A Personal Observation

It occurred to me the other day that I have not been ranting and raving on here. I started this blog to just have an outlet for venting, in hopes of not letting loose so often on my kids and husband. So I started thinking on what had changed. Either I AM letting loose on my family or things are calmer in my spirit. Looking around, the family seems okay, even though I still go off on them sometimes. I don't think it is nearly as often and more often for righteous reasons (not using their brains.) <-Did that sentence make sense? Maybe I'm not as okay as I was thinking? LOL.

Between getting to leave the house to play poker once a week and learning to tat, things have gotten better, I think. I found a wonderful group of ladies, self-named the Tri-Tatters. We meet once a month for a few hours to chat, tat, and eat chocolate. We have a few laughs, share what we are working on, and get help for tatting questions among other things. In the evenings, I sit down to watch one of my favorite crime shows or movie with my husband and tat away. I think being able to COMPLETE something, even a small motif or earring, has helped with a sense of accomplishment.

So for those of you (ha ha ha, so many, ha ha ha) looking for my ingenious ravings, I shall try to come up with a good one soon. In the mean time you will have to settle for my frustrations of trying to get my scanner to work! I was tatting without thinking the other night and didn't make what I thought would be the end result. But it gave me an idea, and I made a cute little motif and want to scan it and show it to you. But that will have to wait a little longer. Grr! (-;

I have a secret passion......

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker! Bloggers can register to play for free in the WBCOOP, if you don’t have a PokerStars account you can get your Free Poker Download at PokerStars

Registration code: 031261

Yes, you are seeing correctly. (I don't know how to fix the text.) I had a wonderful grandmother who gave me a love of card games at a very early age. She taught all of her 9 grandkids to play just about every game imaginable. I joined a league of players who get together and play at local eateries for free. For the first ten weeks of this season I held first place at my location. Unbelievable, as I don't think I am that good. (The coordinator for our games put a bounty on my head last week and people came out in droves to attack. I now have second place, which is less pressure! (-; LOL) But I also play at PokerStars whenever I can get the chance. So, is this the strangest skeleton every found in a tatter's closet or what? On a side note: I usually take a book with me for the wait between games each week. The week before Christmas I took my tatting with me instead as I was trying to finish a couple of earrings as Christmas presents. I got a lot of questions and a few interested watchers. Personally, I think I threw them all, because I finished first in that night's final game! LOL

If you like to play, come check out PokerStars. We get some very interesting characters (that's putting it nicely for a few.) It is fun and just the right price for me -- free. Maybe you will see my face in the winner's circle....but don't count on it until I am as old as my grandmother! LOL

Sad, Sad News

The following was posted on a tatting chat group:

I find myself in the sad position to tell the tatting world that Mary
> Konior passed this morning, Saturday 16th January, 2010.
>
> She has been ill for a long time with alzheimer's. Not being able to do
> for herself she's been in a nursing home since last May and her
> condition has slowly deteriorated. She has gone to be with her beloved
> husband that passed a few years previously. It is a blessing, she now
> free from all this and tatting with the angels... Bless her for the
> legacy she has given us and all she did for our art form. She will not
> be forgotten this I know.
>
> As you can imagine arrangements are in the process of being made as one
> of her daughters has to come over from South Africa and as soon as I
> know the details I will let you know.. Tess tells me anyone that would
> like to attend, will be made welcome at the funeral and to the wake
> afterwards. I will be thereto say my last goodbyes, I've been missing
> her for some time... And to pay respects on behalf of the tatting world.
>
> Condolences can be sent to Tess (the UK daughter) and I will post her
> snail and email address later... I don't think they realise just how
> well we all think of their Mom... I know Mary never truly believed me.
>
> I have been blessed to be able to call her my friend and that I have
> tatted by her side and even showed her the split ring - she wasn't
> impressed! Bless her
>
> My last time in the States I took with me her beautiful lace she had
> organised her daughters to give me. I consider myself a custodian and
> am happy to share...
>
> I'll be back with more later... Even though I have been expecting this
> news for some time - I need to get my head round it
>
> Love, light & peace
> Sue Hanson
> List Owner Here-Be-Tatters

How do you make...?

I have seen designs of others that have a bit of a tatted chain going off the main body of the motif to connect with nothing. It just kinda...ends...hanging off in space. Sort of like the tatting ended or started with a chain and then the body of the motive was made last. But these designs I have seen have more than two ends ( a start and an end) hanging out there. So what are these tatted chains called and how in the world do you make them? If I could remember where I have seen them, I would post a picture to show you. Does anyone understand what I am talking about?

New beads--no-go. Attempt at mask laughable!

I tatted one of the motives for the veil while at my sister's. I used the new little pearl beads I had found. I tried them in different spots, but none looked as good as I would have liked. The beads are so small that they just blended in with the white thread. So that option is out. But I think they would look great on the child's necklace with the heart that I did in pink a while back. When I get bored, I think I will try that.

While at my sister's in Florida (wow, I miss Florida!) I got to attend my cousin's Costume Party. She throws one every few years and it just happened to be while I was down there. So Saturday, while waiting for the evening to come, I got to thinking about the tatted masks I've seen and loved. Never had a reason to wear one or make one. But my cousin LOVES the season, so I think she would get a kick out of one and wear it till it fell apart. Only having the small white thread (DMC 60) for the veil, I tried a quick mask. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Thump! <--that's me laughing my head off. Embarrassment aside, here's what it looked. Mind you, I just tatted without a pattern in mind. As I am terrible at hiding ends, I tried to tat non-stop, without tying off and starting in a new place. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Thump! Awe, and I just got my head back on straight!

Are ya laughin' yet? (-: