During the Hector weekend event....Mark, Erin and I were a tatting but when we got to my house....it was time to get the bobbins and pillows out for bobbinlace. We decided to make a hummingbird in Milanese Lace from a DVD that I had gotten and was finding it hard to find the time to make the bird...though...I love Milanese and the way it looks with all those scrolls, and flowing braids, besides that...I love hummingbirds...enjoy watching them at the feeders every year. But lo...and behold...I made a mistake right in the begining...so I took my bobbins off and decided I would start it over after my company left...and I did and finished it today. Here is a picture of it.

Now I will add more Hector pictures for all of you to look at....

I believe this is Tanya Welsh's display. Tatting friends just having plain fun!!!! :))

I hope you all enjoy looking that hats that people made for the hat contest. Till....keep tatting and keep smiling.....

Do you hear that??
Those are sleighbells,
that means the holidays are here.
I love this time of year because....

I am Mark the moose
I am on the loose spreading Christmas cheer.
I wish you peace and happiness throughout the coming year.
I love to skate and decorate,
with Christmas lights a glow.

I am Mark the moose.
the very merriest moose you will
EVER know!!!!!
Repeat.....

I am now even entertaining Peyton with this stuffed animal...he looks at it and thinks I have lost my very mind......but it is fun!!!

Now for some pictures. The first pictures I will share are the tatting bag that Mark made and was a sample for his hairpin lace class that he taught.





















In the next pictures I will show you the thistle flower that I made from Rita Cochrane's class and the flower from Mark's class. In the one picture I made the flower using King Tut's quilting thread. In the other picture of the flower in off white I used Gutterman's cotton thread. The Gutterman thread is a stiffer thread and though I followed Mark's pattern...it looks different.
















Now for some other pictures that I took at the event.














Ginny Weathers from Auburn,NY and Rita Some of the students I had in my dragon class.
Cochrane from Canada



























Georgia Seitz
And what is Mr. Tatman doing in a tatting
event...bobbinlace....Shame on you Tatman.
LOL!!

Both sides of a tatting FANNY bag that Mark made and wore with suspenders out of a pair of jeans...Too FUNNY MARK!!!

This is it for today. On another day I will share more pictures of some of the hats were made and entered in a hat competition which I didn't enter...no time to work on a hat.

I hope you have enjoyed the pictures that I took and shared with you all. I had such a blast over the weekend...it was like my last horrah....sorry to say.

My how time flies...it has already been a week since my fun began. A week ago today I was a butterfly at this time. I sat and read my grusome book by Patricia Cornwell and then I would put the book down and go and do something...then I sat back down...read a couple more paragraphs and then I was back up again. I was nervous and excited at the same time...now can you be nervous and excited at the same time...well...the butterflies in my stomach thought so.
The excitement was...I knew Mark Myers and Erin Hollaway was coming to stay with me for the weekend. I was also excited for the Hector Tatting event was on the immediate horizon...the nervousness...driving to the airport to get my two guests. I hate driving in Rochester which is a big city. It intimadates me...and I was nervous for I knew I was teaching this year in Hector.
But eventually the time came to get in my daughter's car...which also made me nervous for I borrowed her car for the weekend since my son had responsiblities and needed my car. Anyhow...off to the airport I went early...I wanted to make sure I had plenty of time incase I missed an exit or something...plus I just couldn't sit here and figet anymore.
Got to the airport fine...and tried to read that same grusome book. Patricia Cornwell books remind me alot of CSI and I really like that show...anyhow...I couldn't really concentrate I was so excited. The first guest that was suppose to fly in was Mark...but his flight came in and there was NO Mark....hmmm...He has done it to me again...same thing happened to me last time he came....not on the flight he was suppose to be on. But in all fairness...it wasn't Mark's fault....It is O'Hara Airport's fault and the weather in the windy city. Anyhow....I didn't have time to keep wondering where Mark was for I had to get to the otherside of the airport to get my other guest which was Erin...God LOVE her soul...for she was where she was suppose to be. I think my first words to Erin was....I don't know where Mark is...he didn't get off his flight....and anxiety was by now already set in...Where is the man....
Anyhow...I had my husband cell phone with me....did I think to turn the phone on...no...so here I was...with a phone that I had no clue how to really use since it is my husband's phone I never use it...except for maybe three times the whole time he has had the phone. Erin helped me in figuring out how to get the voice messages since there were two on the phone...but guess what...I didn't have the password to retrieve the messages....so...Erin and I went out to my car to take care of her luggage and I called Kim. Come to find out because of the bad weather in Chicago...the planes were delayed and Mark would be coming in on a later plane. Mark was suppose to be at the airport just after 4pm...but when I asked what flight he was to be on from the United desk I was informed he would be coming in after 7pm. So Erin and I had some time to kill. We sat and had coffee. It was so great to see Erin. I love that girl. She is so funny!!
Anyhow....Mark did come in...I think his first words were something like..."It wasn't my fault".
So finally we got in the car and drove to my house and the party began. My husband I shipped off to Canada with my son to the gambling cacino. So the house was in party mode. I had a good time. Mark was winding bobbins to start the hummingbird Milanese lace and Erin was trying to figure out a braid in her heart Milanese. I was also winding bobbins...which I should have had already wound....could have done that instead of figeting in the morning.
We were up late into the night...who needs sleep when you are having fun I ask you.
But it was a party all weekend until Sunday....my husband surprised me by coming home early...and I was coming down with a wicked cold that I caught from my son Ryan...I am still sick with that cold and makes me feel like doing nothing.
It was great to see the other tatters in Hector. I taught my class which I know was alot of information for people to take in...and I didn't have any real good diagrams...hey....we all can't be Mark.....The Rock Star...which is a name that Erin and I started calling him. LOL!
There was plenty of food...and the stuff to buy....I was a pretty good girl and didn't go overboard with the buying. I really don't need alot of stuff.
But one thing I have to tell you about was the "Mark the Moose" which is a stuffed moose on ice skates that sings...I am Mark the Moose I have come to bring Christmas cheer...I don't know all the words right now. My daughter Michelle gave it to me for Christmas one year....but instead of just sharing the fun stuff toy...I decided to share it with the other tatters in Hector...so he was smuggled out of the house and went to Hector with us on Sunday....He was played for the benefit of the other tatters....I just thought he had to be shared.
I also made an announcement on Sunday. The spring issue of the IOLI Bullentin which is a lace bullentin futured my Celtic Fan on the cover. I just happened to have a cover copy that Debra Jenny was so nice to send to me since I probably wouldn't have the bullentin in the mail in time for the event. Funny but my Bullentin was in my mailbox on Monday. So I am happy that I have now put tatting twice on the Lace Bulletin. The first tatting that I put on the cover of the Bulletin was Kelly my Celtic Dragon.
I am now going to end this post and start another one to share some pictures with you all.

This probably going to be the last post that I will do until after the Hector event is over. Yesterday since I had my sewing machine out sewing ....I thought I would finish Peyton's birth announcement. So here is a picture of it. It is now in a frame. I took the picture without the frame so the glass would reflex and distort the picture. The letters for his name are tatted and the pattern for those is out of a Japanese tatting book that I have. The particulars were cross stitched and the stork tatted...Jane's Pattern and the baby buggy pattern came from an old Anna magazine that I have.
I am going to be really busy for the next few days...and won't have much time to be on the computer.
Hope to see some of you at Hector, NY this coming weekend.

I know it has been awhile since I have posted...but....now I have a few things to share with you all. First of all on etatters list there has been some discussion with Peter Cua of Philippines. He has been experimenting making shuttles out of horn. He also experimented doing some etching on the horn shuttles. Today FedEx stopped and delivered a package from Peter to me. These are the dragon and Phoenixes etched shuttles that he sent to me.

Aren't these shuttle beautiful. They are all hand etched. If you click on the picture you will see a closer picture to see the detail of the artwork. I have had a busy day so I haven't had a chance to try them out yet...but I will believe me. The etching looks like silver on the black. In places you can see where the etching is brown...that is the horn I believe. When you hold these up to the list you can see through the horn. They are really beautiful. And the etching is on both sides of the shuttles.

I will be taking these shuttles with me to Hector this coming weekend, so people can see how beautiful they are with their own eyes....They are so pretty....and I just happen to love dragons as you all know....which leads me to....

What will I be teaching in Hector this coming weekend. I will be teaching a 3D dragon that I have designed. Here is a couple pictures of him.

His name is "My Little Pony Dragon. I also made him in purple and green...that was my first experiment with designing him. I believe there is a picture of him already on my blog somewhere.

This coming weekend is not only the Hector event but I will be having house guest too. How exciting huh???!!! Mark Myers and Erin Halloway will be staying with me. We plan to tat during the day and burn the midnight oil doing bobbinlace in the evening. They will both be flying in on Friday...so I have been busy getting things ready for my guest. I am so excited....Alot to be thankful isn't it.....

While I was waiting for FedEx to arrive this morning ( for I had been tracking the package) I was painting a lace bobbin...enjoying quiet time...no Peyton today. And I really missed his smiles today....he is so cute...anyhow...the bobbin....I painted a Flower Fairy on my bobbin. Here are the pictures of the bobbin....

Again if you click on the pictures you will see a larger picture of the bobbin.

And one more picture before I sign off again for awhile...probably be back after the Hector event this coming weekend.....My grandson Timmy Guy who just turned nine and Peyton Lee my other grandson. Chrystal had a professional photographer take pictures of the boys. I have seen the pictures which were just beautiful....so now I am thinking...how come I don't have my pictures from her yet....

Anyhow...I hope you all enjoy your week...and tat yourselves silly...me.....I will be tatting with my new exquiste shuttles and enjoying my guests muchly...and having a blast at Hector.....sigh....it doesn't get any better than this folks...it truly doesn't......

Ming Dynasty is my last attempt to design a dragon. I think I am burned out in trying to make them. Besides....I have other things I want to work on. Of course this is another dragon that I am not going to be able to get another pattern out of...my mind just doesn't work in simple where I can come up with a design that can be done over a weekend for instance. But at least here is a picture for you. I guess I am just not a designer. :((














My husband will be returning back to work tomorrow. That is good news though...nothing has been settled as far as the disagreements between the Union and the company. That still stands in limbo. The company will be in the labor federal courts on appeal on charges the company already lost on.
My daughter will be returning back to work on Tuesday so that means I will have my hands full watching my new grandson Peyton. So...I will be busy.
Today I might work on my hat that I started last year from a very old hat pattern that I have had for years. I have made changes to the pattern. I always seem to do that. Originally I started the hat for the Palmetto Hat competition...but since I am not going this year there really isn't a hurry to get it finished except to get it done. I have been making the hat out of dyed purple thread that I had. I was going to make 3D flowers to go around the band but have decided not to do that. It is going to be just a plain Jane nothing exciting hat.
I also have this doily I want to finish....but no hurry there either except I want to get it off my list of things I want to get finished.
Now my tablecloth....that is another matter....that needs to get done...hopefully in my lifetime.
Anyhow....I hope all is well in LacingLand.

I am still trying to design dragons for the Hector event. This dragon I have named "PEZ" because...well....LOL...it looks like one of those Pez candy dispensors. Anyhow...I am not happy with this one either so I am again back to the drawing board. I have to keep telling myself "SIMPLE"...."Simple"...but my brain isn't getting it. Plus it has to be something that someone else would like to make and I don't think this is. But here is the picture of it anyways.
I also finally finished a snowflake. It is Ben's pattern. http://members.chello.nl/a.fikkert7
You can go to the link to see Ben's stuff. I really love him as a designer. Love his new book too.

This is all I have to report for now. Back to brainstorming. Right now I am trying to do a Chinese Dragon. I am making it in red and metallic gold. Lets see if I can come up with something.

I will be glad to get this done for I want to do some other things like, knitting, and bobbinlacing....and maybe some more painting. I think after I make this dragon and if I can get it to come out right...I won't be doing anymore dragons....I would like to try and design Pegasus with wings spread out.

Here is another attempt at designing a dragon....woe is me who is not a good designer. So I am back to the drawing board again...UGH!!! But here is my 3D dragon that I designed which I am naming "My Little Pony Dragon"....why the name ...well, as I was tatting it...the look of it reminded me of the"My Little Ponies" my girls had when growing up.















In the picture we are going to play a game. It is like the "Where is Waldo" game. Can you find the baby in blue..... And here is another picture with the cute baby smile. Isn't he a real sweetheart???? That is my little Peyton :))

The picture on the left is my goodie bag that I got from the Palmetto Tat Day event a couple years ago. I had alot of this one kind of varigated thread. I looked at the thread and thought it was a perfect match to the palm trees print. My edging that I did was the Daisy Picot Technique. I used the varigated thread to go around the black tatting thread I was using. Anyhoo...I think the edging matches the bag perfectly.

The picture on the left is from a round robin pattern that I found on the internet. I had just enough thread to make this...finger tatting the very last part of it. I believe this was a round robin that AK was also a part in. I can't remember who else.

Here are some pictures of my bobbin winder. Please place your cursor over the picture to get a bigger picture. My husband found this at an antique store about a year ago and gave it to me for my birthday last year. It does hold a midland bobbin nicely. The ring that you slip over where you place the bobbin keeps it in place while winding. The coloring of the wood of this bobbin is very warm looking. I have been told it looks like mahogany wood. It also feels very nice and warm to the touch. I don't know if that makes any sense or not. It does clamp onto my table very well also. I placed a yard stick next to the winder so you can get an idea of how big it is. I also know that this winder probably came from England. I know the dealer whom my husband probably bought this winder from and I know that she makes trips to England for she still has family there. Anyhow...I would love any information anyone might have after looking at these pictures. My email address is: celticdreamweave@yahoo.com

I would love to hear from you...Please let me know what you think of the winder and any history you might have. Even hunches are good. :) I really would like to know more about the winder. I am pretty sure that this is an old winder. My husband said something about the about the way it looked like it was made that it wasn't something that was massed produced. Thank you for any response you may be sending to me on the winder. Sherry

A knotting Picture....earlier today my husband went antiquing. He asked me if I wanted to come but...I was busy doing other things around here...so he went by himself...I did tell him to keep an eye out for lacing stuff. I also said tatting ...to my husband there is tatting and there is what he knows to be lace...meaning bobbin lace. He doesn't realize that tatting is lace also. Anyhow...we were watching tv and I was working on this dumb dragon I have been working on...and out of the blue he said he did get a picture frame for me. HA!! So I said...why didn't you bring it in the house. So out to the truck he went to retrieve it. I finished this ring I was tatting and then took the frame out of the bag. Frame!!! HA again...inside of the frame is a print from some magazine of a painting. I have no idea what the history of this picture is....but my husband thought I would like it because she was tatting in the picture. So...I had to give him a bit of lacing history. I informed him that the lady wasn't tatting but knotting instead. I pointed out the open points on the shuttle she is holding and then I pointed out to what appears to be the strap of lace probably used for a draw string for a little bag she has hanging on her arm. I mentioned that knotting was done before tatting and the string of knots were kept in a bag and later couched down and became a part of embroidery. Anyhow here is the picture. Also sometime I will share with you a cover of a magazine that I own ( again found in an antique store of a bobbinlacer that I will frame sometime) . Don't forget to click on the picture to get a bigger picture on your screen. So now, I will have to find a place for it. My husband keeps going on about the frame...but to me it is the picture that is important....WHAT IS HE THINKING??!!!!

HIYA!!!
Here I am posting again. I don't want to have my blog too much on the stale side. So....
A couple pictures for you to take a look at. This picture is the baby buggy I made in bobbinlace though I think I may have already shared with you all the buggy...but in this picture you can also see the tatted stork putting the baby in the buggy. This I sewed onto my birth announcement material at the bottom. At the top I tatted his named and cross-stitched all the other particulars about his birth.

In this next picture is a dragon that I design...not really happy with it... He was made using sewing machine sewing thread and some quilting thread and a bit ( got to have that metallic you know...LOL) sewing machine metallic thread. At the moment I have been working on designing a 3 dementional dragon.... I hope this one will turn out better...if not...it will be right back to the drawing board for me. I have to say though that tatting new designs for me sometimes isn't the hard part....it is documenting the directions that is the hard part for me...If I could just wave my tatting dust around and get friendly and creative with my computer art programs...I would have had my own book out....that is the only reason why I don't have my patterns floating around...there aren't any......

In the next picture is two needle laced butterflies that according to Holly Van Sciver were probably made around the turn of the century. The Butterflies are what is called point de Gaze and was made prodominately in Belgium. Holly told me that Belgian Rose Point was also known as Point De Gaze. Anyhow...I think the butterflies are pretty. The background of the butterflies and the pink in the matting goes nicely in my dining room. My husband found these butterflies at an antique store. He suggested we would go and look at them on a Saturday for he wasn't sure what he was looking at and wanted me to take a look. But when that Saturday came around he said that we couldn't go...but then on Christmas Eve Day ( which is when we celebrated Christmas with our children) I opened up a package from Chrystal and thought...I must have opened the wrong package for there were the lace butterflies that my husband had said he had seen. So since I don't know a whole lot about lace though I didn't think these were made by machine for I did take my magniflying glass out and studied the butterflies...I wasn't sure what I was looking at so off to the last lace guild meeting I went with the butterflies to get some opinions from my other lacing friends. Above was Holly's opinion ...she also said to me....my husband did good in getting the butterflies, they are old. The picture looks like a dark here but it is actually not so dark looking but soft in the actual colors.

That is all for now....