FITSUNE's SparkPeople Blog

Pretty Daisy Snowflake Pattern

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 17:08:52 EST

Here is a darling pattern that I found online:
Daisy Picot Snowflake

Wind two shuttle with different colour thread for each shuttle.

The centre Daisy - 6 rings altogether.

R(5-3-2-2-3-5). You can make the centre picot slightly bigger for decorative purposes.
R(5+3-2-2-3-5), joining to the last picot of the previous ri...

Getting a little exercise in the garden.

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 14:52:17 EST

My lavender plants are blooming. They are planted on a hillside so that forces me to climb up to pick them. Last night I made lavender wands and today I will string the rest for drying. In the cool evening I will go up again and pick more.
Here are some photos that I took in my garden this morning.

Here is the hillside with iceplant,pride o...

Today it Rained.

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:30:34 EST

Yea! Free water for my garden!
I missed going to water aerobics this morning. So I guess I will go this evening and do laps.
I joined weight watchers. So now I have an active link on to keep track of my movement. This is the assesment week so it doesn't tell me how I am doing yet.
I am almost afraid to be too active or it will set my baseline too high.
Well on second thought ... there is not much chance of that....Being too active I mean.
I am off to get dog foo...

Time for thinning the seedlings.

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 15:14:35 EST

Today I had to thin the seedlings. I usually put two seeds in each hole during planting. I learned from my mother that they help each other sprout but then you have to decide which one to keep or they crowd each other. Here is a photo of the bean seedlings pushing up the plastic mesh. I also planted more swiss chard and more beets.
I am really happy with this years blooms. Heres a photo of one of my Irises. (I pla...

Lemon cucmber and yellow bellpeppers were planted today.

Sat, 6 Apr 2013 17:43:00 EST

Having a marvelous time in my garden today. The sprouts are doing well. I need to replant some of the snow peas and I planted some starts that I bought at Wallmart. I also went to LA fitness and worked out in the water aerobics class. It was a lot of fun.
Now I will do the dishes and continue working on the tatted coaster designs.
104

The zucchini sprouted!

Mon, 1 Apr 2013 19:53:53 EST

The zucchini has sprouted already. Wow that is fast. Oh and the persimmon tree that I thought was dead....has new buds. Yea!

The zucchini is planted.

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 22:48:17 EST

Well I slept in today and missed my water aerobics. It really makes a difference.
I went to Wallmart and got a little walk in there and bought two eggplant plants.
When I got back home I got the tires filled with soil and planted some zucchini seeds. I covered them with chicken wire to keep the cats out.
The grape that I planted last weekend already has two new leaves! Happy Happy.
Have a wonderful day everybody!

Week end in the garden.

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:53:04 EST

Well this weekend I got a lot of exercise and sunshine getting the garden ready for planting. I started last month by planting Japanese Snow Peas in pots and now I have five plants starting to climb up the strings and trellises that I left for them. Each pot has a ring of copper near the top edge so hopefully that will keep the snails away.
I replaced an old board on my vegetable garden and nailed a new veneer to the o...

Pattern for March

Fri, 8 Mar 2013 18:39:13 EST

Lucky Shamrock

This shamrock is a little more difficult to make because the large picots on each ring need to be measured. I use the tip of my finger to measure them to be ½ digit or approximately 2 mm. This same picot is Twisted and caught in the same ring before the ring is closed.

Abbreviations:
R ring
ds double stitch
ch chain
Lp ...

There is a new site behind the tatting team picture.

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:42:45 EST

There is a new site behind the tatting team picture. It has lessons that beginners can use to learn how to tat. 224

Exercise is a must.

Mon, 4 Feb 2013 15:48:26 EST

Well, I'm learning. Now that I have been exercising at the gym regularly (water aerobics and walking to and from gym) I am finally getting some results. Before when I tracked what I ate and even remained within the nutritional goals I actually gained weight. I got as high as 202 lbs. Now I have lost 8 Lb.s The exercise made all the difference. I am feeling so much better. Not near the pain I had when I first started.

Here is a new version of Clementine Heart Pattern.

Fri, 1 Feb 2013 18:25:46 EST

This pattern is the same as the last pattern except for the outer edge.
When you choose the size of your thread remember that the smaller the thread the smaller the knots will be. Be sure that the embroidery needle will be able to fit through the knots.

Revised Clementine

Supplies:
Tatting Thread
One Shuttle
Embroidery Needle
Fray Stop (optional)

Abbr...

Tatted Valentine Pattern for 2013

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:24:29 EST

Well I got behind and didn't blog a new pattern for the past months. Please excuse the delay.
Here is a little Valentine that I figured out today.
I hope you like it.

Little Clementine Heart

Supplies:
Tatting Thread
One Shuttle
Embroidery Needle
Fray Stop (optional)

Instructions:
Start with central clover leaf.
1. R (ring) 5d...

Back on track!

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 16:42:10 EST

Well it was easy to get side-tracked but I am back to doing a daily walk to the gym where I do aqua aerobics. The class is really great and with different Instructors each day there is alot of variety. I also have made a few freinds. Happy Happy. Today is Sunday but I walked there anyway and did laps. I feel so much better and the walking seems to be a little bit easier with every passing day. 104

Getting and maintaining fitness doesn't come instantly.

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:28:45 EST

I am learning that committing to become and stay fit isn't easy.
It doesn't happen over night either. I try to remind myself that all this is a lifestyle change and something that I will have to keep up for the rest of my life.
Fortunately I found a wonderful water aerobics class to go to. I still need to make it a more consitent habit. Anyway...fitness hasn't come as soon as I had hoped but I haven't givien up and at least so far I have maintained and not gained,

Reaching goal to be fit hasn't been soon.

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 15:23:52 EST

Well I am still yo yoing weight. I started quite a while back last Spring. I haven't kept to my plans. So I am going to make smaller goals to reach. This week my goal was to prepare snacks ahead of time. I put carrot sticks in little baggies that I keep at the front of my refrigerator. So far so good.

I joined a gym.

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:57:19 EST

For the past 5 weeks I have been going to an aquatic exercise class at a nearby gym.
It has really helped with the arthritis pain and plus I get to soak in the jacuzi too!
I feel so fortunate to be able to do this. I was just recently accepted for Medicare and so the savings from that are now going towards preventative medicine.
So far so good.

Halloween Spider to Tat

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 21:04:44 EST

Supplies: Knit Cro Sheen Crochet
Thread in Red and Black
2 shuttles
2 large beads
Embroidery needle
Scissors

Instructions:
1. Wind one shuttle with black thread and the other shuttle with red thread.
2. Load 2 beads for the eyes on your black thread shuttle and rewind about a foot of thre...

Will make Prickly Pear Jam this week

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 16:53:58 EST

I plan to make more prickly pear jam this Thursday. I have cactus at the top of the hill in my garden and I can see the fruit is ripe from my kitchen window.
Come back soon for the recipe. I will put it in my recipe box by Friday. 172

New Shoes should help with walking.

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 18:35:22 EST

Well my pulled muscle/ligament is better but not completely healed and I have arthritis and plantar faciatis (sp?) . I can't let this stop me though. I don't want to make excuses for not walking. So, I got new shoes and arch supports. It cost a lot but I think it was well worth it. It has only been three days and I have been taking short walks again. Yea ! It's like a small miracle I can walk again with a little pain but not near as much.

no food after 9:00 pm

Mon, 3 Sep 2012 01:51:14 EST

I've decided to set some limits to my night time eating.
The new rule is no food after 9:00 pm.
I think I pulled a leg ligament and I haven't been able to walk much for the past 5 days.

This Month's Tatting Pattern

Sat, 14 Jul 2012 15:03:41 EST

Frilly Sunflower

Supplies:Yellow and Orange or Brown
Knit Cro Sheen
One tatting shuttle
Scissors
Frey Stop (optional)
Crewl Embroidery needle

Instructions:
1. Center flower –
a. Load shuttle with rust orange or brown thread.
b .Ring ...

The Lavender Festival

Mon, 2 Jul 2012 18:27:37 EST

I had a wonderful time at the Cherry Valley Lavender Festival last Saturday.
They had a classical Musician playing the piano, craft booths, a food court, hay rides and lecture workshops. I particularly liked the demo of how they distill the flowers into lavender oil and lavender water.
I went there on a "Day Tripper" tour and it was really great the way Keri gave us a tour as we traveled and provided juice water and snacks.
I really feel like I have had a vacation. 41

Starting at day one again

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 19:50:23 EST
Well yesterday I thought I would do a lot of walking at the gem show so I saved my knees for that and didn't walk in the morning. However, my parents were ill so we stayed home and watched TV together. I could have walked in the evening but I was exhausted and went to bed early. Soooo today I did my walk and I am right back to day one of my walking streak. This streak thing isn't easy. If I can get a full 30 day streak I will be so happy and proud.

My Streak is two days off.

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:36:43 EST
Well I went to the streak page today and tried to start a streak record back dated to Monday but I couldn't do it. So, today is officially day one but really day three.
Maybe in time those two days won't matter much to me but so far it's 2/3 of my actual time. Oh Well.
Any way the weather has been great and my little dog is very happy about all the walks.

Needs to start new walking streak.

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 20:52:31 EST
I've been sleeping in too late for a morning walk and yesterday I spent with my Mom and Dad for Father's Day. We had a very nice time but I broke my streak.
I am going out now for a walk. Wish me luck.
Bye now.

Another earring pattern

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 19:27:28 EST

Supplies: Scissors
Size 20 tatting thread
One tatting shuttle
Beading needle
2 earring wires
Two crystal pearl beads (6mm)
Two Rondelle
Twelve seed beads
Four metallic beads
...

New Ear ring pattern

Wed, 6 Jun 2012 23:51:06 EST

Garnet Earrings

Supplies:
One Shuttle
One beading needle
2 yards size 40 tatting thread
One pair ear wires
2 Crystal pearl beads (6 mm)
8 small beads (sb)
4 gold beads (gb)
4 garnet beads (G)

Instructions:
1. Wind s...

Gained 3 pounds visiting relatives.

Wed, 6 Jun 2012 16:16:58 EST
Well, I just came back from visiting relatives for two days. They are all overweight and I ate with them. I had a wonderful time. We did crochet together and watched TV.
Very sedentary but lots of fun.
They cook deliscous meals with real butter and of course we had desserts as well.
I gained 3 pounds!
Next time I visit, my plan is to leave food on my plate and use less butter.
I wonder how long it will take me to lose the weight once I get back to my own lifestyle. ...

Sunscreen kills coral

Tue, 22 May 2012 07:18:57 EST
I just learned today that sunscreen kills coral. Drat..I've been wearing it every day for years! My tan is pretty blotchy ..I guess its time to shift to hats and long sleeves and plain moisturizers.
news.nationalgeographic.com/news/200
8/01/080129-sunscreen-coral.html

Tatted necklace on chain

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:54:31 EST
This necklace uses a variation of the baby braceklet pattern found in "Boutique Tatting" by Marilee Rockley.
http://yarnplayertats.blogspot.com/

This was actually very easy to make and it only took one day!

Do you use dry or cooked measurements?

Sun, 13 May 2012 21:15:14 EST
I know I have been at this for a while now but I am still not sure whether we are supposed to use the dry or the wet measurments for certain ingredients in our recipes. For instance today I entered a recipe for falafel. The amount entered in the calculations was entered as the final volume (cooked) not the dry volume.
In the list of ingredients its alway easy just to specify and I have been doing that.
Any way, I hope the nutritional calculations are correct.
The same goes fo...

This is the necklace:

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:21:54 EST

Here it is. It took me three days to make it. The pattern is a combination and slight variation of patterns found in "Christmas Angels and Other Tatting Patterns" by Monica Hahn and "Boutique Tatting" by Marilee Rockley.

I think the center medalion turned out to look a lot like a furtility symbol (The fat woman's body). Oh well.

I did pretty good today about eating healthy too! So I'm feeling goo...

Back to original weight.

Wed, 9 May 2012 17:23:52 EST
I finally lost the Easter wieght gain and I am back to my original wieght which is 198. I am thinking about going on the South Beach diet. Have any of you already done that? Tell me what you think? 88

Simple Beaded Flower

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:09:15 EST
Hi all, 'Sorry I've been gone so long. made a couple of patterns for covered Easter Eggs but I guess I'll save them for next year.

Here's a little flower that I added to a baby Tshirt.

Simple Beaded Flower

Uses Ball and Shuttle. size 20 or 30 thread,
Five pink wide hole beads and 4 clear sparkle seed beads.

Ins...

This is life overweight with arthritis.

Sat, 4 Feb 2012 13:09:21 EST
I took a slightly longer walk today but I hobbled the whole way. I was worried that I would be in pain all day but after a 15 minute rest when I got home and another cup of coffee I think I will be O.K..
If I am feeling O.K. later I might even mow the lawn and pull a few weeds and sort a few rocks, First I will do a sit-down activity...finish sewing the baby clothes.
I have learned that with arthritis you just don't push it. Change activities oft...

Tatted Valentine Pattern Complete

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:59:44 EST
Three Blossom Valentine

Supplies:
Crochet cotton or tatting thread
One shuttle

Abbreviations:
R ring
ds double stitch
p small picot
RW reverse work
cl close ring

First Section (small blossoms and bottom trefoil)

1. Start with right small blossom.
R, 4ds, p, 4ds, cl.
R, 6 ds, p, 6 ds, cl.
Leave s...

Leaves for composting.

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:33:47 EST
Last year I composted in an aluminum garbage can with holes in the bottom. The soil turned out great! So now I am starting again and I have plenty of leaves and debris from the front yard.
Happy Happy.
My winter vegetable garden this year has kale, Brusselsprouts, carrots, strawberries, rhubarb,
swiss chard, and artechokes. I still need to plant the turnips and start new plants for Spring.

Arthritis is the pits.

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:58:12 EST
My Dad has a funny saying: "All good deeds never go unpunished".
That's how it feels when I take my little walk around the block. I shouldn't say walk. Its more like limping around the block. I expect this to get better when I lose weight. wish me luck.

Up five pounds.

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:40:15 EST
Four or five pounds is my usual increase after Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I have been offline because my laptop screen stopped working. I transferred all my files from the laptop to my regular computer finally so now I am back.
Lots tatting projects got finished in time for xmas gifts,( including the dragons).
Thank you to all of you who sent me links to find the right patterns.

So anyway...its time to back on track. My New Year's resolution was to walk everyday ...

Up a pound

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:03:15 EST
I am up a pound but it makes sense because I didn't do my walks. Life has been pretty stressful with yet another death in the family of another dear friend.
I am going to try not to kick myself for gaining again or make excuses. I will just get right back on the program and take my walk today for sure!
I really liked that article about one step back two steps forward. I put it in my favorites and I am going to follow it. This is not going to get me down.
So now I am off to ...

Facing the truth about what I eat.

Sun, 9 Oct 2011 16:14:13 EST
Well, I just wanted to know what it was really worth .

So here it is:

Kraft Mayo Light Mayonnaise (Mayo), 0.5 tbsp 25 1 2 0
Woodstock Farms Organic Sweet Relish, 0.25 tbsp 4 1 0 0
Sara Lee 12 Grain Bread (one slice), 2 serving 200 38 0 10
Picket Fence Premium Chunk Chicken in water, 2.5 oz 63 0 1 14
Lunch TOTALS:Calories 291 Carb 40 Fat 4 Protein 24

291 caolories for my typical chicken sandwich !....Wow.
There y...

How to tat a split chain

Tue, 4 Oct 2011 00:15:56 EST
I found this site very helpful when I was learning to tat. www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-tat-split
-ring-219278/

How do I give myself exercise credit for housework?

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 20:24:50 EST
Well I didn't do my walk today but I did vacuum the living room and wash all the tile in the downstairs (Halls and Kitchen). The floor cleaner didn't really get it so I redid it scrubbing on my hands and knees the old fashioned way.
I also got the davenport completely vacuumed out

I am sore and exhausted! Shouldn't this count as exercise?

I took breaks (because I have arthritis) so I estimate about six hours of work. Does anyone know how to calculate calories bur...

More Clear Daisy Instructions

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:35:34 EST
I still don't like the way the downloads turn out blurry. So, I am going to try to copy the text to the blog and see if this is more clear. Here goes:

Simple Daisy

Materials:
One Shuttle
Two colors of thread
Scissors
Large eyed embroidery needle
Fray Stop (optional)

Instructions:
1. Wind approximately 3 yards of center color on shuttle .

2. Keep petal color as ball thread to ma...

Better Lady Bug Instructions

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 23:32:03 EST

I noticed the photo of instructions was a little blurry so maybe this will come through a little more clearly.
Happy Tatting!

Ok. That didn't work but I figured out a way with the Daisy so I will copy in the text for the Ladybug here:

Supplies:
One Shuttle
Two contrasting colors of Thread
(red and black preferred)

Comments:
It is great ...

Made Chocolate Tofu Mousse with Sugar Free Maple Syrup

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 23:20:03 EST
Well I am really stuffed tonight. 30 Dinner was Swai Fillet with Lemon Pepper and Sliced red sweet pepper, carrots, brown rice, and brussel sprouts. For desert, I wanted to try the recipe Chocolate Tofu Mousse but I didn't have any semisweet chocolate.

I walked to the store...Yea for me! They only had milk chocolate and real maple syrup is so expensive. So. I used what was available and it turned out great! I posted my new version of this recipe and eventually I hope...

Tracked Denny's Fit Fare

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 23:02:32 EST
My friend took me to Denny's today and I was sure It would bee impossible to track but I was wrong!
First there was a change in the menu with "Fit Fare" options (ie white for whole eggs etc) and then I was able to find the nutritional values of what I ate online! The omelette was huge. So actually I took half home for lunch and still stayed within my calorie limits today.
Happy Happy Joy Joy.

Oh and I stayed with doing my walk in the morning...tomorrow I ...

Yeah Did my walk again today!

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:10:30 EST
Yep. I stuck to my promise and did it!
The Doctor says I have Plantar Fasciitis in addition to the arthritis but she gave me sone stretches to do and some pain pills. So, I am not going to let this pain stop me any more!

Thank you Spark People for all the articles and advice about arthritis. Very imformative and I will follow the advice.

Now I am off to do my new streches! Wish me luck and best wishes to you all too!

Tatting Made Simple

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 01:25:12 EST
I made a simple Lady Bug pattern today for all you beginning Tatters.
It would have been better in Red and Black but the metalics were what was on my shuttles at the time (for making Christmas Angels and Snowflakes). Any way...I am happy with how it turned out and would like to share it.
The Photo and Instructions are posted with my Photos at my Sparkpage.