Book Progress

Yesterday's project was to spread out all the patterns to decide on the sequence for the book pages.  Before the day was over, I changed my mind again. Twice.

I see lots of tweaking that needs to be done, but it's getting closer bit by bit.

Wiosna, still

I didn't drop out -- I've just been very busy.  Mostly it just stays crumpled in its little bag, but once in a while it gets to come out and play.

This was 2 weeks ago.  Why can't I get around to blogging? Gah.

On a bright note, I picked my first tomato of the season yesterday.  It got to sit on the kitchen counter and be admired and fondled, and today I will have a tomato sandwich.   Tomato sandwiches, it's a Southern thing.

Angel Book and Palmetto Angel classes

Some of you have asked, yes the new book is all angels.  "A Flight of Angels" is the tentative title.  Here's another sample.  This one needs to go back on the blocking board before I re-scan it and make the diagram.  That wing raised up as if to wave is cute, but I want the diagram to be more symmetrical.

Interestingly, Iris recently posted about all the difficult steps in writing a tatting book.  You can read what she has to say here.  I don't have quite so many steps perhaps, but it is still very time consuming.  For example, I had 7 patterns I thought were done, but then I had to go back and fix the diagrams on every one. That means go to Serif Draw and change the diagram and export as PDF. Then open in Photoshop to crop. Then go to the pattern in Word and insert the new picture, update its text wrapping setting and resize till it fits on the page like the old one.  There may be easier ways, but I'm self taught, so these are the methods I've stumbled onto.

New flash!! Registration is now open for classes at Palmetto Tat Days.  This link will take you to their homepage, and you can look at the classes and get to the Registration page rom there. Palmetto Link

New Books?

I've been overwhelmed with family matters lately, but I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I think.  In fact, things are looking up to the extent that I think I can finish a new book in time for the Palmetto convention after all.  Here is one of the patterns I've been working on.

Meanwhile, I see my friend Karen has a new book with split ring tatted alphabets, which she has just sent to the printer. See more about her new book here

Today's Bounty

Loving my vegetable garden.

Meanwhile, $*(&^%* chipmunks dug up my pot of marigolds.  Again.

Regularly scheduled tatting will resume shortly.

News Flash - Palmetto Tat Days Sept 4-5

Classes have been announced for this year's TatDays. The TatDay page link is HERE.  This year's theme is "Tatting Angels Among Us."  There are lots of angel patterns, but other things too.

On that page, there are links near the top for the list of teachers, classes, class schedule, & etc.  There are lots of teachers this year.  I see many who have often taught before and some new names too.

The class page is still in progress.  You can see pictures of all the projects (I'm excited!), and they are gradually filling in all the descriptions.   Since I'm teaching so many classes, I have just one free period.  I've already picked out my class to take. I think... decisions, decisions....

The classes I am teaching are all listed as shuttle tatting.  Needle tatters are welcome, but I'm not experienced enough with it to be able to help you adapt the patterns.  

Registration is supposed to start late May or early June, so keep checking back.

Where to Find Books

I almost hesitate to let you in on my secrets, since I'll have more book buyers to compete with.

My go-to source for out-of-print books is http://www.bookfinder.com/   It searches all the book stores so you don't have to look at all of them yourself.  You can set it to report the postage to your location as well as the price, which comes in handy since sometimes postage cost can be a deal breaker. (But beware if it reports postage as 0.00; this may mean the bookseller's site isn't communicating the postage with Bookfinder.)  If you are on the prowl for a certain book, check back often.  A bargain may pop up and be snatched in a few hours.  Been there, done that, as both the buyer and the one who hesitated too long.  It's good for in-print books too.  I was looking at a knitting book yesterday. Retail price is $25, Interweave has it on sale around $6, but with a hefty additional $6 for postage. Bookfinder reveals a new copy for $8.00 including postage.

What Bookfinder doesn't search is ebay, which is my other secret.  But don't stick with just regular American ebay.   Go to the ebay for other countries.   I've gotten some rare vintage books, like Endrucks' "Schiffchen-Spitzen", from German-ebay: http://www.ebay.de/ .   British-ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/ is where I've more than once found Mary Konior books and others at bargain prices. Right now, British-ebay has not one, but two copies of the very rare Elgiva Nicholls "A New Look in Tatting." ** I've seen that one sell as high as $200. One is an auction offered by our own Jane, and the other is a buy-it-now. Both cost more than the copy I got last week from Bookfinder, snicker.

**Later: someone has snapped up the buy-it-now copy, so only Jane's is left.  Happy bidding!