Exchange Package

Today was the big opening of the Christmas in July exchage packages in our online group. Mine has been waiting not so patiently for a couple weeks taunting me, but it was worth the wait! A big thank you to Nancy in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia for a wonderful treat.

Farm Show Entries

Okay, I got over my funk and spent the morning getting my entries together. I have 8 of them: doily, star motif mounted in a ring, dresser scarf, hand towel, snowflake tree ornament, Easter egg displayed with some silk flowers, cross-stitched bib, and knit poodle. I don't expect a ribbon for the bib, but it's for a friend's shower; if there isn't much competition, it may win something. It would be nice to be able to give her the "award" along with the gift.

Checking In

Just an update, since I feel that I've been away for a little while. I've finished 2 more rounds on the purple doily and am trying to find a way to get a better picture, one that gives better representation of the true colors. I just have 2 rounds left until it's finished, so I'm hoping to have the photo situation resolved by then. Any suggestions would be very welcomed - a photographer I am not!

The Farm Show starts on Sunday, so I need to finish sewing the lace onto the table runner and the tea towel if I want to enter them. I must be in a bit of a funk this week, because I don't care much for the tea towel. It was fine before, but now that I pulled it back out, something about it is not making me happy. Maybe it's just the competetive perfectionist in me thinking that my work isn't good enough. I have to say that some recent events in an online tatting group have also put a damper on my spirits this week.

So . . . we'll just keep on keeping on. I'll let you all know how the Farm Show plays out - what I decide to enter and how the judging goes. Entries have to be submitted on Sunday afternoon, and judging takes place on Monday morning.

Stay tuned. . .

#27 & Design Challenge

I've been taking a little bit of a break from tatting to work on a baby shower gift for a friend, but I made time to complete this snowflake for Sharon's Design Challenge. Once again, I have found the limit of my skills and learned a lot in the process. As it sits, the snowflake doesn't hold its shape, even with lots of starching; however, I'm thinking that a mounted photo in the middle could solve that dilemma and make a nice tree ornament or refrigerator magnet.

Dad's Tools

Does anyone recognize these? They both appear to be hand-made, but I doubt that my dad made them. It's possible that my mother made the case, but I almost think I would have been told about that, so I'm suspecting that he purchased them somewhere.

Pictures

I have to apologize to my round robin partners - my package has been home for a couple weeks, and I have neglected to post the pictures here of the great work that everyone did. Better late than never, right?? :)

So . . . here we have bookmarks: the blue one at the beginning is the one I did and sent out, followed by the pastel one by Aileen's Wicked Tats in Singapore, the green one by BoB The Bike in Wales, and the red & white cross by Margaret in Canada. THANK YOU to my new friends!
























Next is a photo of my current WIP, "Oval Tatted Doily" designed by Darlene Polachic and published in Old-Time Crochet magazine, Summer 2001. I found it when someone on Here-Be-Tatters was looking for the roll stitch baby bonnet, and decided the doily was too pretty to just put away and forget about. I've finished the center and rounds 1-5 and have 6-9 to go, so I'm probably a little bit over halfway, since the next three rounds are chains only and should go quickly (famous last words).

I'm using Omega size 30 in a pink & purple variegated. I don't know why my scans are coming out so dark, but the actual color is not quite that harsh.

Tagged Again!

Wow, I guess I'm "it" again :) Aileen's Wicked Tats has tagged me.

So . . .Here are the rules:
1. Link back to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share 6 unimportant things about yourself.
4. Tag 4 people at the end of your entry.

About Me

1. I can't seem to learn the "running man" dance move, no matter how hard my daughter tries to teach me.

2. I watch television programming for preschoolers in Spanish to help me with the language, since I don't have anyone with whom to converse.

3. I've recently survived my 40th birthday (still getting used to the idea).

4. I don't know how to take a bus in a city. Living in rural areas my entire life, it's something I've just never learned. In March 2007, I took a business trip to New York City and (with a friend's help) took the subway and a taxi, but no bus yet.

5. I read 35 books in 2007 for "pleasure reading"; that would be ones that I didn't need to read for work.

6. I want a cookie.

And now . . . TAG* to
Tatted Lace Treasures (Tara)
Jon's Thread Escapade
snowy's tatting
Steph's (tat) Stuff

*Please don't feel obligated to participate. Just know that I visit your blogs regularly and appreciate having you as part of my cyber-circle of friends!

Onward! #26

Since I started the 25 Motif Challenge in February and have just "finished," I think maybe I can continue and make it to 50 in the 12-month period. So . . . here is #26. On eTatters there is currently a challenge to makes something with an old (out of publication) pattern. I took a simple insertion from Pricilla Book No. 1 and attached it to some elastic to make a wedding garter. Now that I see how it works, I think I would cover the elastic first with fabric or ribbon so that it doesn't show through as much.

25 Motif Challenge Finished!

Now that my round robin partner has received her package, I can post a picture of my final motif for the challenge. It is "Lisa's Dragonfly" by Lisa Reichart, and the pattern can be found on Tat's All website. I used a variegated size 30 thread (don't know what type, as it was in the stash from Dad) and dark purple beads. Just a note - the colors aren't as dark as the scan shows.

Sad News

We had to put down our friend, Cosmo, this evening. Since I always seem to find solace in my handwork, I'll be searching for a project to fill the empty spot - maybe knitting, maybe tatting, we'll see. Sleep well, little guy - we love you.