Too Much Surfing

. . . to accomplish much lately!  I get so involved in finding great ideas and patterns online, that I run out of time to actually make anything.  And then this morning I went to the St. Paul Craftstravaganza - an annual urban art fair with great handmade work by many who also have Etsy shops.  Talk about creativity - I love upcycled artwork and all things handmade, so it was a great way to spend a Saturday morning.  (And avoid housework - hehe.)

Actually, this week I have been working on these two bookmarks for a bookmark exchange through the Tatting Forums.  Mainly I was trying to get that spiral tail to work as wonderfully as I've seen others on blogs - but I just don't get it quite as even as I'd like to.  Here's just a peek until I mail them off to my partners this week:

I just made a chain of the 2nd half only of a double-stitch.  Some directions I have say to do this, only stitch over either 3 strands or a thicker piece of thread creating a "padded" spiral.  I tried using a thicker piece of crochet cotton, but I couldn't quite figure out how to make that extra piece of thread stay put, and without the ends showing when I got done.  Is there a trick to that?  Or maybe a good source for directions?  I'm sure I am once again making it harder than it really is  :)

I received one bookmark exchange this week - it's so much fun to get this kind of mail:

And in my favorite color - blue! Size 80 thread no less - it's really quite delicate and pretty.  Many thanks to Tattabugg - she was so prepared for this exchange!

The only other accomplishment I have for the past couple of weeks is emptying shuttles.  I have been sitting in my new woman-cave making butterflies to empty shuttles and have plenty of business cards ready to hand out.  Not that anyone is knocking down the door to join us, but I'm prepared for when they do! 

Call Me Princess

The royal doings are fascinating, though I didn't get up early to watch the wedding.  I did, however, turn the coverage on when I got up.  "The" dress was beautiful, the event historic and the hats . . . well, the hats were interesting.  The dollars spent, the crowds of onlookers and the media masses are all incredible.  I can't imagine the life they lead, but I hope they use their status in the best way possible and enjoy a happy marriage amid the royal scrutiny.  I am glad I can sit on my deck with a glass of wine and watch my bluebirds without security guarding me and people trying to get my picture!  (And what a picture it would be of me with bare feet and in my sweatpants . . . )

I did have a little fun with the Royal Name Generator. Yesterday I informed my coworkers that they could address me as "Princess" Cindy.  Unfortunately, my paycheck today did not reflect that title.

OK, so there's really no royalty here.  I am about 1/8 English, way back there somewhere, but otherwise I'm a mere peasant.  Back to reality.  My security is two snoring dogs by my feet as I enjoy a glass of $10/bottle wine. Back to being the chef AND the maid. 

All Things New

For I remember it is Easter morn,
And life and love and peace are all new born.                       
 ~Alice Freeman Palmer

Need I Say More?

SUNDAY

APRIL 17, 2011

TODAY

APRIL 20, 2011

Crosses & Coffee Shops

With Easter coming up, I've been working on some cross bookmarks for a friend that requested some for Easter gifts for her family.  She chose some thread colors, and I got busy with the tatting.  I made Mary Konior's large cross once before, but promptly sent if off as a gift - so I forgot that it really is 'large'.  It's a beautiful cross, but maybe a bit too big for bible bookmarks done in size 20 thread.

2nd 25-Motif Challenge

Motif #s 16 & 17

Lizbeth Springtime and a Variegated Blue

They take up the whole page of my regular sized bible. It works, but do you think they're too big?

I'm working on getting a couple more crosses done in some size 40 thread, in case she would prefer the smaller size.   I've used Lizbeth size 40 in mocha swirl and mocha for a slightly smaller one.  I like this size better, but I know my friend was loving the thread colors of the larger ones.  I have one more small one to make, and then some tassels.  I should be done with these just in time!

2nd 25-Motif Challenge

Motif #18

Lizbeth Mocha Swirl & Mocha Size 40

I also made two of the Hearts and Flowers Cross by Julie Patterson - one of my favorite quick & easy patterns.  These are also done in size 20 thread.  Quite springy colors, don't you think? 

2nd 25-Motif Challenge

Motif #s 19 & 20

Yarnplayer's Summer Trail & Lizbeth Turquoise Twist

I would like to experiment with some different types of chains and tassels, but for the crosses to get done in time for Easter, I'm keeping them simple.  At our Twin Cities Tatters gathering yesterday, Michelle steered me to this video on tassel-making.  I will be trying this today - she makes it look sooooooo easy! 

Speaking of our Twin Cities Tatting gatherings - we meet at a local Caribou Coffee shop.  Michelle and I met through blogs and forums online, and have become good tatting friends setting up our gatherings.  Michelle has decided to join the world of blogging to show her beautiful work - see her new blog "Tela Magistrae".

Here's proof that we really do get together:

Michelle

Cindy and Carla

Join us if you're in the Twin Cities :) There's plenty of room!

My Woman Cave

I've been planning a sewing/craft room for awhile now.  I knew the day was coming that Uptown Girl would fly the nest (again) and her bedroom would become a "spare" room.  I figured the next time she moved out would probably be the last time. Like most young adults, she's moved out and home again a couple of times.  Now it was safe to create my Woman Cave.

So, for the past week I've been moving my junk craft/sewing/tatting supplies from an office/sewing/den to my new space.  My stuff was crammed into bins in a cramped closet that I had to completely unload to find anything.  I would unstack 4 bins of fabric to get to what I knew I had in there somewhere.  And then for some reason the bins didn't always get put away - just in case I needed another piece.  But that's over!

There's still a LOT of organizing and sorting to do, but this will be soooo much easier in here.  It doesn't look like I am nearly the hoarder I thought I was. (Unless you consider that I do have an entire room for my stuff.)

 

Tatting thread and supplies in one 9-cube cubby and fabric and sewing stuff in the other.  Those things hold a lot of supplies - very convenient.  Yes, the bookshelf still needs some organizing, but it will be pleasant to do in here :)

My sewing corner. The Ott Lite can easily move down to the chair end of the cubbies for tatting or other handwork.

Yep - fabric in these cupboards too.  Don't dare open them just yet.

Is that a neat closet, or what?  I can only hope it stays that way - it looks so bare and easy to keep clean at the moment. (I'm sure that will change.)  Now maybe I can  make some curtains and put some things on the walls to really get comfortable.  I'm so glad to have my own Woman Cave!  Aren't you jealous?

In between moving and organizing, I've been tatting some crosses for Easter.  More about that later.  I'm enjoying my cave!

Really?

It's April?  There IS hope that Spring will arrive in this frozen tundra called Minnesota! 

In honor of that thought, AND the fact that it's International Tatting Day, I finished a bookmark with the beautiful HDT I had left from my doily.  Thinking about the doily as an Easter decoration with a vase of pretty spring flowers on it is a wonderful thought, and I decided I needed to make a springy bookmark too.  (And I was feeling sort of guilty for not totally loving the doily, because I really love the thread.)  I just added a long chain with a little charm on the end for the tail.  I kinda like how that came out  - sort of unique.

2nd 25-Motif Challenge

Motif #15

Flowers Bookmark by Jill Hanna

Yarnplayer's Summer Trail HDT, Size 20

There was a bluebird sighting in the backyard this week.  My tulips are popping through the ground.  The snow is melting and the sun wants to shine.  Yahoo! There is hope that this endless winter will be done soon!