Wheeeee!

After days and weeks of feeling like I've been running as fast as I can, I think, I'm all caught up. In the spring I volunteered to teach the seniors at the local rec centre how to tat. After the open house several weeks ago I was told that they wouldn't go ahead with it unless there were at least 6 people signed up for the 12 week course. (12 weeks!, who came up with that number?) There were 5 signed up when I called last week so I didn't know if it was going ahead or not. They decided at the last minute that they would go ahead with it because they think more people will join once it's started. Yesterday was the first class. 3 got the flip for sure and the other 2 will probably get it after a few more tries at home.

I've done a review of all the designs posted in the Design-Tat blog. All of the participants have come up with wonderful designs. It's amazing at the diversity of designs all based on the same little piece.

With the first group I did a tutorial with screen shots showing how to use drawing software. This time the version of free software available has changed, so it meant re-writing chunks of the tutorial and taking all new pictures to match the new software. The first installment is done and posted now.

All of the designs are in the new book except that I need to juggle things around again because I've ended up with 2 blank half pages. I need some time with a clear head for that so I'll tackle it tomorrow.

After a really crappy summer weather wise, we've had a couple of nice days and today we took advantage of it and took the parrot out for another bike ride.She enjoys getting out and going for a ride. When I grab her leash she immediately puts her foot up so that I can strap it around her foot. The leash came with a metal clasp which I have replaced with a wide leather band. I know that parrots have ended up with broken legs from leashes, but I think that between the possibly of being scared and jumping into trouble like an oncoming car and being killed and the possibility of ending up with a broken leg, the broken leg might be preferable. She was wearing it when I was hit by the car in 2005 and both of us were thrown 20 feet down the road. I ended up with 5 breaks in my leg; she lost a tail feather. The leash does make it possible to take her with us on long bike rides down busy streets, which is more fun for her than being left alone at home.

Several of the update team have been posting to the 25 Motif Challenge blog, so it's caught up and I have the evening free to tat. I think I'm going to go put my feet up, grab a cup of tea and my tatting and see what's on TV. So with that, I'll leave you with another snippet of tatting from the new book.