Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!
Spring is in the air!  It's a beautiful day here in the Salt Lake Valley!  Just a few clouds and lots of blue sky!  Don't forget your sweetheart tomorrow -
This heart is made with Lizbeth thread color #115 - Springtime ! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

It's 2011 and time for new ideas, projects, patterns, and for resolutions.  What resolutions will you make - and will you keep them?  We always ask these questions each year.

GOALS - we always set new goals for ourselves. We can "shoot for the moon", and if we don't make it, well - after all - we've tried. But the majority of us would like to fulfill these goals!

It's also time to make lists, or at least start them, for which gifts we will make and for whom, this next Christmas! And don't forget about birthdays, and special gifts for special people at other times of the year.

It's also time to update our new 2011 calendars, and to list our monthly meetings, conferences or workshops we will attend, and make sure we save money for it, (and for those extra little things we like to purchase) unless we've already started last year. One way to do this is to figure out the total cost for the conference and divide that into 12 (twelve) months, etc., then we'll know how much a month we need to "put away" for that special conference(s) you wish to attend.

To teach at conferences/workshops, each one will vary what the sponsor is going to contribute towards your expenses. And, of course, feel free to contact other teachers, and see what they do. You never know until you ask - they may save you some valuable time and give awesome tips for accomplishing what you need to. I know they would also like to hear your ideas and expertise as well.

ENJOY and Make the most of it!

Holiday Ideas

Make sure you check out my "older posts" to see Christmas ideas. I will be adding more soon . . . till then!

Tatted Earrings

I've made my first two pair of tatted earrings. I'll post them as soon as I take a photo of them!

International Old Lacers Convention

WOW - What a convention - LOTS of people - both men and women - and LOTS of FUN!!! This was my first IOLI Convention and what a blast! I took Tatting classes! Both from Karey Solomon, and Mimi Dillman.

The International Old Lacers, 57th Annual Conference was held in Portland Oregon, from July 24 - July 31, 2010. The host was the Portland Lace Society. There were all types of lace classes available. Too many to choose from!

From Mimi I took her "Adding Leaves to Tatting" (3 hour mini class) - and learned a simple way to make cluny leaves! She was a marvelous teacher, and quite an inspiration! I will post some photos of her work later, as well as my completed projects, when completed!

From Karey - my No. One favorite tatting instructor, I took the following classes:
"Tatting with Buttons, New Explorations" (12 hour class), "Building a Tatter - New Skills" (12 hour class), "Crazy Quilt Tatting Pincushion" (3 hour mini class). She is such a terrific teacher and tatter. She also dyes her own threads and yarns. She has a shop "Graceful Arts Fiber Studio", in Burdett NY, which has a lovely view overlooking the Finger Lakes. Check out her website: http://www.gracefulartsfiberstudio.com/
I will post my finished projects as I complete them! Along with some of Karey's tatting!

So, we had a week full of classes, more classes, excellent food, great friendships were made, raffle prizes, freebies, and great scenery - right on the river front of the Columbia River, in Portland Oregon. Next year the conference will be in Bethesda, Maryland, from July 31 to August 6, 2011, and will be hosted by The Chesapeake Region Lace Guild. Check out these website for more details: www.internationaloldlacers.org or http://www.crlg.org/

I didn't get a chance to take the Needle Lace Classes, but did pick some kits up from Sylvia Murariu, who teaches Romanian Point Lace - all levels. She told me how it is very close to Needle Lace, and gave me some pointers! I am now home and excited to learn it, using her DVD!

My husband Lynn drove me, and each day of the conference (bless his heart) lifted my scooter in and out of our Honda CRV. I need to get a lift installed. I had a chair lift on the back of my mini van, but it, as well as the van were totalled last fall when a drunk driver rear ended me! I couldn't have done it without him or my scooter, especiallly since I just had (June 28) my second knee replacement on my right knee!

Hubbie had a great time while I was in classes. After the conference, we traveled to Tacoma Washington to visit his brother for a day, and then we traveled to Salem Oregon to visit my oldest son and his children! We also took some time to see a few sights!

Well, that's all for now - more soon . . . . . .

It's a New Year

It's a New Year and time to make a New Year's resolution - to keep my blog updated regularly - once or twice a month! Sorry for being so lax!

Now it's time to get ready for all the exciting events that are taking place this year, and especially the ones I am planning to attend!

There are so many. Here are a few:

• Shuttlebirds Workshop in Spokane Washington.

www.shuttlebirds.com/workshop2010.shtml

• International Old Lacers Convention in Portland Oregon.

www.internationoldlacers.org/convnews.html

• Palmetto Tatter's Guild Workshop.

http://www.palmettotatters.org/

Now, you can attend also!

There are others as well, and I will list those when I get all of the info gathered together!

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!

Boy how time does fly. It seems just like yesterday we were wondering if we were going to have a spring or summer. And now, it's August and school is getting ready to start.

We have been priviledged to have had another grandson added to our family. I'll post his photo. His name is Mason. If all goes well, we'll have another grand baby next February! It's so exciting to see these new little lives come to life and to see them go through their different stages! I just love children and grandchildren, and love to spoil them rotten!

Soon we'll be seeing autumn leaves. My favorite seasons are fall and spring - neither too cold or too hot.

I will be posting some more tatting projects soon - as soon as I can figure how since I am now using my new computer (my other one crashed), and trying to remember how to do it. I know it seems silly, but the older we get, the more we forget? For me anyway. Let me know if you have any questions about the new items, or what you think about them! I'm no pro, but each and every day I try to keep improving and get better. I enjoy learning and using new techniques. I love tatting. I'm also going to be taking on more Celtic tatting, as I have thoroughly enjoyed Rozella Linden aka Ruth Perry and her expertise in this area. She's so awesome!