tat is tat

I tat.
Now you know.
I have a problem. I like to learn. I want to be able to do everything. I have to admit, most things I can learn and do quite well. The problem is that in order to do all these different things I have to have all sorts of supplies. I have a LOT of supplies. It drives my husband crazy at times. Times like when we were loading all my stuff out of the basement into the garage so we could finish our basement. Every time we have to move he gets frustrated. But I am always there to remind him that all these things come in handy. And he agrees as he is lugging out a 50 lb box of illustration board and matte board etc.

I feel left handed now that all my stuff, or rather a large portion of it is tucked away in a pile in the garage. I feed off of my hobbies. Today I wanted to make a birthday card for a friend and had to plow through a bunch of boxes to get to my card supplies. Oh but it was worth it. It was fun and Olea and I had a punch fest. She got adhesive tape on the carpet and my chair mat, thank goodness for Goo Gone (it also works on crayon and most pen on textiles).

Between sewing, knitting, crocheting, tatting, card making, crafties, graphic design and all sorts of mediums of art supplies including stained glass and pottery I have a lot of supplies. That is why Gary is so excited to finish our basement. It is also why I am so excited for it to be finished. We are using what would have been a bedroom to make an art studio for me. The coolest part is that when he took down the insulation we found a drain plumbed in already. Could anything have been more perfect? I think not. So my fancy room will also have a sink. The world is a good place. This weekend we get our first inspection on the basement progress. We have it framed, the electrical is done, the venting is done, the bathroom fan, and most of the plumbing. Gary has to bust out the shower drain and move it over, the dummies put it in too far into the room.

So what is tatting you ask? It is pretty. It's lacey. Intricate and fun.
It's something that I can keep in my purse and pull out while waiting for a doc apt or during a car ride (when I am not driving that is). It's "an ancient art" according to my husband's niece. Similar to crochet, I suppose, it's a lace making technique. I generally make little ornaments or card embellishments or bookmarks. I have grand aspirations to make a runner for our table or dresser, but that's a big project with such a little knot. I'm just made a bookmark since I gave mine to my mother in law, and am making another one. A different pattern this time. Tat is Tat.

Necessity is the mother of invention...

and time constraints seem to be the mother of my creativity. Last Saturday we were headed to my friend's daughter's birthday party and though my friend didn't expect us to bring a gift... her daughter is old enough to care, and young enough to expect it. :) So I asked Olea what we should do. Olea suggested I make her earrings. I was thinking beading so I shot down that idea the night before because I knew I didn't have time. So the next morning as the rain comes down in sheets I was nursing the babe and thought... I have those flat posts... for gluing. I could tat some simple little pretties that aren't over the top for a young girl and add a crystal (like unto the Tatties) for some necessary bling. Olea approved after she saw them.

And I am going to make myself a similar pair because I just thought they looked adorable on that sweet girly girl...too bad I didn't get a pic... and though I am not that young or cute, I do think they would look just fine on me. :)

We were late though due to who knows what (because the earrings I did with said nursing baby in my arms) and when Olea heard she had missed the DANCING... well that was sad. So my friend promised her that next time we came we could dance. I'll let Olea do the dancing.

Tatting firsts and creations

Often while I tat Zurich will play with one of my shuttles or the small pieces I have tatted.
One day he kept picking up butterfly after butterfly and throwing it back down, "Ahcah!"
He was disgruntled that none of them were helicopters. So I set out to make him a tatted helicopter.
I used the little fishy pattern by Sharon Albers as a base, though since I have used it in various
ways since first looking it up I only refrenced what was in my head and not the actual pattern.
I used two really long picots on the top and on the bottom to little picots for the wheels. After completing
the design I tied the two top picots together which makes them spin out to the sides and look like
propellers. Zurich was thrilled and I didn't even have to tell him what it was. :)

Here's Zurich admiring his new tiny helicopter. He's very careful about it too, meaning, when he
is done playing with it he brings it to me and says, "ahcah cleam up." He wants me to put it
up high somewhere safe. Then he comes and asks for it later, "Ahcah?" and squints his eyes and
shoves his head down into his shoulders and pinches his fingers toghether. It cracks me up.

This was my first tatting done with beads... yup, I've been tatting for about 4 years and
just barely used beads. I just never saw the need for them before. I saw a lot of patterns with
them and liked them better without the beads. But this one made sense to me. I got this from
a pattern from a book my sister let me borrow. "Tatted Snowflakes" by Vida Sunderman.
However, I again, modified the pattern from the original. Since I didn't like the way they used the beads.
So it's a bit different than the pattern. I used it as an ornament and ended up making two and
giving them away.

And this was my first 3D tatting. A little umbrella ornament. I think it is SO adorable. I ended up
giving this one away too. I actually followed this pattern and stiffened it aroud a lightbulb. This two
came from a book my sister lent me Christmas Angels and Other Tatting Patterns by Monica Hahn.

I'm a Creative Cat on Poppies at Play.

because I was chosen

on facebook... I was tagged a few times, so since I bothered to type it... Here it is.

1. My hair is typically long, it’s been that way all my life, but every 4 years or so I chop it all off, donate it and try it short for a while. Yes, my hair was long when I got married.
2. I hate calling people on the phone, even people I love dearly. The only three people I have no problem calling are my mom, one of my sisters and my husband. Everyone else I have to work myself up to get on the phone and call.
3. I had cats growing up (outside) but recently decided, I rather don’t like them. Pretty much most animals I don’t like.
4. I have milked a cow. Frequently. Grew up doing so, gathering eggs from chickens and skimming milk and making butter.
5. I am afraid of heights.
6. I love photo editing and sometimes do it just for fun.
7. Most of the things hanging in my house/ or used as decor I have made or contributed to in some fashion.
8. I like scissors. A lot. Don’t laugh, they are sharp.
9. I don’t like sea food, crustacean or steak. So Gary was really excited when he got an elk and I LOVE the elk steak. Too bad there isn’t more on the animal.
10. I can tat, crochet, knit and sew, and love to do it all. Can’t say I’m a pro at most of it, but I can figure out a project.
11. I have an associate’s degree and a bachelor’s degree. I still suck at Scrabble.
12. I like to write poetry.
13. I love Reese’s. Pieces are my favorite, but I love all the varieties.
14. Gary is my favorite contradiction.
15. I ran track in high school and was on the varsity team since my freshman year. I also went to state every year and placed my senior year, all the while with what I thought was my asthma getting worse. After high school I plain couldn’t run, barely walk without having problems. After being married for two years or so I finally told a doctor to shove it and refer me because I was sure it was my thyroid. I had a total thyroidectomy which included a large tumor that was blocking my airway. I can now run again, and breathe, and swallow and stuff. It’s good.
16. I don’t see myself as an outgoing person.
17. I always have a project, or seven going.
18. I like to do pottery and just got an outlet wired up for my kiln.
19. I want to be able to do wedding invitations for a paying client.
20. I love having a library so near by. People complain about how small it is etc, but I just love that it’s there.
21. A week after meeting Gary I knew I was going to marry him.
22. I really like the computer.
23. I prefer mechanical pencils when writing, and real pencils when drawing.
24. I don’t like digital clocks. I prefer analog, I understand time better visually.
25. I love wheat bread. I would say it is my favorite food. People tell me, “that’s not a food.” It’s not? I’ve been eating it for years! I make my bread, and RARELY buy it.

Giving Thanks Part 1/3

I think bandwagon or not, this is a good thing to do and to think about as we gear up for the holidays. I chose to not do mine one day at a time because I knew that things I was grateful for that day would share more info than I wanted that particular day, for instance, it's fine with me if you all know that Gary was gone for a week, because he is home now, and I wanted to give some flesh to some of the things I listed.
So here are days 1-10:

1: So thankful for my Marriage. I picked the right guy at the right time and we've worked to keep it right over the years. I am under no delusion that it's "happily ever after" unless we both make it so. I married a guy who understands that and works every day to keep our relationship alive and kicking. There can be no apathy in marriage.


2: I am grateful for Skype and the internet so I could talk and see Gary while he is away.

3: I am grateful for family. My dad came today to help ease the pain and suffering while Gary is gone, the kids really enjoyed him and time outside and I was able to get some shopping done kid free. Other family members have also called to check up on me. In our separation from family we realize just how much we need and appreciate them. It helps us laugh when there is stress and let offenses slide when no offense is intended. It's family relationships that add value and joy to our lives. Each person adds a unique touch and talent.

4: I am grateful for time to put my aching feet up and tat. Finally! (now to not fall asleep, which I also need... hmm)

5: Today I am so grateful it is Friday night! So giddy it is ridiculous! Gary has been gone for work since Sunday afternoon and he comes home just after midnight.

6: Thankful for good company and fun things to do. Attended our ward's Super Saturday today.

Made Nev the cute little leggings and some clips she still can't wear, of course I had to add a little tatting to them, because I had the pieces lying around. :)

7: Grateful for a husband who lovingly helps me see my limits and forced me to take a rest instead of trying to push through and for sharing this talk with me for justification: Dieter F. Uchtdorf: Of Things that Matter Most

8: I am so grateful for chiropractics. I can function today! After the pain I was in yesterday I was not looking forward to the week ahead at all, but after a good adjustment, I am ready for life as a pregnant mother of three again.

9: I am grateful for quiet, low stress, easy days, because today has not been one of them!

10: I am grateful for a spouse who understands me and knows how to talk me though a creative funk, so I can get going on a project.

Knitting again

It's a seasonal thing for me. I like it, but I don't knit as often as I tat.
This year I finished Zurich's hat by putting on Pompoms and ear flaps and made Nevy a new hat.
Aren't they just adorable...

The hats are too I think.

Another reason to Tat (as if I needed one)

Last year I started a doily out of Christmas variegated thread to use under a nativity set I made. I never finished the doily. I was making it up as I went along... It probably would have worked, but at some point, a child who shall remain un-blamed/ un-named smeared the thing with pink chap-stick. I was frustrated and threw it in a laundry bag to wash it... but washed it with a bunch of towels. Fuzzies stuck to it.

I thought it was a bigger deal than it was and I almost threw it out. But was just starting to get use out of my pottery kiln and thought it might be good as a stencil or something. As it worked out the fuzzies weren't a big deal. I ironed the doily and picked off the fuzzies and when I glazed a set of serving plates I used it as a glaze stencil.

Then I clear glazed it and fired it. The worst part about ceramics is waiting for the kiln to cool off enough to open it and touch the finished pieces. Maybe this is just me and my lack of patience or excitement to see finished pieces.

I did a set of three serving plates using the tatting as a stencil. My idea was Christmas serving plates that weren't red and green so they could be pretty and useful all year round.

The blue tatting reminds me of snowflakes on the white plates.
I am thrilled with them and look forward to using tatting in raw clay.

Ceramic shuttle

I am so ridiculously excited about this.

It's been a long time in process. I didn't have much hope when I started it but thought it was worth a shot anyway. The kids and I were hand building some clay LAST YEAR in August and I roughly fashioned a tatting shuttle.

 See that lil thing in the middle of the tray...

Fast forward a month till I fired it to bisque and then fast forward a year and a few months till I got around to glazing it and re-firing it. Since I didn't expect it to work I didn't do a particularly careful job of finishing and smooth it. I was more concerned about placement of the tips because that is important in tatting and when you glaze it, that's really important in it not fusing together.
Wanna see?!

It all came out so well! The tip tension is perfect and it makes the most adorable "tink tink" sound when I wind the thread on and off it. It holds a lot of thread and is very comfortable to tat with.

It is A LOT of work and I was lucky to have it come out so well on my first try. I am so thrilled with it though. I'm kinda  itchy to try it again. :)

My Camera is Possessed

My Camera is Possessed.
It's true. And it's probably due to the amount of times the kids have grabbed the strap hanging of the counter and pulled it down to the floor... aka dropped it.
About a month ago Gary and I woke up to a strange noise. It took me a while to locate the noise.
The camera in it's case was turning off and on. This includes the lens coming out and in. It was in the camera case so the lens couldn't come out all the way so it just went back and forth and back and forth.
Fluke, right?
It keeps happening. It's freaky.
I could always run over the camera with the car and HAVE to buy a new one. That worked last time. Sorrows... It makes me laugh now, but it was NOT funny then.
So here's the picture I took today when the camera turned itself on. It was sitting on our dresser and Olea was reading to Genève (who you can't see behind the book and Olea) in the big chair. Notice, I even made my bed today.

(holy crap is that red paint on her foot?! it is...I better go check the studio... and the carpet the whole way upstairs)

In other news, I am really looking forward to this weekend for a number of reasons:
1. We are finally getting a family picture with everyone ... except Lincoln who went to China.
2. My mother hired a photographer... so Dad doesn't have to do it.
3. I get to tat on the drive and Genève needs a few tatties (all the colorful ones I have given away or sold and she's left with the first few that I did before I started selling them).
4. We're going to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with my in-laws and my sister's family
5. I get to see my sister and my brother whom I have not seen for over a year at least, and all their new kidlets.

Validation

Warning: this post contains no pictures. Get over it. It has some links to pictures though. :)

There are lots of things we do in life. Some of them, or most of them go unnoticed and lots of those unnoticed things are the things that keep life running. That's okay.

There are also lots of loosing battles we choose to fight... or at least play at. I'm sure you can think of plenty of them in your own life in hobbies, parenting, life, etc.

My Tatties, is probably one of those, I likely will never make enough money to have a viable business out of it. That's okay. I do it because I think it is a good idea, because I like to do it and because I believe in the quality and value of what I do. The other day my Dad had somethings to say about the business end of it, how it was probably a loosing battle, because of the time and love I invest in it. While monetarily that may be true, it isn't true for the validation and the joy I get out of doing it. Sometimes, someone really gets it and loves them at least half as much as I do, and for that it is worth it. Also being able to do something and create something is a thrill, that I think we all need to experience that on whatever level of creativity we entertain. I love to be able to teach people to tat. Or to share with them the things that I am able to create. I sell them because I do have to recoup some cost and because lots of people have encouraged me to do so. I love the challenge of creating a new pattern and now have quite a few that I can call my own.

At different stages of my life different avenues of creativity, or the ability to use my skills have presented themselves and I have enjoyed the opportunities. Aside from tatting I love to edit photos, design, create wedding announcements, sew, draw, paint, knit, crochet, ceramics, re-purpose/ renew and learn more about all these options and have the opportunities to share my skills or exercise them.

We all do something that internally brings us joy. But it doesn't hurt to have outside validation. I never took on a job that implemented my Bachelor's Degree in the formal sense. So when I get an opportunity to do a graphic design job, it is a thrill for me. It is a form of validation that most people get when they are hired to do a job in their field.

I chose to be a mom first and so my validation in this way comes in small doses. A freelance job here, a Tattie sale there, a well received gift... That's fine. I enjoy what I chose.