Looking to the Future

Looking to the future - the future of the arts with which we have been gifted and the tools and fruits thereof. How does that sound?

This is something I have been wanting to talk about for some time. It is not meant to be at all maudlin. In fact, quite the opposite. It is about planning for future generations to take up our arts and see them preserved and perfected as we ourselves have tried to do. Since this is a tatting blog, we all know that closest to my heart is my tatting. I do love to do other things and have tools, supplies and finished pieces to be preserved in those arts as well. When I go to my tatting cabinet and pull out drawers, I can almost see each of my grandmothers with shuttles in hands and lace flying out from their fingers. It pretty much always looked like a blur to me. I have those shuttles. I see crochet hooks and knitting needles making clothing and blankets. I have those hooks and needles. It just so happened that out of nine granchildren on each side, I was the one who was interested in these particluar things. Some of my cousins have other interests and do quite well with them.

All of this to say, someone needs to be appointed as guardians of these things for the future. Most of us, no matter how humble we consider our means, have wills or some form of written instructions as to the disposition of our worldly goods when we no longer need them. Children are interested in assets and personal possessions for the most part. I have tried to cover those things. Those of you with minor children probably have guardianship papers naming who you want to raise your children in your place if necessary. My husband and I both have "Living Wills" and "Durable Power of Attorney, including medical decisions. I have started sharing lots of heirlooms with the grandchildren of my generation that I know will love them most and see that the next recipient knows the value and history of that particular piece. One thing that bothers me is that I have no one interested in learning what I know or taking it any further than it will be when I am gone. I'm sure I can not be alone in this. It could be that our girls and my brother's daughter will one day slow down enough to realize they want to learn, but I'm not looking for that to happen. They are different people and have their own lives and interests. That is not for me to control or make them feel guilty.

What I have been talking to my husband about is naming at least two of my tatting friends to be contacted about taking my tatting things and seeing them divided up where they will do the most good. That could be to help new tatters with supplies like we helped Sherry with her "Four O'Clock Rock" class. Some people might want a special shuttle to keep for their own because my dad made it or Lady Shuttle Maker made it. I don't want someone to uncover a chest of tatting one day that no one remembers to whom it belonged or what it was for. None of us want that. I want to think of my snowflakes hanging on someone's tree for many years to come and recognizing the love that went into them. (Nor would it hurt my feelings if a piece of my lace ended up in a museum.)

I recently heard someone say that all of us want to be remembered. I hope my children and their children will remember me for lots of things, mostly the love that I feel for them. Also I hope I am setting a good example for them to know what it is to lead a life of good morals and sharing what we have with others. After that, I hope someone will one day hold my shuttles in hand and say, "I remember when...."

Mama's Crocheted Doily

This is one of my recent finds during "Fall Cleaning." (UGGHH) My grandmother, Maggie Noreen DeFoor, crocheted this sometime in the 60's or so. I washed and pressed it, but it wants blocking. I hope you can tell that the flowers stand up from the rest of the crochet. This is just another example of how my tatting reminds me of her crochet.

My husband tells Isaac that he has the best grandmother in the world and that he will realize that one day. I hope I can be half as good as mine was. She was a very special wife, mother, grandmother, sister to us all and I miss her terribly. I am very blessed to have so many of her tatted, embroidered and crocheted pieces to treasure.

Tatted Christmas Tree first draft

Here are two pictures of my tree that I decorated today with all of my tatted pieces. I need more! (Or a smaller tree.) I will probably fill in with my crocheted stockings that I have been making for about 30 years! They are soaking right now so they will be nice and clean.

I am putting several more pictures in Flickr, but didn't want to crowd them in here.

I really like the way the new snowflakes look. I didn't think the rose and green one would be pretty on the tree, but it is. I think I will tat a couple more colored ones to add to it.

Some many things to tat, and not enough tatting time in the world!

Mama's Crochet

Remember when I made Jon's rose doily and I said it reminded me of my grandmother's crochet? Well, I finally found a piece of it to show you and compare. It is very old and I was afraid to wash and press it, so just take it as you see it.

I put it next to Jon's doily and I am very pleased with the comparison. Both of my grandmothers tatted, but it was the normal tatting for their time - edgings and inserts. I know my dad's mom made one tatted doily, but I can't find it. I wish they could both see how much tatting has changed and how many wonderful colors and textures of thread there are now. What fun they would have!

Sale in my Etsy Shop!

In anticipation of my first sale, I have lowered most of my prices in my shop. I have also lowered shipping on all but the piano bench cover as it is really heavy. I hope some of you will have another look! I will be putting in more tatting items soon.

My Etsy Shop

I opened an Etsy shop today. It might be temporary, might not be. We are trying to downsize and I might as well make some money in the process! I have so many things that I have crocheted over the years. Almost without exception, they have been stored in tissue paper for the duration.

What started this venture was a needlepoint piano bench cover that my mother just had to have. I worked for ever so long and then she never did anything with it! As there are very few things DH likes hanging on the walls, I have no use for it. We are "sans piano." It is a lovely piece worked in the basketweave stitch. I hope you will go to the shop and look at it.

I will probably put a few tatting pieces in there as well. I am so addicted to my tatting that I can't stop and I'm running out of places to put the finished products.

I don't know if any of my woodcarvings will end up there or not. They are too dear and take so long.

A knitted piece might pop up occasionally. I have made several baby blankets and some tiny little hats that I might not need. As a matter of fact, that would be an excuse to buy more baby thread! I love to knit with that Baby Clouds thread and size 11 needles. Fast work and nice results.

Anyway, just wanted to tell you a little bit about what I did today. Have a look!

Madeline's Antique Tatting

This is from my friend who had the mystery lace recently that we decided was probably machine made. This towel was in her mother's hope chest and has to be 75+ years old. We just thought many of you would like to see how long and well good tatting can hold up! There are other pictures of her antique crochet on three of the Yahoo tatting groups. (Celtic Tatting, Here-Be-Tatters and Tatting Goddess.) I hope you will look at them and reply to the post.