I warn you now that the beginning of this post is not tatting related. Jump to the pictures if you don't want to read it.
What can I say for my blogging absence for so long? I really find myself apologizing to those who read me for the absence. I have been busy, though, making some life altering changes. No, I have not had any medical emergencies come up in my life. But I did find myself going down a path that needed to be researched carefully. About 3 years ago I was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism. I received what my doctor thought to be sufficient treatment for this of synthetic thyroid hormone. However, this really did nothing but stop the weight gain and some of the hair falling out for me. I still felt tired and had good days and bad days with no real explanation for the issues I was facing. About a year ago when I went to the doctor, he ordered me to do the 1300 calorie diet thing, which I knew would not work. You see, I was already eating next to nothing and not losing a pound. I started then looking at books like "The Thyroid Solution" and "The Thyroid Diet". When I asked him about following this diet, his parting words to me were "I wish you wouldn't." Tell me this is real encouragement from my doctor. According to him, much of my exhaustion and other feelings of poor health were all in my head.
Last November, I started on a new journey looking for another doctor who would not just write off all of the other symptoms of poorly treated thyroid as "all in my head". I have finally found a couple of doctors who are willing to treat me as a whole person. I have also added to my health by changing the way that I eat. It has not been an easy journey but I have had to go to gluten-free cooking. I am so happy to have the support of my wonderful husband. We had to face the fact that cooking and living this way was going to be more expensive. My wonderment was actually increased when I found that my aches and pains actually diminished when I started eating this way. I began my journey of losing weight. I have not lost a lot because I am still dealing with imbalances in my hormones and unknown vitamin levels. I do have an appointment with a doctor at the end of this month with whom I hope to explore this further. I want to be fully diagnosed and fully treated to gain my health back. What can I say for my blogging absence for so long? I really find myself apologizing to those who read me for the absence. I have been busy, though, making some life altering changes. No, I have not had any medical emergencies come up in my life. But I did find myself going down a path that needed to be researched carefully. About 3 years ago I was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism. I received what my doctor thought to be sufficient treatment for this of synthetic thyroid hormone. However, this really did nothing but stop the weight gain and some of the hair falling out for me. I still felt tired and had good days and bad days with no real explanation for the issues I was facing. About a year ago when I went to the doctor, he ordered me to do the 1300 calorie diet thing, which I knew would not work. You see, I was already eating next to nothing and not losing a pound. I started then looking at books like "The Thyroid Solution" and "The Thyroid Diet". When I asked him about following this diet, his parting words to me were "I wish you wouldn't." Tell me this is real encouragement from my doctor. According to him, much of my exhaustion and other feelings of poor health were all in my head.
There are some days when I struggle with making it through the day without a nap. I had brain fog where I would start something and then forget where I am going with it. Or I just don't have enough energy to complete the thought.
Enough of this rant. I will now get down to what I know you came here for: the tatting.
My tatting unfortunately has not been as prolific as I would have hoped for the Christmas season. But I did manage to complete two new ornaments for my tree.
I was trying to copy a pattern from a picture that I saw on Facebook which was this one.
I made several attempts to get the top part going right but later figured out that this was a larger ornament that what I was using. The picture below was one of the first or second attempt of the first few rounds to get the top part right.
The next picture is the side view of the one attempt that finally ended up on the ornament.
I also am including a bottom view of how I ended up fastening down the cover.
I have realized that the last picture I showed on my blog of the glass mat I had worked on was actually incomplete. So I show you now the completed mat, pressed and finished.
The bad thing about being in a fog with your health is that from time to time inspiration dries up and I just don't feel like tatting. I have struggled with trying to get back into tatting and designing. Guess that is all for the post now. Thanks for letting me rant and attempt to offer some tatting examples. I will still be working on my health and hope that I will be back to exploring new things in tatting soon.
Happy Tatting
Arial - The Tattered Faerie
PS. Since I first uploaded this draft, I have seen a very good doctor who is willing to work with me. I am looking forward to a new beginning this year with my health. It really is amazing when you find a doctor who is willing to listen to all that you have to say and help you look for a specific solution. I hope to have more tatting in future blogs for you to see. :D
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