A rather off topic post...

about Coffee!

My stepsister kindly gave me three lovely bags of flavored Millstone coffee for Christmas!

It was so thoughtful of her because I really enjoy my morning java.  Or afternoon java.  Or coffee anytime, really.

 Coffee is one of God's gifts!

Happy New Year!

Treasury Alert!

This necklace was featured yesterday in a lovely Basic Black Treasury on Etsy.

Basic Black for you and your Home

On a side note, Etsy's treasuries are so much fun!  They are easy to make and to view, and so many pretty things are promoted for everyone to see.
(Viewers should be aware that some treasuries contain graphic content. This treasury does not, however, and I will not post links to any that do.)

Blessings!

Merry Christmas!

The winner of this week's give away is:

Jones! 

As always, please e-mail me with your address at alanatatter (at) gmail (dot) com.

Merry Christmas!  May we all remember that Jesus Christ came to earth to live a sinless life so that all His own might believe on Him and be saved. 

Have you met...

Pinterest?


It is a fun site where one can "pin" pictures and links to interesting sites. I like pinning inspiration for my designs and, on another board, what outfits might go well with my designs!

Blessings!

Winter Star Necklace

This pretty sparkle is in the shop now! View it here.

What do you think?

Preparing for Christmas...

Preparing for Christmas is always a lot of fun.  It is so exciting to pray about and plan what to give family and friends during this special time of year, but the whole point is to remember when we were given the greatest gift of all time:

the only begotten Son of God took to Himself a true body and a reasonable soul, so that He could be the only Mediator between God and man.

Isn't this a comforting thought to remember whenever we are tempted to despair?  And this season can be so difficult for singles struggling with the right way to handle their gift, or the recently bereaved.

Jesus Christ came to earth in order to save His people from their sins.  He lived a sinless life and died on the cross so that He could give us the gift, not only of a clean heart as if we'd never sinned, but also His righteousness so that it is as if we always obeyed properly! 

How could we ask for a better gift than that?

Merry Christmas, everyone! 

This week's Give Away - Your Choice Christmas Necklace!

This week I was trying so hard to figure out how this necklace should be embellished: pearl in the center of the heart with sheer off-white ribbons to tie? Green crystals scattered along the top? Black ribbon ties? So many choices!

And then it hit me: the winner should choose the design!

So the pictures are your choices. 

The crystals are (clockwise from top): large dark red Swarovski, tiny black Swarovski, large teal Swarovski, large grey Swarovski, large peach pearl, small pearl, black pearl, 3 green glass beads, tiny clear teardrop, large clear Swarovski, tiny AB Swarovski, and tiny red Swarovski. There are three ribbon choices: sheer off-white, black grosgrain, and sheer red.

To enter this give-away, please leave a comment telling me how you would prefer the necklace to be embellished if you should win!

The winner will be announced Christmas Eve.

Blessings!

A Flurry of Snowflakes

No snow on the ground this morning, but quite a flurry in my window!

Several variations on the same pattern...

...in various thread sizes.

Winner of this week's Giveaway

Drumroll, please!

 And the winner is....

Sharon D.!  Congratulations!

New necklace in the shop this evening...

A very fashionable net lace statement necklace - just in time for 2012! Check it out here.

Have a blessed day!

Thoughts for the Week and Giveaway (closed)

Steadfastness:

holding on.

Patience:

holding back.

Expectancy: 

holding the head up.

Obedience:

holding self in readiness to go or do.

Listening:

holding quiet and still so as to hear.

This week, am I living in obedience to Christ by living for Him?  This is the goal of my life.  I cannot do it on my own.  My strength is entirely insufficient for this task.  However, it is so very comforting to remember that He who began a good work in us will not abandon it before He has completed it! 

Here is the giveaway this week!  The necklace/headband is embellished with Swarovski crystals and freshwater pearls. As usual, I'll announce the winner Saturday! 

To enter, please leave a comment and if you have a blog, post a link to my giveaway!

Blessings!

Announcing the Winner!

The winner of this week's giveaway is.......

Persuaded! 

Thanks for participating!

Persuaded, please e-mail me at alanatatter (at) gmail.com with your address and I'll get the earrings shipped out to you!

As far as our family's Christmas traditions, we put up the tree sometime after Thanksgiving and open presents with extended family one Saturday in December.  Christmas is a time of rejoicing in the memory of the birth of the King of kings and Lord of lords who humbled Himself and was born of a virgin, lived the perfect sinless life, and died on the cross, so that all who believe in Him might be made right in the sight of God, both by the cleansing of their sins and the imputation of His righteousness upon us.

Persuaded's Christmas traditions: "As far as our holiday preparations, this year we are doing the Truth in the Tinsel advent activities. So far so good!

It is truly a wonderful time of the year!

This week's project update...

                                    

A snowflake.  I think I made up the pattern, but it might merely be a modification of someone's pattern!

 A fabric flower that will probably end up on a headband or choker.  It is ecru and measures about 3 inches across.

This beauty is the tatted crown I've been working on for a while.  It has a lot of sparkle and I think that the matte white thread provides a nice contrast to the glitter of the beads.

As a quick reminder, the giveaway this week ends tomorrow!

Blessings!

Chicken Taco Recipe

A friend gave us this recipe the other day, and it sounded so good that I just had to try it for supper! Chicken tacos are an easy, fast way to get supper on the table with a minimum of fuss. I just put one package frozen chicken tenderloins (about 1 1/2 lbs) into the crock pot with around 3 T. taco seasoning and half of a jar of salsa (I think it was 12 oz).

Cook on High for 3 to 4 hours, then shred the meat with two forks. Add a large can refried beans (28 oz) and mix well. Cover and heat through. Serve on soft taco shells with more salsa and sour cream, if desired. This recipe yielded around 8 servings!

Blessings!

My Purpose:

Yesterday I read several blogs which encouraged me to answer a few questions regarding my purpose in life, and why I have an online business.

Really, it is all about helping people - honoring the Lord by meeting your needs!  I love to create custom necklaces because everyone is unique, so everyone ends up with a slightly different piece of jewelry! Even if I make two necklaces (or twelve) from the same pattern, each one is unique because I am not perfect.  Each necklace will have minor differences which give it a character all its own. Remember, two people may look similar, but have very different personalities!   

My purpose in bloggig and being on Facebook is to help others become aware of my Etsy store and encourage modest ladies by providing beautiful jewelry and lace trims.  This may sound trivial, but sometimes just putting on a pretty necklace can change the way a lady feels.  :)

The purpose of my blog is NOT to make anyone discontent with their own lot in life, but rather to encourage each one who visits to contentment and industry for the glory of God where He has planted you!  

Blessings!

New Giveaway (closed)

Hello!  It was such a beautiful Lord's day yesterday.  The sermon reminded us how important it is to be transformed by the Holy Spirit, and to seek to serve others wholeheartedly where the Lord has placed us.  It was needful and a sweet reminder of Jesus' kindness to His people.

Giveaways are so much fun for me, that I've decided to have one every week from now until Christmas!  If you've entered and didn't win, please feel free to try again the next week.  If you won, please don't enter another giveaway on my blog for a month.  This gives others a chance to win too!

This week's giveaway is for a pair of black tatted earrings with gold beads in the center!

To enter this giveaway, please leave a comment telling us how your family gets ready for Christmas.  I'll post my family's traditions at the end of the week, along with highlights from your comments!

And The Winner Is...

Tattabugg! 

Congratulations, Tattabugg!  Please e-mail me with your address at alanatatter (at) gmail.com.

Thank you all for participating!  Please try again next week!

Outdoor Christmas Decorations

Even though it is only the first of December, I am in the mood for Christmas decorations!  It must have to do with the snow the Lord gave us yesterday.  :)

We have many holly trees on our farm, so it seemed a logical conclusion to decorate our upper gate with a huge holly wreath!  It is just tied on with twine, but I think it gives the place a festive look.  And best of all, the sheep won't try to eat it!  (That is always a consideration with sheep!)

Have you started decorating for Christmas yet, or do you think it is too early? 

Works in Progress

 This evening I'm giving you a sneak peek at what is going on in my workshop!  These are several works in progress that, Lord willing, I'll enter later this week in an event. 

I think the necklace above needs something.  What do you think? Pearls, maybe?

 I call this one 'Lady Dedlock' from Charles Dickens' Bleak House.  It reminds me of her dark outlook on life.

 A pair of earrings - now to decide between pearls and crystals in the centers, and rose gold or sterling silver ear wires!

 This was a large motif that I shrank.  Not sure how this will fit in, but it was fun to make.

And the best for last!  This one will have lots of sparkle in Swarovski crystals, besides satin ribbon ties. 

I'll post finished pictures later!

Giveaway the week after Thanksgiving...(closed)

Hello!  I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving.  This week I'm giving away a necklace with lots of glass pearls and a magnetic clasp.  All you have to do to enter is leave a comment telling me what you are making for supper tonight! I'll draw the winning entry Saturday morning.

Happy Cyber Monday, everyone!

And the winner of the Thanksgiving Giveaway is...

...Beelizabeth!

To claim your necklace, please e-mail me at alanatatter (at) gmail. com

Thanks for joining in the giveaway this week.  Tune in again Monday to see what I'm giving away next week!

Have a blessed weekend!

Just in time for Christmas...

...I decide to make my life more complicated!  Now I can be found on Facebook, as well.

Laces By Alana Tatter

On a different topic, the Lord richly blessed Thanksgiving in our family.  It was a sweet time of fellowship and enjoying the blessing of good food!  Our menu this year included:
- Dry-brine Turkey (20 lbs!)
-15 lbs mashed potatoes
-2 spiral cut hams
-my personal version of Green Bean Casserole.


Green Bean Casserole
3 (15 oz) cans french style green beans, drained
1 small can mushroom pieces, undrained (sorry, I don't remember the can size!)
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup butter, divided
1 cup evaporated milk
1 large onion, sliced very thinly
1 T. garlic powder
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. salt

In a small frying pan, melt 1/4 butter.  Saute the onion slices over medium high heat until lightly browned and drain. Reserve for topping.
In a large saucepan melt 1/4 cup butter.  Stir in flour and cook 1 minute.  Add evaporated milk and mushrooms.  Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.  Add Parmesan, garlic powder, and salt.  Adjust seasonings. In a 2 quart casserole dish, dump green beans. Pour sauce over and stir to coat.  Arrange fried onions on top. Bake at 350* for 25 minutes.
 
Have a lovely weekend!

The Black Friday - Cyber Monday Giveaway Necklace! (closed)

This year, everyone who buys from my shop during Black Friday - Cyber Monday gets a chance to win this necklace!

We're having a big family get together today and tomorrow, so if I don't get your comments posted in a timely manner, I am sorry!

Happy Thanksgiving, and happy shopping!

Thanksgiving Giveaway! (closed)

As everyone is so busy this week preparing for the holiday of Thanksgiving, perhaps it is wise to take time to remember the Giver of all 

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His mercy endures forever. 

~ Psalm 136:1

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."

~John 14:6

In order to have a chance to win this lovely cotton necklace with bead weaving, please post a comment telling why Thanksgiving is special in your family!

And the winner is....

Drumroll, please! 

The winner of my first giveaway is: 


                                                  Stacey!



Congratulations!  Please send me an e-mail at alanatatter(at)gmail.com with your address and ear wire preferences, and I'll get your earrings shipped out Monday! 


For everyone else, you will have another chance next week, so tune in Monday to see which necklace I'm giving away!

Have a blessed weekend.

In the shop now...

Visions of Spring!  Okay, it is a little early, but somehow this one just came together recently.  You can see more of it here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/86377804/visions-of-spring-tatted-lace-necklace.

Sneak preview:  Over the weekend of Black Friday-Cyber Monday, I'll be offering free shipping to the US, plus, the following Tuesday I'll be raffling off one necklace from my shop!   In order to get a raffle ticket, all you have to do is purchase one item from the shop that weekend.  So you get free shipping AND a chance at a free item. 

Have a blessed day!  If you are on the eastern seaboard, you might be enjoying a dusting of snow today!

A necklace for a wedding....

Last April one of my favorite necklaces on Etsy was purchased by this lovely young lady to wear on her wedding day!  With her permission, I'm posting this picture of her wearing the necklace on the special day. Isn't her wedding gown stunning?  And the bright spring flowers just go so well.

Remember, the drawing for the free earrings is coming up on Saturday, and since this has been so much fun, I'm considering doing another one next week - perhaps a necklace?

Thanks for looking!

Round The Mountain

This week I'll be taking some of the suggestions I've been getting (thanks everyone!) and making new designs for the shop.  
Meanwhile, you might enjoy looking at this website; the group of artisans from the Southwest Virginia area are varied in their interests and tastes. 

http://www.roundthemountain.org/index.php

Have a blessed day!

Name Change and My First Giveaway! (closed)

Well, after much thinking and praying, I've changed my Etsy store name.  My work can now be found at www.LacesByAlanaTatter.etsy.com. My new focus is on custom wedding laces and jewelry.  To mark this transition, I am starting a giveaway!  Post a comment on this message telling me what you would like to see in my store before Christmas, and I will choose a random comment this Saturday, November 19th! 

The earrings are white cotton thread, have glass pearls in the center of each heart, and the ear wires are rose gold plated.  If you'd prefer sterling silver plated, please let me know in your comment! 

Thanks for looking, and have a great week!