Back to normal...

...well, as close to normal as I'll ever get! ; )

Thanks to tons of encouragement from Carolina, I kept trying to fix my date problem. I finally did what I probably should have done in the first place... I searched Blogger Help. Guess what? There was an answer! Sometimes I just need someone else to state the problem in a new way so that I know what to look for. Thanks for all your help, Carolina!

Okay...

I have a fancy page now, but I still don't have my dates. When I go into Edit Posts, all the dates are there. When I check my settings for my page layout, everything is checked. Earlier this afternoon, I couldn't access my blog for about two hours! I figure Blogger must be having a problem today. Maybe everything will clear up tomorrow.

I've spent most of the day playing with my computer... no tatting, no knitting, no crocheting, no bobbin lace, no Kumihimo, no weaving, no reading... I feel like I've wasted the whole day!

Hmmm...

Well, it appears that I've lost all my dates, and I didn't have any luck with trying to make my page fancy. I'll keep trying, though! I love a challenge!

Now I've done it!

I don't know what I've done, but I've done it! I hope to get all my info back on my page, but I'm not sure how I got where I am. I'm too tired to deal with it now... maybe tomorrow!

Goodies in the mail!

Focusing on the gifts for Yvette's shower left me very little time for blogging. While I was busy crocheting and tatting, some wonderful items arrived in the mail!


I received these gorgeous acorn bobbins from Dave at Grizzly Mountain Arts... I can't wait to get back to my bobbin lace! Thank you so much, Dave! There's nothing like using beautiful tools!


Next I received my beautiful prize from Jon... her Magic Moment snowflake. Color me surprised! Jon also included a beautiful bookmark and cell phone fob! Jon, you're the best! Thank you very much! What more could a girl ask for?


How about a wonderful tatting book and a beautiful beaded flower? They're from Laura. How did she know that anything with beads fascinates me? As for the book... I think I've found the edging I want to use for daughter Joanne's wedding hanky in this little gem! Laura, you made my day with these wonderful, thoughtful gifts. Thank you!


No, I didn't receive this in the mail. Today I finished my second Magic Moment snowflake. I tatted this in Altin Basak #3003, size 50.

My next quest is to find the perfect 3" motif for some coasters. Anyone have a suggestion?

Bridal shower

Yvette was very pleased with her gifts! Erich wasn't quite sure what to make of them! After all the presents were opened, he asked me, "So, what were those "things" you made for Yvette?" I explained, and he replied, "Oh..." Clearly, Erich was not quite as impressed as Yvette was!


No, Mom! Erich didn't really use the hanky... we were just having a little fun when Yvette wasn't looking!

Whew!

I finished Yvette's bag in the nick of time! Last night, around 9, I finished tying off the second drawstring. Good thing... the shower's at 1 p.m. today!

I love this pattern, and I've made several bags for brides through the years. The pattern is by Jacqueline Young and can be found in Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Crochet. I've always followed the pattern exactly in the past, but this time I decided to make my own Kumihimo braid for the drawstrings. There are some disadvantages and advantages to going this route. I had to make several sample braids before determining which thread to use. I really wanted to use rayon floss, but I couldn't seem to get an even tension. No one would have noticed but me, but I wanted it to be as near perfect as I could get it. I wound up using the same size 20 Cebelia that I used for the bag. I needed two 18" pieces of cording, and each one took me a full day to make. There are 12 beaded tassel loops on each side of the bag, making it much heavier than what I've made in the past. I didn't have time to determine if there was a way to make fewer tassel loops to make the bag lighter, but I like the look, so I guess it really doesn't matter! As for advantages, I was able to attach the beaded tassels much more securely than with the method given in the pattern. Hmmm... I guess that's the only advantage I can think of right now!


The hanky is linen. I knew I wouldn't have time to tat an edging out of finer thread, so I used size 20 Cebelia. I think it works with the linen hanky, because the fabric is not as light weight as the cotton hanky blanks I have. Besides, I like the look of "heavy" lace... it looks very Irish to me, and I am part Irish!

I've received many wonderful goodies in the mail in the past week or so. I can't wait to share them with you, but I need to wrap presents, get cleaned up, and drive to the shower, so I guess I'll have to do that later.