Saturday, April 28, 2012

Shuttlebirds Fun!

Yeah, it really was.   It would be more fun if it was longer and I got to take more classes.  It's great to learn things -- either a new technique or an old one used a new way or just a really nifty pattern.  The people in Spokane really know how to put together an event.  I know it was a lot of work behind the scenes, but everything ran so smoothly from my perspective -- they made it look easy.  Thanks so much for all your hard work, you Shuttlebirds!

The Retro-tat was fun.  I wasn't signed up, but someone that was couldn't be there, so there was an extra piece to undo.  I'm slower than seven-years-itch, but everyone was slow compared to Jessica!  I didn't do the Tat-off.  I like to stop and admire what I'm doing and stretch my fingers too much.   In other words, I'm a slow tatter.  These are some of the people participating -- they can chat and tat and still work fast. 

This year's theme was "Tatting on the Wild Side" and there were a lot of really great entries in the theme contest.  They had four categories: Animal/Original, Animal/Published, Color/Original, and Color/Published.  Everyone was allowed to enter two things in each category.  No everyone did that -- but I did, however, I only made two new pieces for the contest.  Everything else I entered was something that's already been posted here.

I was most pleased with my Utahraptor.  I found a picture on the 'net and put it under a piece of tracing paper then made some rings and chains and split rings and SCMR and stuff like that on top of the picture.  I tatted it about half way around -- well, up to the neck.  By that time, I was back home (I started while visiting my dad), so I scanned the picture to the computer and drew what I had done to that point on top of the picture with PaintShop.  I tatted it again -- all the way to the back leg.  Then I drew some more.  Next I tatted the whole thing and decided it was what I wanted, but I was using ecru cebelia thread.  Well, ick.  But, it worked and was made in one continuous round -- except where I had to add thread -- there were only two ends to hide at the end of the tail.  Finally, I tatted the whole thing in a nice dinosaur-ish green size 20 Häkelgarn, and this is what it looked like on the display table.  There now, isn't he charming?  (Okay, I'm through bragging for a minute.)

The winning entry for the Animal/Original category was Jean Reeves "Wild Thang".  Can you imagine a baby shuttle-eating monster?  She did!  That was the cutest baby monster I ever did see.  He was all covered in green scales with big black eyes and sharp teeth -- his rose ended tongue made him a little less scary.  :)
Tucked inside the tatted clasp purse was a little white shuttle.  Little monster -- he ate it!

Delsey Howard won the Animal/Published category with her Peacock.  The colors she chose were perfect and her tatting was so nicely done.  I'm just tickled that I've purchased the same book she got it from, so I can try it myself.  I just hope I can do it justice, like she did.  It was absolutely beautiful -- and I thought the peacock looked happy.  Happy tatting is good.









Sherry Pence's interpretation of Jane Eborall's Patchwork took top honors for Color/Published.  Such a pretty thing, and the colors she used are perfect together.
I took a class from Sherry, and she's not only a wonderful tatter, she's a really nice, funny, person and a very patient teacher!  That mock hairpin lace very nearly wrapped my brain around a corner, but she persevered and we all got it.  I've got a finished piece to show for it -- but it's not nearly so nice as Sherry's.  I'm going to try it again, 'cause I think I've got it.  Once I get pictures of the stuff from the classes I took, I'll post those and tell you again what a good teacher she is!

Oh, yeah, and I won, too!  (This is the more of the braggy part, so you can skip it if you want to.)  I got the prize for Color/Original for this "Fantasy Tree".  That's the good name for it, my niece calls it a "blobby tree" -- that doesn't sound as good.  I was fussing about getting my entry done when I was working on the dinosaur, because I did unpick and change and unpick and rework until I wondered if I would ever get it figured out.  Patti left me a comment and said just do a free-form piece, then there's nothing to unpick!  Okay.  That's the tree.  I started with a ring not quite in the center and just kept going.  I changed threads here and there -- this is all Sulky blendables with two strands wound on the shuttle at the same time, but not always the same two.  Again, I got to the end and just had two tails to hide because everything else was hidden when I changed threads.  So it goes around and around and back and forth and up and down...


I've got more to say about the Shuttlebirds Workshop, but not right now!

15 comments:

Fox said...

Ohhhh, Marty! I adore that dinosaur! That is the best animal tatting I have ever seen! Oh, yes, congrats on the tree - but that dinosaur WOW!
Fox : ))

Jane Eborall said...

Ok, I'm going to be downright honest here. I'm drop dead jealous and WISH I'd designed the tree and even more so the Utahraptor. He's STUNNING. I do hope you're going to write up the pattern for him. Fan blooming tastic.

West Pine Creations said...

Are you going to post the pattern of your Utahraptor? Wonderful job, raptors are one of my favorite dinosaurs. I'm very impressed!!

Monica said...

Oh, My Marty!!!!

Thank you so much for sharing!!! Both the dinosaur and the tree are just so amazingly good, I am speechless. I am glad you had a great time, everything I read about the meeting sounds great!

Kathy Niklewicz said...

I'm SO ASTOUNDED to see the DINOSAUR!!! Riding in the car (passenger of course) I was looking at my tablet and let out a yell !! Just outstanding! Would write more but must go into the mall and shop! Be prepared for an avalanche of requests for the pattern!

Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...

No brag. Just fact. You did a fabulous job! I love the Utahraptor, and the tree is unbelievably beautiful!

victats@gmail.com said...

Wow, those entries were fabulously out of control. The dinosaur is amazing and I second Jane in hoping that you'll write up the pattern. The shuttle eating bag is too funny. Too cool!

Tat-a-Renda said...

Oh my ... that Utahraptor really blew me down. Amazing piece of work. "Tatting on the Wild Side" indeed. I can see that your mind had really gone wild designing this.

Your tree is impressive. Love the colors in it.

Marilee Rockley said...

Utahraptor is downright scary - but totally cool! Amazing work in all the photos.

Anonymous said...

Very jealous! How I wish I have got that kind of brain cells to be able to look at a picture, draw and then tat it up. Maybe in my dreams (ha!ha!). Well done, Marty.
Jen

Jane McLellan said...

Wow, your utahraptor is absolutely stunning! Good work!!

Martha said...

What a great dinosaur! I really love it. Your freeform tree looks like it was fun to do too.

Ladytats said...

wonderful diosaur, hope your write the pattern, have a few grandkidlets who would be interested.
I like your tree, I so envy those who can see how they want things to look. I have trouble with free form, it is scary.
looks like you had a lot of fun.

God's Kid said...

Great pieces there!!! :)

Sherry aka Celtic Dream Weaver said...

I love your Utahraptor design. He is really cool. I did Pam Palmer's dragon pattern years ago. I changed the design by filling in the body so the dragon would keep his shape. I would love to pretend that my dragon and your Utahraptor could both be dinasaurs and share a picture frame together. Please let me know if you ever do the pattern up and if you need a proofer for the pattern you could send me an email. I would love to proof the pattern for you. Utahraptor is a great design...wowowwoie...