Thursday, December 25, 2008

Round Robin Bookmarks #2

Hello all!

I do hope everyone is having a great week! I have been busy spending this last week catching up blogging, checking out blogs of fellow tatter, trying to catch up some of my lists, etc, not to mention replying to comments. I still have several to catch up with yet (on comments, I think anyway) LOL! Besides that, I have been busy using the snow shovel, clearing paths, parking space, mailboxes, and today helped our son clean off our roof. That was a little spooky since it has been YEARS since I have been up on a roof! I think I surprised our son, hubby and to be honest, surprised myself LOL!

With all of that I have even managed to get in a little tatting. Not much knitting though.

To start with here is a neat goodie package I recieved from Karen (some vintage thread) THANK YOU Karen!!! AND it included a SURPRISE!!!! A TATTING SHUTTLE!!!! yippeee!!! Yeppers it didn't take me long to fill'er up either and start using it!!!! These threads are all JP Coats, and Coats & Clarks along with one DMC and a couple with missing labels. All look to be size 80 thread or 70 as they are 'tatting-crochet' threads. I have another bookmark all planned out using these threads!


Here is what I made using my new shuttle and thread!!!!

This was my bookmark for round number 2 going to Lynn. Yellow is her favorite color. The pattern is from my new bookmark book I recently posted about. Called "Beginner's Choice" by
Barbara Foster (adapted from Modern Priscilla book 1) .

Here is the bookmark I received for round 2 from Cathy.
Thank you Cathy! Very nice.

Remember I posted awhile back I had received another goodie package of thread samples???? Well I just HAD to try the beautiful yummy colored Olympus thread from Maggie!!! I REALLY like that Olympus thread!!!! Well here is what I made, using again a pattern from my bookmark book,,pattern by Jill Hanna called "Flowers" and then I used a tassel idea from our wonderful Wally Sosa (who I miss hearing from. I am quite worried, it has been so long). Where are you Wally????

I ended up trying two different techniques here I have never tried before,,,so ALL comments are welcome (good and bad). EXTRA EXTRA long picots and tatting a chain surrounding a ring! Course the twisty tail was a little more trickier than I expected as well. I kept this bookmark because the thread was a little thicker than we were to have for our exchange, and it was also on the short end. Besides I really like it myself.

Well I think this almost catches me up now. I have a couple more bookmarks to show you, but I have to get them downloaded from the camera first. Then I will post my bookmark round 3.

And another 'goodie' package I got! I have been sooooo blessed by fellow tatters,,,I just can't THANK YOU ENOUGH!!!! I feel soooo honored ladies! Again Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart!!!!! (Including you Abby!!!!)

Oh one last note,,,on knitting,,,my neighbor's hubby was gone for a week, so we had plans to do some knitting (more dishcloths) and she was also (still planning to) teach me spinning using a drop spindle. She can't find just where she put it, since she uses her spinning wheel for spinning. Oh I guess I did do some knitting. I knitted a dishcloth with a blue heron on it for a friend of mine who was thrown from her horse just a couple days before Thanksgiving. I'll post a pic of it too when I get the pics downloaded from the camera.

I pray everyone is having a wonderful and safe week! Keep warm those in cold climates. We have ourselves now about a total of about 16 inches of snow, just in this month of Dec. And it is still snowing outside. At least we are finally warming up and hit a heatwave of 25 degrees F today!

Blessings everyone!!!!!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

The Employee Party Update!!!

Hello Ladies N Gentlemen!!!

First of all I would like to thank each and everyone of you that replied to my blogs n guest book and give me TONS of support!

No on to how the party went (Hi Sheryl),,,, Here is a photo of all I had in my gift package (except for the 3 pints of homemade jam I put in, 1 caramel apple jam, 1 plum elderberry jam and 1 plum apple conserve):



Now for how the party went,,,,
First we all caught a bus at the office, which took us all down to a guest ranch in Sandpoint Idaho. There was I think probably between 25-30 of us. After arriving, we all went for a sleigh ride (first one of the season)!!! It was pretty chilly as it was a moon light clear evening (yep it was after dark). What a BLAST it was too!!! I think I would really like to get a horse drawn sleigh!
Then we went back to the lodge, where we had appetizers until the meal was ready, which was really delicious! Prime rib roast, grilled chicken, roasted red potatoes, steamed veggies, home made hot rolls, fresh tender green salad, and then for dessert there was a choice of blueberry cream pie (sort of like a blueberry cheese cake), dutch apple pie with ice cream, or pumpkin mousse (I think it was). I had the blueberry which was really tasty!!!
After that we had the gift exchange. Wouldn't you know it, I drew like one of the very first numbers (number 3), so since I was so close to the beginning, I chose my own gift. The boss's wife almost stole it from me, but in the end a 'massage' set won out. Oh well,,,I ended up giving her the scrubbies (she had mention she wanted some, when she was considering 'stealing' my bag), and I also gave her one of the 'tribbles' bath pads, which really tickled her pink!
When all the gift opening and stealing was over with, we got tables all our and (after some 'after the gift exchange' did some gift swamping LOL) we played a really AWESOME game of Bunco, which hubby won second place (cash prize too)

Truthfully, I thought I would be kind of down when no one took my gift,,,,but I really wasn't. I think it had a LOT to do with all the wonderful support from all my online friends!!!! THANK YOU so much. I also know that I have plenty of close friends around here too, that love the things I made.

Soooooo on that note,,,,THANK YOU ALL again soooo much for all of your support!

I know I don't celebrate Christmas,,,but all the same I do wish each and everyone you a HAPPY and SAFE season!!!!

Hugs N Blessings from my house to yours!!!!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Playing catch up

I realize some of you have already seen this,,,,

Awhile back in November I posted a photo of a doily asking if it was 'crochet' or 'tatting'. Well the answer I posted later was 'crocheted' .
Then a WONDERFUL tatter took the same pattern an TATTED it!!!! She gave me permission to post it on my blogs. I am just now getting caught up on a lot of answering, replying back etc. So please forgive my tardiness LOL!
Here are the photos:
The top one is the crocheted version from the pattern

This is the tatted version by Wanda aka tattrldy, You can find more about this gorgeous tatted doily by clicking on her name. (Thank you Wanda for sharing your beautiful tatting and permission to post it!

Please stop by her blog and leave her a comment!


Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Round Robin Bookmarks

Well here I am again behind in posting, after I said I would post my newest tatting in a couple of days. I have been so busy trying to get more knitting done for the upcoming party gift exchange. That and cleaning house as our two oldest sons are coming with one daughter-in-law.

So without any further delay,,,here is the GORGEOUS bookmark I received from my Winter 2008 Round Robin Bookmark exchange partner - Abby

Abby made this beautiful bookmark from a pattern by Debbie Arnold and used Opera size 20, which seems finer than size 20.

Thank you Abby, I LOVE it!!!! The green ribbon looks just like this adorable seahorse is swimming among the sea kelp!!!

And here is the bookmark I made and sent to my partner Bonnie:

This bookmark I made using DMC size 80 in variegated pinks (or rose). This pattern is by Ellen Lai aka Singtatter the name of the bookmark is Dancing Kristine. My ribbon unfortunately is kind of on the 'wide' side. But I didn't have any that would better. Feel free to change it Bonnie if you would like.

I also got to order me some thread (LOL my once a year order). I got some DMC Cebelia threads in size 30 and one ball of DMC size 80 a varigated purple, along with a book of bookmark patterns. Here is my order:Then I had inquired in Here-Be-Tatters if anyone could tell me much about Olympus thread and would be interested in trading some samples. Bless Maggie's precious heart,,,She sent me some WONDERFUL samples of not only a YUMMY Olympus thread size 40, but also some Altin Basak - size 50 in teal, green with metallic, and a yellow/orange along with some Oren Bayan -size 50 in green variegated and red & pink variegated, and also some Omega -size 30 in the wonderful colors red n white variegated and a light turquoise. I have already started working on something with the yummy colored Olympus, you will have to wait and see what it is when finished! LOL! THANK YOU MAGGIE!!!!

I would also like to Thank you all of those that replied to me in HBT about the Olympus thread! I think I will be working on saving up to order some of the Olympus along with more DMC Cebelia and DMC size 80. This bookmark exchange has helped me remember just how much I like the size 80 thread. I just need to practice TONS MORE on using the 'magic thread' technique.

Thank you all for coming by and looking at my work and for those that leave me all of your wonderful word of encouragement. I do appreciate it tremendously!

Blessings All!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

I'm In A Dilemma!!!

I need some suggestions please!!! Hubby boss is having their yearly party on the 13th of this month. They have a gift exchange and have set the $ value to $40. per guy's gift and per lady's gift. I thought this year I would try something a little different and make something handmade.

Here are a couple of problems I'm dealing with:

1. I don't know how well the 'handmade' will go over, so I am finding myself second guessing everything.

2. I REALLY feel I am lacking in 'goodies' as what I have put together so far. Need more help here with some ideas. Here is what I have so far:

(2) dishcloths, knitted- one pink with a rose, one ecru with a seashell

(2) scrubbies, crocheted - one pink, one ecru (both made from nylon netting)

(2) potholders, crocheted- one pink, one ecru both to match the cloths.

(2) tribbles, knitted- one pink, one ecru again to match the cloths. (a tribble is like the scrubbies but made from the same 100% cotton yarn the cloths are made from.

I thought about making matching hand towels, but not sure I would have time, or even that I could get the 'rose' and 'shell' patterns centered right. I also thought about making a 'sack sock' combining the two colors in like a striped sack sock. I am currently thinking about making 2 more cloths using the same colors only no pattern. One more thing I thought about adding in, is a 'natural' colored doily I have crocheted using the 'pineapple' pattern.

Oh I am also going to include a couple of pints of my jams.

Here is a photo of what I have so far. (sorry the photo isn't the best. Will take another today, since we actually have sunshine!

Here is the photo of the doily:

Sure looking any suggestions you can give me. If you think it would be better to scrap this idea and buy something,,,PLEASE let me know.

Thanks!

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Late Happy Thanksgiving!!!

WoW time just seems to be in warp drive lately. I am beginning to think that is just 'normal' for the age I am at. The older I get the faster time seems to fly by.

I finally got the last tatting exchange I join caught up. I won't tell you which one, as I am so embarrassed I got so behind. It is in the mail. I have been also doing a little tatting, crocheting, and knitting. This blog posting will be rather long,, I hope I don't bore ya all to death. AND if I repeat any of it, I do apologize.

Where to start LOL I'll start with what I have been tatting, since I originally started these blogs for my tatting.

I can't remember if I posted this before or not. So I do apologize if I did. This is a bookmark I got from this summer a bookmark exchange I was in. This beautiful bookmark was tatted by Dorcas Newkirk. She got the pattern from an old Workbasket. She also sent me a beautiful ball of DMC size 80 tatting thread and some matching beads! THANK YOU Dorcas!!!! I have used the thread on a bookmark in my round robin. I'll post a pic of that in a day or so. I have to get the pics downloaded from the camera first. Sorry I don't have a link to Dorcas so I don't know if she has a blog or not.

This is a tatting exchange I received back in August. This lovely snowflake motif, bookmark and card with tatting on, is from Dr Tammy Turner. She also sent me some beautiful lavender beads and DMC Cebelia thread that matches. She and I both really love tatting with DMC Cebelia thread. Just wish they had more colors. Smaller sizes would be great too. Oh well, I was very tickled to get my goodies. And bless Tammy's dear heart,,,,she did her best to stay away from pink LOL! I think she did an awesome job THANK YOU Dr Tammy!!!

This is a motif I did by Jon in which I still need to practice this a lot. This was my second try. I like how it turned out even though I do need more practice. I now have more colors to do it in as well. The purple thread I got from my tatting exchange back in August. The thread is a size 20 DMC Cebelia, and Ecru in the same size and brand. Thank you Jon for the beautiful pattern!

This pattern was designed by Heather Isn't it just beautiful! I didn't realize it until I was cruising through Heather's patterns, I have done several of her patterns. So many children as well as adults love the little teddy bears of hers I tatted when first learning to tat! I really enjoyed making this fan. Though mine isn't quite as nice as Heather's is. I can tell I kind of got out of practice this summer, by not hardly tatting. So now I am trying to play catch up. I made this fan using some of my Rubi thread that I received from BJ in New Mexico. (Still enjoying my thread Bev!). Thank you Heather for the wonderful patterns!!!

This is a bookmark I gave recently to a friend of mine who shared her art booth with me a couple of weekends ago. This pattern is by Ellen Lai aka Singtatter the name of the bookmark is Dancing Kristine. I had so much fun with this one, I also tatted it twice. I'll post my second one tomorrow. As I used the variegated pink from Dorcas on it, and it is my first bookmark exchange in the Winter 2008 Round Robin BookMark Exchange . Thank you Ellen for the beautiful bookmark pattern.

Oh BTW while at the Art N Craft show, I was sitting there tatting, and had several ladies comment on it. Then I had two different ladies come in real close, to see how tatting was done, and they both want to learn. One got my email addy so I could try to find someone in her area when she is ready as she wants to tat her wedding veil whenever she gets married (right now she is in training for RN). The other lady took my number and gave me hers telling me to call her, IF she doesn't call me. She wants to LEARN tatting!!! LOL later I was doing another demo for a couple of knitters, and ended up messing up my bookmark (working in size 80 LOL) so of course when I got home where I could concentrate better, with a magnifying glass, I had to frog it, (half a chain and a ring). All in all it was a pretty great day, considering I was just going to give my friend some support and nothing else! I even made a little cash!

Here is a photo of the vest back to the vest I am learning to knit. This is my first ever vest!!!! The pattern is by Lion Brand Yarns, it is the Vest-In-A-Jiffy. I have knitted many simple dishcloths, one afghan (before now) and a scarf before. Now I am branching out. I can't wait to see the finish result. My wonderful neighbor/friend who is a spinner, knitter, crocheter, etc (fiber artist) is helping me.

Here is the first part of the vest front. I am currently at a stand still, as I am to the next part waiting for her to help me. But as I have a dumb cold, and her hubby has respiratory problems, we aren't about to chance passing this on to him. So for now the rest of the vest is in Limbo. Oh the yarn I am using is Red Heart 4 ply worsted. The color is Dark Orchid.

This is a 'row' counter I made with beads. I got the idea and directions from a new friend on a knitting community I just recently joined. I made up a couple of these and gave one to my neighbor (who doesn't really like the stitch/row counters on the market), which she fell in LOVE with this. The idea is you can pin it on your work, clipboard, or chair arm,,,and just slide a bead down when ya finish a row. I used two different color beads, so one would be for like the knit rows, and the other for the purl rows, etc. I was told I should make up more and try selling them. I don't know if it would be a good idea or not. They are really handy though.

Here is a Prayer Shawl I have been working on for about a year or so. I started it I guess last winter so it hasn't been quite a year. This I am knitting out of 100 % cotton yarn by Peaches & Creme in the 'Shaded Denim'. Not really using any certain pattern, just putting together some of the skills I learned in knitting my dishcloths. I am getting more anxious to get it finished now.

This is what I have done of a leg warmer I started this late summer, when I knee first started hurting so bad. None of the leg warmers I have are large enough, so I thought I would just make my own. At first it was moving along pretty fast, but then it kind of got laid off to the side. I am using Red Heart worsted 4 ply. The color is Heather. I need to finish it up, before it really does snow and gets cold. Pattern again is just what I have come up with using previous skills in knitting.

This is an afghan I have finally finished (except weaving in the tails) I have been knitting off and on for the last 2 years. It is made from Red Heart Bulky and Lofty yarn I think it is called. In Citrus Lemon, I think the color was. I found the yarn in the discontinued aisle at Wal-Mart back when our first grand baby was born. At first I thought I would make it for her, but then the further I got, I though, nope this will be a great 'grammy snuggle grand babies' blanket. Sooo Yep I'm keeping it. It sure was warm too when the temps dropped down to 20 degrees F.

Ok. I'll end here, if I haven't already put you to sleep LOL! Or if you stayed with me this long. I'll try to get the rest of my posting all caught up tomorrow with the pics. Which will be more tatting, knitting and some crochet.

Hope everyone in the US had a great HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Hello My Friends and Fellow Bloggers

Just an update real quick. I think I may be pulling out of this bug (whatever virus I caught) No sore throat anymore, just itching like crazy. So far (knock on wood) I don't have much of a cough, but still have a somewhat stuffed sinus'. Getting better I hope. Energy level is slowly picking back up as well.

I just finished last night knitting a blanket/aphgan I had been working for better part of a year on. It is made from a really bulky fluffy yarn. I'll post a pic as soon as I take one. Sure was nice working on, as it kept my legs VERY warm. Last night our temps dropped to 20°F so it was really nice covering up with through the night (even if I still need to weave the tails in LOL)!! I also finished the 'back' of my vest the neighbor is kindly teaching to me knit. I did that a couple days ago. I only have about 3 rows done on the next section. And I finished knitting a dishcloth I had been working on off and on all summer. So that is what I have covered in the knitting section while being sick and staying off my knee.

For the crochet UFOs,,,,I haven't gotten anything done there. Only finally dug out the other night. I will start working a bit at a time on it. I went online to try and find where I could order more yarn for it at a decent price since the closest Wal-Mart doesn't have the colors I need. I'll have to search a bit more, because I didn't find any. I am using 'Peaches & Creme 4 ply 100% Cotton in the 1 lb cones Colors #130 Shaded Pastels and #26 Light Blue. This thing is going to be REALLY HUMONGOUS when I get it finished. Maybe large enough to fit a King bed. It was really only suppose to be queen size, but well things don't always come out like I intended LOL!

Lastly is the Tatting,,,,I finished a bookmark, but as I was finishing it, I realized I had made a mistake in it further back than I was going to take out. Soooo I finished it anyway (except working in the tails) and started it over again. Only this time using a smaller thread. I went from size 30 to size 80 WoW what a difference!!!! I keep finding myself asking how in the world did I ever tat with quilting thread!!!!!!!!!!!! Good thing with tatting one can still tat without seeing 'real' clearly the stitches. My buddy the magnifying glass has been real close on hand again he he he.

Anyway, looks like I am going to have a passel of pics to take as before too long. I have about 5 tatted pieces, 1 afghan, 1 partial vest, and a dishcloth all to take pics of. LOL Which helps in my photography too LOL!

Hope ya all are staying healthy and warm or cool if you are wayyyyyyyy in the south. Take care n Blessings

~~RRose Connie

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Latest Happenings

Well I am almost finished with the jams. Actually I am done with making jams, just going to finish off the rest of the apples making juice and sauce. But for now I am kind of out of commission for a bit as I have a knee that is just killing me with pain! I don't know what is wrong with it, but hubby wants me off of it for a couple weeks. Sooooo with that being said,,I'm trying my best to stay off, which is pretty hard with so much to be done. But,,,I getting some UFO's finished!

I'm working on knitting, crochet and yeppers even tatting!!!! I am FINALLY getting some tatting done!!! NO pics yet, but will just as soon as I can!

My neighbor (who is an awesome spinner, she has alpacas,,,,) has me started on knitting my very first vest! I keep thinking I should take some photos of beginning, and as I progress,,,I'll see about doing that. That is if anyone is interested.

Other than that, I am enjoying the grand daughters just as much as possible. And doing a little with some of my photography (photos I took through the summer that is).

Well I better run, hubby's turn at the puter. :)

Blessings, Connie

P.S. NOT happy with the elections. I'm now in mourning AND praying for the USA.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

My Grand Daughters!

Here are the grand daughters.

Meet Madisen Justine Ann F. and her big Sis, Monique


Here is Maddie at 5 days old:

LOL No she isn't crying. She is actually smiling here, must be one 'Happy Dream'!!!

Hugs N Blessings ~ RainbowRose Connie

Friday, October 24, 2008

What Do You Think? Crochet Or Tatting?

WoW Here is a challenge for you all:
Is this crochet or Tatting? I'll give you the answer later today!

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

I'm a Grammy again!!!!

Whoooo Hoooo, yeppers, I'm a Grammy again to a beautiful Madison (Maddie for short). . Her little sister is pretty proud of her. Boy was she worried about the 'baby' crying LOL. Monique our oldest grand daughter just turned 2.
Meanwhile I have been pretty busy putting jams. Made a really delicious 'Banana Butter', 'Caramel Apple Jam', 'Black Cherry Beet Jam', 'Blackberry Jam', 'Huckleberry Jam' and then today I put up 16 pints and 6 half pint of 'Blackberry Apple' jam. I still have (5) 5-gallon buckets of apples to put up yet. But they are gonna have to wait a couple days, as I am going camping tomorrow (just for one day n night). Maybe I'll get a little tatting done!!! I am really suffering from withdrawals, seeing all the GORGEOUS tatting being done. Can't wait to try some new patterns.
Well it is getting kind of late and I still need to pack up what I'm taking camping. I know there are several of you visiting my blogs, I want to thak you for stopping by!
Hugs N BlessingsRRose

Monday, September 15, 2008

Some of My Garden Flower Photos

I just wanted to share with google land some of my flower photos I took recently of flowers I have growing in my yard. I hope you enjoy the photo show. For any of your profession photographers,,,PLEASE feel free to critique my photos, leaving comments of course LOL!
It is my hope that you will enjoy these as much as I do photographing them and raising them!


Find more photos like this on Garden Gallery

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

25-Motif Challenge, Tatting Exchange and Update attempting,,,,,

Hello everyone!

Well I am going to attempt to catch up my tatting blogging. The photos for garden pics will have to come later, if I can get that caught up. Right now, I can't make any promises. I feel sooooo behind. I don't know HOW ya all keep up like you do!!!!

To begin with, I'll start off with posting pics for my Motif Challenge which is also part of my tatting exchanges as well.

Here are Motifs 17-23.

The first are bookmarks for my May Bookmark Exchange. The green & white bookmark went to Singapore, using DMC Cebelia size 30 Color # 699 green and BLANC (white). I can't remember right at the moment just where I found the pattern, other than it was in one of my tatting books. I'll edit this posting as soon as I find the pattern. The Yellow bookmark stayed here in the states. I used JP Coats Big Ball Best 6-cord in size 30 color # 10A (bright yellow). The pattern is by Kersti Anear "Floral". This was another fun pattern as I am sure many of you have done yourself! Seems to be a pretty popular pattern! I also used the same pattern for the other two bookmarks using some more of my wonderful Rubi thread I received from a dear and sweet tatter.

For motifs 21-23,,,,(these were my July Christmas exchange) I used for the snowflake, again the DMC Cebelia BLANC size 30 thread. Pattern is by Teri Dusenbury. I just LOVE her snowflake patterns. Course the partial one, I ran out of thread on my shuttle and couldn't remember which of two whites I used. So I ended it there and figured it could be appliqued onto something. What ever my partner wishes to use it for. Then the Heart is done in a variegated blue- another JP Coats thread in the best 6-cord size 30 Color # 13. Design is by Susan K Fuller "Heart's Desire" found on Georgia Seitz' site. I really enjoyed doing this pattern. I have a second one in progress. Pic will come later along with details. Then lastly the 3-d Rose Brooch pin by Jeanne Lugert is done in another JP Coats thread 6-cord size 30 variegated purple for the outside rings and the yellow used in the bookmark for the inside part of the rings. Followed by the DMC Cebelia size 30 Color #699 for the green petal background.

In my Multiply album you can see more detailed pics of some of the pics.

Here is what I got for my Bookmark exchanges (I still need to get a pic of the bookmark from Valerie from Singapore). Dorcas sent me a beautifully multicolored bookmark along with these beautiful beads and thread! (thank you very much Dorcas!) I'll edit in Valerie's as soon as I get a photo taken and downloaded. (Thank you too Valerie!!!!)

Here is what I got for my July Exchange! WoW What wonderful goodies! I can't decide just which is my fav,,,,I LOVE them all! Thank you Sandra E!!!!

Here is what I sent to Sandra! First is everything all layed out, and then the second pic is,,,Can you believe it,,,all packed into this tin, except for the address book and diary!!!

Now I have one last exchange I am in the process of catching up! I am sooo behind .

As to what else I have been doing,,,,Besides the 'trying' to garden,,,I have had to water most all summer by hand starting in July. It seems the well that has 32 members on,,is not only contaminatedwiht uranium,,,but it is running low,,,so low they have now put us on restrictions, where we pay $36.00 for only 6,000 gallons of water instead of the normal 12,000 gallons per month. So hubby has been hauling water in two 55-gal barrels, emptying them into 55 gal barrels so that I can water using a watering can through the day. He hauls about 4 barrels a day for not only our garden beds, but also our renter's garden beds. Sadly my garden beds haven't done as well as I have hoped they would. Then as if that wasn't enough,,,our water line has sprung a leak in July! We hopefully have that fixed after having to dig by hand through rock n clay 4 foot down and a hole about 4 foot across (which I dug most of, ). Last week I FINALLY had to get away, so I went on a camping trip with a friend. We were up on the mountain top for about 5 days. We picked huckleberries, did some campfire cooking a little hiking. Seen some deer almost right in our camp, until her dogs ran them off LOL! Other than that we just sat around the campfire and worked on crafts. Me knitting leg warmers, and on an afghan, along with a little tatting, she worked on a sanding a sculpture she is carving on our of alabaster (if I remember right) Beautiful horses! Then of course I had to end the trip coming down sick! So besides diarrhea, I have a sore throat and chills. We 'were' suppose to go back for a couple more days, but things happened at her house, and well, I'm still sick with a sore throat.

OK,,,I think before I for sure put ya all asleep I better end this thing, if I haven't already bored ya stiff LOL! Catch ya on the next round. Blessings my friends!!!

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Sorry about being MIA!

Hello dear friends,

Thought I would grab a few minutes this morning to let ya all know what has been happening in my neck of the woods. LOL!

I haven't gotten a whole lot of tatting done because I am still busy with greenhouse n gardening. I'll try to get some pics of my 'little' greenhouse and post in a few days. Also helped a friend build a greenhouse, which we also have almost full as well. Also had to start working on the yard. The grass is growing like crazy with all the rain we keep getting. I wish I could sent it people in dryer parts that need it.

I have been 'trying' to get my May tatting exchange done, I keep goofing up the pattern, worse is it is just a dumb mistake, I seem to keep making over and over (not focusing I guess LOL), then when I had one almost done PERFECT the darn thread broke on me in closing a ring. And again a second one did the same thing, only I was closer to finishing this time.

For 2 weekends in a row, we had our older sons and thier wives visit (each one separately), which was so enjoyable, then Mother's Day our other son AND daughter also came out to visit as well, besides getting to have our grand daughter for 3 weekends in a row (almost).  Sadly our youngest son who is expecting a second baby in Sept, his wife has decided to leave him yet again. If only her parents would leave them alone, her dad is EXTREMELY controlling among other things. Boy Mother's Day sure felt like a whole week had gone by (hard one at that) all in one day, with the problems that arose! And they are sadly just beginning.

Let's see, I think that about covers all, got 2 dishcloths knitted and a 3rd is little more than half way done. Also got my living room all re-arranged yesterday. Our neighbor had given us a really nice hide-a-bed couch.

Well I guess I better close as I have to go get busy. I pray all is going well for everyone else. I have read a few of you have been or are sick or in pain, I pray you will heal quickly!

Hugs N Blessings to ALL!

Sunday, April 20, 2008

25-Motif Challenge, Tatting Exchange and Update

Hello my friends!

Sorry I haven't been around for awhile. Been busy trying to get a greenhouse up and some plants a'going for the garden. I finally got around to downloading some pics of tatting I did for my 'Round Robin' partners and 25-Motif challenge.

This first pic is Motif 11, 12 and 13 for the challenge. Also these are my first every bookmarks I have done. As you can see there are a few mistakes in the first ones. But the last two are the best ones, I sent to one of 'Round Robin' partners.

Motifs 14, 15 & 16

In this one, These are some of my first ever 3-D flowers, I could ya could say LOL flowers anyway. I had a blast doing the rose, in fact I did several, just ended up giving them all away, when I thought I had pics of them. Oh well. These were done for my last 'Round Robin' partner.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

25 Motif Challenge #10


The pattern I used for this doily can be found in "Easy Tatting" by Rozella F. Linden. I found it a little confusing in the beginning as it refers you to about 3 different pattern pages. The first round being really simple of course. I don't why I had such a problem on the second round, could be because I had a lot of distractions too (1 1/2 yr old grand daughter).The variegated thread is J.P. Coats Cotton Knit-Cro-Sheen Color # 165 Pastels, and green is Aunt Lydia's Size 10 Color # 154 Frosty Green. I would liked to have used a darker green, but just didn't have one. But I think I'll see if I can find some, (if nothing else in my 'Unidentified' threads) and do another using a darker green. I really do LOVE the way the colors turned out on this though, especially the pastels! Once started it actually does go really fast.