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Tuesday, April 15, 2008

My Lucky Day

Three nice things in one day, now how often does that happen.

Firstly I was sitting at my computer eating my breakfast...as everybody does! First post that I saw was from Gina telling me that I had won her April draw in her 5th Anniversary year extravaganza.

I can now tell you that I have had my fingers so tightly crossed since I put my name in her hat that I was beginning to wonder if I could keep it up for a whole year. I knew that it would be worth it as having a piece of someone else's tatting is worth suffering for...especially when it's from someone as nice as Gina.....there that should have buttered her up enough to make sure I get something spectacular!!!!

Well that kept me on top of the world until the postman came and then my cup began to run over....with not one but two items.

First to be opened was a little box from Ladyshuttlemaker Sherry Pence. My curiosity had finally got the better of me and I had ordered one of her ceramic shuttles. I knew it would look gorgeous but would it work a a tatting shuttle!!!

I have played with clay both hand built and on the wheel in a couple of evening classes a long while ago. I was so taken with it that I used to bring lumps of clay home to make more than I could do in a class. I longed to have a kiln of my own.
The teacher was so pleased that someone as so keen that she fired all my things and my house is still littered with them...how could I throw them away.

But making a tatting shuttle out of a material that has no spring in it,now that is a challenge indeed.

I can now tell you that she has succeeded.....magnificently. I now have a fully working state of the art, one of a kind, unique tatting shuttle. It even has a pick, all I have to do now is to make sure that I don't drop it!!



Don't you just love the matching Clover shuttles!! and now the lovely orangey one from Sherry. It makes a lovely tinkling sound when you pull the thread through one end.



Here is the edging by Jane Eborall made in trial pieces in Flora 10 and Flora 20 and then in my own hand dyed Coats 40. The colours are Pumpkin Juice and Apple Greens....don't you just love being able to name your own colours!!

This edging is made in one pass using Jane's continuous thread join and is quite easy once you get the hang of it but does need some concentration with all the rings coming off rings. This is a work in progress..or is it!!

So what was the third nice thing you all want to know...don't you??

After looking forward to getting my hands on Martha Ess's new book Holidays on the block...see previous posts for info about it, didn't the book get lost in the post!
It must have travelled several times round the world in the month it took to cross the big pond.

But hurrah! it's here at last and is well worth the wait. It's a big selection box of non fattening patterns! I can't even begin to decide which are my favorites or which to do first, but I'll let you into a little secret...I have dyed some threads that will be perfect for a bat and an eagle.

I explored the book and drooled over the designs and it was along time before I got to the acknowledgments page where I knew Martha would have said thanks for to her test tatters. All of a sudden something else caught my eye and my mouth fell open........
Martha has dedicated the book to ME!!!

Pause while I read it again to make sure it is not some other person with a name similar to mine....nope it really is me!

Martha says that it was my enquiry at an opportune moment that led her to start tatting 'block critters'.
I remember that moment well, it was back in 2005 when I wrote to her to ask if I could teach her block tatted bumble bee to my group. She generously said yes and remarked that she had forgotten all about the little bee.
I think this was the first block tatting that we did and it was an instant hit.
I often like to send a photo to the designers of what we tat and Martha says that their smiling faces make her day...they make my day too!

Can't show you their smiling faces as I haven't asked their permission but I can show you the little critters that they made and were so proud of.



It is so nice to think that all those lovely block tatted patterns were spawned from this little enquiry.

Thank you so much Martha, I am honoured more than I can say and so pleased to have you as my friend.

10 comments:

  1. Wow! That IS one awesome day! Thanks for the great shuttle review! Everytime I sit down to work on these shuttles I ask myself, "Why do I torture myself this way?". It continues to be one of the most challenging things I have ever undertaken, but I realize that responses like yours is exactly why I do it!

    Oh...and I LOVE the bees! I have wanted to tat one every since I first saw them at Shuttlebirds last year and I finally did a few months ago. They are the best!

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  2. Don't Sherry's shuttles make a pretty sound? The edgings are gorgeous! And that is such a cute picture of the ladies' hands holding the tatted bees - you cropped it just right!

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  3. Wow is right! So much in one day. Sherry's shuttles are amazing and I'm glad you finally have one.
    A dedication in a book - what an honor and from someone as dear and talented as Martha - congratulations. Congrats on winning Gina's drawing as well. I bet you will get something very special!

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  4. Oh, I forgot to say that I love the threads. The colors are beautiful and look great on that edging. I have to try that pattern.

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  5. Congratulations on your wonderful day! Aren't Sherry's shuttles fabulous? You chose a lovely one!

    I love Martha's books, and I did notice the dedication in the new book right away. I think I might have to make one of those bees now...

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  6. What a great day! I just ordered one of Sherry's shuttles and I can't wait to get it. Your edging are beautiful and your HDT is lovely. I think it is wonderful that your friend dedicated her book to you. What an honor. That is something you will probably cherish for a lifetime. You never know what seeds you have sown when you teach someone just one thing.

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  7. Hi Pamela, Congratulations threee times over. Your HDT thread is a lovely color. I just ordered some HDT from Yarnplayer (my first experience with HDT) The colors are lovely and I can't wait to use them. What an honor to have the book dedicated to you. Martha's new book of block tatting looks like a lot of fun tatting. And you won on Gina's drawing. You certainly had the luck this month. I forgot about that little bee. I'll have to find my pattern and make it too! Happy Tats!

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  8. You can say that again, it definately is your lucky day! Your LadyShuttleMaker shuttle is beautiful! They do make a lovely sound when you use them, don't they. I like your choice of colors for your HDT and your names are great. Having a tatting book dedicated to you must be an awesome feeling. And lastly congrats on winning Gina's drawing. A good day for sure!!

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  9. I heard so many great reviews of Sherry's shuttles. Mine is flying over to Malaysia.

    I love HDTs. I ordered some from Sherry two weeks ago and have been tatting a storm (albeit without the shuttle).

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  10. Thank you all so much for your comments, they made my day too.
    sherry your shuttles deserve a great write up.
    Long live HDT!!!!

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