The saddest task I do is notifying tatters about the passing of another tatter. In recent years we have lost too many tatters. Some of these tatters we may know personally, like

Mary Lou Tiffany 1927-2015 [url]https://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art300643.asp[/url/,
Doretha Albee's (1935-2011) [url]https://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art1766.asp[/url], or
Betty Albertson [url]https://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art183400.asp[/url].

Others we may know and admire from their books or body of tatted work like, Mademoiselle Eleonore Riego de la Branchardiere who was a legendary figure in tatting. She published her first book ("Knitting, Crochet and Netting") at the age of 12 in 1846. Mlle Therese de Dillmont from the DMC books, Anne Champe Orr (1875-1946) who impacted the world of needle work for decades. Norma Benporath who was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for her contribution to the arts (tatting) and Rebecca Jones, whose book "The Complete Book of Tatting" is a standard reference book for tatters even today.

But a tatter need not have achieved fame for her books nor her tatting. Some tatters achieved a greatness that is measured by the number of new tatters taught, the friendships shared and the youngsters encouraged. And each tatter, whether family or famous, leaves behind shuttles and thread and patterns. It is left to the family to care for this legacy. Hopefully there will be a tatter in the family to treasure everything and carry on the tradition. Sometimes that doesn't happen.

Just days ago I received a packet of tatting patterns and another of books. A tatter has passed and a family member sent them to me to share with others. I am happy to do that. However, it made me face the reality that one day this will happen to me. So I want to plan ahead what to do with my books and shuttles and threads.



My plan:

1. Shuttles and thread to be given to special friends and those who remember me at the next tat days of my favorite guilds. I will need to make a list for that.

2. Books that are out of print to be donated to the tatting scholarship program of my local guild. I will need to put notes in the books since family members will likely not be aware of values.

3. Antique tatting pieces to be donated to International Org. of Lacemakers' Lace Museum in California. And I will try to include all the provenance about the pieces known to me. This means another list and a tat on the piece to identify it.