My Tat Days Adventure

Marilee, Arlene, Sharren

Handmade shuttles by Randy Houtz



Tall White Pines

 My first time at Tat Days and I was totally impressed!
Beautiful location on the shores of Lake Louise near Toccoa, Georgia. I had just a little trouble finding it. Since my flight to Greenville, South Carolina was delayed, I didn't arrive until dark, which complicates matters when one is unfamiliar with the area. I rented a car and drove the rest of the way using my GPS navigator, which found Toccoa but not the location of the convention center. Fortunately, my cell phone still worked in Toccoa, so I was able to call and get directions. But no signal after that - this is really a place to "get away from it all".

Georgia is the farthest south of my home state of Wisconsin that I've ever traveled in my life. Oh my, the holly! They have big, glorious bushes of holly growing outside like wild! I had never seen holly growing outside before. Also, I loved the tall White Pine trees - I seriously don't think I've ever seen trees that tall before. The butterflies, the flowers... to me it seemed the Garden of Eden.

Fantastic food every day, and the people all so friendly. Tatters really are the nicest people. But, I wasn't sure how to handle the "celebrity status" conferred on me. I don't think it's deserved. Well, the teachers and other students in the classes I took found out soon enough that I really struggle with understanding tatting patterns and that I don't tat fast. Not the "whiz" some people may have been expecting, that's just how it is.

The displays of tatted items were amazing! There was also a beautiful tribute to Gina (aka Tatting Goddess) on display, of items that she had made during her lifetime.

The vendors had loads of tatting supplies in great variety. People kept begging me to sell my hand dyed thread there, but I had to explain that because it sells so fast on Etsy, I never have enough stockpiled. Fortunately, other hand dyers (Jess and Karey) brought their beautiful skeins to sell, so there was plenty for shoppers to choose from.

By the way, I forgot to mention that while waiting at the airport, I happened to meet Randy Houtz (one of the Shuttle Brothers) and he showed me his method of multiple thread tatting. Wow! His work is amazing and so unique, and he's a super nice guy, too.

There was even musical entertainment at the dining hall! My, tatters are a multi-talented bunch!

I'm very glad that I went. It was so delightful to meet tatters from all over the U.S.A. and many countries, including England, Sweden, Russia, The Netherlands, and Mexico. I met so many new people that I probably won't keep their names straight, so I hope people won't be offended if I don't remember. But for sure I will never forget Jane and always know how to spell H-e-g-l-a :)


Walkway from dining hall

Tatting display

More of the tatting display

Isdihara, Sandra, Marilee

Tribute to Gina, Tatting Goddess

More tribute to Gina

The dining hall view

Lake Louise

Jess and her hand dyed thread

The vendor room

More tatting on display

Still more tatting on display

Holly

Dogwood trees