The Mad Tatter

Marilee on the left, Marlene on the right.

In Oct 2012, Marlene, Cathy B + I met at the House of Stitches. She has a wonderful blog post about their visit to Hoosierville --- link HERE.   ok, back to tatting ..... at the time, Marlene brought some of her tatting with her -- and I was fascinated by the HWT (Hand Wound Technique).  We swapped - I showed her split ring and she showed me HWT.     Once home, I gave it a try --- use 2 fibers and tat them together.   

IMO - it is a thick tatted motif!   It creates an interesting colorway with a solid and a multi-color fiber tatted together.   Marlene had a butterfly with her -- a new to me idea!    (Pattern #21 Mini Tats)

(Below) Finer threads - two colors tatted together - final piece isn't 'thick'.  (#23 Mini Tats)

Cathy B gifted me one of the small tartlets and larger pincushions she made, using tatting by Marlene.   The little tartlet is usually in my tatting bag with pins to keep my tatting in place (Tatters, you know when you get up, and your small doodle vanishes?   Well, a little pincushion is perfect to have in your bag.   Once the little doodle is done, attach to your pincushion!).   I usually have a frogger there, too.  (used to rip out unwanted knots - or to untangle a mistake)

 I put them to immediate use.   The pincushion is great next to the sewing machine.   I use it all the time.   Cathy has a post on her blog about the tartlets --- Link HERE.   She also made some with butterfly tatting on the top --- link HERE.

I have a few other pieces of her tatting --- this heart with buttons is one of my favs.   I hang it on the knob of my shutters in the room w/sewing machine.   I have not tatted with buttons, one thing I've always thought to try and never have!!!!   Link here to (maybe the same) similar pattern.

The star on the top/white tatting is also from Marlene.   I had a Myra Piper book with a similar pattern.   I tatted it in blue as a gift for my MIL.   Having the tatted piece in hand was wonderful!!! made my tatting easier!!   A couple other tatted orns are in holiday storage.    

Doodles, Lambie, gifts

Beginning the post with doodles.... made for Lafayette Lacemakers, Inc.    These are for business cards which are handed out at community events.     Hope to empty more shuttles soon ---

Here is my Leaping Lambie attempt from Tatting Times (Aug 2015) which I need to tat again !!!  I didnt quite get it right the first time.    Pattern c2015 Karey Solomon.

Below - Christmas in July gift from GF DW---- crochet pieces!    An inspiration to improve my crochet skills.

See how beautiful this motif is?  Tatted by GF DW --Pattern is from 

 Peikko"s book on Tatting Small Accessories.    [I bought one, misplaced it, bought another one -- found the first one + GF DW bought my new copy].     It is the motif shown on the front cover of the book!!

She also made a couple more motifs and attached to note.   

New acquisition - c.1942 The Spool Cotton Company.    The patterns are nice; however, the little bird tatting shuttle caught my eye + there were more inside ---  booklet starts "If a tatting shuttle could chirp it would probably trill."

 too charming .....

Gathering in Indiana for Lace Day

A spectacular Spring Day greeted us in Lafayette, Indiana, for Lace Day.... I had a wonderful time catching up with all the news and chatting with friends I don't see as often as I'd like to.   Delighted to meet new [to me] lacemakers and see their projects in the works!   And, missed those who were unable to make the journey.

Show-n-Tell:   Crochet, Tatting, Knitting + Bobbin Lacing:

Anne was wearing a beautiful lace collar, (Beds?), Carol has a lovely photo on her blog.   I was interested in her trim - she was using DMC metallic thread.   She said it was a 16th century pattern + would be used to embellish a bodice.

Carol brought her tatted Tardis doily and (bat) mask - what fun! (better photos on her blog).   If you have not seen her 3D tatting - visit her site asap!

Chris had a lace trim in progress on her traveling bobbin lace pillow.    She was taking a lot of photos, so I am not sure if got much accomplished.

Diane brought her beautiful doily projects with her:   Jan Stawasz 'Masterpiece' doily            






and Renulek's Spring Doily.   It was nice to meet her good friend Pat, who may become a shuttle tatter!  

Elizabeth brought oodles of bobbin laces of Slovakia ... projects in progress, patterns, and samples.   She explained the Liptov Lace is dense and solid because it was used for ethnic caps, costumes, + household linens.  Made to be used + frequently washed.   More info on web site - link HERE.  

I thought Elizabeth's idea of color coding bobbin pairs with colorful bands a great idea!

Kate, bobbin lace teacher, also had spectacular Liptov bobbin lace on her pillow.   

 Marilee wore a colorful necklace and  tatted earrings she made.   Original patterns + I didn't ask, but think it was her special HDT.  
  

Mary brought an acrylic/blend yarn and was making a potholder.   Crochet.     She was wearing a spectacular top, embellished with tatting.   (Carol has a nice photo on her blog post).

Sue Anna was using Patti Duff's beaded lanyard pattern with a smaller size beads - will be lovely once finished!     

This was the only knitting I saw, was one of the entries into the Lace Contest.  

Prizes, Shopping, and Gifts:

When we entered the door, we were greeted by Sally [Past-President], there was a bowl of embellished paperclips to choose from + a chapter pin.      Snacks and beverages were provided.   

Three wonderful vendors provided the guests to oodles of eye candy.   I found a nice tatting pattern + fan sticks to try.  See the gold rush -- the fiber to use on bobbin lace snakes?   Add a nice shimmer to the snakes IMO.       

  The opportunity drawings did not disappoint .... hand sewn snap bags, bobbins from England, Vera Bradley bags, Tatting Fiber, Tatting books, craft bags, gift cards, fan sticks .... 

  

 - enough for all of us to enjoy + share the spoils with friends (Teal craft bag for Denise, via Diane).  

LINKS to More posts and photos:

Lace-Lovin' Librarian - Link HERE.
     Joining the Lafayette Lacemakers

Battatter's Blogger - Link HERE.
     Lace Day 2015

Yarnplayer's Tatting Blog - Link HERE.
     Pictures from Indiana Lace Day

Lafayette Lacemaker's Blog - Link HERE.

and, there was some tatting going on

 at the Tollway Tatters gathering.   Meet the Rock Stars and Tatting Royalty:

Superstar teacher, designer and author, Marilee, sat down and carried on a conversation, and effortlessly tatted this up ... More photos on her blog, Yarnplayer Tatts AND facebook page Yarnplayer.    When the opportunity comes around to take one of her classes -- don't hesitate!!!   Her current activities are too numerous to list here, best to watch her schedule of classes and vending booth dates/locations on-line sites.

    

Tatting lace artist and entrepreneur, Carrie a.k.a., Shuttle Flicka with one of her spectacular notecards . . .    Carrie [left] w/Diane [right].    More from Carrie via her blog, Just Give her Some String and facebook page, Shuttle Flicka Lace ... Plus, she is going to be at the Interwoven Expressions exhibit + sale this Fall.

Does anyone recognize the doily in the photograph?   Yes, it is Renulek's Lentia, in progress, tatted by Diane.    More photos on her internationally famous blog, Lace-Lovin' Librarian.   From left to right:  Carrie, Marilee [above], and Diane.

Techie, Sue Anna -- enlightening us on the gagetry of photography a.k.a. "selfies" AND transferring the images to a page.   FB and/or Blog.    Sue Anna was tatting with the finest white fiber on spectacular hand crafted shuttles.   [I didn't snap a photo : (    oh, darn].    Thinking of others first, the tatting will eventually become a decoration and grace a holiday tree for charity this Winter.

Have you ever heard of the saying, "the one with the MOST, wins" .... honestly, Sue Anna has a fabulous collection of shuttles.   Check out the photographs on her blog, Sue Anna's Blog.  

   This pop-a-button shuttle photographed front / back  is Sequoia wood.  Sue Anna had photos of her collection and said "pick one" .  thus, this beauty found new dwellings in our home .... yep, my home!!  Thx again Sue Anna, I'm gobsmacked speechless ....

In addition to the tatting, chatting, and goings on ... Diane brought woven bags made on her saori loom.   These bags are being created from her Mom's own pattern.    Bag in picture is made by her Mom.    Diane has more spectacular bags on her blog.   They are for an Autumn fundraiser held at her Mom's retirement.   Need a new bag?   Willing to help the cause?  Please visit her blog post:    http://lacelovinlibrarian.blogspot.com/search/label/Saori .

This is a tatted heart in the works - partially tatted by me.   The fiber is some of Marilee's HDT.    It is marvelous to tat with, and she has some new colors in her Etsy, Yarnplayer store.   Not a lot of tatting progress.   Waiting for my damaged finger to heal.   Have you ever tatted with a bandaid on your finger?   Nearly impossible to get rings, chains, without gaps.    Most tatters will recognize the pattern.   It is Split Ring Heart by Georgia Seitz, Link HERE.   

The card, gift from Carrie - she had oodles + had each of us choose one.   Thx again Carrie!!!    The bottles, gifts from Marilee, are filled with beads - Marilee created some bead mixes and poured them into these itty bitty corked bottles.   Too cute.  Thx again Marilee!!!

Are you familiar with the Rainbow Loom?   Sweet Ava, who was not able to join us today, made a Hello Kitty for me with her loom + made with colorful bands.   The last time I saw her, she had oodles of creations made on the loom - each unique, colorful, and delightful.   I need to find a special place for my treasure.  Next to my adorable Hello Kitty is a re - start of the tatted heart, so far without gaps.   I have a tighter bandaid on my finger and it improves my tatting!