Earrings Requested

After seeing them on Facebook a niece asked me to make her a pair of the 'Wave' earrings. I asked her what colors she would like and she requested coral and teal. The coral thread I have, but I didn't have any beads that were teal. I was fortunate enough that I went to Hobby Lobby on a week where the beads were 50% off! With a little help from one of the associates stocking the beads I found what I think will work.

Now that I have the beads, it shouldn't take long to make the earrings. 

 I mentioned a few weeks ago that I have been having trouble with my computer. It wasn't just my imagination, it started making a terrible noise when I was using it. I shut it down to save it as much as possible until something could be done. Unfortunately, that something is getting another computer.

I didn't plan on buying another computer at this time, but I use it a lot. I pay bills, work with pictures, write my blog, and write and diagram my patterns. I do the pictures and the patterns with special programs that will have to installed on the new computer. I don't think the picture program will be a problem, but the pattern program could be. Until I get that program going, I will not be able to work on, or modify, any patterns. If there is any issues with it, I'll have to find another way to do them. This has me a bit worried.

I have been working to update my blog since I have returned it to Blogger. There are a lot of links that are broken that I'm not sure how I'm going to fix. There are pattern links I know how to fix that are now delayed due to not having access to the pattern program. 

I have been using, and am very happy with, Serif Draw, the vector program I use for patterns. I've upgraded computers before and it installed correctly, but I'm always a bit concerned if it will work correctly on the new computer. I really don't want to learn a new program. 

If there are any patterns that are temporarily unavailable, contact me and I'll see what I can do. As for the rest of the broken links, one small step at a time.

"Never trust a computer you can't throw out a window." Steve Wozniak

 

Independence Day!

 Happy Independence Day, USA!

This is my daughter's fireplace mantle with the table runner I made for her in 2021. Doesn't it look amazing on the mantle? Like it was made for it!

I found a small flag that I had tatted years ago. Does anyone recognize where the pattern is from? 

We'll be celebrating the 4th at our daughter's house this evening, with family, food, and fireworks!

May you have a safe and happy Independence day!

June Earrings

 I have several projects in mind, none of which I've started yet. For each project, I envision using a specific color of thread or color of beads, but I am missing at least one item for each project. Still wanting to tat, I made a pair of earrings that are not on my list.

While cleaning up a bit of tatting from some earlier time, I found an earring. But only one. I looked at the clothes for a shirt that I would like to match earrings to, located thread that would work, dug out beads that would look good with it, and started on a new pair.

I am not enamored of this pattern, which I knew when I finished the first one. It looked a bit different in the darker thread that was used in my find. It might also be I didn't follow the stitch count, which would lead to it being less pleasing to my eyes. Whatever the case, I made the matching earring so I had a pair. I might not be that pleased with it, but it looks okay. I will probably base another earring on this idea, making a few tweaks when I do.

I have been looking over the pictures I took on our family vacation a few weeks ago. I take a lot of pictures!  Of course, not all are good pictures, so I need to go through them and delete the bad ones. I am so glad they are digital! I can see them as I take them, as well as on the computer when I view them later. I don't have to wait days or weeks to get them developed and then find out they are out of focus, of the floor, or some other mistake. I can also take several shots at a time, and not worry about how many are good or bad. This makes for a lot of pictures to go through when I get home. 

I also get a lot of pleasure in finding the good shots, and remembering where and when it was taken. 

This is a view of the Colorado River close to the town of Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado. There is an easy hike here, which we took before we went to soak in the hot springs at the near-by spa. 

My husband, Jack, snapped this picture of the crew that went on the hike.

At least most of us looks like we're having fun!

They must have enjoyed the vacation, because before we all headed home they were talking of wanting to do this again. Joy!

"Time and memory are true artists; they remold reality nearer to the heart's desire." John Dewey

 

Family Vacation

 We just got back from a wonderful family vacation. I had meant to post a little something while we were gone, but I forgot to ensure I had the password to get into my blog. Oops! I didn't get much tatting done, anyway.

We started our vacation with a visit to an aunt and uncle, at their cabin west of Pueblo, Colorado. It was restful and so quiet! Mostly we just visited on their front porch and watched the critters pass by. They have several hummingbird feeders, which are well used. We also saw deer, squirrels, rabbits, and a lot of birds from the porch. Antelope were around, but only when we drove out to the valley. 

 This is the only tatting I can say I finished while we were gone. I took plenty of thread and shuttles, but time and energy for tatting was in short supply. Time was spent with family, not always doing but a lot of being together. Energy was in short supply after we did get around to doing things.

After a few days in the mountains by Pueblo we headed to Grandby, Colorado, to spend time with our daughters and their families. We arrived a day earlier than they did, so we drove around the area seeing it in June. We've been there a handful of times, but always in the fall. It is so different and green! There is also more water in the rivers and lakes, and snow on the mountains!

This is the view from Hoosier pass. It was getting late by the time we went through but we had to stop for the view and the obligatory picture by the sign.

In Grandby the family had a great time together in a beautiful setting. We played games, went out on the lake in a pontoon to fish, did some easy hiking, and just hung out together. It was fabulous.

One evening we enjoyed s'mores on the patio and a marvelous view. Good times!

Now we are back home in sweltering heat. The temperatures are in the 90's(F), with a lot of humidity. We're not even in the south! And it has rained every day, sometimes for hours, sometimes for just a few minutes. Since last night we got 1.75" of rain, with more expected over the next week. We've been in a drought for three years, but I'm ready for a break from the rain!

I have several tatting projects in mind now we are home for a while. With the temperatures so hot, I am happy to have things to do in the house.

How is your summer? 

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them." Desmond Tutu

Flag Day 2025

 Happy Flag Day!

This is the only flag I've put out today so far. There is a storm moving in and I would have to bring it in anyway. If it clears up later I will fly our big flag on my porch.

"Flag Day is a holiday celebrated on June 14 in the United States. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress." Wikipedia