Happy Easter!

Just in Time

Finally finished this second egg cover today.  This is Renulek's pattern, found HERE.  Hers looks much better than mine - my chains are too long for my egg, and I'm not crazy about the thread color, really.  This thread is Lizbeth Denim Whisper - not bright and springy enough, but OK with the blue egg. I also didn't pay attention to my chains, so they are not always facing the right direction.  No one else will know . . .

These will be the only two eggs I get done for Easter this year, but Renulek generously shares other fun egg patterns to save for future use.

Time to start thinking about the ham.  I got the bread done today - thought this would be cute on the table tomorrow:

The bread is so important to us . . .

In Between Vitals

I haven't been in the hospital many times.  In fact, only pretty much when each of my two girls was born, and my youngest is now 24.  But, I just completed a 5-day experience in the heart center at a hospital near home.

I had a couple of episodes last week where my upper chest felt tight, and I felt a little dizzy.  I had to stop and sit or lay down on the floor to let it pass.  The whole episode would last about 5-6 minutes, and I knew it was strange but didn't really think about it being my heart.  That tightness was up too high, and sort of fluttery, like a nervous/anxious feeling. FYI - do not ignore a feeling like that!

I called my Dr's. office after 2 of those episodes to see if I should make an appointment, and made one for Monday with the understanding that if it happened again and was any different, I would go to the ER.  Sure enough, it started happening on Saturday at a family function, and happened time and time again throughout the afternoon.  When it continued on the way home, I told my daughter & hubby to go to the ER.  Not in a rush, mind you, we stopped to get gas.

Once in the ER, I had an EKG and much questioning, and when the episode started again, staff flew into action. THAT was when I realized it was serious, and got pretty nervous.  So, EKGs, IVs, echo cardiogram/ultrasound, and x-rays began, and I was admitted for "observation".

To make a really long story short, it was discovered that I have a rhythm 'misfire' so to speak.  Your heart has its own electrical cells that produce the rhythm of the heartbeat, and some of those cells decided to fight for position, which created a fast arrhythmic beat.  During that fast beat, oxygen couldn't get to the brain between beats, thus the near passing out.  Ugh.  More than I wanted to know.

I have always been terrified of having a MRI, being a bit claustrophobic.  Yep, had to have one on Tuesday.  I had to be in there for almost an HOUR.  I did it, but ugh.  Then on Wednesday I had a procedure/study to determine the path of those renegade cells that were firing out of order.  The doc had to recreate the arrhythmia to find the path, and once found, he burned the cells to kill the little buggers.  This is considered a permanent fix, but unfortunately, he was not able to get all of the cells.  It appears I have a larger area of those cells than usual, and there was some swelling occurring that prevented him from being able to get at them all.  Defiant little buggers!  After watching my response to meds, my doctor thinks that the medication I am on will be all I need to maintain a good rhythm without having the procedure again.

So, I did accomplish a little tatting on another egg cover in between vitals.  Hopefully I can finish at least this egg before Sunday :)  Sheesh - I've never had my temp, oxygen and blood pressure taken so much!  The nurses and staff were fabulous, though -  so fun and interesting to chat with while taking care of serious situations.  They are truly gifted. 

Home today after 5 nights in the hospital, and I'm so looking forward to sleeping in my own bed.  I "get" to wear a lovely little monitor on a lanyard hooked up to 5 spots (snaps!) and remain within 10 feet of the phone that goes with the monitor, recording my heart rhythms.  For 30 days.  Not the jewelry I would choose, but better than the attire I was given in the hospital at least.  Resting at home for a few days, and then back to work on Monday. 

Phone came in handy for random photos . . .  

I'm thankful for my sweet hubby and daughters visiting, sending me pictures and bringing me tatting supplies and books to keep me busy.  What a weird week it's been!  

Spring Ahead!

Wow - it's already 8 pm!  This daylight savings "spring ahead" stuff is making me crazy today.  I lost one hour, but I feel like I lost about FOUR.  Oh well - once the snow melts and things start turning green, it will all be worth it :)

I've finally finished an Easter Egg.  Yep.  Just one.  All weekend, and I have one (one!) done.  

The egg is a wooden egg that I stained and put a little clear coat on.  I just wanted to try that instead of painting the eggs.  I like how this looks!  I may try a paint color next time, possibly thinned with a little water so it looks like a colored stain.  I always have to try something different . . .

I used Lizbeth thread, "Springtime" size 20.  The pattern is from Renulek, found HERE.  I wasn't quite sure how to make the ends, so I just made rings with double the number of picots I needed to catch the chains.  How in the heck do you thread these and make everything stay put?  Sheesh.  I was driving myself crazy trying to fit it on the egg, so I ended up tacking the rings down on the ends with a dab of glue.  Then I threaded the single thread around and tied it in a little knot.  Done.  Now I'd like to try another one of her great patterns - and hopefully get a few more eggs done before Easter.

I also made a few pendants today.  Just some quick ones for a dog-loving coworker, and a few with a cute boxer picture for my girls and I.  The boxer looks like our Ruby :)

I originally got the glass tiles to make some pendants or charms with some of my photos.  Haven't done that yet, but this little project has me thinking about it again!  I've thought about trying to get some very close ups of tatting to use on these also.  More projects to ponder :)

Tiger Eye Earrings

Finally.  I sat down and finished this pair of earrings in no time.  I think I could have done a better job, but I think they are just fine considering no one will see them both at the same time when I wear them.  

 These are Elizabeth Zipay's Tiger Eye Earrings, and I finished one earring a LONG time ago.  [Like last September.]   

I wonder why I wait so long to finish something so simple sometimes?  I guess I was in no hurry to finish the second one as I didn't have any earring wires.  AND, I was hoping to find a better way to get beads onto the thread without flinging them all over the place :) 

Frivole suggested trying a long-eyed beading needle awhile back, and I finally found what I think she was talking about:

The eye is pretty much the length of the whole needle, which makes it incredibly easy to thread. The needle is fairly long as well, so you can get quite a few beads on it. These are a definite must-have for me, since I am enjoying playing tatting with beads lately.  Thanks to Frivole for the tip :)

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Twin Cities Tatters

And a quick update on the Twin Cities Tatters.  We met for some tatting yesterday, and we were thrilled to actually have some new faces join us!  We actually had 7 tatters occupying a corner of the Caribou Coffee shop for 2 hours.  Some young man even leaned in and asked what we were doing because he said "it sounded like we were having so much fun."  Well!  That just says it all, doesn't it?