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!

Tatting Away and Preparing for the April Shuttlebirds Workshop

I've been keeping busy in my tatting.

The week before Easter my cousins were up for their Spring Break.  I had a blast with the three boys - lightsaber fights in the backyard and Nerf gun wars in the basement.  My cousin Emma (the youngest and only girl in the lot the came to visit) loved the look of my tatted things, and probably would have took home my entire completed stash if I had let her.  Instead, I tatted up a bracelet for her.  It's the accidental heart on a split ring chain.  She loved it.

Little girl wrists are tiny!

Heart on a string.

I really like how the two variegated colors worked with each other!

 Then it was on to birthday time.  Last weekend I had to birthdays to attend.  A sweet wonderful nine year old (for whom the following bracelet is made). And my Evil Twin (it's a camp thing) for whom I made a heart necklace.

Butterfly bracelet.

Again, little girls have tiny wrists.

 Then it is onto angels and the Shuttlebirds Workshop which is coming up, April 19-20.  The theme for this year's workshop is Angels Among Us.  This will be my first workshop and I am super excited!

My contribution to a guild project.

An angel for the themed contest.  This little cutie is my own design.

The themed contest is open to all tatters, not just workshop attendees.  So if you have an angel you would like to submit - check out the official rules here. [You'll want to act quickly as the mail-in date for entries is fast approaching.  My apologies for not getting this post up earlier.]

I'd love to hear what you think of my angel.  Happy tatting!

Family Heraldry

I absolutely love delving into family history and tracing my family tree.  Today, I decided to play around with my family coat of arms (after stumbling across the Game of Thrones - Family Arms maker - link below).  So I did a bit of research into my married name and found out what the family crest looked like and the family motto.  I'm pretty happy with how the crest recreation turned out and I see figuring out a way to display it in my future.

Rogers heraldry is three stags trippant on a grey field with black chevron.
Motto Translated: We and ours to God

I had to play around in photoshop to finish up the Rogers heraldry because the only stag the Game of Thrones site has is the crowned stag of Baratheon and they lacked chevrons.  Here's a link to the site if you want to play around with house heraldry.

I made this just for fun when I noticed the bat shape.

I'll have a tatting post or two up later in the week for those who are following me because of tatting.  I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Making Fitness Fun - Angry Birds Workout

Today I started Nerd Fitness' Angry Birds Workout Plan.  I love the design of this plan because it plays off of some of the addicting qualities of the app. game.  The article I linked explains it well, so if you want to know more - go read it.

So I'm out of shape.  I've only done workouts sporadically of late and that needs to change.  I've modified some of the plan to fit where I am at and what I need to do to get to where I want to be.

So here are my starting levels:
Squats - tutorial level 1 - 30 chair squats - I need to do the squat with a chair currently to help get my form correct.
Push Ups - I'm terrible at push ups.  So I completed tutorial level 1 (40 wall push ups)  today - wall push-ups.  I will work my way through the following tutorial levels: T Lvl 2 (45 wall), T Lvl 3 (50 wall), T Lvl 4 (80 wall), T Lvl 5 (100 wall).  Once I complete the tutorial, I will proceed to incline push ups (following the guide to a proper push up).
Back Exercise - Lvl 1.0 (30 one arm rows [OAR] with 5 lb. weight), Lvl. 1.1 (30 OAR with 7.5 lb. weight), Lvl. 1.2 (30 OAR with 10 lb. weight), Lvl. 1.3 (30 OAR with 12.5 lb. weight), Lvl. 1.4 (40 OAR with 5 lb. weight), Lvl. 1.5 (40 OAR with 7.5 lb. weight), Lvl. 1.6 (40 OAR with 10 lb. weight), Lvl. 1.7 (40 OAR with 12.5 lb. weight), Lvl. 1.8 (50 OAR with 7.5 lb weight), Lvl. 1.9 (50 OAR with 12.5 lb. weight).  I will split up level 2 in a similar way, working through the bent over rows with my weights before doing Lvl. 2.9 (20 inverted rows).  This process will build up my strength so that I can eventually do pull ups.
Planks - Level 1 - planks kick my butt, but I don't need to modify the plan.  It just may be a while before I have the strength to progress through the levels.  I should hit level 2 before the week is over.

I warmed up with 40 jumping jacks and got right to it.  I started out with planks and then hit the other three in order.  I had to remind myself to breathe while holding the plank.  I made it through everything.  I got through the arm rows on the first set.  So Thursday it's on to level 1.1.  I made it through wall push ups on the second set - so onto T Lvl 2 on Thursday.  Planks and squats took three sets to accomplish - so they will stay at their levels and I will go for three stars on Thursday.  I finished with a stretching routine that I like.  So day one = complete - earning 10 of 12 stars for the day!

As a way to stay accountable, I will be tracking my progress on my Nerdy Workout page.  I'm competitive by nature, so if you want to join me in this workout, let me know how you are progressing - we can get a friendly competition going and keep each other motivated.

Today's stats:

Key:
S - Squats
P U - Push Ups
B E - Back Exercises
P - Planks

3/26	Goal #	Total #	Grade	Level	Stars
S	30	34	**	T-1	10 of 12
P U	40	41	***	T-1	Time
B E	30	L 33 /R 33	***	1	22:56.0
P	60	66	**	1

Hobbies

I feel lucky to be able to enjoy so many fun hobbies.

What do you do for fun?

Earrings and Learning a New Technique

 One of my friends at church loved the butterfly earrings I made my sister in law so much - that she requested I make a pair for her in brown.  This was my first tatting sale.

 

I loved the blue earrings I made for my mum-in-law so much that I decided to make a pair for myself with some silver seed beads.

At Saturday's Shuttlebirds Tatting Guild meeting, I learned how to make flowers branch up off a chain.  The chain pictured starts with playing around a bit with pearl encapsulation.  Then it moves into the flowers and a branching encapsulation technique.  I love this technique and look forward to using it in many future pieces.

The pattern we worked from during the meeting is "Thicket of Flowers" and can be found in Sherry Pence's Branching Encapsulation book.  The pattern is very well written.  She clearly explained each step.

I went away from the meeting knowing the following:

* how to work with three shuttles

* how to spiral tat

* how to encapsulate the stem of a flower so that I ended up back down at the chain

I will be tatting this afternoon with my mom.  She is working on making a flower and getting the closing join down.  I plan on trying some branched off elements on the flowers (following the part of the pattern I didn't get to on Saturday).

February's Completed Items and a Look at March

February:

Finish up the Tetris bookshelves [still to do]

Finish at least 3 more rows on Bevan’s Roxas blanket [looks like I have some catching up to do in March]

Complete one Amigurumi [didn't crochet at all this month - I need to make my little brother's Angry Bird]

Make 5 things to list on Craftsalot [done-ish - I need to tuck tails and finish up the necklaces for the tatted hearts]

Learn a new song on one of my instruments [done]

Finish Tauntaun frame

Tat at least 2 things [done]

Workout three times a week every week [Week 1-2 - missed, Bevan found the missing pieces to put the elliptical back together! So weeks 3-4 - done]

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story [1375/5000]

Host a “Try a New Recipe Potluck” [Done - It was a blast!]
Fix the bathroom leak [Done - Thank You Joey and Bevan!]
Find an ecommerce cart with better security [Done]
Register a new domain name [Done]
Design logo for new store name [Done]
Learn php [In progress]
Introduced 4 people to tatting basics [Done]
Try at least 2 pins [done - the spiral earrings and black lace earring images were from my pinterest pins]

I like making this list.  It helps me see where my time is spent during the month (outside of work).  I feel like it was another accomplished month and that there is always room for improvement.  There is a lot I wanted to get done that I didn't, but I'll keep working on those things.

March:
Finish carving the Tauntaun skull and horns
Finish Tauntaun frame

Start sewing Tauntaun musculature

Finish at least 9 more rows on Bevan’s Roxas blanket (3 for this month and 3 for each previous month)

Complete one Amigurumi (priority - I need to make the bomb bird for my little bro)

Tat at least 2 things

Make five things to list on Craftsalot
Get the Craftsalot web store running

Learn a new song on one of my instruments

Workout three times a week every week

Strength training workout three times a week every week

Write at least 5,000 words in Jakzi’s story

Host a “Try a New Recipe Potluck”
Work on Tetris bookshelves
Try at least 2 pins

It looks like March will be a busy month.  I'm excited for it!  I hope you have a wonderful day!