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Saturday, March 21, 2020

A Shop in Winnipeg!

Hello, Lovely Tatters!!

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to take some much-needed R&R time and go to Winnipeg to visit a very dear friend.  I haven't see her or her family for a couple of years, and it was nice to just visit someone and take advantage of some of the shopping I don't always get to enjoy.

Which brings me to my reason for posting, which is a NEW-to-ME bead store just near Polo Park!  It's called PoCo Inspired.  The young lady I spoke with, Cindy, knew about tatting and even has her grandmother's shuttles!  I tried to show her how to tat in a few quick minutes, but we didn't have a lot of preparation time.  I'm pretty sure that had we been able to spend more time together that she would have it down, no problem.  She certainly caught on to what I was saying.  Cindy, if you're reading this, don't give up!

I was looking for Swarovski crystals, and PoCo Inspired did not fail.  I got some beautiful Rivoli's that are meant for a very special project (I'll brag on that later).  I also got some lovely faceted rondelles in Alexandrite and a pale beautiful rosy stone called Rosaline.  With all the stuff going on, they've been having trouble getting what they have ordered into the store, but these folks were SO helpful!

The website for the store is https://pocoinspired.com/pocoinspired/ .  Unfortunately, with all the mandatory closures due to the nasty bug chasing us all away from close quarters, they've had to close but assured this is temporary.  

PoCo Inspired

I will add this to my list of places to shop with the website.  They are at 495-D Madison St, Winnipeg, MB, but they ask that you use the rear entrance and park at the end of the building.  There are better instructions on their website.  Apparently they've had some issues with a store directly across the alley from their entrance, so to avoid any more issues, they just ask that we park elsewhere.  It's not a long walk, and you won't be disappointed!

When I called these folks early on Friday morning while I was in Winnipeg, I was very impressed.  They were helpful, friendly, welcoming, enthusiastic and very interested in what I wanted to do.  "Another store" I called asking about specific stones replied with "we only carry precious and semi-precious stones" and basically made me feel like I was annoying them.  Hmm...great way NOT to encourage me to shop in your store. They would NOT be receiving a positive recommendation.

I hope with all the insanity we're witnessing on the news and on the social media that you're staying busy, tatting up a storm if you're forced to stay home, and looking after yourselves and your family.  While the Beloved has been laid off effective this past Wednesday evening and my daughter and her Sweetie are both in the same boat, I'm the only one that's still working.  My office is going to be working from home in rotation, so I'll be starting this coming Wednesday.  Going to be interesting.  I've never been the ONLY one in the family working before.  I wonder how it will go over if I walk through the door and demand a beer as I head for my armchair?  Somehow, I think it would go over like a lead balloon!

Stay safe, stay healthy, stay positive.


Happy Tatting!





Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Tat Sea

Sailing, Sailing...

Hello, Lovely Tatters!  Short and sweet this time, but something I wanted to be sure you know about.

Have you ever been on a "Tatting Cruise?"  I mean being out in the middle of the deep blue sea on a luxury cruise boat, making beautiful things and visiting exotic places, even a lace museum!

Well, here's your chance!  Look here!

Tat” Sea With Tatting Corner 2021

 
Join us for a Tatting at Sea Adventure!
Feb 21 - 28, 2021
Experience sailing the high seas in the beautiful Caribbean while making new friends and learning from some of the best tatting experts in the industry!
 
Register early for best availabililty!
 
 
 
 
Included In Your Cruise and Tatting Package:
 
- 7 night Caribbean Cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas
The ship sails from Fort Lauderdale, FL on 2/21/21 and includes the ports:
* St Maarten * San Juan, PR * Labadee, Haiti
 
- 6 Tatting Classes during our 3 days at sea
 
- All Meals and Entertainment on Board the Ship
 
- One speciality dining included
 
- The opportunity to mix and mingle with Tatting friends and experts
 
- All applicable port charges and fees
 
 
Note that required gratuities, beverages, shore excursions, and other optional expenses are not included. Participants are on own to arrange transportation to/from Ft Lauderdale (see below)
 
 
You must be registered with the Tat Sea group to participate in the planned
classes, events, and any optional TBD group activities.  
 
Non-Tatting Companions are Welcome!
 
 
 
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 
TRAVEL PACKAGE QUESTIONS?
 
Please contact your Travel Agent
Marj with All Points Travel at marj@allpointstravelonline.com
 
 
TATTING AGENDA QUESTIONS?
 
Please contact your Tatting Host
Lisa Adams of the Tatting Corner at lisa@tattingcorner.com
 
Let's Get You Registered!





I want to be sure to tell you that Lisa from Tatting Corner has worked very hard to get a good "bang for your buck" deal on this.  Even if you DON'T tat, you're welcome!

My husband and I are going! While I'm off doing my "thing", he will be off doing his thing exploring the many, many places and activities on board this wonderful ship!  

Have you ever wondered just what's on one of these massive ships?  Well, the "Oasis of the Seas" has lots to do.  Have a look here: https://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=368

I've never been on a cruise, and neither has my husband.  Considering we likely won't get another chance to do this, we've decided we're combining my love of tatting with an item on our Bucket List to kill two birds with one stone.  The value is certainly something we couldn't pass up.

This morning Lisa (again, she's the lady that runs "Tatting Corner" in Indiana) announced the showcase instructors for this cruise:

Headline teachers for our cruise announced!
Arts & Crafts Store
Tatting Corner
Good morning again! I have some exciting news to share with everyone: the first two tatting instructors for the cruise next year are confirmed! There will be more added by mid-summer, of course, but here are our headliners: Ruth Perry (aka Rozella Linden), and Kaye Judt. (In the attached photo, Ruth is on the left and Kaye on the right.)
A bit about them:
Ruth Perry, also known as Rozella F. Linden, is a talented tatter, tatting designer, and tatting author. She learned to tat a ring before she started kindergarten, although she didn’t really use the skill until her teenage years to make Christmas gifts for her family. It was during this time that she started to design tatting – and because no one had a personal computer in the 50’s and 60’s, her designs were kept in written journals. Ruth’s first book, Easy Tatting, however, came into being in 1997, later in her career as an IT professional. She’s authored and co-authored a multitude of tatting books to date, with her major specialty in Celtic tatting. You can find her thoughts and books on her blog, www.rozellalinden.net, along with lots of free patterns!
Intrigued by stationery with tatted motifs, Kaye Judt learned to shuttle tat in the early 1990’s. Shortly after that, she and her mother took a class in needle tatting through the Smocking Arts Guild of America – and thus began her love affair with tatting! Kaye has published five books on tatting: Oh My Stars!, Motifs for Marie, A Little O’ This, A Little O’ Tat, Treasures in Tatting, and More O’ This and Tat. Since the early 1990’s she has taught many times for Tatting Days (IN), Finger Lakes Tatting Days (NY), Palmetto Tatting Guild Tatting Days (SC/GA), and Fringe Element Tatting Days in Canada. She has also taught tatting and other needle arts at The Lacemaker (OH), Lacis (CA), Anderson University Continuing Education (IN), and at the Benjamin Harrison House in Indianapolis, IN. Kaye is a Trained Sewing Instructor with the Sewing and Crafts Alliance and has her Teaching Certification with the National Association of Needlework. You can see more about Kaye on her website, www.kayejudt.com.
Register now for "Tat" Sea with Tatting Corner 2021 here: https://fs3.formsite.com/allpointstra…/TatSea2021/index.html
If you're thinking of a "big ticket vacation" next year and can get the time away, you should consider coming, too!!

Happy Tatting!

Monday, March 2, 2020

What is a Tatter?

Hello, Lovely Tatters.

I've been hearing about what goes on with some of the members of our Tatting Community at large and I have to admit to being a bit disappointed by the behaviour and actions of a few.  Taking the fun out of the art for someone else that is struggling or not meeting a standard set by someone else is never a good thing, and it's behaviour of which I want no part.

But I got thinking about what makes a "good" Tatter.  Is it being the best resource for techniques? Is it selling the most books or patterns? Is it being so well-known that every word you post or say is fawned over like it's gospel? I thought about it, and I came up with this:

1.      A Tatter is kind.  Any good Tatter worth knowing is never anything but good-hearted.

2.    A Tatter is generous.  Most good Tatters will go out of their way to make sure you have what you need to make lace.

3.    A Tatter is tolerant.  Good Tatters understand everyone learned differently and that many have overcome great obstacles to make what they can.

4.    A Tatter is accepting.  Another’s work might not be up to a good Tatter’s standard or skill level, but we all started somewhere, and a good Tatter knows that there is always someone’s work that will be better than theirs.

5.     A Tatter is patient.  A good Tatter knows that sometimes you need to repeat yourself many times before what you’re saying “sinks in”.

6.     A Tatter is encouraging.  A good Tatter knows that kindly-worded criticism is more effective than spiteful comments.

7.     A Tatter is inclusive.  Good Tatters understand that regardless of what tool is used, a knot cares not how it’s made; it just wants to be part of something special.

8.    A Tatter is determined.  A good Tatter has had to practiced their art in isolation many times, but did it anyway even if there were no other tatters nearby.

9.     A Tatter is gentle.  A good Tatter delivers comments lovingly or makes no comments at all.

10.  A Tatter is resourceful.  In an environment where materials and tools are sometimes hard to find, a good Tatter can work wonders with what’s at hand.
Shelley Perreault, 2020
“Prairie Lace Tatter”

I'm not perfect, and I will never profess to be perfect.  I make mistakes, and I'm sure I've offended more than one person without ever meaning to (and if I have ever offended you, I humbly apologize!). One thing I hope I will NEVER  be is mean, or spiteful, or dishonest.  I just want to make lace, and I hope I can help someone else do the same thing.  When all is said and done, lace-making of any kind is a labour of love, and one I hope you enjoy as much as me.

Happy Tatting!