Goodies from Tat Days 2024

My husband is an enabler. During the auction at Tat Days he would buy me anything I showed an interest in if I let him. I pretty much have to put a leaseh on him to stop him. This year I looked over the auction items before it started and told him what I would like to bid on. And I still came home with more than I expected.

Tatting Shuttles book

I love collecting shuttles and seeing what is out there that I don’t have, and in some cases, maybe I have. There are some lovely shuttles in here, and a lot of information about them. I am very happy that we won the bid on this one!

Tatting Treats Three

Here’s another of Pam Palmer’s books, this time with patterns not shuttles. I’ve thought about buying this book several times over the years, but never did. I didn’t want to pass up the oportunity to get it now. The way these patterns are shown in blue on a white background reminds me of china patterns which I find beautiful. The patterns here look good, too!

Ring of Tatters newsletter

There were two Ring of Tatters newsletters that I wanted, both with a tree on the cover. This tree is fall/autumn, the other was spring. The other one had articles in it that made it very sought after. I think Gina Brummett’s obituary is in it, and a picture of several people that were currently attending Tat Days. I was happy to let someone else purchase that one and I get this one.

Piecework magazine

I love the pincushion on this one! One day I may even make it!

Flower up Your Life

This book is quite rare. Lisa sent it to M. Leigh Martin from Something Under The Bed to find out what she could about it. If you haven’t visited Leigh’s page, I highly recommend it. Good stuff! I have not yet taken the wrapper off to look throught it. I want to have plenty of time and a clean space on my table before I do.

Georgia Seitz small quilt

I didn’t really want this, but no-one was bidding on it I believe this is a small quilt done to raise money for the Palmetto scholarship a few years ago, organized by Georgia Seitz (??) I have it hanging over a spot on the wall that needs repair. This covers it nicely.

We spent most of our money at the auction, but not all. I was looking at several of the shuttles that Middy Clark had brought. I liked one and Jack liked another. So I bought both.

Garden copper shuttle

This is the one that enticed me. The flowers and colors drew my eye immediately.

Frog copper shuttle

This cute frog shuttle is the one that Jack liked. He thought I would want it because it had a long tip.

Frog shuttle tip

He knows I like the longer tip. So I am now the proud owner of two more of her beautiful shuttles.

I have been tatting – a lot – but nothing to show today. I was asked about the Luther’s Rose I did a few years ago and if the pattern was available. I have not worked on it since I made it. But Reformation Day is coming up the end of October so I thought it was a good time to return to it. I have the cross and the heart figured out and written but not yet diagrammed. The rose itself has a ways to go, due to making a few changes that I thought about after I had done it originally. I’m excited about it and am hoping to have the pattern done at least by the end of September.

“Map out your future – but do it in pencil. The road ahead is as long as you make it. Make it worth the trip.” Jon Bon Jovi

Back From Tatting Corner's Tat Days pt. 2

It’s always so fun to go to tatting gatherings, to see old friends, make new friends, and share experiences and stories with other tatters. And then it’s over, and everyone returns home. When I get home it’s going through the many pictures I take, weeding out the bad ones (is that the floor?), trying to remember why I took that one, and remembering the moment another was taken.

A few memories from Tat Days this year:

Jack and Chuck at Tat Days

My husband Jack and Lisa’s husband Chuck had a chance to sit and talk about shuttles and shuttle making.

Peggy Rogan, me, and Kristina Fry

Kristina caught me visiting instead of tatting during Donna’s class.

Donna Pagano Denny

Donna teaching us how to make her frog.

Joy Buck

Joy was a great teacher on her checkers-themed pattern. Many of us surprised her by taking what she saw as a beginner’s class but we saw it as a fun pattern.

Peggy Rogan with her Hare

Kay Pettyjohn with her Hare

Peggy and Kay finished their Hares during class.

One of my classes working on the tortoise

Janet Crow, Susanne Kern, Lora McClintock, and Joy Buck during one of my tortoise classes. Lora was helping Susanne, a very new needle tatter. Thanks, Lora!

After three wonderful days of tatting and friendship, it was time to go home For me, the trip home is a time to think about new patterns and put ideas to paper so I can remember them. Sometimes I even work on, and maybe finish, projects that were started at Tat Days. This year on the way home I didn’t work on any projects started at Tat Days, I was too busy thinking of another pattern. It still has a lot of work to do, but I’m excited about how it’s going.

It is also time to start thinking about and working on Christmas things. I have a lot of ideas floating around inside my head that I hope I can bring to fruition. Maybe even by this Christmas, lol!

And, of course, what is the theme for the next Tat Days? And who all will be there?

“In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.” Khalil Gibran

Back From Tatting Corner's Tat Days pt 1

We made it back from Tat Days 2024! Yes, several weeks ago. It’s amazing how busy I was even after we got back. And how lazy I got about posting!

Tat Days was fun this year, as always. I taught classes on the cruise this last fall, but this is my first time at Tat Days. The classes went well and kept me very busy. I met up with friends from other Tat Days and the cruise and made a few new ones. I was excited to see my name on the back of the shirt!

Back of T-shirt for Tat Days

Lisa had an auction to raise money for the Animal Protection League again this year. $2323 was raised for it! This year the auction was two-fold, the APL and the new tatting scholarship fund. They were done simultaneously with the items marked for where the money would go. $1043 was raised for the scholarship fund.

Lora McClintock, Lynda Brown, and Lisa Adams

Lisa was the auctioneer, with Lora and Lynda being her ‘gofers’. Lora and Lynda would take the items into the crowd so we could get a closer look before bidding on them.

Auction crown (1)

Auction crowd (2)

Unfortunately, I didn’t remember to pick up my camera as Lora showed off the shawl, I was laughing too hard. I’m sure she appreciates that I didn’t pick it up! If you were there, you know what I’m referring to. If you weren’t there, you should have been! We are all looking forward to another wonderful show next year, Lora!

Several people finished the patterns I taught before the weekend was over, which is exciting to me. I’m sharing a few here, but I have more!

KayLynn Thygerson finished the tortoise

KayLynn finished her tortoise before Tat Days were over. It came out so well!

Janet Niederloh with her Hare

Janet not only finished her Hare, but it was during the class! I thought she used a smaller thread but I have been told it was size 20. She did a great job!

Me and Kristina Fry with her Hare

Kristina finished a Hare and a half. She pointed out a problem with my pattern and helped me correct it. Thanks so much, Kristina!

I’ve mentioned several times that my husband has been making shuttles lately. He’s been getting better and decided to take some with us to Tat Days.

Shuttles by Jack 20240711

He donated one for the auction and sold most of the rest. He brought 12 and left with two. I think he’ll be making more!

This was another fun and exciting Tat Days. I will be sharing more pictures from it in the next several weeks. Hopefully in less than four weeks! Things have slowed down a bit here at home, but I’m working on another pattern, plus Christmas is only five months away! I’ve got a lot of tatting to do before then.

“You have the ability to choose which way you want to go. You have to believe great things are going to happen in your life. Do everything you can – prepare, pray and achieve – to make it happen.” Ben Carson