Diary of a Mom Gone Mad

Tatting Give Away?

2012-01-10T13:45:00.000-05:00

Totusmel is going to be posting her 1000th blog post on Friday. She is considering having a giveaway. If you haven't seen her stuff, go. Right now, go! She would love to have 500 followers by then......she's at 498 now.......

!!! MAKE THE TIME !!!!!! and read this

2011-12-05T10:59:00.001-05:00

http://www.danoah.com/2011/11/im-christian-unless-youre-gay.html

Years ago, I worked in retail sales. I treated every one who walked in the door the same. Didn't matter if they had on a 3-piece suit or cut-offs and flip-flops. They got the same attitude, answers, treatment and time from me. I didn't do this because my boss said to. I did it because I have been that person shopping. I have waited for sales people to finish with their nice dressed couple in a furniture store. Waited while they explained in great detail about the quality. Waited while they showed the couple all the merchandise. Waited while they offered coffee, snacks and waved goodbye to the nice dressed couple who didn't spend a dime. Waited while they walked back to their desks, past me, the single person, who couldn't possibly want to buy anything, dressed only in a t-shirt and jeans (no holes, thank you!) Waited for them to acknowledge me standing and asking a question in front of them. "oh, did you need something?" Gosh, wish there had been a manager around to point out a few flaws in the salesperson's thought process, when I walked out with a dining room full of new furniture!

http://www.danoah.com/2011/11/im-christian-unless-youre-gay.html

It's not about whether you are right or the other person is right. It's not about liking the "bad" people. It IS about love and how we show it, or in most cases - don't show it. We say more "bad" stuff about ourselves when we turn our backs on our fellow man (and that means female and male.)

Forgive me for jumping on the soapbox and shouting. But the situation in our house and family for the last year has been hell. Maybe not to you and yours, but to us. When talking with a close friend about problems she was going thru (awful stuff that I can't imagine how she deals) the conversation turned to my family troubles. I apologized to her for being upset over my insignificant issues when she had bigger problems. She is so wise, that's one of the reasons I love her. She said to not be sorry. That in my shoes, what I was going through WAS of substance. That we are all different, and that what may be hard for one is not hard for another, and vise versa. (See, she is really smart!)

Anyway, we, my husband and I, have felt so JUDGED by those around us. Sometimes family, sometimes small group (church accountability/social/Bible study group,) other church members, neighbors, and sometimes complete strangers!!! But none of them, NONE, have had the pleasure? of walking in our shoes. It kept us from being able to find help, encouragement, direction. From being able to vent, or even move on and get our heads above water.

This is the hard part for me to admit: We have a son who has finally been diagnosed as being a sociopath. He wanted to kill us, still does, and thinks it is funny. He is a master manipulator and very, very smart. We had to have him committed, one of the hardest things as a parent to do, for the safety of himself and the others in our family. His lies brought Child Protective Services down on us. Their surprise questioning of our younger ones left us to deal with their nightmares for a few weeks. (Don't get me wrong. I think CPS is wonderful and have a very hard and important role. Especially for those being abused.) (Ps.They cleared us quickly and have been a great source of help.) At one point, he was back home and the rest of the kids bunked in our locked bedroom with all the boxes of things from the kitchen and house that had to be kept away from our son. We had to monitor his every move from room to room, not able to leave him alone for a minute. Every counselor listens to him and tries to "help" him and is snowed by him. It has been a very emotional roller coaster in our house. NO one would listen or believed.

Through total accident, we came across another family (and then another one) in our own church that was going thru a, if not exactly then extremely, similar situation. Surprise, we weren't the only ones feeling looked down on and judged, by those around us calling themselves "Christians."

Please take the time to read this link!

http://www.danoah.com/2011/11/im-christian-unless-youre-gay.html

Who can you show love to this week? month? holiday? year? lifetime?

Amish Friendship Bread Starters and baking

2011-11-20T13:24:00.000-05:00

If you have been one of the lucky(?) people to be given a starter from a friend(?) then you know the amount of time and energy and resources this takes out of you. And how great it tastes. I came across this blog/site today and just had to share. (Also lets me know where to find the info again in the future.)

http://makeitfromscratch.blogspot.com/2009/01/take-control-of-your-amish-friendship.html#comment-form

The comments at the end of the post are VERY long, but worth the time to read as there is a mountain of information in there! Enjoy!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

2011-09-27T21:11:00.000-04:00

Passing of a trusted friend

2011-09-22T12:09:00.000-04:00

I had this as my Facebook post this morning. Thought I would share it with you, too. With all the idiot-ness of this past year and the trouble with our boys, I have not had much time, energy, or thought to post much. Haven't even done much tatting. We pray to have most of the nonsense over and done with by Easter? and maybe then I will be able to talk about it all. And finally get back to tatting on a regular basis! I did do some redecorating in our guest bathroom. I will take some pics and post soon. In the meantime....

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:-Knowing when to come in out of the rain; - Why the early bird gets the worm;- Life isn't always fair; - And maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies, don't spend more than you can earn and adults, not children, are in charge. His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife Discretion, his daughter Responsibility, and his son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights,I Want It Now,Someone Else Is To Blame,I'm A Victim.Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

Life lessons?

2011-06-26T17:03:00.000-04:00

"A man of Wit would find himself sometimes miserably at a loss, if there were no Fools to divert him with their company." CXLI

Since I am sooooo old.....

2011-06-06T17:37:00.002-04:00

Since I am so old (according to my daughters, see 2nd post back) I thought it would be okay to post a life lesson(?). Here 'tis:

Light travels faster than sound. (This is why some people appear bright until we hear them speak.)

I will let you ponder on this immense knowledge for a while....... (-:

A Funny video

2011-06-01T19:24:00.003-04:00

If you like Pirates of the Caribbean, make sure you have seen the official trailer for the 4th movie. Then go to this link to see an original remake of the trailer. I had to slow it down and rewatch a couple of parts to get it all. It will make you laugh.

What kids will say!

2011-05-19T10:10:00.003-04:00

Daughter #1: (while doing some math homework) "Mom/Dad, do you know the number of the meaning of life?"

Mom: (with confused look on her face) "Didn't know there was a number."

Daughter #1: "It's 42."

Mom: (Speechless, and not sure what to say.)

Meanwhile...

Daughter #2: (looks at mom and dad with astonishment) "You mean you all are older than the meaning of life?!"

Ah, what joys children bring to our lives. LOL.

A little something . . . (not tatting related)

2010-11-17T22:30:00.003-05:00

We are hoping to make it to the voting stage on Jan 3rd. See what we did here. Just click "skip" when the ads and music start. Then you will go to the one we did. It is called "Miranda's Homework." Hee Hee

Cool tatting blog with a twist

2010-11-08T16:18:00.002-05:00

If you haven't been to Middia's blog, you must go. She tats and crochets. But she has put a twist on it, doing both. It is closer to needle tatting (I'm a shuttle tatter.) But being able to crochet at points has put interesting design elements in the motif that isn't doable with just tatting. Definitely not shuttle tatting! Check through some of her old posts to see what I mean.

Pearl Tatting - my first attempt

2010-10-27T11:53:00.005-04:00

I got inspired by this necklace of Umi & Tsuru's and thought I would try it also. I worked with what I had on hand in threads and beads. Not bad, if I do say so myself. It is just long enough to slip over my head, but in case someone doesn't want to mess up their hair, I put a large tatted ring on one end and the flower on the other end. The flower is crocheted from the same thread and easily folds in half and passes through the tatting ring. The short piece of tatting is my "try" to see stitch count, etc. I think I will add a clasp and make it a bracelet.

Now, which neice or friend should I give it to? Hmmm . . . Ooo, I got it. I have a cousin who's oldest is turning 10. I wonder if she would like it? *** Big Smile *** Off to the post office, lickety split, for the birthday in on Friday.

Try and try again

2010-10-19T11:54:00.005-04:00

I am really liking this earring pattern. I did another in the pink with white seed beads this time. Then I had a big blue drop bead and some nice multi colored blue (my sister's favorite) thread, so I tried it in that. Didn't have any seed beads that I thought looked good with it, so I left them out. The thread was much larger so it turned out much bigger. I don't think this pattern shows off the thread nicely, so I didn't even finish it.

Then I saw these red beads that I love, and knew I have a couple of those drop beads in a matching red. I almost ran for

my Christmas red thread to see if it matched . . .

Oooo! Can'twait for Christmas to wear these!!!! I don't think I am going to give these away, I like them too much! Is that horrible of me? (-:

Here is all four of them side by side. See the size difference in the blue, it doesn't look nice. The blue one is over 4 inches long. The others are only 2 and a half inches long. I thought I would like the pink one with the white beads better than the other one, but I don't. I think it actually looks better with the clear seed beads. But, hey, that's just my humble opinion.

Love Free Patterns!

2010-10-16T22:28:00.002-04:00

Don't you?! I found this one here. I wanted to try it out first, so I used a thread that isn't my favorite, a dusty rose. The beads are just clear seed beads, except for the bicone at the bottom. It is the palest of pinks. It turned out pretty well, if I do say so myself. Now I am off to try it with more colorful threads and beads. Toodles.

Christmas Tree Earrings

2010-10-12T22:43:00.003-04:00

I didn't post the source of the white Christmas tree earrings because I was sure I had done it before. But after spending more time than I care to count looking through my old posts, I realize why it didn't seem to be there and I couldn't find it at first. I had used the pattern as a 2d image and made it into a bookmark for a round robin. The pattern is Linda S. Davies'. Can be found here. Check out her blog. She has some amazing things. Have Fun!

Not much new

2010-10-11T14:13:00.003-04:00

Working on a Christmas ornament, so no pictures yet. Made myself a pair of the earrings I sent to my sisters. And contemplating making another pair of the Christmas trees. These have already been promised to someone.

No comment needed

2010-10-08T20:32:00.002-04:00

Just had to share this beyond adorable picture. From this website.

Happy Friday!

Sick, Sick, Sick

2010-10-05T19:46:00.003-04:00

Me, that is. Wanting to tat and afraid my brain functions are too cloudy to keep a correct count. Cold here today, got a chili in the crock pot for family before retiring to bed again. Going through tatting withdrawals, if there is such a thing. Hopefully by tomorrow I will be able to get to a post office to mail three or four tatted things off to folks.

Totally off subject: This is my current background on my computer. It was a photo that my dad took of our driveway in Alaska years ago. My mom's uncle painted it and it now hangs in our house.

Pretty soon I am going to have to change it back to the Florida Keys photo when it gets really cold. Have a nice day/night, ya'll.

And the saga continues . . .

2010-09-25T10:50:00.009-04:00

So guess who DID NOT show up last Friday . . . yep, you guessed! Thecarpet cleaners. So we moved the mattress back into the room for the weekend. Had to dig thru the dining room to get dressed everyday. Fun! No call from the cleaners on Friday, orSat. and Sun., or even on Monday! Finally late Monday afternoon I called them!!! Ooo, they are solucky it was me on the phone! Don't you wish you could say to people all the stuff you want to?! So they finally came out on Tuesday afternoon. Just a hint: the carpets DON'T dry in the 2 hours they say it will. We slept in the kitchen. Next to the couch. See?

But on the bright side, (I hear you asking "There is one?")

my husband got to prime the walls in the bedroom. And then paint them.

Isn't he awesome! So we are finally gettin

g the house back in order Whew! I might be able to find things again. I have a couple of projects that I have been dying to get back to, but haven't been able to get them out of the stack of stuff.

I did manage to get that mask straightened

out and take a photo of it. My oldest daughter loves it even though this one is a bit big on her. This one is going to a cousin. Hope she likes it as I don't want to do it again. I am making the barefoot sandals by TotusMel for her too.

That's all for today. Off to grocery shop (ugh!) so I will need the tatting tonight. (-:

It is done and now I am done!

2010-09-17T09:48:00.016-04:00

Whew!!! Finally! I can not believe howmuch"stuff" and trash I threw out! And only about 1/4 was mine. So now I can say this:

Mom, I cleaned my room (and have photos to prove it.) And yes, I vacuumed too! Can't wait to repaint these walls.

And I did the sunroom, also. Don't mind the corner of the base for the dogs' crate. It is a lot smaller than it looks against the background of the room.

There were a couple of nights, when I couldn't take it any more and had to sit down and ignore

the mess. So I tatted. Yea! Is this an addiction I need to worry about? I tatted up Yarnplayer's

"Remembrance" in a multi-coloured size 80 thread. I like how it turned out. Then I tried a butterfly by Edda Guastalla in the same thread. I like it in the multi colours (that's for you, Jane!)

I did this off-white a few days before the big cleaning. I can't remember where I saw it and can't find it now. If you know, tell me and I will give credit where it is due. It was done as a bracelet, which I think is great and I might do one for myself in the future. But I am in a "secret angel" exchange for the next year and I thought it would make a decent bookmark. I usually like to make the more delicate items or jewelry, but my exchange person is a male and I don't think my little jewelry would be what he wants. (Although, he is married, so maybe his wife would like it? But I'm sure he makes stuff for her all the time.) Any suggestions would be welcomed!

And now, since we have a GREAT (read sarcasm) timetable for when the carpet cleaners are coming some time between now and when they quit work for today, I am heading for Redbox. I am going to treat myself to a $1 movie and sit on my couch in the kitchen and tat. What? You ask why there is a couch in my kitchen? That's simple: because there was no more room in the dining room to put it. See?!?

Why?!?!

2010-09-14T09:54:00.008-04:00

Here's something I don't understand: Something big and stressful happens and I can handle it with calm, clear thinking, and a lot of times with laughter. But then there are the little things. I'm talking about what I think of as being very little things. Things I would tell another person to think about how much worse things could be.......and those things just makeme want to scream! Why?!!!!!!! It's the little things that bug the daylights out of me! I could handle the house falling down around me, but put a pot in the wrong cabinet and look out! Leave the butter and pickles out after lunch and you might not eat again. Put the big dish on top of the little one instead of nesting them and you just might witness Bill Cosby's version of a "conniption." And why, oh WHY, can't a wet item(clothing, rag, towel) be spread out to dry instead of being left in a heap or wad to mildew beyond rescue!!!???

I need to relax! Let's see . . . Hmmm. Haven't won the lottery yet (They tell me I must first buy a ticket! Unbelievable! If it's not one thing, it's another.) so I don't have the money to get that 12 hour massage, let alone run away to a deserted South Pacific island. Grandparents are STILL out of town for another few weeks (They've been gone for 2 months now.) so no chance of a kid free weekend or night of peace and quiet. Hmmm. . . I need to tat!

Oh, wait, can't do that. Hubby has carpet cleaners coming in two days and I have to figure o

ut where to put everything!!! Hmmm . . . got a couple of ideas about that, too. Hee Hee

Okay, I'm going in. Got a book on my mp3, extra battery in my pocket, cold coke in the frig

(might snag an oreo on the way there, okay, two) and two boxes of stretch garbage bags. I'm set. If you don't hear back from me by the weekend, well, I might have left the country for Fiji.

Eye Patch

2010-09-12T14:21:00.003-04:00

Our church is starting a new series on where/what our "treasure" is in our lives. We have a huge group of volunteers in 4 teams. Today was my team's turn. The "guides and greeters" (we stand at the front door and greet or show new folks around) had to dress to the theme of "pirates." I guess that went along with the treasure theme? Anyway, I tatted up an eye patch yesterday (my anniversary - nice timing, eh?) while watching a Dukes of Hazzard marathon. YeeeeeeeHaaaaw! Of course, inspiration for this comes from TotusMel, again.

I had my daughter put it on for a picture since she is sooooo much cuter than me. She hates having her picture taken, as you can see by her expression. And she wants to go into modeling?!!! I guess she has that "mad" look down pat that you see the models wearing. Oh, and she has the "attitude" look, too. (-:

Oh, WoW !!!

2010-09-11T11:32:00.002-04:00

This is a must see for anyone. On Youtube.com there is a little 7 year old singing Amazing Grace with the most amazing voice for a little girl. Here's the link. If that doesn't work for you, go to Youtube and type in her name, Rhema Marvanne. Turn your sound up and hit play. You WILL be amazed.

Updates

2010-09-10T10:38:00.004-04:00

A while back I posted a small picture of the veil I was tatting for my daughters. Over the summer months I made no progress on it at all. Even now, it is slow going, as I only work on it in little bits and pieces and only for short periods of time. Mostly during the evening, after everyone is in bed, and I need to wind down or can't sleep. Which happens so often you'd think I'd be finished with it by now. Still can't get my scanner to talk to my computer - Aaaa! Here's a photo of it on a red blanket. Sets it off pretty good, I think. If you don't mind the clutter on my desk around it.

I have mostly been working on a tatted mask for my cousin who adores anything Halloween. I tried tatting TotusMel's mask on Instructables, but failed miserably, not once, but

more times than I care to tell. Even though she was so very kind and answered my email questions. So, taking inspiration from her, I made a much less ornate one. I still really like hers oh, so much better. I have to block it/iron it and add the side ribbons, whick I am off to get right after this post. But here's what I started with around the eye wires. I was going to write down the pattern and take pictures along the way so I would remember what I did. But I have decide to never repeat this again. Ugh. I think I am better at sticking with the flat designs.

Finished!

2010-08-11T13:05:00.003-04:00

I finally finished this project. I made two sets of Yarn Player's "Carnival" earrings. One in each of my two sisters' favorite colors. One is late for a birthday, the other early, but who cares! They don't read this so I am posting this now before I mail them off today. You can find the pattern here.

I HAVE to get some HDT soon! My tatting never looks as good in solid colors. Oh, well, it is still fun to tat!

This is a MUST see...

2010-08-08T10:36:00.003-04:00

Somebody had a lot of fun . . . actually, two somebodies. Watch this video. At first it might seem normal, even a little boring because you don't know the couple involved. But, trust me, you must keep watching . . . you will understand soon.

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/561809/

Makin' "lace"

2010-08-03T16:12:00.004-04:00

We (humans) are not the only species making lace. Found this little guy on a bush in my front yard. I'm actually quite proud of myself, seeing as I am DEATHLY afraid of spiders. My kids got very excited and called this a "writing" spider. (Charlotte's Web?)

Just thought I would share since I can't show my tatting. I am making a mess of things. I am trying to do the mask that is online and following the pattern. But I found a couple of mistakes or something. The pictures and written pattern don't always match. After the second round, the thing is looking pretty haphazard. So I took out the wires for the eyes and am going to finish the pattern up. Then, I will sit down with the written pattern and the tatted mask and figure out where in it I can make some changes (increase or decrease ds) to make it fit the face right/better.

Vacation was great!

2010-07-13T10:55:00.007-04:00

Just got back from our annual family vacation. We go camping every year and have a blast. This year we got to go for two weeks! Yea! And even better, it didn't rain until two days before we left. And that was only a light rain. WooHoo! We all stayed dry. Except the butterflies (and us when we went to play in the rain). After the rain was over we found butterflies that were drying their wings, so they didn't fly off when we approached. I saw this one on the kids' toy and couldn't resist. The rainknocked down a bunch of leaves, too. This is one of my favorite shots.Nothing is retouched, or moved or staged! The bright orange ball and yellow leaf were sitting right there with this blue black butterfly walking all over it, flapping it's wings. I couldn't believe it let me get this close with my camera! After I finished taking a few shots, my daughter walked over and PICKED UP the ball! When the butterfly stayed right on it, I realizedit might not be able to fly until the wings were dried. She loved it! (I made her put it down after she walked around and showed everyone.)

One of our favorite camping sites is at

Fontana Dam (in NC.) There is a camp ground at the bottom of the dam right on the spillway. Every morning the mist/fog rolls up the spillway in wonderful billowy tufts, so large it fills the whole area and you can't see across the spillway.

One evening, as the sun was setting, the mist started rolling

in early. Just thin little wisps barely catching the last of the glow from the sun. I kept taking pictures of the mist rolling in until the creek was full.

This trip was in the mountains of North Carolina. The views, of course, were great. My children start hollering "the mountains!" as soon as they see the slightest hill we when start our road trip. They get so excited!

P.S. Didn't do ANY tatting -- can you believe it?! I can't, and I was there! But, I didn't even pack it. I knew where I was going was completely "outdoors" and was concerned with things getting messed up and dirty. Plus I knew I would be spending almost all of the time in the lake swimming, on trails hiking, and by a smoky campfire cooking sticky s'mores. So fun times were had by all and the tatting stayed safe and clean at home. But now I am home, and one of my favorite tatters has her new book out....yeah!!! Can I wait for the mail?!!!!

looky, looky...

2010-06-23T09:46:00.003-04:00

Been drastically busy....kids...work...husband out of country for a month with work....etc. He took all the cameras so I can't even take a pic of these little earrings I made for my sisters in their favorite colors. I got the pattern from this site: http://yarnplayertats.blogspot.com/

If you haven't been there, GO. She has some wonderful designs, great colors, and is putting a lot of it in a new book. She also has a lot of free pattern

s on the site. Here's a pic of her latest

Isn't it great? She makes some very simple thi

ngs look great. K

eep watching.

Sing with me....

2010-04-29T23:00:00.002-04:00

"I'm picking up a baby bumble bee, won't my mommy be so proud of me..."

This time of year, the bees are coming out. Each time a yellow nose one shows up, my husband likes to try to catch it. The kids love "petting" it. But the girls haven't yet got the nerve up to hold it.

In case you didn't know, the yellow nose ones don't sting. This one doesn't look as bright in the "fur" as usual because my husband caught it with wet hands. It hadn't dried out all the way when this photo was taken.

I am trying to take this bee as a sign that Spring REALLY is on the way. Even though we had to put on the jeans and long sleeves again today. (-:

Sleep deprived parent...

2010-04-21T10:33:00.003-04:00

Isn't that a little redundant? I always thought "parent" meant "sleep deprived" and vise versa. I am one of those people that needs the solid 9-12 hours of sleep, and can't fall asleep at the drop of a hat. And knowing that my first born is turning 9 in a couple of months, you already know that I have been sleep deprived for the last 9 years, give or take a few months. My first was the "easy" one. She nursed every 3 hours and started skipping a feeding time at night really early. It's the second one that really made me the walking zombie! She nursed every hour and 45 minutes, almost on the dot. And didn't start sleeping through the night until she was about 4 years old. (No, I did not nurse her that long!) It took about a year of serious work, after she could use the bathroom by herself, get her own water, cover herself up, to get her to not wake us up. (And we didn't get up to do these things for her, either. She just felt it necessary to tell us about it.)

Anyhoo, I saw a tee shirt with this on it at this website. scribbleprints Maybe it could serve as a warning to folks if I wear it around? I wonder if I would get better, politer(is that a word?), faster service? Maybe a footnote added to it....something like "and I'm PMS-ing also!!!" I bet I could walk down a crowded isle or sidewalk and not have to step around people. Kinda like a female version of Moses and the Parting of the Red Sea? Hmm, might have to think about that one. (-: (See how dangerous it is to deprive us parents of needed sleep?)

This site is giving away free button with this logo on it in a drawing. http://scribbleprints.blogspot.com/2010/04/test.html

Check them out, leave a comment saying you heard of it here on my blog, and we could both win one.

Here's to you having fun, enjoying life, but most of all....getting the sleep you need!! (See previous post for a relaxing pic to help you get into the right frame of mind.)

Back to the real World

2010-04-17T18:18:00.006-04:00

Vacation was greats! Spent the time at my late grandmother's house in the Florida Keys with 5 families. With a dozen kids running around, it was wonderful to sit back and relax without the responsibility of my children. Got to work on the veil a bit, finished all the books I took with me, did lots of puzzles, drank a little wine, had some laughs, enjoyed some great food (mostly cooked by others,) played a lot of volleyball, and generally had a lot of fun.

I took a number of extra shuttles and largest threads I had, just in case somebody wanted to try. I got one taker, one young boy about 10yrs old. He actually did pretty well for his first try. Much better than I would have thought someone his age would do at first. But the Wii was calling and he was off and running.

This is the view I awoke with every day from my bed in the master bedroom! I know now why granddaddy designed the house to sit the way it does. The sun (and moon) rises right over the bridge behind those three palms. What a wonderful way to greet each morning. I think it might have the ability to make me a morning person after all these years!!! * * * S I G H * * *

Life sorta seems humdrum after that.....(-:

Vacation!!!!

2010-03-24T21:54:00.002-04:00

I am so very excited. I am getting to go on vacation with a favorite cousin and her family and a few others. The wonderful surprise is that I get to go alone. My awesome husband has been trying to get me to take a break, unbeknownst to me, and visit my cousin. We are taking off to my grandmother's (deceased) house in the Florida Keys!!!! If there was any place in the world I would have to pick to stay permanently, it would be this place. Such memories from growing up! And a very fun group of people to hang out with. And I plan on doing a lot of nothing -- no side trips, no sightseeing(seen it all already,) nothing but quiet tatting, reading and a few naps thrown in for the heck of it. (-:

I have been doing some tatted earrings, necklaces, rings, dodads, etc. I just wish I could get my scanner to work or a camera that took closeups without being blurry. I will post them when I can. Hope everyone is enjoying their Spring. Ha Ha. It is cold here with strong wind that goes through all the clothes. Can't wait for that Florida sun to warm me up!!! Be back soon.....maybe...

Trophies!!!

2010-03-13T15:28:00.007-05:00

So, last week was the Tournament of Champions. Here's the trophy I got for being the points leader for the season. (We get points for each game depending on where you finish in the line up. First place gets the most.)

Then we had a game where the top ten or so players in that location played for the Tavern Champion. Hee, hee, hee. I won that one, too. I had a few too serious players that aren't happy with me. They think I am not professional. (And they are?!?!) The problem is they can't "read" me. I don't play the way the "book" says I should. I bet little amounts when they think I should bet huge, and vise versa. (Sorry, but I didn't read the "book.") I guess I threw them all off their game this season. I am a quiet player. I don't do a lot of socializing, drinking, or bragging. I go to play a game I love and have a couple

of hours out of the house. They didn't know WHAT to make of me when I brought my tatting and worked on it during a game. But it was fun! Here's the trophy for taking first in the final game.

(-:

Unfortunately, this particular place is not going to hold their game on Wednesday nights in the up coming seasons. So, I guess I will be sitting out this next season. But, definitely fun times were had.

A Personal Observation

2010-02-02T13:21:00.002-05:00

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......

2010-01-20T09:46:00.005-05:00

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

2010-01-16T18:57:00.000-05:00

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...?

2010-01-10T11:22:00.002-05:00

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!

2009-10-27T17:41:00.005-04:00

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? (-:

another preview

2009-10-15T09:41:00.002-04:00

Here's another preview of the veil I'm tatting. But at the bead store yesterday I came upon some very small pearlized beads. Hmmm..... Maybe instead of adding big pearls along the edge like the original designer, I am thinking of putting them throughout the motives. Hmmm..... Getting on a plane tonight to visit and help my sister out for a week. I think I will try tatting up a motive or two with the seed beads and see how it goes. Be back in a week for an update and maybe a pic or two.

RED ! ! ! Love it....

2009-10-10T12:42:00.007-04:00

Did the necklace with some shiny red seed beads. Gonna wear this one today and all thru Christmas holidays! And retook some pics of the purple one, but the beads showed up more blue than the color they are in real life.

Here's a close-up. Gosh, wish I could show you how the beads really shine and sparkle. But I know you all have wonderful imaginations so I will leave it to you to imagine.

Hey, I actually sat down and figured how many knots are in this: 9150 something.

new necklace

2009-09-29T17:50:00.004-04:00

Not my design. I wish it was, but it comes from a much more talented designer than my self. But I loved it and had to try it. Just have to add the clasp and extender chain. It was done in white DMC Cordonnet Special sz 70 with purple seed beads. Too much fun was had!

-----

How does anyone make these things to sell? I only get excited about a pattern that I like and if I make it I never want to give it away!

Bad picture/colors, but fun tatting anyway!

2009-09-22T19:20:00.003-04:00

Okay, okay. I know! Scanning doesn't work on 3d images. And the color is WAAAAY off! It is actually a pretty set of leafs in different shades of blue, with small seed beads thrown in for fun. (-:

I'm gonna try this one again with a verigated blue thread. The only thread I have at the moment is thicker than the black thread so I am curious how it will turn out.

And I did the 3d scanning again! ha. Okay, I am really bad at these photos. I can't find the camera. The hearts on the bottom are clear pink. Very cute. I even made a pair with red hearts. These I made the other day to sell and can't stop wearing them. Oh, well. Maybe I should stop making things I like? Yea, like that's gonna happen!

School has started!!!!

2009-07-28T13:12:00.002-04:00

Yea! The house is empty. At least during the day. The girls started school this week and the boys are off at summer camp for a couple of weeks. Is it horrible that I am excited to have the house mostly (hubby home, too) to myself? That I am NOT upset that my youngest has gone to school? I always hear of parents, especially moms, that are sooo very upset that the youngest has started in school and is growing up. I'm not. I'm quite excited! I find it amazing what all I can get done before lunch now. Laundry, dishes, bathrooms, more laundry, floors, dog cages, laundry again, getting rid of junk, etc. Amazing!!!

Anyhoo, have had an incredibly busy and full summer. Did not get to do as much tatting as I would have liked, but had fun anyway. Have started on a project, though. Instead of attaching the motifs together, I am just tatting up a bunch of them first. Here's a sneak peak.

They are tatting up alot faster than I had thought they would. I don't think it is going to take me the years that I thought it might. But then again, with the hit and miss tatting schedule I have, it just might take that long to complete.

I tried my first attempt at hiding the ends. Didn't turn out so well. I was trying to "sew" the ends in with a needle. Maybe my needle was just too big? I had a hard time getting it into the stitches/knots and even threading the needle. I am using size 60 (my favorite) thread. I used my smallest needle in my sewing/quilting stash. Any other suggestions?

Easter bunnies LAY eggs....out hatch.....

2009-04-15T16:45:00.007-04:00

Puppies!!! (Never understood the whole "bunnies laying eggs" thing to start with, but now, eggs hatch puppies?!?!?) Little things are sooo cute! Of course, I tried not to puke when we got done at the vet's and I saw the bill. I guess it was still less than actually having a baby -- and plus, no labor pains. Okay, I'm not really laughing at that joke.

Haven't had a whole lot of time for tatting lately, and probably won't again for a while yet. Crazy family going-ons and all. But one night, at 2am in the Emergency room waiting area, I did get a chance to try a bookmark pattern I had seen. (No worries -- child just had a super high fever -- all better now.) The Royal Trio Bookmark by Ellen Lai was one I had trouble with when I had tried it before. I got it now. Love it. Then, I took out one of the split rings, continued it for a few more times, added a clasp and got this. Made a simple bracelet out of it.

Here's the link for Ellen's pattern. http://singtatter-corner.blogspot.com/search/label/free%20pattern

You have to scroll down a ways. It is after the tree bookmarks. It really is pretty in the thread she chose. Take a look.

Ow, Ooo, Ow

2009-03-31T15:53:00.002-04:00

So I thought I would do a little cleaning....The shower curtains in the bathrooms needed scrubbing. I hadn't done it in a while and the mold, well, Yech!!!! I couldn't find my rubber gloves -- probably had been taken and used by the guys in the house for some project or other. I didn't think it would take me long so I went to scrubbing the curtains in the tub barehanded. I guess I used a bit too much bleach...... My finger tips are all sore and hurt to the touch (I am typing this with my nails only.) and the backs of the first knuckles look skinned! I am more disappointed less at the pain (and stupidity) than with the fact that I can't tat. So many patterns, so little time. I am in the Design Tat group and I can't redo the homework from the third lesson (wanted to change my pattern) and can't hold the pencil for lesson four.

And, by the way, how in the world do you get the bleach smell out of your skin? I think it is permanently etched in my nose membranes!

On the brighter side, the shower curtains look brand new! AND they don't smell of bleach (or so my hubby says - I still can't smell anything but the bleach!)

Whew! I'm back....

2009-03-26T16:11:00.013-04:00

For my wild and crazy fans out there (or the ones in my head) I finally got back to tatting. Lots of activity around here with one child moving to another state (temp.) and something called Spring "Cleaning" where we try to make as big a mess of the house as possible. Anyhoo....

Here's a small lap quilt I made from scraps. I was thinking of selling it, but have no idea of price and can't bear to part with it. Although, all it is doing is sitting, folded-up, on a shelf in my wardrobe. One of my first attempts at quilting, horrible edging, not square, the points of the triangles don't exactly meet....but I don't care. It's my own doing, and I can't help but like it. (-: It is just draped over the edge of our bed in the photo. It is warm, perfect for legs when watching tv. But I also thought of using it for wall decor, but it might be too big....

Okay, those of you that tat alot and doing blocking and stiffening have so many wonderful ways of doing it. I don't have room to set up an ironing board or table that won't get cleared. So I have started using my sewing box top. It is just slightly cushioned and works great for lining up edges along the pattern in the material. See that little white ball on the left? I had so much fun making that little pattern. My husband, who really doesn't care about all this "girly lace stuff" even commented on it and wants it for the Christmas tree this year. Cool!

I was in a drawing/contest for a box of things from Ruth Perry. I got it just before I left out of state last week. I finally opened it and talk about Christmas!!!! I couldn't believe my eyes. So many different shades of green (my favorite color) greeted me! It took me a day to remember that she had asked what color I liked. She even put in a couple of fabrics that make me want to pick up my (very beginner's) quilting again. I am already turning over designs ideas in my head. Oh, how I wish I had a craft room. Anyway, she included some great threads and shuttles, and some very neat cases for organizing my stash stuff. One of the threads I used on Lesson 3 from the Design-Tat group. We were given the center motif and told to add a row and create negative space. I wish I had made the chains longer. I wanted more negative space. I will do it again and make the chains longer, right before I add another row. This is fun.

The larger shuttle is a celtic bone shuttle, that I liked so much I got another one. The smaller one is one that Ruth sent me. Yes, there is thread in it. I have already used it to make a bookmark for one of my sons. I love it. It is so small and so much fun to use. I was worried about it holding enough thread to make any thing. I was using size 80 and it still has some left over. Yea! What can I use it on next?

I showed a picture in an earlier post of a necklace for a little girl I made. I had a cool painted bead I couldn't decide how to use....until now. I tatted around it and then attached it to another necklace/choker for an adult. The ribbon simply ties in the back for an adjustable, one-size-fits-all fit. Don't know why it is showing up sideways. It is right side up on my computer, but is sideways when it is uploaded. But you get the idea.

Until next time, hopefully not so long in coming, this time.

Tatting has gone to the Races

2009-03-04T08:16:00.000-05:00

I was doing a Google search to get an idea for a tatted bird and came across this page.
http://www.pedigreequery.com/tatting+bird Appearantly, there is a horse named Tattingbird. He is the son of Threadlace, the daughter of Interlace, son of Straitlace.

How can anyone say tatting is a dying art? People are betting on it winning!

Sugar Sweet

2009-02-27T20:08:00.000-05:00

This heart is Betsy Evans's design and tatted by me. The "chain" is just a bunch of split rings. (I LOVE doing split rings! Now if only I could figure out cplit chains...) The back is tied with a small white ribbon. I made this a child size, and by tying the ribbon in the back tighter or looser, it can fit any size child. The ribbon can be trimmed shorter for a smaller neck.

The photo was taken in my bathroom, so the light is a little dim and off color.

- - - - > On another note, I was approached by a shop owner yesterday. She told me of a jewelry store she is opening in late March. She is going to have a section for local artists and wanted me to put some of mine in her store. Ah.........I wasn't quite sure what to say. She asked for a business card, etc. I told her I was strictly small potatoes, really not much, even in inventory. She said that was okay, gave me her card and told me to call her. Wow! That was pretty cool.

Wha'cha think?

2009-02-20T09:45:00.000-05:00

Picture one: Red and yellow shells on silver plated filigree square.

Picture two: Cat's eye beads. Interchangeable drops. One for every day of the week and two for Saturday and Sunday.

Picture three: Swarovski crystals in pastels. Very sparkly.

A Thought to Ponder

2009-02-13T13:10:00.000-05:00

Do the potatoes that you buy in the store seem to keep getting smaller? To me it seems so. Now if you want the large potatoes, you have to buy them individually, like they are an exotic item. I lived on a farm, when I was much younger, and our main staple was potatoes. As you can see in this photo, we grew 'em big. The potato on the right was an eatin' tater. The one on the left was used as seed for the next year's crop. And some of the middle ones were cut in half and used as seed also.

So what are they doing these days with the big potatoes? What an awesome baked potato that would make, yea?! Makes you kinda say "Hhmmmmmmmmmmm....." doesn't it? Or maybe, "Mmmm!!!"

A warm day at last

2009-02-10T14:15:00.000-05:00

We finally have had a couple of warmer days here. The bulbs and trees are really confused, but it is great to be able to let the kids go outside and run wild. Get out that pent up energy kids have natually. Following is from an older post of mine, but it is still relevant. Just need the wheel to be big enough for a teenager now. (Of course, my genious Dad told me how to do this with an exersice bike quite easily. Then said I should take a turn on it. He's right, again.)

From Dec. 2005:

Here's a thought from the "in" side of sane: You know those little wheels in hamster cages? They go round and round.... I need one or two. But I need someone to build it to specifications. It needs to be big enough for a two year old and/or a four year old. Any takers? Anyone out there like to build things? Here's a project for you! I think it would be great. Give the girls some way to get that last bit of energy out before bed. Maybe then they won't get out of bed (six times tonight) every night. And on those rainy days, great way to let them get their exercise. Hey moms, how 'bout those days when you just don't have the energy to take them out to the park? Sick mom, alergy season again? Flu got you down for the count? Pull out the wheel, they can run all they want. Oooo!!!!! Wait, I got one better!!!! You want to cut down their TV time? Electric bill just getting too high? HOOK THAT WHEEL UP!!! Plug the TV into the wheel. Those kids want to watch that video again for the upteenth time? Then run, children, run. They beg to watch a cartoon on Saturday morning? They pick the show, they run. Dont' want to run? No electricity, no tv, no video. That would be the end of the 'couch potato' generation.

Here's some new pictures

2009-02-10T12:04:00.001-05:00

Okay, it's been a while. I have lots of pics to post. Hope they all turn out well. I am having so much fun. I have been working on the 3D flowers from Linda. Don't have pictures of those yet, haven't even put any together, just tatting the pieces. I am very excited to see how those will turn out, but am going to tat alot of the pieces first before trying to put any together. This first picture is a choker and earrings (close up of the earrings to the right) I made for my niece. Just need to add the hardware. I'm thinking of hanging a charm or two to it to give it, especially the earrings, a little bit of weight. I can't remember where I saw this pattern on the web last year. If it is yours, let me know and I will post credit to you.

I tatted the Hearts Entwined pattern by Jon. You can find it on her website at the right.

I had so much fun, I did it twice. I am going to keep one for myself and put the other on a card, probably to my mom. On the right is a scan of my first try with two different shades of pink. I didn't like the way it made the lighter one look dirty, which took away from the darker pink's nice color. So I did it all in the darker pink and it turned out nice.

Here is the lighter pink thread. The picture doesn't do it justice. It is such a sweet light pink. Both threads are DMC, size 30. This heart is from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konier. (I think I spelled her name right.) I really liked this one. Again, I made two, couldn't help myself. I wanted to keep one just for me. I promptly lost the pattern after making the first one and had to tat the second one by looking at the first. It still turned out well. This pattern tats up very quickly. I finished the first one in one evening watching movies.

With the size 30 thread, the Queen of hearts tatted to 2" x 2.25" and the Hearts Entwined to 2.5" x 2." (That's width by height.)

Now my creative brain cells have been going a mile a minute lately. I have been trying my hand at making some jewelry, mostly earrings. And I am having a blast!!! (Not tatted ones, mind you, but I am wanting to put the two together soon.) I've gotten a little website (that I'll post the address of later) to show these off at and maybe sell some of them. I have been trying to take pictures and they are just not turning out nicely. I either get too much light or the colors don't show up as normal or as sparkly as in real life. Since my scanned tatted pieces turn out well, I thought I might try scanning the jewelry, too. As you can guess, 3D items don't scan well. Ha Ha <-- said sarcastically. This is the scan of a silver bell shaped flower with hanging silver chains that have treble clefs attached. The scan doesn't show how nicely the charms hang and dangle. This is all silver plated, so photos with flash or sunlight are too bright and artificial light has made the particulars not show up well in the picture. Any of you pros with posting photos and scans on your blog have any suggestions for me?

And here is the picture of the last bookmark I did for the round robin. I actually had this done before I received the flowered one (previous post) from Bonnie. I guess we were all on the same page with wanting spring to begin. You might notice that the center is like the black choker at the start of this post. Then around the outside I just free handed it. The thread was a DMC 80 in a verigated yellow. Since I didn't have any green thread that size, I dug into my sewing box and came up with a green cotton sewing thread. As I was just going to be tatting chains and not pulling any rings closed with the green, I wasn't too worried about the thread breaking on me. It turned out tiny and light weight.

See my pretties?

2009-01-17T16:22:00.001-05:00

* With the bookmark round robin finished, the holiday craze over, kids back in school, swearing off of stairs and ovens, I am looking forward to trying some of the new patterns I have seen on fellow tatter blogs. Here's the third bookmark I received from Connie. My little girls love the small one I call a shooting star. I'm going to have to beg for the pattern to make them each one.

* I happen to love green (how did she know?), but I think this would be good in a red/white stripe like a candy cane. Mmmmm.

* Below is the bookmark from Bonnie. Again, love the green and it makes me think of spring. Can't wait until all my bulbs in the garden come up this year. Must be the unbelievable cold spell going on everywhere that makes me long for Spring. (Of course it could be that this Florida girl still hasn't gotten use to the cold here in NC. LOL)

* Okay, by my count there are 8 different colored flowers in this bookmark, but the chains are not fat enough to have been hiding 8 thread strands. It's so cool. She is a whiz. And I love the little seed beads at the end of the tail. I must try that next time. It gives just the perfect weight to the tail ends.

* I am so thankful to have been a part of this round robin. It gives me such inspiration to see first hand (as opposed to just pictures) the works of art others have made. It makes me want to work that much harder to improve. I have a picture of the last bookmark I made, but want to wait 'til the recipient gets it.

* Ooohhh! I just got in the mail the cd from Linda S. Davies with all of her 3D flowers in it. I am so excited to get started, but first wanted to try Jon's Hearts Intwined pattern found here :

http://tatsaway-patterns.blogspot.com/

Times Flies when ....?

2009-01-16T20:35:00.001-05:00

When you're having fun? You've got to be kidding. I can't believe it is the middle of January already. Not much fun happening here. Let's see, to sum up the last four weeks....hmm.....burned hand, 3-wk headache caused by knots in back/neck/shoulder, fell down flight of stairs at church last Sunday.....throw in five kids (3 are teenagers) and a couple of holidays with at least 3 family get togethers......okay, so we ARE having some fun here. Seems like it was just yesterday that we were getting geared up for Christmas. Is it really mid-January?!?! Youngest is turning 6. Wow. Only 12 more years..... (-:

No, really, the holidays were great. Loved getting together with family. We all get along so well and really enjoy spending time together. It is wonderful. Didn't get as much tatting done as I would have liked due to hand burn and consuming activities. Now I can only tat for a few minutes before the knots (in back/shoulder/neck) tighten up and cause pain. But will post pictures hopefully tomorrow. Now to put the munchkins to bed and then follow suit....

Fun times were had by all, and to all a good night.

Teenagers - Love to Hate them or Hate to Love them?

2009-01-02T17:12:00.000-05:00

I know that there is some sort of disconnect in a teenagers mind. Most all of us went through that same stage. But I just don't remember being a complete IDIOT!!!! Granted, being the oldest probably had something to do with maturing early, as did being a female. And my sons' up-bringing in a country of idiots (no, I am NOT exaggerating!) has a lot to do with their current state of mind, along with being boys in general (no offense intended to the men out there.)

So my question is this: How do I continue to keep sane? I am at the point of throwing up my hands and being done with them. On the other hand, as a mom I can't quit on my kids. I know myself enough to know that if I did quit, I would guilt-trip myself forever. So how do I continue and still keep my mind?

I will always love them (I tell this to them all the time) even if they do something horrible. I will love THEM, just hate what they DO. Like right now, I love them so much I can't quit trying. But it is making me not want to be around them, talk to them, do anything for them, etc. Yet, I keep pushing them to do better, be better, want better. Because of where they come from, they are satisfied with the statusquo. Whatever life hands them is fine. We have tried to explain to them that here in America you can have and be whatever you dream of if you work hard enough for it. They just don't care.

How do I keep caring to help someone who doesn't care if they are helped? And worse yet, scoffs at any help they are given? I so want to get off this ride.....parenting, that is.

A shout out for fellow crafter....

2008-12-27T19:27:00.000-05:00

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!!!!!!!

2008-12-23T18:15:00.000-05:00

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!

2008-12-19T12:09:00.000-05:00

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

2008-12-16T15:34:00.000-05:00

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

2008-12-16T15:21:00.001-05:00

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)

2008-12-16T10:56:00.000-05:00

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

2008-12-08T19:25:00.001-05:00

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

2008-11-21T11:35:00.000-05:00

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....

2008-10-03T21:30:00.000-04:00

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

2008-10-03T20:47:00.000-04:00

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....

2008-10-01T14:28:00.000-04:00

....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"

2008-09-29T19:46:00.000-04:00

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......

2008-09-25T09:17:00.000-04:00

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"

2008-09-24T21:09:00.000-04:00

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?

2008-09-22T19:54:00.000-04:00

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?

2008-09-17T20:36:00.000-04:00

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....

2008-09-17T00:28:00.001-04:00

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

2008-09-17T00:16:00.000-04:00

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

2008-09-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

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?