My New Ring Collection

I have always loved jewelry and started making it a few years ago.  I have made earrings, necklaces and bracelets, but never rings.  A few months ago, I saw a ring that I liked and searched for many, many hours to find the pieces to make these rings.  Along with my tatting, I started designing these rings, because it seemed they fit right into my tatting and lacy look.  Of course, I have to add my tatting somehow, so I made a medallion that can be slipped over the ring.  It is stiff, so it stays without sliding around.  I call it my Tatted Ring Jacket.  If someone likes the "big" ring look, it sure adds to the size.  The medallion can also be added to other rings to change the look.


 So, now I am selling my rings locally and on my Etsy.  They are doing very well--they are not too big so they get in the way of working with your hands, and not so small that they are not noticed.  I like the look--sort of contemporary but still old-world looking.  So, I'm having fun with this new line of rings.

MY STAR FISH STORY - AND I'M STICKING TO IT!

It's Friday and another week has flown by.  This summer is passing quickly and school starts in about another month!  My grandson is going into the first grade and is so excited about starting school.  I wonder how long that will last?  It's fun to see him so excited, though.  

We went on a quick trip to Florida a couple of weeks ago and my grandson and I spent most of the time collecting shells.  We also went to a couple of shell stores where I found some of my favorite star fish and bought about $6.00 of them.  I couldn't wait to get back home to use them in my creations.  Well, my daughter left them outside the night we returned home because they didn't smell too good--I guess they were "fresh."  The next morning, my star fish were eaten up!  I guess someone was hungry and the star fish tasted good.  I was so disappointed that I lost my star fish, but was also happy that someone had the opportunity to feast  on a very expensive meal--you might say it was gourmet food for them.  Those star fish must have tasted really good!


So, now I'm looking for more star fish . . . . . . 

Highlights of My Week So Far

Well, I have had a very full week.  In addition to teaching all my students and working at Elmcroft, I added a few more activities to my busy schedule.   On Wednesday, I sang at a local assisted living home that I sing at every month.  I sang about 16 songs for about an hour and loved doing it.  Then, yesterday, my boss (who plays the drums), a chef from our kitchen (who plays the sax) and I (who plays the keyboards) did a concert at our local Senior Center for over 100 people.  We play jazz mostly, but have a couple of very upbeat songs headed by our sax player.  He is just a young guy and is so good at improv.  I wish you could hear him.


Last week, I made a quick trip to Navarre, Florida and hung out there with my daughter and sweet grandson.  We mostly collected shells the whole time we were there.  I came home and created a little journal with some of the shells that I collected and posted it on Etsy.  So fun!!  


Well, I am really tired out now and hope for a nice weekend.  On Sunday, our Praise Team is singing a Patriotic Package.  Can't wait!

My Name Change

I hope this does not confuse all my friends, but I decided to change my blog name.  I think my new name tells a little more about me and I can also talk about tatting plus music.  I don't think my other name told you much about me--we all have thoughts, right?  :)   I had some creative juices flowing yesterday and made this little muslin gift bag.  I trimmed it in vintage laces and made my own flower and tatted center.  I needed something new to add to my Etsy, so we'll see how everyone likes it.  


My next project is to work on an angel for Alzheimer's.  I want to be able to contribute to the Alzheimer's Association and I can give part of the sale of the angel to them.  So, that's another idea that has to be developed.  I am always trying to create and learn.

Don't Know What To Do Next

You know, there are so many options and directions to go in every day, aren't they?  Sometimes, I feel very scatterbrained because I don't know what to do next.  I can't believe that when I was young, I was bored sometimes.  What is "bored"?  I don't even know that word anymore.  Here I am working on this blog, but I should be getting ready for work, working on my crafts for my upcoming craft show, cleaning my house (now that is at the bottom of my "to do" list).  It is really hard for me to concentrate on one thing at a time.  Do you all feel this way, too?  I sure hope so, because I need company.


This past week the assisted living home where I work was featured on a local lifestyle show every day of the week, and I had to be on there two of the days.  I was really stressed out about that.  One day, I played the keyboards for our "Elmcroft Jazz Trio"and the other day I talked about "Crafts for Seniors."  They both went well, but still it is live TV.  No pre-recorded segments.


If you want to see the segments, just copy and paste the following link, go to "Shows" and then to "3 Plus You", and then search the videos on the left hand side for "Elmcroft Jazz Trio" and "Crafts For Seniors."  I especially like the craft one because two of our residents that I really love joined me on there.  They are so special.


http://www.wrcbtv.com

Name That Tune!!

Well, we got through our Name That Tune competition and it was a blast!!  We had 25 contestants and they all did great.  About 80 people attended the event which was filled with laughter and cheering.  One of our very own residents won the competition and our Elmcroft Jazz Trio also played a couple of numbers for entertainment.  The trio is made up of Ben (a cook) on the sax, Jamie (our Resident Director) on the drums and me on the keyboards.  We had a TV personality as our emcee and that was the best decision we ever could have made.  He heard our trio and asked if we could come on his show the next Monday.  It is called "3 Plus You" and is on at 11 a.m. in the morning.  So, the following Monday morning, we appeared on the show.  They all loved it and, asked us to come back the week of June 6th for a different segment every day!  They want to feature Elmcroft Assisted Living every day with one segment being our music, another day of crafts, another day of food we serve, another day of "How To Choose An Assisted Living Home" and then the final one on Altzheimer's information!!  What better advertising could we get??  And it is FREE advertising.  We are all so excited about this.  And our Resident Director is flying high!  But, I'm not too excited about it, right?


I want to include a picture with this blog, so here is a set of crocheted cloths that I am featuring on Etsy.  I alternate between tatting and crocheting these days.  I need to get back to tatting, and I will.  

My Clutch Trimmed in Lace and Tatting

I have been creating again.  I can't just tat--I like to think up things to add my tatting to.  So, here is my envelope clutch and I trimmed in vintage lace and my tatting.  Since I have been very busy at work, I have kind of put my tatting on the back burner.  But I am sure it will not stay there long.


At my assisted living job this week, we are having a "Name That Tune" competition between us and the other assisted living homes in the area.  Remember the "la la girl" back in the '60's (Kathy Lee Gifford)?  Well, I'm going to be the "la la" girl and we are doing tunes from the '30's to the '60's.  It should be lots of fun, I am sure.  We have been "practicing" and listening to all the old songs and, hopefully, all the residents will remember what they heard.  I'll let you know how it all comes out.  It will happen this next Thursday and we expect between 60 - 80 contestants.  This will be our first year and we plan to continue it in the coming years.  We have had  "Trivia Challenge" for the last 10 years, so we thought it was time to change it up a little.  Can't wait!!