2005 Teachers - Sherry Townsend

Teacher

Sherry Townsend
of New York

Email: celticdreamweave@yahoo.com

Website: celticdreamweaver.com

April 30, 2005

Bio
Hi out there in Tattingland. :) Big smile to you!!
To start off, I am married and have four children and one grandson that I baby sit when his mother, Chrystal works. I love kids. I have an associate degree in Register Nursing though I am not working as an RN these days. I love artwork of all forms and would love to try out more art forms if I ever get the chance. My love for art has been with me since I was a child even then I was drawing. The love of arts has over the years lead me from one form of hand work art to another starting off with crocheting ( left handed) to knitting when the kids were coming along. I was introduced to cross stitch and needlepoint and I have a drawer full of pictures that I have finished but do not had framed.

Tatting and bobbinlace were a form of art that I used to look at pictures of in my craft books that I have here at home. For instance, the Teresa Dilmont one and the DMC one. I used to spend many hours looking at the beautiful pictures and knew that someday I was going to be able to make some of the pretty things that I saw.
One day I had a stubborn streak hit me...I got all my books out and had them all open to tatting. It took me two days to figure out how to tat with a shuttle...but I was bound and determined to learn. Since this was many years ago...I had no computer, and I am not even sure if there were computers in the home when I learned, to be honest. I didn't know a soul who ever tatted and as a matter of fact...when I got the magic "flip" back then it was "did the knot move or not." I thought I was the only person that was doing it.

I have been tatting for about 18 years...give and take a few months. I am not really sure right now when I started tatting. I have tatted with all kinds of things, yarn, metallic threads, wire...plastic and sutures, and my own hair.
I have designed some of my own patterns, but as of yet do not have patterns for them...right now the patterns are still mixed up with my brainwaves. I have also proofed patterns for other people and enjoy doing that.

I am a member of the IOLI and have had a few articles in the bulletin, which includes a pattern for my three colored wire tatted flower, and on the cover of an issue last was my Kelly the Celtic Dragon that I designed in
full living color. I was so proud to see that. There is a story of Kelly design on my website.

I also like to write..and have written some stories and posted them on the tatting list for all to read. I am also known as celticdreamweave on all messengers, and my alias is Celtic Dream Weaver.

I am sure there is more I can say here...sometimes I get carried away typing. I am really looking forward to coming to South Carolina again this year to meet up with some old friends and meeting some new ones and share...share...and share....
Sherry Townsend aka Celtic Dream Weaver

Class 1 - Team teaching with Mark Myers

"Fundamentals of Wire Tatted Lace"

Time: Friday, 1 to 3

Technique: Become familiar with the perks of wire handling and how to tat with it.
Project: Beginnings of Wire Tatting

Intermediate Tatting and Beginner Wire Tatting Level: Need to understand rings and chains using threads but can be a fairly new tatter. Wire tatting is a slow step by step process and makes understanding the "flip" easy. (Not recommended for real beginners just trying out threads.)

Description:
Learn how to take your tatting skills into a new dimension with the fundamentals of how to manipulate fine wire into tatted lace. The student will learn the basic steps to control the wire to make lacey things for jewelry and 3 dimensional objects.

Supplies:
30 to 32 gauge wire in colors of your choice
metal shuttles
pliers
cutters
band aids or tape
crochet hook, very tiny-14, 15 or 16
beads
jewelry findings
sewing needle
Note: The reason for metal shuttles is that the wire will grove into wooden or plastic shuttles. So as not to hurt anyone's favorite shuttles, metal is best.

Class 2 - Team teaching with Mark Myers

"Get Wild with Wire Tatted Lace"

Time: Friday, 3:30 to 5:30

Technique: Wire tatting beyond the basics.
Project: Project with flare that is whimsical, yet delicate.

Advanced Level: If you have wire tatted before, "Come on IN!" (And that experience could come from the above class.)

Description:
Learn beyond the basics by manipulating the wire into simple projects for jewelry and 3 dimensional objects. The student will know how to use their tatting skills along with beads and other items to embellish, to give tatting a fresh and retro look.

Class 3 - Team teaching with Mark Myers

"Study Hall with Mark and Sherry"

Time: Saturday, 9 to 11

Technique: Tatting With Wire
Project: No new project is assigned for this class session. This is a chance for students to continue working on the projects begun in Class One or Class Two listed above. Students who have been working in wire at home are welcome to bring their projects to this class.

Intermediate through Advanced Level

Description: This session provides additional instruction for the student who wants more direction and time to complete a project begun in an earlier class. Mark and Sherry will help you to refine the skills needed for tatting
with wire, and guide you in solving any problems you have encountered in working with these materials. They can help you pinpoint the steps needed to complete your wire project, and give you advice on the types of metals and tools needed for your next project. Also, feel free to join this class if you’ve been working at home on a pattern created by these designers, and would like some guidance in its’ completion.

Supplies: Please bring whatever supplies are needed for your particular project.

Conference: Saturday, 3 to 5, with Riet and Jane.

Samples of teacher’s work:

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