Books, Books, Books

 

    I cannot help it. I have to collect.This is a good part of my tatting book collection. I currently have over 300, which is not as big as some collections I am aware of, but it is mine. I recently had an opportunity to purchase more books from a private sale. I was shown photos of what was available and picked out the ones I wanted. The problem was, do I have this book or that book already on the shelf?

    I have a great way to help with that. There is a piece of software available called Readerware. It is a database. You can get it for books, music, and videos. I have the one for books. This software could (and may) be used by libraries to check books in and out. I use it to keep my inventory. The nice thing is, there is a PC version (paid) and a smart phone version (free). I usually enter my data on the PC, then I can sync between the PC and the phone. You can find it here: https://www.readerware.com/index.php

    For the book sale I mention above, I went through the offer with my phone in hand checking to see if I have it or not, then was able to select the ones I wanted without duplication. If you find yourself in a similar situation, you might want to look into this software. It is really quite good and no, I have no other affiliations with the software other than very satisfied customer.

Now I Remember

 

    OK. Now I remember. The scanner doesn't really show the shine on this thread. It is Lizbeth Gold Metallic. Since I have been making earrings lately I thought I would do a pattern from the IL Mio Chiaccheirino #2 magazine. I wanted something different so I decided to use gold metallic thread. Not too bad, I suppose, but I wish the "gold" showed up better in the photo. I didn't use beads because the thread glitters and I think beads would not be seen very well.

    But now I remember. I remember why I rarely use metallic thread. Hard to handle, feels sticky, wants to undo. Now I remember. It does come out pretty, though.

Once Again

 

 

    I have to admit, Corina Meyfeldt knows what people like. A neighbor down the street saw another set and wanted some for his wife. He had done me a favor so I did not mind doing one for him. This is turquoise Lizbeth with gold lined glass beads. I really like the color.

    The guy I am making the doily for saw these and now I have to make a set for his fiancee. Those are a different blue and I used a different center bead. I may post those later. I am almost done with them already. 

    I like to make them, but I don't wear them so if someone wants them, I will usually make them and give away. These are habit forming, hehe.

I Have The Cure

     I have the cure. Do any of you suffer from high blood pressure, like I do? Well, now I have found a new medical device that will help with that. Even if your medications are now working as planned, just like mine, this new device can help. 

    My blood pressure can go over 200/100 if I don't take my medications. With the medications, I can get it down to 155/85 and my doctor has doubled my dosage recently. This new device lowers it dramatically. I just finished using it and took my blood pressure. 122/66 and my heart rate has increased too. (It is usually 48-50 so I need it to be higher.)

    So if you just cannot get that pressure down enough, consider getting one of these. You might be glad you did. 

    (To be honest, I think it is just get off your duff and move. So how was my sales pitch for a rake? And yes, I have started round 15 of 18 on the doily.)

2020 Spring Napkin Round 14 of 18 Done

 

    I am still slowly working on the 2020 Spring Napkin by Renulek. This will be given to a friend for his mother. Round 14 is done. Only 4 more rounds to go. The next round is really difficult (sarcasm here). It is make a ring, make a chain, make a ring, make a chain, all around. Hopefully it won't take as long.

Everybody Into The Kitchen

 

     I needed a break from tatting so I decided to make these. I got a recipe from the Joy of Cooking cookbook, but I don't really care for it. The dough came out too dry and it did not make the stated quantity. It said 60, I got 38. I do not think I made them too big. About the same size as other recipes for 60. I really think this one should have said 40. They do taste good, though. Now go make some cookies!

For A Friend

 

    Here is another pair of the Wave earrings, this time in brown and gold. My brother had shown the black ones to a friend who liked them. I don't know her, but he sent a photo of her to me. She has the prettiest brown hair. I immediately thought that this color combination would complement her hair. I sent this photo for his approval and his response was "She loves them". The earrings are already in the mail. (He lives about 400 miles away.)

    I don't know why, but I like making these. I suppose it is instant gratification or something because it only takes a couple of hours to make them. It could also be that women just love this design. Corina Meyfeldt really knew what she was doing designing them.

Another Pair.

 

    It has been a while, but I have revisited Corina Meyfeldt's "Wave Earrings". When she first designed them and put them up for sale, I purchased the pattern. Now she gives it away, but it was well worth the few dollars she asked for it. I think I have made around 50 Pairs and given them away. I'm not going to wear them. I just like making them and the pattern is so easy.

 

    I was showing my brother how I do them, making the rings, sewing in ends and then packaging them. He was surprised I put them in ziplock baggies, one on each side of a card. How else to transport them to someone that wants them without damaging them?

Glossy Mags!

    I probably shouldn't have. But they are so nice! And the glossy paper makes everything look so good! I already had a few. The temptation got to be too much. I did it. 

    I had 5 of these already. The magazine is IL Mio Chiacchierino. It is Italian and is all tatting patterns. Mostly jewelry. Remember the earrings I did a couple weeks ago? They came from issue No. 1. I told myself I don't need more, I have enough patterns, but then, there are only 15  issues in the entire run. Since I do collect tatting books, patterns, magazines, etc. I had to have the complete collection. Just got the last ones yesterday from Handy Hands. I want to make at least one item from each copy. Probably earrings, though maybe other stuff too. I definitely want to do the doily from issue No. 15. That's it on top. Maybe in King Tut?

    Oh, and now I can spell tatting in Italian.