About Northwoods Tatting Guild!

         

The Northwoods Tatting Guild was organized after a Community Education class, taught by Emmy Storholm, in the Fall of 1997. Students decided to continue meeting together to help keep tatting alive in the North Country.

We provided Bemidji Public Library with a tatting video (Tatting I - The Basics, by Mildred Clark) that can be "checked out" and which we also use in our classes. There are several Tatting books at the Library as well.

Our meetings are scheduled for once a month at Library, usually the 3rd Monday of each month. Occasionally we meet during the week at someone's home to visit and tat.

During meetings we try to cover new techniques, new products, upcoming events, where to get supplies along with various questions or things anyone is having trouble with. We also discuss special speakers/teachers we might want to go see or bring into Bemidji for special classes.

We try to encourage our Guild Members to prepare something for the Beltrami County Fair every year. This helps educate others about the art of tatting, encourages those looking for "something new" to try tatting, and also to improve our overall tatting skills.

             

The Guild has conducted over 15 Tatting Classes in the last 5 years and has participated in demonstrations at "Art in the Park" durng 3 of those years. In 2002 we participated by giving demonstrations at the 1st Depot Days sponsored by the Beltrami County Historical Society. We have also given demonstrations during the Beltrami County Fair.

On 2 different occasions the guild was able to bring in Tatting Artisans to teach specialized techniques. In September of 2001, the Shuttle Brothers taught a 1 day workshop covering the Tatted Bobble. With this technique, participants made a hedgehog. In August of 2002, Rhonda Grobe came from Minneapolis to teach a 2 day workshop covering 3-D Flowers of her own design.

Membership:

Who is a Northwoods Tatting Guild Member? Anyone who is a Tatter in Bemidji and the surrounding area can be a member of the Guild. Those who have taken tatting classes given by the Guild are considered members.

The Guild also has a "Paid Membership" status. This category of membership is $10.00 per calendar year. Paid membership perks include: voting rights (for Guild involvement in projects or special workshops), reduced costs for workshops and discounts on Handy Hands orders.