LOOK SHERRY!!!!






These are my last three pieces I've done. The top one is Lesson #4 from the Torchon Lace Workbook by Bridget M. Cook, Spiders. There's a booboo in the pricking, however, that took me forever to figure out. My blue stripes didn't correspond exactly to her brown stripes in her example. There's an extra row of ground between a couple of those spiders. I thought I'd really messed up, but on further examination I found I was okay.

The middle sample is a redo of Lesson #3 in Whole Stitch - I found the reason the edges are so wonky is that Opera (the lavender thread) is fatter than the Cebelia (the yellow and blue threads). Last time I'll do that.

The Looooooong sample is Lesson #5 in Half Stitch Roseground. I practiced moving my pricking and lace on the pillow with that one. It's amazing how well the stuff holds together without pins. Can you tell I'm easily amused?

I have Lesson #6, Scandinavian Holes, resting on the pillow at present. I'm taking a wee break from the lessons and am planning to actually make one of the patterns out of real lace-sized thread. That should be interesting.

Raymond renamed Lesson #6, "Scandinavian Hos" - they're always open for business.

Oh, he's bad.

One of my tatting gifts this year was a simple bracelet done with a single shuttle. They were actually a smash hit and I've ended up having to make more. It actually almost takes longer to string the beads on the shuttle than to tat the thing. Well, not really, but it's definitely more tedious. I used 11/0 seed beads and 4mm Swarovski bicones. The big gold beads are 2mm spacers. Thread? I'm using good old Coats and Clark Upholstery thread. Holds knots like a dream.

And it comes in colors, too. And they have it at Walmart.

Can you beat that?

Anyway, here's a pic of some of the bracelets without the lobster claws added. I actually did about 5 more.

And did I get pics of the ornaments? Heck no. Gaaaaak.

The top picture is a multi-beaded technique that evolved from play by Sue Hanson and Nina Libin that Nina published in her latest newsletter, Lace of Beads. It moves really quickly, and I think makes a rather stunning statement.

Oh, I am so incredibly baaaaad. I fear I haven't updated in a very long time, so be prepared. This is going to take a little while.

I still haven't sent all my Christmas packages out. Now they're going to be Martin Luther King Day gifts, or Groundhog Day gifts. That's okay. Well, not really, but there isn't much I can do about that now, is there? So there. Great things come to those who wait.

I do have many, many Christmas pretties to share.

To get things warmed up, here is a pic of the sunset from our trip back from Kingsport on Sunday. It was a stunning sunset.











Sherry wanted to see my lace pillow. Here goes. I've loaded it up with my tatting "swag" from Christmas, too. It's a thing of beauty, I'm telling you. Sorry about these pics looking sort of dark. I was trying to do a natural light thing.

Here's the whole enchilada:















My Secret Santa partner was Bette. She sent a beautiful ornament with the note suggesting that I might use this adornment as an earring when not used as a tree ornament. What a hoot! I just might do that, Bette. She also sent the beautiful little purple earrings, an important reference work on the Sweet Potato Queens (I think I may be one, Bette) and a ton of chocolate. And some beads! And Look! It's a pink ornament! How'd she know?






I got a beautiful card and an unexpected surprise from the Myers folk. Part of it is still a surprise, but I can share this beautiful wreath that Mark tatted. I've got it on my all-white-fight-the-winter-blahs snowflake tree that's up in my dining room even now as I write. It's gorgeous.











The most incredible parcel came from dear, sweet Sherry - I cried when I opened it (at first it was because I was laughing so hard, but everything was so beautiful and Sherry's had such a rough year). She went way above and beyond the call of duty. She gave me lots of funny foot and shoe related stuff. The real beauty was this bobbin-lace/tatted ornament. It's hanging on my big Christmas tree - yes, I still have it up!








Sherry also painted the most incredible bobbins. You can see them in use on my pillow - I tried to get a good closeup, but Sherry is way better at that than I am. One has beautiful sparkly Christmas Stars flitting all about while the other is captioned "Erin Shopping". You can't read it, but she actually has "Wally World" and "JoAnn's Fabrics" on there. And yes, those are pink glittery shoes that actually have teensy glitter. And a matching handbag. Amazing.

















Here's the shoe ornament she sent. I like the way it looks like a mismatched pair when I have it next to the pincushion on the bobbin lace pillow.





I promise - there are more pics to post in a wee bit. I must gather them presently.

Now is the time for me to insert a footnote. Sherry, this is too funny!