Talks and tatting

On Friday evening I gave a talk on 'The Life and Adventures of the Anguis Fragili" to the local group of Spinners and Weavers. 

No, I'm teasing - it was on tatting, of course.  It seemed to go well in that I didn't have to poke anybody in the audience to keep them awake and a lot of them were smiling too. 

The consequences of the talk made for an extremely untidy lot of tatting. I must admit that when I've finished a piece of tatting I fling it in a box which lives in the cupboard. Consequently when it came to preparing for the talk I had to take EVERYTHING out of the boxes to decide what to take. Then when I got home I decided I really HAD to take myself in hand and put everything away in a tidy manner. That took ALL of Saturday and Sunday mornings. Must say I do feel better for having done it. I now need to make sure that when I've completed a piece in future I make myself put it away properly. This tidying up has only been waiting for half a century (or more) to be done!!!

Before I left for my American adventure I started another Fandango square. 

By the time I got back (or was it shortly after?!?) it was in this 'state'. I'm hoping to carry on with it but have lately got diverted by something else!!!

Dora Young finished

Here is the Dora Young doily - finished!!! Meant to show you this the other day but, of course, I went and forgot!!!!  I actually finished it a week or more ago but guilt hit in and I realised that I'd have to get BC3 onto the TIAS or I'd be in trouble with people in January!!!

I even added the outside optional row to the doily to give it a sleeker edge. I'm SO pleased with it as I feel it really does 'finish it off'.  I've not been this excited about a tatting book for years as you've probably gathered.

Having said that - I do LOVE my Houtz brothers books (particularly the bauble one) and Martha Ess's books too (Critters and Toys are my favourites).  I've also got the latest Houtz triangle book to play with and Martha's toy book but I really, really need to keep focussed on the TIAS!!! 

Thinking about the baubles book it's time I made another mouse or two as some lovely beads that Jane K gave me in Canada last year are waiting and BEGGING to be used for mouse eyes.

Do you think I'm rambling today?  I think I am so please forgive me and blame it on old age!!!  I'm now 73 - had a birthday earlier in the month.  That means I've been tatting for 60 years.  

This evening I'm giving a talk to a local spinners and weavers group.  I'm DREADING it as I tend to ramble!!!  Do you think they'll put it down to old age too?  I do hope so.  I'll tell you about the talk and whether I survive (and the group too) on Monday.  Meanwhile it's back to the TIAS!!!!

Shuttles

Shopping with Joanie is fun, fun, fun. She knows all the best places and when she doesn't she finds them so easily. Her hubby is a great shuttle shopper too!!! 

Below are the shuttles we found on our travels from SC down to Fl via St Simon's Island near Brunswick.

The wonderful Aero (in the packet) was given to me at Tat Days - would that kind person please stand up and wave, please? 

The wooden one was a gift too - from Nina. I'm dying to use that one as soon as I need to use lots of beads.

THE book

You are NEVER going to believe this. It was an ordinary day at Chez Eborall when the postman came and delivered THIS. That turned it into an EXTRAORDINARY day.  Nick wondered what on earth was happening when he heard me squealing with delight.

This came from my dear friend Patti Duff.  Poor Patti has been nagged by me for years and years about re-printing her Mini Tats book - it's a wonder she's still speaking to me.  If you're reading this, Patti please consider that another 'nag' about Mini Tats!!!!  Thank you, so much  for the book and for the lovely, lovely letter too. It made me cry. 

I'm sorry, Heidi but I don't 'need' the re-printed version (due next year, folks) but I WILL still have a copy as I have nagged you so much. 

Now I'm in a total quandary. As you know I usually run a Tat It And See in January but this year poor old BC3 has been struggling to think up an idea. At the weekend I noticed that a French tatting group on Facebook were talking about the TIAS and when it was due to 'happen' again. 

YIKES - that gave BC3 a touch of the heeeebeejeebies. Two days later and several ideas had finally arrived but which one and how do I start. This is always the hardest part - the idea and how to start. I've so far done four starts and a fifth is going to happen soon. BUT this new book is SUCH a temptation. Please, please keep me on track with the TIAS.

WHAT?

Now what's this going to be and why am I making lots of flowers? 

Does anybody have any idea?

Temptation

Got the better of me!!!! 

Joanie gave me this link while I was with her. 

Of course I just couldn't resist making it!!! It's done in Aran wool - two thicknesses too. Hard on the aged hands but well worth it. I had to translate it from American into English but I enjoyed making it. What am I going to use it for? Goodness knows!!! Maybe it may just get left lying around the house as usual until somebody remarks on it and I give it to them. I just have this unbinding 'need' to make!!! Make anything out of anything and when I run out of ideas? I make mischief!!!!

A new member of the club

This dear little mouse arrived yesterday from Bernice. 

Here's the link to her blog post and her mouse is now living in the Exclusive Tatting Club (link to the page at the top).

I always smile when I see the name of Bernice's blog - Knot Vortex!!!! I wish I'd though of that name for mine as it seems to reflect my life in Tat Land!!!  A definite whirlwind of threads and knots!!!

I'm a member of

The Tollway Tatters.

Bet you didn't know that. This is their uniform t-shirt which means I'm a member now. Two great friends of mine (Diane and Sue Anna) are members too. I think they actually started the group.  I do know that Sue Anna does the dying on the shirts and that she sent one to Sally too.  So that makes us the only two  English members of the Tollway Tatters.  How about that for being special?

I do have a major problem over being a member of the group. Nobody's offered to pay my travel costs to get to meetings - yet!!! Well it would be a taxi, a plane, another plane, a ??? from wherever the second plane lands to the place they meet and I think that would be a bit too expensive.  An old git can only dream, can't she?

Forgotten and found!!!

Good title for an old git!!!  After a hectic few weeks I'm beginning to find myself after having forgotten me with all the stuff going on here at home!!!  

First of all thanks to Joanie for asking me where this pattern is on my web site!!! Well, it wasn't!!! This is a pattern I taught at Palmetto in 2012 and which I seem to have forgotten to put on the pattern pages!! 

It's a close relation to this one. I made this alternative design as I realised that doodads would be hard to find for anybody wanting to do the class. I remember full well the agonising that went into this design and the qualities of thread which I used in the process!!!! 

Well, here it is now and I hope those who do it have fun in the process and please think of poor BC3 who nearly melted while 'getting there'!!!

More pretties

Here are two more dear little gifts that I came back with after Tat Days. Such wonderful tatting. 

I've no idea who made the turquoise piece but that's some really neat work. 

Thank you, Kathy. I'm sure I didn't get the chance to say it to your face but I really love this little bookmark. I don't want to take it out of it's packet as it's such a little treasure.

Stephanie doily

There's one lady I must mention who goes to Tat Days each year and who always gives amazing little gifts. These are always tatted in size 80 thread and are really, really delightful. 

Not only does she do that she's also an amazing test tatter too. To be a test tatter isn't easy. First you have to be able to tell the truth about what you're testing. Not easy as some of us designers can be real prima donna's when it comes to criticism. I'm lucky - I've got a thick skin and can take and APPRECIATE all faults when pointed out to me. In fact if I ever asked somebody to test tat for me and they found nothing wrong I'd give up completely.  I'm good at boo boos in my work as you probably all know!

Now you're wondering who this is, I bet. Well it's Stephanie. I'm sure she's got motorised hands with the amount of tatting she produces. Yes, that's the answer. Wonder if they work off AA batteries or AAA. Maybe even lithium!!!

THANK YOU, Stephanie for all you do for me (along with Joanie who is my other favourite test tatter) for this lovely little mat.

5 motifs and going well!!!

I've now got five of the motifs done on the Dora Young pattern. Still dying to get my mucky mitts on the re-published book due out next year. As I was only interested in helping Bonnie with hers I didn't really look at the other patterns - something I now regret but will put right when I get my copy. No pressure there, Heidi!!!!

I'm not sure what gets into BC3 at times like this. For so many years I wasn't interested in the old 'stuff' but as time goes on I find it fascinating to try and work out how people like Dora managed to develop our craft when there was so little communication between tatters due to the lack of the internet!!! UNLESS they'd already invented an 'intertat' which worked between tatters only. Interesting thought!!!!

Buttons

I managed to sell most of my button brooches while I was at Tat Days so when Joanie and I went round the craft shops I looked for (and found!) more replacement buttons. They're 1" buttons which aren't easy to find. 

Thank you, Michaels and Walmart for having them!!! 

I love making these brooches as they look so wonderful using HDT and I've got quite a few skeins of that ready to play with. Also I managed to 'find' some more beads as I've mentioned before. Not that I 'need' more beads but they will all get used if I live to be 150!!!

Cluny loom

What I really want to show you today is a cluny loom that Tim Kaylor gave me at Tat Days. It was made on a 3D printer. 

I was lucky enough to be able to spend time with Tim while he showed me how to use it. I'm dying to get back to this technique soon. I did take a video of Tim threading up the loom and I tried it too. What a splendid idea. All I now need is time to play with it!!! I really ought to be thinking about next year's TIAS. Well, thinking and designing too!!!  It can wait!!!

Even MORE news about Tim - he's started a blog.  Here's the address (don't you LOVE the name - Tim tats too?).  Please pop in and give him some encouragement.  

Even even even MORE news - Tim made the shuttle I showed you yesterday - that and around 499 others that he gave away.

A new little shuttle

This is a sweet little shuttle. A new technique of making shuttles.

I found this in my teacher's bag (or it could've been my registration bag) at Palmetto tat days. I believe it was made using a 3D printer. Not sure who made it but it MAY have been Tim.  

This is new technology which fascinates me although I know I'd never have the patience to even think of trying to use one of those printers. 

You can see how tiny it is as I'm holding it in my aged fingers.

Tatting with ribbon

Now who would've thought it. Tatting with ribbon? Well Pam Freck thought of it and does tat with ribbon.  Here's a picture of her book and one of the patterns in it. 

She kindly gave me a copy of her little book while I was 'over the pond'.

I think my favourite is the spider.  If you want a copy of this dear little book then perhaps you could email me and I'll put you in touch with Pam?  

There are tips on tatting with ribbon too.

Talking about ducks!

Since I got back life has been somewhat manic. Personal 'stuff' that has had to be dealt with both while I was over the pond and even more so, since I got back. 

I just LOVE the expression 'getting your ducks in a row'. Mine are all now lining up with just one minor duckling that needs booting into place!!!

There was a group of people at Tat Days (think it was the Highland Rim Tatters) who kept giving me ducks!!! They certainly didn't know what I was dealing with at home so it was a very, very happy and amusing collection I came home with. 

Please would the designer stand up and make a comment about them? I love this little pattern as each duck has it's own expression. It maybe Denise's but anyway I REALLY love it.

A secret is revealed

Well, a really exciting secret honestly. Least I'm excited. 

As you know from yesterday's post I'm currently working on a Dora Young pattern which I was given a scan/photocopy of when I was in America. 

Now I'm a great, great believer in respecting copyright so my conscience has been pricking me ever since. The only reason I had a copy was to help another friend who had the book (not available to buy anymore) and who was having a bit of trouble understanding it. As 'they' say - two heads (or even three as another friend had the book too) are better than one!!!  I'm enthralled by this particular pattern and by others I saw in the book.

The book was published during my early days of tatting. I was born in 1943, started tatting in 1956 and the book was published in 1974. I can't think why I never got hold of a copy when it first came out but can only guess that at that age I was working my socks off and trying to raise my two lovely daughters. Also in those days the only way I could get the book would've been by putting dollars in an envelope and sending it off via surface mail to the USA. That's, of course, if I'd even heard of it!  Anyway, suffice to say, I don't have a copy although I've been haunting the web ever since my trip.

People have been asking me about the book and an intriguing comment was left on this post a few days ago. Since then I've tracked down the commenter and have been in touch. Thank you, Heidi. 

This is a link to her page where she mentions that she'll be re-printing Dora's book soon. Can't come soon enough for me. 

Heidi is the lass who wrote a great book on the American tatting shuttles more about that can found here. You really need to buy a copy of that book too - very interesting. 

So now the secret is out don't you DARE get in my way in the queue to buy the book. I'm FIRST!!!  REMEMBER THAT!!!!

Three motifs and four to go

Remember the Dora Young motif I started working on when I was with my 'gang' of friends in South Carolina? Well here's the progress that I made and continued with while I was still in America. A comment was left on this post by tatkrazy saying that the book is going to be re-printed next year. I'm trying to confirm this with her and will let you know more when I find out.  I've just found the pictures in my photo album!!! It's been 'one of those' weeks since I got home but I'm beginning to get on top of things and unpacking is going well. 

Least it has until I realised late yesterday that I'm going to have to take things out of the tatting cupboard and sort it out - AGAIN!!!!! Things are now falling out when I open the door!!!

Beads galore

Before I start - there's a new rabbit on the block!! This one is from Shirley and here's the link so you can pay him (or her!) a visit.

One day when we were staying with Gloria in South Carolina another dear friend (Karen) made an appointment for us all to visit a bead shop. 

Well this was an unforgettable experience. When you think of shops (or stores as the Americans call them) you think of many shops in a mall or along the streets of a town. In this case it wasn't like that at all. The shop was right out in the sticks. I mean RIGHT out in the sticks. It was in a beautiful spot but we were all focussed on BEADS!!!

This is what I came out with around two hours later!!! While I was there I did spot something that may prove to be the inspiration for next year's TIAS. I'm not quite sure whether the callipers will prove useful or not but they were cheap and I thought they may well be a good thing to have when measuring larger beads.

Am I spoilt?

Simple answer - yes! 

These threads were all given to me at Tat Days. As you can see some of them have already been wound onto Ezy-bobs and some are waiting for me to find the time to deal with them.

I have thread from Sue Anna (those are the Yarnplayer ones), Phyllis and Sue Hanson. All yummy and waiting to be used. 

All I need now is a good dose of time which I'm hoping to have next weekend.

Nearly back to normal

Whatever that is!!!

I've had a LOT of personal stuff to sort out since I got back. Both physical and mental (think BC3 is still on holiday, though) but hope that by the end of this coming week it'll all be 'done and dusted'.

I'm still struggling with unpacking the suitcase and I'm going to blog what's been in there over the next few days. Problem is - where do I start? I have no pictures of the lessons I taught as they were very busy. I spent most of the time trying to help people - just hope that helped.

The first thing I'm going to show you today is SOME (a very small some) of the goodies that were in the grand prize - which I thought they were kidding me about when it was announced I'd won!!! I promise you - this was only a very small part of what was in there. 

I love the little pouch on the left of the light. It's a squeeze one which you give a squeeze too and then it opens. Glittery too. More thread heaven too and lots of thread and beads. The foldaway LED lamp was in there too. Funny story about that. When I was at Gloria's house we got it out and put the batteries in. It instantly lit up. Problem was that we couldn't fathom how to turn it off!!! Three of us (Gloria, Joanie and I) thought, in the end, that we'd have to take the batteries out. Finally we worked it out!!! There isn't a 'switch' but a light touch pad to turn it off. Brilliant piece of equipment.

I'm BACK!!!

And my knickers too!!!! 

I arrived yesterday at 'silly o'clock' (half past six in the morning) on the red eye flight. The return journey wasn't without it's hiccups either. 

Joanie took me to Orlando airport in plenty of time and we took the 'ride and fly' bus to the terminal. A GREAT idea on her part. Once there I went to the checkin desk and the lady took my passport, scanned it and told me I was late for my flight. DOH. I was three hours EARLY. Then she said my flight was already delayed. She decided to do what she called 'some housework' and offered me the chance of an earlier flight which I took with great delight. It was leaving in an hour.

As you guys know - an hour isn't long to get from checkin to the gate via security and a train plus quite a walk and then boarding but I managed it. Must've been a funny sight - an old git wobbling in a running (sort of) manner through the departure lounge!!!

Good news is that the suitcase made it on the same plane too. Six (or more) hours in Newark listening to podcasts and tatting was reasonably pleasant. We hit speed bumps (some people call it turbulence) going through the jet stream but the journey was fine.

The photo is from the plane as we landed in Newark.

A walk in the park

Yesterday we went for a walk in the local park - Highlands Hammock State Park.  Sooooo beautiful.

Here are some pictures of the swamp area and a tortoise we met too!  Sadly we didn't meet an alligator but we did see a young deer which dashed across the track in front of us.  

There were lots of air plants and ferns with many cedar knees which were strange.  Many birds and butterflies were around too but they moved too quickly for an old git like me to take photos.  Maybe I should learn to fly or move faster?  

Another motif

I've had this blog post ready for a few days now and it's been sitting in my drafts waiting to be 'launched'.  I've been too busy enjoying myself to do much tatting but normality will shortly return when I get home on Thursday.  

Between the three of us who were together when I joined these two there was a lot of discussion on what the designer really meant.  It caused a lot of mumbling by BC3 and several re-tats too.  In the end I think I 'got it'.  

Only another five to do!  Unless I decide to do more, of course!

Something I forgot

Completely forgot to show you where Sandra and I went to the first day I was in Atlanta.  I've always told you that if I had a full set of brain cells I'd be dangerous!

We went to the Botanical Gardens in Atlanta where there's an exhibition of Chihuly art.  http://atlantabg.org/visit/events/chihuly  

I didn't really know what to expect but it was a big jaw dropping surprise.  Here are a few pictures which can't possibly do it justice.  An amazing exhibition in a wonderful setting.

St Simon's Island

On our way from South Carolina to Florida Joanie and I decided to spend a couple of days in Brunswick.  From there we visited St Simon's Island which is a beautiful spot. 

While there we saw people crab fishing and we ate at Gnat's Landing which was really yummy.  We visited the lighthouse too and 'shopped till we dropped'.  Lots of antique places and craft stores too.  Essential shopping for BC3!!!!!

Tree hugging

This takes the concept of hugging trees to a new level.  A tree hugging another tree.

Tatting in South Carolina

I'm staying (along with Joanie) with Gloria in the most beautiful setting on the side of Lake Murray. 

Yesterday (along with Bonnie) we decided to tackle one of the patterns in All New Knotless Tatting by Dora Young.  Can't tell you how much fun it is to tat the same thing LIVE with good friends.  Below is the first of seven motifs which will join together to make a truly pretty doily.

When Joanie showed me the doily she'd made I honestly didn't recognise it as tatting.  Seeing it inspired BC3 to have to make one too!

I won!

The star prize.

At the very end of the weekend there was a draw.  To enter you had to put in an anonymous feedback form about what you thought about the weekend.  Obviously everyone wanted to win the prize but I wasn't really bothered as it was so HUGE and wouldn't fit in my suitcase anyway.  As so many people attended Tat Days there was no chance of winning but I popped my tear off slip from the bottom of the sheet and placed it in the box anyway.  It would be ungrateful not to take part.

There were several announcements before the the draw started and I'm afraid I wasn't paying attention as nearby there's a good wifi hotspot and I was leaning against the wall checking my iPad for emails.  Suddenly my name was called and I thought they were teasing me.  I get teased a lot at Tat Days which is part of the reason I love going.  When I realised that they really were calling my name I was beyond shocked to find out that I'd won the monster prize.  Do you want to know what was in there?  Well, a short, very short list is - thread, beads, a wonderful folding lamp, photo albums (for tatting), chocolate, thread, beads, more thread, postcards, magnetic tins, photo frames (for tatting), thread and many other treasures.

Now to work out how to get it home - minus the chocolate, of course!

Sadly it's all over

That's Tat Days but not the trip, thankfully.

The weekend went far too quickly (along with money!).  You would think that BC3 would've learned to listen to instructions by now.  I mean, isn't it clear to everybody that 'no more thread' actually means 'no more thread' at ALL!  Ah well I'll have to find a job when I get home!  Vending was just too easily accessible!  

I reckon the Palmetto Tatters interfere with time itself on their weekend as it seems that time flies.  Maybe next year they should employ Dr Who to help with the 'time flying ' problem.  Sadly I got very very few pictures again this time but I did get two 'general' ones.

Guess what else happened?  I won the big prize at the very end.  WHOOOPPPEEEEE.  A HUGE bag of goodies including a portable desk top LED lamp which is going to be so useful.  I found chocolate in the bag too but I'm not telling anybody about that!  Don't you dare tell either.  There was more thread in the bag too!

More to come as and when I get time or, more truthfully, when the brain (including 'you know who') thinks of things.  

Up a mountain

Yesterday we went up Stone Mountain which is near Atlanta.  It is an amazing place.  A huge lump of granite rising out of the ground rather like Ayers Rock.

Very hot up at the top but spectacular views.  It was a bit hazy but you could just see Atlanta in the distance.  We did NOT walk to the top in case you were wondering!  We took the cable car up.

Later in the day we picked up Nine from the airport and she stayed with us at Sandra's overnight too.  We went to eat at the Flying Biscuit - one of my favourite places.  The biscuits are wonderful.

Today we're picking up Karey from the airport and are off to Toccoa where Tat Days fun begins.  Wifi there is pretty flakey and I'll be kept pretty busy so you may not hear much over the next few days.