The right colors


Colors
My order of Lizbeth thread from Handy Hands arrived late last week, which included the thread I needed to make my sister’s birthday present. I’ve made a start of her gift but there is a long way to go, mainly because I haven’t decided exactly how I’m going to join them together or finish it off. I have a few ideas that are bouncing around the back of my mind about it, but they haven’t come together yet. Some of you might recognize the motif I’m using is from last October, the Priscilla Tatting Book No. 1. This time I’m using Lizbeth size 20 in 686 and 688, Seagreen Lt and Dk. The inner long picots are a half inch in length, probably a little long, but I like how it gives them a swirling effect 🙂

Some of the other colors that I ordered are ‘Paint Brush’, ‘Butterfly Breeze’, ‘Root Beer’ and ‘Peacock Blues’. A few of these I have plans for, others just appealed to me. I guess that means I’ll have to find projects to make with them. Not to justify their purchase but to have the opportunity to use them and enjoy their colors.

The newest dragon
Ryan hasn’t shown herself completely yet. Okay, I got excited about getting started on my sister’s gift and did that instead. I’m using DMC Cebelia size 30 with one strand of metallic embroidery floss, which makes the finished project bigger than one made in size 20 Lizbeth. Only her wings are missing yet, and then framing and finishing. I don’t think I’ll get her done yet this week as we’re having company this weekend – our daughter and her son will be here for a few days. Somehow having a two-year-old running around doesn’t give a person much time to tat!

Contact!
I had an interesting email yesterday from a woman who lives here in Kansas and also tats who would like to get together sometime. Oh, goodie, goodie! The biggest problem right now is I’m so busy with a lot of different things that our meeting might have to wait a week or two. But I’m sure eventually we’ll find a time that will work for both of us. I’m really looking forward to it.

Blogger issue
I happened to use a computer using Explorer to view my blog yesterday and I found out what Kathy and Margarette found – that the end of my 2/15 blog post was now showing in Wingdings! As I post using Firefox I hadn’t seen it before. I changed it, hopefully for all the different methods of viewing.

Japanese disaster
I’m praying for all those that have been effected by the earthquakes and tsunami in Japan. May God bless and protect them from further harm. I don’t know how many who read this blog may live in the effected areas but I hope they are all safe.

In this disaster, as well as the ones recently in Australia, I don’t always know how I can help, one person a long way away. But there are ways, including donations of money to organizations that are capable of being there to help. The company I work for has employees in Japan and has announced that all are accounted for. Now the company is donating $1 million dollars to the Japanese Red Cross and getting out information on how the rest of us can help. It’s good to work for a caring company.

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”
Helen Keller

Too tired to tat, oh dear!


The last several weeks I have just been too tired to tat. My brain just couldn’t stay focused enough to accomplish anything! I was chosen to work on a special project at work which required me to change shifts for a few weeks. Instead of starting at 3:30 PM and working ’til midnight I had to work from 6:00 AM to 2:30 PM. I’m getting too old to appreciate the change!

So I thought I would share a project my sister and I did together as few years ago. This is the skirt of a pillow case doll. My sister made the doll and the dress, then did the embroidery work of the lady’s top and parts of the umbrella. She used pearl beads on the brim of the bonnet. Then I tatted the skirt, the brim of the umbrella and the little accents to each side.

One really nice thing about DMC is that you can match embroidery floss with the Cebelia tatting thread. The lady is in green because we both just happened to have those colors. We both really enjoyed this, so made another one in blue so we could each have one.

Next week I go back to my regular hours so I’m hoping I won’t be so tired. I have to get those booties done!