Slow Year of Blogging?!

Well!  It's been a loooong time since a blog post - almost 3 months!

Originally, I started blogging just to keep a record for myself of my progress with various hobbies, and it was a bonus to meet and get to know others. It's so enjoyable to interact with others that have the same interests! It turned into so much time reading everyone else's blogs and wanting to try absolutely EVERYTHING I saw, that I really spent more time browsing the web than actually working on the hobbies. But honestly, I just don't think my life is interesting enough to blog about too many details.  And there are times when I feel like every blogger or Facebook friend is trying to sell me something.  (Yes, I tried that too - not my bag.)

Truthfully, I miss keeping the sort of journal it creates of my own life - to look back and be able to say "wow, I really did that and it's really nice!" is so gratifying.  But, it does take some time, and leads me to other unnecessary surfing (ha ha!)  So, I guess I will keep on blogging, but will keep it more journal-like.  Maybe I will figure out a system for just posting pictures and not trying to write so much.  (But I need to explain!!)  

So, for the past few months, I have been doing a little of everything.  I've done a little tatting of cross bookmarks to have on hand - they are so handy to have to pop in a card to someone I know that will truly appreciate it. Our Twin Cities Tatters will meet tomorrow - that always inspires me, though I can't seem to tat and talk at the same time, so I make many mistakes. I have so many patterns I want to tat, but . . .

I've been doing a LOT of drawing, (not to mention gathering pens, pencils, blenders, sketchbooks, and spending time in art supply stores!)  I really do love the "zen" in zentangle.  Check out what ZENTANGLE is - anyone can do it! Even us perfectionists, with a little practice :)

I go through stretches where I read alot, and then I don't read for a few months.  I'm on my 3rd book in about month right now - another stretch of reading underway.

I'm still having some fun with photography, though I've stopped the photo challenge I started.  It was getting to be too many staged photos that I just don't either have the time, the equipment, or the location to get the assigned photo.  I don't want to take photos just to fulfill the assignment, I want the photos to be good ones, and ones I can be proud of or maybe hang on the wall.  But, the challenge did give me some other perspectives to think about when taking photos, so not all is lost.  So, I just enjoy looking back at some of the fun photos I've taken in the past, and just try to snap a few more when the opportunity arises.

Wedding plans are moving right along, and the next 4 months are going to go FAST.  I will be cutting into my wedding dress soon to work on a hair piece/veil. Yikes.

And, did I mention I'll be going on a quilt shop "shop hop" with my mom the end of July?  Imagine the inspiration.  I haven't been sewing much lately, but I'm sure I'll find some irresistible fabric.  Or pattern.  Hee hee!

More another day.  Maybe just a picture or two.  Enjoy the weekend!

Towels

Happy Easter weekend!  (Is it really Easter already?) 

I've gotten two edgings done in the last month - major accomplishment for me!   These are tea towels I decided to add an edging to for my girls for a little Easter gift.  They don't really care about tatting so much, but someday they might.

Lucky for me, the towels were not only on clearance, bit the initials just happened to match each of their kitchens.  THAT never happens!  

I've been continuing the drawing a lot lately, it's really very relaxing for me.  Today I got a little obsessed with trying to figure out how to draw fabric.  The buttons were easy, but my brain just couldn't get the fabric the way I wanted it.  I'm sure this isn't the last of the playing with this idea!

Best wishes for a wonderful Easter - Spring, renewal and rebirth are on the agenda!

Tatting and Other Hobbies

Our Twin Cities Tatters group met this morning, and this is ALL I accomplished.  And then I goofed up at the end there and got going the wrong way!  Must've either been talking too much or concentrating too hard.  Hhmmpphh.  I will have to find time to start again, because it IS an easy, sturdy pattern, and I'm just making a towel edging.  It is, however, also one of those old written patterns that is easy to lose your place on.  Obviously.  I think I'll diagram it for myself before I start again.

I haven't been tatting much, but I have been participating in a couple of photography challenges. The 52-week challenge has me taking a photograph a week, with a certain theme as a guideline.  Week 7 was to be a faceless portrait, so this was my photo:

I have yet to finish that doily, but I thought a photo might inspire me to get back to it!

And last week some friends were doing a 7-Day Nature Photo Challenge on Facebook, so I thought I'd share the photos I posted daily for that challenge.  I'm sure I've probably posted these here before, but these are 7 of my all time favorites:

And, I'm continuing with the Zentangle drawing as well - pretty much daily!  It's fun to have some new things to explore and practice for a change, though I really don't need ANOTHER hobby. But, what the heck?  A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do :) 

Happy Valentine's Day ❤️

I hope your day is full of hearts!  I've pretty much been playing with this newfound pen and ink distraction called Zentangle since I took the class the end of January.  Definitely a relaxing art form - intentional doodling!  It's not a time-waster if it provides stress-relief, right?

That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it. 

January is Done? What?

I thought I should at least try to post SOMETHING for January!  Holy moly - the month has flown and here we are, ready to get on with February.  I have done plenty, but haven't blogged about anything, so here's a summary:

* Still working the body AND the mind at the YMCA after work;

* Doing a little adult coloring; 

* Got through another 30th birthday celebration and quilt (did I mention I'm feeling OLD?); 

* Took a Zentangle class and have been practicing (a lot!) ;

* And I'm keeping up on my 52-week photography challenge so far. This week's challenge was to find a landscape with good contrast for a black & white photo. I love this challenge, as it forces me to think about what I want to photograph rather than just randomly taking pictures. This is strictly a personal goal and challenge - I plan to make a Shutterfly book of my 52 photos with the challenge descriptions at the end. Hopefully I can stay on course for another 47 weeks!

I made it to our Twin Cities Tatters gathering last Saturday too, but have not accomplished enough tatting to take any photos of THAT :)

On with February!