Tat's Heaven

Here are some much better photographs of the post shuttles that are being made by my resident shuttle maker. It was obvious that a design of some sort needed to be put on the shuttles to take away the plainness of them, although of course the wood is beautiful without embellishments, but tatters need to have distinctive shuttles. Not being that artistic and also not having the time to try painting on them, it was decided to use transfers as a way of decoration. The trouble is that proper transfers are not easy to find, we managed to locate a supplier but with limited designs that would fit the shuttles. So if anyone out there knows where we can purchase suitable transfers please let me know. Now in the past I have done a little of decoupage but again to try this on a very small items requires precision and also the material has to be very thin and have no borders, that is where transfers are ideal. Thank you to Decoromana for suggesting napkins, that really frightened me! They are so t...

My first tatting shuttle was a post shuttle, I can remember it was blue, a pretty shade of blue but I have no idea what became of it. I learnt to tat as a young child so it probably got lost in one of my many moves. The next shuttle I owned was a Milward's shuttle which I still have, although minus the hook that originally came with it. So it was strange when I started to test tat these new additions which "I'm in the garage" has now added to his range of handmade wooden shuttles - there was a feeling of déjà vu! We are planning on selling the post shuttles (via Jane) before you ask! There will be a "Shuttle management" meeting at the weekend to discuss prices and some better photographs will be taken. The two you see in the pictures are made out of cedar and then transfers were put on them, each picture shows one side of the shuttle. We have only managed to find transfers of birds and butterflies that will fit on the shuttles so far. Small transfe...

Tomorrow will mark a year since my first post. I originally started this blog because my big sister Jane kept saying you must do it! I always listen to her so thought if I did she would shut up, but she hasn’t! Seriously though, in the last year I have actually done more tatting than in all the previous five years put together. The reason for this is that seeing what everyone else is working on has encouraged me and also I’ve tried new things myself and shared them with others. The great thing is that with blogging you don’t feel so alone with your craft, there is always someone out there looking in. So thanks for all your encouraging and enabling comments, and I’m looking forward to my second year. Of course the introduction of the “Pop-A-bobbin” shuttle has also been exciting and there is more excitement to come. In my next post I intend to show you the post shuttles which “I’m in the garage” has been making. We have also been able to overcome some of the problems with the shuttle m...

A week today will mark my 1st blog-anniversary, nothing to shout about really, but I would just like to say that it has been great meeting (well not in the flesh!) the world wide tatting community. However, I don’t plan to have a “Giveaway” in celebration as I would rather save that until my 100th post which could be in a few months time, depending on how quick or slow I become in blogging! In preparation for the event I decided to buy some boxes, paint them and decorate them, what they are going to contain is a secret at the moment. This pink box is my first attempt; it reminds me of an iced cake! Following on from the various bits and pieces, seven in all, that make up the Pop-A-bobbin shuttle I would like to talk briefly about the INFORMATION CARD AND THE PACKET/SLEEVE. A member of our congregation, a retired printer, made the information card for me and unlike you and I he doesn’t collect thread he collects card! Unfortunately he hasn’t had a good year in many respects, his h...

Easter began in church with a service called the Easter Vigil when between the hours of sunset and sunrise the Easter Candle is lite and light is spread throughout the church, which at that time is in complete darkness. I attended this service last night but there was also a service at 5.30 am this morning, for those who don't need so much sleep as I do! I made these Easter Cards using Martha's button lamb pattern. I have used this pattern so many times and so if they were all put together there would be a flock of tatted sheep! It is also a tradition in many churches to have an Easter Garden. This one was made with the help of the pre -school children who came into church last week and we had a little service together. The crosses are a little obscured by the foliage ! But the children had so much fun in helping me make it. Now for my Easter Egg given to me by the Vicar who is on a three months Study Leave or Sabbatical. I just thought it fitted so well with the title of my b...

It is Good Friday and so it seems appropriate that there is a cross on today's post. This is a Celtic cross designed by Jane. Once again I combined two different coloured and size of threads to make it. Continuing from my previous post to talk about the elements that make up the Pop-A-Bobbin shuttle. Today I will tell you about the................... PLUGS AND POPPER TOOL The little plug which is fitted in the centre of the bobbin and holds it in place through the shuttle, is made to match the wood of the shuttle and so a piece of wood is cut and then put through this clever little piece of equipment to make the right size. Can't tell you which of these holes it goes through without measuring it, but you can probably guess! The popper tool (please look on the right of this blog, it is in the centre of my profile picture) is a piece of doweling rod shaped at one end so that the plug can be pushed out and it has a bead in the middle with the other end to wind the bobbin. This...