The other thing that I have been doing since I have gotten back from the IOLI Convention (in August) is playing around in my enameling studio. I sold alot of shuttles at Convention and this gave me the impetus to make new ones. It seems that every time that I go back to enameling I make shuttles that are quite different in design style to the previous ones I have made. I guess I keep evolving my style.

The new style that I have adopted is the use of decals designed for use on glass and ceramics. Since enamel IS glass, these work perfectly for me to enhance my shuttles. I wish I had painting skills, but I don’t so this the best I can do.

The decals are permanently fused into/on the enamel/glass surface. They will not come/rub off.

I’ve had a lot of fun finding and using various decals. I have: black animals-dogs and cats, sugar-skull cats, flowers, snowflakes;, birds, bees, ladybugs, butterflies, and even a motorcycle.

Check them out on my Etsy shop at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheShuttleSmith?ref=hdr_shop_menu

Well….2019 has been quite a year! Since getting world that I would be teaching at the 2019 IOLI Convention in August in Spokane, WA, I have been busy in various ways: 1. Designing classes for the convention and then preparing class materials; 2. finishing a book that I had a good start on and with the help of Diana Howe’s tatting skill was able to get published (Illusions of 3-D in Split Ring Tatting); 3. Designing and laying out a second book that came from inspiration of the classes that I was teaching at Convention (Bounty of Tatted Delights). 4. prepping my books and enameled tatting shuttles to sell at Convention.

As soon as I got to Convention (which was incredible!) I realized how much time I had devoted to the above endeavors and decided that when I got home things would be a bit different…I wouldn’t be pushing myself as much (at least for a while). I was unhappy about having to publish the Bounty of Tatted Delights book under an ISBN number that wasn’t mine so I ‘unpublished’ it when I got home. I JUST republished it as of November 30th, 2019 so that burden is no longer hanging over my head.

All my books are now available on my Etsy site: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheShuttleSmith