A New Start

I have so much to do, and I'm so far behind, I did the only natural thing: I started a new project.  My fingers have been yearning for the feel of wool, and I have so much yummy roving I got at the Smoky Mountain Spinnery.  The label says Merino/Tussah/McKenzie.  It's very soft and luscious.  I haven't spun for so long, I wondered if I would remember how, but it's coming back to me.

Don't worry, the doily is still in progress.  I can carry tatting with me far easier than a spindle.

Just a Month

Just a month ago, I was on vacation.  Just a month from now, I will be in Toccoa for the Palmetto TatDays.

It was one of the most restful vacations I have ever had.  We had almost no planned activities, unlike our usual trips.

Most days DS3 and I walked the trail into the park that went along side the river.  There's something so soothing about the sound of rushing water.

There were white rhododendrons.  Back home they are all pink.

A little live music back in town.

Just yesterday, the image popped in my head of the sight of Lake Louise in Toccoa.  As we travel along a rural road, the lake will suddenly appear and then we know we are almost there.  That will be the opposite sort of vacation, exciting with lots of things to do and friends to have fun with.  Both kinds of vacations are good, don't you think?

Upcoming Angels

Here are the largest and smallest designs from my upcoming pattern book.  I try to have a nice assortment.

**Oops, forgot to say it should be ready around the beginning of September.

Wiosna 9

I'm finding this row slow going, though I've gotten a little more comfortable with the "manuevering" around the rings.  Will I ever be done in time for the fair?

A Cover for the Angel Book

This weekend's project was to design the front cover for the upcoming book.  I have to try out different things to see how they look, especially since printed pictures don't look the same as they do on the computer screen.  Now to order some binding spines and hope the color will work with my favorite cover.  If not, there's Plan B with my second favorite cover.  I learned last time not to leave the spine color to the last minute.

Progress on the book remains good, but I'm not getting any actual tatting done.  Where does the tme go every weekend?

Remember Palmetto TatDays is getting closer! There is still time to register, and scholarships are available.

Test Tatters Save Me from Myself

My test tatters are always such a help when I am working on a pattern.  It isn't just a case of pointing out the typos.  They will point out that there is a problem with this, or it would be better if you did that...

I don't mind rewriting the patterns to incorporate their suggestions, because it makes for a much better pattern.  Sometimes working in their suggestions inspires me to change the pattern even more, and then they gently, tactfully, kindly, firmly tell me, no, it was better before you did that. 

This little angel is one that will stop with its next to last version.  It went through around five versions to get here, with deciding how many picots on the wings, how many rings in the skirt, where to make the joins, and etc.  My friend shared with me that she had difficulty making the second wing from the back side, so we revised the pattern so both wings worked from the front side.  Then I had the bright idea to change the skirt.  Well, that night it seemed like a good idea.  Fortunately, she was honest enough to tell me she didn't like it.  A few days later, looking at it fresh, I didn't like it either.

This is one of the smaller patterns.  The large one  Jane tested was another one of these.  I said look at thia great idea I had to change the wings, and she had to tell me I didn't really want to do that.  Overthinking and trying too hard are some of my special skills.

Book progress continues on slow but sure.  What is it with MicroSoft Word 2010 and footers anyway?  I never had this sort of problem with page numbers before.  When I would be on one page, the page number on another page would jump to another position or disappear altogether.  I never did get them all exactly alike, though I reached the good enough stage, and then next time I opened the file, the type size on them had changed by themselves.  Must be gremlins.

Happy Independence Day

Happy Independence Day!  We celebrated with a walk up to the Guilford Courthouse Park for their festivities.  

We stopped by the reenactors' camp.

And experienced the beauty of nature.

And enjoyed the fife and drum music before the commemoration service at the grave site of two signers of the Declaration of Independence. 

General Nathanael Greene watched over it all.