Sisters!

It is good to be back home, especially after passing through 5 different airports on our travels this month, in all though I have flown on 8 planes since June and really pleased to have my feet on the ground for the rest of the year.  But what an experience it was to be in the USA, I can't believe the generosity of people and thank you to all who made our stay so welcoming, especially to Sandra and Joanie who opened their houses to Jane and myself.

When we first arranged to go to "Tat Days" we thought that we would be the only sisters attending the event, but when we arrived there were three sets of sisters, the American sisters, the Swedish sisters and the UK sisters, amazing! It just shows that tatting runs in families.

There was also a group of tatters who attended  called the Southern Belles of Tennessee, they were not exactly sisters, although you could say that they were sisters in tatting!  However,  they did contribute so much to the days, firstly by helping to fill our "goodie bags" and also for some of the table decorations.  This was just part of a decoration taken from a wheelbarrow that was on one of the tables and not only that there were packets of seeds by our plates, but when you opened them instead of seeds they contained some thread and a charm, so clever and so generous.  The tatted flowers are exquisite, but I apologise for them getting a bit crushed in my suitcase.

The Southern Belles were so generous and made the days even more exciting thank you, I hope one of you is reading this blog, if not please can someone pass on my thanks.
Here is a flower from an American garden complete with insects.

Sometimes though sisters just have to show you up!  This was taken in a supermarket near Joanies.

Is she fragile?!

Fun and Games

A few blogs have already shown some great pictures of Tat Days especially the wonderful goodies that were given out or purchased.  But here are a couple of photos showing some of the fun and games that we had.

Jane and Martha attempting two handed tatting

Hanna and Sara tatting blindfolded

 

Thank you to all the  Palmetto Tatters for all their hard work in making the event such a success and so fun. It was great to see y'all.

Atlanta meeting

Look at this meeting in Atlanta. Do you recognise any of these tatters?

Okay you may know Sandra and Jane but the two on the left of the picture are Sara and Hanna from Sweden. We met them this morning and they are so excited about attending Tat Days and guess what they are sisters just like Jane and myself.

We really had a fab time together looking around the city of Atlanta, thank you Sandra.

Trains and Planes

This is my last blog post before I start my travels. Tomorrow I catch a train and head for the Midlands to stay the night with Jane, ready to fly very early Monday morning to Georgia and then later on in the week we attend the Tat Days.    Almost packed, it has been incredibly difficult to know what to take both for clothes and tatting equipment.  All these items take up considerable room in a house and then you are expected to put a very small selection in a suitcase, impossible!  Apart from the necessities in life I am carrying 50 popabobbin shuttles and quite a few hooks with hats.   But here is one item that is already packed, apparently essential?!

My lanyard

Already in the last six months I have flown on four planes and about to go on four more before I get back to my home.  I also suffer from motion sickness but have tablets to take, and warned big sister!

A  picture taken when we travelled back from Java to Singapore in June showing the volcanic mountains. 

So I will be seeing quite a few of my blog friends very soon, safe journeys to you all. 

Eucalyptus Wood

Earlier this year Trayna e.mailed me and asked whether 'Im in the garage, would like some Eucalyptus wood from a tree that had been damaged in a storm. She needed a rather quick decision on this as the postage rates in the UK were just about to go up considerably.  So we said yes and here is one of the shuttles made out of the wood, it is currently flying up to Scotland to where Trayna lives.

There is a story behind this Eucalyptus Tree, a very special story, which Trayna will no doubt tell you before too long and so this shuttle will mean a lot to her.

Jane commented on my last blog post about there being a 'Bling War' between us at the the forthcoming Tat Days, all I can say is that I have very little tatting bling to wear but I have made these earrings to take with me. The thread sparkles but the photograph does not really show this.

At the moment I am unable to comment on blogs that require word verification, this is very frustrating and I wonder if anyone else is having a similar problem?   

Tat Day Bling!

I have not been very good at looking at all the blog posts latterly because of other more pressing things to do before leaving for the USA.  Tatting has also been very slow but this afternoon, when I was supposed to be clearing up, I decided to do a project that has been waiting for months.

Last year I purchased this pendant initially to use the rings on it to tat with but when I looked at them more closely they were not uniform and so whatever I did with them would probably not have worked. I don't know what was originally on the silver disc as it had fallen off before I purchased the item.  I paid only £1 for the pendant but the original price ( in perfect condition) was £15.00!  It is quite heavy so I will know when it is around my neck!  

I have just seen the jewellery that Jane is making so don't want to look like a 'plain Jane' beside her, or in my case 'plain Sally' do !?

You may notice the drops of rain around the pendant, it has been pouring over here on and off all day and as it is dark, the best light was outside to take the photographs.
The button motif is not glued on yet, just left it in the garage for that, my first Tat Day Bling.
 I might even have time to make some more!

Time is going too fast!

Time is going so fast and  I am worried that things will not be done before I travel to the USA in September.  My parish work has increased over the last few weeks, but hopefully I will get on top of everything before too long.  I have filled in the dreaded ESTA form and so at least allowed into the USA!  Also managed to finish this doily, but very disappointed with the result, even with blocking and pressing it still does not seem to lie flat, and whats more this is the second time I have completed the last round, this blog post shows my first attempt. But as I was using a different thread I thought that was the problem.

I also managed to put a motif on the lovely bag Jane (big sister) kindly gave me.

And now testing the shuttles which are being made to take over to Tat Days. There is real tension in the garage at the moment as these and other items are being completed!

Will I have room in the suitcase for these and more?!