Busy With My Two Blogs

I haven't been a very good blogger on here lately.  The reason is, I have another blog.  I teach voice and piano and since this is one of my main sources of income, I have been concentrating more on it.  We had our Fall Recital last Saturday and I had twelve students participate.  They all did wonderfully well! I was so proud of them.

However, I have also been tatting a lot lately, too.  I wish I had the time and energy to do more craft shows, but one just can't do everything.  I cut back working at the assisted living home to one day a week and increased my music students to 28.  Physically, this is easier on my old body and I think I could continue this on into my 70's, if God wills.  Most of us cannot just retire with no other income other than our social security.  That is a pipe dream.  So I pray that The Lord will give me good health to continue on this path.  I think if my husband, Terry, and I just keep moving, that is the best for us.  Outside of some aches and pains, we have no physical hurtles to overcome so far.  We have to start exercising regularly, though to stay this way. I would appreciate your comments and thoughts about retirement and what you are doing if you are like us.  It would be interesting to hear your comments.  I hope I haven't lost all my friends and contacts because of my silence lately.  It would be great to hear from you.

LOTS GOING ON . . .

Lately, things are getting busier around here.  I cut back the hours at the assisted living home where I work as an activity director to only one day a week so I could do more voice and piano teaching.  I have about 30 students right now, and that keeps me hopping.  But I also have gotten busier doing my other "love" - arts and crafts. I am just taking some time out right now to let everyone know that I am still alive since I haven't posted in awhile.  I have added some pictures of new items I am making.  Just this week, I got an order for twenty--yes, twenty--tatted bracelets!  That will take me awhile.  Plus, there is a new scarf that I love making.  It is so frilly and lacy--just the style that I like.  So, I hope you enjoy my pictures.  Now, back to work . . . .  (lovin' it)

MY NEW PROJECTS

I am sorry I have neglected my blog for awhile.  I have another musical blog that I started and I guess I am having trouble keeping up with both blogs.  However, I have also been creating some new things along the way.  I am into designing totes and purses lately and am having fun doing it.  I always try to incorporate my tatting into what I make, and these totes are no exception.  Let me know what you  think of my new items!

 The above purse has been a very popular purchase on Etsy.  I have sold several of them to new brides for their wedding day.  I have added vintage lace that I find at antique stores, along with my tatting and handmade flower with vintage pearls.

On the above tote, I added my hand quilted pinwheel square.  I started this as a  quilt, but I guess I do not have the patience to make a whole quilt, so I decided to incorporate my quilt squares into the tote, along with my tatting.  This is much more enjoyable to make!

            This tote would look great with jeans or a summer dress!

Above, you see another one of my hand quilted squares.  These are large totes and can hold, lap top computers, iPads, books, or used as an overnight bag.

Moon Picture

We had a beautiful moon last week.  I hope you all saw it.  My friend posted this awesome picture and I wanted you to enjoy it, too.

My New Blog

Okay, I have been absent for awhile and I apologize for it. I have been setting up my new blog (in addition to this one) and it is focusing on my voice teaching. Since this is how I earn my living, I thought it would be helpful to start a blog about it. If you enjoy singing or know someone who does, please check it out and maybe share it with others. You can find it at


www.singingwithlinda.blogspot.com


and I hope you like it. So you can become a singing tatter and crafter just like me (big smile). Well, I'm off to a singing lesson now. Have a great day!

Tatted Bridal Bracelet

Oooh, I have sold another one of my cuff bracelets to a bride-to-be!  This is just too much fun!  She sent me a picture of her total bridal outfit and she had a dilema.  Her accessories were all shades of lace and they didn't blend together at all.  So she saw my bracelet and it seemed to have all the shades of lace that were in her clothes.  And my bracelet had many shades of lace to pull them all together.  So, I think it will work very well for her.  This is working very well for me.

Tatted Ribbon Bracelets

I got my first order from a bride-to-be!  She wanted me to make bright yellow bracelets for her bridesmaids and an off-white tatted bracelet for her.  So, I went to work and made them all.  It was fun thinking about how they would look on everyone, along with their beautiful dresses.  I have been the soloist for many weddings, and they are always a happy occasion--so I had the same feeling as I tatted these bracelets.  I hope I can do more in the future for bridal parties.  I have sold quite a few bracelets on Etsy because it seems that lace is the "in" thing right now.   I have also included a picture of one in light pink with crystals added.  I stiffened the yellow bracelets, but the pink one is not stiffened.  They both work on the wrist since they are tied together with the satin ribbon.  

Our "Here's To Life" Elmcroft Choir

Well, our choir went on the road this week and sang at another assisted living home on Thursday. The choir members range from ages  87 to 91. They sang songs like "Fly Me To The Moon" and "Proud Mary" (our favorite).  I lead them and they follow very well, I must say. Right now, we have 8 songs, but we will be adding a few more songs. Next month, we are singing at a life care facility.    I will try to get a video so you can hear them.

A Lot Going On Lately . . . .

I have some great news this week!  I have been featured in a beautiful crazy quilt magazine called "Crazy Quilt Gatherings"!  Pat Winters has graciously included my tatting in the Spring issue of her beautiful magazine.  You can see her magazine if you go to her blog at the following address:  


   http://www.gatherings100.blogspot.com


I also received a nice order on my Etsy for six tatted bracelets for a wedding!  She wants five of them in bright yellow for her bridesmades and one in off-white for her.  That will look so pretty, won't it?  

My music is taking up most of my time lately.  I have had to sing at two Valentine shows so far this week, and another one on Thursday night.  My students have also increased lately.  I have almost 20 at the moment.  They are mostly voice students with a few piano students in between.  I guess all the music shows on TV lately concerning singing have really helped my business, which is just great!  

Sunset At Chester Frost Park

The weather has been so mild here this winter.  I can't even call it a winter, but I am thankful that our electric bill is lower than last year because we are not heating our house every minute of the day.  My daughter, Sandy, is a photographer and last week, she went to one of her favorite spots in the area--Chester Frost Park.  She has taken many pictures there but this is my favorite so far.  It is hard to see, but my grandson is standing on the pier looking at the beautiful sunset.  I hope you enjoy this picture as much as I have.  God creates wonderful scenery for our eyes to behold and I wanted to share this creation with you.

My trip to Pigeon Forge

Last week, we made a trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and had a great time! This time of year, it is kind of quiet there and the motel and cabin rates are fantastic. So we stayed at the Inn at Christmas Place and it was just beautiful. I will try to get some pictures of it on here but I can't figure out how to put them on from my iPad yet. Anyway, I wanted to give you the website of the lady who taught me how to tat about 15 years ago. She has a wonderful shop in a log cabin that has every kind of needlework. Below you will find her website. I bought some new tatting booke there. She has a great selection and I think you can order supplies from her website, too.

If you are ever up that way, please stop in to see her and tell her I sent you!

Http://www.stitcheri.com