Of Life Changes..

Sorry to all -- I know it's been close to two months since I last posted, and this will be a picture-free post.

I have taken some time off of crafting nearly everything since I last posted. I've started several half-attempts at a project, but have only really managed to complete two projects (and one I'm going to have to revisit when I have some more yarn to finish). No, with the Christmas season in full swing (and so soon after the Back to School rush!!), I've found myself so tired that I can't do much more than rest and sleep when I'm at home.

I had thought that just after my birthday at the end of September that I could get back into the swing of things. Then October happened. So many things have happened that I don't really know where to begin.

First off, I got my first antique spinning wheel. I'll post pictures at some point -- haven't had the energy to take it outside for some beauty shots (my lighting everywhere in the house is terrible except at about 1pm, which happens to fall when I'm either at work or at lunch with Nan and Pa). This will have to be done later, since hours have been doubled, so hopefully on my next day off I can have a picture day?

I've found myself really looking at trying to start a farm, so the early part of October was spent looking at possible garden layouts and supplies that I may need. It also opened my eyes to freezer meals and budgets and all that comes along with it. I haven't really had any money to purchase supplies, so I've been trying to make do with what I have and use all the thread/yarn that I've stocked up on for the past two years. Organizing my craft room took a lot out of me, but now the closet in here is (nearly) done!

Second, M's and my 5th year passed on the 25th. That's when everything went so wrong. I had to open that morning and we were planning on making dinner at home. Not too long into my shift, I got The Call.

M's dad had been diagnosed with small cell lung cancer earlier this year. He had been responding to all his treatments and had finished his first round of experimental chemo. Near the end of it, it was kicking his butt though and he wasn't really looking forward to the second round.

That morning, on the 25th, M called me at work. His dad had passed earlier that morning, and we needed to get down there.

That entire weekend was spent playing everything by ear, arrangements, and getting the house ready for the family that drove in from Mass. Let me tell y'all, the hardest thing I've had to do in the last few years was to drive home after the service knowing it'd be a while before I could make it down again.

I've spent the last month in a daze, torn between staying up here and being down there for their family. It's really only just hit me what has happened, as this is the first time I've tried to type it all out and really let myself think about things. I'm finally getting into a rhythm where I can partially function on a.. and I don't really know what to call it.. I'm no longer on auto pilot? Does that make sense?

Sorry to ramble so much in this post. I really.. I don't know.

I have hopes that sometime next week that I'll have something to show, even if it's my half-hearted attempts at some tatting and knit projects.. But we'll have to wait and see, right?

Please, I know that I've made this request before. Keep M's mom and family in your prayers. This has been a hard two years for all of them, and we're praying for a better year.

And, since I'm late with it, Happy Halloween, Happy Thanksgiving, and happy crafting.

One Step at a Time..

Sorry all -- this will be a no-picture post. I had plans to post what I did while at Bonnaroo, but that will have to wait until I have a little bit more free time.

First of all, I am still crafting. In small doses here and there, and when I go on break at work. I've been working on a tatted snowflake for the past week and a half, but haven't gotten more than halfway done with it.

Also have had some major upsets in life. No deaths, although yesterday we nearly lost Willow because of an accident.She's going to be alright, though, but it's going to take a while I think before she's fully back.

Fleas and have been really bad this year.. Worse than last year (and that was pretty bad as well). We gave her some flea drops on Saturday, and by early Sunday morning she was completely catatonic and limp. When we first noticed it, I immediately gave her a bath and later on we took her to the vet.

After all was said and done, we found out that she had licked where the drops were and had an overdose of a certain kind of poison. Luckily her case is really mild, but it could have been much worse.

She's able to walk now, which is a thousand times better than what she was yesterday. Her personality is also coming back, and tonight I got her to eat quite a bit more than I was expecting. I'm trying not to push her and force her, but we're getting there.

Hopefully soon I'll have something to share. 'Till then, I won't be posting much.

Happy crafting, all!

Decisions and Weather

After my last post, I decided to give the Pinwheel doily another go, but with some different colors and with the outer row complete as well. I'm going to dye the threads (which I nearly have ready) so they match or compliment the colors that my living room is going to be painted in. I've already got the feature wall painted though! (Go me! ^^)

These past few weeks have been a roller coaster where the weather is concerned.. leading me to buy various plants that I needed to get in the ground. I'm proud to say that I have, and love this little blueberry that I hope one day will give me lots of fruit!

And by little I mean tiny..

And I also got more raspberries in the ground as well..

But didn't realize just how crooked my lines were until I viewed the picture on my laptop. lol I can't make straight lines to save my life! You can't really see where they are in the picture.. My phone can't capture all the details like I want.

Also planted two more blueberry bushes with the ones I planted last year. This brings my total blueberry bush count to six, with five raspberry vines. I love berries! lol

Nothing else left to really say. I've wanted to do some crafting, but haven't really had the time other than to garden. Oh! Other than these!

I love living on a farm! XD

Also.. Anyone going to Bonnaroo? If so, e-mail me!

Being Techie-Crafty

After going through one of my bookcases and getting rid of quite a few books that I will never read, I took a look at my craft books and decided to put them into a database that I can search. I've already moved my personal blog onto a thumb drive, and thought that another blog would be a good way to go.

Currently, I've only scanned in two of my three sets of quilling kits and a few tatting pages from 24 Snowflakes in Tatting, so I expect this to be a long-ish term project. Has anyone else done something similar? Even if it's just to scan in your books into a computer just to preserve them.. I mean, not long after Izzy came to live with my sister I got Easy Tatting by Ruth Perry, and this is what happened:

Teaches me to look away from the book while working on a project! >.<

I'm Still Alive

Promise!

(taken with my webcam. Can you say awkward?)

This semester, I have taken on a bit more than I should have, so I haven't had time to take pictures and post them. I have been tatting and knitting, though..

My fall break is coming up soon, so hopefully I'll have some time to take pictures then!

Happy crafting!

Pattern: Jon's Merriment Doily, in Lizbeth Victorian Red sz. 10(! more about this later lol)

Gearing up for school!

I start back school next week. Since I will be there all day long (from 9:30 am 'till around 8:00 pm) I've started trying to get up some meal plans so I can pack my lunch and a snack. Today, I made some rice and made some rice balls, where each ball is 1/3 of a serving.

.. Except this one..

They're in the freezer right now (except for the large one, hehe!) so all I'll have to do is put them in my box and go.

Will have some other crafty goodness sometime soon. Been trying to get ready and it's taking all my time!

Erm.. Hi?

I can't tell y'all how many times I've started a blog, only to have to start over again. No, it's not Blogger related, it's been time..

I haven't been tatting much lately, mostly because I'm getting ready to go back to school for marketing and accounting. I've also been trying to do some repairs to my home, getting rid of a lot of things, and generally doing a through scrub down of this thing called life. I've also been blogging it, though on a personal and private blog, and it's helping me get to a better place.

No, I'm not depressed. .. exactly.. Though I've been feeling it coming on (I tend to get more depressed near the end of Summer and on through Christmas), so I'm doing what I can to be happy. So far, it's working! :)

No fears, though. I have some projects that are in the works, and some that are ready to be photographed but I've not taken the time to do so. I hope to have some more by the end of the weekend, but no promises yet.

Happy tatting, everyone!

First of a few "announces"

I have been planning this for a while, but I wanted to share a little bit of what I've been up to while not crafting.

This will be a sorta series, going through the first or so, but I had to share!

More on this as I finish, but look for more later. Thoughts?

.. And on a completely random note, Izzy just decided to bring me a battery. Wonder if she knew that my camera has eaten another pair?

Poor Willow!

Just wanted to show everyone what we're currently going through in regards to the snow. I do have some tatting, but they're not quite ready to be shared (they're blocking and need to finish drying), so hopefully soon I'll have another post ready.

Right now, we still have about three inches of snow on the ground with a quarter inch of ice on top of that. It's super slick, as Willow can tell you:

She really doesn't like the cold, especially after she broke her leg when she was a puppy. Last time it snowed, I had to keep her laying down that last day to keep a warm compress on the leg! She doesn't let it hinder her, as she's one of the fastest little dogs I have ever seen!

I also spent some time on Tuesday taking pictures around the farm.


This is the first time in memory that I can remember the ponds freezing over. They're no where near frozen enough to be safe enough to walk on, but it's still surprising!

Also, since this is now mostly ice, we have a lot of these hanging out.


And, just to show how it looks outside my door..


Everything is so glossy, it's making it hard to drive just from the glare!

Also, earlier this week, Izzy and Gwinnie styled their PJ's at Mom and Dad's:

Yes, Gwinnie is half-buried in the couch. She slid down there while sitting next to Ab and seemed to enjoy it! Rather than climb out, she decided to keep chewing on her bone!

Also, from Christmas night..
Willow had fun getting covered in snow.

Hope everyone is staying warm! Happy tatting!

Happy Newyear!!

Though our New Year has officially decided to be gray, I wanted to wish everyone a happy and safe New Year!

This also ends my attempt at a hiatus. ^_^ I couldn't stay away from the keyboard, and even though I did blog, I nearly got everything done!

I do have a new tatting pattern (or two) that I am currently trying to work out to show. Here's what they look like so far:



Wow. Didn't know my flash could turn purple into blue! Both are using daisy techniques, with dimpled rings for the hair piece. I'm really liking the hair piece; I just need to finish it, but couldn't wait to show!

Which reminds me.. Has anyone ever done a dimpled split ring before? It was interesting figuring out how to do them without going online and looking them up.

2011 is going to be a year of changes! Look for a surprise in the next week or so! ^^

A Question..

I've been tatting with my size 10 Royal thread, and it's a lot softer than I remember. Maybe it's just because it's been handled (and drug by a puppy) so much, but I'm not liking the way all my picots and chains are looking.

I would have some tatting, if I didn't have to block what I have so aggressively, but ces't la vie, right?

My question is this: Of the size 10 threads, which do you like the best? I haven't tried the Lizbeth size 10 just yet, and the Aunt Lydia threads I have in that size are too soft as well.

Thoughts, everyone? I have a bracelet design that I'm hoping will look better with a stiffer thread..

I'll post a picture of what I mean when the piece dries.

And now..

for something completely different..

I rest my case. ;)

Changing Layout!

Sorry to those who are following me, but I am currently making a layout for this blog as well as re-organizing.

If you get a bunch of notifications that I have updated, sorry!

Will post some tatting and knitting later!

Finals, Yarn, Thread, and Dye

Finals are next week, and I only have to go for three days, and two aren't for tests! ^^

Anywho, I'm gearing up for another round of dying. I didn't get the chance a week ago to dye, mostly because it was Black Friday and I had to work the early shift (whew! so glad that is over!!) This time, I'm making a Christmas gift for a friend who crochets (making a skein of HDT.. erm.. hand-dyed yarn?) that is purple and black. She chose the colors! I'm also going to be dying some thread, so I've got to choose my colors soon!

I'm trying to get everything skeined, so keep a look out! I will also be adding some more tatting, as well as a full pattern to my Clover Square. I've only got to finish the final corner and type up the pattern and I will be done! ^^

Pics will be up (save those for the thread exchange.. I'll add those when my partners get their thread! lol) sometime later, after it's all said and done. Happy tatting everyone! ^^

So much to do, so little time!

This entire semester has gone by very quickly, and I've found myself in the revision stage of studying for finals. No new tatting at the moment, but I may have some in my next post.

I have a list of things that is insanely long of things I need to complete. I've found that tatting, while it's relaxing to me, is something that I will need to put on the back-burner for a few weeks until I get through with classes. Luckly my classes end the second week of December, but there's so much to do!!

However, I did find some tins for the presents I am sending up to M's family. They are too cute!! I'm one that usually likes the traditional style of tins, but these are a little bit more modern than what I usually go for.

So, my Christmas To-Do List is as follows:
Knitting:

• Finish Kelly's Scarf
• Lace for Mom/Nannie/Grannie?

Tatting:

• Snowflakes
• Some Edgings (for the jellies)

Preserves/Candies:

• Apple Jelly (if I have time.. It depends on how Thanksgiving goes..)
• Candied Almonds (really, they're easier to make than some people think!!)
• Cookies!!

As of right now, I have four different family dinners to go to this week. I am going to make some cookies for them, since I can make the dough in about ten minutes and then get out of my sis and mother's way. What will take the longest is how many cookies I am going to be cooking.. Looks like I'm going to be baking for several hours tomorrow!

Also, next Friday I will be dying again. I joined a thread exchange for this Christmas and want to send more than the 30 yards that I dyed before. Not sure which colors I am going to be dying, though, since I have so many that I like. I think I'm going to enlist help this time, though.. The skeining alone can take several days for as many as I dye at a time!

No pictures today, I haven't had time to do anything since Sunday. If I have time, I'll try to post some things later on this week.

I hope everyone has a happy (and safe!!) Thanksgiving!

List of Patterns

These are the (current) patterns that I have came up with. Each are (or will) be linked to the pattern entries as they are blogged.

This list will grow with time. I just wanted to have a quick list for later.

Moroccan Sun
Medallion 1
Clover Square

Happy Tatting!

Gearing Up..

Photo from noaa.gov

This summer, I went and took a spotting class. It was pretty cool - we learned how to tell scuds from rotating wall clouds and what a tornado is and what to do when we see one.

I never imagined that I may have to put that knowledge to use so soon.

I do not live on the East Coast, however I do live in an area that may receive some of the fury of Ida. It's weakening, but even I know that a weak tropical storm can throw out some major super cells.

So, in light of the possibility of horrible weather, I am getting geared up for a long week of sleeping at other family's homes. If we were to have a severe tornado come through (which two years ago, we had a near miss with one forming above my sister's house and touching down a county over), I'd feel much, much safer inside a lovely brick house rather than steel and wood.

My tatting/knitting box from before is getting packed and ready for long nights of watching the news. This is going to be an interesting week!

Atlanta(is?)

In case others outside haven't heard, the capitol of my state is currently getting flooded.

( pic courtesy WSBTV, found here)

I skipped classes today because of my back hurting so bad, but now I'm kind of glad that I didn't make it out of the door.

Thankfully, we haven't had much more than just standing water, but after the drought we've had the past five or so years (because here in the N-GA mountians, we haven't been getting as much rain as the rest of the state), it's not looking good. Last night, we had 5-inches of rain in less than twelve hours, which is more rain than we've gotten total in, oh.. Six or seven months?

I'm glad that the drought is over, but at this rate, we will all be flooded. Right now (at least in my town), we are in a lull, but another band is getting ready to push through. We're in for a rough night.

We've been given a flood warning, so I'm moving up to my grandparent's house. They live on top of a hill, where as my house is in a hole.

Pray for everyone; this is some of the worst weather we've had in a while.

Update?

I received my HDT's from Lady Shuttle Maker a while back, and can't think of what to do with them! For now, they are hidden away in my tatting box. Pictures up soon, as well as a pattern!

I finally was able to complete my first pattern, which I have no idea what to call! It looks like a sun when it's tatted up in a golden thread (which I have done, however I made a mistake and will need to re-do the tatted piece). Pictures of everything will be posted once I get some new batteries for my camera!

I'm also working on my crafty area, as my office is currently a mess overflowing with boxes from the move. It's been a year, and I still haven't fully moved in!

Now, it's off to lunch! ^^

4th of July!!

Whee! It's time to go blow things up!


Going to a cook out at my grannie and papa's house tonight, so I may end up with loads of pictures. After that, well, we shall see!

Working on getting a notebook full of patterns and things during my lull in craftiness. I'm also trying to find some new papers to make the journals I have floating around in my head, as well as waiting on my new thread from Lady Shuttle Maker. I'm hoping that will get here by the end of the week (I ordered it yesterday, and she only ships on Tuesdays and Thursdays).

.. On that note, I kinda need to paint my mailbox before I forget! ^^