Angels Among Us - 17th Annual Shuttlebirds Tatting Workshop - 2013

          As I sit here, my brain is still processing everything that I took in during Angels Among Us - 17th Annual Shuttlebirds Tatting Workshop. The short version is that I had a ton of fun, learned a lot, met a bunch of fantastic people, and cannot wait until next year. Every tatter should plan to attend the 18th Annual Shuttlebirds Tatting Workshop. So mark your calendars for April 25-26, 2014.

          Having only learned of tatting in August of last year, this was my very first workshop. I arrived early to help with the set up. I helped make the fruit salad for lunch and then helped get a few tatted items up for display. Everyone brought in such beautiful work. I am in awe at the time and attention to detail that went into the shawl that Irene R. purchased at an IOLI convention. The patience that tatter must have had in order to complete such a large piece is amazing. There were so many wonderful items on display: adorable hats, beautiful butterflies, delicate snowflakes, colorful dragons, delightful doilies, a tatted mobile, a sneak peek for one of next years classes, and so much more. The tatting community is wonderfully talented.

          It was during this time that the vendors began to set up. I had never seen so many colors and sizes of thread available in one place before. Not to mention the variety of shuttle types and books galore. DS9Designs had a wide selection of thread, shuttles, and books to choose from. Snowgoose had several tatting kits in addition to their thread, shuttle, and book displays. Beyond Beads had several colorful display tables filled with marvelous bead choice and many needed findings. It was wonderful to see thread colors in person. My tatting kit definitely expanded over the weekend.

I made it through about 8 repetitions during the class and then I have continued working on it.  I'm about a 1/4 of the way around now.

My progress folded to give you an idea of the final look.

         Lunch was delicious and the tatting goodies at my seat were a nice surprise. Announcements followed lunch and then it was off to my first class, Tatting on Tulle with Jessica Spaulding. This was my first foray into edging. Jessica shared several samples with various edging patterns and we were able to get started on the simple edging she provided in the pattern. I’ve made it about 1/4 of the way around my tulle circle at this point. It was interesting to see the range of how far people were able to progress around the circle in the two hours allotted for the class. I think I only made it through eight repetitions by the end of the class. The trick to this project is making sure that you don’t catch the tulle as you complete the join.

In class progress on the 2011 Snowflake.

        There was a small break between classes and then I was off to learn how to make the 2011 Snowflake with Dale Pomeroy (aka The Mad Tatter). I learned several things in this class: a size 16 crochet hook is a must when working with bugle beads, threading beads is a slow process for me, there are a wide range of terms for the same concept, not all silver beads will stand the test of time, challenging patterns can be fun, anything can be used as a picot gauge - including plastic newspaper ties, and size 16 crochet hooks have a tendency to break. I really enjoy this snowflake pattern and over the next few weeks I hope to finish all my in-progress class projects.

Door Prize #1 - I'm excited to try out the bobbin shuttle.

 

My progress on the retro tat-off piece at the end of ten minutes.

My tatting from the tat-off.  This is the complete beginner pattern.  I was a few stitches into the 5th ring when the ten minute time was up.

          Next up was dinner and more cute goodies at our seats. This was followed by door prizes - I got a cute gift box with a decorated bobbin shuttle and some size 80 grey DMC thread. Then it was on to the retro tat-off (undoing a tatted piece - usually to fix mistakes). I think that was the most fun I’ve ever had undoing knots. I felt pretty proud that I was able to start undoing the first ring even though I was no where near as close to the winner, Jessica Spaulding (who beat out second place by a stitch). Then it was onto the tat-off. I managed to earn the fastest beginner title with a row of chains and rings. It was amusing to hear the commentary of the tatters watching the event. The tatters competing in the non-beginner tat-off had an angel pattern to complete. Three speedy tatters managed to get started on their second angel before the ten minute time limit ended. Wendy Griffin managed to get just a little bit farther on her second angel then the other two did. The tat-off and retro tat-off were a lot of fun! Thus ended day one of the workshop.

In class progress on 2008 Snowflake design.  It doesn't look like much, but I worked two techniques new to me on this one: shepherd's hook loop and Catherine wheel join.

         I was able to help layout the goodies that people received at their spots for breakfast. We were also instructed to mingle - so I sat with a different group of tatters today. Following announcements, I headed off to my second class with Dale Pomeroy. This one was his 2008 Snowflake design. There were two of us in this class. I learned that Elmer’s glue crushed into the thread makes for a great beading needle when dealing with petite beads and the differences between thread types. I was also taught several techniques that were new to me: Catherine wheel join, shepherd’s hook loop, and a technique for hiding the ends. Dale’s explanation of the phrase, “It’s the ending that dictates the beginning.” makes it so I will never look at patterns in quite the same way again. We had a wonderful discussion about techniques that all three of us enjoyed and both students left confident in being able to complete the snowflake pattern.

Door Prize #2

 

In class progress on 3D flower barrette.

          A delicious lunch was followed by more door prizes. I received some delicious mints with a pretty pink handkerchief that I can tat an edging on. We then took a group picture complete with signs reading “Please come to Shuttlebirds Jane Eborall.” Then it was off to class. I took 3D Flower Barrette with Sherry Pence. It was a fun class and I should have been able to finish the project in class if I hadn’t been trying to apply all the techniques I learned in my previous class. I can see several of these barrettes in my near futures for my little sister and my niece (as well as myself).

Door Prize #3

         This class was followed with a break that included more doorprizes (I got a purpleheart wooden handle size 16 crochet hook with a cute tatted purple butterfly) and the theme contest winners. Neither of my angels placed, but I am proud of them and glad I entered.

3D Angel - pattern can be found at: http://www.intatters.com/showthread.php?9836-Angel-Pattern

Heart-A-Flutter

Theme Contest Winners

Sandy C. for Hairpin Lace Angel in the 2D published angel pattern category.

Sherry Pence for Gwen’s angel in 2D original angel pattern category.

Davina Achen for Angels Surround in 2D adaptation of published angel pattern category.

Aloma B. for Trefoil Angel in 3D original angel pattern category.

Sandy C. for Three D Angel 1997 in 3D published angel pattern category.

In progress fantasy flower elements.

        Then it was off to my last class, Fantasy Flowers with Pat Stevens. I am very grateful that I had such a free flowing, non-pattern following class in this slot. I learned all sorts of ways that I can use practice pieces to make pretty flowers. I plan on having a bouquet of flowers ready to display next year. Dinner was delicious and I was able to sit and chat with several tatters about the highlights of the weekend. I hope to see everyone next year!