Christmas gifts

Merry Christmas! (a little late) and Happy New Year! (a little early)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  We did, and still are.  We had lots of family get-togethers over the last week and still have one more to go this weekend.  For all that I thought I was ready for all of them, there still seemed to be a few things I didn't get to until the last minute.  How normal.

Every year I try to have one snowflake that is "the" snowflake of the year.  I posted about 2012's snowflake here. I didn't get as many of these done as I would have liked to, but that is how I feel every year.  I did get a few others done as well - mainly due to the fact that it's hard for me to do the same thing over and over.

The red and two blue are motifs/'flakes that I came up with this year.  The green one is 'Betsy Snowflake' by Betsy Evans.  I saw it on A Happy Bluebird a week or so ago and just had to give it try.  I added silver seed beads to it and left out a couple of non-joining picots.  I really like how it came out.  All of them are made in Lizbeth size 20 thread.  These were also given away as gifts. 

I gave away a few tatted gifts that I had made previous to this year.  I found these while looking through a few things and they made excellent additions to what I was already giving without me having to hurry up and make anything else. 

My Sunday school class consists of three girls. One girl is very fond of purple (the butterfly), one girl loves shades of orange (the flower), and one girl loves horses, no matter the color.  The crosses went to the pastor and his wife.  All are made in Lizbeth size 20 threads, though I can't name off the colors right now. The butterfly and flower are my patterns, the horse is a variation of Debbie Arnold's Sea Horse and the two cross patterns can be found on my pattern page. 

I still have in mind a lot of things I wanted to make for Christmas that didn't happen.  Maybe I'll stay motivated and start them now so they'll be ready for next Christmas.  It could happen. Maybe. 

"In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it 'Christmas' and went to church; the Jews called it 'Hanukkah' and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank.  People passing each other on the street would say 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Happy Hanukkah!' or (to the atheists) 'Look out for the wall!'"

Dave Barry

Are you ready

For Christmas? 

A farmer in his trusty tractor bringing home the Christmas tree

Nutcrackers guarding the door

 I am, mostly.  I still have a few things I want to tat (of course!) but I'm not going to stress if they don't get done.  I've got some of the cards sent and hopefully I'll finish them tomorrow.   That's what I was doing today instead of posting here.  In fact, I forgot to take pictures of what I have been working on so I'm sharing a couple of pictures of some of the Christmas lights we saw a couple of weeks ago.

As I don't have any tatting to share today I'll share the poem I wrote instead.

A Christmas Poem

Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the house

I decked the halls for the season (with help from my spouse.)

Ornaments were hung on the tree with great care

Even out on the lawn decorations were there

With gift-giving in mind and a list in my hand

We headed to town the crowds to withstand

To buy just the right present, for each person we knew

Just the right gift - I hadn't a clue!

As we walked down the street, as we shopped in the mall

There were toys of all sizes, for kids large and small.

Through every speaker there was many a shout

"Be the first to have this!" "You can't live without!"

For every age, and for every type

Were gadgets and widgets and a whole lot of hype

To convince you to spend every bit your dough

In this place and that place and hard to say "No!'

After suffering the crowds as we traversed the aisles

(Of which there many, each one seeming like miles!)

We turned to each other with strain on our faces

And agreed with a glance to get out of these places!

We returned home from the stores with sighs of relief.

But relief was short-lived, reprieve very brief.

No gifts did we have and time was now short.

What gifts could be given as a last resort?

We glanced at our tree, at the star there on top,

That symbol of the season made us just stop.

It glittered there brightly, shining down from above

Reminding us of the gift that had been given with love.

One night long ago, in a faraway place

A boy-child was born, one filled with God's grace.

He was born to save us, a gift to us all

A gift we should share, and it's not found in a mall.

We realized that it wasn't how much that was spent

Or how new or how snazzy or what the content.

To celebrate this birth we give gifts to each other

A small token of the gift once given by Another.

So, in this season of gift-giving and fun

Remember that God gave us His Son

To save us from sin and make all things right.

Blessed Christmas to all and to all a good night.

                                                          Wanda Salmans 2012

Finally, Snowflakes!

Happy Tatting Tea Tuesday! Have you taken time out for tea and tatting today?

My tatting today was finishing off several snowflakes. Yes, I finally made a few! This pink one is my pattern for this years Christmas card snowflake.  It looks suspiciously like ones I've done before, though I'm not finding a picture of any exactly like it. The beads do give it a different look than it would have without them.  It measures just shy of two inches across when made with size 20 thread and a 1/2 inch center, so it's not very big.  This pink snowflake is for one of my daughters, who happens to like pink.  I'm not sure of the Lizbeth color number though it looks pretty close to the actual color, at least on my screen.

I've made several of these snowflakes so far, none in white.   I'm trying to be daring this year.  The first two I made I did a little differently than I made this one.  This one is done strictly with one shuttle and ball and no fancy techniques.  The 'rings' on the outside are chains that are joined in the same place they started.  On the first two I did I made them as self closing mock rings.  I had to work a little harder to have the SCMRs close prettily, and I didn't like the look of the back of the 'flake.  I had pictures I was going to post of the backs done both ways but I forgot to upload it and it's too late now (I don't have access to them at the moment.)

I have done a couple of other snowflakes, too.  This pattern is from several years ago (as seen here and here - it's hard to believe it's been that long!) but this time I added beads. It's a little hard to tell from the picture but the beads are a clear crystal. They really sparkle pretty on the Christmas tree.  I tried (and tried!) to get pictures of them on the tree, but none of those came out.  I had a hard time finding a good background that didn't make the red look washed out or orange.  

We're keeping Christmas simple this year, so other than getting several tatted things done I'm pretty much ready.  Okay, I haven't gotten out the Christmas cards yet.   There's still time, really!

"For disappearing acts, it's hard to beat what happens to the eight hours supposedly left after eight of sleep and eight of work."

Doug Larson

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A funny thing happened

On the way to the yarn shop.
Three things, actually.  They say that things happen in threes, and they did!

The owner of  Odd Balls Yarn Shop, a local store, asked if I would be interested in selling some of my tatting at the store on consignment.  I thought this could be fun.  For the last week or so, between doing a few other things, I've been getting ready earrings, stitch markers and wine glass charms to take over, as well as some way to display them.  Tracie Anderson, the owner, suggested the small Christmas tree I used at the craft show and she would have it on the counter by the register.  Great!

Yesterday I made a list of what I had, put it in a box with my tatting and left for work early so I could stop at the shop on the way.  A few miles down the road I realized I didn't have the tree and had to turn around and go back home to get it. (Funny #1)

I ran in the house for the tree, then on the way out I pulled the house door shut - and the door knob came off in my hand.  After some work I got it back on, kinda sorta, and left again. I called my husband to let him know that he had a little project when he got home from work. (Funny #2)

I live out in the country and take the Interstate to Wichita to work, passing through Newton on the way.  Odd Balls is in a mall just south of Newton. I drive this every day.  But yesterday, before I get to Newton, I hear and feel this "THUMP!" while I'm driving. No, it wasn't a deer.  It was a tumble weed, a big one, that tumbled out in front of me as I was driving 75 miles an hour.  I slow down but the thing just hangs on.  I have to pull over, put my flashers on and get out to pull it our of the front grill of the car.  A highway patrolman just happened to see the attack and stopped over to make sure I was okay, which I was.  (Funny #3)

I was just glad that was the last "funny" for the day.  I had been a bit worried that my entire day at work would follow suit, but it didn't. The evening passed quite uneventfully.

Today for Tatting Tea Tuesday I had a cup of - Hot apple cider.  It's not that the weather is cold here, it just sounded good.  I found these cute mugs at Dillon's and have decided that I'm going to use them for everyday instead of just special occasions. I'm bad about saving nice or pretty things for "special occasions" and they sit in the cabinet and never get used.  Not this year!

I'm trying out some new thread that Odd Balls carries.  It's a rayon thread, which is very different than cotton, about a size 12.  It's a very pretty purple shade that feels very nice to work with.  The biggest problem is that it's soft and rayon.  If the stitches are tight rings do not close completely.  I've been working with it, practicing rings and I'm getting the hang of it.  I'm hoping it works out because I've seen some very pretty things made with this brand of thread.  Any body else tried it?

I haven't gotten any snowflakes done yet, I keep getting side-tracked!  Okay, okay, Wanda,  stop procrastinating and get on with it!!!

"Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand - and melting like a snowflake."
Francis Bacon, Sr.

Birthday gift

I made this cross bookmark for one of my Sunday School students who's birthday was this week.  I had planned on making it several weeks ago but that was while I was getting ready for the craft show, so it got put off.  Then there was the week before Thanksgiving trying to get some neglected cleaning done before our daughter's family arrived for the weekend.  Then there was Thanksgiving and all the get-togethers and dinners.  Sunday morning arrived and it wasn't done yet!

Luckily I woke early, even before the grandchildren, and was able to get started on it.  I kept making mistakes on stitch counts and joins, and then the kids got up.  Just a few more distractions while I hurried to finish it before church.  Amazingly, I did it.

This is made with Lizbeth size 20 in #641 Lilac Dark for the rings and #633 Dark Purple for the chains.  The pictures, at least on my computer, come out looking like shades of blue, but trust me, they're purple! I'm pretty sure she'll like it as purple is her favorite color.  

I say pretty sure because after all that hurrying to get it done, her family was out of town for the holidays so she hasn't seen it yet. Oh, well, it's done.  Much better to have it done and her not there that the other way around!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with several dinners and lots of family. We don't see much of some of the families that much anymore, which is sad.  Fortunately we still try to get together for Thanksgiving and Christmas and most are able to make one or the other, and if we are lucky, both.  Hopefully some that couldn't make it for Thanksgiving will be able to come for Christmas.

Now things have settled down a bit, at least for a few days, and I can think what I still need to make and do for Christmas.  Unlike Diane I haven't been getting any snowflakes made.  She has made some beautiful ones this year.  I need to get motivated and make some myself.

"A gift consists not in what is done or given, but in the intention of the giver or doer."

Lucius Annaeus Seneca

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! May we all take a few minutes out of our day of family, food and football to remember what we are thankful for.

"Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude."

E.P. Powell

A little ingenuity

The craft show was last Saturday.  We didn't do too bad, though not as good as we'd hoped.  but all in all it was a fun day.

I did run into a few issues.  I've done craft shows before but I wasn't selling jewelry or anything attached to a card like I was this year.  There it was, Friday night, we've set up the tables and other displays in the show hall but not our sale items - we planned to put those out Saturday morning - when I realized I hadn't planned on how to display the earrings and wine glass charms.  I had spent time attaching them to cards but hadn't given a thought to what I was going to do with them after they were attached!

I start wandering around the house trying to think of what I had to hang them on, my mind a blank.  It was getting late and I was tired and getting a little frustrated.  I thought of putting several strands of wire in a picture frame but I would still have to prop or hold up the frame and that was the problem.  I figured I could lay out a few on the tables here and there but that wouldn't do for all of them.  

Then I had an idea.  Do you see it?  Can you guess what it is? (I know, the picture is pretty blurry)

Does this help you see my wire cooling rack?  And an ankle weight.

I found a wire display stand, like you would use to display a book or plate on a table top, but putting anything on it tall enough to display the earrings made it topple over.  So an ankle weight around the legs and covered with a piece of cloth, then the rack wired to the front legs of the stand.  A little garland around the top, and I had an earring display stand. 

Then I had another idea. 

There on the left back - it's a spool tree, to hold spools of thread.  I only used two sides but it did lift a few earrings up so they could be seen. 

My sister and I are talking about trying another show, maybe in the spring.  If/when we do, I'll have taken the time to come up with a little better display idea.  But they worked for this time.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." Albert Einstein

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Variations on a charm

I have continued making charms for the craft show coming up this weekend, but I've also been making a few earrings.  These earrings are just a little more elaborate than the wine glass charms, but still just chains around a doodad.  With beads.  

The colors are not showing up true to life.  The four on the left are Christmas Red, Lizbeth # 671, the center two are Navy Blue, Lizbeth # 654 and the four on the right are Burgundy, Lizbeth # 672.  They are all in size 20. 

As most people seem to like silver jewelry instead of gold right now I've been doing most of the charms and  earrings in silver.  I have made a few things with gold centers and beads because they just look so good in them.

I've not been checking out too many blogs the last week or so.  I just get sucked in and go from one to another and totally loose track of time.  And I'm a bit short on time right now!  I've tatted a lot of the charms, now I need to put the rings on them.  And do some more earrings.  And a few other things I'm wanting to get done for the show.  Then there are a few things I can't not do, like cook once in a while, do a little laundry, that type of thing.  The good news is I've taken this week off from work to get some crafting done.  I'm not sure just how much I'll actually get done, but certainly more than if I was having to go to work. 

After the craft show is over I'll be concentrating on getting things done for Christmas.  And  cleaning my house, which has been very much neglected.  I have thread, beads and other miscellaneous crafty things all over the place - imagine that!

"The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is." C.S. Lewis

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Charmed

At least my wine glasses are.

I've been doing a lot of tatting lately but not everything has come out like I'd like.  The wine glass charms are one thing that I think has come out well.   I showed them to my sister the other day when her son, who was there as well, said he thought they were pretty cool.  This surprised both his mother and I as he doesn't usually notice such things.  

He asked if he could take a picture of them to send to his girlfriend.  Hmmm, like I had to think very hard about that one. 

I've made sets of them in jewel tones and autumn colors, four colors in a set.  I'm thinking these will work very well for Christmas gifts this year.  A lot of the nieces and nephews are in college, or at least that age now, and wine glasses with wine glass charms would work well as gifts, don't you think?

They also make cute, easy earrings.  I still had some thread on my shuttle from the blue ones so made two more and put them on earring wires instead of the rings.  When I wore them to work the other day one lady said she definitely would like a pair.  I asked her what color she wanted.  

I made two sets using two different centers and let her choose.  

My sister and I are going to do a local craft show in a few weeks where I hope to sell some of these, too, both wine glass charm sets and earrings.  We thought business cards would be a good idea, in case there were any special orders.  We used to do several craft shows a year but haven't for quite a while now.  Lately we've been talking about trying to do a couple of local shows, just for fun.  We can't use the same name as we had before because we had a third person with us which fit the name, but it doesn't now.  Do you know how hard it can be to come up with a name we both like, fits what we do/may do and isn't already taken??

I have to thank Sharon and her Design-Tat class for the designs on our business cards.  We plan to print our own as we don't expect to need a lot, but they needed some graphics to be more than just words.  I looked online for free graphics that would fit our name/theme and couldn't find any I liked.  There are a lot of sewing ones out there, and a few tatting ones, but, but - not quite right.   So I made the graphics myself utilising the knowledge I learned in the Design Tat class as well as the software program that I now use for my tatting patterns   I think they came out pretty well if I do say so myself. 

One bad thing about making these are that they are very quick to tat.  How can that be a problem?   It means I'm hiding a lot of ends frequently.  I've taken to making the charms/earrings in batches then sewing in all the ends.  My fingers have gotten a little sore.  I've taken to using my little jewelry pliers to pull the needle through - very carefully.  I've already broken one needle. The good news is my fingers are not as sore!

"Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes."  Oscar Wilde

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Angel revisited

 Remember my angel from a couple of weeks ago?  I liked how it came out and thought I'd try making another, but hopefully learning from my experience.   It did come out slightly different than the original.

Second angel

Can you see the differences?

First angel

I hadn't really measured the material when I made the first angel.  When I made the second angel I thought I had made it the same size, but it obviously wasn't quite.  It made the body/gown a bit narrower.  I didn't find that a bad thing, so I continued. 

The wings are the same, the halo the same, I used the same size beads.  I did make a few changes, though, other than the gown.  For the hem I used graduating picots to give it a more - frilly? - effect.  The neck rings have different stitch counts and the front is longer with a larger ring at the bottom. This time when I made the neck/front I attached it to the wings before attaching to the body (the front wasn't an afterthought this time!). It worked much better and I didn't have a twisted picot, either. 

I look at each one and like them both, sometimes one more than the other, then change my mind.  I plan on making several more but I'm not sure just which way to go on them.  Which one do you like better?  And why?  

I am working on the pattern for the angel, starting with the wings - which have stayed the same - but haven't got it done yet.  If you're interested. 

Speaking of angels...

My granddaughter is going to be an angel for Halloween this year.  She had to show off her costume to Grandma and Grandpa while we visited this weekend. I can't make one that is as cute and sweet as she is! :-)

"These things I warmly wish for you:

Someone to love, some work to do,

A bit o' sun, a bit o' cheer,

And a guardian angel always near."

- Irish blessing

What to do with a bucket

A mini bucket, that is.

There is a restaurant in Wichita called "Logan's Roadhouse" (it's a chain restaurant) that has some of it's desserts served in mini buckets.  I've collected a few but never done anything with them.  Then the other day my boss brought in a couple.  His wife didn't think they should keep them but he thought something could be done with them.  He ended up giving them to me. 

That's when I remembered that Boss's Day was October 16 and I'd missed it.  So guess what I did?

Yep, I gave one of the buckets back to him.  It looked a little different than when I got it, though. 

These little buckets have the restaurant logo on them, which I had to take off.  It used to be a sticker but they paint it on now.  I took some sandpaper to it but didn't get the whole logo off so I ended up painting over it.  I used what paint I had on hand and it needed to co-ordinate with the thread I was going to use.  Originally I had planned to use a red button in the center so I chose green paint instead of red.  After I had painted it I changed my mind.  Oh, well, it still came out looking okay. 

I used Lizbeth #638, Christmas Green in size 20.  There are two layers of tatting, the bottom/outside having silver beads.  I glued a flat-backed diamond gem in the center to brighten it up a bit.  The top looked kind of bare so I put a stand of silver ribbon around it.  I couldn't get a bow to look good so I tatted a ring with lots of beads on it then glued it down with another, smaller, flat-backed gem in the center. 

I also added some candy to it.  It looked pretty cute and the boss liked it, so I would say it was a success. 

I have a couple other of these buckets I think I'll do similarly.  I'm going to try to get the logo off better and use a more contrasting paint for whatever thread I use.  This didn't take me very long to do so will make excellent small gifts with a little candy in the center.  

I met some alpacas at the store the other day....

Yes, alpacas in the store.  Odd Balls, a yarn shop in Newton, Kansas, had an event weekend and brought some alpaca into the store.  

 

Alpaca fiber is used to make yarn and is similar to wool.   They had a display set up showing some of the uses of the fiber. 

It was interesting to see the different natural colors the fiber comes in. 

I didn't have time to stay long as I heard about it just before leaving for work.  The store does this every year, so I guess I'll have a chance to go again next year.  I've done a bit of web surfing since then to learn move about them.  Here's a link to ten fun facts about alpacas if you'd like to know more, too. 

The trouble with Angels

I've been thinking for a while now about making a material angel with tatted wings.  I finally sat myself down and did it. 

I started with the wings, which would determine the size of the rest of the angel. I had two shuttles already wound with Lizbeth white size 20 thread so I could just get started with my idea for wings.  They were turning out pretty much as imagined when I noticed something a little odd.  They already looked a little dirty.

No, I had clean hands, just two colors of thread.  What I had thought were two shuttles with color #601 white, in reality were one of #601 and the other of #602 Natural.  Things were going so well and I was so far along that I decided I wouldn't stop but keep going, so finished the wings.  

Then it was on to the body, which I made of denim from a pair of jeans.  I spent a lot of time cutting down the material to the right size and getting it shaped into the body.  For as small as this is, the denim was hard to work with.  Instead of sewing the back together I used fabric glue.  Then I had to get the neck just right so it looked good with the head bead.  Again, if I had used a lighter weight material it would have been easier.

The front tatted piece is a circle, attached to the wings in the back, which are glued to the body.  I left a twisted picot back there - I'll have to work on that. The simple rings and chains at the bottom of the skirt are glued on, which also helps to keep the denim from fraying without a hem. The halo is a tatted ring with an outside round of chains with beads, which makes it pointed. This halo is not the first one I tried, but about the third or fourth.

The finished size of this angel is about four inches tall.  The body is stiff enough that it can stand by itself, but then the head falls off because it's on the thread but not held tight to the body.  I think I need to find another way to keep it there, whether a knot or a touch of glue.  The wings aren't stiffened but they might need to be.  I'll be watching to see if they start drooping. 

Yes, I'm lazy and used glue instead of sewing the tatting on.  This is a prototype and I just wanted to get it done. I learned a lot doing this one, things to do differently next time and things to do the same.  If it was for someone besides myself I might - maybe - sew on the tatting.  Time will tell. Overall I'm happy with my angel. I'm just hoping the next one - when, if - doesn't take so long!

I'm call this #8 of this round of the 25 Motif Challenge.  It was quite the challenge to finish.

edited 10/16/12 to mention wings were not stiffened.

"But men must know, that in this theatre of man's life it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on." Francis Bacon

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Doodads in the middle

Just a couple of motifs with a doodad in the middle

I was inspired to buy more doodads ('links' in the catalog) and see what I could come up with using them.  It took quite a while to look through all that is available at Fire Mountain Gems - wow, there are a lot of things you can get to make jewelry!

I'm actually thinking of making snowflakes with doodads in the center, and maybe beads, for Christmas this year.  Not sure I'd call either of these a snowflake but I think they came out okay.

This motif has a gold link in the center and gold beads I already had.  I put a ring at the top but I'm not sure if it should be for a necklace or another zipper pull. The thread is Lizbeth #652  Royal Blue in size 20. 

#6 in my 25 Motif Challenge

#7 of the 25 Motif Challenge

This one is also in Royal Blue - it was on the shuttles already - but the center link was part of a chain bought at Walmart.  I used gun-metal seed beads instead of silver.  I'm sure I like them that much but that's what I used so I'll have to live with it. I changed my mind mid-stream while working on this so one side is a little wonky.  I have no idea what I will do with this. 

Choosing to use beads and other jewelry findings is a bit of a challenge for me, taking me out of my comfort zone.  It's good for me :-)

"As a child my family's menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it."

Buddy Hackett

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Getting the kinks out

 of my zipper pulls. Miranda suggested leaving a space, or small false picot, between the rings.  I gave that a try and they seem to be hanging without kinks in them now, though they still twist a bit.  

I really like how this one came out.  It's made with gold plated 6 or  8 mm beads and a dragonfly charm;

 the thread is Lizbeth # 652 Royal Blue in size 20. Without the lanyard hook at the top it measures about 2.25 inches.  The only lanyard hooks I have are silver so that's what I used.

This one is also made with the Royal Blue thread as that's what I had on my shuttles.  I used gun metal seed beads and a silver butterfly bead at the end. I like this one except for the ring I put around that butterfly bead: I think I should have just threaded it like a bead and tied the ends off.   This zipper pull is about 4 inches long. 

Thanks, Miranda, for the suggestion!

I have several projects going on right now - I can't seem to concentrate on one or another.   My mantra going forward needs to be "Focus, focus, focus!"

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other."

Abraham Lincoln

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Where have they gone???

The pictures of tatting I took while on vacation??  I can only find the one of green thread on a red button that I already posted about, all of the other ones are gone! What a bummer!

Taking a suggestion from Kathy I've been making zipper pulls instead of hair clips.  Each one of of these blue ones has some form of mistake so they are mine, but I've been trying out different ideas to see what works, what doesn't work and if I like the results or not. I had a pink one that I gave away to a friend and a green one that I put on my coat zipper.   I had taken pictures of them while on vacation with my phone so didn't worry about taking one with my camera.  They should still be on my phone but I can't find them anywhere:(

 I also forgot to take a picture of these at home before I came to work.  It's been interesting trying to find a way to get a good picture that doesn't have my shadow in it.   You can see how they don't hang very well.  I'm still trying to figure out what I need to do to fix that.

We are slowly getting back into the swing of normal days since returning from our vacation, but it is hard.  We had such a great time it was very hard coming back. I'm still going through the pictures trying to label a few and pick out some to print.  

On Wednesday, September 12, we decided to go over Weston Pass because it is an easy pass and it was misting and raining that day.  We aren't that skilled at driving in the mountains on rough roads so thought we should do something that wasn't too challenging.  In trail books this pass is rated about a 1 or 2 for difficulty but a 10 for the scenery.  

We saw a lot of color on our drive up through the mountains. 

The rain turned to snow as we got to the top. It was great!

As we came down the other side it turned back to a light rain. It was a wonderful drive. Here's some information on Weston Pass if you are interested. 

We went over starting on the Fairplay side so ended up close to Leadville.  We went on in and had lunch there, at Callaways Restaurant in the Delaware Hotel. We enjoyed a great lunch then did a little shopping.  We also drove a little ways out of town to see some of the mines.  We could see it had snowed enough in the higher elevations that the mountains tops now had a covering of snow. 

I have no idea which mountain this is, but it was beautiful.

Today for Tatting Tea Tuesday I sipped hot tea and looked through pictures instead of tatting.  I'm still hoping to get a few minutes of tatting in but it may have to wait until tomorrow. 

"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather."

John Ruskin

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Home again

We are home again after spending a week vacationing in Colorado.  I now have a better Internet connection.  Oh, happy day!

We spent the week in the same area we did last year, close to Buena Vista.  There is still a lot of things we haven't done there, but we had a lot of fun checking a few things off our list of things to do.  

We went back through St. Elmo and this time went all the way over Tin Cup pass (we didn't make it last time). We stopped in St. Elmo for a few minutes to see what had changed since last year and to take a few pictures. The post office in this picture is a good example of the state of most of the buildings in the town.

Me tatting in front of the St. Elmo post office, elevation 10,006 feet (3050 m)

Jay seen flitting around St. Elmo.

Can you believe I actually caught this guy sitting still long enough to get his picture?  I just got lucky.

Flying chipmunk

The chipmunks were unhappy with us that we didn't give them any seeds.  They would come right up to you in search of them.  One even climbed part way up my leg (it's an odd feeling!) I was snap-happy with my camera and was able to catch this guy jumping from one rock to another. 

Aspens at St. Elmo

We came up a week earlier this year than last and weren't sure we'd see any of the Aspens in their fall colors, but they were just starting to change while we were there.  Here you can see that some have changed while others are still completely green.  You can see some of the color change on the mountain side in the distance, too. 

We spent a lot of our vacation in a jeep going up and down mountains.  The roads are not conducive to tatting while in the car!  I was able to get some tatting done but very little.  I'll share some of what I worked on later.

Deer in someones yard in Buena Vista.

We saw more wildlife out in the mountains this time than we did last year but, like last year, most of the deer were seen in Buena Vista.  They have become quite the pests.  This lovely buck was seen in the front yard of a house, along with four other bucks and three does.  You have to be at least as careful driving through town as you do out of town so as not to hit them. 

I had a cup of Refresh tea yesterday for Tatting Tea Tuesday, but due to life's twists and turns was not able to post.  I'm hoping that next week I'll actually get to post on Tuesday!

We had a wonderful vacation and are sad it's over and we have to return to our normal life, which includes working, though I am glad to have a normal Internet connection.  It is (very) likely that I will be sharing more vacation pictures next time :-)

"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go.  I travel for travel's sake.  The great affair is to move."

Robert Louis Stevenson 

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Blogger Mobile hates me

I've been trying to post for two days now on Blogger Mobile and it stops during the upload every time!!!  I finally got to a hot spot (though it's very, very, slow) so I can let you know that I'm still here.

Just a little something I made trying to empty a couple of shuttles.  I've been so busy doing other things I haven't gotten much else done except a few doodles emptying other shuttles. 

I'll try again later this week to get a longer post in.  I have some really cool pictures of where I've been the last week I'd like to share.  But that will have to wait for a better Internet connection. 

Happy Tatting everyone!

Diane's Double Dare

 Diane dared us to! 

She double-dared us! 

Then she enabled us by sending us doodads!

Isn't she a special lady?

She sent me two 1/2 inch doodads with eight petals.  I thought about it a little bit, then found some thread and beads that worked well together and gave it a try. 

My first try is made in Lizbeth #662, Turquoise Lt in size 20 with matching seed beads. 

You can't see it in this picture but it didn't want to lay flat, it was three dimensional.  Because of the length of the chains on the outside round every other leg was raised.  It looked pretty cool but made it a real bear to photograph.   

I liked the result well enough that I thought I'd try it again but shorten up the chains a bit. 

My second try is made in Lizbeth #638, Christmas Green and silver seed beads.

The reflection off the silver beads and the doodad really made this hard to capture with a picture.  And the darker thread made finding a good background hard, too.  The picture doesn't show just how striking the green thread set off the silver beads and center.  In person this looks much, much better!

Thank you, Diane, for sending me the doodads, and for daring me to use them!  These are #5 in my current 25 Motif Challenge. 

p.s I have posted the pattern on the Pattern Page if you're interested.

"Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare."

Dale Carnegie

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