New Shuttle

I got mine!

The Tatting Forum's signature shuttle is pure Shuttle Shop goodness.  Can you believe it is the first Shuttle Shop tool in my collection with a pick?

In the past I have purchased post shuttles without picks and I use crochet hooks to make joins. I must have forgotten to say "no pick, please."

But no matter, because I LOVE IT!  It is my first shuttle to have Is'Dihara printed on it.

Ever since it arrived I have been fantasizing about a future day when someone "inherits" this shuttle.  What kind of person would pick it up (in an antique/estate/yard sale or flea market or "boot sale")? What kind of person would take it home?

Between now and that future day I plan to put this lovely shuttle to much good use. Let the oils from my hands infuse it with love. Let the threads that reel off be transformed into yards of lace.

Now I must go, load it up and try it out!

Blogger Changes (FAIL)

It seems that Blogger has changed it's publishing tools since the last time I posted. Working through the "new, streamlined, Google +" tools saps my creative energy. Blech! UGH! Phooey!

Where have I been?
Since March 16th a few things have been happening. The Sprout applied to Kindergarten and got in to the school we rated as "1st choice," a private program.

The downside -- to pay for this private education I have reallocated all my "fun money" (what I use to buy tatting books and hand-dyed threads) to help pay his tuition. *big.pouty.lip*

I look at it this way. The Powers that Be softened the blow by granting me the wherewithal to win free threads in 2010 and 2011. Thank you again, Powers that Be for taking care of me!

Walt Disney World Resort
Last week The Sprout, Big Daddy and I went on vacation to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Two full days in Magic Kingdom^® and one day at Universal Orlando! Islands of Adventure^®. We drove instead of flying, breaking up the 12-13 hour trip with an overnight hotel stay in Santee, SC. It was a wonderful holiday. A few cell phone photos follow.

Hey Howdy Hey!

A Magical Hug from Princess Ariel

Jessica Rabbit - a Tatter?

Hmmm, I'm sensing a red-headed bias. My fault! Da Boyz like brunette, blond and ginger characters.

Vacation Tatting
Of course I took my shuttles along on vacation. Nestled among the gear in the third row section of the minivan was a cozy tatting spot.  I was able to tat in a moving vehicle for the first time, even adding beads!

A second Regal Snowflake (pattern design © 2011 La Cossette) tatted in Lizbeth® 20 Snow White #601 seemed to be a good choice for a Disney vacation.

For anyone curious, blue Swarovski crystals and blue seed beads add a hint of sparkle.

This is how far along I got before heading home. I failed to snap a photo of the finished snowflake.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter 
Admittedly, the stroll through the Harry Potter theme park was more for Big Daddy and I than for The Sprout. But The Sprout rode the Flight of the Hippogryph roller coaster seven times.

We all enjoyed our first tastes of butter beer and pumpkin juice, and touring Hogwarts.

We visited Zonko's Joke Shop; shopped for Chocolate Frogs™, Fizzy Wizzy and Sherbet Lemon candies at Honeydukes™; and got postcards stamped with a Hogsmeade™  postmark at the Owl Post™.  Big Fun!

Several movie props are on hand to charm even the most stalwart visitor.

Tatting Tea Tuesday - The Big Reveal

Well, aren't I God's own fool for promising a Tatting Tea Tuesday post and not delivering until the end of the week?

Last weekend the tatting got finished (and the tea got drunk), but the steam-set of the lace didn't happen until Tuesday evening. Tuesday and Wednesday were gorgeous sunny days so we went outside to enjoy them. Excuses, excuses...

Without further adieu, *drumroll*

Regal Snowflake © 2011 La Cossette
Tatted by Is'Dihara

Motif #13 Regal Snowflake
The big reveal is Regal Snowflake, designed by La Cossette and tatted in Lizbeth® 20 Snow White #601. Pale blue Swarovski crystals and blue seed beads enhance the crystalline effect.

Jeff Hamilton, is this the project you commented "looks suspiciously like the snowflake I hope to tat really soon?"

My first snowflake for a 2012 Christmas tree charity project for the Piedmont Lace Guild of Virginia turned out pretty well. (White lace is such a challenge to photograph!)

If only my scanner would get over its bad self and start talking to the wireless network again.

Gossip Alert
Have you seen the Custom/Commemorative shuttle La Cossette has up in her shop? You might recognize the image...La Cossette - Etsy Made to Order

Tatting in the Wilds

Sad news - the group that ran the Virginia State Fair has gone bankrupt - No More State Fair.

Never having gone to a state fair as a child, I went looking for information on the Pennsylvania State Fair. I found this handy county fair web guide with map: 2011 PA Fair Guide

I grew up in the green section of the map labelled "Pennsylvania Wilds." Who knew the sleepy borough of my youth was in the wilds?

Do you tat in the wilds?
Tatting in the "wilds" sounds like civilized handwork gone rogue, suddenly untamed and free. But we all know that before the Internet age, most of us tatted in the wilds. Separate and alone.

If you or someone you know tats in the wilds, I would love to know.

---

Want a sneak peek of the project I have been working on?

It has been a pick-up-and-put-down project for the past month. Not because the pattern is difficult, rather too many interruptions and distractions. I hope to finish it this weekend.

Coming Soon - Macaron Day!

Just a tiny teaser, some are calling it a harbinger of Spring -- Macaron Day 2012 -- March 20!

Hee hee, I think I shall call the little flying macaron "robin" in honor of another harbinger of Spring.

MacTweets is ramping up for a full-on celebration challenge:  Mademoiselle Macaron

Last year I missed it, so this year I propose Tuesday, March 20, a special Tatting Tea Tuesday event in honor of Macaron Day.

Celebrating the arrival of Spring by settling in with your favorite cuppa and a tasty macaron sounds like a lovely way to ring in Spring, n'est-ce pas?

Some fun macaron links:
How About Orange:  DIY macaron coin purse
Daily Craft: Easter Macarons

And because I am still sad, missing Gina, the Tatting Goddess, here is a macaron in honor of her Gingerbread Man:  Gingerbread Man Macarons

So mark your calendars and spread the word. Let's make March 20 a special day!

Guiness World Record Update & Supple Knees?

The Palmetto Tatting Guild has posted the results of their Tatting World Record attempt from September 2011:

UPDATE from Tat Days 2011, February 23, 2012: THANK YOU to everyone that participated in our attempt in Septebmer to set a world record of the most folks tatting at one time. We have heard back from Guinness and they said we needed more than 250 tatters to break the record. We had around 120 when counting those at Tat Days and those around the world that joined us. We may try again one day. Again, THANK YOU to ALL that joined us!

And a phrase from the quote at the end of Wanda's blog post, Gifts, piqued my interest.  

"Youth is not a time of life: it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it it a matter of the will, quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life."
~ Samuel Ullman

The poetic quality of "supple knees" is a point to ponder. I freely concede the state of mind, rosy cheeks and red lips. But supple knees? I never had supple knees. (Maybe as a swaddling baby?)

Isn't it funny what we think about as we tat?

I never miss Wanda's lovely posts. They are always clever, honest and never fail to satisfy. Her knack for finding quotes to fit her posts is as remarkable as her tatting.

So for the rest of my tatting time today I will ponder supple knees, will, the quality of imagination, vigorous emotion and the freshness of spring.  Especially "the deep springs of life."

Keep up the great work, Wanda!

Downton the Dumps

Happy Tatting Tea Tuesday!  Lingering thoughts of the season 2 finale of Downton Abbey ran roughshod over today's tea-time tatting post. Please pardon the change.

The title of today's post reflects my mood regarding the hiatus.

Seriously, how are we to muddle through until Season 3 starts in (cross your fingers) September?

One way, could be to act out our favorite scenes using Kyle Hilton's Downton Abbey Paper Dolls (You bet your sweet bippy I'll be doing this.) Dowager Countess doll here I come.

Or, one can always win a trip to Highclere & Leeds Castles to live your own Downton experience: Win a Trip to Briton

Fans can (and should) seek out blogs dedicated to Downton Abbey:
Downton Abbey Cooks

Or play dress-up! Haven't we seen a tatted choker closely resembling the one pictured here?
Downton Abbey - Madame Guillotine
Hand-Me-Downtons: Why those costumes weren't quite as lavish as they looked onscreen

Not everyone adores DA as much as I. The New York Times Art Beat has this report in its "Culture at Large" section:  Another British Critic Torches ‘Downton Abbey’

But to those who see Downton Abbey as a “steaming, silvered tureen of snobbery,” I say, "Pass me a third helping, if you please."