Monday, September 10, 2012

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

14 comments:

N. Maria said...

Oh, it looks like you and everyone else had a wonderful time! It's always a great experience when like minds meet in a stress-free environment. Lovely views!

Margarets designer cards said...

Oh it looks like you all had a wonderful time. We have holly in our garden in the uk and I have a variegated one. I never thought you did not have it in the US or at least only in parts of the US
Margaret

Anonymous said...

Sigh....I so want to go some day!!! :) Looks like every one had a great time and wow the scenery is gorgeous!!! Thanks so much for sharing the photos.

Crazy Mom! said...

It was great to meet you!! I had a wonderful time, and I'm so glad you did too. Please come to Tat Days any time you can. And if you're in Atlanta, you can stay with me....

Lelia said...

OH my --- thx so much for sharing!

Ladytats said...

sounds like you had a great time. Palmetto Tat Days have become the "go to" destination for tatters around the world it seems.
some day I want to get there. maybe I will be lucky and it will be a year you are there too. Wisc is on the way from North Dakota to Georgia

Kathy Niklewicz said...

FABULOUS POST! Wonderful story and photos! I think I'd still be recuperating and catching my breath! And I can't imagine being in an unfamiliar location, driving at night in an unfamiliar (rented) car!

I got over my 'blues' a little bit, not being able to be there, when I was able to 'live stream' the video on Friday! I was thrilled! It was as if I were there! I spotted you right away in the 'audience' watching the Speed Tat contest. It was so exciting to see Jane and Sally - they really look alike! And the sisters from Sweden were also fun to see!

Then the video of the Tatting Table. I got so choked up when I saw Gina's tatted pieces and photos. And all the tatting was so wonderful! I really appreciated the effort that went into 'filming' live, even though it was a little choppy. The technology today is amazing. Of course, it can still be viewed since it was recorded!

I am amazed at all those shuttles! Lots of work there! And Jess has been so busy. I don't understand how you 'all' dye thread, but I'm sure glad you do!

We have been to the Atlanta area a few times, and I love it - except for the 8-lane highways! I never saw such large pine trees! Got to see Stone Mountain and beautiful Lake Lanier, which had a spectaculrar Christmas Light Show to drive through!

Thanks so much for your 'report'. I enjoyed it immensely!

Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...

It looks like you had a fabulous time! I'm really looking forward to going in four years!

TAT19540 said...

Beat me to posting. But mine is coming! We did have fun didn't we :) I didn't take a lot of scenery pics because I knew you would :)

H J Hess said...

Soooo glad you decided to attend Tat Days, and so glad you enjoyed yourself. It was wonderful to meet you in person. You and Sue Anna truly represented the fun-loving Tollway Tatters very well. (I love the tie-dyed 'uniform' you all wear for your meetings.) Next time, perhaps all of you could attend?
Big hugs.
.

IsDihara said...

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I was soooooo pleased you attended Tat Days and enjoyed yourself. It was such a pleasure to meet you.

For an Unrepentant Thread Junkie like me, you are a celebrity on the level of Marilyn Monroe. But you and Georgia Seitz and the Shuttle Brothers and Nina Libin and so many more are on equally high pedestals. You are in excellent company!

I think it is serendipitous that Tat Days is held in such a serene, woodsy location. Bringing us all together there gives a whole new meaning to "Tatting in the Wilds."

Thank you for being you! And sharing this FABULOUS post. I enjoyed it immensely.

Big hugs and I hope to see you again soon.

Sara said...

It was so nice to meet you there! I have just tested your yarn "Sugar Maple". It was very much my colours!
I also took pictures of the trees, I think my husband likes to see it, they are much taller then here in Sweden.

louine said...

I told you you would have a good time....it was so nice to meet you in person since I have been following your blog since day one of learning to tat.
Hope you make it again next year.

Pam Freck said...

Can I say "Ditto Ditto Ditto"? When you got off the of the elevator I said "Wow, you are Marilee Rockley. I just watched your video yesterday." The other folks including Randy- who just got off the same elevator with his new shuttles in a small bag- I already knew were among the finest of people. We were so pleased to have you join us and hope you will return. Your threads appear everywhere here in the South from SC State Fair (this weekend)to last years Fall Leaves taught by Riet using Jane Eborall's pattern to my humble Friendship doily using your Stained Glass threads(still in progress and using Karey Solomon's design but making it harder to do). Riet is still visiting with me and we haven't slowed down yet. We hope that you truely had a great time and will come back next year. Who knows what is in store, but we can rest assured that the best part is getting to spend the weekend with this greatest of great bunch of tatting folks from across the world!

So glad to see you and your smiles,
A left handed slow tatter Pam Freck