Tatting Treats

When I got home from the office tonight, I had some pleasant treats.

First, the 2nd book from the Shuttle Brothers has finally arrived. Aptly named, Tatting the Self-closing Mock Ring for GR-8 Design, it is truly inspirational. I think Gary and Randy have done their usual excellent process of taking the individual tatter beyond where he/she thinks they can go. Having been in classes that they've taught and sat with them during other classes, their minds are always racing ahead.

While the book is black and white, all the diagrams are excellent. There are pattern diagrams as well as drawings of hand positions. The photographs of the tatted models are extremely well done. It is the perfect companion book to their 1999 book entitled, Tatting the GR-8 Self-closing Mock Ring. The three-page discussion of Front side / Backside Tatting is probably the clearest explanation I have ever seen in writing and they included a number of drawings illustrating the discussion (you know, the old "a picture is worth a 1000 words" kind of thing).

Secondly, I received that shuttle I had won on some of the Ebay auctions. This one is from Dublin, Ireland. The wood is described as "Bocote" and is a beautiful shuttle. The pictures on the item (see 330302222643) do not do this work of art justice. I'm very pleased with the shuttle as I like smaller shuttles (length-wise) but I think it will hold a lot of thread because of the design.

Last week I also received the ceramic shuttle I ordered from LadyShuttleMaker. It is very nice as well; I can't believe how light it is. Thanks, Sherry!

Update on Gary - SB1 and the NEW BOOK!

I just spoke with Randy (SB2) and got an update on Gary. Randy says that Gary retired both the walker and wheel chair just before Christmas. Gary is using the walking stick that Randy carved him to get around ... well, unless the snow is too deep and then it's time for the crutches. He's working as best he can and still doing rehab. Gary is expecting to have more surgery and will wind up meeting with his doctors probably in May to continue moving forward on his rehab. He's still not driving yet but his spirit and determination are unflappable!

I'm sending a check to Randy tomorrow for their new book. I was privileged to see one of the final drafts last summer while at Bobbie Demmer's. It is a wonderful addition to their first book. Randy says that he hopes that the third book, currently in the works, won't take so long to put it together.

Speaking of new books ... I usually buy my own Christmas and birthday presents because DH says, "I don't know what to get you but I know you want some more tatting ' stuff ' so have at it. DS#1 and his girlfriend gave me Jon Yusoff's "Tatted Snowflake Collection" for Christmas and then an original "Priscilla #1" book for my birthday last week. The Priscilla book is more than 100 years old and WILL not go onto my bookshelf but will have a more protected place to reside. It will stay in the armoire where I keep the books I refer to most often.

I also purchased a really first-class reproduction of "eThe ART of Tatting and Netting" originally published by The Butterick Publishing Co. I have seen bits and pieces of this book reproduced through the years but never the entire collection in a single binding and the quality is excellent. Kudoes to Iva Rose Vintage Reproductions!

Another update on SB1

I've also received orders for the small handouts from the following:

Marty from Salt Lake City, UT
Donna from Garnett, KS

Thanks, ladies.

Also had a new update on Gary on one of my other addies and I don't think he will mind if I share. Considering everything I think it's positively MARVELOUS!!

"Hello All,
I tied my shoes today!!!!!!!!
Gary"

Getting a little tatting done but not much. Just working on some bookmarks ... one of my favorite patterns. I am using a lot of my vintage Star threads with newer DMC Tatting Cotton. By winding each thread TOGETHER onto my shuttle, I can create some very interesting colorways. I'll try to get a picture later to show what the way a single, colorway of lavender, white and lime can look when combined with a solid color thread of white, lavender, kelly or black. They are very interesting!!

As October is breast cancer awareness month, I'm currently tatting a bookmark in two shades of pink, pastel and hot. Once I get it finished, I try to post that picture as well. DS#1 is coming home this weekend ... maybe he'll remember his digital camera since it is so much better than mine.

Take care and happy Tatting!!

Last Day in September

I must say it's been an interesting couple of weeks. I'm mailing a check for $500.00US to the Credit Union in Colorado for Gary Houtz's fund. Thanks to everyone who has participated so far:

Palmetto Tatters Guild participants from TatDays 2008
Heart of England Tatters: Rosemarie Peel
Shuttlebirds (Spokane, WA): Patti Duff
Red Hat Lacers (Chula Vista, CA): Patsy Goodman
Sunflower Lacers (Manhattan, KS): Ronna Robertson
River City Tatting Club (Evansville, IN): Dorcas Newkirk
Marcella Ouzts (Muskogee, OK)

Thank everyone so much who expressed their interest in helping Gary. While it's not much, every little bit helps but mostly, your thoughts, best wishes and prayers go a very long way.

Happy Tatting!!

Tidbits of information

The last week, especially since the 10th, has been very eventful. The orders for Gary's Fundraiser have come it at atonishing rate. I have to print more B-U-T I've have a challenge to overcome. Currently I have orders for 55 sets of which 48 more sets have to be generated.
The challenge has been that I had a major breakdown of our home network last week. When I got home Wednesday, our DSL modem was off-line (a doorknob would have been more useful!) which meant waiting until a new one arrived on Friday. When hooking up the new modem on Friday, I discovered that whatever had gotten the modem ALSO got my network card in the computer itself. So off to the PC doctor, but still no connectivity after an hour with "customer service" from my provider.
DH was driving in from Lufkin, TX because good(?) ole Ike had closed the Houston airports. He arrived about 1:40 AM Saturday after being on the road for 14.5 hours. Up early on Saturday and then back to the PC Doctor, tower and DSL modem working okay in the shop. Back to the house, put everything back together and finally got some connectivity around 5:30 PM. Then on the phone with the router manufacturer, then back to my ISP to bridge connections, then back to the router/print server manufacturer to get the rest of the connections operational.
Had planned for a lazy day on Sunday but DH decided to put together the computer armoire he had me purchase in January. The two boxes had been taking up space all this time and he decides he'd had enough. Eight hours later, the armoire is together and we start moving the network. Three hours after that, the network is up and completely operational. Furniture rearranged and even the floor swept (although my poor vacuum needs to visit the shop too). Into bed but the night certainly wasn't long enough.
Hope to get all the printing done tonight then tomorrow night start on making the filament loops for the fundraiser. Wednesday I'll complete the binders and then Thursday, I hope to be able to start mailing packages.

2008 PTG Tat Days & Update on Gary's Fundraiser

Finally getting my 2nd wind ... why does it seem to take longer every year? I still have the same dilemma each event though, haven't figured how to clone myself so that I can take in all the classes, work the vending room and see EVERYONE!! Hanna didn't come to see us (thank GOODNESS) although several of our usual participants were unable to come (missed Katie and Lorena!) because of her presence along the eastern Carolina shoreline but we still had a good time.

Sales of the Knotless Tatting Fundraiser in the vending room were $133 and with my matching funds, that's already $266. So many of the gentle tatters from around the world have responded so that I need to make up more of the little kits and it looks like I'll be sending at least an additional $150, more than $500 - WOW!! Thank you everyone.

I just sent notes to everyone who had contacted me at tattingteresa@gmail.com about shipping. If you are interested and didn't receive a note directly from me, please use the gmail addy to get me your contact information.

I am really humbled at all of the generosity that all of you have exhibited. It is a real testament to the esteem that the tatting world holds for Gary.

Wide Wonderful World of Tatters

Although not surprised, I am truly and honestly overwhelmed with the responses that I have received about the little fund raiser I had planned. I'll be getting back to the individuals who've requested this information. Some of you I've already answered and will answer everyone else. Just give me a little time.

Today, our area of North Carolina is receiving the remnants of Fay. She has really wandered all over the landscape but we do so need the rain. In fact, some of the rain today has been a real gully washer!!

I do have another treat instore for those of you who are ordering multiple sets of the fundraisers so once we have all the small details worked out and you have received your packages, look for another little thank you from me personally ... it is a surprise ... SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Fund Raiser for G.Houtz

During the upcoming Palmetto Tatter's Tat Days 2008, a fund raiser is planned.

A special fund rasier will be conducted in the Vending Room during Tat Days 2008. To benefit Gary Houtz, the 'older' Shuttle Brother who was severely injured in a car accident in May, a technique package for "Knotless Tatting" will be offered.

This package consists of three pages of instructions and a package containing two different types of filament loops (two each) bound in a plastic binder that will allow additional techniques to be added. The instructions represent two class handouts from Gary and Randy that were edited by Teresa Woods with pictures from Gina Butler. Diagrams are from Randy Houtz and Ron Butler.

All materials have been donated by RT Woods Consulting with a suggested donation of $3.00 minimum per binder. In addition to the donation of materials, RT Woods Consulting will match up to $150.00 all sales of the binders for the fund that has been set up for Gary with the Southwest Colorado Federal Credit Union.

The instructions represent a way to use filament and thread loops to start elements in tatting that lend themselves to SECURELY finishing a round of tatting so that knots don't have to be tied and then the ends need to be hidden in various ways. This technique takes a "magic thread" and goes a couple of steps further. Although fussy at first, the end result is well worth the learning curve ... at least that's my personal opinion.

Promised Picture

Here is the promised picture of Gary's shirt. Randy was taking this back to him. There are a lot of items here that we did at CWT. There are angels on both shoulders (which don't show up very well).
There are a number of hearts where we were playing with Mark Myers Dizzy Double Stitches. There are snails and mystery motifs. The button also holds some of Patti Duff's beaded bookmarks. Any number of SCMR style butterflies had flown in and attached themselves to the shirt. Jack Coen had even carved a Lady Hoare style shuttle and there's thread wound on it and a motif started for Gary to finish.
The green "mass" on the right shoulder (upper left on the picture) was our representation of Gary's bag ... and even sometimes what he does to some of our bags -if we leave them in sight and unprotected. LOL
You can also see a number of Randy's Bumble Bees. The cute little critters using two shuttles tatted in the alternate thread method and the wings are double stitches on picots.
While we did miss Gary, we did get to talk to him briefly on Saturday, the 21st of June. Randy did let us know that Gary is at home now and has been going through all the cards that had been sent. He has a very long road to recovery and would probably appreciate cards through the long months ahead.

A long plane ride back had me playing with techniques. The picture of the butterflies, while not the best quality, was an interesting experiment in double stitches. All have the same stitch count; larger wings are 6 - 6 - 6 - 6 and the smaller wings are 6 - 6 - 6. The one on the left uses standard double stitches (DS).
The one on the right uses the Dizzy Double Stitches (DDS) and the center uses Ruth Perry's Balanced Double stitches (BDS, also described as a sliding square knot). For DS and BDS, there is a very definite crown to each stitch upon completion.
When tatting in either of these two methods and tatting frontside / backside, it is quite easy to glance at the tatting to determine which have of the stitch should be done next. The DDS on the other hand is another story altogether; I also found the tension more difficult to control with the DDS. I want to try to get a paper together, along with better scans of the butterflies as well as some test rings I did. The test rings, like the butterfiles, all have the same stitch count but I hope to show more detail of the stitches on both the front and back sides.

Greetings from Montana

It's really hard to believe that this is my last half day at Bobbie Demmer's. We have had so much fun since I arrived last Thursday. Yesterday afternoon was the traditional trek to Little Bear's in Thompson Falls for ice cream. I had the Pecan Pie which is hand pressed ice cream (mmmmm!) with chocolate, pecans and Butterfinger candy mixed together. It is nearly decadent.

The weather has been delightful as well. In fact as I write, I'm sitting in the classroom with a long-sleeve denim shirt over my blouse but it nice. We've already had so much hot weather at home. I'll be swinging over to Mead, WA later today to see a girlhood friend I haven't seen in about 40 years so I'm really excited to see her and meet her family tomorrow.

I fly home on Wednesday and it is an all day affair. While I've enjoyed the trip, I'll still be ready to get home to give DH a break from puppy sitting. Pictures from the trip will follow and a picture of the shirt we all decorated for Shuttle Brother #1. We certainly missed his presence but was glad that Shuttle Brother #2 was here to give us an update. We also spoke with Gary during the weekend. He has a long recovery ahead but is filled with good spirits and tremendous determination.

Happy tatting everyone!

Montana Vacation

DH and I are vacationing again in Montana but took some time to explore around Yellowstone National Park. I was there last in 1968 with my parents and siblings.

We are now in Thompson Falls (southwestern Montana) about halfway between Missoula, MT and Coer d' Alaine, ID. Had a wonderful weekend with Bobbie Demmer with lessons from Gary and Randy Houtz (aka The Shuttle Brothers) of Colorado and Irene Morgan of Oklahoma. Great to see Heidi and Katrina from California again as well as Gwen, Patty, Diane, Donna and Tess. Planning to spend more time in the area until we fly home on the 3rd of July. DH is having a super time playing with all the big trout in the Thompson Falls river.

Doing quite a bit of tatting buy don't have any scans yet to add to my blog. Will try to get some digital pix soon.

Preparation well under way for Palmetto Tatters 2007 Tat Days, theme Flower Garden in September (see http://www.palmettotatters.org) and knowing Donna and Jeff, registration will be up and ready before DH and I get home!

Happy Tatting !! more later ...