Lace-lovin' Librarian

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Palmetto Tat Days 2017 ~ threads

I told myself I wasn't going to buy any thread. There's no way in the world I can possibly use the thread that I had on hand before attending Tat Days. However, when beautiful colors hit you smack dab between the eyes, all attempts at maintaining will power fly out the window.

I absolutely love hand-dyed thread! I first became addicted to it when Marilee Rockley started dyeing around the time I began blogging. The hand dyeing process does something to the thread that makes it even more wonderful to use. These gorgeous colors are from Snapdragon Lace.

I also adore Karey Solomon's colors. I chose some in sizes 20, 30, and 40. I can hardly wait to use them!

If you saw my thread stash, you'd be asking me why in the world I was buying more Lizbeth thread. The quick answer is, I just can't resist the colors! The three blues on the bottom left were actually in my blue prize basket, or maybe it was just two of them. Can't you just picture these colors tatted up into Ice Drops?

Lisa Adams of Tatting Corner had some Penny Thread. I already had some, but again, the colors were hard to resist! I've been wanting to work with metallic threads, and luckily there were several colors to choose from. Lisa sure knows how to tempt tatters with goodies!

Today was a full sub day. Three days in one week has worn me out! Still, because of subbing I had time to tat another Ice Drop. When I got home, I discovered another Ice Drop in the bottom of my bag that I had tatted on the way home. So, I have two to show today!

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Palmetto Tat Days 2017 ~ raffle

One of the fun aspects of attending Palmetto Tat Days was participating in a basket raffle, silent auction, and a live auction. Raffle baskets were put on display, and I was immediately drawn to a beautiful blue basket! However, the raffle tickets were not for each basket. Instead, raffle tickets were purchased and names were drawn at the banquet. Imagine my delight when I won the blue basket!

These ladies really do a bang-up job, and the raffle, silent auction, and live auction all benefit the scholarship fund. I was thrilled to win a raffle basket. This baby was loaded with goodies!

Look at this beautiful assortment of beads! I didn't really need beads, but it's nice to add to my stash!

I love this little box. It will be perfect as a little project box or maybe for shuttle storage. I do have a few shuttles!

I love window tins, and I haven't seen one this small before... perfect!

These little jars will be perfect for carrying beads or maybe even glass gems when going to Tollway Tatters.

Look at this... three little storage boxes!

Don't all tatters need lots of scissors. I believe the standard is one for each work in progress. 😉

I love Post-It notes, and these little flags will be perfect for keeping my place in my current pattern.

Another little blue jar! I love little containers! They come in so handy.

This little cardboard box will be great for gift giving.

Look at this... a box of chocolates from the President of the United States! Who knew the President was a fan of tatting?

Tape measures always come in handy, and this one can be worn around my neck.

I don't think I've ever seen a pen on a retractable clip, but I'm sure this will come in handy. I need seem to be able to find a pen when I need one. I know I'll always be able to identify it as mine with this beautiful tatting marking it.

And look... a matching lanyard!

This is a magnet from one of the Tat Days I would have loved to attended. There was no way to take off during September. The school district would have allowed it, but it would not have made a good start to the school year for me!

I'll have to think of a way to jazz up this cute necklace. I think if I look at Marie McCurry's tatsmithing books, I should be able to do something super cool!

What's a tatting raffle without a shuttle? No, it's not blue, but I believe purple is a shad of blue, right?

I did not win any of the silent auction items, but I did win a live auction item!

Yes, it is a shuttle by Rita Richmond.

It's not just any shuttle either, but a commemorative shuttle so that I can always remember attending Palmetto Tat Days in 2017!

Yes, it has taken me a few days to recover from all the activity. I started this Ice Drop near the end of the drive home on Sunday. I subbed all day Monday and Tuesday, so it took me until today to finish. I can't remember the name of this Ice Drop pattern. It's my Minty Fudge without picots, and I thought I had this one in my files, but I can't find it. Someone will be able to spark my memory!

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Palmetto Tat Days 2017 ~ the books

Why, yes... yes I did buy a few books... actually several, which is technically more than a few. Oh, you want to see what I bought? Alrighty then...

Although this isn't a tatting book, it is a lovely calendar by Sandra Eichelberger. The photographs are gorgeous, and I know I will think of my crazy tatting friend every time I look at it!

I'm sure I purchased Jennifer Williams' Tatted Snowflakes, but I don't know where it is. Now I have a backup copy!

Oh, how I wish I could read Japanese! This lovely little book is filled with step-by-step pictures of beautiful beading techniques. I'm pretty sure I can figure the patterns out from the diagrams and pictures. I love the flowers on the front!

Ben Fikkert's A Tatting Adventure is another book I'm sure I have somewhere. I had to make sure, though. Tim had thought of a costume for the banquet... carrying a shuttle and going as Ben Fikkert! That one made me laugh! There's a picture of Ben Fikkert in the front of the book. I don't think he and Tim look much alike!

It won't be long before I'm in the mood to tat snowflakes, so I felt the need to buy Karen Bovard's newest book, even though I am a split ring novice. I'm still trying, Jane!

I have several of Georgia Seitz's books, but I didn't have this one. I'd like to set a goal of tatting every snowflake pattern I own, but I'm afraid I'll stress myself out trying!

I love Christel Weidmann's books! I've read comments by tatters who feel her designs are too simple, but sometimes simple is what I need!

I'm guessing this book was available last year, but I didn't see it until this weekend. Who can't use more butterfly patterns?

Riet brought along extra copies of Ineke Kuiperij's books. There were three the intrigued me, but I chose to buy only one this year. Maybe I'll have the chance to go back to Palmetto Tat Days. If I'm lucky, Riet will be there with more books. I suppose I should have purchased all three, but I was trying to be good!

This was the most expensive book I bought. I couldn't help myself! I think I'd better justify my purchase and work on some of the patterns in here. I figure that every pattern I tat reduces the purchase price of the book. Isn't that what they mean by diminishing returns? ;-)

Monday, September 11, 2017

Palmetto Tat Days 2017 ~ The Ice Drops, goodies, bags, and friends

I'm sure you've guessed by now that Ice Drops have become part of my daily routine, and I'm able to tat them in the car... as long as someone else is driving! 😉

One would think that with a 13 hour drive one way and a 12 hour drive the other, I could have tatted more than 8 Ice Drops. However, 8 is what I managed, and I guess I just have to be happy with that.

I added ribbons to them after dinner tonight. Ribbons seem to be the finishing touch for me!

Wanda was my roommate again this year. She is so much fun! We kept each other up way past our bedtimes the first two nights. The third night I fell asleep in the middle of our conversation. We had a good laugh over that.

Wanda gave me this adorable retractable clip. My scissors were clipped to it, but I took them off when I got home... I needed them! The little purple light at the bottom left was part of our gift bags. It's a black light that we were supposed to use to find 10 clues and reveal a secret phrase. Wanda and I found 5. It was really all Wanda. I was just along for the walk! I never did find out what the secret phrase was!

We all received these cue little boxes filled with goodies. There was a sheet in our folders giving suggestions for the use of each of the little items... very clever!

Wanda, Denise, and I helped tat little fox heads for the table decorations at the banquet. There were many other ladies who helped tat them as well, but I don't know who they all were. Karen's husband used his 3D printer to create these adorable little shuttles as a thank you for those who tatted foxes. I can't wait to try them out!

This conference was definitely a bag fest for me! The adorable little tote on the bottom right is what we each received when we arrived. The black bag at the back was from last year. I had left mine at home, but they had some for sale, and I needed one to carry all my purchases. The bag with the angel was a door prize that was delivered to me during one of my classes. I was so surprised to receive a door prize! It came just in time... I had gone shopping again!

And now some pictures of our first night of tatting...

Please help me out with names if you know them, especially if I got them wrong! I meant to keep track this year, but I failed miserably.