I was tickled by a post on a new blog that I've put in my sidebar, Katiemacs Tatting, a new tatter. Unfortunately, she does not have comments enabled so Katie, if you are reading this by some chance, GOOD FOR YOU!!!

Katie finally found a way to learn to tat from the DVD by Janette Baker. It reminds me that when I was demonstrating tatting at the Feast last week, I heard that many times..."I tried and tried and couldn't learn". It was mostly from written text so I would go through the motions slowly and explain the "flip" and saw the lightbulb go on for a few people. BUT...seeing it in person is only as good as the memory. Will those people remember it by the time they get home? How many times did I take a class, feel like I had a concept down, only to be confused a few days later at home? I don't just mean in tatting either - anything. That's where the value is in DVD's, videotapes, and videos on YouTube. Great memory refreshers!

I haven't yet viewed the DVD so I can't attest to this particular one, but I've heard several people say they learned from it so it can't be too bad. Jane Eborall has mentioned a DVD created by the Ring of Tatters on her blog and I suspect it is equally good, so it comes down to postage costs for the buyer. I don't have any idea what the difference might be, but if you are a struggling wannabe tatter with few people resources, I would strongly encourage you to get one however you can. LEGALLY!!!

Someone recently emailed me and asked if I knew how this was tatted. I gave it a pretty good shot, thinking the flowers were done with chains, using graduated picots, turned to tat in a different direction for the top curve, and then tatted and joined down the other side. You can see some some other examples here.

Turns out it is actually Oya, a Turkish needlelace. You can see examples and an explanation here and here and here and here!

How's that for inspiration???? I have a photo album I titled "inspiration" and I keep all those inspiring photos I find in it. I have yet to do anything with them, but perhaps the design class will motivate. Whoa...inspiration and motivation is not the problem...it's TIME and ENERGY! LOL!

This weekend is devoted to domestic issues, getting ready for winter inside and out. I'll probably work on the beaded bag late. It's a very simple pattern and something easy, almost mindless to do when I want to relax. I'm only on the 3rd of 8 or 9 rows, so it will be awhile before I show any progress. My bottom corners appear different and I'm perplexed about it. I certainly don't want to start over at this point. Ah well....