Back from Vacation

 We made it back from a wonderful vacation at Pagosa Springs, Colorado. We explored the area a bit, saw the town of Pagosa Springs, and just kicked back and relaxed.  We stayed at Club Wyndom Pagosa while we were there, in a house right on the water. 

This is the view from the back yard of the house we stayed in. I took a picture of the sunset every day I was there, it was just so beautiful. It was pretty nice during the day as well.

This was the view one morning. We saw balloons almost every day, many of them doing a splash and dash on the lake. Most days were clear and calm, with this being the only morning that was cloudy.

This was also common view from our balcony.

The San Juan River runs through Pagosa Springs, with some of the hot springs flowing right into it. Some of these hot springs can be accessed free when walking along the river. This is the river about 7:30 AM as we drove through town, the steam natural hot water where it runs into the river.

There are a lot of spas in Pagosa Springs where you have to pay to enjoy the hot springs, with a large variety of accommodations - and prices. We went to Overlook Mineral Springs Spa, which is in a building built in 1908. By not being on the water's edge, they were more affordable than some. They have tubs on the roof, where you can soak, enjoy the sun, and overlook the San Juan River. We had a lovely time, though I had to buy a sun hat. The one I brought was left at the house...

The tatting I took with me turned out to be just too complicated to work on while on vacation. I was too distracted by talk and scenery to get anything done. Even making this much could get me in trouble by forgetting the stitch count or where I should join. 

I also goofed when I packed. I knew I would run out of thread, so I brought the ball so I could add more. Or so I thought.

Not quite. I couldn't even use it to make a two-tone piece. Ugh! That is the main reason I switched to purple thread and made earrings! 

Since we've been home, I've had a molar tooth extracted and the funeral of a close relative. Not a good week to get much done. I'm finally feeling well enough to concentrate on tatting, so I think I'll be doing more soon. I have a list.

I love travel, I love coming home, and I love the memories and pictures I acquire on the way. 

How about you? Do you like to travel?

"Travel becomes a strategy for accumulating photographs." Susan Sontag

On Vacation

 We are currently on vacation with friends in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. I have brought tatting with me - of course! - but I haven't had much time to tat. There have been too many other things to see and do. I did finally make a pair of earrings. 

The first earring started out as something else but I wasn't able to pay enough attention to what I was doing to continue. I decided I could get a set of earrings done by stopping where I was.

I thought they came out pretty good, even though there are a couple of spots I'm not happy with. But on a galloping horse a mile away you can't see them. 😄

When we aren't out and about seeing the area or watching the deer outside where we are staying, we play a lot of cards. We've been vacationing with these friends almost every year for over 10 years.  At the end of one vacation we're already wondering where we'll go the next. It's wonderful to have such good friends!

While here, we visited Chimney Rock and Great Sand Dunes. At Chimney Rock we made it all the way up to the Great House. I'm so glad we brought our walking sticks! At the Sand Dunes we made it up the first dune, quite a walk in that much sand. We've definitely got a lot of exercise in the week!

We have several more days to enjoy the area and time with our friends. What are we going to do next?

"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed." Khalil Gibran https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/khalil-gibran-quotes

Kansas State Fair 2025

 My husband and I went to the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson on Sunday afternoon. It was a beautiful day with fantastic weather, just right for walking around the fair. I did not enter anything this year, too many things going on. But I did check out the Domestic Arts building to see what was there. It was almost shocking - there were only three entries of tatting. In the past there have been more. One entry was a pair of needle tatted baby booties that were wonderful! The booties took a top ribbon. There was a frame of several tatted sunflowers that was nicely done. The third item was an interesting doily. 

I almost missed these items because of where they were hung - very high. I did see a little more tatting on a beautiful crazy quilt.

I thought I got a good enough picture of the ribbon that I would find out who made it, but it came out fuzzy. 

This quilt has tatting on two blocks.

See the start at the top left? I noticed that first.

Then I saw this motif. It was nice to find them on the quilt. I thought there was another piece of tatting on another block, but it was machined lace.

I was very happy we went on Sunday. Monday it rained all day, sometimes heavy. The local news on TV showed glimpses of what it looked like at the fair, and it did not look fun. There was so much rain that the grassy parking lots became so muddy they are unusable until maybe Wednesday evening, if it doesn't rain again. 

We had something over two inches of rain at our house. Our yard became a swamp!

Places a couple of counties north of us had upward of nine inches in just the one day. I am so happy we aren't up there! We did see a partial rainbow as it began to clear before the sun went down.

Today was warm and sunny, a nice change from yesterday. The water around our place is mostly run off - as long as you don't walk out to the low spots. 

Fair season means sunflowers can be found everywhere. They are great to lift your spirits when it is rainy or sunny.

These are wild sunflowers, found in the ditch down the road from us.  There are a lot of wild sunflowers found anywhere that isn't kept mowed. There are also fields of larger ones, grown for the seeds. We drove by several fields of the large sunflowers, and by the Kansas Sunflower Maze, where they are grown for people to walk through and enjoy. Whether wild or purposely planted, seeing them always lifts my spirits. 

The chance to enter the fair is a year off. Maybe I'll plan better and get something made to enter next year. What a way to lift your spirits!

“Step into the joyous chaos of the state fair and let your spirit soar.” – Unknown

Cleaning Up

 When I am busy, I sometimes leave cleaning up for later. Which can become much later. The last several months have been very busy for me, with unexpected calls on my time and attention. My house in general, and my craft space in particular, have seen the results on my inattention. Now I'm trying to make up for my busy-ness by doing the things I should have already done. It seems like I'm sinking in a swamp of things that need to be done!

My table after I cleaned off a layer!

I have taken time to do some tatting, whether I should or not. The tatting you see on the table is from the start of something new I am trying. I had thought to add more to it, but didn't like where it was going, so stopped and started with something different.

It does make a great bookmark!

I'm happier with my next try. I know, they look nothing alike! True. I changed my mind. 

Some people are good at designing on paper or on the computer. I get my best ideas when I have shuttle and thread in hand. What comes out might not be what I want at the time, but it doesn't mean it's a waste of time. I might like it later!

As I'm in the middle of designing and have all kinds of ideas floating around in my head it is very hard to put my tatting down and do what has to be done around the house. The good thing is I can take it with me while I am being my mom's driver. While I wait for her, I can be tatting and not even feel guilty about it!

"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."        Wayne Dyer

Australian Adventure Vacation Bible School

Our church's Epic Australian Adventure vacation Bible school was a big success! We are a rural church in the middle of several small towns, with children coming from miles around. We were excited to welcome 40 children, most not from our congregation.

We decorated the fellowship hall the Sunday afternoon before VBS started the next Monday evening. We got our ideas mostly from the Internet. The decorating crew was members of our congregation, including some of the kids. They were so excited to help, and for us to use their ideas.

    

This was the main wall. The kids chose where the silhouettes were placed. 

This was one of the trees in the classroom where I taught the Bible lesson of the day. 

This was the tree in the other corner. The 'stumps' were five-gallon buckets with paper on them, borrowed from another local church. These were the seats for the kids. We did get a few comments that they weren't that comfortable.

I dressed as their adventure guide. 

This corner of the room represented the Great Barrier Reef. 

The sign-in table was decorated with bamboo. They have bamboo in Australian, right?

My granddaughter made pipe cleaner chameleons for me. I moved them around every day.

One of the local libraries had this cute cardboard camper they let us borrow. Everyone liked how this corner came out. The kids loved having their pictures taken driving the jeep.

The first lesson of the week was how God called Moses with the burning bush. The kids loved our burning bush - an electric 'fire'. A tabletop device with red and orange cloth 'fire' which was lighted, with a fan inside to make the cloth stand up and wave. We put fake leaf garlands around it. It looked amazing!

We had a great week. The kids were enthusiastic and enjoyed the activities and the singing. From listening to them talk to their parents on the final night they got a lot out of their time spent with us. They went home excited about what they had learned and singing the songs that went along with the lessons. Some were already asking if we were going to do it again. 

I'm not sure how much like Australia we made it look, but it definitely was different than normal! We even left the decorations up for the next Sunday so the rest of the congregation could see them, too. 

Putting on the VBS was a lot of work, but well worth it. I'm just glad I won't be in charge next year!

I didn't tat much at all that week because I was so busy. I didn't even get to the earrings I wanted to make. Instead of having the kangaroo charms with tatting, I wore just the charms. Unfortunately, what I did tat was for sympathy cards. I made a second cross due to another death in our congregation. 

I am back to having time to tat and have started several projects. Nothing to show yet, but I'm excited about them.

I just saw yesterday that the Lacemakers Guild of Oklahoma posted about their annual Lace Embrace in Dewey, Oklahoma on October 4th. My sister and I are planning to go. It sounds like fun!

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 ESV Bible

 

Christmas Bells

 While I have been busy with vacation Bible school issues, my sister, Elaine, has been tatting for Christmas. You know how it is, if you are making Christmas ornaments or gifts, you have to start way early to get them done in time. My sister has been looking over patterns to use for her ornaments for several months already. She decided to use my Christmas Bell pattern for some of them. (I'm very flattered).

Check out these cute bells! She added charms that reflect the interest of the different recipients instead of jingle bells. I love how they look with the charms. 

Elaine has also been trying out my Christmas Ornament 2023, which incorporates charms or beads, too. We have been searching through our beads to see what we have between us that she might like to use. The ones she has shown me look great.

Elaine has had time to tat, I've been too busy to do much. After the vacation Bible school - which went great! - I've had other things I have been busy with, keeping me from doing much tatting. I did take the time out to tat a cross for a friend of mine whose father died a couple of weeks ago. Some things are important enough you just take the time to do.

I made my Graduation Cross again. I like the look and it's easy to do. 

I'm now doing post-vbs work - making sure all the thank-you notes are written, organizing all the receipts, figuring out what to keep and what to get rid of by recycling or donating, and cleaning up the mess I left of my desk. I'll be sharing pictures soon. Not of the mess, of the vbs decorations, lol!

"In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable."    Dwight D. Eisenhower

Australian Distraction

 I haven't taken much time to tat this week. Okay, maybe I haven't tatted at all this week. I've not only been busy but distracted as well.

This year I am the head of the Board of Education for our church. This means that I'm in charge of the Vacation Bible School, which is next week. For the last several weeks I've been organizing people and items needed for this event. And I'm not a very organized person! I'm a bit stressed. 

The theme this year is Epic Australian Adventure, so I've been working on Australian themed decorations, including trees.

This tree is paper covered pool noodles. I'm not sure this is what we're going with, not even that it looks like a tree from Australian, but I'm sure it will be used. Pinterest is a great place to get ideas as well as how-tos. I made this one at home so I could gage how long this would take to make. We might have to take it apart to get it to the church. I hope not!

My job during VBS itself is the story leader. I had this idea that I should dress à la Steve Irwin, shorts and shirt in the same color and hiking boots. I cannot wear anything that is khaki colored, it makes me look sick, so I chose to go with a jungle green color instead. The shorts are a bit lighter color, but the shirt is an exact match as my hat! I think it will be fun!

I want to make fun earrings to go with my outfit. I found some Australian animal charms on Amazon that I'm sure I can make into a pair of earrings by next Monday, the start of our VBS. I just need to decide if I should go with a green thread to match the clothes, go with something bright, or ? 

I'll play with color choice tomorrow, when the light it better. We have a storm coming in at the moment - even though the weather man on the 6:00 PM news said that the stormy weather would all stay north. Time to get off the computer. 

What color do you think I should make my earrings?

"I have no fear of losing my life - if I have to save a koala or a crocodile or a kangaroo or a snake, mate, I will save it."

Steve Irwin

Coral Wave

The Wave earrings my niece asked me to make for her are done! 

The color in this picture is not what I would have liked to post, but it's the best of the pictures I took. They did come out nicely. I haven't yet arranged with her to mail them, but they should go out this week. Yay!

(I just noticed I've got the overlap on the earrings going in opposite directions! I fixed it!)

I don't crochet but I enjoy seeing it. This might be why I found a story on Facebook today.

If you go to the National Parks Service internet page and type in 'crochet' in the search bar, you get links to several crochet patterns. Who would have thought? They are pretty cute!

Let me know what you think of them. 

                         "If you saw a heat wave, would you wave back?" Steven Wright

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

More Waves

 I wore my blue Wave earrings Sunday morning. They look great!

I am very happy how well they go with my blouse. They are a wonderful accent. 

I made another pair of Wave earrings by CM-Handmade, this time in Lizbeth #671, Christmas red, size 20. I used blue beads and a pearl large bead, so they give a patriotic feel. I had a few issues making these. The thread kept twisting so bad that the large rings were hard to close. I finally figured out what I could do to minimize that, but it was still a pain. The large picot with the pearl is way too large, but I made the second earring the same as the first so they look the pair. I'll probably make another pair and be a bit more careful out that. I don't tat with beads often, which leads me to a this kind of problem.

Muskaan made a suggestion for making the earrings more patriotic, but I haven't tried it yet. It will not be quite as straightforward to make them as the original pattern. I will have to plan well before I start. It's not just the color changes, but the bead placement as well. It does sound intriguing. 

I plan on wearing this pair for Flag Day, which is coming up on June 14. If I don't get lazy, I might even make a pair for each of my daughters. Time will tell.

I have a few more things in line to tat this summer. What do you have planned?

"Women should never go without earrings. Passing on them is an opportunity missed."

Jennifer Lopez

Wave Earrings Done!

 The Wave earrings are done! I look forward to wearing them.

You might remember that I ran out of thread on the second earring. I had debated about starting over or adding thread to finish. I decided that I would add thread and finish what I started, that way I only had to load the remaining beads, instead of all 24. 

I chose Lizbeth thread size 20, color 657, Ocean Turquoise Dark, which matches a color in one of my blouses. This time I thought ahead and chose a color that made sense with my wardrobe. Usually, I just choose a color I like on the ball, not necessarily what works with my clothes. I need to remember this! LOL!

I've been looking at this, a one shuttle pattern, and trying to decide how I could make these patriotic, as Flag Day and Independence Day are coming up soon. The earring thread in white with a large red or blue bead, then the opposite for the little beads. This combination will most likely work with any shirt I wear. Matching blues and reds can be tricky, but if it's just the beads it shouldn't be that much of a problem. 

I've been tatting crosses lately, my Medallion Cross Bookmark, from 2016. I'll share them soon, once I sew in all the ends. Check back later.

"A fun pair of earrings is basically the finishing touch to any outfit; a nice watch is both practical and decorative, while the perfect unique bag is not only eye-catching but also timeless - it can be passed on to future generations." Liu Wen

CWT Project Almost Done

 Before going to Camp Wanna Tat we had homework to do. It was winding shuttles with enough thread to do the different projects. I did that. I didn't plan on making mistakes where I would cut off the thread and start over. Cue the surprise when I didn't have enough thread on my shuttle for the second earring.

This is the "Wave" earring pattern, by CM-Handmade, taught by Theresa Orren. I have admired this pattern for a long time, but I didn't realize this is what we would make when I wound my shuttle with the beads. The directions given told me what pattern it would be, but I didn't realize it was this pattern. I'm glad I had a few miscellaneous beads with me, as the "large" bead I had strung was not very large. It would have been nice to have a little bit bigger bead, but it still looks better than the one I originally strung. I finished the first earring at camp.

But that isn't what caused my biggest issue.

I am an experienced tatter, having learned more than 40 years ago, and tatted a lot since then. This does not mean that I don't make mistakes. Which I did on the first two rings of the first earring. Twice. Bad enough, I had to cut off and start again. Twice. Third time's the charm, I guess. But it did reduce the amount of thread left on my shuttle. Which I forgot when I started the second earring at home.

I'm now debating with myself about starting the earring again, or adding thread on this one. This is a single shuttle pattern with beads on the thread between rings. Do I want to fuss with this? Or just start it over?

Decisions, decisions.

I look forward to wearing these earrings and making a few more in different colors. I'll use different beads next time and make sure I have enough thread for each earring, too.

"Mistakes are the portals of discovery." James Joyce