More Stuff from Tat Days!

A couple of stats before the pictures:

• I counted three countries represented - The Netherlands, Mexico, and the US. 
• Of the 70 listed attendees (in the souvenir program book), I counted 14 states represented: Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

I'd love to have every state represented next year - it will be the 10th Annual Palmetto Tat Days!  I've already started working on patterns to submit with my teaching application for 2012!

Treasures from Tat Days:

Beads from my dear friend, Kathy
Hodge, plus "shuttle warmers"
from the banquet Friday night

Here's a Sew-Mate shuttle getting
cozy in the shuttle warmer!

Thread from Kathy.  Aren't the colors scrumptious!

Commemorative shuttles by The Shuttle Shop

The picture does NOT do justice to these lovely
threads!  The sun was playing hide-and-seek
when I took it, so the colors aren't as vibrant
as they truly are.

Commemorative shuttle by Georgia & Richard Seitz.
It's actually a deep, lustrous blue - like the sky at
midnight on a clear night.  Can't wait to use it!

Decorated shuttles by Hope Bates - aren't they pretty!

Same shuttles, they just "did the flip" to show off their
other sides.  I know I'll enjoy using them!

I won this wooden tote in the Silent Auction.  It was loaded
with lovely and useful items - such as several balls of
thread, glass "gems," and metal bangle bracelets!

 And these are just some of the goodies I brought home!  We had such a wonderful time - it's like a big family reunion (only everyone is speaking to everyone else).  More later...

Sharren in (Tatting) Wonderland!

There was a light mist on Lake Louise this morning, that became a light fog as we drove south on GA-17, heading for I-85.  Tat Days 2011 is over for another year.

The first person we saw, the first person we always see when we pull up in the parking lot of our Tat Days venue, was Martha Ess.  She looked great, as always, and told us she'd brought copies of her newest book.  And - time got away from me, and I didn't get one!!  Oh, well, I can order one from her.  We hung out in Griffith Hotel, our "home away from home," greeting new arrivals - which included CrazyMom, IsDihara, and Nina Libin!  Wonderful to see all three of them!

Our teacher orientation session was informative and pleasant - thanks, Joanie!  She is so much fun and so pleasant - we're good friends and don't get to talk nearly often enough!  She passed out teacher gift bags, handmade by our own Gloria Grumman (who is a genius with a sewing machine), which contained all sorts of wonderful stuff - the motif on the front, Jane Eborall's Octo-Flake, was tatted by Joanie Culverhouse.  Don't know who made the fob, but doesn't it look right at home on my scissors!

Riet Surtel-Smeulders arrived, wearing - believe it or not - Sock Monkey Earrings!  Even more astounding, she told me they are hand-knit!  Here is a closeup of one; that's Marie Smith's hand holding it still.  Riet is such a bundle of energy, those tiny monkeys were really dancing as she moved, talking animatedly with old friends and new!

And here is our dear friend, Erin Holloway-Moseley - wearing a beautiful tatted necklace made from hand-dyed thread.  I didn't catch the name of the artist who dyed it, but the colors were perfect with her outfit and the pattern was lovely!

This weekend has been a blur, but as I get a moment, I'll be writing more about it.  So much fun, I'm ready to re-pack and hit the road again!

 "Three more weeks until Tat Days"...then, "Two more weeks until Tat Days"...then, "Seven days until Tat Days!  I'll never make it!"  Then, it was here...and now, in just a heartbeat, I'm back to "Fifty more weeks until Tat Days..."

Oh, yeah, honey, I am definitely a tatter!!!

Thursday - Bring It!

I am now officially ready for Tat Days - I have a new lanyard!  A shout-out of "THANKS" to Crazy Mom, who posted the basic pattern on her blog.  Can you see where I changed it to make it work for me?

The tough part was finding beads that would work with the thread and crochet hook - I had to go from size 20 thread to size 10 (it felt huge!); size 11 to size 6 beads; and size 13 to size 11 hook.  But I'm pleased with the results and will happily wear my new lanyard!

I Can't Wait for Thursday!!

...Because that's when we leave for Toccoa, Georgia, and TAT DAYS - Tatting in a Winter Wonderland!  I am really looking forward to seeing so many old friends again, connecting with friends I only know online, and meeting new friends!

Wonderful classes are being offered - many techniques are being covered - lots of new patterns!  A pattern CD, containing every pattern taught in each class, will be offered again; if you can't be with us at Tat Days, and would like one, please see our website at http://www.palmettotatters.org/  for ordering information.

Now I'm thinking about tatting a lanyard - I tatted one years ago, but whatever became of it, I don't have a clue. I doubt seriously that it became a cat toy (he preferred shuttles), so it may be around here - somewhere!  But it's not here when I want it, so I guess it's time for a new one.

Hmm...Crazy Mom has a wonderful, easy, quick pattern on her blog - maybe I can borrow her idea and take it for a spin??