A shout out for fellow crafter....

A fellow crafter has asked for a hand in locating a missing adult child believed to be kidnapped. Here is the crafter's blog site with more info on it. Take a moment to read and look at the photo, just in case. We never know......
http://tinaswain.blogspot.com/

Apologies!!!!!!!

In an earlier post (with the tree book mark) I wrote that it was from Jane Eborall. I got my websites mixed up. It was actually from Linda S. Davies. My apologies to all. No wonder Jane didn't recognize it as being one of hers. Hope you didn't fall down those stairs too hard, Jane. Linda's link is to the right. On her site, you will find many wonderful patterns, including the tree earrings that this bookmark was taken from. So sorry, Linda.

Wow, and Double WOW!

Check out this: http://sharonstattedlace.blogspot.com/2008/12/wow-tatting.html
You will see the most beautiful tatted wedding veil or mantilla. This is something to inspire anyone who tats.

My second for Round robin

This is from Jane Eborall's tree earrings pattern. I pretty much just double all the ds to make it bigger. Then attached the trunk of one tree to the top of the first tree. I wanted to leave it as just the line of trees, but they kept twisting sideways and around. I thought it would be nice for just a line of lots of trees. I will have to keep trying it different ways, see if I can get it to work.

On the other hand, the earrings made from this pattern are adorable. I am going to make up a bunch for next year's gifts. I love Jane's designs!

Round 2 of round robin

Okay, so I am just starting out. So, I've never had a lesson. What's the big deal? Look --->>> She is awesome. This bookmark was done in size 80. It is so soft and perfect. I still haven't tatted over my ends to any satisfaction. And recently tried tatting with size 80 and it came out all stiff and hard. That was with no blocking or stiffening added. I thought I did pretty good, until now. I love this book mark. It is going in my book I am reading now. Way to go Bonnie. This will inspire me to keep trying.

Tatting Tales ~ All things Tatting (It's an obsession)

You have to check this link out!! Lady Shuttle Maker, that talented gal, has just initiated the giveaway of all giveaways! Can't wait to see who wins. Oh, let it be me!!!!!!!!! So click on this link and read what she is up to.
Tatting Tales ~ All things Tatting (It's an obsession): Ceramic Tatting Shuttle Giveaway#links#links#links
While you are there, take the time to look through all her designs on the shuttles she makes. Incredible. I am saving up for some of her threads. Beautiful.

Celtic snowflake melting

Someone asked me for a pic of the celtic snowflake I did that Ruth designed. Here's mine. Ruth's is much more even on the points. I was watching one of the presidential debates while tatting this. As you can see, I got very distracted on one of the sides. Then, during the news folks debating the debate, I got distracted again! At least it is symetrical, right? Okay, so it is awful. I totally agree! But, hey, I learned some new things in tatting and learned not to do it during a presidential debate that I am very interested in. Hmm...I saw a new blog today that I put on my list ---->>> Linda plays the cello, my absolutely favorite sounding instrument. THAT I could listen to while tatting without getting distracted. I wonder if she would record a disc for me? We could call it "Tatting Music" or "Music for the Tatting Soul." Oohh, I like that one.

First Round of round robin

So I mentioned that I was hooked on tatting. Here is my latest. I borrowed from Ruth's snowflake design found here: http://rozellalinden.blogspot.com/2008/10/snowflake-2008-copyright-ruth-perry-we.html This is what I ended up with after a number of horrible looking things that I threw away. Anyhoo, I was rather excited to see how this attempt turned out. I like it so much that I am going to make another one just for me. This time I hope it will go much faster without all the restarts! My girls even knew what it was, so I must have done something right. Many thanks to Ruth. She is a genious! Now, for that idea I had yesterday....

I'm not up to putting children's photo's out here on the web. At least not mine. But since they are bigger and probably couldn't be recognized by the photos, I thought I will start to show a couple of my favorites.

She didnt' like the noise, but wanted to watch. It is funny how she thought it would get her if she got down.

This is so cute how she thought she had to get all the way down to show us her pony tail on top of her head.

A quiet afternoon

I have a son in high school who has been having trouble with some simple math that he should have learned a long time ago. Through not much fault of his (except for laziness) his educational system (overseas) was not up to par and didn't help or care if he learned. So each day after school work is done I have been giving him another sheet with math problems on it. He works through them, I check them and then help him work through what he missed. Today he started complaining, AGAIN. (I understand this, as I HATED school when I was his age.) But I try to explain that it is practice, just like he likes to practice a bike trick or shooting baskets all afternoon. When the complaining continued and he mentioned that he "didn't want to" do this, I replied with there are lots of things in life we don't want to do, but have to anyway. When the statement continued to be said in a louder voice with more teenage anger and "I'm not going to," I said "fine." "Now pick up your books, get your back pack for school and walk out the door." When nothing happened, I repeated this and said to do it now. When he asked why, I told him that I was tired of this arguement and didn't want to have it again each day. And I didn't want to cook his meal tonight.

I had a very quiet and peaceful rest of the afternoon. There was no more complaining. Just simple sounds of pencil on paper. Hmmmm..........

I am Addicted....

....to tatting. I've taught myself by watching videos online and reading books. I love it because it is small enough to take in my small purse and they won't kick me off the plane for having long knitting needles. But I had trouble with my thread constantly breaking. It was creating more hassle than joy to make even a small flower pattern. Until now.

I was picking up a shuttle at a store and mentioned my problem. The lady just GAVE me a half used ball of thread and said try this. I am so hooked!!! I made an entire choker for my neice and the thread didn't break once!!!!!!!! I am sooooooooooo excited. I went right back and bought more thread from the nice folks. OMGosh!!! I can't wait to get started on the next project. With thread that doesn't break I might even be tempted to go for a big project.....

If you are in the Raleigh/Cary area of North Carolina, stop by and visit Shuttles, Needles & Hooks. They are located at 214 E. Chatham St. Phone number: 469-9328.

And the thread that I used is DMC "Cordonnet special." I love it.

Sorry for sounding like a commercial, but I just had to give a shout out to the nice folks at SHUTTLES, NEEDLES & HOOKS. Yep, another shameless plug. Okay, gotta go tat.

The Legend of "him"

You know him. He is at every family function. Every family reunion. Every function and outing with relatives. Well, mostly all get togethers. But you never actually see him. You hear in passing that he is there, been there, coming, leaving, in the other room, around the corner, in that group. But you never talk to him. You might even have seen pictures of him. With the family, at an event, during an activity. But you have never been his partner in a game. You hear about his job. Have even been there to that store, business, office. But never done business with him. You know his parents/siblings/children/in-laws. But have no idea what he is wearing. You know he is in the computer room or the garage or the attic or basement. But you haven't hung out with him. You thought you saw him go through the dining room/kitchen and grab some food on the way out. You've seen the cup with his name on it. But you haven't shared a meal with him. So he is quiet, reserved, geeky, nerdish, brainiac, hermit-like. He is into things that don't interest you. You have nothing in common.

Or do you? How do you know? Who's fault is that? Yours? His? Are you sure?

Or is he really real? And so goes the Legend of "him" (names have been changed to protect the guilty...)

Caution......

Don't get me wrong: I am not a feminist. I am just your normal mom who works 25 hours a day, 8 days of the week, with no pay. On top of that, I have an awesome husband who puts up with me and always does more. But I saw this and got a kick out of it. One of those yellow diamond shape caution signs said:

Caution: Men at work
Women work all the time--Men have to put up signs when they work.

Just a "little miss"

During the last almost two years, my husband and I have worked to teach our boys english and math skills. A favorite saying of theirs is "a little miss." This applied to miss spelled words, even ones that made completely different words and meanings. Also, when doing math problems. They are brainwashed with this and guessing. Which is the reason they are usually wrong, because they are guessing instead of actually trying to do the work. Just yesterday we heard that excuse again! It seems no matter which way we put it to them, they still don't get it. Examples:


*Neurosurgeon--done right = living again completely
little miss = oh, not walking or talking, drooling down your shirt for life

*Paycheck--done right = $2000
little miss = $200

*Professional soccer player(they love soccer)--done right = GOAL!!! A hero forever
little miss = no goal, game lost, LOSER forever

But it is a no go. It doesn't matter what example we use, it doesn't seem to make a difference. So my husband and I came up with a new plan. They will be out of the house in a couple of years and their "little miss"es won't be our problems. But, in a few more years we will be. All we have to do is wait it out. Good things come to those who wait, right? Well here we come.....old age. Incontinence (I know I spelled it wrong-oops, little miss) always sounded like such a terrible thing. I think we can use it. Go visit the kids at THEIR houses and oh, no! didn't make it to the bathroom in time. Oh well, no biggy, right? It's just a LITTLE MISS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peace and Quiet?

More like quietly going to pieces!!! I'm controlling the screaming more, but grinding the teeth away. The looney bin is looking better and better. Quiet, no responsibilities, therapy, sleep, drugs, walks, no kids tugging......hmmm.....sounds like the ideal vacation!

Any one care to join me? Maybe we can find a two for one special or do they give group rates?

Bizzaro World Real?

I was thinking that it must be all teenagers that live in their own world. Some have very short vacations there, others stay a little longer, while still others move there. I am the proud parent of ones that have not only moved there, but changed their addresses, transfered bank accounts, and have bought a home. I don't think they are coming back...

Just when I think it is just the teenagers, I have one of those days. You know the ones. You remember the movie Matrix? How just a small handful of people were "unplugged" and lived in the real world? Today I have come to the conclusion that that is exactly the case. My children live in a world where even as they are speaking out loud, in their world they are saying and doing something entirely different! Well, today it is not just the kids, but the relatives, store workers and just about every other carbon-based life form that we ran into out there. I am finally convinced that Matrix is based on truth. And I want back in!!!!

I have a weapon....

I have a new weapon in the war between children and parents! You know those frozen fudgecicles? Well they give me gas something fierce. Not the painful kind, just the smelly kind. So now when I want to exact a little vengence on my dear children, I head for the store. Two or three of those and I can smell up a room! I am master of the "silent but deadly" variety. Those kids then start to blame each other....pandemonium! Since there are 3 teenage boys, I am told this is normal for boys.( I try to explain the difference between boys and "ladies" to my girls and how we DONT do that in public. ) "It just slipped out," is the usual reply I get from the male counterparts in this domicile. So now I don't complain or argue. They think I leave the house because it smells bad. Oh you just wait....you don't know bad smell, yet. But you will.....we will see who is laughing when I get back from the store. How big a box do they come in? 12? 24?! It won't be the onions making them cry tonight..........

old posts

http://madmomdiary.blogspot.com/

Click on this link to view past logs. I can't seem to connect the past ones to this new one. Enjoy.

Time flies...and all that

Okay, what's new? Here's the scoop. Adoption finally complete (teenage boys) and girls being homeschooled.

What? You wanted more? Isn't that enough? !!!!!

Okay, so we went and got a puppy to add to the mix.....you think it, imagine it, they (dog and kids) have done it. In the house, out of the house, in school. Doesn't matter. What with instant teenagers and homework, teacher meetings and small group, things are about back to normal?! I could go on for days about the trip overseas for the adoption, the culture shock (for me,) and life since, but what would be the point? On the other hand, if you have questions about Ukraine, I would be more than happy to tell all. Suffice it to say, I can die happy on US soil.

So our lives have been turned up side down......so life goes on....and on.....and on......oh where IS that little pink bunny when you need him?