Spring in Madison Valley

 It is the 8th of May and we woke up to about 4 inches of snow. The moisture is welcome although the snow will be melted away by the end of the day. We've had very little snow during the Winter 2020-2021 and expect a bad fire season staring around Independence Day until the first snow in late September or early October. 

Here are pictures from our front door looking out onto the Gravelly mountain range.

The one on the left is looking WSW. Many times we see the mule-eye deer at the summit of the mountain. 

The picture to the right is also from our front door but it is looking WNW. This is the property of the young man who installed our sprinkler system a year ago. Such a pretty snow because there was little or no wind.

In addition to preparing for registration to open for Palmetto Tatters Guild, I've actually been tatting some. I've taken time to attend some of the On Line Tatting classes now available on YouTube. I've even done some of the "homework" and taken pictures. I've done a little test tatting for some of the classes. Right now, there is a project on-going by Tamie Montgomery (the classes leader/owner/administrator) to create and send to Georgia Seitz, the originator more than 20 years ago, a "thinking of you" card. Tamie is encouraging everyone to build their own and send to Tamie. She will then package all of the cards together and send to Georgia. 

The "pieces" in the picture above come from several lessons and have not yet been blocked; I still have a cute little bunny to add. The "frame" is from a class taught on April 26 as is the "hill" for the trees. The edging is Joelle Paulson's Fluerette Edging. The primary difference is that the picots from the hill have all the picots the same whereas on the frame, the joining picot on each floret is very small. This creates a snug edging where the other style is a bit loose.

The trees are from Nancy Tracy. The pattern is a wonderful edging. I did however use a half double-double stitch for the "ground" chains for the trees. The Tulip is a cute little pattern from Kathleen Minnitti of the Shuttlebirds Tatting group. I did change it up just a bit (so what's new?) by using Leesa Kramer's suggestions for a second loop at the base of the Single Shuttle Split Rings ... it really adds more sturdiness.

What a year 2020 was -- forward to 2021!

 Well, we all know what's been happening around the world so I'm not recapping that! But I did start working on a rainbow-themed fabric made from the Square Pinwheel instructions out of Dora Young's "All New Knotless Tatting" book that was republished by Heidi Nakayama. 

The above picture was taken against my keyboard but you can get the idea. The red square has white rings, orange w/red, yellow w/orange,   green w/yellow, blue w/green, indigo w/blue, and violet w/indigo. Each square is approximately 4" square and I intend to have the fabric consist of 7x7 squares so it will be a nice cloth.

On a very positive note, Palmetto Tatters Guild (PTG) held their 19th Annual Tat Days in September 2020. Although the number in attendance was about half of the average number for all the previous years, it was still a successful event. Class sizes were limited, lots of communication, continual oversight to what GA health/CDC recommended, and the Welcome bags also contained masks, face shield frames and plastic, and hand sanitizer. Guess what -- NO ONE GOT SICK!

In mid October, Tatting Corner held their 3rd Annual Tat Days with about 30 in attendance. Everyone had a good time and Lisa took the appropriate precautions!

Know what both of these events had in common? EVERYONE was thankful for a sense of normalcy and the opportunity (based on the individual's decisions based on their own status) to be among fellow tatters.

In November, word reached the Tatters Across Time, Inc., Team Members that our coordinator, Teri, had passed suddenly into the realm with the Tatting Angels. The was a terrible shock as she hadn't been ill but had fallen on the ice and broken her ankle. We'll never know why she didn't wake but the TEAM was grateful for her leadership especially since Bobbie's passing in 2014. January brought about the selection of a new Coordinator and yes, that's me. I am honored and humbled to say the list. I have really large shoes to fill.

PTG is planning their 19th annual event and it's going to be at a new facility! The Guild is really excited about the Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center in the mountains of NW North Carolina. Everything (classes, vending, sleeping, and eating) all under one roof ... a rather large roof but there are elevators with the events concentrated on two floors. The list of teachers has been announced and the classes are intriguing. Registration will open sooner (and close sooner) than previous years since the event will be the weekend PRIOR to Labor Day. Lots of things to do for non-tatters as well! There is swimming, fishing, paddle, golf, miniature golf, tennis, and MORE!