Palmetto Tat Days 2025

 Well another year at the Palmetto Tatting Guild Tat Days is over.  Tired in a good way.  It was nice to catch up with fellow tatters and see many friends again.

Live auction was filled with nice items and several competitive bids.  It is always filled with laughter and comic relief.

Classes completed were the Celtic Owl, Pearl Tatted Earrings and Dragonfly wings made in Lizbeth Metallic.  The bracelet was a class I taught made with Superduo and seed beads.  I have one more project (a tatted Iris flower) but it will be a bit before completed as there are several parts that need to be tatted and assembled.  

Next year’s conference is scheduled for Sept 24-27, 2026 at Ridgecrest Conference Center just outside Asheville, NC.  If your able to plan and attend, you will be welcomed with open arms, have a great time, meet new/old friends and learn from fantastic teachers.

Tat Days 2024 - Part One

       It was nice to see familiar faces that have not been for a few years.  Tat Days was held at Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina.  Rooms were convenient to classes, classes were very close to vending and the food was good.  Only drawback was signage to find everything.  Took a good day to really get the layout figured out between room/classes/dining.          

       Thursday evening was Arlene Medder’s Solar Flare - top right. Made with HDT I had in my stash and beads.  The middle is tatted over a jump ring or pen ring, then continuous chains around and climbing to next rounds.

       First class on Friday was Nina Libin's Grape Earrings taught by Bonnie Swank - upper left. This is a Beanile Lace pattern using metallic embroidery thread, beads and single shuttle rings.  These tatted up quickly.  Actually worn that day!

      Next was Randy Houtz Double Stitches on Picot Rings - middle.  These were samples of a few of the techniques.  They were made using scraps of size 10 thread I had.  The technique uses flip/unflip alternating threads (last one is a split ring).  Another fun class.  

      The card was a Bev Corder fun item using negative space.  It was made with a cardstock cutout (or tatting piece) and acrylic ink mixture.  I can see more of these in my future.  

     All of the above projects were completed.  Stayed tuned for day 2.

Tat Days 2023 - Projects

Finally getting around to finish these two projects from last year (only needed findings).  The dark beaded earrings is the Beanile technique.  They are a self closing mock ring.  Pattern by Nina Libin taught by Bonnie Swank.  The orange is called September Jewerly Set by Richard Embrey.  Very easy set to tat.

Tat Days 2023 Couple of Projects

      Here are a couple of finished items from 2023 Tat Days.  The earrings still need findings.  They are Beanile tatting.  I love how these turned out.  Picture does not do it justice.  The bird is a bookmark.  This piece used several tatting techniques which made it interesting to tat.  

     I have several works in progress.  Hopefully will have pictures and make a post this weekend.  There are two doilies and the FB Temperature Tat-Along (that just started for 2024).  

Tat Days 2020

 Another Palmetto Tat Days has come and gone.  Different this year, but the classes were great and fun was had by all.  Want to thank the staff from the Palmetto Tatters Guild, volunteers, teachers and the Georgia Baptist Conference center for hosting this year.  There was plenty of hand sanitizer for all along with masks and face shields.  Classes were small (limited to 8) but social distancing was practiced in each class along with spacing in the great room.  I felt confortable and very safe.  

The conference started with dyeing thread and making Celtic shuttles out of popsicle sticks. Tie dye kits were used for the dye.  Eventhough I have dyed my own thread, I did learn a few tricks to practice.  Lots of laughter especially when we doned our speciality evening wear for dyeing (plastic trash can liners).  

The first picture are my completed projects and test tatting I did for Tat Days.  First year I completed all projects from classes I attended.  The only item not there is a bracelet I made for my granddaughter.  Not able to get a picture before I gave it to her.  There is Triangle Edging, Leaf Motif, Rainbow Pearl Snowflake, Rainbow key ring, the Celtic Shuttles, hand dyed thread and Dangle Earrings.  The shuttle is hand painted and was a teacher gift.  The pineapple is a fingerless glove along with wave bracelet and a tatted show which I had the opportunity to test for Erin Mosely.    The other photo are books I picked up for my growning library.

This year there was a virtual online auction.  It was interesting to guess who was bidding on the offered items.  Was also nice to see tatters from other contries log in and check out the items as well.  Georgia Seitz was on the phone before the live auction.  It was good to hear her voice.  Eventhough she was not there, she certainly was there in spirit and thought of by all. 

Shelter Down

Hope everyone is safe and staying sheltered.  DH and I have been working from home over a week.  For me, it has been very relaxing.  Actually been able to have a somewhat normal life with scheduled meals.

On a brighter note, Tat-a-Renda is sponsoring a tat-along through her Facebook page.  The pink/white doily is this WIP.

The big cube is another WIP.  It is from Karen Bovard Illusions of 3-D Split Ring Tatting.  Almost complete.  Six more pieces.  This has certainly tested my ability to keep tension consistent.  Will probably make another in the future.

Earrings and necklace is from Marilee Rockley’s Tatting with Beads Jewelry.  This has become an easy go to pattern if I need a quick gift.

The last is a few rows of a mat from Tatting a 4-Square Ring by Mary Maynard.  I like it so well that I decided to stop and make another using a variegated blue thread.

Lastly,  Karen Solomon is also hosting a Tat-along.  You may find it here:  gracefulartsfiberstudio.blogspot.com.

Happy New Year

Happy New Years to everyone.  Hope your year is healthy, full of joy/happiness and whatever crafts you are involved in.

Been working on redoing the 3D cube from Karen Brovard's book Illusions of 3-D in Split Ring Tatting.  It is looking better.  Still a challenge for me (tension) but I have figured out a way to make sure it is the rings are close in size to one another.  Love the 3D effect.  Not to wild about the colors.  Will do another but with shades of blue for the cube.

The earrings are a pattern by Nina Libin called Earrings for Snow Princess.  They were a gift for my daughter made with peridot beads (her birthstone).  Swirl join makes the little stary in the middle.

One goal I have set  for myself is to blog an entry a month.  I have been very laxed.  Another goal is to stay organized.  So far both have been accomplished.  I am in the middle of organizing my tatting area.  Hopefully, will have that done tomorrow.  Need to start getting things ready for this year's Tat Days and finish WIP's.  If I can stay organized and focused, I should complete both of these. 

Beads, beads and more beads!

I needed some beads (specifically delica) for some earrings I wanted to make for a possible craft exhibit.  I had ordered from Fusion Beads before and checked their webside again.  Lo and behold, they had a clearance section.  So, I proceeded to select a bunch of colors for several projects.  Shipping was quick.  The Angel earrings were made with some of the beads.  Love this pattern.  It can be found on the 2019 Palmetto Tat Days CD.  Taught by Bonnie Swank. 

The black item is a necklace and earrings for a present.  Needs to be finished with findings.  Pattern from Marlie Rockley's book Tatting with Beads Jewelry.  It is a nice, quick pattern.

The bottom two photos are from Karen Brovard's book Illusions of 3-D in Split Ring Tatting.  It is a challenging pattern.  Thought I was doing ok but I really need to work on tension as illustrated by the arrows.  The green block with the middle arrow was the last section.  It is definately tight.  Soooooo, I decided to restart.  I have made a single ring to use as a marker to compare against rings as they are made.  Seems to be working much better.  Will post a pic with my next post. 

It is on hold right now as I am working on presents (althought I sneak a few rings now and then). 

Also, Lisa from Tatting Corner has put out a request.  The Lacey Ladies of Arizona is hosting the 2020 IOLI Convention in late July 2020.  They need 300+ bookmarks - all types welcome.  Bookmarks are to be 4 - 6 inches long.  She would like to make this a service project and flood the Lacey Ladies with bookmarks.  For more info/address to send bookmarks to, search Tatting Corner on Facebook or send her a message.

Tat Days - Part 2 & Musing

Here are my new additions to my library that I picked up.  Need to finish a few projects before I will allow myself to start working some of these items.

I was able to finish some projects this year at Tat Days.  The peacock is pearl tatting (class by Martha Ess), beaded lavender angel earrings and tri-color maltese earrings (pattern by Bonnie Swank and Nina Libin, class by Bonnie).  After my granddaughter saw the angel earrings, my granddaughter wanted one.  She picked out the orange beads and viola, an orange angel was created. 

Georgia was under the weather the whole weekend (we missed you).  Tamie did a wonderful job at filling in for her at the auction.  Laughs around as well as a couple fierce bidding wars. 

Shuttle decorating was a hit.  It was nice to see so many having fun, talking and putting their own touches on their shuttles to make them one of a kind.  The only draw back - the smell of the nail top coat used to seal the shuttles.  Fans helped but if ever a next time, sealing needs to be done on their own or outside.  Thanks Tonya for helping.

The week after Tat Days, DH and I went to St. Lucia (anniversary).  Of course, I brought my tatting along (Marie Smith's angel pattern and Reit's owl pattern, thread for both).  Weather was hot but it was nice to get away and relax.  One of the flight attendants on the way down saw me and asked if that was tatting.  I said yes and we talked for a few minutes.  Once at St. Lucia, I tatted by the pool when relaxing.  Several staff stopped by asking how things were going but occasionally one would stop and we would talk about tatting.  They had never seen tatting before.  By then I had several complete angels/owls.  I started giving them away to those that seem impressed.  It was joyous to see how happy they were to receive one.

The amazing thing was on the flight home.  The same flight attendant was on our return flight!  She stopped and asked if I remembered her.  Of course I did, and I had a finished angel to give to her as well. 

Continuing on working to finish WIP's.  It is amazing how fast projects get away when you want to tat them all!

HDT and Jewelry

Been a little AWOL.  I have been busy test tatting and finishing up a project for the teachers for Palmetto Tat Days, along with housework and grandkid watching.

All of these projects were tatted using HDT.  The green is called Palmetto.  Pattern:  Newcastle Necklace.  The blue is actually a blue-green called 9K.  Pattern:  Darker is Keyed Up Earrings and the Ligher is Lacy Treasure Pendant.  All these patterns are by Marilee Rockley from her Tatted Jewelry book.  These pieces are for a possible craft show later this year.

The two butterflies are my current colorways just made this past week.  The larger is called AMM-1.  My grand-daughter pick the colors and I dyed the thread.  The little one is called "Spike".

I am planning on having a few of these colors with me at Tat Days this year. 

Earrings

My daughter was invited to participate in a craft show for her quilt guild.  I mentioned that I would tat up a few items that she could sell.  Unfortunately, she was scheduled to work that evening.  These will be held until next year.  Items will be added as I have spare (?) time this coming year. 

The doily is Mary Konior  Spinning Wheel mat from her book Tatting with Visual Patterns.  I had a pair of Christmas Trees with silver beads, but I offered them to my daughter.  The red floating heart is Nina Libin's pattern from Tat Days 2018.  It is tatted with Oren Bayan metallic.  It will be a gift to my grand daughter for Christmas.  She had open heart surgery to fix a couple of holes in her heart when she was 4-months old.  Still need to do the necklace chain piece. 

Been working on a pattern for Tat Days 2019 and have at least one or two others that need to be designed from paper drawings. 

Tat Days - Part 3 (Final)

Three more classes today.  Lee Pearl Flower, Puzzle Fun with Split Rings and Single Shuttle Stacked Rings.

Lee Pearl Flower was another single shuttle pattern.  I saw the teaser and thought what a great item for a barrette for my granddaughter. I showed her the picture and then let her select the thread.

An open forum for everyone was conducted prior to lunch.  Designing 101.  There was a panel of distinguished designers that talked about how they got into designing, with tips for those who do or would like to design.  Good tips.  One thing I saw was a panelist that had a notebook.  In the notebook were samples of lots of techniques along with finished designs using the techniques.  That is the best tip I came away with and am going to start my own notebook.  It will be a good reference tool when designing future patterns. 

Puzzle Fun was the class I taught.  I like to think outside the box.  It is made of individual pieces (just like a puzzle).  My students were really excited.  One piece was tatted to learn the technique of split and thrown off rings along with single shuttle split ring to end the piece.  Between continuous thread method and SSSR, there are no ends to tie, cut and hide.

Single Shuttle Stacked Rings 2 colors is based on "Waves earrings by Corina Meyfeldt" which can be found on Craftree.  The technique of stacked rings was new to me.  Instead of cut/tie/hide ends between the two colors, I just added the new thread by hiding ends between last and first color rings.  I also decided to add beads but with a twist.  Black beads on Boysenberry and Boysenberry on Black.  It was a hit in class with show and tell along with pictures and instructions.  Another color variation was discussed in class and I will be try it out later.

Tat Days - Part 2

The tractor was made as a last minute project.  It is a Caterpillar want to be tractor in memory of brother-in-law that just recently past.  He worked at a tractor museum with Caterpillar tractors.  My plans are to make a memory picture with the tatted tractor and send to my sister-in-law to give to museum.

Karen Brovard Sayre held a class at Tat Days - day 1 evening - on enamel shuttles.  Kits were available for purchase, the tatter decorated them and then Karen finished the firing process.  Mine has a bronze background.  The painting did not quite turn out the way I thought, but it will be used.

Tat Days - Day 2

First class of the day was a lecture opened to everyone.  Karen Brovard Sayre was the leader for "Repairing Mistakes."  Very informative and lots of information.

Classes for today included Curled Rings, Chains from Point A to B and Beaded Clover necklace.  Curled rings are new to me.  Really easy and beautiful technique.  Chains was another technique class.  Lots of different chains were presented with instructions on how to do them.  I selected several to try that looked interesting.  The necklace was a nice, easy pattern that was great for the end of the day.  All projects were actually finished in class which is a first for me!

The gold infinity ring was one of the early bird classes on day 3.  I have had the pattern for a while but have not attempted it.  For a 6:30 am class, it is not bad although the brain did not want to function quite right (3 attempts because I could not read properly!).

Then there was the evening banquet and auction.  Georgia Seitz was wonderful again as auctioneer.  Things started out slow but as the evening progressed, things heated up.  I win a package that included a needle tatting book for hubby, a tatting book for me and a couple of skeins of Manuela size 20 thread.  One spool was given to Georgia.

The little beaded earrings I won at the silent auction the next day.  These were tatted by Nina Libin.  It is an honor to own a pair tatted by her.

Tat Days - Part 1

Slowly unpacking and trying to get organized.  Thought I would post as I unpack so I do not confuse myself.

Top left photo is a picture of the Hands of Many Gestures class that I was to teach.  Thread is size 20, HDT by me in Rust.  Unfortunately, this class was cancelled, put the pattern should be on the Tat Days CD.

Top right are two books I won at the silent auction.  The black book is very interesting and may come in handy while thinking of next year's Tat Days.

Bottom left are pics of finished projects.  Yeah, I actually have finished projects to show.  The Love 2 TAT by Carol Lowe class I picked up in place of the hand class.  Thread is Jelly Bean Lizbeth, size 20.  The barrett is Sherry Pence's 3-D Barrett Flower.  Thread is Lizbeth but do not remember the name.  This will be going to Granddaughter when I see her this week.  The earrings are from my Encased Gem Earring class.    Thread is Lizbeth Navy.

Bottom right are books I picked up.  I see a "Pinky Pie" horse for Granddaughter and lots of little coasters in my future!

Earrings and Bookmark

This has been my past week evening's work.  I sit in front of the TV for noise and sometimes watching but have my tatting right next to me.  These items are in the mail to the Palmetto Tatters Guild for their scholarship fund.

The red earrings are called Simple ROR earrings by Corona Meyfeldt.  The medium blue are Tigereye earrings by Elizabeth C. Zipay. The green is a pattern by Kerstin (on Crabtree) called Tutu Motif.  There is a Tardis Bookmark by Anne Bruvold.  The pen insert is from Tat Days 2013 by Tonya Smith.  The key fob was the start of a lanyard for hubby.  Pattern by Patti Duff. 

Edited:  this makes number 9 to 14 for the 25 motif challenge.

Time go get going on the Monster Doily again.

No. GA State Fair 2014 Results

Went to our local fair this evening.  Had a great time.  Chili cheese hot dog with Hawaiian Ice.  I digress a little. 

Before dinner, however, we went to the non-commercial building to look for our entries.  I received one of each ribbon.

The variegated doily is Renulek's Spring doily.  I am please with the result.  The earrings is a pattern from Anitra Stone Tat Days 2012 Chandelier Earrings.  The pink/purple ornament is from Tat Days 2014 (a pattern by Martha Ess).  I am a little disappointed my peacock did not win anything.  I really like the way I mounted it and it will find a place on the wall next week.

The knitted shawl in the upper right corner was made by my daughter and received a first.  Very happy for her.  The wooden shuttle was one my husband made for me.  He did not win a ribbon but he is definitely a winner with me!

ShuttleTag and Earring-Pendant Set

Finished a couple new items that were on the bucket list before going back to unfinished items.

The shuttle tag has been on my list for a while.  I finally dyed some thread based on a couple of monsters I have seen.  Modified the pattern as written a little as I did not like the way the clovers were after I tatted the first set.  I think the next time I dye this thread it will be a little less of the yellow-green and a little bit more blue.

The earring-pendant set is from a pattern by Elaine P Gan (Facebook.com/tatting box) called Heart 2 Heart.  I used iridescent embroidery floss, 3 strands for the pendant and 2 for the earrings.  Just need to add findings.  I will be donating this set to the Palmetto Tat Days in September for their silent auction (hint hint for anyone attending!).

Two Sets of Earrings

Finished a couple of half done projects. 

The berry earrings are from Tat Days 2012.  They are called Fancy Chandelier by Anitra Stone.  Thread was hand dyed by me.  Just rings, chains and adding beads from threads.

The black ones are from Tat Days 2013.  It was the early morning tat session open to everyone.  They are called Nowhere Maze by Victoria Clarke.  Thread is Lizbeth black.  This was a fun project as is required only chains and adding beads to picots (holding with paperclips).

Both these patterns are on a CD and can be purchased here. 

Earrings and Motif

The earrings are from Marilee Rockley's (Yarnplayer) new book called  Beaded Tatting Finery.  They are called Boomerang.  I did not tat the extra cord that goes across the boomerang.  I love them just the way they are.  The thread is hand dyed by me. 

The book is available in an ebook version as well as hard copy.

The February challenge is to design a heart.  Well the Owl was suppose to be that heart.  It looked good on paper but when tatted up it turned out different.  Got another design on paper and will give it another try.

North Georgia Fair Results

 Here are my items I entered into this years North Georgia Fair in Marietta GA. 

The afghan is a knitted sampler. It was done in strips with each strip having 5 different types of stitches (so it was block looking).

The earrings, star and doily were my tatted items. The seahorse earrings and star patterns were done at this years Tat Days (a CD is available with all the patterns if you were not available to attend) and the Doily is called Milk Hill Crop Circle.  I was a little disappointed that my star did not win anything.  However, our fair no longer has a category for tatting so I had to be creative where I entered my items.  The earrings and Crop Circle were made with HDT by me, the star is Lizbeth Blue Ice and HDT Turquoise.