Has it really been almost two years since I've written a post? It appears that it has and I must apologize. I have been remiss. Not only have I not been blogging, but I have not been tatting as much as I would like.
In October of 2018, I ended my twelve year run as a stay at home mother, to re-enter the corporate world: I took a job part time at a law firm while our daughter was at school. It may not seem like much, but everything I used to do during the day suddenly had to be done after I picked her up. Tatting took a back seat to most everything else but I took advantage of the opportunities that arose.
I was able to participate in a few events, including: demonstrating during St. Patrick's Day and Irish Fest at the Irish American Heritage Center here in Chicago, vending/demonstrating at their Christmas Bazaar in 2018 and 2019, attending a steampunk convention in 2019, and continuing my vendor presence at Interwoven Expressions in Chesterton, IN in 2018 and 2019. These experiences are always fun, creative, and exhausting. I leave them tired and happy every time.
In October of 2018, I ended my twelve year run as a stay at home mother, to re-enter the corporate world: I took a job part time at a law firm while our daughter was at school. It may not seem like much, but everything I used to do during the day suddenly had to be done after I picked her up. Tatting took a back seat to most everything else but I took advantage of the opportunities that arose.
I was able to participate in a few events, including: demonstrating during St. Patrick's Day and Irish Fest at the Irish American Heritage Center here in Chicago, vending/demonstrating at their Christmas Bazaar in 2018 and 2019, attending a steampunk convention in 2019, and continuing my vendor presence at Interwoven Expressions in Chesterton, IN in 2018 and 2019. These experiences are always fun, creative, and exhausting. I leave them tired and happy every time.
As a result of my presence at the Irish American Heritage Center, I gained my first official tatting students! In the Spring of 2019, I was asked to teach a small group of women. Imagine my surprise when what I thought was a meet and greet turned out to be 10 women around a table waiting to learn. It was an interesting experience to say the least. Luckily I had extra shuttles and thread, but it was really a mess, and they were wonderful through it all. I think we all learned a lot that day, just not much tatting! We did manage to meet a few more times after that and based on their feedback I was able to tighten up my systems a bit. The group did dwindle, I think we had three people the last time we met, but I saw progress and I hope they have kept up with it. Regardless, they were great fun to be around! Biggest lesson learned: one-on-one is the best for me right now, groups are a bit beyond me.
I had been hoping to do more with steampunk last year and while I didn't have the courage to get a table at a convention, I did attend one in the area. I had such a lovely time. In my persona as a traveling tatter (garb is a work in progress), I wandered through the meeting rooms tatting small motifs and talking to other attendees. I was pleasantly surprised at how many people knew what I was doing and always rewarded them with whatever motif I was making at the time. Upon receiving a motif, one vendor (who sews wearable cat ears) declared she would attach it to one of her accessories! When I came back an hour later, she was wearing it in her hair! She ran out from behind her booth to show me as I walked by. I was so touched and I cannot even adequately explain why. Perhaps it was the fact that she appreciated my work, to the point of joining it to hers and wearing it, that got to me. I offered to make her a matching motif for her other ear and tatted it while she waited. She took the time to sit with me and chat while I tatted. She is a tatter as well, but mobility issues are holding her back from it right now. She asked if I would be willing to make motifs for her to use and we had struck a bargain before I left the convention hall that day. I look forward to collaborating with her this year!
Interwoven Expressions is an event that is near and dear to my heart. I do get stressed in the run-up to it but it never fails to renew my spirit. Being in that room with those talented people, seeing my friends again, reminds me why I do what I do.
In the last two years, I have had a faithful companion at a few of my events. My daughter started out as an observer and then took on the role of setup and breakdown assistant. She is also growing into her own as an artist. She was introduced to paper quilling a few years ago by her art teacher and found it spoke to her. She has always loved sketching and has an interesting point of view. When she asked to bring her quilling and sketchbook along to one of my events, I eagerly assented. When she took over part of my table to display her work, I was thrilled. When I saw her interacting with the crowd that grew around her, demonstrating and educating them on her craft, I was extremely proud! She would quill and then sketch while the glue dried, alternating between the two over the course of the afternoon. People bought her creations and sketches as she made them (she charged anywhere from a quarter to a dollar) and she spent her earnings on chocolate from the gift shop. It was such a pleasure having her there. We each had our own thing going, but sent people to check out what the other was doing. We make quite a team!
I have had the pleasure of making a few items on commission over the past few years. I'll post pictures of them below.
In the last two years, I have had a faithful companion at a few of my events. My daughter started out as an observer and then took on the role of setup and breakdown assistant. She is also growing into her own as an artist. She was introduced to paper quilling a few years ago by her art teacher and found it spoke to her. She has always loved sketching and has an interesting point of view. When she asked to bring her quilling and sketchbook along to one of my events, I eagerly assented. When she took over part of my table to display her work, I was thrilled. When I saw her interacting with the crowd that grew around her, demonstrating and educating them on her craft, I was extremely proud! She would quill and then sketch while the glue dried, alternating between the two over the course of the afternoon. People bought her creations and sketches as she made them (she charged anywhere from a quarter to a dollar) and she spent her earnings on chocolate from the gift shop. It was such a pleasure having her there. We each had our own thing going, but sent people to check out what the other was doing. We make quite a team!
I have had the pleasure of making a few items on commission over the past few years. I'll post pictures of them below.
(yup, no pictures)
