I wish you all a verrry MERRY CHRISTMAS and I hope your NEW YEAR will be ALL you could POSSIBLY WISH for....HAPPINESS.
Here is my Christmas card to you all.

Make sure you click on the Card to see it better.

I was painting again the other day...and I don't know where it came from but whoosh...the idea of me and my friend Erin having a cup of Java on a nice Black Iron curly Qed table with an umbrella came into my mind. So I painted the scene...It isn't really good painting but it was fun just the same....I was getting a real hoot out of it while I was painting it...snickering to myself.

There I was in my purple and hot rod red...and there was Erin in her...Pinkie Taskadarol( I don't know how to spell that...but if you ever watched happy days...She was a friend of "The Fonz"...lol...It was fun...and I hope if Erin ever peeks in to my blog again...she will get a true kick out of it too...as I said...I had fun painting this one.

Earlier today I went off my merry way to Hector to Karey's house for a Tatting Christmas Planning the Hector event for next year party. There was lots of food...but for some reason today I was feeling very well...don't know if it was my allergies for I was in dusty parts of my house..and I mean my loft folks...I don't dust up there....LOL I am not "Monk" you know....So yesterday my head started bothering me and then again today...or it was because I was still tired from playing in the dust yesterday or...I don't know... but I wasn't myself so I didn't eat the ton of food that was there. I started working on a pattern of Karey's that I have. It is an angel..but I have just started the angel so I haven't gotten very far with her...to much gabbing and planning and chit chatting I guess..oh and lets not forget laughter too. Anyhow...we had a Tatting Exchange. Karey after drawing my package received my exchange and I think she was happy with it. I gave one of my tatted/bobbinlace ornaments and a few other things. I got a cute snowman that was tatted and I believe it is Debbie Arnolds pattern from Co. I also got a tatted weath. Both of these were from Ginny Weathers of Aurburn, New York. The tatting is just wonderful in these ornaments. I love them. We also got some thread samples to play around with and some more tatting thread from a grab basket. Anyhow it was a nice day.

After I got home I was watching Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets that was on TV and it was all I could do was to not fall asleep. Then I am such a sick puppy when it comes to Harry that I watched it again...Now I am writing this blog and calling it a night. Here is the pictures of the Tatted Ornaments I got from Ginny.

As you can see here I am trying really had to get myself into the X-mas spirit. My husband is still on strike. That makes things hard for I haven't any idea...what the future holds for us.
I have been busy making ornaments and painting mostly as you can see here.
I will be painting again today. Hopefully I will have done by next week all that I need to do.
We have snow on the ground... and I have a feeling it is staying for the temperatures don't look like they are on the incline.
Sometime soon I need to stop with the painting and ornament making and get my house ready for the holidays. It will be nice when I get that done....but just the thought of moving the furniture around, dragging all the X-mas stuff out...deck the tables...hang garland...and so on....I would rather be Bewitch and just twitch my nose and have it all done....or have Celtic get some of her magic tatting dust out...and tat the house into X-mas readiness.

This is a bobbinlace bookmark that I just finished today. The whole bookmark was made using metallic threads. The type of lace is called Torchon. I am not very good in Torchon lace making...actually it makes me shake in my Scooby Doo House Slippers....LOL. I am calling it my BlackGold Bookmark or Fool's Gold....

Now to figure out what I will do next......

And then there was a Santa Mickey Mouse Bobbin.......So what is everybody else up to??

Can you all tell I am thinking of X-mas....LOL

Here is a bobbin that I painted yesterday. It is A Charlie Brown Christmas bobbin. I am telling you...Charlie Brown looks easy to paint...but it is hard to get his expression just right for someone who has just a circle for a face and a couple dots and a few squiggly lines. I did copy this from a picture that I had taken out of a catalog along time ago. He took me along time to paint with Snoopy included on the dog house. I love to paint sometimes...and I really get lost and hate to be interrupted when I am painting for I am concentrating so hard on what I am doing that I hate the train (thought) to leave the station before I am ready for it to....but there comes a time when I feel I can't do anything else to it to make the painting better, I am just not that much of an artist...so I finally say...the painting is done and I am done with it....
Hope everybody had a safe and fun time on Thanksgiving day.

I truly hope you all had fun stuffing yourself on the Thanksgiving Dinner. I know I am ....the turkey was just wonderful...Mash Potatoes...who doesn't just love them...with the fattening gravy...Yum...and then there was the Patasieo salad and pies....I am so stuffed right now. Early before going to the dinner I was playing here on my computer trying to figure out how to combine four pictures and make it one picture. I think I finally figured it out...thank goodness for my Adobe Illustrator Program...usually I am swearing at it ladylike...LOL and leave it in fustration...but I think I finally taught myself a new skill in the program. If it worked you will see a picture of my bobbin that I painted yesterday. I wanted a snowman in the forest with the wildlife around him. So be looking for the deer peeking out from behind the tree...the squirrel, the cardinal, the bunny on the bobbin. So what do you all think of the bobbin. Tomorrow depending on how things go around here I am going to paint myself my very own Charlie Brown and Snoopy bobbin. I know the characters are copywrited but I paint these bobbin just for myself and I do not give them away or sell them...so I think that is okay. On my website on my bobbinlace page you will see where I have other cartoon bobbins I have painted in the past. I have more continental bobbins and someday may add to my numbers of cartoon bobbins. If any of you can think of a cartoon character that you don't see on my website please let me know...as the years go by you have a tendency to forget things...but remember when someone mentions the forgotten memory to you. I hope you enjoy looking at the picture. It did take me awhile to figure out... one. how to combine my pictures after resizing them and cropping them and then two, getting the combine picture in jpg format so I could upload it to here...
Signed,
Me, who is crossing her fingers that what I have done works....

Hi Everybody in Lacingland,
I just wanted to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow.
Someone....hmmmm.....I wonder who wanted to see what was under my El-Cheapo foam pillow. This is the second pillow I purchased. The first pillow I got or should I say kit was the famous "Horror Of Horror" kits. I had purchased that about 15 years ago. I made one edge piece on it and that was it. I was in Nursing School at the time and really didn't have time to monkey around with the lace. I just wanted to try it out...but between working which I was working full time and going to school full time and taking care of my family...remember they were young that many years ago...I didn't have time for lacing. I also made a pillow from a pattern that was in one of my old Anna magazines. I didn't do much with that either. I still have the pillow...and I have to say....I don't know which pillow is actually more of a Horror...the one from the kit or the one I made. Now the pillow that I made is on my closet shelf gathering dust. Maybe sometime I will get it down...dust it off and see what I can do with it. It is a roller pillow. Maybe I can save it. I also have an old french pillow that I got at an antique store...again...many years ago....Never did anything with that...and I don't know...I may get rid of it.
I really didn't get into bobbinlace seriously until about 6 years ago. That is when I first purchased my El-Cheapo pillow. I have to say that I use that pillow the most. So things get made on it and then taken off.
I also have an expensive big and I mean big cookie pillow that is filled with straw grass. At the moment that pillow sits on the desk chair in the livingroom also gathering dust. On that pillow I have a huge Bedfordshire edge. I am thinking that once I am finished playing X-mas ornaments to get myself back to my Bedfordshire edging...and finish it. The Bedfordshire edge can be seen on my website. The url being http://celticdreamweaver.com/
Anyhow...here is the picture of my El-Cheapo Pillow and how I covered it. But I have to say that most of the time....you can't see that part of the pillow for I even keep that covered by another cover. Bet it is no surprise that I covered it with purple velvet and purple floral brocade material. LOL















Also here is another ornment that I made. I think I am only going to do one more...maybe two...and then I don't ever want to see that pricking again....LOL

Please everybody...stay safe over the holiday.

Another ornament....oh my.....this one I did in white and silver....to look like a snowflake ornament. So what do you think of it.

How about one in white and blue like this one....what do you guys think?

Yesterday I went to Chrystal's baby shower. She is looking pretty big already. She has two months to go yet. Next week they are doing another ultrasound to check on the baby's size. Timmy Guy weighed 8 lbs. when he was born and was really too big for Chrystal to deliver naturally. Timmy Guy's lung callapsed from the stress of going down the birth canal. He is healthy now...but it was scary there for a bit. He was taken to a large hospital ( Strong Memorial Hospital) soon after he was born. Being that babies tend to be big on the Dad's side and the problems with Timmy Guy's birth and being Chrystal is so big already...they are keeping track of the baby's size this time better I think than when Chrystal was pregnant with Timmy Guy. Here is a picture of the Mommy to be that I got yesterday....doesn't she look like a happy Mommy to be...?

Here is another ornament that I played with tatting and bobbinlace with. I don't know which one I like better. There will be more ornaments though....I drew up the pricking for the bobbinlace and it is just a matter of filling the center with tatting. Fun....different color threads, different kinds of threads...and oh HECK YES!!!!! beads....LOL
Enjoy and be looking for more ornaments.....they are just a brewing in my dusty brain cells...LOL

I performed a marriage over the weekend. I made this Christmas ornament that you see here making it in tatting along with bobbinlace. It was an experiment and I was just playing around.



The strike is still going on. Nothing else I want to mention about that.
I went to visit my brother and Jill yesterday. They are moving back to Florida later on this month. But while I was there I watched some football with my brother and watched my team lose again. I will just say their colors are green/black and white....and they should be flying the friendly skies.....LOL They were really behind but if they could have just gotten that one touch down right at the end there...they would have won. I must say I was on the edge of my seat...with my hands over my eyes each time the ball was snapped and still they could get inside for a touch down...so close they were to winning. Bet you guys didn't know I like to watch football. Something I don't get to see very much anymore.

Here is a Halloween story for you to read. Have fun and I hope you all had a nice Halloween.

Fright Night At Celtic’s House
By Sherry Townsend aka Celtic Dream Weaver


It was your fall looking day. The leaves on the trees were changing colors and gracefully falling on the ground making a multi colored soft carpet on the ground.
It was a warm day in New York on Maiden Lane in Canandaigua, New York. In the past the weather on October 31st was not fit for man or beast. But this year it was a perfect day weather wise for one of Celtic’s favorite holidays…today was Halloween.
Celtic was sitting at her table in the dining area working feverishly on her project. She wasn’t tatting or making bobbinlace. What she was working on was something that had to be finished before tonight.
Mr. Green Shuttle was all dressed up for the evening events. He was a swashbuckling looking pirate. His shirt was white and flowing. He had on a black hat that had a feather sticking out from it one side. His black pants bellowed to his knees where his black bulky boots met. He was pacing back and forth looking through his one eye that didn’t have the famous pirate patch on, eye balling the mystery project on the table that Celtic was working on making a clunking sound with his boots as he was walking.
Mrs. Pink Shuttle was decked out as a Playboy bunny outfit. Her costume made one think of a penguin, black and white with cat ears pointing up from her head. She was sitting on top of Ms. Floozy Pillow also watching Celtic trying to figure out what Celtic was doing.
Ms. Floozy was also dressed up. She was all orange with a yellow mask over her eyes with a green tatted edge that was drawn closed together at the top of her head…and she was also watching Celtic trying to figure out what Celtic was doing. The funny thing Ms. Floozy thought….I have no idea what I am suppose to be…but what Celtic was working on looked a lot like her own costume.
Celtic was turning her project this way and that way as she was working. Picking up her knife and setting it back down on the table and getting up periodically looking at her project while humming the song Monster Mash to herself…”The monster mash…it was a graveyard smash …the monster mash…”and on she went.
Celtic was expecting company this evening and that is when the fun would really begin. Her friend Esmeralda was coming over bringing with her, her daughter named Josette. They were planning on going trick or treating and then going back to the house to watch movies. But her project had to be finished before Esmeralda showed up….
“Celtic….what are you making?” said Mr. Green Shuttle and then looking at Ms.Floozy and then back to Celtic’s project.
“Well… Mr. Green Shuttle I am curving this pumpkin here so I can have a Jack-O-Lantern. A lot of people curve them every year and then set them outside with a light inside of them to illuminate them. It is a Halloween tradition and it is fun…and gives me a chance to be creative.” Celtic replied.
Celtic sat back at the table and again picked up her knife and started cutting in to the pumpkin again.
“Is that what I am suppose to be too?” said Ms. Floozy?
“Yes, you are Ms. Floozy. I thought with your round shape that it woul.d be the perfect costume for you. That way I can carry you around this evening and you can watch and see what Halloween is all about.”
Celtic picked up the pumpkin and carried it to the kitchen counter and sat it down. She then rummaged through her drawers until she found the perfect tea light candle to set inside the pumpkin. Looking through another drawer she found a book of matches…and striking one she lite the candle and put it inside the pumpkin and placed the top of the pumpkin back on. And a bright light showed through all the holes that were curved into the pumpkin.
The eyes of the pumpkin were slanted upward on each side of the face. There was a skinny “U” for the nose and the mouth was a toothless friendly grin. It was done, her Jack-O-Lantern was ready to be put outside on the deck for all those trick or treaters to look at when they came to her door later on in the evening.
“Now, I have to get myself ready. Esmeralda and Josette will be here soon. Now …what should I be this year….hmmm….I got it…”and then Celtic started to twill around…and around…the diamond dust on her purple dress coming off in a spiral cloud and then coming back on Celtic transforming her into….her dress became shorter to her knees…with blue and white checks on the material. Her hair was caught back with a blue ribbon and ringlets went down the back of her head. As she turned her shoes were clicking and changing to ruby red shoes…..I am now Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz”.
Her little friends on the table just stared at her. Puff the tatting bag let out a puff of smoke….” Dorothy?”
“Yes Dorothy, from “The Wizard of Oz”. it is a delightful movie and when we get back tonight….we will watch it on the TV. I have the movie here somewhere. I do think that Josette will also enjoy watching it. I know I have over the years.”
“ Now for refreshments,”Celtic said…looking forward to the evening ahead. She closed her eyes and clicked her red ruby shoes together…and suddenly there was all kinds of fattening donuts and chocolates all over the kitchen counter and in a big punch bowl was apple cider on ice with cinnamon sticks floating around.
Just then the door bell rang….and Celtic went to the door to let her visitors in. Esmeralda was dressed up as Mrs. Adams from the “Adams Family” all dress in black with very dark red lipstick on and a spidery net covering her pitch black long wigged hair. Her sleeves were long and full from the elbows to the top of fingers. Her dress clinged to her hour glass figure and then flowed outward from her knees that made a swishing sound as she entered Celtic’s house.
“Esmeralda…come in, so glad to keep you company while you take out Josette trick or treating.” Celtic then looked down at the girl that was behind her mother. “Now I wonder what you could be Josette….let me think here…..are you a witch?” Josette shook her head no,” Are you a Jolly Green Gaint?”….Josette again shook her head no, “ How about telling me what you are then.”
“Celtic, I am Tinker Bell ….you silly, you know from “Peter Pan?,” Josette said, ending the fun guessing game.
“Why yes you are….now why didn’t I think of that?” replied Celtic with a wink of the eye and a smile on her face.
“So… are we all ready to go then?” asked Esmeralda.
“Yup, I just want to get Mr. Green Shuttle and Mrs Pink Shuttle, Ms. Floozy and Puff situated here. I want to take them out with us tonight. I have been telling them about Halloween.”
“Okie dokie”, then said Esmeralda.
Celtic them picked all her friends up from the table. She opened Ms. Floozy’s costume at the top just a bit and carefully placed Mr. Green Shuttle and Mrs. Pink Shuttle into the opening. She also picked up Puff the tatting bag and carried him in her other hand as a little purse and turned, “There I think I am ready now.”
The three of them then went outside. It was already dark outside. The street lights were lite up and in the streets they were not alone. Giggling and laughter could be heard here and there. The other trick and treaters were out running from that house to another house…showing each other what they had just gotten from this house and that house.
The houses were all decked out too. There were lighted up Jack-O-Lanterns at almost every house. There were scare crows standing in the yards….and there were white sheets hanging in the trees with balloons inside for the heads waving in the breeze.
The three of them went to this house and that house ringing the door bells as they went along. While Josette was collecting her candy stash…Celtic and Esmeralda got caught up in all the going ons in Lacingland. It was a fun night to be sure.
The bewitching hour was getting rather late though and it was time to head for home. So back to Celtic’s house they went. Celtic could see her carved Jack-O-Lantern on her deck and the light was still shining out from the pumpkin’s face. She would let it keep smiling till the tea light candle burned out. It was safe outside to do so. Josette was all excited about all the candy she managed to get….and couldn’t wait to dump it all out on the living room rug and have Esmeralda go through it to make sure it was all safe for consumption.
Celtic left them and went to find the “Wizard of Oz” movie. After finding the movie she put it in the DVD player and said, “The movie is about to begin.”
Everybody then sat on the couch with their legs tucked under them and looked at the TV. Celtic had put her lacing friends on the coffee table and they were chit chatting among themselves about all that they had witnessed during the evening. The movie was going….and there was Mrs. Gouch being the witch she was and threatening poor Dorothy about taking her dog Toto.
The next thing they all knew was they were hearing errie sounds coming from the kitchen which was getting louder and louder.
Celtic got up and went into the kitchen to find out what was going on. And what did she find…well…she found all kinds of people dressed in costumes eating her donuts and drinking her apple cider that she was going to serve to her guests later on.
Celtic looked at them all…wondering who all of these people were….there was Dracula, a Darth Vader, a devil with a pitch fork and all. There was leprechaun, a Cinderella, a witch, a Greek Goddess and Celtic had no idea who all these people were that just dropped into her house from no where. “Okay all of you….who are you?” Celtic asked the uninvited guests.
A voice spoke up…”It is me Celtic, Georgia”,one person replied.
Another voice spoke up…”it is me Celtic, Martha,” another spoke up.
And then there was another voice…”It is me Erin, Celtic…sure had you fooled didn’t I?” she laughed.
Then Celtic heard…it is me Joy, Teresa, Riet, Sue, Jane, Ginny, Joanne, Sheridan,Shirley….and the list got longer…with more names.
“Oh my goodness everybody…what a huge big surprise you all are,” Said Celtic in a very excited voice.
“We all heard that you had donuts and cider and you were puting on “The Wizard of Oz” movie to watch, so we all decided we would crash your house and join you. We really didn’t think you mind,” said Mark with a smirky grin on his face.
“{Mind, MIND…are you all kidding me?….come…come….into the living room. I can dream up some more donuts and cider….and we have chocolate a plenty around here to add at least ten pounds to each of you before you leave tonight,” Celtic laughed and being really happy.
So Celtic had a fright night in her living room. Everybody was dressed in costume…and sitting on every piece of furniture and some lounging on the big stuffed pillows in front of the TV. All watching “The Wizard of Oz” and having a good time of it too, eating, laughing and having fun as you could hear the witch from the movie saying…”fly…fly” out her big window as the monkeys were flying across the screen.

I haven't been doing much tatting lately. I have been doing bobbinlace instead my other love. I just finished this Schneeberger Laced King. The pattern was designed by Jean Eke and was in Lace Magazine number 112. I decided to do it in colors...which made it harder to make. I might someday do it again in the traditional white. Anyhow...here are a couple pictures. One is the mess during the making and the second picture is the finished king.
I am not too sure if I am happy with the way he came out. But it is too late now...he is off the pillow.
I am not sure as to what I will do or make next. I do know that it would help me if I had size 50/2 thread. I guess I will have to order some.
Halloween is fast approaching. We got some candy today....it is going to be really hard for me to stay out of the Almond Joys. They are one of my favorite candy bars...but I have been warned not to touch...LOL
Since Halloween is coming I was thinking of writing another Celtic Gang story for the weekend. So be looking for it....it will be another one of my wacky thought up stories full of gouls, witches....and all the things that go bump into the night.

I thought I would share this picture with all of you again that I did long time ago. Kinda funky looking huh?? I remember when I did this picture. It was right around the same time I learned how to do the "Dead Spider" way of doing a split ring.....I use to make one side of my ring. Take the ring off my hand and flip it around and then do the other side. Between the two techniques....if you do the "Dead Spider" way...you have one side of the ring that is just a bit smaller than your other side. This smaller side is the second half of the split ring. But if you do the split ring the old way I use to make them...both sides look uniformed.



Speaking of "Spiders"....here is a Honiton Bobbinlace Spider that I just finished and took finally off my honiton pillow. He has been on there all year. I kinda got sick of doing the spider web which is all "ten stick". The spider itself didn't take me long to make. He was rather simple to make. I also added beads for eyes to my spider and I made him in black thread. You will note that the web has a bit of metallic thread working. The way I made this web and spider is not the traditional way of making Honiton Lace. I just decided to make the web and spider my own way. Since he is mine...I guess that is okay. The pattern for the spider came from "New Designs in Honiton Lace" by Pat Perrymean and Cynthia Voysey page 21.




Here are some tattings I have done. The first one is the X-mas Camel pattern designed by Dolly Hollander. I did one in the X-mas colors and one in non X-mas colors.















This rocking horse pattern is from Katie Critters I think the book is called. I didn't know what colors I should make it in ...so I made it in pinks and blues varigates.

I see the pinks kinda look like orangish peach...but believe me....they are pinks.













This rocking horse design belongs toBecky Dempsey. As you can see I made two of them. One in tatting size thread and the other in completely metallic sewing thread. Kinda cute huh??

Then for fun I did some shuttles of my Buddy Ol' Pal

Scooby Doo. These are kinda my Halloween pair. No the Scoobies are not hand painted....I cheated and used stickers. But I did make a pair of the Scoobies....and had fun making them too...now I am having fun using them.....

I know it has been awhile since I posted to my blog here...but hopefully I have made up for my lapses...by showing you something different to look at and read....I hope you are enjoying this blog. Hope to hear from some of you....

It is another day.....
This morning I have been painting. I promised someone that I would paint teapots on a couple of bobbins for her. I know I will be seeing her tomorrow...nothing like waiting till the last minute huh? I have them painted now and I am putting their coats of varnish on them. I am hoping that though we are in for some wet weather (slow moving cold front moving in our direction and Tammy visiting New York) it is suppose to rain for the next few days. Yeck!! Some rain is okay...but not three days of it. But October is usually a rainy month here in New York. The temperatures will be starting to dip...it is fall after all and winter will be setting in...though according to the calendar it isn't suppose to be till December...but New York doesn't care what the calendar says...So I have a feeling our nice weather is going to be going by bye. Anyhow...I hope the bobbins will dry okay.
I have a bit more painting I want to finish on a couple more shuttles this morning and then I will be getting Ms. Floozy out and do bobbinlace for the rest of the day. Tomorrow is the start for the FingerLakes Guild lace weekend. The day for the public is tomorrow, which because of having no money right now ( I have to be so careful) I will be there just for the public day and that is all. No classes this year...and probably no spending at the vendors either...that will be so depressing for I know I am going to want to buy at least one book....bobbins, thread ...supplies for my lacing making fun. I will just have to blindfold myself and get a seeing eye doggie. The dog won't care about the vendors....LOL I know I will be demonstrating some bobbinlace...so I think I need to get myself up to speed today. It will be really nice to work on Ms. Floozy today anyways. She always makes me think of the day I got her and how happy I was. That was a good thing. :) It is better to think about the fun I had that weekend than what is going on here now days...

OH MY,OH MY....I have posted to my blog two days in a row....LOL!! Don't worry...it won't become a habit.
Anyhow....I have spent the past couple of days painting tatting shuttles. And other things...that I don't want to discuss...LOL So I am going to put a picture of the three shuttles that I have just listed on ebay this evening. The dragons look kinda funny don't they. You should have seen my pencil drawing of the dragon I did before I started working on Dragonique. I am no artist. But anyhow...at least what I am doing is a positive thing to do...instead of putting Kleenex out of business for I got all their kleenexes all wet.
I aslo wrote the list tonight. I just wanted people to know that the shuttles are on ebay. I want tatters to see them and know they are there. I am just doing what I can at the moment to try and well...do something besides nothing. Here are the url for the ebay listings:
http://cgi.ebay.com/HAND-PAINTED-TATTING-SHUTTLE_W0QQitemZ8224126804QQcategoryZ19158QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/HAND-PAINTED-TATTING-SHUTTLE_W0QQitemZ8224128740QQcategoryZ19158QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/HAND-PAINTED-TATTING-SHUTTLE_W0QQitemZ8224129970QQcategoryZ19158QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I also mentioned on the list about this Scooby Doo Halloween Flag I saw at Wally World the other day in their Halloween stuff. You know with all the ghost and mysteries that Scooby and the Gang has solved over the years....he is perfect for a Halloween mascot. But I did want the Flag. Some of you don't know that Scooby Doo is my hero...he makes me laugh. Laughter is something I like doing. I do collect Scooby Doo things. I have a notebook with a zipper that has Scooby Doo on it. I call it my Scooby Doo Tatting Fun Book. That is where I put alot of my tatted treasures I have received from people and some tatting and lace I have done. Nobody has ever given me lace that they have made....so all the lace in my book is my own I have done over the years. I have to say I tat more that I bobbinlace. I don't know why really. I love doing both. Maybe it is because with tatting I feel comfortable enough with it that I feel like taking my wings and fly and try to design something in tatting...whereas in lace....I am still trying to fly from one branch to another sorta speak. Back to Scooby Doo here....I have Scooby toys that I think have come from mostly Burger King over the years and flee markets I have been to. I also have huge Scooby Doo house slippers. I wear them alot in the wintertime...but I have to be careful in walking in them....they are a bit awkward to walk around in. I also have Scooby Doo picture Frames. One of them sits by my computer right here...it has a picture of my best friend in the frame, my doggie Angel Eyes.
Speaking of Angel Eyes...I will share a story with you...it is kinda funny. Angel Eyes was a pure blooded Alaskan Malamute so she had her papers. We registered her....for we were thinking of breeding her...but that never happened. Anyhow...I was trying to think of a name...and then I thought of one of my favorite movies "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" with Client Eastwood. So I decided I would name my dog after the character that Client played which I thought was Angel Eyes. I think I must have had a senior moment for I have seen that movie many times. After we named our little puppy for she was little once....we saw the movie again. As we were watching the movie...it came to me...right between the brain cells...Oh....MY GOD....I named my puppy after one of the bad guys who I think was played by VanCleef (not sure of the spelling) ( I know it is wrong...but the brain cells are starting to go to sleep) Client's character was Blondie. Now truth to be told...I really don't think Blondie would have fit my dog. She wasn't blonde but had the wolf coloring instead. She was black, gray and white...with yellow eyes. She was always looking for loving and wanted to be with people though some people were intimadated by her...she was big and she would love you to bits....Yup...she was my doggie.
So I guess it is time for me to stick my nose in my book that I have been reading ...which I will be reading for along time...the book has almost a 1000 pages in it....

I have finally finished my dragon.
As you can see I have named him Dragonique. How is that for a name??
My intent with the dragon is trying to make him simple to do...HA!!! I might have a smiple mind....but for some reason my designs don't end up simple looking or to do. He isn't quite the way I wanted him to turn out....but he is done. I wanted my dragon to have a crystal in his clutches...so I used sequins and metallic silver thread to try and do this. How else can you do a crystal I ask you...if you have any suggestion...I would love to read them. Anyhow...let me know what you think of him. I would love to read your opinions....even on how I could have made him better. I have other ideas on doing some other dragons...but for the rest of today I will be painting shuttles. I need to be putting more on ebay. The strike for my husband isn't over...and I am being told that for now....there is no end in sight. This is so hard for me to deal with. It isn't just the income problem...there are other issues.
Anyhow...please enjoy the dragon....Dragonique. :)

Hi in Lacingland,
This morning we went on a wild goose chase to Geneva, N.Y. to see what we can do about getting some medical insurance. I guess I messed up on the date for our appointment. I guess it is next Tuesday...darn it ..... My husband is still on strike. I so much wish it would end. Everything is so messed up right now...the budget, getting our persrciptions without insurance ( and that is costly), my normal routine. I can't seem to get much done around here.
I have been working on designing another dragon. I worked on it a bit last night, working on the head of it. I am naming my dragon Sherbet. How is that for a wierd name?
The only good thing today is...I belong to a list that is for my favorite author. I have been counting down the days till...this one...her new book is out. Believe it or not...Canandaigua where I live is a city. But you wouldn't know it at times...we don't have a regular book store or music store here. So if you want the recent books or music you have to drive to Victor to the mall. So....I have asked my husband to please pick the book up for me. I know I shouldn't really have the book with things being so tight...but I have been waiting for today for quite some time. So instead of wasting gas to drive to the mall to get the book myself....I asked my husband to please pick it up for me either on his way to picket today or on his way home. So by tonight I should have the book since I called the bookstore this morning and they tell me they do have the book. The lady on the phone even knew what book I was interested in when I said..." My favorite author's new book is suppose to be out today." And she replied back to me, "You mean Diana Gabaldon?" And I said yes....and she told me they had the book.
Diana's book are always really thick...like between 800 to close to a 1000 pages long....so once I get the book tonight....I will be in a dilema...reading or working on my dragon. At the moment I am reading Patricia Cornwell's book "From Potter's Field". I am trying to finish it. Unlike tatting which I have this project going and that project going...I only like to read one book at a time...and I know I am not going to want to wait till I am finished with "From Potter's Field to be finished so I am reading feverishly right now. Is anybody else familar with Diana Gabaldon besides me who might be reading this post?
I might be quite for awhile ......don't worry...my brain cells will be firing......

IT HAS BEEN A WHILE, HASN"T IT?
The strike is still going. I wish it would end. Have been on the phone so much trying to get help for medical insurance, working with the mortgage company...and just a whole bunch of stuff. Sending this...faxing that...stuff. Sighing......
Anyhow to get on a more fun mood I thought I would share some of the tatting I have done of Jane Eborall's patterns I have tatted.
I have also been working on designing another dragon pattern. I have a few ideas swimming in my head for tatted dragons. I am trying very ....very hard not to make these dragon designs hard to diagram out and make. I have a tendency to make things that are too difficult for me to diagram out...you know like my "Kelly" the Celtic Dragon. I could never diagram that out in a million years. Actually most of my stuff I have designed have no patterns. I just do them. First I draw my idea or design out...and then I do whatever I have to to make the design come out the way it is on either paper or in my head. But I am not good at doing diagram and stuff on my computer even though I have the art programs to do the diagraming. But I am going to really try really hard to get these dragons diagramed out once I have the tatted designs finished.
On Sunday I went to my lace guild meeting. I am the prez of the Fingerlakes Lace Guild here in New York. On Columbus Weekend we will be having our annual Lace Day Event. This year we will be celebrating 25 years of the lace guild. We are planning on having silver and blue star balloons on our tables and each one of us at the banquet will get to take home a champange glass that has on it Ithaca Lace Guild 25 years and the date I believe in silver. I could be wrong with what the exact wording is on the glass...but that is a cool idea I think.
At the meeting we all sat around spangling our commemorative bobbins that we are selling durring the event. I have done the bobbins for the past two years for the guild and even though I need the money right now...I am kinda glad I don't have that responsiblities to paint over a 100 bobbins and get them all spangeld. That is a whole lot of work.
I have been reading books by Patricia Cornwell lately. I think I am book number 4 right now. But what I am really waiting for is for my favorite author to come out with her new book which is suppose to be at the end of this month. Her name is Diana Gabaldon. She has written "Outlander", "Dragonfly in Amber", "Voyager", "Drums of Autumn","The Fiery Cross". Her new book is suppose to be "A Breath of Snow and Ashes" which is suppose to be out on September 27th, 2005. All of Diana's books are sequeled to each other ...and they are all 900 pages long, which means it takes me a bit to get through one of her books. It has been said that this one will be the last one for this series. It is really too bad for I have gotten use to reading on Claire and Jamie's adventures.
In the first book there is a battle that took place on April 16th,1746. The battle was at Culloden Field in Scotland. It was kinda funny but when I was in Scotland I went to Culloden Field...and looked around the moor and read up some on the real history of the battle that took place there. I believe it was the last battle between the English and the Scots but...I may be wrong. Not too sure. But it was really cool I remembered for I had by that time read about the battle in Diana's first book which was "Outlander". So I am waiting for the next installment to come out.
I do enjoy reading as well as doing alot of other things...especially books about history, which I have to admit Patricia Cornwell's books are not about history but about murder, and forensic stuff which I find interesting. I do like the show on TV called CSI so I guess that is why I have been enjoying Patricia's books.
This has gotten a wee bit long hasn't it.....? I guess I better say good nite .....till the next time I get the keyboard in front of me and my fingers are flying over the keys again......keep tatting, remember someone loves you....and that you are special.....

My husband is still on strike...so things have not changed here. I will continue to put some shuttles on ebay to sell that I have painted.
I think for this post I will let you see some of the bobbinlace that I have done in the past. At the moment I have a Honiton spider and web going, a bucks point edge going, a bedfordshire edge going and a torchon edge going. I really need to get my spider and web done...it is really redicuous how long that project has been on my pillow. I have this really cool Viking Ship pattern that is also Honiton lace that I want to get started on.
I happen to like things with Vikings...back in my knitting days I had this pattern and still have of a black and white Viking Ship sweater pattern. I would still like to do that someday.
I hope you enjoy the pictures.
I had fun making the angels which...I love angels btw. I made the car as a Christmas gift for a friend.

Next time I post I will share a picture of a bobbinlace Santa Claus that I made.

Erin, I think I may be able to top wierd....okay I can't....but what I can....is share the very FIRST picture of my new grandson to be taken... Chrystal jokes and calls him....their alien baby....You know what I mean....they look so funny at first....LOL But here he is....no name yet....but I did vote for Cameron and got shot down....Oh well....So here he is....
His head is to the left...he looks like he is looking up doesn't he...But he weighs 15 oz they figured. Dad was a ten pound baby when he was born and he is over 6feet tall now...so everybody is figuring it is going to be a big baby. I just hope this time there won't be any complications during the birth as when Timmy Guy was born. His lung collasped from the trauma of coming down the birth canal. When all was over and Tinmy Guy had to go to big hospital to go to a neonatal ward right after he was born. Chrystal was told if she had another baby that big that she would have to have a C-section. Timmy Guy weighed 8 pounds when he was born....so I will worry as time gets closer to popping my grandson out. Chrystal is due on Jan. 15th, 2006. Just think....I will get to hold him in five months or less.

Welllll.....IT IS A BOY!!!!!! My daughter called me this afternoon after she had her ultrasound. But....She teased me just awful...And wouldn't tell me what the baby was...Stated " I am not going to tell you till Dad gets home". So Chrystal came over tonight...And Timmy Guy blurted out...."I am going to have a baby brother." Now if I was thinking with a full deck...I should have just called Timmy Guy on the phone and I wouldn't have had to wait to find out what my second grandchild was going to be.
Chrystal also mention a funny point that happened while getting the ultrasound. Gary her fiance' was there with her as well as Timmy Guy. The technician said." That is not the umblical cord"...LOL and what did Gary say...."That is my boy". So everybody is happy. Somewhere between now and Jan 15th, I need to get something either knitted or tatted or crocheted or something for my new grandchild. So that is a bit of happy news.
This evening it is just a pouring outside. Katrina has reached New York and there is flood warnings up here for tonight and tomorrow. I went to visit my sister in-law this evening and it was hard to see the road with all the rain that was coming down. Of course it doesn't help me when I have a bit of night blindness going on too.
Lately...I haven't had much time to tat anything or do bobbinlace. Have too much else to do right now. But I have old pictures .....so maybe tomorrow I will drag something out of my CD archives to share with you all.
I continue to pray for those that have been the most effected by Katrina.

I haven't been feeling very well for the past couple of days, which means I haven't been eating too much. Here in New York we had a massive intestinal infection going around with over a couple thousand people being effected from a waterspray park in Geneva which is about 17 miles from me. My grandson Timmy Guy was one of them. He went to the waterpark on the last day of summer school and contracted the infection. He had it for over a week. He is eight years old. I know Timmy Guy tried very hard to make it to the bathroom when the slightest urge came over him...but it was like water and he couldn't seem to make it to the bathroom in time. I should note here, that I watch Timmy Guy everyday that his mother works. Anyhow....there were underwear...and there were underwear that I kept hand washing and then I would take them outside and hang them on the clothesline. I will also tell you since I am a nurse ...I know all about handwashing...which I did and I did...but I think I got his bug. Since...I don't like doing the bathroom scene myself, I haven't been eating. Besides that...I keep getting these crampy pinching twinges....so I don't even feel like eating. So I have been sick.
My husband continues to be on strike....I wish that would end. Today, though I didn't feel well, I spent a bunch of time filling out forms to send to our bank that holds our mortgage. They want to know everything and anything...I am surprised they didn't ask me what my favorite color was...it would have been easier to answer than some of the questions they asked. I also spent time composing a letter to send with the forms along with the message that was given to all the employees from the Union. So now we wait to hear back from them. Nothing is ever easy, is it??
Since I knew approximately what time the hurricane Katrina was expected to make landfall I was up early this morning in from of my TV watching CNN. I spent most of the day laying on the couch watching it. This evening I also spent some time on http://CNN.com and read Miles O'Brien's blog which I found interesting to read and personal. He also has a sense of wit.
After my husband went to bed this evening I was back in front of the TV watching CNN again. I am seeing pictures of huge, massive amounts of flooding from the storm. I am also listening to the dire casualities they feel there is from all of this. People trapped in the attics of their houses from the flooding with no where else to go. People yelling from inside their attics....people they couldn't get to because it was then dark out and too dangerous for the boats to be in the flooded water to maneuver safely over down power lines ( some still being hot), leaking natural gas lines...and to dark to see. Those people will have to left in their houses , in their attics, or on the roof tops till tomorrow. The fear is there will be many people who have died or will die from this hurricane. It just breaks my heart...I wish there was some way I could help. I keep thinking...if I was single and responsible for only me in this world...there is alot that I would do to help others in need. I felt the same way on September 11th. If only I was single, how much more I could do to help people. Maybe I am crazy for feeling this way.
Anyhow...tonight before I go to bed I will be praying for those that are in need that were effected by the hurricane....though it is a pretty name I think..."Katrina"...I also think she was a monster and it reminds me that there are people that are worse off than me this evening, or even days to come. I pray for them.

My husband is still on strike from his job. What a nightmare this all is for me.
So to help out around here and try to generate a bit of income here I have painted some tatting shuttles and put them on ebay. I am hoping someone likes my painting. Here is a picture of the shuttles that I painted that are on ebay.


The urls. for the ebay shuttles are:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8214160462&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Fsofocus%3Dbs%26sbrftog%3D1%26ftid%3D2%26fcd%3D1%26from%3DR10%26fcl%3D3%26satitle%3D8214160462%26sacat%3D-1%2526catref%253DC6%26bs%3DSearch%26sargn%3D-1%2526saslc%253D2%26sadis%3D200%26fpos%3DZIP%252FPostal%26ftrt%3D1%26ftrv%3D1%26saprclo%3D%26saprchi%3D%26fsop%3D1%2526fsoo%253D1%26coaction%3Dcompare%26copagenum%3D1%26coentrypage%3Dsearch%26fgtp%3D%26fvi%3D1
Don't know why that one is so very long....
the next:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8214557755
the next:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8214381307
the next:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8214320625
I have also put a bunch of tatting shuttles on ebay. That url is:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8214095224&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Fsofocus%3Dbs%26sbrftog%3D1%26ftid%3D2%26fcd%3D1%26from%3DR10%26fcl%3D3%26satitle%3D8214095224%26sacat%3D-1%2526catref%253DC6%26bs%3DSearch%26sargn%3D-1%2526saslc%253D2%26sadis%3D200%26fpos%3DZIP%252FPostal%26ftrt%3D1%26ftrv%3D1%26saprclo%3D%26saprchi%3D%26fsop%3D1%2526fsoo%253D1%26coaction%3Dcompare%26copagenum%3D1%26coentrypage%3Dsearch%26fgtp%3D%26fvi%3D1
hmmm...another long one.
I haven't been doing much tatting lately ...except in proofing some edging patterns. I did do a bit of Buck's Point lace making at my guild meeting on Sunday on Ms. Floozy pillow.
I might this weekend work on tatting up a motif pattern that I am suppose to be proofing.
So this is what I have been up to...alot of worring...and painting....that painting is tedious work....racks havic on my neck and my back sitting in one position for so long. I hope something becomes of my work.

Hello everybody,
I have been kinda quiet lately, I know.
Things are not going too well here with my husband being on strike. I was informed the other evening that we will have just $200.00 dollars to live on until my husband can start getting unemployment...and that there is a waiting period for that of seven weeks before we will get the first check. Things are just going to get terrible around here. I have had to call the mortgage company to see what we can do about our house payments. They will be sending us some information for that. Last week my husband no longer has life insurance and as of the 20th we will no longer have medical insurance. I just hope nobody gets sick or has an accident around here. We have gotten our medication called in that we could get so we will have those for a bit. And then there are all the other bills that will be coming in here....do we need food??.....not to say my usual routine is messed up also. At least it isn't wintertime, so no fuel bills to worry about.
This coming weekend we had plans to go to this huge antique festival here in New York. That of course is no more in our plans. Also...in October I ususally go to my lace guild weekend event. That has also been off our plans. I don't even think I will be attending the public day and the banquet this year.
I had been waiting to renew my IOLI membership and my Lace in the UK membership. Now they just won't be renewed. I guess things like food is more important. I have to say I am sure going to miss my lace magazines. When I get them in the mail they are like X-mas. I do not subscribe to any other publications. I just loved my lace magazines. I am trying very hard not too get too depressed...but it is going to get harder and harder as time goes.
Anyhow...on Monday there was a care package for me from my friend Ms. Erin Holloway. She decorated some shuttles for me and sent them to me.

Erin is such a fun person!!
Anyway...also in the box was this M&M container that she decorated for me. It is a real beauty. I just love it. In my earlier post you can see the M&M container that I made for her. She also included some other goodies in the package. This was very uplifting to me. I thank you very much Erin for your thoughtfulness.
Also this weekend I have been proofing an edging pattern that found its way into my email box. That has now been proofed. I can't tell you anything more about it except ....you tatters are going to love it....I can see other things being made using this edging pattern. Like for instance....Do you guys remember the wild sweater Mrs. Weasley wore in the second Harry Potter Movie....I can see a tatted top made with this edging that would look something like that same sweater but instead of it being knitted it would be tatted....I have been thinking along these lines as I continued to work on the edging. It would look so cool...if I have some more Manuela thread size 20 I just might give it a real go too. It would be so cool looking....
One of the things I love to do is to paint...either bobbins or decorate shuttles. I really do like the Susan Bates white Aerowannabe shuttles. I find I like then right after my English made aero shuttles that I have. If any of you want to send me any of these white shuttles my way...I would be thrilled to have them. They would give me something else to do around here besides thinking how bad things are going to get around here. If you can get me any of these shuttles from your local Hobby Lobby or other craft store ( they don't sell the white aerowannabe shutttles near me anywhere) and would like to donate them to me please send me an email celticdreamweave@yahoo.com
I don't have any money to pay you for them...but they would help my frame of mind. And that is keeping me busy through this nightmare of a time.
Lastly...here are some pictures of the M&M container that Erin did for me. I must say you can not see the way this containter sparkles....like there will be no tomorrows. Camera's will never get as good as what the eyes can see for themselves. The container is so very pretty!! All paisley looking and colorful. To see the shuttles she did for me you can check out her very own blog. The url for that is:http://thebuhlawg.blogspot.com/ enjoy!!! Take a look at her cool hat. It is a scream!!! If I had a hat like that I would be wearing it too...what fun!!!

Things are NOT going to be fun around here for sometime.
My husband came home finally after 7:00 pm this evening. The news was not good. His company is now on strike. This is an Unfair Labor Strike....which means the employees are protected by the Federal government. My husband's company was already found guilty of unfair labor practices...so....
This means...really tightening everything. My husband told me that this could go on for at least 8 weeks.
Anyhow...I am very upset by the news.
Anyhow...I guess this is all I will write for today....

Hi and good evening....
Just a few things I wanted to share with you.
Do you really like my characters shown here on my blog?? Do you love my logo? Pretty isn't it...and so me. I just bet cha if you got a hold of Mark and nogotiate with him as far as payment goes...I bet he could do some artwork for you too that is special to you. I have a few of Mark's artworks....and I have them loaded on my webshots program on my computer ....and when Micheangelique ( my computer) is kinda sleeping because I am busy and ignoring her...Mark's artwork and my family pictures I have rotate on my computer for wall paper. I know the artwork...makes for interesting veiwing. To be honest sometimes I don't know what to do on my computer and just sit and stare at the screen. It is a good thing there is something there besides....a blue plain ordinary screen. Anyhow...if you are interested in obtaining some artwork that is generated on a computer ...give Mark an email...I bet he would love to create something for you. I know he can be had...LOL. His email address is incase you are interested...
tatman@tat-man.net.
The other thing that will be going on for me tomorrow...which it is almost tomorrow now..it is really late here...my husband will not be actually going to work but to the Union Hall with a meeting with the company tomorrow that my husband works for. I have heard alot of talk from my husband about the union and the company stuff. I don't really understand it all since the only time I worked somewhere where there was a union at all was the VA Hospital that I use to work at many years ago when I was an LPN. But I don't remember any contact stuff from then going on. Anyhow....for over a year now my husband and fellow employees have been working without a contract. The company's goal is to get rid of the union and at the moment they are not recognizing the union my husband and other belong in. The company has already lost charges for unfair contract talks with the Labor Board here in New York. I know the company had planned to appeal the verdit. So alot will be riding on what happens tomorrow and my husband's future. I hope something comes out of the meeting and the company my husband works for are coming to the meeting with the real intention of getting a contract to the people and the union that everybody can be happy with. I know...this isn't tatting or lacing....but that is what will be on my mind tomorrow. For my husband could be on strike starting tomorrow and that will not be good news at all. So I am hoping for a good outcome.
The other thing that I will be thinking about...for I have to think positive here...is in October my laceguild ( The Fingerlakes Lace Guild) will be having our annual lacing weekend. I have had the registration forms for abit now. I have them filled out but have been waiting before sending them in. Money is really tight this year...and to be honest...if it was for the fact that I am the president of the lace guild....I would forgo going this year. I know I need to get it in the mail in the next couple of days to ensure hopefully getting into the lace class I am interested in taking. But I feel I can't send it in right now with everything up in the air sorta speak. But anyways here is the run down of the list of available class for Columbus weekend Lacing event.

Dentelle Polychrome de Courseulles, Claudette Bouvot
Thomas Lester Bedfordshire, Holly Van Sciver
Binche Lace, Anny Noben-Slegers
Carrickmacross, Mary Shields
Withof, Begining adn Continuous, Susie Johnson
Guipure and Modern Lace, Jos'ee Poupart
Milanese Lace Jewerly, Radmila Zuman

Usually if I go...which I have for the past 6 or 7 years now...I go for the whole weekend and Monday. This year if I go I don't think I am going to include the Monday class...this way I will only be spending the night at the hotel one night instead of two. The Monday class is usually a continuation of the weekend class you were talking. I have been thinking of the Milanese Lace Jewerly with Radmila...whom I have met numerous times. I have never taken a class from her...but Milanese Lace Jewerly intriques me somehow. But there are alot of ifs right now...but if everything goes alright that is the class I am planning on taking.
I also love Carrickmacross Lace and have taken a class with Mary Shields before. As a matter of fact....she had seen some of the bobbins I painted when I was in her class. I had brought my pillow with bobbinlace on it in progress. She really liked the bobbins. She told me she would design a Carrickmacross pattern just for me if I painted some bobbins for her. Well...I did that. Mary is from Ireland and lives there. The year I took the needle lace class with her on Carrickmacross was right after the 9/11 happened. That was September as you all know and she was on a planed across the big pond to here the following month. I remember the other teachers we had that year were very nervous about flying which is most understandable. Anyhow...Mary designed this Carrickmacross fan that has the letter "S" in the middle of it with shamrocks going around. She also included fan sticks of mother of pearl , the net, the organdie and the butter paper to make the fan which is then suppose to be turned into a fan pin. I have yet to make this fan...and have been thinking I better do it before I see Mary...for I am sure she will be asking me how I did on the fan...and I would love to be able to show her the finished fan. I wouldn't mind taking another one of her classes. She is really very nice.


Mary also knows my friend Ann Keller of Ireland too. Her website url for Ann is: http://annmargaretkeller.com/ She paints shuttles and bobbins. She has also done books on Bobbinlace. I have just about all of her books. I also have done all the lace samples shown in her "Celtic Bobbinlace for Beginners" I was also apart of a group of lacers that were commissioned to make Bobbinlace for stage dancing costumes that I sent the finished lace that I made here to Ireland. I did this for a few years. Here are a couple pictures that shows you the shuttles that Ann has painted for me.


I also have some bobbins for bobbinlace that she has painted for me...but at the moment...they are on all my different pillows and part of a lacing project of some sort. Anyhow of those I have swans, a castle/Merlin pair, I have Irish dancers, I have all kinds she has done for me including a special bobbin she did just for me at my request. This was shortly after I returned home from Ireland. One of the things I remember well seeing in Dublin was the Georgian Doorways...and the Shamrock Streetlight poles. Those poles were so neat....and beautiful ...so I had asked Ann if she could paint me that Georgian Doorway and the Streetlight scene on a bobbin....this she did for me and sent it to me as a Christmas gift. It was one of her bobbins where you turn the bottom of the bobbin and a scene appears inside. I think they are called secret bobbins or something like that. Anyhow....once you turned the bottom of the bobbin my door of my Georgian Doorway opened and inside was a painted Christmas tree. Sometime I will take the bobbin off my pillow and get a picture of it to show you...opened and closed. It really is cool. The street light pole is also painted on the bobbin. She really liked my idea and thought about maybe using it on some other bobbins. I don't know if she did that or not...she asked me if I minded taking my idea and doing it on bobbins...I of coarse told her I didn't mind.
I guess this is enough writing for tonight. My son is now home from visiting his friends and wants the Hal computer ....and it is now time for me to hit the sack....I already tried to go to sleep once tonight...but with so much on my mind I got back up and found myself writing here again. I hope I made this post a bit interesting at least to someone.

Ahhhhh.....are my Lacing Family cute???? :) Mark Myers did the artwork for me and put this on my blogger site. Mark is so very creative with his artwork as I am sure most of you in Lacingland know. If it wasn't for Mark...my blogger would look pretty sad and boring. Now I have characters that I can have some fun with when I write more of my wacky stories....when I am dreaming of another land.....far...far away from here.
Anyhow...there is some stories that I will share with you on how my characters got the names they have. Frist of all....Mrs. Pink Shuttle and Mr. Green Shuttle are truly shuttles that I have in my collection. Puff is from the story "Puff the Magic Dragon" you know...the one that lives by the sea....Anyhow...the reason my tatting bag got this name is because the tatting bag that I use the most is one that I got from Debbie Arnold in Dever, Co. A few years ago I met Debbie at the Palmetto's tatting event. She had tons of tatting bags...and I mean tons...all kinds of colors and prints. I was looking to see if she had any with dragons on them...nope she didn't. I then inquired if she had any....nope. After she got home she found out her sister Sherry had some dragon material and sent me a scan of it....I told her it was perfect and to please make me a bag out of the material. You see...the dragons were purple...and the print that surrounded the dragons was so me....I was in love ....so the bag was ordered. She even through in a shuttle pocket for me out of the same material. Someday I will tat an edging up and go around the shuttle pocket...but first I am waiting for the special edging pattern to land in my mailbox...hint to someone who might be reading this....
Then there is Ms. Floozy my bobbinlace pillow. Mark made the pillow for me which he started a couple years ago but managed to finish it up before last year's Palmetto Tatting Event. He gave me the pillow then to take home on the plane.
Anyhow...Mark was closed mouth about what my pillow looked like. I believe there was some major teasing that went along with the fun of teasing my curiosity. All he would tell me was, it was covered in black and purple material. Now I know I am really wierd...but when I heard those colors I immediately thought of a saloon girl in the west. That is how I came up with the name Ms. Floozy.
So that is the story behind my character's names that I use in my stories that I write from time to time...which I know....I need to get going again on the story....for everything was left at a peak in the story the last I wrote.
I have been very busy here lately...hence I haven't been on the computer too awfully much. But today I finished a doily that I have been working on. The pattern came from an old tatting booklet that I own. It is "Tatting" by Penelope booklet number 4. The doily was made in peach color manuela thread size 20...that size 20 thread seemed like rope...but at least I hope for many years...it will withstand many washings. The doily isn't blocked...I just ironed it. For now that it is finished...I am going to use it on a table in my livingroom. I use my tatting instead of having it all in a drawer. The little motifs that you see next to my doily are a begining of another project that I have been working on.....projects and more projects ...oh my....projects and more projects...oh my....repeat this to yourself to the same music that is in "The Wizard of Oz" Lions, tigers and bears...oh my...lions, tigers and bears...oh my....and I will now leave you with that tune going through your head....LOL

Well....Hello everybody!!!
I don't think I mentioned yesterday but...I finished the new Harry Potter book. It was a good book with some surprises in it. I can kinda see where the next book will be going.
Today is another scorcher...but....that is okay...I will be going to the lake again. I tell you I am just loving this heat. I have been in the lake and my daughter's swimming pool alot this year.
Yesterday we got warnings for a severe Tstorms...but it must have been on the opposite side of the lake. All we got was some distant boomers. So it is has been awhile since we have gotten any rain, but I don't think my flowers are suffering too much...just a bit wilted is all.
Besides going to the lake today...I will be working on this doily that I started about a month ago. I am making it in peach color Manuela thread size 20. Peach isn't exactly my color...but it may find a home in my livingroom. My couch has a bit of peach in the coloring. The couch has a Native American look to the print of the material which is okay...I have Indian stuff in my livingroom along with different animal heads that are on my walls. It kinda blends in all together. I really do need to see about selling a bunch of stuff though...there is way too much junk here that I don't want or care about anymore. Besides...we sure could use the money for the bills that keep coming in here like clockwork.
Anyhow...when the doily is done I will get a picture of it and share it on here. The pattern is from booklet 4 by Penelope which is an old booklet.
Have fun tatting, lacing...and take time to smell the roses and look at the beauty that surrounds you.

Another hot day.....but....
I am loving it. At the moment I am all hot and yecky...but not for long. I am going to go down to the lake and literally jump right in.....and cool off.
I thought I would share some different kind of pictures with you today. I was in the UK and Ireland about 6 years ago. It was a dream of my life when I went over there. I wanted to go to the place my ancestors came from. I was over there for a month. We went on a tour that started in London, then up the right side of the isle to Scotland eventually, across the locks (lakes) and then down into Wales and then we went on a huge ferry. I didn't realize the ferries were so big. There were restaruants, and there was even a band playing, a theater, stores...but where I was most of the time was to the back of the ferry watching and waiting for Ireland to come into view. Which it did.
Now take a look at all the curving that is on these colums and the arches. I took alot of pictures of different curvings that were on the buildings, castles and everywhere. My mouth continously dropped open at the sheer beauty of the buildings over there....don't see much like this in New York.

Now take a look at that sunset. Isn't that just beautiful??? Sigh...Anyhow...this was June 6th. I remember the weather that night was beautiful. We went on a cruise up the Thames River and under Tower Bridge. It isn't a really good picture of the bridge but it is of the sunset. I have other pictures that I took of tower bridge...but you don't see the colors of the sunset so well in those pictures.




Now here is my kind of guy. My Knight in

Shining Armor. Here is another sigh....well...it is
close as I am ever going to get to one. Too bad I
couldn't take him home with me. He was standing
in the hotel lobby of one of the hotels were were
staying in.
I have tons of pictures that I took over there. I came home with over 15 rolls of film. Believe me when I say....it cost me a small fortune to get them all developed...but it was one of the first things I did after I got home from my trip after I went to visit my mother and made sure she was okay. She was in the hospital just before I left to go overseas. But things at that time worked out just fine.

Hmmmm
for some reason....when you put the curser over the fan picture it doesn't go big after you click on it....I don't know why...so I am going to put it there again...and see if it will work them....computers.....poohey...who needs them anyways.....LOL

Today is a really slow day......so.....
I thought I would put a picture of my fan on my blogger that I designed and took with me to Palmetto's. I couldn't enter it....dummy me didn't pay attention to when you had to have your entry in by...so I missed it....but after seeing the other fans ...it is just as well for I could't compete wtih all the beautiful fans that I saw there.
Anyhow...it is my Celtic Design fan. At the top you will note the two Zoomorphics. One being a cat...( that is one really big pussy cat) and a dragon. Down below is three trinity celtic knotwork. There is no begining and no end in the trinity knot btw. I wanted my fan to look floral so ....there is lots of flowers in lots of colors. I used tatting thread, and quilting thread to make up the elements of the fan. For the ground I used the migonette stitch and the thread used for this was black sewing machine thread that had metallic blended in it.
For the fan sticks. I used el cheapo fans. I took all the fans apart and just used the two end blades and made up a new fan with these. I painted the fan sticks black and added some silver and gold paint here and there so the fan stick blades would hopefully blend in with the fan iself.
It took me months to make the fan. First drawing it out the way I wanted it to look. Then sizing the design so it would fit my fan sticks and then ....just tatting it.
There is no pattern for the fan. Not sure if there ever will be. Someday...I will design a dragon that can actually be patterned out. I so love dragons and wish there were more dragon patterns out there for me to tat so I wouldn't have to keep designing them so I can tat them.
If anybody knows of a dragon pattern out there please send me an email and let me know where it is....

In the meanwhile...enjoy the picture. One last note here....the other favorite thing that I really like is knights....someday....as soon as I figure out how to do one...I am going to tat "A Knight in Shining Armor" hey...that sounds like a title to one of my favorite books by Jude Deveraux. Anyhow...if I in reality can't have a real live knight....then I will tat one. But you should see my dressers in my bedroom. I have knights all over the place....I wish I had real magical powers so I could bring one to life just for a short while....

Good Morning in Lacingland!!!!!!!
One of the things I will be doing today is a bit of research on the internet. This means I will be doing some internet surfing which I don't do a whole lot of. What am I looking for...well plaids. My great grandparents came from County Antrim in Ireland. I have documentation of that. My great grandfather's name was Little. And my great Grandmother's maiden name was O'Neil. So I am going to see if I can find the plaid for both of their names. Maybe I won't have any sucess...but I am going to try anyways. After I get their plaids .I am going to print it off and then try to paint their plaids on a shuttle. One side for the O'Neil plaid and one side for the Little...over this plaid I am then going to paint shamrocks. This could end up being a fiddily project...and who knows it could end up going nowhere....but I think it might be interesting just the same.
I thought I would share a couple more pictures with you.
In this picture is a necklace that I made with black wire, some really el cheapo medallions and a bit of cheap chains. I kinda like the necklace.







In the next picture is my Bryony Flower that I did for a Hector class earlier this year. Trying to make those picots was fun. I actually used a picot gauge which to be honest I hardly ever use. I usually just eye ball them for size.











In this next picture is a name tag that I made for myself. Believe it or not...this name tag started off being a cut wooden watering can shape that I bought at Michael's. When I saw the watering can I thought to myself...gee...I wonder if I drew a shape of a shuttle could I get my husband to cut it for me and then add a whole bunch of evenly spaced holes all the way around the outside edge so I could attach my tatted edge. This is the finished name tag.
I think tomorrow I will throw some bobbinlace pictures on here....just for something different. I think alot of you know that I also do that....though I have to say that lately I haven't been doing much of that...but it seems in the winter I do more bobbinlace and to be honest I don't know why.

Doesn't my blog look familar?? I have Mark to thank for doing this for me. I am a cripple person when it comes to things like HTMLing. Maybe someday I will do something about it...you know get wiser...learn something...but right now...I don't have funds to go back to school. As it is my son will be starting college this fall. That is all the schooling we can handle right now...though to be honest...he has done really well as far as taking responsiblity for himself. He works and has paid alot for his fall semester himself. I am so very proud of him. He wants to take computer science. So maybe down the road he can teach his mother something about computers. Ha!
But getting back to the appearance of my blog...it is so me. I love the fact that my blog looks like my website. I asked Mark if he could put my logo on my blog and lo and behold he also put my background from my website for the background for my blog. So thank you very much Mark for helping me. :)) big smile.
What have I been doing at night...well...to be honest...not much tatting or bobbinlacing. I have been ...I don't know...here, there and everywhere. I can't seem to land on doing one thing at night lately ...though truth to be told...I am usually up late every night and up early every morning...usually at 6am I am having my first cup of coffee for the day and trying to clear the cobwebs out of my head....I know...sometimes I am so wacky and silly that maybe a few of the cobwebs are still there and don't get emptied out. But taking a broom to the inside of my head I think would hurt a great deal....don't you think so??
One of the things I have been trying to do at night is save some time to read my book that I have been reading since I stood in line at our huge Wegman's Food chain store after mightnight...waiting to get my copy of .....you guessed....( gee you are so smart) yup...my Harry Potter book. I have now 200 pages to go and I will be finished with it. Right now I have to admit....that I have lots of questions that I want answered. Since there are only 200 pages left now out of over 600 page book...I know the story is going to go really fast. I am enjoying reading this book like I did his other books. They are fun and wacky like me....LOL
Till the next time I find this blog....look before you sit....make sure there are no pointy shuttles or needles in your chair for they sure can do damage to one's derrie're.LOL

Well....yesterday I spent the whole day making Rita's Fan from Palmetto's Tat Day event. I thought I could get it done just like that....but mistakes were made and starting over was also done a few times in making the top edging to the fan. The thread used for the top of the fan is white silk thread. The bottom part of the fan was made with Oren Bayan metallic thread. You can get both the thread and maybe the fan skeleton from Rita if you would like to make a fan like mine. Her email address is:
threads@execulink.com
I did do the fan differently than the instructions originally called for. For one instead of making the top of the fan in separate elements or motifs...I connected them together using the side picots and on the ends of the top of the fan are also connected together. So it ended up being a continous edging on top of the fan. Anyhow...it was on my list to make...so I can now scratch off one "to do" off my very long list.
I thought I would share some pictures of some shuttles that I have decorated too...so enjoy the pictures. As usual...I would love to hear from my lacing friends. Note the one with the pansies...those are real pansies.