BLOGGER TEMPLATES AND TWITTER BACKGROUNDS

Thursday, July 25, 2013

How to hide ends without sewing

UPDATE: It was brought to my attention that the video didn't embed right...so here is the link..Thank you Michelle!!! 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d51YHHIy4yc
I made another video...One I have been trying to do for quite some time. I was lazy. I really couldn't find a good time to do it. BUT today was that day! 

The video is about HIDING ENDS! A very sore spot for a lot of tatters. As tatters we have a couple choices open to us...We could either knot our thread together and then sew in the ends, or we could just not do it...But as a tatter that wants to show the public tatting, I need to know how to make the ends nice. So awhile back some GENIUS tatter figured how to do this...So now whether I finish on a chain or ring, I can finish nicely. This particular video addresses finishing with a chain. 

As you practice it, you get better...SO PRACTICE!!! I started with small motifs...the one in the video is three rings of 5-2-5 and the chains are 20...I wanted to make sure I had enough room to hide my ends...but I have used this with as little as 5ds...its a little tricky though...So here it is...

Also...bragging... I dont know if i posted a picture of my ribbon or not but here is one...it was actually pretty heavy. I thought it would have been lighter! Anyway, there were these cute picture cutouts all over the fair, and i thought that this wold be a good opportunity to be goofy...Goal Achieved!
 This was where my tatting was displayed...so proud and happy!
 AND up close!
SO until later...Adios!

Saturday, July 20, 2013

WHAT A WEEK!

Well month. Firstly. my two oldest fish died. Cookie and Lollipop...my kids named them, don't judge. But cookie, i knew he was going to go...but lolly...i had no idea. I guess it was a companion sort of deal. So that one crapped my week from the start.

I have been reading these awesome books. They are called The Undead day ___ (insert 1-12). I LOVE LOVE LOVE them. If you are into zombie books, pick these up...the author is R.R. Haywood.

I also read a book named Strangeville. It was a pretty good book, until the end...only one part was just god awful. Worth the read though.

So. I had the state fair demo Wednesday. OMG! What an experience...I have been tatting for like 5 years now...maybe a bit more. Up until a couple months ago, i had never met another tatter...i now have met like 6. I got SO many stories about my grandma use to... I have my gramas... i use to see... TONS. I had no idea that SO MANY people had been exposed to tatting, and never picked it up! I have no one in my family that do any of the crafts that i do. I am the black sheep. But i love it. SOOO...

this is what i had. I have never done anything like this in my life. I was so scared and nervous. So. Onto the stats...this took place from 11 am to 5pm...6 hours
temporary shuttles - 20-30
truly interested people (took time to try to learn a bit)-  10
somewhat interested (looked and asked) 30
not really interested ( "oh that's pretty" and walks away) 30
KIDS interested - 5 !!!! five that were genuinely interested in learning...i was really amazed
people who got the flip - 2! two women got the flip nearly right off the bat! i was so amazed that someone could learn the flip like that. I actually came up with a sing song....

Pinch the stitch
under, over through the loop
left hand loose
right line tight
Snug it up
over, up
left hand loose 
right line tight
snug it up

I don't know.
So make sure you have plenty of shuttles, and info cards. PEOPLE LOVED looking through my inspiration books. they especially liked the large tatting...i included it to show you could damn near tat with anything.
I had a needle tatter who thought that she was doing her tatting wrong...and she wasn't. She was just doing sets...1st half, 1st half, 2nd half, 2nd half...
Now...very important....GET ENOUGH SLEEP! I was so nervous that i didn't get to sleep until 2am then turned around and woke up at 730am. Definitely not enough sleep. So i was tired by...oh lets see, 1130! tired tired tired. I think i might do this again...except with someone else...Now i know what to expect, the next time i do it, it will be better. But i started...i started spreading the joy of tatting, the beauty. And even only a couple remember it, it will have been worth it. Tatting is NOT a LOST art. Not at all. and we are here to stay, and pass it on to others.

I have been to the fair twice this year. Exhausting stuff. So that's my week. ooo, and i cleaned my kids carpet today...fun fun.