Finished projects from Finger Lakes

I have been working on finishing projects from the Finger Lakes weekend.  One of which is a garden newt which I didn't take as a class but I couldn't resist tatting the pattern.  I haven't had a chance to do the garden spider but its next.

As mentioned in my last post I'm addicted to making peeps.   There was a copy of The Tatting Times which is published by Karey Solomon in the grab bag.  I love her patterns and this one is lots of fun!  This is one of many.  I've done a few where the center flower is in a contrasting color.  I purchased more thread when I was at the Finger Lakes seminar so I have plenty of choices.  I did something annoying and didn't check the sizes so I ended up with 3 balls of size 40 Lizbeth instead of size 20.  Fortunately the colors match and I'll still be able to use the thread.  Still, I'm irritated with myself.

Great time at the Finger Lakes tatting seminar!

A big thanks to the organizers of the seminar.  I had a great time and can't wait for the next one.  You really have to appreciate the people that put these events together.  Its nice to be around people who understand what that string thing is and don't consider it a personality flaw. 

Unfortunately, I'm not one for taking pictures but check out crunchybanana for some fun pictures of projects.  I've completed a few things and will share them when I find my camera.  I made a garden next, earings and a peep!  The peep had nothing to do with the event but was from a copy of Tatting Times was in the grab bags.  I started to laugh when I saw the pattern because a week before I was thinking how cool a tatted peep would be.  So I had to make it ASAP.  Its awfully cute!

I have an evil plan to make the garden spider this weekend!

Love my Kindle

As indicated in the title I purchased a kindle (e-reader) and absolutely love it!  Its so much easier to read and I never would have believed it until I tried it.  Unfortunately I hit a glitch when I found out its the only e-reader that's not compatible with e-books our local library carries.  So I'm very sad- that's the main reason I got it.   I talked to a few people and there's a way around this issue.  Basically I have to download to my computer first and then convert the books.  So I'm going to try a few things. 

I was also told that many books are available for free if you find the right site.  I'm not talking about the ones that are in the public domain either.   Apparently new books can be found.  I'm not comfortable with doing that, I expect to get paid when I work and I think that writers and publishers should get paid for their work.  Project Gutenberg is a site that shares books that are in the public domain.   So there's lots of opportunity for free reading without hurting modern day writers.

The other thing I really like about the kindle is that books aren't taking up space in my house.   Its all in one little container and available anywhere I take my kindle.  No commitments to reading just one book!

Just one question though, will this be the end of the bookmark?

Happy St. Patty's day

Happy St Patty's Day!!

As you can see I've had some fun making Shamrocks.  The ones in the back are Tatting Goddess's and the from Sharen Morgan.  Thanks to you both for sharing the patterns, they were just right for the day.  I threw the shamrocks into my pocket for no particular reason.  My friend Salima took Sharen's shamrock and pinned it to her shirt.  She got lots of compliments. 

Roses are red...

Ever since I got my own laptop I've been lazy about posts.  You would think that it would be easier to use my own computer instead of the one at work.  The catch is that I don't own a scanner and I'm an indifferent photographer.   I end up with no photos to go with the posts and you can't see what I'm talking about.  Of course I can just randomly write whatever is on my mind but I like photos. 

So today I looked for stuff to share that you haven't already seen and found this picture on my laptop.  I meant to post it in February and ask what that did they look like to you?  I was trying for roses but wasn't sure if I was delusional.  In addition, I was trying to figure out a way to make the roses into a doily without losing the rose in the pattern.   I don't think I needed to be so concerned...Pier One Imports wasn't worried about losing the rose in the design when they did their rose placemat.  

The roses really show off  Yarnplayer's hand dyed thread and the color changes.  The one on the right is done using Olde Rose and the smaller rose is done using Pizazz.  I've yet to try the pattern with a solid color so I guess that's the next step.  I have a vague picture in my head for a doily but I don't have the right colors in Lizbeth thread right now.   That means its on the shelf until I go on a purchasing spree for greens and rose like colors at the Finger Lakes Tatting Group seminar.  I have to start compiling a list of needs now so I won't miss anything.

Finally A Head!

Poor dragon lost his head and
has to hide until it regenerates!

I've been tatting Anne Bruvold's Norwegian Dragon pattern for the last 2 weeks.  It met with early disaster when I missed a ring and then horrors of horrors ran out of thread doing the head.  Poor dragon had his head cut off for a week!



finally finished!

I persevered and finally found him a head.  I was really tempted at one time to pretend it was a side profile and skip the other wing.  During the process I learned I never have to worry about SSSRs coming undone, they are pretty hard to cut apart.  I'm thinking in a regular pattern that ends with a ring you could substitute a SSSR and just cut the thread where it comes out.    I used Yarnplayer's Pizazz thread and I love the vivid colors.  I think I might try doing Anne's Sea Horse Dragon next.  You find this pattern and a bunch of others at: http://nuperelle.net/Sammensatt/HjerterEng.htm. 



Rainy Day

There's so much rain comming down in Ottawa that a rain warning is in effect.  Anyone with half a brain is at home worrying about their basements flooding.  I'm not because I'm having a case of house phobia.  All my friends are too busy to come out and play but I'm bored.  Normally I can find lots to keep myself occupied at home but today I'm reluctant to hang at the house.  No reason, just feeling confined.  The cleaning that desparately needs to be done might be playing into my phobia.  I also need to do the laundry.  You would be amazed at how much laundry one person can generate or at least the amount I produce. 
So far I've ate lunch out with friends, gone to the wool shop, bead store and a very noisy Starbucks.  Since anymore shopping therapy will require a stop at the mall I'm thinking that I'll just go home and clean.