Good afternoon

I spent some time today taking pictures, updating a few listings and adding some new necklaces to the shop. It was quite the adventure, as the sun kept peeking in and out of the clouds.....the white balance on my camera couldn't keep up! I took about 200 self shots wearing several necklaces, and ended up keeping about 10.

Right now the girls are watching the movie Tangled, and snacking on popcorn. I'm on my way to the garage to retrieve my tatting supplies (they got unloaded from the van after the market this weekend and haven't been brought in to be used yet). I'll need to catch up on earrings this week, probably need to make 10 or so pairs to fill up the rack. I keep promising myself that I am going to get started on making pumpkin and snowflake earrings early this year.... yeah, that'll never happen!

From all around the globe.

Postcards have arrived! Dr. Vonthreadmore seems to be making excellent time in her travels, quotes from the postcards that have arrived so far are beneath the photos.

These first three came all together in an envelope. It would seem that Dr. V is not completely without scruples as she allowed them to be sent together to spare Miranda the postage for multiple cards.

From the first : "While she was here, Dr. V naturally had to visit all the art museums in Santa Fe. Her favorite was the Georgia O'keeffe Museum in Northern New Mexico.........we were both struck by the way O'keeffe gently blended her colors, much like the Dr. does on her threads. (if she does say so herself)."

From the card in the top right corner, "Dr. V wanted you to see how many different colors of chile peppers there are...."

and the bottom card, "Do you really get sunsets like this all the time? asked the Dr, in awe. I assured her we do, this is one reason why it's called the land of enchantment.

This card was sent form across the pond with the note that Dr. Von may have been at Barnstaple enjoying a cream tea at the Cafe. Thank you for keeping an eye on her when she is so far from home! I love the pretty roses on those cottage windows!

This one came from Rockingham N.C. Tina and Dr. V take us back in time with this lovely vintage card.

More entries to show you in the next few days... until then, there is still plenty of time in case you too spot Dr. Vonthreadmore in her travels. You can read more about the contest here. Many thanks to those who have taken the time to assist her by sending an inspiring postcard my way.

And now for something NEW!

Ta Daa!

Introducing post style earrings from Krystledawne Fine Lace Jewelry!

I've had several requests online and at the Farmers Market, so, ask and you shall receive! I have four pairs up and listed as of this blog post, and I hope to have 12 or more pairs ready for market this weekend. I've updated some of my displays so I'll have to take along the camera and show you what I've been up to every weekend. :-)

I've chosen surgical steel posts. I know lots of ladies are sensitive, I get itchy ears from silver in fact, so hopefully these will be comfy for all.

In other news, I've received several postcards this week! Dr. Vonthreadmore seems to be making good time getting from one corner of the globe to the next..... I'll show each postcard to you all, starting sometime this week. If you would like to read more about Dr. Vonthreadmore's Globetrotter Giveaway, click HERE. You can win some of my hand dyed thread or custom jewelry!

A weeks work

Well, maybe 4 days....I tend to take Mondays off from tatting after a long weekend at the market. And as you can see, the work isn't quite done. I need to put studs and chains on the flower rosettes so they can become necklaces. The earrings need hooks too.

Then I will tag everything.... the earrings go on cards that I make on my Cricut machine. I think I also need to put my rubber stamp on some more jewelry gift boxes to make sure I am all stocked up on market essentials.

The three flowers in the top right of are lapel pins. I expect a few of my "regulars" back this week... there is a group of Red Hat ladies who requested a selection. A few of the pieces on the tray are custom orders that will go in the mail today.

Traipsing about Minnesota

She has been sighted!

Dr. Vonthreadmore is super excited about "her" plan for sending home inspiration....(she always tries to take credit for the good ideas). She's got quite a few more places she wants to visit, and says that the inspirations are a plenty and can't wait for the first postcard to arrive here to me.

On that note, I've sent emails to all who asked to participate..... Except I think blogger ate one. If you are interested in participating and have not yet received an email from me with my mailing address, PLEASE comment again! You have until the end of September to help Dr. Vonthreadmore capture her inspirations by sending a postcard of something she has seen on her travels. Details of the contest can be found here

Globetrotter giveway, please read!

Thank you to those who have already commented with interest in participating in the givewawy outlined in my previous post.

Please do be sure to leave your email address in your comment! I'm a crazy disorganized girl, and I would hate to have you miss the fun by me neglecting to scrounge it up from the web or the dregs of my inbox. To ensure that you get the email with my mailing address you must leave your email address in your comment. I am deleting the comments once I send the contest emails to each recipient. If you've neglected to leave an email contact I will publish your comment so you know to leave another for me... (unless, as I suspect, some of you already have my address from numerous packages of HDT coming your way :-P)

Also PLEASE BE SURE to include your email address on your postcard. Don't trust me to my own devices in contacting you if you should win!

Globetrotting Contest

Well, Apparently Dr. Vonthreadmore read my last post....





I received a message from her earlier this afternoon, confirming that she is indeed making her way around the globe in search of wonderful combinations of color and inspiration. Unfortunately, the flighty Dr. V did not plan her travels well. She says she has been able to get by, but she neglected to bring a camera or anything at all to capture all of this wonderful inspiration! She is very distressed, and is worried that her travels will be for naught without a method of recording the needed information. After our chat, I did manage to come up with a plan. Dr. V mentioned her desire to visit some of the Leprechauns, and perhaps some other tatters that we know via the blogs. Anyway, I thought that you, our dear friends in Tattingland might lend the Dr some assistance if you happen to see her in her travels. If you do indeed come across our intrepid traveler in search of her muse, perhaps you could help her record her findings by sending a postcard on her behalf to my home address. The Dr. would be happy to reward the kind souls who participate by offering a prize to a winner chosen from the postcards that we receive. At least two postcards will be chosen as inspiration for the color or theme of a new batch of Dr. Vonthreadmore's fine dyed threads, and those winners will receive skeins of thread from their winning submission.

So, to summarize the "rules" for this contest:

1. Spot Dr. Vonthreadmore on her travels

2. Comment on this post with your email address, so I can provide you with my mailing address (comments will remain unpublished)

3. Send a postcard that shows/communicates an inspiration for a hand dyed colorway, and include Dr. Vonthreadmore's comments as to why she found it so inspiring. Include your email address on the postcard so that we can easily contact you.

4. Be sure to have your submission mailed by September 1st. Postcards received before September 30th will be considered, as Doctor V assures me she will be home by that date......international entries are welcome!

5. Upon her return, we will consider the entries and send off three skeins of thread to the two winners, in the size of their choice.

6. Multiple submissions are welcome, each on a single postcard. We'd like to chronicle Dr. V's travels well, and show the postcards here on the blog. You never know where that girl will turn up, so keep your eyes peeled!

(::wink::wink::disclaimer::)

Long time readers of my blog are well aquainted with Dr. Vonthreadmore, who is indeed my alter ego/imaginary friend..... if you'd like to learn more about her, you can click here - http://krystledawnetats.blogspot.com/search?q=Dr.+Vonthreadmore
to read some of my previous posts that tell of her antics. Tatting and Non-tatting readers are both welcome to enter.... if you'd like to enter but do not have a use for hand dyed thread, I would be happy to substitute a jewelry prize made from the inspired thread :-)

I'm still here!

(my current tatting container. Glamorous, no?)

Yes, I am still here! Followers and friends on facebook are probably most updated on the current happenings around here, and if you don't count the washing machine that went kaplooey, everything is just peachy. As of late I've become a one woman tatting sweatshop, without any new and interesting things to show.... I'm contentedly relegated to making the same black pair of Spanish Dancer earrings that I can't keep on the shelf :-)

My tatting workstation has become mobile and utilitarian again as I've moved my goodies back into the monstrous box (I'd link you to the previous post, but blogger's editor is being a bugger grr)For the first few weeks of farmer's market, I was moving thread and tools in and out of my corner twice a week...needless to say I now just park the big tote in front of my chair in Tat corner between market days. My cute little owl tatting bag (I never showed that, did I?) that I got from DS9 designs while at Shuttlebirds is not seeing as much use unfortunately. I end up bringing all of my chain and findings (I stock 5 finishes now), most of my beads, as well as my wire tools and it's served me quite well as I've been able to customize earrings and necklaces on the spot, shortening a chain or changing earring hook styles. Gained a few sales by being flexible I suppose :-)

Anyway, I'm off to go hose out the rest of the soapy laundry that was in the the washer before it broke.... I'll be back once the copy and paste functionality returns on blogger's editor.

P.S. Your comments keep me going guys! I'm so thankful for my tatting friends! Dr. Vonthreadmore has gone on vacation for the summer. She has assured me of her return after market season, but she sends her best. Off traveling the globe in search of inspiration I suspect....

A full tray

21 rings locked and loaded for the market this weekend! I've been working so hard these past few weeks to get ahead.... I've been able to "catch up" between shows, but I had a weekend off and took advantage to stock up on small things like rings and hairclips. My earring rack is full again (4o pairs) and I hope to get another 10 pairs done before Saturday. Need to assemble several of the flower bead necklaces, and I should be in good shape! Somehow, I've managed to maintain sanity, and a weekly rehearsal with a musical friend. The good weather has been a help, as well as all the work hubby has done in the back yard, as we have been able to spend some afternoons outside. The girls have a playset and swings, as well as a good patch of dirt that still needs grass seed :-) so we have a nice arrangement as I sit and tat and they run loose like hooligans. Of course, it requires a bath immediately afterwards for the little princesses.

One matter that I soon seek to rectify is the honoring of the great patience of the winner of my bloggerversary giveaway. She was sweet enough to inquire in case I had sent something that might have gone missing in the mail, but alas.... I've been wrestling with the obligation of making things for the market and I don't want to just throw something together for her, I want it to be special and made with joy! So, I'll make my color and material selection and pack the supplies for the market. I get there extra early each time to ensure a good spot, so I have an hour before the market opens, and the first hours are slow anyway. That I think, is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the process of making something to brighten someone else's day :-) So, Brigitte....I thank you for your grace and patience. It will make me very happy to make something just for you. Know that it will come with much sunshine and happiness in each stitch!!!!

Quick update

For those interested in the continuing Farmers Market Saga, I am pleased to tell you that the fair maiden tatting princess, upon her return to the market has pulled the veritable sword from the stone with two VERY successful weekends. The tent was further secured, the weather held, and I am breathing a little easier over the whole experience. My big fear was that I would have invested a bunch of time and money into the venture and not sell enough for it to be worthwhile. All I can say now is that fear is completely gone, however it has quickly been replaced by the realization of how much work it is going to take to keep up! I come home just thrashed from the physical work of doing all the set up and teardown of everything myself.... but hubby is really excited about the sense of teamwork we are developing as he stays with the girls and keeps the house together for me on market days. He even fixed dinner yesterday after I was home, and he let me nap while he took the kids outside to play, and he bathed them too! woo!

The above picture is a new necklace design that has done well for me at the market. I have a few listed in the shop, and hope to get a few more listed this week in between mass producing earrings and such for this coming weekend. If you don't hear from me, it's because I'm tatting lol! I have my twitter updates in the left column, sometimes it is easier to just drop a sentence in there on how things are going....so you can keep up with my day to day a little more closely that way.

Be Blessed my friends!