Lace Day in Lafayette is LOVELY

Sorry for the long post, but whew! Where to begin. I had such a great time, I guess I will start there.

I took Conor with me to his first Lace Day..(here he is held by his newest friend..Laura.)

I arrived around 10, and was met in the parking lot by Mary Harris, asking if I needed help. Such a nice lady. I didn't but it was sweet of her to ask. Then, I went inside, and was quickly greeted by Laura Bobay, Ladytatterly, and Gina Brummett, Tattinggoddess! They are great ladies, and always a lot of fun to be with. Laura intoduced me to her "newbie" tatters, or her Tatter Tots, as she calls them. Kaye, Chris, and Dee.(I think her name is Chris, if not, Laura, please correct me!). Laura gave me the coolest gourds she had brought, and had made the cutest hedgehog out of one. His name is Hector! Isn't he precious?

Well, to make an incredibly long and lovely story short, we mingled, met new friends, and older ones. Diane, the Lace Lovin Librarian was there. She is such a sweet lady. I met her at the last Lace Day, two years ago. Great to see her again. She told me that she had made one of the raffle prizes that I won.

Did I say raffle PRIZES? Oh, yes. I won 5 of the raffle items! Wow! I couldn't believe it! Having brought Conor with me is the only reason I can think of that I got so lucky. My little Leprechaun brought his mommy the luck of the Irish! Here he is with Mary Harris, one of his new friends.

Here is also Gina, tatting away, in her oh- so- scarce spare time.

Here is a photo of all the items I won. I won a stack of Sewing and Threads magazines, in the first set of raffles. I don't sew, but my Mom and Sister will have a lot of fun reading them.

Then came the second round of raffles... omg! I won the beautiful beaded amulet bag that Gina made. So pretty! I thought, cool, I can go home very happy to have won something so great. But then, I won the bag from Diane, too! A lovely bag, it was woven on her Weavette loom and the handle is Romanian point lace braid, a very pretty pattern on it, and it had the green snowflake like motif and bookmark she tatted inside! PLUS, a gorgeous hankie. I was feeling REALLY lucky now. A couple of other ladies won the next two raffles, and then, I won the Cattern Cakes and Lace book raffle and the Honiton Lace book, spool holder, and thread raffle. WOW, again, I was in shock at my luck. I know I had only put one ticket in for the Honiton book..

I had brought this for show and tell. I was showered with such compliments, I am STILL blushing! Everyone was asking how I made them, and how long it took and such, I felt like a celebrity! heehee.

Here are a few other photos I took. This is the showroom..I made a panoramic picture of it so you could see the whole thing at one glance!

Another panorama of the meeting room... The Lace display, Things to put things in...oh such lovely stuff here!
Someone, I think it was Charlotte?, brought in this sweeter than sweet Greyhound. I HAD to pet him..Laura reminded me I couldn't have him.. thanks Laura..

But, being the dog lover I am, I was so happy to see him. This is Charlotte with him. Betty is behind him giving him a hug.

I think I will stop here. I may have some other photos in my other camera, I will check later, but, you can tell by the LONG post, Conor and I had a fabulous time. I hope you enjoyed my blog about the day!

Conor in the clover

Conor had fun on his first St Patrick's day... as you can see, he found some clover to roll in! He thinks they are shamrocks, well, it is pretty close for him! He hopes all his Leprechaun cousins, and everyone else too, has a wonderful Saint Patrick's Day!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Danny

It's going to be a quiet St. Patrick's Day at Danny's house since Mom's post-op meds don't mix with alcohol. A mug or two of brew would have been nice....

Danny, being a good natured sort, resigns himself to another day of drinking tea.

Oisin's first American St. Patrick's Day

 

 

 

 

Birmingham has a well respected St. Patrick's Day Parade and Oisin was very set on being the Grand Marshall. However, Lala just wasn't able to take him. When I explained how bad I felt, he capitulated. Or maybe it was because he is so small and I told him he would probably be trampled!

As you can see, we had our own little parade. My collection of St. Patrick's Day bears were enough parade for him to lead and as usual he has Isaac wrapped around his little finger.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all!

Bendan gets in touch!

Whoooooohoooooo!!!
Fergal got news from Brendan today....they seem to have been in touch by leprechaun telepathy for a while!! Fergal had kept telling me not to worry and I have tried to say the same to his mum.

Anyway today Brendan managed to send some photos to Fergal through his lep-phone which fortunately he says he held on to tightly when he took his tumble from his mum's bike.

He says to tell her that he didn't mean to run away...honest..it was an accident.
He set off to walk back to Korea but he got lost and was picked up by some nice people who were on holiday and he has been traveling with them ever since. He hopes that he is getting nearer home...but geography was never his strong point...but he is sure that he can make it back some day.

At the moment he is staying in a posh hotel overlooking the sea and is happy to be seeing so many places...but he does miss his mum. He can't get in touch with her directly as his lep-phone only works to other leps.





He says to tell her not to worry..he thinks she will be going somewhere nice soon and wishes her a happy St Patrick's day and the same to all his other lep siblings and cousin.

If anyone can tell Fergal where they think Brendan is Fergal would feel happier.

Its on it's way!

Rebel and Conor decided to take a couple of St. Patrick's Day photos to share with everyone! In the first one, Rebel was a bit upset when he misunderstood Conor saying a pot of gold. Poor pup.

In the second one though, he was much happer and wanting to give kisses.

In this one, they were at the top of their voices singing.. When Irish Eyes are Smilin'! A good time had by all until they were too tired to sing and dance anymore!

(((Oh Bring back my Brendan to me, to me)))

Brendan "The Voyager" and infamous tatting leprechaun was last seen in Phu Quoc (an island off of Vietnam). Any information leading to his whereabouts will be greatly rewarded. Although we think he may be exploring Asia he is clever and resourceful enough to be anywhere in the world by now. He mentioned something about New Zealand a few days before his mysterious disappearance.

I miss him desperately.....

Cormac has been pestering me to share our visit with Carol and Conor last weekend so here we are finally!


We met at Pepé's in Frankfort,IN for lunch. Introductions were made all around and we're all sitting here chatting, with the boys getting to know one another. Well, both Cormac and Conor were excited about the Salsa. They'd only heard about salsa in Ireland, a more meat and potatoes place, and the saucy enticement of salsa (and salsa dancing!) consumed their chatter far longer than I would have expected. C'mon...it's only salsa! LOL!

They also compared outfits. Conor's Americanized version was amazingly accurate compared to Cormac's traditional Irish garb. Cormac told me later that he thought I should make him something like that....just for a change of clothes now and then.


Oooooh....who is that lurking in the background? Cormac and Conor were getting really chummy here. I think they were trying to figure out a way to get us to buy them Margarita's, but given it was barely noon, I think they knew better than to try too hard. But WHO is that back there????


Ha! The Johnny Depp Pirate! He joined us briefly, just to show off his ruffles and jewels and the monkey on his back. What a loveable pair! Wish I'd gotten a good photo of them but you can always see them on Carol's blog.


And before we left, the wonderful waitress took our photo. Who knows what she thought of us going on and on about our little friends there? LOL!

Leprechaun's Lunch!!

Leprechaun's Lunch

(transposed post from Battatter's Blogger)
Hello All!
Today there was a Leprechaun's Lunch at Pepe's, a local Mexican restaurant. Gina had an art class in town today, so we decided our little Leps should have a playdate. They were so pleased to meet each other! They were quite happy that they looked so similar, too. Cormac was a little cutie, and Conor told me later, that he loved hanging out with his little Irish cousin.

As you can see, they did some "salsa" dancing together, and then hang out and had some nachos. The Leps had their fun, and so did Gina and I. We talked about tatting, I did let her in on what my secret Project X is, (dun dun duuuun). We also talked about other things and had a very nice lunch!

Here is a picture of Gina and myself, with the Leps in the center... see them?, and, as usual, I have my eyes closed! Thanks for the nice little getaway, Gina and Cormac, we will have to do it again soon.

Playdate!

I hope this doesn't make all the other leprechauns green with envy but Cormac and Conor have a playdate on Saturday!!!

Hope he likes Mexican food.

As told to Cormac, Beloved Friend and Advisor....(loud clearing of throat)


It all began when I was sent on a mission across the Big Pond to befriend the dear Tatting Goddess (whom I've come to think of as The Royal Klutz lately). I was warmly welcomed and had the greatest fun poking around in her thread and bead stash and pouring through her books and albums. She showered me with affection and of course, we grew closer and closer, sharing tea on a regular basis and the occasional sip of wine. She shared with me the joy of her first split ring and then the triumph of her first split chain, then double picots and self-closing mock rings. She mourned the loss of discontinued favorite threads and the loss of patterns that disappeared into the mysterious black hole of a "safe place." We laughed and we cried together, hugging, giggling, trusting.



And then she told me...

She was an undercover tatter. She tatted in secret. Sometimes for weeks and months on end. I could tell she was beginning to crack under the pressure.

"How did this happen?" I asked.

"I don't know!" she sobbed. "At first, it was just a small surprise. A little tatting every month for a special reader of my blog."

"Yes? and then what?" I prodded.

"And then I added a mystery motif every month...you know, just to jazz the atmosphere up a little. It was fun teasing everyone...."

"Yes! Go on!" I pleaded.

"And then there was this "Secret Santa" thing that I do every year - it should not have been too much to do. I got to be extra sneaky and throw out hints and tease even more. " she said.

"Yes, Yes!" I knew she was very close to revealing something.

"Oh, but I shouldn't bother you, dear Cormac! You've been such a kind friend to me. Let's go have some ice cream!"

Oh, let me tell you, I was soooooo tempted...ice cream...whooah yummy yummy whoo-hoo! But I was so close to knowing her secret!

"ummm....I'm not in the mood for ...ice (gulp) cream just now..tell me more about your ...undercover activities. Please...it will do you good, make you feel better. I want you to feel better." I was practically begging her now.

"mmmm..oh, all right...well, then there was this special project for someone. Hush-hush, you know. It'll all come out before long."

"Really? Please please please let me see!!" Now I was groveling.

"No, I couldn't!" she cried.

...silence...

I knew she wanted to tell me. I waited. Suspense was building.





"Promise you won't tell?" she asked me.

"Oh no, not me, never! My lips are sealed." I said.

"Well, you know there's this Secret Valentine thingie going on now, and I have the special thing I'm tatting for the latest monthly winner, and well...I finished the special project!" she whispered...smiling slyly.

"Um Hum." I pretended disinterest but my tummy was screaming for ice cream. COME ON LADY! SPILL THE BEANS!!!!

"Okay, I'm going to just show you a tiny bit...and I'm not telling you which is what...so don't you even ask!" she scolded sternly. "Look the other way a minute, I have to disguise them a little bit. Not that I don't trust you," she added lightly.



"Okay, you can look now!".

I held my breath as I slowly turned around. Oh my! What can these be?

"Who is this for?" I asked.

She shook her head from side to side furiously. "Cormac! I can't tell you!"

"Hmmm...well, WHAT is this?" I asked, as if I didn't hear her scolding me.

"harummph!"

Obviously I wasn't making any brownie points with my innocent questioning.

"OH come ON! You gotta tell me about THIS one!" I exclaimed.

(BIG SIGH) "I think I'm going to have some ice cream anyway...how about you?"

Wham...I'm outta here!

So....how is everyone's Lep coming along? Mine has just become the bestest friend! Although he was acting a little "off" tonight. He loves ice cream and he tried to pretend he didn't want any. I wonder what that was all about???

http://threadsofatattinggoddess.blogspot.com/2009/01/confessions-of-undercover-tatter.html

The Legend of Oisin in Irish Mythology

Tatskool aka Mother of all Tatting Leprechauns, asked me to tell you about the legend of Oisin. Remember her Leprechaun's name was Fionn before her daughter decided to name the grandson Fionn. So Fionn had to change his name to Fergal. Thus, before he had to change his name, Fergal was Fionn and therefore the father of my Oisin. Below is one rendition of the story. I hope you will enjoy it.

Niamh crossed the Western Sea on a magical horse, Embarr, and asked Fionn mac Cumhail if his son Oisín would come with her to Tir na nÓg (the Land of Youth). Oisín agreed and went with her, promising his father he would return to visit soon. In Irish mythology, Embarr (imagination) is Niamhs horse. ... Fionn mac Cumhail (earlier Finn or Find mac Cumail or mac Umaill, pronounced roughly Finn mac Cool) was a legendary hunter-warrior of Irish mythology, also known in Scotland and the Isle of Man. ... Ossian, by François Pascal Simon Gérard Ossians dream, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, 1813 Oisín (Old Irish, pronounced , or roughly uh-sheen), son of Fionn mac Cumhail, is a poet and warrior of the fianna in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. ... Tír na nÓg, called in English the Land of Eternal Young, was the most popular of the Otherworlds in Irish mythology, perhaps best known from the myth of Oisín and Niamh of the Golden Hair. ...


Oisín was a member of the Fianna and, though he fell in love with Niamh during their time together in Tir na nÓg, he became homesick after what he thought was three years. Niamh let him borrow Embarr, who could run above ground, and made him promise not to get off of the horse or touch Irish soil. In Irish mythology, the Fianna were Irish warrior-hunters who served the High King of Ireland in the 3rd century AD. Their adventures were recorded in the Fenian Cycle. ...


The three years he spent in Tir na nÓg turned out to be 300 Irish years. When Oisín returned to Ireland, he asked where he could find Fionn mac Cumhail and the Fianna, only to find that they had been dead for hundreds of years and were now only remembered as legends. Whilst travelling through Ireland, Oisín was asked by some men to help them move a standing stone. He reached down to help them, but fell off his horse. Upon touching the ground he instantly became an old man. He is then said to have dictated his story to Saint Patrick, who cared for and nursed him until he died. Meanwhile, Niamh had given birth to his daughter, Plor na mBan. Niamh returned to Ireland to search for him, but he had died.


Now you have had a lesson in Irish Mythology!

Brendan's first snow

William, My Leprechaun
I was catching up on reading the tatting blogs and came across Pamela's Tats a Kool Challenge Blog. I learned about the Leprechaun's she is making for her tatting friends. I was lucky enough to receive William from Pamela last year in a Secret Santa Exchange, and William was sitting with me, talking on his cell phone and having a cup of tea and cake reading all the tatting blogs too. Well.... he got so excited when he read that some of his relatives would be coming over to the states that he jumped up so fast and ran to the next room.......

and headed for the closet and pulled out his suitcase and informed me he was going on a road trip.

I asked him how he was traveling on this road trip and he ran back to the closet and pulled out his bike and was ready to go!

William also wanted to take along my new HDT that I got from Heather - The Tarnished Tatter.
I told him it was too far to travel on his bike, so he jumped off his bike and came back in his mini van.

William had it packed so full that it was overflowing with tatting supplies, shuttles and lots of thread.
I hope he has a good time visiting with all his relatives, so far he knows of Oisin, he is with Laura at Laura's Tatting Muse Blog, then there is Killian, he is with Diane at Lace Lovin Librarian Blog & Cormac is with Gina at Tatting Goddess Blog and Danny is with Martha at Martha's Tatting Blog. William needs to locate one more Leprechaun so he can finish planning his trip. He hopes he checks in and blogs about his where abouts.

L.A.U.G.H.

I just thought of a name for a new Leprechaun lovers club! L.A.U.G.H!

It stands for ...Leprechauns Allow Us to Giggle Hysterically!!!!

No dues, no hassles, just fun. All are invited to join! heehee!

...sincerest form of flattery part 2
Conor wanted to thank everyone for welcoming him in such a big way. He has had comments from cousins and their Moms, and was really excited to hear from his creator, Tatskool! Yes, his stone in his neckerchief is sparkly, but I didn't have an Irish coin (I think that is what his cousins have) so he has a little gold piece I was given as a gift.
He wanted me to make sure everyone knew he was tatted. Some people thought he was just like his cousins, but he is a little different. So, here is a closeup of him, just in case anyone wants to see.
He has been running all over the house making friends. First, he ran into Boudica, at first he was a little scared, but she is friendly, and soon they were playing trampoline on her web. Next, he met Hoggle. He really loved her from the beginning. She even let him move into her house with her. Here he is with her and giving a big thumbs up on top of his new house. I have been asked about a pattern. I just wouldn't have a clue how to write one out. It is very much like sculpting when I 3D tat like this. I just try to make things come out like they look in my head.