Show ! j "'A t- ! 'r jf? ff - tv - ao - by David Cordero 9 photos by Eli Lucero SMITHFIELD — More or less it was just something for her to do Now she has several of these artful thread pieces adorning parts of her' home “When you're sitting in die evening you need something to pick up” said Smithfield resident Joy Pitcher who has won awards for her tatting “It'S nice because it gives you something to do and you can pull it put whenever you want” thread every night while watching television In the last decade Joy has made a number of interesting projects A few have earned her awards — though she said she has just won a few ribbons “nothing big” Well at this year’s Cache County Fair she took the Sweepstakes prize Then at the recent state fair in Salt Lake City she won the same type of award ‘a r Jit S A' a t 1 tH If &VT&-JF-) f'i' r v ‘fc 'i'IS -- f y '"S’ - v ' d v K A it ' VJvr ta ' ri i j - ' ' 4 s PS'V' 'V ( Vs jss pwA y i ’(ii v ? hUyf - t 4:’-a-- v JW “(MY FAMILY) ENCOURAGED ME TO TAKE IT TO THE FAIR SO I DID AND MY WORD i tj: ’ t-- a r ' : " 4 v V- hs t - Pitcher demonstrates shuttle use (it) won That was quite a thrill” What is this art exactly? According to Rhoda L Auld’s book “Tatting” this activity evolved horn a kind of embroidery that was popular throughout Europe in the 18th century It has heen said to have been brought over to the colonies from England and popularized in the beginning to mid-180- 0s With the use of shuttles knots are tied at tight intervals in thread cord yam or twine Using your fingers you create the different patterns the design requires As complicated as it seems there aren’t many tools needed to complete a project Just a small shuttle (the shape of an elongated football with a point on one end) and a ball of thread or other material Some of the objects made from tatting include napkins handkerchiefs garment trims sachets doilies or evening gloves Joy 75 took up the hobby about 10 years ago after a friend since deceased introduced it to her She hasn't stopped since and it has become like an addiction Dennis her husband of 57 years said she seemingly picks up the shuttle and “(My family) encouraged me to take it to the fair” Pitcher siud “So I did and my word (it) won That was quite a thrill” Creating different items takes varying amounts of time Some handkerchiefs can be done in a night Others including her snowflake can take up to five months : And that’s when she works on it every night “I enjoy the accomplishment finishing one of these” Joy said As with a lot of hobbies Joy’s projects end lip all over the house much to the chagrin of Dennis who sometimes needs to negotiate around the creations to find a place to sit on the couch When the interview neared its end the Pitchers were asked if they had anything to add Dennis piped up first “I have something” he said as he looked to her suppressing a laugh “Stop doing it” Not missing a beat Joy responded: “You know that’s not going happen so think of something else to say” You need something to do at night don’t you? prize-winni- ‘ ng vJlSnr Mm life Ll Some of the tatted items that Pitcher has created Left: Pitcher shows off |