My "virtual" house has burned down...

My husband has a job that requires him to "compartmentalize" all the time. Many of you may have to do the same thing. I have never really been good at it. If I am happy everyone knows it and if I am sad, that too is carried with me everywhere I go and in everything I do. I guess I kind of live life with my heart on my sleeve.
Well something happened last week that has required me to practice compartmentalization...(whew that is a BIG word).
In fact I have locked it up, pushed it away and try not to think about it at all. If I start to think about it I will go completely bananas and lose it big time!
I am going to tell you what happened in a clinical manner and without emotion...because that is the only way I will be able to tell it!

When we came back from Korea my computer wasn't working right. I very recently had to do a complete reformatting of my hard disk. No worries though because I am a good girl and I always have a back up. I went to use my back up hard drive last week and it failed too!
Ahem...all my tatting books in progress, patterns, a life time of photos, writings, and not to mention a billion songs that took me two weeks to digitize from all of our music CD's. Oh and let's not forget precious home videos.

O.k. I better stop here, I can feel my chest tightening and the lump rising in my throat.

Shake it off!

Tomorrow I am sending the hard disk away in hopes of some kind of data retrieval but it is not guaranteed and if I am lucky will set me back only $400ish.


In the meantime I am distracting myself with activities.

...like my latest colorway "FAERIES"













For a comprehensive list of all my hand dyed threads click here.

Is Christmas really right around the corner?

Just finished adding some old favorites to the Shop. We have "OLDE SAINT NICK" and "COUNTRY CHRISTMAS".
I've added dozens upon dozens of hand dyed threads(HDT) skeins today. Even with my wrist splints all the winding of said skeins have taken their toll. None-the-less I am having fun with some new colorways:

HOSTA LEAF

OLD ENGLAND

...and here's a fun hook pen.
I don't know why but I feel very "wintery" today. It must be because it is FREEZING in my house. I think I'm going to go have a cuppa this:

WASSAIL Ingredients:

1 gallon apple cider
27 whole cloves
8 cinnamon sticks
1 quart pineapple juice
1 can (6 ounce) frozen orange juice concentrate

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a large crockpot and simmer. Serve hot.

....I almost forgot to add that my thread has made an appearance in an Etsy treasury.
YAY!

Highs and Lows are the order of the day....

Here is the first batch of ceramic shuttles in over a year and a half. Doesn't seem like much huh? I had a fair amount of losses, but that is to be expected. No tears this time, only blood and sweat literally. I had some very generous tatting friends donate bits and pieces of their tatting for use in my pottery and this is the result. Since the tatting was so fine....(size 80 or finer) the resulting tatting texture is very detailed. I hope you like them as much as I do!
I am not sure when the next batch will be ready....maybe by Christmas but I cannot make any promises.

I don't know what is more exciting ...the new shuttles....or this....

This just arrived in my mail box and I am SOOO thrilled. I am not sure I really deserve the honor. I barely squeaked by on a few projects...LOL! Thank you so much to Bobbie D and the other T.A.T. crew. You guys are AWESOME!!! I will continue to strive to be the best tatter I can be!

....side note....
As a potter it is my life's ambition to be a Master Potter. One cannot self proclaim the title of "Master", it is an honor which must be bestowed upon by one's peers. All master potter's that I know personally have a beautiful head of snow white hair...so as you can imagine I cannot wait for my hair to turn gray fast enough....LOL!

...anyhoo I looked in the mirror today and I am well on my way with new gray hairs sprouting every day...WHOO HOO!

With all that said I will wear my Master Tatting Pin with pride (it took me nearly three years to complete it after all).


And now for the lows which keep me balanced so that I don't annoy every one with my overwhelming happiness.
I am still having problems with my hands. I called the neurologist's office again this morning to see why on earth it is taking so long to get a fruit-loopin appointment made. I have to back up a little and tell you that I have been trying to get in since October 24th. The receptionist at the office is the rudest person I have ever encountered. She has been so snippy to me every time I call....and she always says she will call me back with an appointment time...yet she never does. I don't know what the deal is but I am about ready to just give up!

This morning I sliced my thumb open somehow and didn't even notice it until there was blood all over the place. You see, my hands are so numb I can't feel it...in a way I suppose that could be a benefit. But anyhow, I am really annoyed right now. Why do some people feel the need to be total jerks? It is so unnecessary!

Back to the good news, I will be listing the few shuttles I have on hand a bit at a time. Enjoy my friends!

What about size 100???????

...I think this is a season for soft muted colorways...

Today I listed a new colorway along with new batches of established colorways in the shop today. I am happy to offer size 100 to the line of HDT (Hand Dyed Thread)sizes.
So I now offer sizes 100, 80, 50, and 20 in cotton and size 20 in silk. Other sizes can be made by special request. ...and don't forget I am selling the BEST silk in all the world and I challenge anyone to show me where they can find better for less money! "HONEY AMBER" is the new colorway inspired by the multi shades of Amber jewelry.


I haven't dyed a batch of "TUSCANY" in a long time so it is now stocked up and ready to go in all sizes!

!!!Winners!!!

I got off to a late start in posting the winners this round. I've had one of those days where my body just shut down and slept for several hours. I feel great now!

O.k Drum roll please......


I entered all participants of my Random Monday Mondo Giveaway into an Excel spread sheet. Everyone was assigned a different number and those who were eligible for two entries were assigned two numbers. I then used a random number generator to randomly pick the winning numbers and this week we have two winners total.
The big prize goes to Angela! Whoo hoo! Congrats Angela.. and our second winner of a set of embroidered handkerchiefs goes to Carlie!

Congratulations ladies, please send your mailing addresses to me.

Stay tuned for there will be more Random Monday giveaways coming to this blog near you!