Tat Days 2011 Part Two

One of the great things about the Palmetto Tat Days is that the guild gives out scholarships, so that tatters who want to come but can't afford to pay part or all of the fees/room & board have the opportunity to attend. The scholarships do not cover transportation, but that's usually a manageable element.  The guild gives out a lot of scholarships for Tat Days - there's an application on their website. If you live close enough to drive and you thought you couldn't afford to attend before, apply for a scholarship next year! Update: 12 folks got scholarships for Tat Days 2011 - a really generous outpouring of tatting love.

Click on the picture to get a better look

Since the guild gives out scholarships, part of Tat Days is devoted to scholarship fundraising. There was the big quilt auction. Georgia Seitz runs thisruns this, and she is an expert on extracting $$$ out of folks. The gorgeous quilt shown above was sold, plus smaller, similarly themed wall hangings and table decorations were auctioned off.

Then there is the big Silent Auction. Many folks donate items to be sold, and it goes to the highest bidder. Some wonderful items - shuttles, books, thread, thread, and more thread, plus tatting and funny things.  Above is a necklace that Nina Libin donated - it was the example for her Snow Queen class.

This was another of Nina' donations - a jaw-dropping, fully beaded silver necklace. Really and truly spectacular. There were things there for everyone's pocketbook and hearts' desires.

Everyone is trying to outbid each other on the goodies!

In fact, there was a whole room devoted to the Silent Auction. I think enough was raised in this auction to fund 3 scholarships next year. And much more was raised with the quilt auction. Tatters are a generous bunch!

The Friday night banquet was great fun, as always. Folks broke out their special tatted items to wear. Here's Kathy Berndt wearing here gorgeous tatted shawl - I think I recognize a Mary Konior pattern here.

Hope and Riet opening their Crackers

Since the theme of this year's Tat Days was Tatting in a Winter Wonderland, the tables were all decorated with winter things. Snowmen, snowflakes, snow scenes, etc. And everyone had a fun Christmas Cracker by their plate, to pull open at the end of the meal.

If you know about Crackers (they are often in use at my house), you'll know that they usually involve a paper crown and a silly toy. Here's PTG President Donna, looking queenly in her crown, as she reads stories submitted about how folks got started  with tatting.

It wasn't long before everyone got into the spirit of the fun crowns.

Isdihara put hers on for me.

And here is our youngest tatter, Violet, in her crowning glory. Violet is the granddaughter of Marie, and she's a good little tatter. She a cutie at ten.

Back to my classes! The first Saturday class was my snowman one. Here are Robin and Jennie hard at work learning how to use a picot gauge. Jennie took three of my classes - I hope they were good for her! Or maybe she's a glutton for punishment. Either way, she's a sweet lady.

This is Chari is my bracelet class. Chari had been a needle tatter, and had only recently learned how to shuttle tat. She was great! I taught her to make split rings in this class, and she caught on immediately. What a terrific student!

And here's Karin, working in the same bracelet class. Karin only recently learned to tat, and is a needle tatter. She did a terrific job as well. I'm not a needle tatter, so I was hampered in how much I could answer needle tatting-specific questions. Fortunately, Karin's sister Shari is very experienced and was in an adjacent classroom. Problems solved. I think Karin left my classes a happy camper.

Joanie and Jennie, working with beads

Joanie was also in the Bracelet class. She was my wonderful test tatter, so she was familiar with the pattern. We had a big discussion on jewelry findings, specifically on the value of split rings vs. jump rings. (Split rings win hands down - jump rings can open too easily.)

Warning: thong tan ahead. Avert your eyes if you are too sensitive to such things.

Joanie showed off her thong tan. 'Nuff said.

My earring class went really well too, but I stupidly didn't take any pictures. In addition to finishing an earring in the class, all my students learned how to use the Magic Thread Trick using floss threaders. I think they liked the earrings very much. Joanie had made a ton of the earrings and had given them out to a number of folks who assisted with Tat Days, and they were all wearing them.

One of the great things about Tat Days is the chance to meet up with folks you only know through a blog or a screen name. It is SO much fun to connect with folks. Here are Arlene, Kerrieann, Hegla, and Maria. Maria came all the way from Mexico City - she is a love, and a lot of fun!

When Tat Days was over, we sadly said our goodbyes and headed down the hill. I had Nina and Isdihara with me again. Part way to Hotlanta, we stopped to stretch our legs, and I gave a brief lesson on Southern flora. This is kudzu in bloom. Isdihara was not familiar with this scourge of the Southern landscape, and she was very interested in it. I also identified crepe myrtles, magnolia trees, sweet gum trees, dogwood, weigela, and white pines (and why we hate white pines).

As we had a bit of time before Nina's flight, I took the ladies on a quick tour of a grand Hotlanta street, Ponce de Leon. There are many lovely home here, and the street has large parks lining it. Isdihara was very amused with the local pronunciation of the street's name: Ponss duh LEE-on. (Really.)

Isdihara soaking up the atmosphere at Mary Mac's

 It was lunch time. So after we dropped Nina off, Isdihara and I went to a classic Southern restaurant, Mary Mac's Tea Room. Mary Mac's has been there forever (I've been going for decades) and it serves delicious southern eats. It's also a place to meet and greet folks, including politicians and celebrities.  Isdihara wanted to see Jimmy (Carter), but she had to content herself with several signed pictures of him, plus a big mural of the Carter Center.

We ate well at Mary Mac's - turkey with dressing and gravy, sweet potato souffle, creamed corn, green beans, and yummy homemade cornbread, rolls, and cinnamon rolls. Since Isdihara had never been to Mary Mac's before, they brought her a cup of pot likker (also known as pot liquor) with cornbread. She ate it all up. (Yes Sprout, I saw your mommy eating green vegetables! For real!) All the leftovers were taken back to Isdihara's hotel room and gobbled for dinner.  And I got our nice waiter to bring more cinnamon rolls for her breakfast. Yum, yum, yum.

I was worn out after I dropped off my passengers, but I was so glad to have gone with them to Tat Days. Next time - Tat Days loot!