I've got the Tatting bug again

Many years ago- I don't remember the exact year but it *was* in the previous century, lol- I spent a marvelous week with Etha on Cape Cod. We mostly yakked, but there was also lots of needlework, a trip to Martha's Vineyard (the highlight of which was meeting the incredible Patricia Neal on the ferry!!), and there was my introduction to tatting.

Etha taught me the basics- which is the double stitch and most important, how to "flip" it- but she didn't have a spare shuttle. After my week with her I was heading to Long Island for a weekend visit with my brother. I got off I-95 at Mystic Seaport as I was sure such a then-trendy place (is it still??) would have a needlework shop, and it did! Purchased a shuttle and some thread and headed for the Bridgeport- Port Jefferson ferry. (When given the option of driving or taking a ferry, I always opt for the ferry; much more fun and relaxing.) Totally unfazed by the looks I got (what the HECK is she doing?) I proceeded to successfully complete my first tatted butterfly while crossing the Sound. Yes, one butterfly, it really took me that long!

Since then I have played with tatting off and on. I've made some things that turned out well. I have a LOT of tatting books- I always tend to go overboard on collecting books about favorite activities- meaning I have more patterns than I could tat in two lifetimes. (I also have more stamps, more needlework charts, more quilting books....you get the idea!)

Yesterday I did some schoolwork when I got home and really felt exhausted. So, I decided to take a "little" nap about 4:30. DH tried to get me up for dinner to no avail. I finally woke up at midnight, strolled the Internet until 1:30 AM, read a book until 5AM (The Mad Miss Mathley, highly recommend for Regency fans- very funny!), then slept until 10AM today. My sleep cycle will be out of whack for days!

Back to the point! While wandering the Internet last night, I somehow stumbled onto a tatting site and that led me to other tatting sites and that led me to the shelf in the disastrous craft room that had shuttles and some threads. So here I was in the middle of the night, confirming that I still remembered how to make rings and chains.

So, above is a picture of what I started in the middle of the night. It will NOT replace my stitching on my three SALs as an activity, but I think I am going to begin again carrying my shuttle, thread and a small printed copy of the pattern in my handbag- yes, all you need to tat fits in a sandwich size baggie!- and pull it out when I need to wait. I also envision maybe getting in a few inches at the end of the year meetings that crowd the last few school days.

I'll be back later with a post of links for tatting information for anyone who is interested. Right now I have to get moving on some FLYing activities- this weekend is about getting some cleaning, de-cluttering, and organizing done.