Motifs #3 & #4

Motif #3 - Madonna & Child, pattern by Mark Myers (aka Tat-Man).  I made it with Lizbeth thread in size 40 in #652 - blue, #630 - peach light, and #601 - white.  The finished size is approximately 2 1/2" x 3 1/2".  The colors look a little darker than the actual thread because I had sprayed them with stiffener before I took the photo and it wasn't dry yet.

Motif #4 - Easy Tatted Cross bookmark.  I made 2 of these with the same color thread.  Sort of a 'his and hers' set. They were also made with Lizbeth thread in size 40 in #114 Sea Shells.  It's a super simple pattern and is easily tatted by needle or shuttle.  I made this one using a shuttle. The finished size is approximately 4" x 5 1/2".

Both of the motifs were made as gifts for 2 friends for Christmas. I have one gift left to make and hopefully I can get it done in time. 

Motif #2

I have finished my second motif towards the 25-motif challenge.  Two down, 23 more to go.  I made Kira's Star.  I used size 20 Lizbeth thread in white.  It still needs to be starched and blocked.
 
Yesterday a friend and I participated in a living history event at Dudley Farm.  We sat on the back porch. My friend was making a penny rug and I was tatting a collar for my bodice.  I was surprised at how many people knew what I was doing and were actually interested in it.  They all commented on how it's a lost art.  I very proudly said that it's slowly making a come back.

This afternoon there was a tatting meeting at the Fabric Art Shop in Lake City.  This was to be a meeting of the 1st and 2nd shuttle tatting classes and the two classes were going to merge into one group with the hope of forming a monthly tatting club.  I brought some of the items I had shuttle tatted since my class ended in October.  Based on the items I brought and what I said, the owner of the store asked me if I would be interested in taking over the tatting classes.  As of January, I will be a tatting teacher!  I'm really excited about it.  Thankfully it's only a beginner's class because I still have a lot of advanced techniques to learn.

The New Aerlite Tatting Shuttle

The original Aero shuttle was made in England.  Unfortunately, in 1979, there was a fire and the factory was destroyed including the mold for the shuttle.  Other brands attempted to recreate the Aero shuttle design but they were not like the original. The closest to the original was the Aero which was made in Germany.

I have one of the Aero shuttles that has "Made in Germany" on it but the end of the shuttle that holds the bobbin for winding is a tad too long, doesn't really fit the bobbin, and it pokes my hand while I'm tatting.  Although I like the idea of removable bobbins, I don't really like the German Aero shuttle. 

Barbara Foster of Handy Hands worked with tatters who still had the original Aero shuttle and has reproduced it.


Today I went to Hobby Lobby and they had one of the new Aerlite shuttles. I was very hesitant about getting it since it was in the same style as the German Aero I have.  After a few minutes of debating, I decided to get one and give it a try.  I am so glad I did.  It is wonderful.  The bobbin end is shorter than the German Aero and does not hit my hand. The only other shuttle I like as much is the Clover shuttle.

Motif #1

This is my first motif for the 25 Motif Challenge. The pattern is the Quantiesque Snowflake by Jon Youseff. It's a free pattern on her website. I needle tatted it with size 40 Lizbeth thread in white.