops were gone(she played her tuba with the group). She came close to hurting the male staff member when he heaved her 10 thousand dollar tuba over the seat like a sack of potatoes.( I almost fly out there to take this guy out for mistreating not only her instrument but the schools drum sets. I payed for the tuba and at the time I got it it was only 3000 dollars 10 years ago-so you can see why I was upset.) What message did that send to the students? My youngest son(who plays tuba also) would have gotten in his face. At 6'5" and 300 lbs that is allot to have in your face. But Becki ever the professional chose to deal with it not in front of the students.

So she has Spring break and has gone into hiding get away from Met. And she has her phone off so we can't call- oh well maybe she is getting much needed sleep!

Today both hubby and I have a cold so all I want to do is sit, some tatting and drink herbal tea. So with that thought I will say-TaTa for now!

And now the rest of the story.

2009-03-07T20:28:00.000-08:00

This is my Batik of my logo pic. It is on a 12 x12 bandanna.

The story behind my 'pic'. I have 3 children and my middle child is my only daughter. If she could she would have been born orange and green(her fave colors) she would have. She has a great love for frogs so over the years I have 'collected' as many different frogs for her as possible. This one was from somewhere I don't remember but I used it for a Batik block I did.(1st pic) My original idea was to incorporate it into a block for a quilt. So far I have 3 blocks done in 2 years and am not moving too fast. I named the 3 frogs in my pic after my children and I think it best fits my personality.(Besides I really liked the colors). So that is it. Not very exciting, but it kind makes for a fun story. :)

Have't died, just been working and tatting.

2009-03-04T07:46:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post. I received my shipment of Lizabeth thread from Handy Hands. WOW! I can't say enough good about this thread! The first batch I got last year was very twisty but this batch even made my husband comment on how nice the rings and stitches looked!( He always asks me if I'd rather be doing something else other than tatting. What is he nuts! No- I rather tat thank you.) And now with this thread what a joy. It is as nice as hdt thread I get from Yarnplayer. If you fellow tatters haven't ordered this thread give it a try- you'll love it! :)

Just a Quick Note!

2009-02-27T07:54:00.000-08:00

I had to try Jon's 'Q' snowflake in a size 5 hdt thread just to see how big it could be. Here I am just starting the third row and I can tell you already it is about 3 1/2 inches across!
My tatting class went well and as soon as she finishes her butterfly I will take a picture and post it. By the way you need to check out 25 motif challenges (sorry don't know how to do link things yet). Great stuff going on in the tatting world! :)

Wish me luck!

2009-02-20T17:30:00.000-08:00

Well tomorrow I will teach my third person the wonderful art of tatting! Yes I am excited. but I have a tendency to be kind of over detail oriented. This can be a good thing but more than likely not. I know keep it simple. I am excited because several people have asked to learn. Right now I don't charge but some point I will have to. I just love to share with people! So wish me luck! :)

Becki Sat On A Wall, Becki Had A Great Fall!

2009-02-16T06:03:00.000-08:00

Boo Boo Knee of Becki. Ouch!

You should see the other guy!

Poor Becki was walking from one building to the other at school and twisted her ankle and fell not so gracefully. Everyone was very concerned so she had to go to Health Services ( there is not hospital at Met) and get checked out. They do not have X-Ray, but it didn't appear that she broke anything. Becki called us and said she had something funny to tell us. Her idea of funny and mine are very different when it involves injury!

The eye is two days later and all her bruises are starting to get that nasty discoloration to them. She did her great 'fall' two days before Valentines day.

I have been sewing quillows and really only tatted one heart for my bus. Now is the time to pull out the tatting patterns for March.(Like kites, shamrocks and other fun things). And soon it will be butterfly season!

Well this is just a quick post and I have a quillow calling me!TaTa for now:)

Tatting Chic- you ask for it and here it is!

2009-02-10T18:35:00.000-08:00

This is a print out of the picture. Color is off , but hope it is big enough to see details!:) P.S. try clicking on picture. You have nothing to lose!

Hearts , shirts and not much else!

2009-02-10T07:40:00.000-08:00

Becki's Pep Band and their hand tie-dyed shirts.

Hearts Entwined pattern by Jon Yusoff. My first major shuttle tatted piece I did in 10 years! It is done in Marilee's(Yarnplayer) 'Rose' size20. (I wish I knew how to make it so you can click on it so you can see the detail, but I don't.)

Hey I just clicked on the picture and guess what-it opened another window and shows the picture bigger. Cool! :)

What happened to forever?

2009-02-03T18:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I came home in between routes to find my son home, crying. The story came out that his wife of only 14 months decided to leave him for her old boy friend. What do you say to your despondent child that can make him feel better other than I am sorry. We are here to support, but decision of how to proceed is up to him.
It is hard to see this happen especially when he has been taught that marriage is an eternal thing. All I can say is pray for them. We are and being there to help them in what ever way we can. It makes me appreciate my wonderful husband even more because even in the hard times he decided I was worth it. I love him for that.:)

Yarnplayer's thread and DS9Designs Patterns-Success

2009-02-01T10:57:00.000-08:00

OK, here are some pictures using Yarnplayer's new colors in order 'Midnight ', 'Lavender Orchid', "Roses' and angel #5 pattern and angel#3 pattern from Deb Arnold. (Still making a mate for the lone earring) In spite of the picture quality you get the idea! They are quick and easy to do and I practiced with my new shuttle( the rose one with no beads) and needle tatted the others.

I stand corrected.

2009-01-31T17:57:00.000-08:00

My daughter corrected me that the inner island ferry comes once a day to Met. I had to correct the name of the boat(which I did) and I can't spell. (Hey I knew that- what else is new.) That the school is only one story and you could see the boat in the bay from the front doors. OK Becki happy now? (Still makes for an exciting story and we can all happy no one was hurt!) :)

We all die famous in a small town!

2009-01-31T14:13:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of one of my new shuttles from GrizzlyMountainArts from Esty.com.(On the bottom right)

This is light enough that guess what! I don't drop it! whoopee!

I have been tatting earrings from ds9designs (Deb Arnold) and have been having fun trying to see all those tiny stitches! (size 50 will do that to you). Don't know what I'll do with 10 more pairs of earrings guess I just have to give them away to friends!

The other shuttle is bone from ebay. This is also very light and thin so it fits nicely in my hand. It came from Ireland is hand made. I have this one with another shuttle working on "Entwined Hearts". I'm not having as much luck as I could, but I just plug away.

Now for some exciting news!

On Friday morning at about 1am Met time they where having a spot of bad weather(rain and 85 mph winds). Well the Lituya broke free of it's mooring and grounded on an island of rock in the channel. A view that could be seen from the top floor of the High School. This wouldn't have been so bad but this IS the only transportation on and off Met this time of year and the ferry was damaged. So the other inter-island ferry that comes from Canada has to step up. That ferry only makes one round trip to Ketichan/Metlakatla a day.(there at 9 am and drop off again at 11pm). Not very convenient but hey you get to spend the whole day(literally) at Ketchikan!

How does that saying go-it doesn't just rain it pours? We are hoping that it doesn't take to long to get the Lituya up and running. Met provides bottle water to whole of Alaska and has other things to that they need to keep going to keep their economy going. They do have food and other goods barged in once a week.

The first pic is nice view of the fishing boats and tug boat trying to get it free. The second picture shows a view from the school, probably from a class room.(Believe it or not that ferry is over 100 feet long.)

Well Met made the news and it will be all right just not convenient.TaTa for now!

2009-01-24T19:22:00.000-08:00

My second attempt at Jon's "Quantieque" snowflake done in Yarnplayer's "Pizazz" in a size 20. I am happy with this one. It seems to work better with a softer thread than a firmer one like Flora.

I am shuttle tatting the "Hearts Entwined" with my hand made shuttles I got on ebay. I was 3/4 of the way done when I found I made a serious mistake( hours of picking out to fix). I kept dropping my tatting needle I was using to unpick( not a good sign for my hands- my grasp strength is not all that great anyways) so my other option is to cut and re-attach. So I wound the thread on floss winders and set that one away until another day. I think I will try it again with the shuttles with my new thread "Roses" (also from Yarnplayer). I didn't do anything today because my hands have been too cold all day.(When you can't button your sweater you have problems). So tomorrow (wearing gloves to warm hands up) I am going to start shuttle tatting "Hearts Entwined" again!

My ebay shuttles are small and thin enough that I can hold them without too much pressure( part of the problem with regular shuttles for me). But they are not too thin. One is made of wood and shaped like a regular shuttle(eye shape), the other is made of bone also eye shape. They have a little groove on each side to hold thread and holes on opposite sides so you can put thread on them. Because they are natural materials they warm in my hands (when the hands are warm) and because they are less than 1/2 in thick I don't drop them as much! Yeah! There has to be a market out there for people who have hand issues and finding tools they can use to still do the things they enjoy. I have read several tatters who needle tat because they have arthritis and can't hold a shuttle. Maybe they need to try wood shuttles and see if that makes a difference.

Anyway I am enjoying shuttle tatting with something that I don't drop and doesn't hurt to use! ( I went to wood knitting needles-the best thing to use). So when I get this piece done I will share! Only I can only stand to shuttle tat at short bursts so it will take time.

On a happier note people need to check out Esty.com and look at all those beautiful hdt out there. The color combinations Ladyshuttlemaker and Yarnplayer have been putting together are just fabulous! There are other sellers like Heather(don't know her esty store name) and Jane E. that are great too. So much too choose from and so few funds what is a thread junkie suppose to do? Oh well it doesn't hurt to look and enjoy all those colors!

Well I have been typing way too long and need to sign off. But before I do let me say I enjoy reading all those tatting blogs out there. I realize I am not alone and there are other people all around the world who can't have idle hands either! ( Or sit still for very long either!) TaTa for now.

Happy Saturday!

2009-01-24T08:17:00.000-08:00

I realized I was too complainy last time-sorry.
I've had a great week at work and it is so rewarding when you finally connect with the special children you work with! I had one of those moments on Friday. Yes it is a challenge to try and get responses from someone that isn't on the same page as you, but it is fun to some degree.
Becki has been asked out twice in the last week. OK that doesn't sound impressive but she is on an island of 1500 people all related some how because 89 percent of them are American Indian from one of the 5 clans on the island and the single guy ratio is slim. This all came about because she sang the National Anthem at the basketball game!
Well I want to make Curves so TaTa for now!

Hey it's cold out there!

2009-01-16T06:33:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the land of sub zero temps! We have our second snow day because the temps are -21 degrees. Burrrrr that's cold! Of course I know we are not alone.( Hey, aren't we suppose to be having global warming?) Looking at the temps around the globe I'd like to be in England! Yesterday they were 44!It was even warmer in Anchorage Alaska at 40 degrees!

The picture is my first attempt at a design. (I'm not done with it yet) Yeh! Ok it's not all that impressive, but taking it from paper to thread is not as easy as it looks. I made several sketches and the work up piece doesn't look like any of them. I know the picture isn't that great. But let me give you what I did. ( still don't know what to call it).

Motif

Round 1

R 3-3-3-3

LR 3+3-3-3-3-3 (join to last p previous ring)

R 3+3-3-3 rw ( join to last p previous ring.clover made)

C 8-8

R 3+3-3-3 (Join to last p previous ring of 1st clover)

LR 3+3-3-3-3-3 (Join to last p previous ring)

R 3+ 3-3-3 (join to last p of previous ring) 2nd clover made

C 8-8 ( chains will over lap )

R 3+3-3-3 (Join to last p of previous ring)

LR 3+3-3-3-3-3 ( Join 1st p of previous ring)

R 3+3-3-3 ( Join to last p of previous ring) 3rd clover made

C 8-8

R3+3-3-3 (Join last p of previous ring on 3rd clover clover)

LR 3+3-3-3-3-3 Join to last p of previous ring

R 3+3-3+3 Join to last p of previous ring second join to last p of 1st clover. 4th clover made.

C 8-8 join to 1st clover. Tie and hide ends.

Round 2

Starting at the third rings between two clovers make :

*LR 5-5+4+5-5 Join last p of those two rings. rw

C 7-7 rw

R 5+3+3-3 Join to last p of ring just made and to first p of LR of clover from previous round. rw

C5-5 rw

R 3+3+3-3 join to last p of previous ring join to middle p of LR clover from previous round rw.

C 5-5 rw

R 3+3+3-5 join to last p of previous ring and to last p of LR clover from previous roundrw.

C7-7 rw*

Repeat from *-* two times.

Than :

R 5+5+4+5-5 Ist join to last p of previous ring 2nd & 3rd join to last ps of the two rings of the clovers from previous rounds.rw

C 7-7 rw

R 5+3+3-3 1st join to last p of previous ring 2nd join to first p of LR from previous round. rw

C 5-5 rw

R 3+3+3-3 join to last p of previous ring and middle p of previous round of LR. rw

C5-5 rw.

R 3+3+3+5 1st join to last p of previous ring, 2nd join to last p of LR 3rd join to 1st p of 1st ring of this round. rw

C 7-7 join to 1st ring of this round. Tie and hide threads.

Hope you try it. I made it in size 10 thread needle tat, but I think ball and shuttle will work just fine. I hope there are no mistakes and I explained my idea clear enough. I will try to put a diagram together and post that some time. As this is just a beginning I think it may have more rounds or evolve into something else. Well from a very cold Midwesterner I bid you TaTa for now.

Don't worry-be happy!

2009-01-08T11:13:00.000-08:00

It wasn't bad enough husband got that 'thanks for the great job you did for our company last year but we have eliminated your job' letter just before Christmas-when I came back to work there was a surprise letter for us! I don't know the total effect, but even schools are tightening their belts. At the worst I could have more time to get that degree finished and have more time to do my needle crafts. Maybe even figure out some patterns that are running around in my head and put them in print! When you see the all the beautiful patterns out there done by some amazing tatters you take for granted all the talent that goes into creating those patterns. So thank you all the talented tatters out there-like Jane E., Ruth P., Mark M., Sherry P., Marilee, Tatting Chic, Laura and Jon Y.( And all the others I have forgotten.) It is hard to live up to your quality, but I'll just have to keep trying.

I posted a picture of my kids. This is what I am truly grateful for. So no matter how hard the times get we will all survive as long as we count our blessings and help those we can.

I feel very blessed for my family and the fact that at least this far I still have a job. There is a song that we sing at church that goes ' ..and you are discouraged thinking all is lost count your many blessings name them one by one and it will suprise you what the Lord has done.' How true. TaTa for now.