The Buhlawg (I'm Nothing if not Southern...)

2011-08-16T21:09:00.003-04:00

More flakes on the Winter Wonderland Blog!

Also, I thought I'd share a pic of the quilt before I had all the flakes sewn down. I wanted to get an idea of how it would look spread out on a bed. Please ignore the mess. It was either clean or sew on snowflakes. I can't wait to see it quilted! Heeheeeee!

ALSO - a shameless reminder to check out the quilt at the Tat Days Scholarship Info Website. Contribute often - you may be the proud owner of this quilt-soon-to-be!

2011-08-10T18:20:00.002-04:00

I can't believe it's August already!!!

Oh, my! Time flies when you're having fun! The quilt top has made its way up to Illinois and Georgia and Pinky! You can get a sneaky peek the Tat Days Scholarship Info . Unfortunately the photograph is just the top before it was very unceremoniously dumped into a box and dropped in the mail. It was really fun to turn it over to Pinky and be surprised like everyone else now.

I've posted more flakes at the tatting-in-a-winter-wonderland blog. I cannot begin to tell you how thankful I am that we had such selfless participation in this project. Folks were so very, very generous. Tatting folk are nice folk, that's all there is to it.

I've been doing a little proofing for Martha Ess. Her new book is going to be faboo - that's just all there is to it! You can sit and have a cuppa with Martha at her blog.

Also -- TAT DAYS REGISTRATION IS OPEN!!!! Yay! Can Tat Days be far behind? Look at the cool logo designed by Pam Freck!

Check it out!!!!!

2011-07-27T18:38:00.004-04:00

I feel like I've given birth!

The quilt has landed at Georgia's. Now I can show and tell about the snowflakes in earnest. More snowflakes are posted at Tatting in a Winter Wonderland. I can't believe it's *58* days until Tat Days. Have you looked at the preliminary information? I don't know about you guys, but I can't wait!

2011-07-05T20:01:00.003-04:00

Time for an update!

We've had a little blizzard at Tatting in a Winter Wonderland! I do apologize for the tiny gap in updates. I had visitors. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law came with their granddaughter (my great niece), Asa. Asa was way too much fun. I'll post a pic shortly.

2011-06-11T19:38:00.005-04:00

Hi, gang!

I had the most delightful telephone call today from Isdihara! You know, I think we must have all been separated at birth. I don't think I've ever spoken to a tatting stranger. They just don't exist. Thanks, Issy!

I thought I'd give you another bathroom update. The tile got up on the walls, the fixtures got put in, then I needed to grout. Yes, that was a little backwards, but I had to work with the plumber guy schedule. I grouted the wall where all the fixtures went, then after the fixtures were replumbed I grouted the remaining tile.

You remember Crazy Mom of Crazy Mom Tats!? Well, she frequently writes of the adventures of her children, the Stooges. I have some Stooges of my own, but mine are the furry kind -- Chatty, Stinky and Nedsel. They may be feline, but they want to help just the same.

2011-06-04T18:12:00.003-04:00

More flakes today from Anitra Stone and Stephanie Wilson on the snowflake blog.

And some eyecandy. This is a little doodle I did out of some scrap copper wire and a bit of thread left on the end of a shuttle. I used inverted picots in the style of Dutch needle tatting and shaped the wire as I went.

2011-05-31T20:14:00.002-04:00

Bathroom update and more flakes over on the snowflake blog. Here's a preview:

When you're doing this tile stuff, you get to cut the tiles to go around little things like this. I like to call this my "Tribute to Mondrian". Of course, my artistry is now hidden beneath the vanity, but I know it's there. Now you do too!

2011-05-28T16:09:00.002-04:00

More snow is falling at Tatting in A Winter Wonderland!

Meanwhile, here's a bathroom princess update.

2011-05-26T19:45:00.003-04:00

I posted a new entry on the Quilt blog. Here's another picture of the Bathroom Fairy's project.

The plumbing had been replaced, new drywall put up and the monotonous job of taping begins.....

Don't let the smile fool you.

I'm actually contemplating what to do with that broom and the camera at that point.

Heh.

2011-05-24T17:41:00.003-04:00

Long time no post!
Bathroom fairy here. I started a little blog to chronicle the snowflake quilt project for the Palmetto Tatters Guild Scholarship Fund. Check it out!

2011-01-24T21:11:00.003-05:00

Happy New Years!

2010-09-26T15:15:00.002-04:00

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.....

2010-09-15T19:36:00.003-04:00

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.

2010-07-27T17:34:00.002-04:00

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!

2010-07-25T21:21:00.009-04:00

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.

2010-07-21T20:18:00.001-04:00

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

http://www.tatdaysscholarship.info

Thank you very much!

2010-06-16T19:55:00.007-04:00

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!

2010-03-18T19:16:00.007-04:00

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!

2009-12-16T05:46:00.011-05:00

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

I hope all of you are well and warm. I've been busy, busy, busy preparing for the holidays. And I'm ready for one! I have a few pics of stuff to share. First of all, on Thanksgiving my sister, Amy, spotted this "lurking visitor" in the backyard. That was one of Santa's reindeer, no doubt, checking to see if we were being naughty or nice. We were trying to be nice at the time. It's hard to get into much trouble if one is stuffing one's face with Mattie's homemade rolls. Oh, they're good. We haven't been able to spot the reindeer since, however. I think it must be like Stonehenge where there's one day per year that particular shadow appears. Heehee!

We had a little surprise weekend before last. It snowed! And it stuck to everything except the streets! We seldom get snow before January here. I can only remember a couple of white Christmases ever. Who knows? Perhaps we'll have one this year. Anyway, this is what our street looked like. I love how quiet it gets when it snows.

I've been busy making it snow inside the house as well. I love taking a pattern and playing with color and beads and such. This is the second snowflake from 24 Snowflakes in Tatting by Lene Bjorn (yes, Gina - I was tatting that snowflake also!). Isn't it interesting how the overall design of the snowflake appears to change with the addition of color and where it's placed. The little blue snowflake was the result of some bead play. The big snowflake is a beaded version of "Connie's Snowflake". We "studied" it in the online tatting class Monday. I put "studied" in quotes as a) my diagram and pattern had some "issues" and b) we were generally pretty rowdy that night. I don't know what they slipped into the tea that night!

Connie's Snowflake

My sister, Amy, asked me for a painting this year. She wanted a painting of Santa Clause done in the style of Haddon "Sunny" Sundblom - the man who painted the Santas for Coca Cola (and also coined the phrase, "The pause that refreshes"). Dagwood painted one for us when we were kids and of course we all lust mightily for that painting. This isn't as good as Dagwood's, but here is the end result. Apres Sundblom, 16"x24", oil on canvas.

2009-11-15T08:23:00.008-05:00

More about Tat Days 2009
On Friday Morning we started things out with a little Trade a Tip session which got everyone's tatting fingers loosened up. The classrooms at White Oaks are really lovely - lots of great natural light from the generous floor-to-ceiling windows. I learned lots of nifty tricks from the tatting borg, plus had a great time just being in the element. There is a certain comfort that comes with being with kindred folk.

The Palmetto folk think of everything. All that tatting can really tax one's system. The gals saw to it there were always good provisions on hand. This is the glorious "hallway of food and drink" they set up with all sorts of snacks - chocolate, of course, and other sweet and savory lovelies. There was a complete coffee and tea service as well. And water. Don't forget the water. Hi, there, Sherry!

Tracy Jackson was the "big vendor" - Here she is with her tremendous "ocean of thread". Oh, the colors! And the variety! She had some fabulous sales going on as well. I stocked up on size 70 and 80 cordonnet. Yep - I figure I'll be about 283 years old by the time I run out. Hey, Jane! Quit talking and buy more thread!

Ronnie and Teresa Woods graciously manned the cash register for the other vendors. It would make my head swim for days to keep all that straight. They're always good for words of encouragement (Erin, this shuttle is so you! You really need to buy it!). Needless to say, I did, and I'm a happy camper. ;-) That's "G-L-O-R-I-A" Gloria with them. Gloria took care of the Silent Auction table which was located directly across from Ronnie and Teresa.

Meanwhile on Friday morning we had folk still registering for the event. Here are Donna and Katharine hard at work at the check-in table. They also spent a great deal of time putting out the inevitable "little fires" and seeing to it that classes and events ran smoothly.

2009-10-31T08:40:00.015-04:00

Tat Days Post!!! Finally!!!

If you read the Tat Days Post at Celtic Dreamweaver Sherry's Blog, then you got to see some of our initial visit. After Sherry got here and we slaved over shuttles and such, Georgia and Richard Seitz arrived. Oh, we had fun! There was much talk, laughter, painting and merriment. For dinner, we went to eat at my favorite South Knoxville restaurant, King Tut's Egyptian Grill. Georgia and Sherry got to be Tut-ettes.

And Georgia Belle made the mistake of ordering "Chicken to Go".

We shared the Egyptian and Vegetarian samplers (except adventuresome Raymond who had grilled chicken). Then we had basbousa (a little semonlina cake with sauce over it) for dessert. Yummy yum! Look! I have tatting in my lap!

After a great meal, we went home, slept and got up the next morning to head to Tat Days! Arrival was a blur of hugs, hugs laughter, more hugs, and seeing sweet familiar faces once again!

Oh, and I have no idea why Hope and I were staring at the ceiling. I think we were acting stuck-up. Look at that hummingbird on her derriere!

2009-10-18T22:52:00.008-04:00

Before I get into updating things here, I'm posting a "quickie" of the wedding. It actually happened! Raymond and/or I didn't chicken out, the weather held out, we had a legitimate officiant, rings went on fingers and everything!

First photo - a man trudging to his happy destiny. Heehee!

Next - the actual exchange of vows - no one told me I still had my sunglasses on. Whoops. It's probably a good thing, though, since I was on the verge of a migraine. Actually I look sort of like I'm about to throw up here. ;-)

The beautiful necklace, bracelet and earrings are a gift from Sherry Townsend. I felt very glamorous wearing them.

The big "sealed with a kiss" part...

Whew! It's official!

And the next picture which is self explanatory:

And (drumroll, please) THE BABY!!! Being held by my big brother, Rusty.

2009-09-07T21:56:00.004-04:00

So Janie Lou Eborall thinks she's the only one who can get kidnapped!

Okay - so I used Jane's Super-Secret-Southern Name, Janie-Lou. However, Sherry T. the CelticDreamWeaver is presently being held captive in Knoxville. I have chained her to a chair in the livingroom and have forced her into hard labor.

We're busy at work - it's amazing how quickly two people can mess up a couch. And it's really and truly incredible how much crap one can cram into a little tatting bag.

Our concentration skills are truly incredible. Observe our intense focus on our tasks at hand. Secret agent tasks only revealed in the distant future to attendees at the 7th Annual Palmetto Tat Days at the White Oak Conference Center in lovely Winnsboro, SC.

Hopefully some other Secret Agent Items will arrive tomorrow so we can intensely decorate them in time for Georgia-Knows-What. Only with the passage of time will more be revealed...........until then, Secret Agent Erin and Hostage/Kidnap Victim Sherry signing off!

2009-08-22T16:05:00.000-04:00

2009-08-14T18:32:00.005-04:00

Still no tatting to show yet, but I did have a couple of funny pictures to share!

Princess Stinky likes to "help" me do things - especially during the evenings. She's such a *good* little helper.

A contented cat at her pillow. Speaking of pillow - this is the nifty pillow Mark Myers made for me - dig the groovy beaded fringe. Barbie likes it very much, too, thank you. The pink keeps me awake. He gave me that vivid pincushion, too. It's a ball of felted wool. Great pincushion!

The multitudinous bobbins are some I've painted, but mostly ones that Sherry (Celticdreamweaver) has painted for me over the years. They are dear treasures. Sherry's a dear treasure, too. ;-) And she's going to visit very soon and we're gonna play and have fun!

While I'm on the topic of cats, I came downstairs this morning and saw this: Two little innocent cats napping in the livingroom all cuddled up together. I thought, "Awwwww." And took a picture.

Then I went around to the front to get another picture from another angle. This is the result: Devil Cats from Hell....heehee!

2009-06-24T18:33:00.006-04:00

And Sherry this is for you!

I almost forgot to post about the Ben Franklin store I visited in Kingsport Sunday. I've never been to one before and boy, my eyeballs almost fell out!

Here is the "ribbon aisle". I've included Raymond in there for scale.

Then I proceeded to take pictures all over the store so I could "browse" at my leisure on the way back home. The cash-register girl said she could see flashes happening all over the store.

They had lots and lots of beady things.....

And lots of other goodies! This is the knitting notions wall. Yes, Virginia, they had shuttles, too! And tatting needles for the needle-y folk, and also books and tapes from Handy Hands! Yay, Barbara Foster!

Alert - tatting content ahead! (Don't faint!)

Here is a little fluttery I started in the spring and haven't finished yet. He's made with the Dutch Needle Tatting technique per To De-Haan Van Beek in Kleurrijk frivolité (translated to English as New Dimensions in Tatting, published by Lacis). If you don't have that book, I highly recommend it. It's value for the eyecandy alone makes it well worth it. I always have a dozen ideas whenever I browse that book. Ah, inspiration!

I need to give the poor fellow another wing and a better body. After I do that he gets a little outline of black. Then he can flutter away!

Oh - this was a sign in Ben Franklin's. I thought it was pretty funny!

2009-06-24T17:56:00.007-04:00

Sherry tells me I'm sorely due for a Buhlawg update....This is young Coleman 8 1/2 weeks later....He's a whopping 14 lbs. and some odd ounces. Baby and mama are doing just fine. I just love babies! Sigh.

I've been working on tatting, tatting and tatting, but don't really have anything to show presently. I've mostly been working on things for Tat Days. It'll be here before you know it!

We've been having lots of late spring/early summer storms. I took these snapshots from my office at work. This was one incredible storm. I wish the pictures could better convey the sheer size of the storm clouds. They were beyond huge.

I snapped this one on my way to work day before yesterday. It was foggy and the sun was rising. The light was bouncing off the mirrored windows of this building and shooting those incredible rays of light through the fog. Whoa.

2009-05-12T18:10:00.000-04:00

Bliss!

2009-05-10T12:53:00.004-04:00

I promised an update on yesterday's time-killer.

Guess what's in the garbage bag?

Give up? Try for a whole bunch o' bows! I elected to use tulle as it can be brought back to life easily and thus more easily transported that ribbon-type bows. We're having a little awards thing at work and don't have much of a budget for decorations and such.

Some of us had the "bright" idea to make paper flowers. It will take at least six months for my fingers to get un-sticky from handling so much floral tape. When will I remember to apply lotion to my hands before diving into the stuff? Anyway, here are the last of what we needed.

And with it being Mother's Day and all, I had to keep a couple for Mattie.

2009-05-09T18:35:00.007-04:00

Okay - This isn't tatting again.....

but I had to finish these guys for my sister, April's, school play. They did Annie Get Your Gun and April needed some prop ducks and medals. This is what I came up with.

I was stumped as to what to use for medals. At about 3:30 in the morning I came up with this idea. I'll see how long it takes you to guess where I found the basis.

\

Don't ask why I have that many jar lids in my house. I'm a tatter, remember? We all collect* small, sparkly, shiny things.

Here's little Bertie Wooster with his eyes opened. He displays an uncanny ability to focus for one so young. At least that's what his grandmama says.

After while I'll post pictures of today's timekiller. Hint: My fingers will never recover from being this sticky. Heh.

2009-04-26T12:30:00.003-04:00

He's beautiful, and I'd definitely claim him as my own!

However, Janie, I believe it may be frowned upon a bit by the mommy and daddy - This is my niece's baby. So that makes this little one my great-nephew. He's my third thus far.

I'm wondering what they'll really name little Bertie. Hmmmm.

Here's another picture. I know I'm prejudiced, but isn't he purty?!?

Heather and John have just got to be beside themselves. I'm thrilled for them.

2009-04-26T08:36:00.002-04:00

The baby is here!

He arrived late Friday evening. He doesn't yet have a name, but he certainly has presence at 8 lbs. 14 oz. and 21 inches in length. For now we're referring to him as little Bertie Wooster.

I can just catch that fresh baby smell, can't you? Mother and baby doing just fine.

2009-04-17T16:59:00.006-04:00

Well, Mattie was distressed that I posted her little video here in my little corner of paradise. I've removed it for now, and I hope those of you who got to see it enjoyed the rare bird that is my mother.

She makes me crazy. ;-)

Now you know I come by my insanity honestly.

In penance I post pictures of my yard. Hope, these are for your enjoyment. Spring where the tulips grow.

This is the lilac bush in the backyard.

I love the sky this time of year.

Trees. This is the hill where my dad is buried. Good Old Dagwood is looking down his nose upon all of South Knoxville. He was the one who always told us, "Look at the sky!"

2009-02-02T18:41:00.004-05:00

A little story in pictures titled, "It's a work in progress."

2008-12-12T20:07:00.009-05:00

Hey, Sherry! - I'm ready for a long winter's nap.

Sherry, this post is especially for you. ;-) More boudoir photos by Raymond.

Nedsel has discovered the joy of crawling under a blanket. Here he is ready for a nap. Unlike Princess Stinky he prefers the foot of the bed as his point of entry.

Princess Stinky has to be at the head of the bed with me. Wasn't it nice of Raymond to take this lovely photograph?

In case you missed my big greasy nose in that photo, he also took a closeup.

Chatty is a daddy's boy. Here he is on Raymond's telephone "chair". I use that term loosely. It's actually a captain's chair from a Chrysler Town and Country van that he propped up on blocks in the kitchen. I hate it. Raymond loves it because it reclines, has adjustable arms, and I feel certain he secretly feels as though he's driving while seated in it. Car seats do not make an attractive kitchen accent. Especially when someone uses my cute little quilted throw I got for our tv room as a slipcover. Gaaa. At least Chatty looks good on it.

When I was a child, my dad built a Christmas village for us. You must keep in mind this was in the early to mid sixties long before all the Department 56 and Norman Rockwell stuff. Every Tuesday afternoon we would go by the neighborhood grocery store to pick up orange crates from behind the grocery store (they restocked fruits and veggies on Tuesdays). We would take them home (all the while the interior of the '56 Chevy Bel Aire would smell like canteloupe and bananas). There Daddy would take them down to the basement and disassemble the crates. He used the resulting slats to carve out these little houses. The houses were modeled after neighborhoods he saw when he was stationed in England during WWII. He painted them what he called "Disney" colors, however. He also did the two paintings behind the village here. The Santa was modeled after Haddon Sondblom's work he did for Coca Cola. He stays out all the time.

Here's another angle. I love the castle. I think it's my favorite of all the little houses. I painted the blue house with the green roof. Imagine that! Daddy let me paint one! With oil paint! And a big person's brush! You have to keep in mind I was probably 9 years old at the time. That was exciting stuff.

Over the years we've collected a mishmash of little figures, trees and other accessories to include in the village setup. They are certainly not consistent in scale, but oh, do they hold memories. And symbolism. I'm going to be setting the village up at my mom's house tomorrow. It's always fun, but at the same time difficult as it always makes her wax melancholic about Daddy being gone and she sails into the litany of her life with Daddy. Don't get me wrong. I miss him horribly also. I'm more of a "suffer in silence" kind of gal, however. Mattie has to hold you hostage. ;-)

I am indeed very blessed to have been raised in my slightly nutty family. Dagwood, especially, was special folk.

Cool village, eh?

What do these items have to do with each other - the boudoir and a Christmas village? Well, having been raised in that sort of household, I've been conditioned to have little Christmas projects going on. I'll never create anything as lovely as the village, but I still feel the need to create. And share. And my favorite place to do a lot of my handiwork is - you guessed it - on my bed. As witnessed here:

As you can see, I have lots of little helpers, too. ;-)

2008-12-06T10:04:00.003-05:00

Hey - it's December 6th! Do you know where your Christmas tatting is?

Anyone who knows me can tell you I drag some sort of project, usually tatting, everywhere I go. I simply cannot have idle hands while sitting. I've been known to tat in classes, in meetings at work, and on Sunday mornings in church. The key is to try to watch what's going on more than what's happening with the tatting. Of course, sometimes this can result in unpredictable results. Also, it restricts one to more simple fare as to be able to concentrate on the external rather than the tatting. This is a snowflake that came off my shuttles in church a couple of weeks ago.

.

And I also promised to post my version of Ruth Perry's Celtic Snowflake which can be seen here.
Ruth, you are such a treasure for sharing your lovely designs with us. Mine looks a bit wonky here. I was scanning with Nedsel helping (he's the little imp on the left of my banner). It seems he thinks he has to "help" the scanner/printer by poking his head inside, standing on top, walking across the buttons, you get the idea.

2008-11-22T14:57:00.007-05:00

Look who came to my house! It's the PussyTat Dolls and their little friend, BriTatney Spears (she's the one in blue)! I do send my robust apologies to Jane Eborall who started the whole TatBead wave, further perpetuated by Martha Ess. Janey, oh Janey has the original Tatbead family posted here. Martha Ess expanded the family a bit, along with Pam Myers, Jessica Kuligowski, and Elaine Law, which Jane graciously posted here. Do try some of these! They're addictive.

Here's a doodle from a couple of weeks ago. I thought it looked like a tree. Any other opinions? I'm messing with this doodle a bit more.

2008-09-21T12:23:00.005-04:00

Ah - as I was looking through Tatday pics, I ran across this one from 2005. What a wonderful evening that was! This is for you, Susie-Q!

2008-09-21T11:04:00.004-04:00

Back from Tatdays! I have lots of little projects to show. I'm sticking them all in one picture, however. ;-) Lazy Erin! I had such a grand time this year. The Palmetto gals were ever the most gracious hostesses. In spite of the threat of Hannah, things proceeded in grand Palmetto fashion. As it turned out, we only had misty rain on Friday night (with rain more in earnest while we slept) and Saturday morning. By Saturday afternoon all was sunshine and smiles.

The angel in the upper right corner is Jane Eborall's pattern taught by Riet Surtel-Smeulders. The pink, blue and white angels with the dangly beads are Sharren Morgan's Abbeville Angel. The smaller half-necklace and earrings in the middle are by Nina Libin, as is the larger half necklace (the Blossom necklace from her Lace of Beads publication). I'm certain you all recognize Anne Bruvold's dragons! The dark dragon is a gift from Celticdreamweaver Sherry Townsend and the pink one was made by my dear friend Barbie. She decided to throw in some beads. Both of those threads are hand-dyed by Sherry Pence (Ladyshuttlemaker at Etsy). The colorways are Royalty and Fuchsia - both size 80 threads. I have to say I'm in love with the threads. Who wouldn't be?

The snowflake was an 'on-the-fly' project and needs blocking badly. In fact, all these items need blocking. The pattern is the first one in Lene Bjorn's _24 Snowflakes in Tatting_ book. I'm going to make another with spaces carefully measured now that I know how large the rings of rings turn out. I hope that made sense. Also, I'm going to add beads.

The sorry little bookmark is another attempt at Lobelia. I did three colors this time. I have to say I love lacing with Gutterman silk. Pretty colors and feels pretty to work with, too. I made this on my Bimboburg(tm) pillow by Mark Myers. I'm thinking next time I'll use some blue work cloths rather than pink and red. It got to be a little too much pink to look at all at once. Also, my next project will be some sort of yardage on the Sherry pillow I recovered. I'm thinking a Buckspoint edging. . . something very elementary, of course.

Sherry came to visit before Tatdays and we had a couple of days to play before we went over together. On the way down to Winnsboro, Raymond let us stop at the Giant Hobby Lobby of Spartanburg. It was large, but I was a wee bit disappointed in the bead selection. We have much more here in Knoxville. I was surprised. We did manage to find things to buy, however. Imagine that!

2008-06-10T20:50:00.003-04:00

Fresh off the pillow! Lobelia bookmark from _The Bobbin Lace Manual_ by Geraldine Stott. There are definitely some tension issues, but hey, I'm learning. ;-)

Mark, I'm gonna have to fire up Bimboburg soon!

2008-05-21T20:33:00.008-04:00

Okay-I haven't been here in a while so I have to post some things that have been going on behind the scenes. We went to visit Pam and Jerry in SC, and what a deeeeeelightful time we had! Much foolishness went on. Here's a pic to sum up some of the events.

Yes, that's our Sue. She's wearing Pammy's hyacinths that one of Pam's darling grandchildren made for Easter. Oh, Sue, what will we do with you? heehee!

I put this one here for Gina. I found a use for my lace heart! Just wait until Halloween!

Sherry...this is for you. It awaits. I was about to wet my pants.

I almost forgot. Here is one of my paintings from figure painting class several weeks ago.

Uplighting. A new challenge. I'm afraid she looks a little stiff. Those shadow colors are kind of funky as I was painting in the dark. I kept telling myself, "It's all about value."

Heh.

2008-04-23T20:24:00.003-04:00

At last! I finished it! It looks like crap, but I don't care because my pillow is free!

Look Sherry - lots and lots and lots of booboos, but I don't care! I can do something else now! I think I'll make a snake! Or a bookmark! Anything but this curvy, swervy heart!

Yay!

2008-04-07T19:51:00.004-04:00

Okay - I haven't written much lately. I've been really busy. We are in the midst of reorganization at work (big one from the top down) - my boss of 20 years retired and all manner of chaos has followed.

Mattie's little dog, Mopsy, became terminally ill. I had to have her put down. It was tooooooo sad. Poor little dog. Poor little Mattie.

Mattie had to have another doggie, so we found her a puppy. Her name is Selly, short for Celestine. You can tell I didn't name her. My kind of pet name is more like "Listerine" rather than "Celestine". Oh, well. She's a cute little dachshund and I feel certain she'll keep Mattie off the streets for a little while. Here's her pic:

She's already trying to play fetch and hasn't pooped in the house in four days! Woohoo! She's a wonder-dog!

I've also been painting lately. Here's one of the results. Can you tell I had been feeling color deprived?

This is 18x22. Where on earth will I keep it?

2008-02-07T22:45:00.000-05:00

Heehee! Sherry, here we are. So near and yet soooooooooooooooooooooo far.....

2007-12-31T12:22:00.000-05:00

Here's the big year end post that will hopefully catch me up a wee bit with folks. I've been doing more things and computering less - I found that I was in a spot where I either had time to play on the computer or make things, so I actually did some things instead. Did that make sense?

This past spring I did the Tom Lynch thing. I also did some painting over the summer. Here is a posting of the three 15"x15" roses I did. One was a gift for my sister's friend (and in-law), Sue.

One ended up with my other sister, Amy,

and the third needs further work or cropping.

Amy and I made egg ornaments for the nieces and nephews before Christmas. This was our first foray into egg art. I am using the term "art" loosely here. We had a delightful time making these. We did them at my mom's house and made what is quite possibly the largest mess ever made in her kitchen. Egg flew everywhere. Glitter flew everywhere. We laughed hysterically, too.

Here are the not quite complete fruits of our labor.

Keep in mind there are only twelve of the 36 we did pictured here. We got glitter-happy, to say the least.

Hope, this next picture is for you. Little Nedsel in all his glory.

2007-10-22T19:37:00.000-04:00

Egads! I have bats in my belfry!

Ruth Perry has done it again. This is her "Tootie the Frootie Bat" which can be found at Ruth's Blog. She also shared it with the online tatting class. Such fun!

2007-10-10T20:44:00.000-04:00

Oh, Sherry. . . .

2007-10-04T06:13:00.000-04:00

Bliss.

2007-10-03T18:21:00.000-04:00

Mark made the neatest bag for Sherry. He used traditional bobbinlace technique, but a very nontraditional fiber. Sherry looks so proud.

But Mark looks funnier with it.

And here Sherry shows off her tattoo of Keleigh the Keltic dragon that graced the cover of the IOLI newsletter a while back. Or would that be a tat-too?

Now I'm confused!

2007-10-02T20:47:00.001-04:00

So here I am again. I have tons and gobs of pics from Palmetto Tat Days that I haven't posted at all. I am sooooooo bad. Sherry came down to visit a couple of days beforehand. We had such a gooooooood time! Sherry, you have to come back!

Here we are in our festive hats. Sherry's is actually tatted. Mine is pretend. Or at least that's what it looks like next to hers - heehee!

Mark was such a sweetie - he brought me the most incredibly beautiful cookie pillow! Now I can start my manufacture of Bimboburg Lace! I was so joyously elated I did a little dance for Mark and Sherry (Raymond recorded for posterity in photo-form).

And what did I give Mark in return?

Closer look for the myopic. . .

2007-06-03T21:54:00.001-04:00

Here's a little painting I did for my sister's birthday. It was much fun to do!

2007-05-15T23:18:00.000-04:00

Hi, Sherry. Here it is.

2007-05-09T19:44:00.000-04:00

I've been working on Jade Starmore's Beadwork sweater for a little while. I'm using Harrisville Design Shetland wool in Purple Haze. It's a lovely color. I did swatch to gauge using size 2 needles. Here's the back thus far. Sorry for the crappy photo, but this is the best I could do inside at night.

I took a pic of Raymond, too. He's been "pumping metal". Can you tell? Hopie, this is for you:

And I have a picture of me modeling the sweater thus far. Dig that schoolteacher arm thing I have going on - it counterbalances the post-afternoon-walk-in-90-percent-humidity frizz thing I have going on. My, I'm frightening.

2007-05-02T20:32:00.000-04:00

Okay. I've been away way too long. I just spent half an hour trying to log into this blog - yikes.

Here's a pic of my nephew and Mattie. Gee, wonder where he gets that hair?

2007-01-20T11:41:00.000-05:00

Woohoo! Two posts in one day after two months of nothing. Well, I'm just trying to catch up on all the excitement and lovliness that was my holiday.

My secret santa as you see below was very generous with chocolate, bath salts, soothing accoutrements and a beautiful doily she picked up in Aruba! Santa's been to Aruba. Hmm. There's a big hint. Oh, and Santa is from Canada.

From my dear pal from across the pond I received the sweetest unexpected gift - these dainty ear bobs! And they're pink! Those bells may look small, but they've got a loud jingle! I love the clever way she tatted on a headpin that holds the entire business together. Makes the earring much sturdier. Since they're pink I can also wear them for other events like Arbor Day! Thanks so very much, Sue!

2007-01-20T10:24:00.000-05:00

Hey - you talkin' to me? You talkin' to me?

Yes, that's little Nedsel who isn't quite so small now. Oh, they just don't stay babies long enough. But he still looks pretty retarded hanging out in the bathroom basin. He still likes to help in the mornings whenever someone has to do something like brush their teeth or wash a face or hands.

I think I may finish up my Christmas tatting soon. Then it'll be time to start it all over again. Heidi, one of the Tattinggoddess goddesses, informed us a day or so ago she just finished sending out her Christmas cards and took down her tree. Heidi, don't feel badly. I still haven't finished with either yet. In fact, I never really finished getting all the Christmas decor up. Some of the items came downstairs in their boxes where they still sit. Oh, geeze. Well, I just had some things happen which had higher priority. That's life. And so it goes.

I haven't shared all the beautiful things I received for Christmas this year. I participated in the "Secret Santa" exchange on Tattinggoddess. What a wonderful group of people. I'm still trying to figure out who my santa is. She's certainly got a sense of style and humor! I love what she made!

She sent some beautiful candles for the tree. They don't show up so well here, but they're simply stunning.

On the right is the wildest pink ball - I love it! It speaks for itself - and the ribbon rosette on top for a hanger is genius. Ms. Santa also sent some very lovely bells she made from golden thread, and a gorgeous little sachet (smells so sweet, too!) with beautifully tatted roses.

You can see I'm not the only tatting fan here.

2006-11-13T20:44:00.000-05:00

Getting to be that time of year again. Here are the results from efforts of a couple of years ago. Of course, they're all gone, now. Time to make more.

2006-11-06T21:14:00.000-05:00

Here I am with my siblings. From left to right - Amy, Rusty, me and April (mother of the bride).

This is my brother-in-law, Al, with his "posse".

2006-11-05T20:22:00.000-05:00

And the flowers I initially made for Liza's cake became a little snack for Nedsel. These were the replacements and I wasn't nearly as happy with how they turned out. Isn't that how it goes? I made the first successful batch on a Saturday. I left them on the stove to dry. All that was left the next morning was a few stems. Nedsel even ate the silk stamens. Gaaaaa! How can you scold a cat with a face like this?

2006-11-05T17:28:00.000-05:00

Here comes the bride in the necklace I made. She ended up not liking the dangly bits (well, they were a bit over the top) so I took them off.

Liza is, after all, a minimalist.

And here we have my mom, Mattie, and my oldest sister, April. I'm thinking they look like two little fall princesses. The fur belonged to my great Aunt Ola, the family milliner. She was an interesting person. We'll not go that direction now, however.

2006-11-02T19:55:00.000-05:00

At long last! Photos of the Royal Wedding!

Liza and Joe were married at Wintergreen Resort - Joe worked there up until he and Liza married. It's a beautiful place - up in the mountains in Central Virginia. On the way there we happened upon this strange little building which was built to look like a coffee pot. I want one in my backyard!

My brother, Rusty, and I played for the wedding. Since it was outdoors we didn't expect there would be any place to plug things in. There wasn't. And we were attempting to sit on a grade that was at least 30 degrees out of our favor. The wind was rather brisk that day, also. Our music kept blowing off the stands, and then the actual stands started blowing over. I ended up putting my music on the ground (well, we *were* sitting on that rather steep grade). Oh, and it was COOOOOOOOOLLLLDDDD! Well, we were at a ski resort, after all. Duh.

Here is my family along with the beautiful bride and handsome prince of a groom. Aren't they cuties?

This was my favorite of the black and white pics we took.

I was very happy with the way everything turned out. And now I can get back to somewhat more normalcy!

Ahhhhhh.

2006-08-31T21:07:00.000-04:00

Great Googly-moogly! Another entry in the great Blog-o-rama catch up!

The little kitty has grown leaps and bounds. He's about four and a half months old now and is already as tall as Princess Stinky. Here's a little pic Raymond took the other night. Oh, and his name is Nedsel Ford aka Little Neddy.

Cats fascinate me. Every one is so unique.

I promised a tatting pic. Well, here's a sort of bad one of the necklace I've been working on for my niece (among other things).

Heh. White on white on white. I promise when I get it finished I'll put it on some contrasting fabric. I should wind it up sometime this weekend.

I made a hat a while back. It's black velveteen and brocade. The trim is a stoopid scarf from AC Moore's $2 bin that I tied around it for "definition". At least that's my story for now. The coat was my big summer clearance bargain. I got it to wear up on the mountain when Liza gets married.

Here's a closeup of my sister's hat (that would be Amy) for Phil's wedding back in June.

And here's a closeup of Miz Mattie. She's a cutie!

2006-07-10T21:41:00.000-04:00

I am so dismally behind in blogging. I have tons and gobs of photos from wedding stuff and tat-days stuff and projects and cats and kittens and such.

Woe is me.

First I'll start sort of backwards. Here's the new kitty, OpieTaylorChiChiRodriguesNedselFordViggoMortensen.

He's grown a whole lot since this photo was taken about a month ago. I'll update the pics shortly. First I absolutely must finish this post.

As you can see from little Neddy's picture, I started this post on July 10. It's now August 6. Does that say anything about what I haven't been doing?

Back to my summer "vacation". Hah!

My nephew, Phil, got married in June. His bride, Jacklyn, is adorable and we're very blessed to have her in the family. Phil is a scream - he's about to graduate from the university where I work. I am blessed to be able to get the kid a cup of coffee from time to time. Here's Phil and Jacklyn in their wedding finery.

As some of you know, I had to dress a hat for my mum to wear to the wedding. Her eyes are very sensitive to light, but can she wear sunglasses like a normal person? Heck, no! She prefers those little foam visors like they sell in the craft department in Walmart. She had an idea to dress one up with tulle and lace and little bows to wear. I looked everywhere for a suitable dressy hat, but to no avail. This is what I came up with - it's one of those paper hats from Walmart, but I sort of gave it the Krylon touch. And the Erin touch, too. I trimmed the other hats as well. Mattie (my mom) is the one in pink. The redhead is my sister, April, the brunette is my sister, Amy, and the bald one is my brother, Rusty, father of the groom.

I'm the chubby one on the right. What's with that leaning stance I've assumed, I wonder? Too many scoops of ice cream at Tat Day? Hmmmmm.

I love that pair of shoes - I got them at K-Mart for $7.00. My kind of bargain. And my hat matches them! The joy of Krylon! I used "Satin Pink". Who would ever have guessed?

I have some tatting projects and some other things to post. I'm presently helping my sister, April (the redhead) with preparations for her daughter's wedding in October. I just finished her veil. I'm waiting for a pic from April to see how it did. I'm also tatting a few wedding goodies for Liza. I promise updates shortly.

;-)

2006-05-18T20:21:00.000-04:00

I thought I would share more pics from this spring. Here's one of the stunning view of Lake Canandaigua - just 4 houses from Sherry's. What a wonderful trip! I want to go back, please. ;-)

Sherry, I'm starting that "Ithaca" fund. . .

The next is the "Knock Out" rose I planted last fall and the last pic is of some sort of alium looking lily in my neighbor's yard. I wish I could figure out what it is. Pretty, for one thing. Raymond took that photo.

2006-05-10T20:52:00.000-04:00

Here's a few more pics from Hector. Geesh, it doesn't seem like it has been over a month since I was up there. Time flies (or as Daddy used to say, 'Tempus fugits').

We have Gina and her monkies, Debbies beautiful array of bags (I could just dive into those, but wait, I think I did...), and there's Rita hiding beneath the beautiful array of threads she brought.

Ahhhhh, the colorful life of a tatter....

2006-04-20T20:57:00.000-04:00

On International Tatting Day we celebrated with lots of yummy treats.

And more treats...

And even MORE treats! You will note that hiding there in the back is a bowl of nutritious, delicious and untouched fruit.

And you know, we had to have ICE CREAM!!! But nobody tell Jane Eborall and Sue Hanson. Since they weren't there that meant lots more ice cream for the rest of us! We all thought of them as we ate lots and lots of yummy, rich and decadent ice cream. Here's Mark and Judith having a bowl....MMmmmmmm! Cookies and Cream!

And here Debbie and Rita toast to Jane and Sue across the pond. Wave "Hello", ladies!

2006-04-17T17:23:00.000-04:00

Part of the fun of attending these events is getting to see how people package their necessities. Here's Debbie Arnold's bag. If I were Debbie I would have a really hard time choosing my favorite bag. She and her sister make lovely bags - can you tell I'm a fan? The thing I like best about the bags (besides the workmanship and the muy faboo fabrics they use) is that the bag has a 2-3 inch "lip" around the outside when opened that prevents your stuff from falling out onto the floor. I managed to leave with 2 bags and a shuttle pocket. And yes, both bags had some pink in the print. Oh, I'm hopeless.

Here's a cute pic of the gals! From left to right: Debbie, Rita and Gina.

A blissful Debbie strikes a flirtatious yet coy pose.

2006-04-16T18:26:00.000-04:00

The long-awaited Hector Tatting Convention pictures are finally here. I had such a delightful time. And there is much, much, much to tell.

I flew into Rochester on Friday, March 31. Sherry was patiently awaiting (NOT - she was in a slight panic as Mark hadn't arrived on his scheduled flight). Seems Mark was stuck in Chicago. Sherry and I had a built in opportunity to grab a cup of coffee and catch up on things. I needed some caffiene, too. The Bonine and Benadryl cocktail was getting the best of me.

Mark arrived safe and sound and we all piled into Sherry's daughter's car and off to Canandaigua we went! Our adventure had begun in earnest.

We had a lovely evening of show and tell and tell and tell. We got to bed way too late for children our age. We awoke the next morning to a wonderful breakfast and more caffiene. Yum! Off to Hector we went.

It was so wonderful going to Hector. The gals had really outdone themselves in making us all feel warm and welcome. I was thrilled to run into Georgia and Rita. See my thrilled face? I'm thrilled, I tell you, really! Just ignore those extra chins there.

Here's a cute pic of Gina and Sherry. I took both of their classes. Great classes, ladies! Sherry taught dragon making and Gina taught a great beaded hat trim technique. I actually finished that hat, too, Gina. Look! I even have a model!

Stinky loves the hat. She thinks it's hers now.

2006-04-06T19:50:00.000-04:00

Oh, my. There's so much to tell about. It's been a while since I've posted here, mainly because I've been busy having all manner of adventures.

Here's the last from my figure painting class. This was the model's first sitting. Ever. Needless to say, I'm sure she was really thrilled to find out all I painted was her face while she sat there in her birthday suit. Raymond snapped this picture. He took it outside - he thought the shadow of the branches made it look "more artier". Heh.

Here's the next to last painting I did. I can see some improvement.

Enough of that for now.

Back at the beginning of March my adventures began with a trip to Atlanta to attend the Atlanta IOLI Lace Day. I had intended to take a Torchon class, but ended up in Louise Colgan's Milanese class instead. I think Louise should be awarded a bronze star for tolerating my newbieness and general stupidity. I'm still working on my project (the heart). I may finish before I turn 60.

Here are some of the other pillows and folk from the class.

Enough of that.

While I was in Atlanta, Amy and I shared sisterly bonding by making some things for the set of the play she was directing, "You Can't Take it With You". We did a 4 foot square stained glass window for the set out of Gallery Glass. Here's a pic of it in progress. The play didn't open until the weekend after I was down there.

Nothing would do but for me to take Mattie back down to Atlanta two weeks after the lace day. Here's the set Amy came up with.

I think it looks just like the interior of one of those browstones you see in the movies.

Here's the window. Oh, and Mattie. Doing what she does best.

2006-02-12T20:24:00.000-05:00

Okay - I've waited far too long to update the blog here.

I've started back into figure painting. We did these studies the other night. This one came out looking surprisingly like Chrissy. I was fairly happy. My sort of snooty classmate (who is a very evident veteran of art classes) informed me that it looked "just like it was done in graphite" - well they call that mixture of French Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna "French Gray" - duh.

Anyway, here's the pic.

I'll have to scope Snooty's work tomorrow night and see how she does. You can almost hear a vacuum from her sucking up to the teacher. Oh, I am so bad.

Lace wise - here's a sample of Scandinavian Holes - I'm up to lesson 7 now. I need to get my act together, too. The Atlanta lace-day is coming up next month. Egads. Tempus fugits when you're having fun.

Here's the "Scandalous Hos" (that's Raymond's name for them).

And here's what I've got on my pillow presently. What on earth was I thinking? I used machine quilting thread. It's okay, but I think I might need some glasses. Some real ones instead of my festive pink and yellow ones I got at the dollar store. For a dollar. But they worked for an awful long time.

I took this picture of Chatty who is so incredibly fascinated with any and all of my handwork accoutrements. As you can see, he not only likes to paw about my tatting bag, he darned well sort of gets into it. Hey - check out that toenail polish. I told you guys they stay painted all the time.

Oh. We had snow this weekend. This is what they sent us running to Kroger for milk, bread and toilet paper for.

2006-01-15T18:23:00.000-05:00

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.

2006-01-10T15:56:00.000-05:00

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!

2005-12-01T17:48:00.000-05:00

Well. I've got a real cookie pillow now. It's your basic navy covered ethafoam job - does very well, too, I might add. I've been working my way through the exercises in the Torchon Lace Workbook by Bridget Cook. Here's Exercise 3. Exercises 1 and 2 were very tame half stitch things. Then she throws us this assymetrical whole stitch deal. I did okay until the wobbly looking diamonds came on the scene. I wasn't sure in a spot or two what was to go where. Then I referred to the working diagram (which is supposed to contain all the secret stuff). It only went through the first half of the piece. Gaa. I can be so lame. Still not using the #5 pearl cotton called for. This is done in #10 Cebelia. Like my groovy colors?

More tatting on the horizon, but not ready yet.

2005-11-22T18:06:00.000-05:00

Okay - don't laugh. I just got the thing off the pillow. It's pretty hysterical. I'm pretty hysterical. Sherry is a true friend for she just told me it looks okay.

Here's the front.....

And here's the back. I still have to make the hanger part and hide ends and stuff.

2005-11-21T17:48:00.000-05:00

My blog is stale. Or at least that's what Sherry said.

I'll admit it's been a little while since I posted here. It seems like I either have time to work on a project or blog. I've elected to work on projects. I at least have some things to share, though.

I fashioned a bolster type pillow for bobbin lacing out of a coffee can and a crib-sized cotton quilt batting. I then covered the mess with a piece of gray wool flannel that took an entire half hour to apply as it fit oh, so very tightly. You want to have the stuffing very compressed as you don't want any lateral movement of your pins. This thing really works. And cheap, too. Just like me. I made my economy Lollibobbins out of plastic pony beads and good old Wilton lollipop sticks. They were already the appropriate size and everything. And they look like candy. Here's the bobbins:

Please don't look at the table in this next pic. It really isn't as bad as it seems. As you can see, there's lots of little projects going on. This is the pillow in action. I put the towel around it to help support the passives when not in use. Looks stupid, but helps me out a lot, I'm tellin' ya.

I've got a closeup of the work in progress. You wouldn't believe how long it has taken me to do this little, simple clothstitch border with 6 pairs of bobbins. Makes me feel as though I have eight thumbs. Gaa.

I finished the citrine project finally. Here it is all blocked and ready to go on its little trip to Chicago. I was fairly proud of how it turned out.

Here's the funny pic of the month. Guess which one is the sleeping cat.

2005-10-29T21:21:00.000-04:00

So we had our fifth painting session finally (last week the model cancelled so we called off class). I could really tell the difference in taking a week off. Not that I can really paint to begin with. Here's the results. Warning. Visible nipple approaching. You may want to have children leave the room. They may turn into stone if they see this.

I finished Mattie's necklace, but haven't blocked yet. I'll block it with the citrine job and hopefully will be able to post BOTH ITEMS tomorrow. Woohoo. Tatting double-header!

Scroll down for naked painting........

So, I'm not Rubens.

2005-10-24T21:25:00.000-04:00

Ah - the long awaited, promised tatting. I started this a few days ago. It's going to be for my mom. I'm going to finish similarly to the citrine project base chain. I'm trying to decide if I want to do it in just those pinkish beads, or if I want to add some of those dandy gold beads, too.

Decisions, decisions. I'm dismally behind in my holiday tatting. Dismally. Behind. Really.

Cousin Joey has left Iraq. He's going to be in Kuwait for the next month while they process the members of the 278th back home. I'm so glad he's one step further to home.

Yay, Joey!

2005-10-12T21:28:00.000-04:00

Okay! The doggie is a done deal (well, except for that final futzing about one must do). I'm going to send him to April (the perfect one) tomorrow afternoon! Whew! I'm glad that's done. He moves really funny, too. Please pay no heed to the mess in my house. Yes, those are shoes under that table. And Raymond's overnight duffel on the table. Gaa!

We won't even discuss the remnants of Raymond's "Wrench Manicure" (that's the reverse of a French Manicure - the dark part is under the nail while the nail stays pink) all over the front door facing.

2005-10-11T21:12:00.000-04:00

I promise...I'm getting to tatting shortly.

Sunday we went to Kingsport to celebrate Raymond's mother's 90th birthday. 90 years. That's a long time. Of course, I forgot to get pics of the birthday girl and her bouncing baby boy (who just turned 60, by the way). This shot of the sunset on the way home will have to do.

While we were up there, we went to the EverGreen Garden center and I found the loveliest shrub rose. It's a hybrid named "Knock Out" - it was one of the AARS winners for 2000. The color is absolutely fluorescent and the blossoms have a moderate rosy aroma. The foliage is a lovely, dark green. Here's a snapshot I grabbed of our bush before it was loaded into the truck.

I also got a beautyberry. The berries were the most incredible lavender color. The hybrid name is "Passion Pink". What a hoot. I've seen white beautyberries and purple ones, but never this color. I really like the combination of the lavender with the eyepopping Knock Out roses.

Here's the head of the puppet I'm about to finish for my sister, April (the perfect one). It's Mother Hubbard's pet poodle, Toulouse (Too Loose, get it? [insert groaning here]). I'm in the process of stringing the pup(py/pet) up. I'll post more of him shortly. And tatting. I have tatting show and tell.

2005-10-06T16:56:00.000-04:00

Well, I promised Sherry I would update the site. I have all manner of things to show and tell about, but no pics with me at present save this one. I started a figure painting class a couple of weeks ago. This is my first foray into the world of oils as well as painting the human figure. This is what I came up with last week. Tonight we do four poses in 2 hours. I hope I don't end up with folks with three arms or two heads. That would be very bad.

I'll update more later when I'm home and can post more pics. Meanwhile, this will just have to do. Heh! You can't see what my "victim" looked like, so there's no way to tell if it's any good or not. Heehee!

2005-09-19T20:30:00.000-04:00

So I didn't like those rings flopping all about. I fixed that. I also finished, too. Well, I think it's finished. Except for working in the ends, then a little blocking is in order....I'm going to let it rest a day or two before I decide if it's done. In the meantime I have a little celtic type cross to design and make to complete the framed trio of motifs (the cross will accompany a butterfly and a heart - I'm putting them in a simple black frame that accomodates three 3 by 5 inch objects). Woohoo. Big weight off the old brain.

Then I must, must, must finish up the TAT apprentice phase. I feel dismally behind on that. Then there's the 15 Christmas ornaments to tat and some other surprises up my sleeve.

Oh, and that wedding stuff. Geesh. I better get busy.

Oh, and I have to make a poodle puppet for my sister. By Friday. Whoops.

Poink.

2005-09-15T11:49:00.000-04:00

So I did that last part over....
And I think I like it much better with the addition of the gold beads with the black on the chains.

Not much happening of late. It's hot, hot, hot, but mercifully not as humid as it could be. Figure painting class was supposed to start tonight, but the teacher had a death in his family and the class won't start until next Thursday. That gives me a little more time to gather another supply or two I don't have yet. I'm looking forward to the class - something I've never done.

2005-09-08T21:36:00.000-04:00

And now for an update...

I haven't written about the necklace in a while - well, to be honest, I haven't tatted in a while. Too hot, too depressing, too something. I hurt so terribly much for those whose lives have been shattered by Katrina. It's simply heartbreaking to see. My prayers are for all those folk.

Nevertheless, I have this commission to do. And I'm really wanting to get it done. Here's the big update. Row 1 of the front. Don't ask about row 2. It's still rolling about in my head. You may rest assured it will be attached somehow to row 1. And will have citrines. And crystals. And more of those little gold seed beads. It will tie in with the top part more.

I made so many booboos on the symphony doily I decided to call it an "ornament" after row 3 and stopped there. I'm going to try again. Tatting is very portable, but some patterns just aren't as portable as the tatting is. Did that make sense?

I've got to start mulling wedding tatting a bit, too. Got a niece and a nephew getting married next summer. Oh, and I have to do this:

IT'S LESS THAN 4 MONTHS UNTIL CHRISTMAS. DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR HOLIDAY TATTINGS ARE?

2005-09-01T21:07:00.000-04:00

Go figure.

I have no tatting ready to display as of yet - I have started the citrine row on the necklace, but it's just not ready to show yet (still don't know if I'm quite happy with it). I did run across a couple of funny pics to share. These are from Erin's Archive of the Weird.

Raymond and I have some friends who live in a nearby little town named New Market. Don and Marsha are retired (Marsha is a needle tatter - yay, Marsha!). Marsha likes doing all manner of crafty things and one of her hobbies is ceramics. Don has built the most wonderful studio complete with huge shelves to accomodate her many molds and a great area for an enormous kiln. While we were over there one evening, we spied this little fellow and Marsha generously gave him to us.

I guess you're wondering why we had to have this little fellow. Well, let me introduce you to our neighbor, Calvin. Calvin lives across the street and does odd jobs for a living...sort of the neighborhood Boo Radley.
(Please scroll down.)

Frightening, isn't it?

2005-08-24T11:56:00.000-04:00

Woohoo! On to the citrines.....

The top band went much quicker than I had anticipated. I've now got to figure out exactly how I'm going to do the bottom part with the dangly stones and such. Here's a pic. I put the crystals and citrines on the scanner so you get an idea of the color and scale. I'm hoping this works out like I'm seeing it in my head. If it doesn't, well, it's only beads and thread. They can be cut apart and redone. Ah, the beauty of the flexibility of tatting. Ain't it grand?

Off to mop floors, now.

2005-08-22T20:16:00.000-04:00

Egads! It's Monday again, already!!!

The students are returning to school, too. Didn't Summer semester just start last week? How did it get to be August already?

In three days it will be four months until Christmas. Do you know where your projects are? I do. In bags. Waiting to be started. Yikes.

I've been working on the necklace and the Very Bright Doily (tm) this week. Here's where the necklace stands on day 9. So, like, I'm not going very fast with this, but I am happy with the way it's turning out thus far. I like the contrast between the black and the gold. Those gold beads are pretty cool, too. They're actually gold plated glass, so they're actually the right color.

The doily on the left is the symphony doily. I had to run one of Mattie's pals to the emergency room on Saturday (Mattie kept her company in the examining room while I tatted in the waiting room). Got quite a bit done. We decided since it goes with nothing in my decor to declare it a perfect neutral. As it goes with nothing it goes with everything. Made sense to me.

Buhlawgging off....

2005-08-15T19:37:00.000-04:00

Blooooo Monday

Well, not really. It was a wickedly hot and humid Monday. I was good and went for my daily "walk for health" in spite of it feeling like a Turkish bath outside. My hair was literally soaked in the back by the time I got back to work. I blistered my feet, too. Oh, well, that's why we have the Band-Aid.

Here's a post of my progress on the necklace thus far. As you can see, the rings are getting a little larger. I now plan on creating the mechanism by which I'll attach the subsequent rows of framed citrine briolets. The necklace will also have a straight band attached to the top. I'm varying a pattern by Nina Libin from her book, Tatted Lace of Beads the Techniques of Beanile Lace. You can find out all about it here on her website. Nina's such a neat lady. I've had the opportunity to take two classes with her.
Raymond buried Chunky today. He's in the backyard next to Listerine. I need to get more plants to add around his grave. Thus far I've got pink bleeding hearts, white astilbe, a white hosta, some pink impatiens and a Lady in Red hydrangea planted next to Listerine. Lady in Red is a new hybrid lacecap. It hasn't bloomed this year. I'm anxious to see what the blooms look like up close and personal. Every time I mention Lady in Red I hear accordion music (rather than that dismal song from the 80s). Wonder why I keep thinking "Lady of Spain" instead of "Lady in Red"? Here's a funny one....when I used to play in a band in a past life we did that "Lady in Red" song. We changed the lyrics to "Grady and Fred..." instead of "The lady in red".

And for that I shall be leading the large weiner/marshmallow roast in Hell. Bring songbooks, girls!

2005-08-13T20:38:00.000-04:00

Ah! The weekend.

I've been working on a couple of items this weekend. Firstly, I'm starting a necklace. The thread I'm using is Coats and Clark Bonded Nylon upholstery thread. The stuff is great for beadwork. Heavier than the Nymo I've seen around here. Here's the first little bit - I guess I've got about 30 minutes in it thus far.

And yes, those are my new tortoiseshell shuttles. I feel so elegant using them.

My other project I'm working on is a little doily from a pattern Sherryberry shared with me. I'm using Valdani thread in the "Gem Symphony" colorway that Sherry sent. It's pretty dreamy to tat with - and check out these colors! Is this going to be riotous or what?

The last pic I have to share is one Raymond found this last week. The black blob in the back is Chatty. On the left is Chunky, and the kitty on the right is Listerine. Listerine was the funniest little imp! Can't tell it here, though.

2005-08-09T21:27:00.000-04:00

Happy Trails, Sweet Chunky Boy.
Sometime in the spring of 1995 - August 9, 2005

I can't tell you how much it would touch my heart to see these two every evening as Chunk would hop up in Raymond's lap for his evening grooming and petting. Theirs was a rare mutual admiration society. Chunk you will be sorely missed.

Evidently sometime last night in his sleep Chunk passed away.

2005-08-08T18:33:00.000-04:00

Mondays are just too much fun...

It was pouring rain this morning. Boy, did I have a big hair day. And sleeeeepy! I couldn't keep my eyes open all day.

I wish I had worn my latest acquisition. Found these at the Walmart Valley (where the South Knoxville Valley girls do their shopping - a different breed from the San Fernando ilk).

Those little white things indeed are rhinestones. Lots and lots and lots of teensy tiny rhinestone buttons. These shoes are so me.

And that's a scary thing.

2005-08-05T18:44:00.000-04:00

Oh, I've been busy - I finished two more of the painted shuttles. It's really a shame that the glitter on the blue and purple one doesn't show up quite right.

These were so much fun to do. I'm going to have to do some more!

2005-08-04T17:40:00.000-04:00

Gaaa! It's August Already!

And if no one has reminded you lately, it's less than five months until Christmas. Fifteen ornaments to tat and not enough time. Yikes.

I was speaking with a coworker today about how time goes faster the older you get. My dad used to say, "Tempis fugits." And it does.

I'm having one of those bittersweet days today. A pal found out that he has Stage IV liver cancer yesterday. He's in his mid-fifties. That pretty much sucks. I was poking about on the internet and the general concensus seems to be a life-expectancy of 2-4 months. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. Anyway, it was a big fat reminder to live in the moment and be grateful for what I have today. I've been blessed in many ways.

Here's a boring picture of the ornaments I did last year. The little "wall tree" is one my dad made around 1963. It's a wooden triangle with nails that you wrap garland on. I find it a great place to hang the ornaments while I'm getting them together. I leave the tree up year round - sometimes in the middle of summer I'll plug it in. The ornaments, of course, go to family for Christmas. Oh, those are cheap plastic snowflakes. I have two tatted snowflakes I made for myself about 20 years ago. That's sad.

Oh, and today's stoopid cat picture...Chatty and Chunky (who act manly and hiss at each other and stuff when they're anywhere else):

2005-07-28T20:40:00.000-04:00

Oh, how I love to paint these things...

Especially when they're for special folk.

2005-07-28T19:26:00.000-04:00

And I have to share some more pics of kitties with you folk. Here's my tuxedo girl, Noxzema. She's pretty weird. She barks. She's also the overlord of my upstairs. In this particular photograph she's managing my pile of knitting.

Crazy cat.

Then we have my other kitty, Princess Stinky.
She's a sweet little kitty, really. Very needy. Very kneady, too. Here we've just kicked in for a long winter's nap. We're two contented cats.

2005-07-28T15:44:00.000-04:00

I'm giving this blog thing another try. I wonder how many blogs are out there with the first seven or eight entries totally inane pap as I am creating now? I'd say the overall number is pretty scary. Time for another cat pic. This is Chunkyboy. He's my other big boy. Heh. Raymond snapped this pic while he was napping. Don't you love that "I vahnt to be lehft ahloooonnnne" look?

Cats are pretty funny folk.

Hey, everybody's got a blog!

2005-07-26T22:07:00.000-04:00

And now, I do as well.

Here's my first post. I have cats. Just what we need. More cat pictures on the internet.

This is Chatty. He's my big boy. One of his favorite places in the universe is this little spot on the rock wall in the front yard. Oh, to have that life.