More surprises

Well, first off let me say that I've seen some of the flutter about Shuttlebirds, and I am going to see if I can't make it next year. It would be simply divine to meet some other tatters and learn new things......Mama needs to get away every once in awhile, right!~

Anyway, I did receive another tatting surprise this week. I have a Grandfather in NY who I don't see often, but we have kept in touch as my kids are his first biological Great grandkids. They Love to send packages, and I get some of the most random but interesting things. I do try to send hints as to what we can use and what we don't need, they love to go to estate sales and flea markets and whatnot. So, recently I put them on the trail of tatting supplies, not knowing if him or his wife knew what tatting was in the first place......

And Lo and behold---today arrived a shuttle and some copies out of an older needlework book. No information about eather was presented, but it's always nice to get tatting surprises!

I was hoping someone might know something about the shuttle. It looks like the cheapo Susan bates bobbin shuttles, but it says made in Germany-I thought someone out there in tattingland might know what particular brand it is. I don't know anything about bobbin shuttles, never got used to them I guess.

In other news, here is a shot of some of the patterns I received for the baby shower.
They were published by Ed Morin, who I beleive did the Jiffy tatting books that are out there. I'll have to look into it further, I don't know yet if "jiffy" needle tatting uses different techniques than regular needle tatting, or what size the needles are.

Anyway, there are some nifyty looking patterns. A few of the techniques that are mentioned are unfamilliar, so it will keep me busy investigating for a little while. I do have plenty of tatting to keep me busy right now, an Iris N. doily in the works, the projects in my TAT program, and I want to make some more earrings so I can perhaps open an etsy after baby is born. Busy busy busy!