Okay - it looks a little rough, but here it is! Noel, approximately 12" in diameter, made in Lizbeth #80 boysenberry dark.

La, la, la, la.....

Back from Tat Days! I've got lots and lots of stuff to share, but not the time presently. I just wanted to show Sherry my version of Ben Fikkert's Noel doily from his book, Floriade. It's really a lovely design, and I'm so looking forward to seeing what this will look like finished and blocked!

I apologize for its wonkiness. It's been wadded up in my tatting bag - I tried to straighten up a bit with a pin or two. You sort of get the idea of what it's going to look like anyway.

Not too much further to tat now.

I have to brag a little here.

I have the sweetest nieces and nephews. Not having children of my own, I live vicariously through them. Heehee!

My nephew, Cozmo, is a guitarist. The group he plays with has just released a new album. They recorded at Levon Helm's studio in Woodstock last winter around the time of Snowpocalypse. I didn't really know what to expect when I first heard the album, but I have to say that I'm beyond impressed. I'm extremely very proud of Cozmo, too. He not only got his bachelor's degree, but a master's degree in Business and Marketing Education before he decided to "be famous". Free samples of the album and touring information about the band is available here:

http://www.thedirtyguvnahs.com/Home.html

http://www.thedirtyguvnahs.com/Music.html

They really are a nice group of very talented young men - and I do wish them the best in their endeavors!

Georgia belle says to check out the slide shows of the quilt blocks at http://www.tatdaysscholarship.info

See what all your pals have been up to!

Also, be sure to print out some paper forms for your pals to donate to the scholarship fund. Who knows? They may win the quilt and share it with you!

Those slides are pretty stunning! And so inspirational. I'm so impressed with what everyone did. It's incredible.

Georgia belle says to check out the Palmetto Tat Days Scholarship Fund Donation/Quilt Drawing page!

http://www.tatdaysscholarship.info

Thank you very much!

Oh, how I'm bad. I've been so busy lately -- I've been faced with the choice of taking care of things or blogging. Guess which won out?

Lots has been going on. I'll try to do a "quickie" update. Back in April I was visited by the one and only Hope G. Here she is with two of my favorite people, Mr. and Mrs. Mo, who preside over my favorite restaurant, King Tut's Egyptian Grill. She lived to tell about it, too.

















A couple of weeks later, Raymond got to meet his all-time idol, "Dr. J.", or Julius Erving. Dr. J. was awarded a Community Service Award by WXIA-TV in Atlanta. We not only attended, but got to sit with Dr. J during the telecast (they needed bodies to fill up the tables - heehee!) I thought Raymond looked particularly fetching that evening. Dr. J was such a nice man, too.

















I've been working, working, working on quilt blocks and tattings for Palmetto Tat Days. I have a little sneak peekaroo at something you can do with my little "button mums". This is a little bag I found years ago at the dollar store (it cost a dollar!). It was supposed to be an evening bag, but I thought it looked like a cute little child's purse. I made three of the mums and supplemented the arrangement with a Ruth Scharf-type leaf and a little rings-only flower. The beads were really fun to work with. I used some of those matte delicas. These work up quickly - and a bead spinner really and truly does work!

My very beautiful shuttle was decorated by the very talented and gifted Sherry Townsend. That is real tiny tatting on that electric pink shuttle. If you think it's bright here, you should see it in person. It'll put your eyes out!

No, I haven't fallen off the planet.

I've just sort of been really busy of late. I have a few pics to share, however. Firstly, I had to share these beautiful flowers with you folk. Spring is just around the corner. Can you feel it?


















I will miss those beautiful sunsets we have in the wintertime, however. Here's a sunset from the not so distant past. I love how the silhouette of the trees looks like lace.






















As some of you know, I've been helping one of my dear older pals settle into assisted living. Phyl is extremely craft-oriented -- she hated giving up her home to move into a beige room. She's been craving color. I decided she needed a special something to brighten up her room. This is my first foray into making an actual machine-pieced quilt. It's been very interesting. I'm sure my next attempt will be better.

























Lastly, I've gotten two of my three blocks for the Palmetto Tat Days scholarship fundraiser quilt well underway -- do these look finished? I hope so. I've started on block #3. Georgia still has some needing homes. Oh - these two are my tribute to Tennessee. I can't wait to see this quilt finished!