from The Shuttle Shop
The first Tatting Tea Tuesday of 2010 dawns clear, but with high, stinging, cold winds. Another day to hide inside, dreaming of sunflowers. But clever lady Jane starts her first T.I.A.S. of the year today. Hurray!
Having lurked and guessed through a few past T.I.A.S. games, I am quite excited to tat along with this one. So today I sip my new favorite tea – Lord Nelson® Rooibos Vanilla – and enjoy Day 1.
Holey Schemoley, this tea is yummy and isn't the sunflower shuttle a beauty?
On a lark I emailed the Shuttle Shop, asking if they might consider crafting one of these inlaid marvels in purpleheart instead of rosewood. Don't get me wrong, I adore rosewood. My all-time favorite shuttle is made from rosewood. See it here, next to the purpleheart?
Gorgeous woods, both. But a moisture-sucking vortex of doom settles over my house every winter, causing all manner of issues. My eight-foot,-mahogany hall tree has two cracks. I have also lost two rosewood shuttles.
You see, I can't have another one made if this one cracks. I have forgotten the name and address of the manufacturer.
What I do know is that I purchased it in the late 1990s from a vendor at the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival. His table was located in the main barn and he mainly sold drop spindles. And when I went begging for this replacement, he told me he didn't make shuttles anymore because he didn't sell enough of them. But he agreed to make a replacement one for me. (It was probably the welling tears in my eyes or the pleading tone in my voice, LOL!)
I think he was from Colorado or Wyoming or Montana...or maybe even farther points west.
So, if you have ever seen a rosewood shuttle like this, please let me know. And yes, each year at Sheep and Wool I go trolling spindle vendors with my rosewood shuttle in hand, asking if anyone makes it. So far no luck.
One last Holey Schemoley moment — can you believe I won one of Lace-Lovin' Librarian Diane's handmade shuttles in her new year giveaway? What a delightful surprise! Thank you, Diane! I'm over the moon with excitement. Can't wait to show it off, once it arrives.
Oh and before I forget, Holey Schemoley! A whopping 94% of respondents voted to continue Tatting Tea Tuesday posts in 2010. I'm so glad you (at least 36 of you) are enjoying it as much as I am.
Wishing you all blissful me time to create something beautiful.
See you next Tuesday for more communi-tea!
I love love love that sunflower shuttle! Our brains must be on the same wavelength because I just did a sunflower doily in colors to match your shuttle. I'm glad to see that Tatting Tea Tuesday will continue. How could even one person not want it to continue?
ReplyDeleteI love sunflowers alot and I love your shuttle. Fabulous!
ReplyDeleteSteph, I just raced over to your blog and read your latest post, hoping for a look at your sunflower doily. It's the Blomqvist and Persson one, right? Exquisite!
ReplyDeleteRayanna, so glad you love the shuttle and sunflowers! Aren't they both just lovely creations?
I am in total shuttle envy of your sunflower shuttle! Someday I will be able to order one of those beautiful wood shuttles - unless, of course, I can hint loud enough to receive one for my birthday . . .
ReplyDeleteI take it you enjoy tatting with the wooden shuttles as well as enjoying their beauty?
I love that Sunflower shuttle - gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteYour rosewood shuttle looks very familiar. I'm not at home right now but let me check when I get back. Not sure I'll have an address, either, though, even if I do have one like it.
I'm glad your keeping TTT - it's a wonderful idea!
A Happy Bluebird, you are correct -- I enjoy tatting with wooden shuttles as much as admiring their beauty.
ReplyDeleteIf they weren't so pricey I would buy finely crafted shuttle more often. (I do think craftsmanship is worth paying for. Just wish I had more money to spend!)
Tattrldy, oh I DO SO HOPE that you have seen my rosewood shuttle in your very own stash...it would bring great peace of mind to know it could be replaced (maybe) if necessary. Thank you for checking when you get home!
Your new sunflower shuttle is so nice. I bet it will be wonderful to tat with.
ReplyDeleteJB, thank you so much. I gave the shuttle its first test drive today. It has perfect balance, is light, has just the right amount of tension at the tips and makes a very pleasing click. I couldn't ask for better.
ReplyDeleteI also have a sunflower shuttle, and I love it! Your other shuttle looks similar to ones I have from Diana Andra. I don't think she's making them any more, but Lace Maker U.S.A. used to carry her shuttles, and they may have some left. Hope you find one! (I'm not willing to part with any of mine just yet!)
ReplyDeleteVERY VERY COOL SHUTTLE!!! (no, I'm not shouting at you, just excited for you!)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your fabulous new goodies and Happy Tatting!
~TattingChic ♥
Cracking wood.... oh yes. I used to play the shakuhachi, (wooden Japanese flute favoured by ronin, 17th century) which is bamboo, and mine cracked badly due to the Canadian winters and all that dry, dry air!
ReplyDeleteMy wooden shuttles did not fare vwey well either.... Back to Clover pour moi!
Yours are very pretty. Himidify them in good health!
Fox : )
Your new shuttle is just gorgeous. Glad that you like the tea, it's the staple afternoon tea in Tatskool-land.
ReplyDeleteYour shuttles are lovely are they made by the Shuttle Shop??? I have some of them and they are gorgeous...mine have a tip on them
ReplyDeleteJoy