Unbelievable!

We had 44 students in the after-school tatting class today, including the two second grade teachers! I admit, I cheated a little. With so many after-school activities at this time of year, i knew we wouldn't have as large a group as last time, so I invited the second graders. The response was... unbelievable!

During the after-school class, two students finished a challenge. Of course, I can't remember who this is, maybe Jessalyn. She was practicing chains with picots.

I remember this is the prize that Paige S. chose. When she came to get her picture taken, she couldn't find her tatting, a beautiful length of chain in size 80. Paige S. is moving on to picots now.

On a recent trip to Hobby Lobby, I found these foam slap bracelets. I thought they would be great for the kids to decorate with tatting.

Dylan took up the challenge, and she has been wearing her beautiful bracelet to school!

Recently, Lou Dawn sent some paperclips with tatting. The kids fell in love with them, naturally!

They have been very popular. In fact, the kids asked me today if I could learn how to do this so that there would be more available. I guess I'll have to go to Staples this weekend to find some cute paperclips!

I also received a box of goodies from Ann. Included were blank note cards that can be decorated with tatting. I thought I took a picture of all the cards, but I can't find it. There was also a bag of size 10 thread, but the kids were so excited with the colors, they were off winding their shuttles before I could take a picture. Since these threads are so pretty and glittery, the kids suggested that I keep these for prizes. I work with some pretty awesome kids!

Thank you Lou Dawn and Ann! You have really helped to keep my group of tatters motivated!

Sulky Blendables #4031 ~ Country Colonial

I think Country Colonial is a very pretty color combo, and it goes very well with the shuttle... purely accidental! Yes, this is another shuttle I decorated with fabric from Ann. I do like the flexibility and the color/pattern choices when using fabric. However, it is much thicker than the single layer of napkin. On this shuttle, one end had come unglued, so I dabbed a little on, held it in place for a few minutes, and it was as good as new!

Another set of Stumpy motifs is on its way to The Shuttle Shop!

King Tut #913 ~ Jewel of the Nile

I'm discovering that I have many more abandoned projects than I realized! This shuttle was loaded with Jewel of the Nile, so that's what I used for my next set of Stumpy motifs. The motifs look a little wonky, so I guess I should have blocked them. I will before I send them off to Chris and Erin Hinton to be shuttle-fied.

The pink Clover shuttle is another one blinged by me with fabric from Ann. My, I really was daring when I combined pink and red for two shuttles!

The hardest part of working with the quilting thread is retro-tatting. I have been very successful undoing chains, but I've only succeeded in opening one ring. The tips of the shuttles are totally useless  for thread this fine. Luckily, I have a pin vise from Grizzly Mountain Arts. I put a tapestry needle in the pin vise, and it's perfect for undoing knots. I'm sure that with practice, I'll be able to conquer those rings any day now!