January funk

I haven't gotten much tatting done lately.  It also seems that what has gotten done has had mistakes.

Take Jane's TIAS 2016.  

I was doing great until Day 6.  It wasn't that it was that difficult but I caught a thread where it shouldn't aught to be and didn't notice it until I was farther along.

Jane Eborall's TIAS 2016 Day 6

And this is where I still am.  The way things have been going lately with my tatting I'm afraid to take it out due to the chance of making it worse. 

But I am looking forward to finishing it.  Jane already has Day 8 out; I have a bit of catching up to do.

The doily I currently have in the round robin I'm a part of on Craftree is sitting by my chair waiting on me to finish it. I have it figured out - in my thread - but haven't yet attempted it in the doily colors yet.  I really don't want to mess it up.

I hope I get out of my funk soon.

On a bright note, I found my snowman that came off in the wash.

He looked pretty pathetic.

But amazingly his scarf, hat and flower are still attached.  I used craft glue to put them on and I really thought I'd find the tatting but not everything still together.  A little blocking and he'll be as good as new.

I'm hoping a little patience and a little more care will soon get me back to as good as new, or least back to normal!

"You're going to go through tough times - that's life.  But I say, 'Nothing happens to you, it happens for you.'  See the positive in negative events."

Joel Osteen

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Marlis Edging

Marlis Edging in Lizbeth #698 Fudge Med and #603 Ecru size 10

This is another edging I made last fall.  Yes, it is similar to Kamryn because I had an idea in mind that I was working toward and Marlis was one of the first versions of that idea.  I'm not all that happy with it, though once I added the second row where it is attached the material I liked it a lot better.  The colors look pretty good with the runner material, though.

After I had made Marlis and Kamryn - and a few other edgings - I saw a picture of an edging that is along the lines I originally was headed.  Fox over at tat-ology made 'Gardenia' by Iris Niebach, which if I'd seen it first I might have made it instead (I am sure I read about it on Fox's blog when she posted about it, but I've slept a couple of times since then). Oh, well, this way meant I had to take a chance at figuring out just what it was I did wanted and if I could get there from where I was.

I had a lot of fun in the trying.

"Just keep taking chances and having fun."
Garth Brooks
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Joy's Heart Cross Bookmark

Joy's Heart Cross Bookmark © Wanda Salmans 2016

The center of this cross is Joy's Heart (pattern found on My Patterns tab) with arms added. It's done in one pass with shuttle and ball only, no fancy or difficult techniques. Made with Lizbeth #670 Victorian Red thread in size 20. 

This was made in memory of my sister-in-law who loved anything hearts who lost her battle with cancer this last week.  We were the same age and though we didn't see each other often we always enjoyed each other's company.  She will be greatly missed.

I had almost a week to make a bookmark for my brother-in-law but I had a hard time getting started - maybe denial?  I finished the last arm and hid the ends a few minutes after the funeral.  The picture was taken in the foyer on a table there.  I should have found a better background but there were other things to do.

Funerals are hard to attend but can help so much with dealing with loss.  Besides all of the memories shared you also reconnect with extended family that unfortunately doesn't get together often enough.  I also find myself reviewing my own life and wonder if I'm doing things I might regret or what things I might regret if I don't do them.

As family and friends mingled, shared memories and tears, many of us kept saying "we have to stop meeting just at funerals."  Someone decided to do something about that - plans have been started to have a family reunion later this year.  I've added it to our calendar and we've made plans to go.  We not waiting until the next funeral.

 There is a wonderful poem by Linda Ellis called "The Dash". It really makes you think.