Tatting in Time (magazine)

Hello, Lovely Tatters!!  Here I am again.  I may have to just resign myself to being a stay-home blogger.  This is how many blogs in a row now? 

I got a message this morning on Messenger from Gloria Nelson with a link to McLean's Magazine.  If you've never read it, it's like a Canadian version of Time.  Now, the article I'm going to reference here is from July, 2012, but it's still relevant, and it references CANADIAN tatters!  The link to the article is here: https://www.macleans.ca/society/life/tatting-tales-not-just-for-grannies-any-more/

I will post the full article here, as well, but some folks prefer to look at the actual site.

Tatting tales: not just for grannies any more

The unlikely resurgence of the craft is far removed from its Victorian lacemaking roots

By Joanne Latimer July 26, 2012

Pamela Quevedo aka TotusMel

Don’t tell a tatter she practises a lost art. And don’t mention doilies. The next-generation tatters want to distance themselves from prim, lacy coasters—“the optics aren’t good,” one explains. They would rather make slave bracelets or Celtic-style chokers while attending a roller derby. Despite its near invisibility in craft stores, tatting—a form of lacemaking—is experiencing an unlikely revival. It’s unlikely because tatting is fiddly, a craft more suited to generations raised to have patience. Yet young crafters like the meditative aspect and the portability. (Try carrying around a big bag of knitting and you’ll appreciate the difference.)

The tatting resurgence isn’t splashy and celebrity-driven—notwithstanding Lady Gaga’s interest in tatted ankle corsets—but it’s undeniable. “Never thought I’d see the day,” crows Debbie Coté, owner of Aunt Debbie’s Knit and Stitch in Chilliwack, B.C., which will offer tatting classes starting this fall. “YouTube gets the credit,” Coté adds. But long before YouTube, in 1998, Sharon Briggs of Brampton, Ont., posted some of the first how-to tatting videos. Her blog, Sharon’s Tatted Lace, is one of many Canadian blogs, along with Carllie B. Fox’s Tat-ology, at the top of the tatting blogosphere. “There are thousands of people in email groups. We may tat in isolation,” notes Briggs, “but we aren’t isolated anymore.”

“Like many tatters I know, it skipped a generation in my family and my friends think I’m completely nuts for taking it up,” says Toronto designer Jamie McCurdy, who contemplated tatting her wedding dress this summer. “We’re a stealth movement,” notes Victoria Clarke, a Manotick, Ont.-based chiropractor who is teaching a workshop on how to tat a 3D high-heeled shoe ornament at the annual Fringe Element Tatters conference this September in Cambridge, Ont. “We’re slowly coming out of the closet. The Internet allowed us to find each other, and supplies.” Supplies can be a problem. It took 26-year-old Crysta Westoby in the Okanagan Valley over a month to find a tatting shuttle—the tapered, hand-held tool used in tatting. “I finally found a beautiful French ivory shuttle in a vintage consignment store,” says Westoby, a master’s student, “but I heard you can get a plastic shuttle at Zellers and Wal-Mart now for a couple of dollars.”

Romni Wools in Toronto noticed the surge in tatting interest last spring. “There’s enough demand to carry shuttles and thread, which wasn’t the case before,” notes owner Jonathon Leonard, whose staff recently reported seeing an intriguing young customer with an elaborate tattoo of a tatting shuttle. Some people tat with a needle, claiming it’s easier. Purists stick to the shuttle, using superfine, 120-gauge embroidery thread. But the old rivalry between needle and shuttle tatters is dying out.

The guiding light of the new tatters is a purple-haired steampunk in California who goes by TotusMel, meaning “all honey” in Latin. Her real name is Pamela Quevedo, and her videos online have attracted 230,000 total channel views since she posted them in 2009. She sells about 30 original pieces a month on the online store Etsy. Prices range from $5 to $425. “I never thought I’d be a professional tatter,” says Quevedo, 35, who changed tatting’s image with the Goth-lite jewellery, haunting masks and ankle corsets she makes. Lady Gaga’s stylist selected, then rejected, the latter for the singer’s Judas video.

Just as knitting broke through the gender barrier (thanks, Russell Crowe!), so has tatting. “I tat while watching hockey or football,” says Jeff Hamilton, the Saskatoon-based blogger behind Bridge City Tatting. A self-described homebody, he taught himself 15 years ago. “It’s not quite ‘woman’s work’ anymore, but it isn’t something I do outside the home. I’m so envious of all those women who can tat at Tim Hortons.”

Murray Schellenberg has no qualms about tatting in public. “I do it in movie theatres, on airplanes, in waiting rooms. People are curious,” says Schellenberg, a Ph.D. student in linguistics at the University of British Columbia, who learned his techniques in 1991 from an old Time-Life book at home in Alberta. “I was hopeless at knitting. I’m a binge tatter and, you won’t believe it, but I’m a doily guy!”

Tatting in Canada is growing, my friends.  Look at all the accomplished tatters that are listed here, and there are so many more, too.  This is why I'm writing this blog.  If you're feeling like there's no one else around that does what you do, please look again.  We are HERE!  We are active, interesting, engaging, and we would love to talk to you!  Please don't be shy!

Happy Tatting!

Hello, Lovely Tatters!  Here I am again, tweaking and moving things around on you.  Adding here, removing there, alphabetizing this, re-hashing that.  I know, I know, I need to stop.  But it's summer, and I can't go outside because it's just too stinkin' hot! A girl has to relieve the boredom SOMEHOW!

I've started my listing of Canadian Tatting Bloggers.  So far, I have a blog by Victoria "Victats" Clarke, three pages by Gloria Nelson, the name behind "Sparkling Light Creation Studio", and a site for the Fringe Element Tatters based in Ontario.

All three of these entities have established themselves firmly as wonderful sources for Canadian Tatters who might need information, finding someone nearby who can answer questions, or just finding out they're not all alone.  I know how I felt learning; I really did think I was alone.  This is before the internet and all the wonderful resources we have available now.  When I started 25+ years ago, I lived in Kitchener-Waterloo in Ontario.  It's a stone's throw from Cambridge, Ontario, where the Fringe Element Tatters hold their annual event.  How hard do you think I kicked myself when I found out, years after moving out of the area, that there was a group very close-by that could have answered so many questions I was having?  I think I still have a bruise!  One of these days I really will get to Fringe, at least it's on my bucket list.  Go have a look at their website!  There's a great deal of information there about what they do and how to join them.

Vicky Clarke, owner of the blog "Victats", was one of my recent interviewees and it was a true pleasure interacting with her as we discussed her interview.  One of the things I found interesting is that instead of just a regular "reading" blog, she also has a tatting podcast!!  I found it very interesting to listen to her, and very informative.  Good going, Vicky!

Gloria Nelson is one of the first individuals I interviewed about her tatting.  I had the privilege of physically meeting this beautiful person when she drove the two hours from her home in Northern Ontario to my parents' home in North Bay, Ontario when I was there visiting while my mother was in the hospital.  We found out we have so very much in common, other than tatting, and we have remained good friends since.  I can't tell you how much I've learned from this lady in the few years since we met. She's actually the final nudge I needed to jump into adding needle tatting to my list of tatting skills. 

Now, I knew Gloria had a large online "presence", but until I actually went looking, I didn't realize how VAST her repository of information really was!  Just her Pinterest site made me drop my jaw in amazement.  Go have a look, people it's really something amazing!

I won't keep you long today, but I will ask one more time that if you have or know of a Canadian tatter that has a blog or website, PLEASE let me know!  We should be promoting each other as much as possible!  Don't be shy, I will NOT bite, I promise!

Happy Tatting!

An Interview with Victoria Clarke

Hello, Lovely Tatters!  Wow, I seem to be on a roll, here, and I'm not going to complain.  If I find something I want to share, I do so, and I do it without delay.

I asked Victoria Clarke, aka Victats Clarke on Facebook, if she would agree to answer my interview questions a couple of weeks ago.  I know she's a busy person, so I didn't expect her to be so prompt with her answers, but here she is!

Vicky is a sweetheart.  I've never had the pleasure or the privilege of meeting her in person as it seems our paths seem to cross at all the wrong times.  I'm in a place before she is, or vice versa. Our emails and conversations online have always been very "in sync" and I've enjoyed them thoroughly.  I'm hoping one day our "ships will pass in the night" and I can actually put a face to this truly lovely person.

Again, my interview is based on a series of questions I email to the interviewee, and their answers are posted, verbatim (word for word) in red italics under each question.

So, my dear knotty friends, I present to you an interview with Ms. Victoria "Victats" Clarke of Ontario:

1. How long have you been tatting? 

Since I was 16, I am turning 46 this year so 30 years (not consistently the first few years because I couldn’t get supplies). 

2. What first drew you to learn?

My High School Home Economics class went to the local historical center in Campbellford, Ontario. There was a lady there demonstrating tatting. She taught me how to do it and then I practiced from there. It never occurred too me to call and ask her name. My high school was just down the road from the historical society. 

3. How did you learn; did you have a teacher?

The mystery lady at the Campbellford Historical Society and then I learned online from Georgia Seitz and from the book by Rebecca Jones, The Complete Book of Tatting that my grandmother bought for me when we were at Sears (they used to have a big sewing section) 

4. Needle, shuttle, both? Why? 

I do both needle and shuttle tatting but I am much better at shuttle tatting, mostly because that’s how I learned and practiced the most  

5. What do you get from this art form?

 I love lace and that’s what first attracted me. 

6. Are any other family members tatters?

Trying to teach my nieces… 

7. Do you have an online “presence”; a blog or Facebook page you’d like to see folks visit more?

I have a blog called Victats at victats.blogspot.com and there is a link on the page for a tatting podcast called the “Victats Podcast”. I find it easier to talk than to write sometimes. 

8. Have you published any books or patterns, designed any gadgets or developed any techniques?

I have 2 books published: Tatting the Stone (tatted pendants) and Brace Yourself: A collection of Tatted Bracelets. I developed a variation on Victorian Sets called Ruffled Sets. 

9. Does your family support your art?  What kinds of accommodations do they make?

Yes.  Sometimes they travel with me if I’m teaching. I am single so I don’t have to worry about husbands and have no children. My dogs are very disruptive to my tatting…  

10. What does tatting do for you? I like to make things and tatting is very portable.

 I like to make things and tatting is very portable. It was also a very cost effective hobby when I was a student. 

11. Have you entered competitions? Shows? Anything you’d like to brag about?

No competitions, I don’t trust that the local fair will treat the project correctly. I have completed the first part of Tatter’s Across Time. 

12. What do you hope to accomplish with your art? 

I would like to have people continue to tat and make lace long into the future. I use my tatting in my house for decorations and gifts for friends.  

13. Is there anything you DON’T like about tatting?

Not since the internet, it used to be hard to get patterns and thread. Now thanks to places like Handy Hands and Tatting Corner I can get a lot of supplies.  

14. Have you taught others to tat?

I have taught at Palmetto TatDays, Finger Lakes Tatting Seminars, the Fringe Element Tatting Seminars, and the Great Lakes Lace Guild Lace Seminars. I’m not great at teaching absolute beginners how to shuttle tat but I can teach beginners how to needle tat. 

15. Are any of your family members interested in learning? 

My nieces are sometimes interested but it comes and goes. 

16. Where do see this art form in general in, say, 20 years?

Thriving. I think that there are still a lot of interpretations and techniques to develop and the internet helps us to share our work. 

17. Anything you’d like to say about tatting in general? 

I’ve often noticed that casual observers are mesmerized by tatting. They are amazed by the lace being made with string and knots. 

And there you have it!  I have both of Vicky's books.  They're easy to read, easy to follow, and the patterns aren't horribly complicated, so should be easy for relatively new tatters to follow.  They're definitely good additions to a library, or good gifts to a new tatter to kick-start theirs.

As for Victorian Sets, I'm off to find out what this is!  And then to find out what Vicky's adaptation called "Ruffled Sets" is all about!

One thing I would like to add here is that if you have Canadian Tatters you'd like to see interviewed here, please let me know!  I'd love to know who you'd like to get to know better!  I'm not hard to find, just fill out the "Contact Me" questions in the sidebar to your right here and I'll do the rest!

Happy Tatting!

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Interview with Karen Negus

Hello, Lovely Tatters!

Well, as promised, I have the interview with Karen Negus of Tatting for Spirit.  I have to admit to being very happy to "meet" her.  I have chatted with her and she's absolutely wonderful.  Charming, funny, and she's from Nova Scotia!  Not too far from my old stompin' ground, too.  Ah, such a small world, indeed.  (And folks, she's a lefty to boot!)  

Just to show you what kind of work she does, I "borrowed" a picture from her Etsy page to show you the exquisite work Karen presents and creates.  

Is this not exquisite?!

As I have done with previous interviews, I will present the question in black, with the response in red italics in Karen's own words.  So,without further "ado", I have the honour of presenting a conversation with Ms. Karen Negus of Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia Canada?!

1. How long have you been tatting?

I have been needle tatting since 1996, after watching a segment on Aleene's Creative Living Show. The kit they were selling had the 2 Book set of Needle Tatting by Barbara Foster. I had always been attracted to needle crafts, and as soon as I found out there were photographic instructions for left handed people, I knew this was the needle craft for me. I absolutely fell in love with the geometric designs, and have been tatting ever since. For a period of 3 years, I made my own tatting needle from wooden or bamboo knitting needles

With file and extremely fine drill bits, and my father’s old European miniature electric drill, I would turn knitting needles into tatting needles, so we could then tat with beautifully hand spun yarns and make wearable items in a fraction of the time. Life events lead to an indefinite hiatus in my

needle-making. If I have enough interest, I could start making them again.

2. What first drew you to learn?

See above

3. How did you learn; did you have a teacher?

The kit I purchased included both, Book 1 and Book 2, as well as 3 different sized tatting needles. I taught myself purely from the step by step photographic instructions. I continue to teach myself different techniques from other talented tatters. And some things, I simply improvise.

4. Needle, shuttle, both? Why?

I am a needle tatter, who for the past 20 or so years, has been saying she will learn the shuttle, but there just never seems to be enough time to relearn something. Although I would imagine it would come rather quickly. A few years back, I had been invited to join the Nova Scotia Fibre Festival, a yearly event held in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Many lovely ladies would stop by and watch a demonstration of needle tatting with yarn. I heard several times from different shuttle tatters, that the needle looked so much easier to do. And from another group of ladies, I have  old that there are things you can do with a shuttle that you cannot do with a needle and vise versa. But the one thing that amazes most of the shuttle tatters I have encountered, is that if you have made an error, you can untie back to the error, then carry on again. They like learning with a needle, you can tat any gauge of yarn or thread, hand or machine spun, as long as you have the right needle size. No winding bobbins, cutting, sewing in, or restarting. One day, I do hope to make it a priority to learn shuttle tatting. I have a lovely antique shuttle I would like to try.

5. What do you get from this artform?

Tatting for me is several things. I absolutely love tatting with handspun yarns. The texture and fibres bring a whole new dimension to tatting. I enjoy the challenge in transcribing patterns from shuttle into my own for easy legibility. I started doing this very soon after I began tatting. I found it time consuming trying to find my place in a pattern, especially the older ones that were written for magazines. I enjoy experimenting with different fibres to achieve different results.

And I really enjoy finding functional ways to use tatted lace. I have recently started sewing, and look forward to incorporating the two together. And lastly, I love how tatting is a small needlecraft that you can tuck away in your purse for

those long appointment waits.

6. Are any other family members tatters?

No, I am the only needle tatting. My mother is a lifelong knitter, my dad enjoys designing and making models. I did teach my youngest daughter once how to tat, and she did complete a small hexagon motif. In order to teach her, I had to teach myself how to tat right handed. Which ended up being rather useful when doing demonstrations.

7. Do you have an online “presence”; a blog or Facebook page you’d like to see folks visit

more?

No, I basically have my Etsy Shop, and my Tatting for Spirit Facebook page.

8. Have you published any books or patterns, designed any gadgets or developed any techniques?

For a period of 3 years, I made my own tatting needle from wooden or bamboo knitting needles. With file and extremely fine drill bits, and my father’s old European miniature electric drill, I would turn knitting needles into tatting needles, so we could then tat with beautifully hand spun yarns and make wearable items in a fraction of the time. Life events lead to an indefinite hiatus in my needle making. If I have enough interest, I could start making them again. I have also written a set of Step by Step Photographic Instructions to teach yourself how to Needle Tat, for both left and right handed people. And I currently have 6 patterns in varying

levels of difficulties. I’m a super small business, and print these myself. If this constitutes as published, then I guess I’m published!

9. Does your family support your art? What kinds of accommodations do they make?

Most definitely. My daughters have modeled pieces, I’ve had friends test and try out my crystal healing pieces, and others who have tried out my headbands for warmth during bitter

temperatures.

10. What does tatting do for you?

I always have to have something to do and something to stimulate my mind. I suffer from a few musculoskeletal issues and arthritis, so tatting gives me something to focus on.

11. Have you entered competitions? Shows? Anything you’d like to brag about? 

I’ve won a few first place ribbons at the local country exhibition. And I have also had a pair of earrings reviewed for a fashion article on handmade lace for Lucky Magazine. 

12. What do you hope to accomplish with your art?

Nothing other than creative things that make people feel good, either by the fibres or colours

used.

13. Is there anything you DON’T like about tatting? 

No, I’m very particular about presentation, so my customers know they are getting a high quality handmade product.

14. Have you taught others to tat? Are any of your family members interested in learning? 

I have done a 3 hr workshop, only to discover that in order for someone to retain what they have learned, many more hours are needed. One of these days, I hope to teach a workshop that compliments my Step by Step Photographic Instructions.

15. Where do you see this art form in general in, say, 20 years? 

I don’t see any change in the artform itself in the future, but perhaps it’s application. Tatting is very time consuming. Most have discovered that. Which is why I really enjoy tatting with yarn and larger needles. For the same amount of time, the end result is so much larger. This will make it less intimidating making large projects. And hopefully more can enjoy this beautiful art of knots. 

16. Anything you’d like to say about tatting in general?

It’s not crochet! Whew, finally I have been able to say that. I don’t know how many times over the years, I have heard people say as they glance over a shoulder “Oh, that’s crocheted, I can do that!” It is not crocheted, it is tatted, and yes there is a huge difference, especially in the time.

Out of frustration, I taught myself some basic crochet stitches just to understand this comment. I haven’t gotten carried away with crocheting yet, but enough to make a flower in a third of the time it would take to make a comparable tatted flower. These are two different fibre crafts, one done more quickly and with far more stitches and design options, the other more time consuming and distinctive. Let’s give credit where credit is due to each respective crafts.

I have to admit, this was a fun interview.  Karen knows her stuff, she knows what she wants from her art, and she has the talent to get it done.  I've had a peek at her Etsy shop and you will NOT be disappointed!  You can see her shop, Tatting for Spirit, here:  http://www.tattingforspirit.etsy.com.

If you have any questions for this lovely lady, she has also included her email address: tfsfibrearts@gmail.com.

I can't think of anything else to say, other than go see what she has to offer.  She has OODLES of things to satisfy your fancy.  

Karen, chatting back and forth with you has been an absolute pleasure and I hope we can continue to do so!  I wonder if there are any other "secret places" along Eastern Shore beside Ecum Secum?  (inside joke, folks, sorry).

Happy Tatting!

Some New Stuff

Hello Lovely Tatters!!  Just in case you hadn't noticed, I've been playing around with my blog layout and I've added a couple of things you might like.

I have to thank Theresa Clouatre for bringing to my attention the fact that I didn't have a "Followers" button that would allow people to keep up with my posts. You'll have to go all the way to the bottom of the blog near where there's a little information about me, but it's there. Thank you very much, Theresa, I'm sorry I missed that over the last few years.  Actually, if you've seen how irregularly I've been posting, it really shouldn't surprise anyone.

Another feature I've added is the "Contact Me" option.  Every once in a while I get asked questions and the souls asking have to either find me on Facebook, or snoop through all the blog entries.  I really do apologize for that.  Another oversight on my part that I hope has been corrected.

I have, however, been asked to update my "background".  Apparently, some folks haven't really looked at it, just that it's dark and sometimes difficult to read.  Well, here's the reason I chose the background that is here: It looks like a living room.

Think about it!  There's an easy chair with nice arms on it, where you can curl up with a good book, your tatting, or just to watch some television (which is conveniently placed nearby).  The phone is there on the wall.  I know, we all have cell phones or cordless phones at home, but I used to work in Sherbrooke Village in Nova Scotia and it's one of the only places in the country that has an active network that can power the antique phones like this.  I've actually used one of those things, and it's a real hoot!  Just that little piece you hold up to your ear was heavier than my tablet!  I guess it's how they kept people from having lengthy conversations and tying up the line.

In short, I chose the background because it felt like home.  My safe place. A place where I can bring my friends.  A place I can have knotty conversations with anyone, even just myself.

We all need a "safe place".  I know I've been in many places in my lifetime where I didn't exactly feel comfortable, but if I had something in my pocket to do, I could go to that "safe place" in my head and I really did feel better.  We ALL need that.  I don't care who you are or what you do, we are all human and human beings need to be able to have a place to go where they are free of needing to protect themselves against those that try to bring us down or threaten our well-being, physical or emotional.  Your "safe place" can be a physical place, but I have built myself a lovely comfy space where no one comes in unless I expressly invite them.

Now that I've explained my background, I hope you find your own "safe place".  And I hope you go there often to get some privacy from what maybe makes you feel not-so-safe. 

Happy Tatting! 

Coming Soon!

Hello Lovely Tatters!!  I appear to be on a roll!  This is the third post this week!

In case anyone is interested, I'm going to have two interviews to present soon.  I've already presented some questions I posed to Samantha Melnychuk, author of three books ("A Veritable Tatted Blizzard", "Teeny Tatted Snowflakes" and "The Psychedelic Shuttle") and Gloria Nelson, developer of the Bare Threadspace and Picot Tool, the genius behind Sparkling Light Creation Studio and administrator of "Needle Tatting: for beginners" on Facebook.

Shortly, I hope to have submissions from Victoria Clarke, author of "Brace Yourself" and "Tatting the Stone", and another from Karen Negus, proprietress of the Etsy shop "Tatting for Spirit".  Victoria is from Ontario and Karen is from nearby my old stomping ground in Nova Scotia.  I was pretty excited!

Someone asked why I am endeavouring to interview Canadian tatting artists.  Well, because they aren't as well-known as some of the other artists out there and we (Canadian tatters) are a pretty talented bunch!  Unfortunately, Canadians as a general rule aren't all that great at tooting our own horns, so I decided I would like to try and blow the horn for them.

If you're like me and struggling along trying to learn how to do this on your own, please reach out to someone.  When I learned, as is the case with so many other tatters that are old enough to remember life before YouTube and the internet, we learned from poorly written books, badly rendered pictures, or from grandma or a great auntie that just wasn't all that patient with small fingers anymore, even though they tried their best to impart their wisdom.

When I was learning, I felt alone.  I didn't think anyone did this anymore.  I had certainly never heard of needle tatting, then I got reading some books written a long time ago by some very narrow-visioned people who stated that the shuttle was the only "true" tatting tool.  Unfortunately, I followed that assumption for a very long time and if I've offended anyone by telling them they weren't doing "real tatting", I'm truly sorry.  

I've since met and interacted with some extremely talented needle tatters and I'm proud to say I'm dedicated to doing both.  If I have a skill in shuttle tatting, I do what I can to find a comparable way to make that same technique with a needle.  When I write a pattern, I make sure I can do it with both tools.  If I don't like how it looks, I adjust things so that it can be made with either a needle or a shuttle.  I'm not going to lie; using a needle does cause me some pain so I use a pair of vinyl-jawed pliers to pull my needle through the stitches when needed, but we all have to do what we need to do to finish our projects.  I'm not going to apologize for hurting, but I will try and do something to the best of my ability the way that works best for me.

Which brings me to another thought:  tool choice.  I see so many new tatters ask "which do you prefer, needle or shuttle and why?"  Oh, my, that answer is unique to each tatter.  Just because there are two tools does not mean you have to choose one over the other and be forever chained to your choice!  If you're able to wrap your head around both tools, then do so!  You'll be so much better able to understand what it's like to be in another's shoes if you know how they're using their equipment.

There is no right or wrong way to hold your needle or your shuttle.  If you're making the stitches the right way and you're having fun, then it is no one else's place to tell you whether you're doing it right or wrong?  There are artists in this world that are tatting with one hand!  Are you going to tell them they're holding their shuttle the wrong way?  I'm certainly not going to!  Are you going to tell a blind tatter she isn't holding the thread the right way?  I'm not going there!  i am simply amazed they're able to do what they do, and I hope that if one day I meet a challenge to my art, then I can find an adjustment to how I'm doing it so I don't have to stop!

Watch now as I step off my soap box and stow it neatly under my chair so I can get back to my current project;.

Happy Tatting!

Why?

Hello, Lovely Tatters!  Happy Canada Day to you all!!  Soon it will be International Lace Day (July 5, 2020), so I hope you're all prepared to get yourself to a comfy public place with your current project and show the world what a "dead" art looks like when it's not dead at all!  

Whenever I hear someone say stuff like that, I think of Groucho Marx's quote that went something like:  "The news of my death has been greatly exaggerated!".  It's true!  There are SO many people tatting, and more learning how every day.  Seriously, it's knot a lost art!  My Jeep even says so!!

I have one of these on either side of my vehicle on the back wing windows.  It certainly makes people take note.  It also makes my Renegade easier to find in a parking lot because it seems EVERYONE here drives an SUV of some kind!  (By the way, if you'd like one for YOUR vehicle, email Shawna Wachs at shawna.wachs@gmail.com.  Tell her Shelley sent you!) 

I got asked today "why do you write a blog if you aren't sure anyone is going to find it?"  Well, that's not really all that hard to answer.

No, I'm not sure anyone is going to read my blog.  It doesn't have the reach a great many other bloggers might have, but that's okay.  The reason behind doing it is simple: It's important to ME.  Yes, it is.

I spend a great amount of time on my own.  I don't have many places to travel so I can't have knotty conversations in person with like-minded people all that often.  The last two years I was able to go to Indiana and actually MEET the people behind the names on the virtual tatting groups.  It was amazing.  The one thing that bothered me, though, was how few Canadians there seemed to be in the groups.

I know I spent a good many years tatting away on my own, not knowing if there were other tatters anywhere nearby.  It felt very isolating, and the comments such as: "I didn't think anyone did that anymore" or "I thought that was dead" or "my gramma did that but I couldn't be bothered" really annoyed me!  

Another thing that I found very inconvenient was the lack of places to purchase supplies in Canada.  Yes, there are shops in the United States that will happily help you, but then you're paying the exchange, duties, and higher shipping costs.  That didn't work for me, either.  Not everyone lives in a border town. A ball of thread that's $3.50 USD can end up costing significantly more in Canadian dollars once it arrives to a Canadian mailing address.

Furthermore, I thought it would be a very cool idea to showcase Canadian tatters.  It's always interesting to see where they came from, how they learned, what they're thinking, and where they'd like to see tatting go.

So, I an trying to research and source places or people that would be Canadian, accessible, and willing to cater to Canadian tatters, be they needlers or shuttlers.

That, my dear friends, is what has led me to this blog, and I hope that answers the question I have been getting frequently, "why do you write a blog?"

Oh...one last reason:  I write this  because it's fun!

Happy Tatting!