RIP Genevieve Gesin

Genevieve Gesin with a 3-month-old Sprout
(photo taken in 2007)

Gentle tatters, some sad news today.

My grandmother's fragile health has been failing for the past few weeks. This great, elegant lady died five minutes before midnight last night. She was 101. (Her 102 birthday was coming up - August 20, 2010.)

There is no doubt in my mind that she will be greeted by throngs of family and friends who have gone before her. Once she has reunited with them, the tatting angels will gather to welcome her home.

You can read more about her in my tatting ancestry.

Here is a photo of the three of us together.

Genevieve, Is'Dihara and Sprout
(photo taken in 2007)

Goodness, look at those glasses, I am glad I don't wear those anymore.  ツ

Gran was the one who taught me to tat. She out-lived every member of her immediate family. Hers was a life well and fully lived, and she was ready to go.

So while my heart is heavy today, I take heart in the many fond memories I have of her. And I proudly carry the lace legacy into the future.

Funeral arrangements are being made for Monday, so I will be out of town for Tatting Tea Tuesday on July 20th. I beg your indulgence as my parent's home does not have Internet access.

In lieu of condolences, it would make my heart glad to know that you spent a few moments tatting and celebrating the tatters in your life whoever or where ever they may be.

Rest in peace, my beloved tatting friend. You will be sorely missed.

RIP Nellie Miller

Nellie Miller (standing)
during an SCA hafla in 1999

So sad to relay news of the death of Nellie Miller (AKA Baroness Agnes Daunce and also AKA Placida Fondacara) in the SCA. She was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer on April 18 that had metastisized to her brain. At the time of her diagnosis, her cancer had spread from her lungs to her abdomen and brain. She died peacefully on May 1st at 2:53 p.m.

Always a lively character and a loyal friend in need, she will be sorely missed!

Nellie Miller (second from left)
during an SCA hafla in 1999

Happy International Tatting Day!

Wishing you all a wonderful and fun-filled International Tatting Day!

This wonderful animation was created by Tatman, aka Mark Myers! He has granted me permission to post it on the blog today. Thank you, Mark!

Don't forget about TattingChic's 2nd blogoversary giveaway! It's not too late, but you need to hurry. You have until Sunday evening to get in on this goodie!

Tatted Cherry Blossom Jewelry

Have you seen this amazing cherry blossom jewelry tatted by @mahiru? It is stunning, stunning, stuff!

Martha Stewart's SnowflakeDecorations — Stiffened Doilies

Simple, yet stunning and if you use TATTED doilies, you probably won't need to stiffen! 


Martha Stewart's Doily Snowflakes
http://ow.ly/GhnC

Image reprinted with permission from Urban Threads.com

Wouldn't this machine embroidery pattern from Urban Threads looks cool (no pun intended) on hand towels for the holidays? Just sayin'...

Martha Stewart gets me every time. Loop-edge Paper punches: http://ow.ly/BHLL

You're Invited!

Bostonians (and visitors) are so lucky! They are perfectly positioned to go see Carol Gillott's watercolor art exhibit, "Paris Façades" at the Alliance Française Boston. Wish I were so lucky.

But if you can't see it in person, content yourself with the delightful Paris dreams she paints every day and posts on her blog, Paris Breakfasts.

The Tea Rap by The Tea Cup Mafia

Oh Sweet Mercy! The Tea Rap by The Tea Cup Mafia that Tatting Goddess posted today over at Threads of a Tatting Goddess is a riot! Who knew?

You really must go pay her blog a visit to catch this video. Just be duly warned, the language is gangstah (not PG-rated).  Take that, coffee snobs.

eebee Adventure Board Book Giveaway

Just had to share this awesome giveaway that Jentifa is currently having at The Dirty Shirt.

eebee is an adorable puppet that helps spark babies' and toddlers' imaginations for learning.

eebee’s Make it Happen and From Here to There adventure board books are based on the award-winning brand, eebee’s adventures. Winner of 20 national parenting awards including NAPPA’s Gold Seal Award, Parent’s Choice Gold, and the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, and whole-heartedly acclaimed by popular mommy bloggers across the country, eebee’s adventures is the innovative and popular multi-platform infant and toddler brand for today’s active families.

So go on over and enter for your chance to win!

"It's Dead, Jim."

Sill Hat Central's lone household PC died. It is not currently reading the hard drive as a boot-able device. I will be offline until it gets fixed. Until further notice, this is IsDihara, signing off!

LIPDUB - UQAM - "I've Got a Feeling"

This takes me back to my French Immersion Summer à l'Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQATR). Wishing I could share it with mes chères amies.

If you ever stumble across my humble blog, Antoine, Oriana et tous les autres, this one is for you!

Win A #Year of Lace

Re-Tweeting @yearoflace: I would love to win a subscription to the 2010 #yearoflace! Sign me up!

Go to the Year of Lace website to enter for your chance to win. And if you Twitter, don't go sign up or you'll make it harder for me to win. Just kidding and good luck!

Insider (Germ) Trading & Motif #4 of 25 Motif Challenge

School is back in session and the first wave of germ trading has begun. Three days into the school term The Sprout got sick and developed an ear infection.

This is me blogging from bed, cuddled close to an alternately teary and talkative boy. He has been watching cartoons, marathon-style (Toy Story, Little Einsteins, Dinosaur Train or Pinky & The Brain). We have also read several books and even made up a few stories to break up the monotony.

And Big Daddy seems to have caught the germ(s) from Sprout. How I have managed to escape (so far) is a mystery. Knock on wood that I don't get it next!

Tatting under these conditions is not ideal, but I have managed to finish this little bit of lace for my design class homework. It is tatted in Manuela size 20.

Motif #4 for 25 Motif Challenge

It is my latest experiment with stabilizing chains. I worked rings after short series of chains and used a split ring-chain combo to add more strength. The design ended up being wavy and square. Added bonus! One repeat makes a nice chandelier earring, especially with beads or small dangly bits added.

Overall, I am pleased with the results even though it turned out to be more ornate than I expected. Stability and negative space are both good. It makes a nice motif #4 for the 25 Motif Challenge.

They Might Be Giants, "The Elements"

I love TMBG!

Thank you, boingboing.net, for debuting this awesome video.

Can't wait for the arrival of the new album, "Here Comes Science!"

Rainbow Quiz

Everyone seems to be taking this quiz so here I go, lemming-like.
No surprises here.

Your rainbow is strongly shaded violet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is says about you: You are a creative person. You appreciate beauty and craftsmanship. You are patient and will keep trying to understand something until you've mastered it.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

Stencil With Your Lace

New CraftStylish post "How to Do Spray Stencil Printing" using lace for the stencil. http://ping.fm/cObUb

Take your old snippets and cast offs to create a collage or scene.

Imagine the holiday gifting possibilities. Lace makes great looking snow and snowy effects.

Is She a Winner?

(Click on the photo for a larger view.)

YES! Look what I won.

Back on July 5th I posted about receiving a super-duper awesome gift in the mail from JB. It was my prize for winning the Pay It Forward Giveaway on her blog. The workmanship and thought that went into this gift were jaw-droppin' awesome and I'm thrilled to be able to show them to you now.

Isn't this the prettiest heart-shaped bookmark? Be sure to click on the image because it is even more beautiful close up. I cannot tell where she made her final thread joins. It looks completely seamless. And yes, this bookmark is my new favorite!

But that's not all! This splendid embroidered linen hand towel she made for me. Linen! Aren't the colors vibrant? The flowers cheery? Just look at the details. I just LOVE IT! Here is a close up of the monogram.

(Click on the photo for a larger view.)

It looks so pretty hanging in my powder room. I wish I had another one for my other powder room. Maybe I'll proffer a trade or offer to pay her on commission. But a trade would be more fun. JB, if you're reading this, would you be interested in making one more of these lovely hand towels? Let's chat about what I can make for you (that is, if you are interested). :-)

Tatting Tea Tuesday - Birthday Edition

New blog post on Ambitatterous: Tatting Tea Tuesday - Birthday Edition. http://tinyurl.com/l3d7dw

(because my ping.fm post didn't work right and I don't have the energy to recreate the post)

Christmas in July

Today I received a piece of email marketing (what I like to call SPAM mail) from JO-ANN fabrics. Normally I just delete these but the copy caught my attention. It was promoting Christmas in July.

Growing up in small town USA we always looked forward to Christmas in July celebrations such as sidewalk sales, lifeguards wearing Santa hats at the pool, strolling around the KOA campground admiring the holiday decorations and making Santa smores around a campfire. Do people do this anymore?