Frugality
09 May 2012 1 Comment
in Craftyness, Knitting, Painting, Personal goals, Personal notes, Tatting Tags: allergies, bathroom, clothing, edging, home-made laundry soap, knitting, plants, purses, recycling, shower curtain, tatting, value village, washcloths
Since I’m not working I’ve become the Queen of Green and I enjoy it. I’ve always been a bargain shopper and loved shopping sales and clearance racks. My favorite place to shop is Value Village because you can find something unique there that everyone in town doesn’t already own. This is a small town with very limited shopping so the chances of seeing someone in the same outfit you have is very very high. I am not a person that likes expensive purses like Coach or dooney and bourke. I really don’t get why anyone would want a purse that costs hundreds or thousands of dollars. I do like purses but I especially love small, unique purses and I find them at Value Village. In the last few months I’ve found two really nice purses in new condition that I love for a total of $12 for both of them. I’ll have to post a picture when I get a chance.
This year I didn’t plant nearly as many seeds. I don’t have as much energy as I did last year. I just planted some herbs and flowers so far. The veggies I’m planting can be started directly outside in the garden. This year I didn’t buy anything but a bag of seedling mix and the seeds. I started the seeds in toilet paper rolls and I will be able to plant them in the ground because the TP rolls will break down. I’ll write more about this later and include pictures but I haven’t been able to see very well because of allergies. My eyes have been like waterfalls the past few days. The pollen count is very high.
My newest venture is making my own laundry soap. I’ve seen a lot of websites on making laundry soap and I like this one. http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm I just bought the ingredients and I’m going to make it soon….when I can see to do it. I am just going to reuse my old tide bottle when it is empty. I also read that a half cup (I think it was) of distilled vinegar in a downy ball helps to soften clothes. I am going to test this out and see how it works. My main reason is, of course, to save money but I also have a lot of allergies to soaps. I’ve always used Tide (unscented) since I know it is safe but it costs me around $19 here in Alaska! I always buy it whenever it goes on sale but now I am just going to make my own and then I’ll know what is in it.
I am also going to knit my own washcloths for the main bathroom. I bought some cotton yarn in matching shades of blue. Now I just need to find the right pattern. I actually may just make my own. When I get the time I will actually make that shower curtain that I was going to make a year ago. I bought the material and tatting thread to tat an edging. I just couldn’t decide on the perfect edging and how I’m going to sew the curtain. I’m not using a pattern so I have to get it right in my head before I start. The theme for that bathroom is supposed to be old ships so my husband and I painted the bathroom in a warm medium toned blue and ragged it with a stormy blue-grey glaze. It looks great. The fabric I bought is a white crushed voile so it will be sort of like a sail. I actually sent off a paint sample to Handy Hands so I could get tatting thread that matched as closely as possible. The thread is matched to the lighter shade of blue. Eventually I plan to paint a picture of a ship for that bathroom. I love old ships. Each room in my house is supposed to be decorated to a different country but until I figure out which type of ship I want to paint I wont know which country that room will be.
Now, someone please stop me if I start knitting TP out of belly button lint.
I’m still alive
04 Apr 2012 6 Comments
in gardening, Health, Personal notes, Reading, Tatting Tags: chronic pain, depression, gardening, lace, Reading, tatting
I have been in a hole…. a dark one. That happens from time to time. I’ll be tripping along through life full of optimism and trying to fill my days the best I can and then the ground falls out from under me and I find myself sitting in the dark with no drive to get up. I am constantly reading anything that can encourage me but sometimes it just feels like I’m looking at people through glass store fronts and don’t have what it takes to get the happiness they have. I feel so poor and dejected but I know that it is just a feeling and not reality. It is depression.
I have had an increase in aches and pains lately which seems to contradict the beautiful sunshine that has been spilling in my windows. Spring is coming and I have been waiting impatiently for it but since I have been so immobile because of the pain I have lost a lot of muscle tone. My muscles are all tight and weak. In an attempt to find something to motivate myself I called the Cooperative Extension at the University to inquire about gardening classes. This is something I am passionate about. I was disappointed to find that the master gardener class was already filled but I knew there was a chance I wouldn’t be able to keep up anyway. They did tell me about a class being taught by one of the master gardeners and they said if I called “right away” I might be able to get in. It was only $10 to secure a spot but the class had already reached its limit. I must have sounded desperate because they told me if I came the next day with the $10 I could attend. I did. When I walked in she said, “Are you Donna?”. I told her I was and she said, “good because you’re the last one I’m taking”. I was so relieved and excited. This is a lecture type class which is perfect since I can just listen and take notes and then use what information I need to improve my little garden. That way I can make sure I don’t get in over my head. My goal is to grow enough veggies for myself and for a little extra. I want to take some to the Rescue Mission.
The only problem is I have a hard time sitting for the 2 hours. My back starts to ache and I have to get up and move around. The room is crowded and there isn’t much room (the chairs are packed together so everyone is elbow to elbow) and I don’t want to leave the room and miss anything. The class is once a week for 8 classes and it is about half way through. Every time I go to a class I come home in such pain I end up taking a stronger medication that knocks me out. The pain continues through the next day too and it takes a lot out of me. I talked to my doctor and she checked me out. She said some of my muscles are very tight and “balled up”. She recommended massage and told me I needed to stretch and exercise – specifically yoga and some cardio type exercise. I have found the huge exercise ball I have very helpful with this. I lay over it (with it under my back) and stretch my arms to the floor. This stretches that muscle that screams at me during the classes. I did make it to church the Sunday before last but only for the first hour. I couldn’t stay for Sunday School or anything else. I was in such agony that I was shaking and didn’t want to get to the point where I couldn’t drive myself back home. I’m glad the drive is a short one.
Exercising isn’t easy for me but I know I have to do it to get stronger. Tonight is another class and hopefully this one will be easier for me. Last time I took a small pillow to sit on and that helped. It is just awkward taking a pillow to class. Oh well, it isn’t like I’m a teenager anymore. I have met a really nice couple there that I usually sit with. I’m so glad to have met them even though I don’t know them very well. I sit by the older man and we occasionally we find something to chuckle about. He usually saves me a seat by putting his coffee on it and I’m grateful for that small gesture of friendship.
I’ve been doing a lot of reading these days. That is actually ALL I want to do. I just read two books that I had already read but couldn’t remember. I guess I’ll never run out of things to read now that I’m getting older and apparently senile. I loved the Blossom Street Series but when I was reading it before I was frustrated because I got the books out of order and then I found out there was a short story that tied into the story line that was part of a book called, “More Than Words: Volume 2″. This is a book about real women who have made a difference in the lives of others and it is comprised of several short stories by well known women writers. It appears to be an annual publication. Volume 2 contained a story called “What Amanda Wants” which is about a teen-aged girl who found out her cancer had come back just before her senior year of high school. She tied it in with the Blossom Street story and it took off right where the second book left off. It is a very touching story and reminds me why I HATE short stories. It never fails – if they are good they are always TOO short. I love this series written by Debbie Macomber because it is about friends. I think that is what I am missing right now.
Now I am going to finish reading that book of short stories which has 4 more stories. I have also decided to read the Bible from front to back. I’ve always planned to do that but have never made it. It is funny how I always seem to pick up something “new” even from passages I’ve read several times before. I am currently still in Genesis but I hope to make it much further than last time. I am also reading a book on Tatting that I had started several months ago. I love tatting but I haven’t made anything in a long while. I picked that book up and found myself eager to try some of the ideas in the book. This book is an older one that talks about even older techniques. I love how they show ideas that very old and hope people will revitalize them. I especially love learning about crafts that women did ages ago and learning how to do them. Women used to make their own clothes and decorate them with special touches of lace they made themselves. This book called “Tatting Techniques” by Elgiva Nicholls has really inspired me. My library really wants it back though and I better hurry up and finish it.
Well, I plan on coming back tomorrow and the next day…. I think I need to write and exercise my “bean” too.
Another Lazy Saturday
10 Mar 2012 3 Comments
in Personal notes, Tatting Tags: directions, diving, fish, ocean, Reading, space, space ship, swim, tatted earrings, tatting
I’m still taking it easy and trying to get better. I’ve been listening to the Beatles again. Groovin’ to Sgt Pepper’s lonely hearts club band right now.
I have been getting a lot of questions about the tatted earrings I made. The pattern is just a diagram and that’s harder to figure out if you’re not used to it. I figured it out once so I figured I would try it again and give some more clear directions.
I’m having a little trouble with my wireless mouse. It keeps clicking things randomly and all of a sudden things will close or like just now I published early. It is really annoying. Maybe it just needs a new battery but I don’t know. I thought it would just quit working if that happened. Its new so shouldn’t be broken already.
Anyway, the tatted earrings…. the pattern is here. As soon as I can find where I hid my threads I’ll get started and take some pictures.
Well, since I missed the NaBloPoMo prompt for Monday I decided to do that one today. I hate it that they don’t have prompts on the weekend.
Would you rather travel to space or go deep into the ocean?
Hmmmmmm, well I have to say space but only in a well decked out space ship like the Enterprise; not the Voyager because I’ll eventually want to go back home. I would like to go deep sea diving but I can’t swim. So unless they do that thing where they strap two people together like with sky diving I don’t think it would work. I really need to learn how to swim at some point. I do love the fish though and love watching shows or reading books about searching for sunken ships or treasure. That makes me want to read a Clive Cussler book now. Maybe I should read The Spy since I have my brand new copy just waiting for me to crack it open.
Missing my prince
11 Nov 2011 9 Comments
in Family, Personal notes Tags: anniversary, box, husband, tatting, vegas
My husband is gone for a whole week. He’s in Vegas for a mandatory training for work…. kinda ironic that it is in Vegas I think. 
My husband loves to gamble but he doesn’t have a problem stopping. He saves up the money to gamble with and when it is gone he stops. He says it is the same as entertainment for him and people spend a lot of money going to movies, concerts, or tours. Personally, I’d like to take the money and go shopping. I love bargain shopping and with the money he takes to gamble I could make quite a haul shopping! Then of course I would have something physical when the day is done. When my husband wins it just means he gets to play longer. He loves it.
My husband and I went to Vegas for our 18th anniversary. He had been before and was sure I would like it if I actually went. Sure I did… I liked the shopping LOL But, after you have been together as a couple as long as we have you begin to love something just because it makes the other happy. My husband has this huge smile that I live to see and when he laughs… I mean REALLY laughs… he sounds like a hyena. It’s a loud cackle and at the casinos I could hear it across the whole room and know he’d hit his number. I could look up for the roulette table with the number 29 flashing and know that was where he was. Me, I planted myself at a 4 card poker table after my husband taught me how to play and usually by the time he came back I had made friends with the group I was playing with and the dealer. One group that I played with was a group of all ladies and we would cheer each other on and celebrate each other’s wins with rounds of drinks (I was drinking pepsi). When it was time to go they all gave me a hug and the dealer even asked her boss if she could step over to say goodbye and give me a hug. I missed them after I left and we had never met before that day and probably never will again.
That time we were in Vegas my husband was winning a lot and I was winning some too. At one point he stopped to use the restroom before we headed out to eat and I waited for him at this bank of slot machines. I hate slots…. it’s mindless. But I was drawn to this one with butterflies and before he came out of the bathroom (and he doesn’t take long) I had won $165 matching up butterlies. I paid for dinner. When he was doing especially well I pulled him away to go shopping! I bought some nice clothes for me and my boys. They needed school clothes and since shopping is pretty sparse here in Fairbanks, Alaska the boys were really happy to have clothes that were different then everyone elses. We even bought a suitcase to pack full of the new stuff we bought. My husband and I ate at this really expensive restaurant and even tried caviar and other interesting things. That was the most expensive dinner I’ve ever eaten but we sure had fun.
My husband just called a little while ago to tell me goodnight and I really miss him right now. I’m not used to being alone. It amazes me how military wifes can do it for so long! I wouldn’t be able to do it.
So for today I decided to show you a box from my collection that my husband bought for me.
Silver Anniversary box
Of course he has bought me many but this one is special. He ordered this one online and had it engraved for our 10th anniversary. It is silver and really needed to be polished. On the top it reads,
“Dearest Donna, Happy 10th Anniversary. Love, Chris”
I got out the polish because it is really stunning when it is clean. The dark areas stay dark but the raised silver designs really shine! This is just with a quick polish.
For AEDM (Art every day month) I’ve been tatting yesterday and today. Here is what I’ve done so far…
First I made this smaller piece for the middle. 
Then I made this piece to go with it. This piece was easy to make but difficult to finish off because of the variegated thread. The ending thread was very pale lavendar and the piece it needed to connect to was dark purple. So when I tried to hid the pale ends in the dark purple it looked terrible. I ended up just tying a regular old knot on the bottom so it wouldn’t show.
Then I put them together and I got this
Now I’m working on the last part and it should be finished tomorrow.
Thanks to Jon Yusoff for the free pattern. Her free patterns are at http://tatsaway.blogspot.com/p/free-tatting-patterns.html
Hostile takover
10 Nov 2011 4 Comments
in Personal notes, Tatting Tags: box, collection, tatting
Have you ever seen one of those movies where people try to make this super smart computer that can think on its own? ….and then it tries to take over and starts shutting off life support and other annoying things like that. Doh! Sometimes that happens to me in a way. My brain tries to switch gears on me and take over! Yesterday I decided that I really needed to crack down and finished the baby blanket I was making for my niece’s baby. I ended up feeling bad for most of September and all of October so it had gotten shoved into a corner. Well the baby is a couple of weeks old now and I need to get that finished! So I go to get it and see this tatting thread. This sneaky little thought about tatting something seeded itself in the back of my brain. I fought it! I kept looking for that blanket… my husband had the kids help clean up a while back and their way of doing that is to stick everything in the garage (Grrr!) So I can see it but can’t reach it. Then I found my little box with more tatting things in it and the next thing I know my fingers are googling tatting patterns… completely on their own I swear! I’m thinking……”no, I can’t start something new! I have other things I need to be doing!!” but I already have something started now LOL Bad!
I haven’t gotten any sleep yet but I was in bed most of the day. I must be feeling better though because I’ve been up doing laundry and cleaning and thinking about crafts. I wanted a cup of hot tea and wished I had a real tea-pot instead of having to heat water in the microwave. Then I remembered I did have one! I had my tall son, Jared, take it down from off the top of the cupboards so I could clean it. It’s an antique that was one of my husband’s aunts. I never met her but my mother-in-law said that we were a lot alike. She was always telling me about “Aunt Nin”. She told me she liked to get mail so I started writing to her when she was in her late 80′s. I grew to love her and she was always sending me little things like antique postcards that she had saved. They had been mailed so they had neat old postmarks and stamps. Anyway, when she died my mother-in-law brought me her teapot. It has pink roses and heats up and there are 4 matching cups that have the most delicate handles I’ve ever seen. I love it. When I learned about tatting and figured out how to do it my mother-in-law told me that ”Aunt Nin” used to do that too. I wish I could have met her.
Anyway, today I decided to share a picture of a special box that sits by my spot on the couch.
I think it’s probably paper mache that’s been painted with pretty green flowers. The background is an off white/pale yellow and the flowers have a faint gold outline. The painting looks russian to me. I found this box at a thrift store so I don’t know anything about who made it but it looks handmade. I especially like it because they cut a notch in the lid and there is a corresponding V shape in the bottom and it fits together just perfectly. Inside is a set of 8 matching coasters. The coasters are heavier than the box so I think they are actually made out of a light wood. My living room is decorated in greens so it fits in just perfectly.
Catching up
08 Jul 2011 2 Comments
in Craftyness, Crochet, Knitting, Painting Tags: bird nest, bird watching, birds, crochet, eggs, Family, knitting, painting, tatting, watercolor
There has been a lot going on here lately and the summer is flying by so fast. I haven’t been posting much so this is a catch up post.
First, I was not doing much for quite a while because I was having so much pain. I finally called my doctor to see if he could help and now I have something else that is helping. I can do more without hurting but I do get tired and end up taking a long nap every day or some days I don’t wake up until late. But, anything is better than being in pain all the time.
My Mother in law is here visiting from California and we are having a great visit. We went for a nice dinner at the Pump House and had seafood. It was so good! I had the Tempura Fried Seafood Combination with Halibut, huge shrimp and delicious scallops. It is such a neat place so my husband and I went for a walk by the river. It had just rained so we didn’t go far. They have a beautiful deck area for dining when it’s not raining but they also have an windowed area that feels as if you are outside. You don’t see frames around the windows so it feels as if they aren’t there. We ate there and it was nice to not have the wind and bugs bothering us. The service was great too and even though it is “fine dining” you can dress causal and not feel out of place.
We’ve been watching a bird nest in the back yard. I noticed it when I was working in my garden one day and there were 5 little eggs inside. Now they have hatched and I’ve been watching them grow. I got a book about birds from the library and I’m trying to figure out what type of birds they are. That isn’t easy since the adult birds never get close enough for me to see them very well.
I have a lot of crafty pursuits going on. I’m going to make a shower curtain for my main bathroom that I recently repainted in grayish-blues… The shower curtain will be made of white crushed voile and I’m going to make a tatted edging for it in a blue that matches the walls.
I’m also making a knitted tie for my husband. I couldn’t find a nice variegated yarn so I’m knitting it by holding some size 10 crochet cotton in Red together with the micro spun yarn in black. It looks really nice so far.
Finally, I’m going to participate in the CAL (crochet-a-long) on the Lion Brand Blog. We are making a reglan pull-over top. I’m going to make mine in a dark pink and I’m excited to see how it turns out. I’ve never made a sweater/top before. I’ve always made scarves and blankets and other simple things.
I’m also going to attempt something my water color teacher mentioned – to paint 30 paintings in 30 days. It will be difficult for me since I have family visiting right now. My Mother in law will be here through the 18th and then my dad will get here on the 20th. So we’ll see what happens.
Tatting up a storm
18 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
in Tatting Tags: cross, edging, inTatters, sewing, tatting, website
I recently found a community website called inTatters and I’ve been enjoying myself there. I’m finding some great patterns and meeting some really great people. I decided to tat up some cross bookmarks for gifts for some dear friends of mine. It is an easy cross
and the pattern is available in the patterns at inTatters. Fittingly it’s called “Easy Cross”. I made these two and then suddenly realized I could make one with two colors and decided to give that a try. The color choices of thread are pretty limited here in Alaska so I’ve ordered some new colors and can’t wait until it gets here. My next project is a new shower curtain for my bathroom that I recently painted blue and ragged in a slate blue glaze. I bought some white crushed voile in white and I’m going to tat an edging in blue for it. While I’m waiting for the thread to arrive I need to get started on sewing the curtain and making shower curtain hooks for it. Fun fun fun!!!!!!!!!!
Tatted Earrings
28 Mar 2011 2 Comments
in Tatting Tags: beads, earrings, green, pattern, tatting, white
I’ve been reading more about tatting and learning how to add beads. I made some earrings in green and white for my niece and now I’m working on making some in the same design only smaller for my sister in pink and white. I got the pattern at http://free-tatting.com/?tag=earrings
These earrings are made with size 10 crochet cotton and are at least a couple inches in length.
Tatted Earrings with beads
Addicted to reading
18 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in Craftyness, Reading Tags: alaska, books, library, mystery, nicholas sparks, Reading, tatting
I haven’t had the time to really read like I wanted to in so long and now since I’ve been sick with this cold or whatever it is I have been reading a lot. I just finished reading a book I bought at the library booksale. There was actually a little stack of matching books that looked like a series so I grabbed them all. At the top they say “Mystery and the Minister’s wife” but there is no list to show what order they go in so it seems it doesn’t matter. There are also no ISBN numbers which is odd. They are Guidepost books though so maybe they don’t have ISBN numbers? I read a book titled “Flight of the Sparrows” by Annie Jones. It is written in really simple language so even young children could get into these mysteries. I don’t usually like that for books I read though but the story was interesting enough that I had to finish it. Then I looked at another one called “A Thousand Generations” by Traci Depree and decided to read that one. The main characters are the same with some new ones added in. They are a nice change from the other types of books I’ve read and I can easily read and ride my stationary bike since the writing isn’t complicated.
I also started reading “A Bend in the Road” by Nicholas Sparks. That seems like a good story so far but I’m only on chapter 4. I have the book and also the audio CD’s that I got on a sale at the Literacy Council’s used book store.
When I was at the library I got 3 books about tatting. I’m reading the oldest one called Tatting – a new look at the old art of making lace by Lael Morgan. The book looks really old and has only black and white pictures. The copyright is from 1977 which I thought was funny since it said “a NEW look at the OLD art….”. The book has a lot of history about tatting though and tells the names of certain basic patterns that must have been common at some point. I also thought it was funny that Lael Morgan used to live in Alaska and it says she was on the Alaska Board of Fish & Game.
So throughout the day I switch between reading these different books but I can’t seem to stop reading!
