Ahem...What day is it again?

One of the topics I repeat in this blog over and over again is that of cloning. I don't know how many times I've said, "Oh how I wish I could clone myself". There is just not enough time in the day to do all the things I want to do and it just gets worse the older I get. My grandfather said to me the other day that the last twenty years of his life have been a blur. But when we are children time just drags on. "Are we there yet?", "I'm bored", "When is it going to be my birthday again?".
I woke up this morning and was incredulous that it is Thursday already?!? Where has my week gone...I know I have been busy but this is ridiculous. It is 2011 folks...HELLOOOO! 2011 Ya'll! This summer is my 20 year high school reunion. I swear, the 90's don't seem all that long ago to me, and now a lot of those 90's babies are out on the roads driving already! Mercy to Heavens!
I am truly trying to enjoy every moment I have with Miss P because before you know it she is going to be changing MY diapers and wiping my snotty nose!
Anyhow, I am a bit terrified that I will never accomplish my list of life goals. Working on all those goals could be the thing that ends up killing me or the thing that keeps me going and going and going. Who knows?
My other grandpa said he wants to live until he is 130 and I am thinking to myself, "Why would you want to do that? In the state the world is in today and with your quality of life quickly diminishing?" But I think I am starting to see his point.

Anyway, on to tatting stuff. I have been spending the last four weeks or so winding skeins (as I am able since it really inflames my carpel tunnel) and getting ready to dye a MOTHERLOAD of hand dyed thread so you should see the shop filling up again. I have also been busy with my pottery life and something has re-ignited my passion for camera collecting and film photography. Needless to say all those things pale in comparison to playing with the most fantastic little gal there ever was.
Speaking of, Miss P is 8 months old already people! She has been crawling for 6 weeks now and is very close to walking. Dad gummit!
She is a joy and my love continues to grow for her which doesn't seem possible since my heart is near exploding already.
Well, I must get on to the billions of things I want to do but I will leave you with a few pictures of my growing gal!



STAY TUNED!

7 months

I can't believe Miss P is 7 months going on 18 already. Just in the matter of the last two days she has started fully crawling and can now pull herself into a standing position. Thank goodness I just shampooed the carpets because she is all over the place.
She LOVES to stand and will try anything to pull herself up...including the dog who is such a great sport.

I have been super busy making shuttles and winding skeins of thread for dyeing, that is why it has been quiet around here.
Back to work I go.

Teddy Bear Photo Shoot!

Baby Piccadilly is 6 months old. I knew time would pass too quickly but this is ridiculous.
Every day I remember what a little miracle she is and how everyone prayed for her during my difficult pregnancy.
She is so full of joy and charm, she blesses everyone she meets. The nurse at her 6 month check up said she is the happiest baby she has ever worked with.
She often laughs in her sleep which I think is hilarious.
So to celebrate this milestone, I thought I would share the joy.

Happy Easter!!!

Thank you Jesus!!!!

Hook Pens Galore and a growing girl!

According to my hook size survey, it seems that the most popular hook size is size 14 by quite a large margin followed not so closely by size 12.
I think the reason for this is that size 14 is the smallest hook that can purchased through the major craft stores. Currently sizes 15/.5mm and 16/.4mm need to be special ordered and they cost twice as much.
In general sizes 10 and up are all very small hooks and unless you have superb eyesight they can be somewhat indistinguishable from one another.
Anyhow, with all that said there are new hook pens in the Etsy shop, lot's of size 14's and even one size 15. So first come first serve.

Also, I have some SUPER BLING hook pens coming soon!


This past week has been a big one for Miss P. She started on solid food as a supplement to breastfeeding. She is a fantastic eater, and by the third bite she was trying to take the spoon away from me and do it herself. Yes, I think I'm in trouble with little miss independent here. She is also standing on her own. She can't even crawl yet but here she is...looking like she is ready for a snowboard....and she is not even 6 months old yet.


So remember my prediction two posts back where I said I bet Jess wins first and Sarah wins second place in the Shuttlebirds Tat-off? Ha ha, I was spot on! ...Now if I had been there...maybe just maybe the results would have been a little different??? But Jess would still have taken first I'm sure!

Please stop over to my MadMadPotter Blog and see what I have been up to.....pretty soon you will see some more tatting showing up in my pottery world...

Blathnaid gets mail and so do I

Blathnaid received a lovely card from Ciarran and although I don't think she likes to admit it, it made her heart flutter just a bit. She and I have been so busy designing new shuttles that we nearly let St. Patty's day come and go without notice. Well at least I did (I am deeply ashamed to admit), and she is too well mannered to make a fuss about it. Had it been her brother Brendan, well...., he would have given me a proper and well deserved "what for"! So it's a good thing he is still gallivanting across the globe. Whew!

Looky what I got from dear Diane! I LOVE these blinged out shuttles and have been secretly drooling over them from afar. I feel very honored to be the recipient of not one but two of these fabulous shuttles. She also graciously sent me some of that cool paper (one of the ingredients for blinging). My mind is now whirling with creative possibilities. Thank you Diane!

...and finally here is the most recent photo of Piccadilly. Here she is wearing her booties and bonnet from my friend Karen....and oh how I just want to gobble her all up!!!

Todays featured shuttle

Winter Cabin #3
Yesterday we had one of those blizzards with the awesome gigantic pancake flakes (my favorite kind of snow). So that inspired me to do another winter scene. Today all the snow is gone and it is sunny again but the surrounding hills are coated with a beautiful white blanket.

Here is Miss P wearing Grandma Diane's pretty pink onsie with tatting. It is one of the very rare times you will see 'Dilly decked out in pink....but we made an exception for Diane because she is such a sweet grandma!

Tatting ladies, pictures galore and my special diet

I had the opportunity and privilege to meet three of the four ladies of DMR. Teresa and her lovely daughter are visiting from GA. Dena and grandma Elaine are fellow Idahoans. It is always nice to meet other tatters, especially a tatting family. No one in my family tats...and trust me I have tried to get my sisters to come around. So I think Piccadilly is my last hope.

I have been working hard on some new shuttles and despite my ever growing expertise, my failure rate is still around 50 to 60 percent which is why I think I am still the only known ceramic shuttle artist in the world....because it is an exasperating venture ...AND I'm crazy!

Here are Miss P's four month pictures. The knitted hat she is wearing is from LaceRn. She is finally starting to grow into some of her lovely gifts and I am trying to document it before she grows right out of them.

Check out the knitted Mary Janes from Tatfully Yours! Yes they (as well as the scottie dog dress) are still a bit big but I just couldn't help myself!
Also still a bit big, here is Marty's onesie with her beautiful tatting on it. She is growing so quickly that I am afraid to miss any opportunity for her to sport her fancy duds.
Since I have been nursing I am having such a difficult time trying to maintain a healthy weight so that I can continue to nurse. It is taking everything out of me and I think it is greatly contributing to my constant fatigue. I drink 1050 calories of Ensure everyday on top of an already calorie loaded diet. It's become a full time job in and of itself. I would like to be able to breastfeed for the pediatrician recommended year but I may only make it to 6 months. I am very grateful that I have made it this far!


Here are a few more treasuries that my work has appeared in. I think it is always fun to see how people group things together.

Well I think that is plenty for today!

Good news and not so good news....but mostly good news!

Having fun with Daddy
Miss P is growing so fast. She is 3 1/2 months old here.
She is my little blond hair blue eyed cherub. As much as I hate to admit it, I entered this world as a blond and so did hubby for that matter. I am very proud of my dark chocolate locks and I expect Piccadilly won't be blond for long either.
The good news is that my DH is home and will get to stay home for awhile...the bad news is that he is home because he is really sick and will be going through treatment for the next six months before the military reassesses him. That also means that we will be staying in the great state of Idaho for a little longer than expected...(no complaints there!)...and that means once again we do not know what the future holds as far as where we will live and what we will be doing.
It is a bittersweet situation.
Between hubs and baby I am getting no sleep.
I am having migraines everyday and they are making me sick. I think I have had too many head injuries throughout my life...most of them due to my days of being a snowboard bum.....still I would not trade a single one of those days.
Life is extra challenging right now...in fact 2011 is shaping up to be another crummy year already. I always hope things will improve but if I expect them to improve I am afraid I will just suffer more disappointment.
Chronic stress, pain, and illness has been the theme of the last 3-4 years. I am so ready for a change.
More good news is that I am releasing not one but TWO more tatting books this year! Whoo hoo! The patterns are mostly done, it is just a matter of putting it all together.
Cheers,

New News

Hey Everybody make sure to check this blog on Valentines Day for a special treat!

Also, just wanted to let everyone know that I am now accepting money orders in my Etsy shop for those who do not want to use Paypal.

Piccadilly is 3 months old and NEW art shuttles for you!

Can you believe it has been three months? I haven't killed or maimed Miss P yet so I just might be able to do this mom thing afterall!

We had a fun 3 month photo shoot today. Piccadilly is so patient and she actually seems to enjoy herself. The downside is that there are feathers EVERYWHERE now. I will probably be cleaning them up for months to come.
Winter Cabin
Big Sunflower