Dragonfly

I sent a card to my mother the other day just to let her know I was thinking of her.  I found this lovely card that expressed what I wanted to say beautifully.  When I send cards I like to personalize them with a bit of tatting.  My mother is very fond of dragonflies, so it seemed the perfect touch to add one.

Dragonfly tatted in Lizbeth size 20 Easter Eggs

I tried to remember where I had seen the dragonfly pattern I was thinking of.  Jane Eborall has an awesome pattern for one but it takes a lot of beads, which is no surprise.  Also no surprise I’m not wanting to use that many beads.  As I couldn’t remember where to find the pattern and didn’t have time to surf the ‘net for it, I doodled a bit and came up with a reasonable dragonfly.

Over a week after I sent the card I saw that Michelle, over at Tela Magistrae, had made dragonfly earrings. The pattern was pretty much what I was looking for.  Eliz Davis commented they looked like a pattern from Jon Yusoff.  Sure enough, that’s the pattern I was looking for.  I think it will be easier than the one I made.  Michelle’s earrings turned out so well!  I think I’ll be making a pair for my mother.  And maybe me, too.

Instead of tatting much this weekend my husband and I spent it with family.  We went to our oldest daughter’s house to spend the day Saturday.  Our daughter and family from Nebraska were able to come down, too.  We have tried to have a longer vacation together like we have done the last several years, but we just couldn’t get the timing to work.  We had a great day visiting, doing things together, and watching the kids play together.  Sunday we had all of them over to our house along with other family and a few friends.  It was a great weekend.

With the busy weekend I’m behind on reading all the tatting blogs I like.  But that’s okay! I knew all the blogs would be there when family had gone home.  Now that I have time I’m looking forward to seeing what all you’ve been up to.

“It’s not the amount of time you devote, but what you devote to the time that counts.”  Found in a fortune cookie

What a week!

Oh, wait, it's been two weeks!

No, I didn't forget to post - life got in the way.

I have gotten some tatting done but haven't found much time for picture taking.  Finally this morning I just took the time to take a few.

 Lizbeth size 20 #122 Caribbean

I usually keep several bookmarks handy for those times a small gift is needed unexpectedly but my supply of these has dwindled to nothing. I started restocking with this cross that has a finding - 'doodad' - in the middle.  

I've also be playing with the motif idea I had a couple of weeks ago.  The one on the left is the original, the one on the right the next try.  I think I like the second one better.  Both are made in size 10 turquoise. 

It has been a very busy two weeks, lots of things happening, little of it planned.  I've spent a lot of time at the hospital with my mother who fell and broke her hip and femur. As breaks go they aren't bad but there was still surgery, hospital stay and now rehab.  

I did get to spend a beautiful day with one of my grandsons in the middle of all this.  My son-in-laws' family also had a medical emergency and a babysitter was needed for a few hours.  It happened to be on the most gorgeous day - 80° F, sunny, very little wind - so we went to the park.  Three parks actually.  He didn't want to go home at all! It was a great day. 

I have to admit that there is something else that has kept me from tatting as much as I'd planned - a new book.  I found out last week that my favorite author, Lois McMaster Bujold, had a new book in the Vorkosigan saga out last November(!)  The first six chapters are free to read on-line - which I did, but it leaves you hanging (of course).  Then I tried something I'd been putting off - I bought the ebook to read on my tablet.   I instantly had the entire book to read (heheheheheh), no waiting to go to the library or book store.   This has proved to be dangerous - it's just too easy to buy new books.  If I'm not careful I'll never get anything else done!

"I am simply a 'book drunkard.' Books have the same irresistible temptation for me that liquor has for its devotee.  I cannot withstand them."

L.M. Montgomery