So Much Thread

Okay, let's see, what did I get up to yesterday. After schooling we headed out for a walk, though I'm starting to think I should do so with a face mask or something so I don't spend the rest of the day miserable. My point is, it was well into the afternoon before I managed to get any tatting done. I did get the order I needed to do done and also some color variations for April's forthcoming pendant.

The biggest project I tackled was the organization and counting of all my Lizbeth thread. I had a custom order I was fielding that required some thread in size 20 that I knew I didn't have. So since I was making an order for that I wanted to see what else I needed. Luckily after all the sorting, counting and logging, it turned out I needed very little really. Good thing too, because my supply budget is pretty much non existent with my current level of sales.

I won't be able to work on the order until the thread arrives, so until then I'm not really certain what I'll get up to. This weekend is bound to be rough as the husband is overseeing a great migration project at work and it will likely command all his attention. Here's hoping I get a project of my own to keep me distracted for the next few days.

What a Day

I had quite the action packed day. Mostly because things kept breaking and needing immediate repair.Right after schooling I managed to break the garage door. No, don't ask how. The point is I did it and then had to undo it. Luckily I'm pretty handy with tools, so I worked it out. Then after running errands, that kept getting longer, it was pointed out that in breaking the door I had also scrapped paint off the trim of the house. Of course then I had to find the touch up paint, clean the wall wound and paint that. These tasks were added the ones that kept popping up inside the house too. All the while the dust kicked up from looking for things along with the pollen outside turned me into a heap of allergy suffering even though I had taken a pill in the morning. All that sounds fun right?

I did however manage to get some interesting photos while I took a break and walked out with the kids. Of course in retrospect, that just exacerbated the allergies, but at least there was nothing that needed fixing on the walk. I got a photo of the same mushroom from yesterday because it bloomed further. Though I'm not sure that's what the process is call in fungi. We also got very close to two Turkey Vultures than we ever had before. They are incredibly big birds that live near us in large amounts, but you rarely see them on the ground unless they've found something dead and are feeding. I'll spare you the details about what they are eating here, but they are actually quite beautiful close up and enormous. We got the stink eye from one bird, but it just stayed there as we watched and walked on.

So, no I didn't get much tatting in. I did manage to finish a pair of ankle corsets for the shop though. I just got an order in this morning so I have at least one small thing to make today. Hopefully the allergy medicine can win today and nothing else needs fixing, because I just want to sit and tat today.

Blossoming Ideas

Let's see, well first there's have been no sales in the shop, so the great countdown to 3000 is currently holding steady. However, I did get a hint of an idea yesterday morning for my yearly International Tatting Day pendant. Yes, I am aware it's not until April 1st, but I want to be able to get the pendant designed and the pattern written up as it will most likely be available as well, but I'll get back to that in a minute.

First the morning and early afternoon were pretty busy, but ended with a lovely walk with the kids. All the recent rain may not have pulled us out of the drought, but it gave us lawn mushrooms of unusual size. The mushroom inspired me to take my camera along on our walk and I think all the Spring and photographs inspired my creative side. Well that and I think it also triggered my allergies because I am rocking quite a sore throat this morning.

When we got back I turned my earlier idea into the pendant. I can't show you where I ended up because I want to save it for the holiday, but it was inspired by 8 years of selling lace and by necessity, it is nice and small. I can show you one of the places I started though, mostly because it changed so much from this that it really doesn't give much away. I need to make a few more in color variants and then work on writing up the pattern. I do also plan on releasing another pattern, from an existing design, for sale at the same time, so that needs writing up as well. You know I'm gonna stall on that though. I'm rubbish at writing up the patterns. At least I know I have projects, however small, waiting for me. It gives me something to look forward to.

The Next 1000

It was another odd day around these parts. School took all the time before lunch and there were other concerns for the day, so I just didn't focus on working like I should have. I did finish what I needed to for the only order in queue, but that was about it. I have a pair of ankle corset to remake for the shop, but I am almost done with those as well.

Since I was going to a doctor's appointment with the husband, the kids were with their grandparents in the afternoon and when we got back they were at our house with our nieces and dinner. So the evening was family visiting. I really feel like I got absolutely nothing done.

Wait, I just remembered one thing.  I was checking my shop stats on etsy and I am just 5 sales shy of 3000. I joked that it's only taken me nearly 8 years to get them, but it's not a joke, it was a slow build to get sales there and this last year has been an uncomfortable downward slide in them as well. Still, I am steadily creeping to such a nice big number and I feel like I should celebrate it. So to that end, I'll be doing a giveaway just as soon as I hit that number. I was going to do it on Facebook, but I think I'll have it here instead. So keep your eye out. Hopefully it will happen soon, but with the slow sales it could possibly be awhile. At the very least it is something to look forward to, the next 1000 will be a long time coming.

Weekend Recap

It was a bit of an odd duck weekend. Many things occurred that were outside our usual routine, but I won't go into all of that. On Friday evening we entertained a friend we haven't really spent time with in years which was lovely. Then I was tasked by my mother-in-law to make 4 more snowflakes as memorial gifts and she needed them quickly, so that was my Friday and Saturday morning tatting task.

Even our Saturday was a bit off because of a time sensitive computer project the husband is doing at work, that he had to continue working on all weekend at home. We still managed to run our usual Saturday errand, but quicker and with fewer side trips. Luckily I had one order to remake giving me some tatting to do with all of the extra downtime as I introduced the kids to the, cancelled too soon show, Pushing Daisies.

Sunday was much the same, only we also spent copious amounts of time catching up on shows that had been piling up on our dvr. Then I got a nice big order to work on. Not big enough for me to throw a party or anything, but big enough to give me tasks for a few days at least. After I get that all taken care of I will start to seriously work on a new small piece for April as well as the patterns I'm hoping to get ready for release. Of course I have no real idea on what that small piece will be, but I'm starting to feel the urge to design again, so it won't be too long. Of course it's design will have to remain secret until revealed, you know, for the drama. That means no pictures. I'll find something to share soon, I hope. If not, there's always cat pictures.