Tat Days 2010 - Day One Report

On Friday, I drove up from Hotlanta through rush hour traffic and made it to the conference in Toccoa with some time to spare. The conference center is lovely, and all the classes, vending, and activities were in the same building as our rooms. Somehow I really lucked out, as my room was on the same floor as the classes! The only thing not on that floor was the dining hall, which was an easy ramp walk away.

This year's theme was "Fall into Tatting", so there were a lot of leaves taught.

My first class was with Martha Ess. If you don't know Martha, you need to make an effort to take a class with her. She is a love, and really talented.

Here is what I was working on in Martha's class, half way done. It looks like broomstick lace. Kinda cool and a fun technique.

In this class were both Krystle Dawne's mother Kerriann...

 So that's how it's done?

and Isdihara, here with Martha. They are so much fun, very sweet ladies. We laughed a lot in the class.

He almost went home in my Juicy Fruit tin.

Isdihara also brought a little buddy, her leprechaun Ciarrán. I'm told Martha had her's too, plus her visiting Leps, but since I never laid eyes on them, I'm sure this is just a fable.

Martha gave out prizes!  She had all these critters she had tatted when she was designing her latest book.  And we got to pick one!  It was hard to chose, but in the end I took a little pink pig.

We took a break and had lunch in the dining hall.  Taco's today, with delicious blueberry scones for dessert.  Nummers.  (FYI - the food was MUCH better here than in Winnsboro.)

Wally holding court in class

After Martha's class, I had class with Wally Sosa. So good of her to come here from Puerto Rico - she was very concerned about the two hurricanes that were near the island.  This class was about rolled tatting.  Wally's rolled tatting looks perfect.

I am NOT good with rolled tatting yet.  This looks like ca-ca, not leaf parts.  Practice needs to be done.  And this is one place where larger threads seem to look better.  Hmm.  I'll work on this.

There was much on display in vending, including great silent auction items.  I bid on some and won a mini-bead spinner.  The auction items were to benefit the Tat Days scholarships.  Here's a sampling:

Theme leaves by Jane

A great bag with one of the tatted quilt blocks

A jewelry set by Martha

Nina'a lovely beaded work

A framed and autographed picture of Georgia's brother, Ice Road Trucker George Spears.

This phenomenal tatted collar.  I didn't write down who did it, and I could kick myself.

More tomorrow!