I suspect it happens to you as well. You tat so when a friend or a friend of a friend has a relative who passes away and has thread/supplies, they ask to give it to you. It's kind and I appreciate that they want to give these things to someone will use it. Sometimes the thread is not to my taste or style or it's old/brittle and generally I can comfortably throw it away. But this bag had tatting in it. Some other woman's (probably?) work, some other person's time, some other person's talent.
But what do I do with it? I have a few pieces of tatting which were gifts from others. I cherish them. and they mean something to me. But the ones in the bag don't. Where do these go? I wouldn't display them, I barely display my own. I wouldn't give them as gifts since when I give, I think I'm giving of myself. Donate them? Where?
But I can't bear to throw them away. Suggestions? Are there any crazy quilters who would want them? Or anyone?
I agree. It's hard to know what to do with someone else's tatting, but knowing the amount of work that goes into it, I can't just throw it away either. I have no good ideas!
ReplyDeleteWell, I like the crazy quilt idea. Or, instead of 'gifting', you could directly ask some of your family/friends whether they would like to have the pieces. Kind of a give-away, not a gift. They could use them as appliques on pin cushions, or stiffen them for tree ornaments, bookmarks (with a tail attached), ....
ReplyDeleteI share your sentiments - wouldn't want to just throw them away !
A while back, I had a lot of my tatted stuff, really, tons of it that I couldn't just throw away. I didn't want to keep it, but what to do with it?
ReplyDeleteI took it, all clean and pressed and wrapped on tissue paper, to a women's shelter, where I asked if it could be given to the women to decorate cards, letters or even clothing. It was around Christmas time.
The workers in the office were delighted with my wares and assured me that the tatting would be welcomed and appreciated by the women and girls in the shelter. It was a very satisfying and pleasantly surprising experience to receive the reaction I did.
Excellent idea!
DeleteLovely set of beauitful work, here in the UK we have charity shops where people can take in what they don't want and the charity sells it to make money. That's where I would have taken them, It's such a waste just to throw them away when someone has spent time making them. Your idea for a crazy quilter to have them is a great idea, I hope you find the right person
ReplyDeleteMargaret
I would make a journal with them, I have seen the prettiest journal clovers for sell on ebay and on pintrest they could became part of a project too.
ReplyDeleteI've used pieces in crazy quilting, but I like the idea of decorating journal covers. However, I don't journal... unless you count my blog!
ReplyDeleteI understand your reasoning, absolutely! Fox's idea sounds good. A charity that makes Christmas cards perhaps?
ReplyDeleteYears ago, I donated a bunch of ends of balls of yarn to girl scouts. I don't know if there are girl groups that might practice sewing, crafting, etc. any more? But, give their council headquarters a call. It is worth a shot.
ReplyDeleteThese are very nicely done! I'm sure a quilt group would love them! Or many of them could be stiffened, and have a bow added at the top and used as Christmas tree ornaments for a nursing home - or window decorations for all year, as they aren't 'obvioius' snowflakes! Those with the larger holes could have crystal dangles added for extra sparkle. The 'Mary McCarthy' butterflies (from Workbasket August 1990) could be put into small frames and hung on a wall or used as a desk or bureau decoration. They could also be made into refrigerator magnets. Wherever these pieces are donated, I'd make sure they had a note indicating they were tatted and not crocheted. Maybe that would spark memories of 'grandma's or mother's or aunt's tatting' or might even inspire someone to learn to tat! . .
ReplyDeleteAnother idea: do you demonstrate tatting anywhere? I have a photo album with "magnetic pages" that holds lace that I've either made or been given that I take to either the MN State Fair or the Festival of Nations where my lace group demonstrates.
ReplyDeleteI realize I'm very late on this topic and you probably have done something with the tatted pieces already, sorry I didn't read all the responses, but I think I would make a doily out of them and frame if for the person who gave them to me. Especially if they were a relative who they were close with.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very nice idea but this was a twice passed along "What should we do with this" kind of donation rather than a "We loved Aunt Marge and want to find a good home" kind of thing. I don't have any idea who the original donors were. But it's great for future gifts!
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