Pottery with Tatting

I was searching for a photo of a tiny doily the size of a quarter I did in 1999...I think I sold it on ebay for $6 if I remember correctly. I am totally kicking myself for that.
Anyway, while I didn't find that photo I did find this photo of a mug I made in 2000 with tatting impressions.
I did a lot of pottery back then with tatting somehow incorporated into it. I stopped for awhile because no one knew what it was.
The good news is that I am starting it back up again.

This coaster is fresh out of the kiln.

This Turkey Platter was a commissioned piece I did recently. This, of course, is crochet work rather than tatting but it is a good example of another technique I use in my ceramic art. This doily was crocheted by my commissioner's grandmother and they intend to make this piece a family heirloom.

This is a sushi tray that now belongs to my friend Jen.
As you might imagine all the tatting used in the clay work becomes ruined lace. I can use each tatted piece a few times but once the lace goes in the studio, it stays in the studio.
Now that the Research and Development is slowing down on my shuttles I will be doing more stuff like this.

Success! (Insert smiley face here)

So I tatted up this little motif with size 80 tatting thread. To be honest I thought the pic tip might be too blunt for joining in this size thread. Not at all. I am very pleasantly surprised with how well this handles the finer threads. No problem at all with the joins. So Yay! A little bright spot in an otherwise not so wonderful day.

Latest Firing

A few of the Pic Tip Shuttles that came out of the kiln this morning. These have real tatted impressions. The plastic clover shuttle is thrown in the picture to give you a size reference.
I plan to tat something with one of the shuttles today to see how I like them.
Please forgive me if the tone of this particular blogging comes across a little on the negative side. I am very frustrated right now. If anyone ever accuses me of price gouging on these shuttles I think I will go 9 on the Richter scale. If people knew how much time and work I put into these and how many I lose along the way they would know that each shuttle is a bargain. Even other potters can't figure out how I accomplish this monumental task. Ok, I don't mean to rant on that particular subject. I don't want to bore you with technical potter speak but basically I started out with 40 shuttles and only 12 survived the process.
So you can see why I am very frustrated.

On a happier note: I was tatting at Barne's n Noble's last night and I heard this huge gasp and a lady rushed over to my table and started gushing about how she loves needle tatting. We had a lovely little chat.
This whole incident got me to thinking about how I can help further the art of tatting. When I am out in the public I am an ambassador for tatting. So how can I be the best promoter of tatting that I can be? Being a shy and introverted person, I do not feel comfortable talking to strangers, but I thought of a way that might help.
I am going to make up little pamphlets that have valuable information and resources on tatting like what it is and how to learn. When people approach me and ask me what I'm doing or tell me how their great Aunt used to tat then I will give them the pamphlet and encourage them to give it a try.

New Shuttles with Pic Tips

I am making new shuttles with pic tips for those who prefer that kind of shuttle.
These ones have impressed tatting designs too! These shuttles still have to go through two firings before they are finished. In these photos they are in what we potters call the "greenware" state. They are very fragile at this point.

I threw in a clover shuttle to get some perspective on size. The smaller the shuttle the more difficult they are for me to make. Keep in mind that the the clay shuttles will shrink even more during the firings.
I have several deadlines coming up in the tatting and potting world, and since I have been sick with flu-like symptoms I am starting to fall behind. I can feel the panic creeping up my throat.
So I best get back to work.