MY TATTING STORY

My Grandma (Mom's mom) tatted.
Her fingers flew!
She never used a printed pattern because she knew
how to make her tatted crosses by heart.
I don't remember her even pausing to count stitches.
She passed away when I was still too young to teach.

Over the years Mom and I talked many times
about Grandma's tatting and how her fingers flew.
I grew up and moved away from home.
Then on one visit, Mom brought me
Grandma's shuttles and her tatting.
I was so happy to have them!

More years passed.
Occasionally I would take out Grandma's tatting
to admire it and hold the shuttles
and just wonder,
"How in the world..."

Enter Carol Duvall.
Mom and I both watched her show.
One day there was a segment on needle tatting.
We were on the phone right after it aired, so EXCITED!
I got needles and thread and was ready to try...
but then I thought to do an internet search
and found instructions for
SHUTTLE TATTING just like Grandma!
(anyone need some brand new needles?)

In fact, I found SEVERAL tutorials on shuttle tatting,
but still was getting nowhere until one day I found yet ANOTHER and gave it a try...

I do not know who posted these instructions to the internet, but
THANK YOU.
On March 23, 2001, I FLIPPED for tatting!

I happily tatted away, making a few "Lacy Bookmarks."

I placed my first order from Handy Hands.
I made small motifs.

Mom was very proud and I was very happy...
but there was a problem.
After tatting for HOURS on some pretty little motifs,
THEY WOULD TWIST AND BECOME MISSHAPEN
ON THE FINAL JOIN.
I. COULD. NOT. FIGURE. OUT. WHY!

I kept reading the instructions in my new tatting book,
but to no avail.
I found myself limited to certain patterns.
I was frustrated.
I gave up.

For several years

 I only picked up a shuttle 
to see if I could still make a ring.

About a year after Mom died,
I found myself revisiting things we both enjoyed or admired.
I began wanting to tat and turned once again to the Internet.
There I found Gina, Sherry, Jane, Fox, Jon and Tatting Chic.
I stalked them SHAMELESSLY!
And the more I stalked,
the more determined I became to tat again and better.
This time I felt as if I had a community of tatters cheering me on.

My AHA moment came on June 22, 2009.
With the help of my OTT magnifying lens,
I SAW how to make that dreaded final join
and there was MUCH rejoicing!

My fingers STILL don't fly - maybe they never will -

but I find that if I tat slowly and steadily, 

I ENJOY being in the race!

Winter Froze My Toes, But Tatters Warmed My Heart

THUNDERSLEET

never heard of it...

until yesterday.

We had a few hours of it, at the end of which

the kids were  DELIGHTED

to find themselves with a free day,

but the little ones were DISAPPOINTED

to learn that there would be no snow play.

Today the ice remains, 

as do bitter cold temperatures,

the kids,

AND

"ordered" rolling blackouts

have been added to the mix (for fun).

Still, watching the news, I know

WE ARE LUCKY.

But I must say as 

EXCITING

(in a "when will this go away" kind of way)

as the weather has been,

I have been

FAR MORE EXCITED

about emails from tatters in my inbox...

In the last 48 hours, there has been a 

FLURRYof activity

regarding my Tatting Press Pattern!

and it WARMS MY HEART because

I posted it hoping to contribute

SOMETHING

to the tatting community

which has been so kind to me.

First came an email from

AUBREY at SWEET MAGNOLIA TREE

saying she had made her tatting press

and sharing

THIS LINK

to the LOVELY blog

she has begun with her mom and sister.

Check out her cheery, Country French press!

LOVE IT!

She even posted WIP pictures of the press being made!

Next came an email from

MARIA at KNACKFUL KNITTER

to say she had also finished her press!!!

With her permission, here is a picture,

ISN'T IT JUST BEAUTIFUL!

Serene also comes to mind.

The perfect press for tackling clunies!

Check out Maria's blog

HERE.

She knits WONDERFULLY

and has recently taken up tatting.

THEN I read Fox's post

which showed a

LOVELY motif she tatted

and a picture of it in progress

on her Tatting Press

at the coffee shop!

AND FINALLY,

because Maria sent information about the press pattern

to ANOTHER tatter,

the pattern may show up in new places online

so, HOPEFULLY, more tatters

will be able to make one of their own!

All this has added up to one VERY HAPPY...